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Rule Golden Hour

El Calafate - Golden Hour - Patagonia

El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina

That magical warm light just after sunrise or before sunset

Currently

Real-time conditions
Low Cloud Cover0%
Mid Cloud Cover5%
High Cloud Cover100%
Sun Elevation13.0° (Daylight)

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos
golden-hour weather icon
Next opportunity
Exceptional Golden Hour at Sunset
El Calafate
Tomorrow · 16:55–18:16 · 1h window
Medium confidence
46%
🌇Golden Hour Potential87.8-91.1%
Low Cloud Cover: 2%
Mid Cloud Cover: 0%
High Cloud Cover: 0%
Sun Elevation: 11.2° (Daylight)

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast predicts when the legendary Patagonian peaks will catch alpenglow—the phenomenon that has drawn photographers to the end of the world for generations. We track clear sky conditions, wind patterns, and sun angle to identify when Fitzroy, Cerro Torre, and the Torres will ignite in pink and orange light.

Patagonia's granite spires are among Earth's most dramatic mountains, rising nearly vertically from relatively low elevation. This extreme relief means alpenglow hits the peaks while valleys remain cool-toned, creating spectacular contrast. The high southern latitude also means golden hour lasts significantly longer than in equatorial regions, giving photographers extended shooting windows.

What makes Patagonian golden hour exceptional:

  • Fitzroy and Cerro Torre - These iconic spires turn brilliant red during sunrise alpenglow, with Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre providing classic viewpoints
  • Torres del Paine sunrise - The three towers catch first light while Lago Pehoé and the valley remain in shadow
  • Extended duration - At 50°S latitude, golden hour lasts 60-90 minutes versus 30 minutes in tropical locations
  • Southern light quality - The "Roaring Forties" winds create exceptionally clear air when weather cooperates

Best photography requires commitment—the classic Fitzroy sunrise involves hiking in darkness to reach Laguna de los Tres by dawn. Torres del Paine offers easier access with lakeside viewpoints. Summer (December-February) brings 4am sunrises, while autumn (March-April) offers more reasonable timing with fewer tourists. Wind is the constant challenge—even during calm forecasts, expect gusts.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
3matching hours in the next 95 hoursJump to next match
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
America/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos
Golden Hour
Any
Golden Hour Potential
≥ 80.0%
Precipitation Chance
≤ 5.0%
Visibility
≥ 1000.0m
Sun, Jun 7
11:0038%0%24134m
12:0042%0%24134m
13:0037%0%24135m
14:0036%0%24135m
15:0035%0%24135m
16:0074%0%24134m
17:0068%0%24135m
18:0070%0%24135m
19:0035%0%24134m
20:0034%0%24134m
21:0032%0%24135m
22:0032%0%24134m
23:0032%0%24135m
Mon, Jun 8
24:0032%0%24134m
01:0032%0%24134m
02:0032%0%24135m
03:0032%0%24134m
04:0032%0%24134m
05:0034%0%24135m
06:0032%0%24135m
07:0032%0%24135m
08:0033%0%24134m
09:0070%0%24135m
10:0075%0%24134m
11:0035%0%24134m
12:0035%0%24134m
13:0035%0%24135m
14:0034%0%24135m
15:0035%0%24134m
16:0068%0%24134m
17:0068%0%24134m
18:0070%0%24135m
19:0031%0%24134m
20:0031%0%24135m
21:0034%0%24135m
22:0034%20%24135m
23:0034%40%24135m
Tue, Jun 9
24:0034%60%24135m
01:0034%68%24134m
02:0034%75%24135m
03:0034%82%24135m
04:0035%55%24135m
05:0033%27%24134m
06:0033%0%24135m
07:0032%13%24135m
08:0033%26%24134m
09:0091%39%24134m
10:0062%26%24134m
11:0043%13%24135m
12:0037%0%24134m
13:0031%0%24135m
14:0033%0%24135m
15:0033%0%24134m
16:0088%0%24135m
17:0091%0%24134m
18:0091%0%24134m
19:0033%7.4%24134m
20:0036%15%24134m
21:0039%22%24135m
22:0039%43%24134m
23:0034%65%24134m
Wed, Jun 10
24:0036%86%24134m
01:0035%90%24134m
02:0037%94%24134m
03:0036%99%24134m
04:0030%89%24134m
05:0019%79%20607m
06:0020%69%11044m
07:0031%70%24134m
08:0035%72%24135m
09:0092%74%24135m
10:0093%57%20000m
11:0059%39%20983m
12:0035%22%24135m
13:0033%28%24134m
14:0033%33%24135m
15:0037%39%24134m
16:0092%33%24135m
17:0094%28%24134m
18:0096%22%24135m
19:0031%28%24135m
20:0040%33%24134m
21:0029%39%24134m
22:0011%45%23424m
23:0013%50%22714m
Thu, Jun 11
24:0016%56%22005m
01:0015%62%18256m
02:0014%67%14508m
03:0014%73%10759m
04:009.9%66%7663m
05:006.4%59%4566m
06:005.8%52%1470m
07:008.1%62%9025m
08:009.3%72%16580m
09:0062%82%24135m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Golden Hour Potential mean?

Inputs that drive the score

This derived score summarizes multiple raw weather signals. The table below shows the supporting inputs hour by hour, so you can see what's pushing the score up or down.

Time
America/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos
Golden Hour
High Clouds
%
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Relative Humidity
%
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Speed
m/s
Mon, Jun 8 Sunrise 09:44 Sunset 17:51
12:00
- 100% 0% 5% 69% 100% 0.84m/s
13:00
- 100% 0% 12% 71% 100% 1.2m/s
14:00
- 99% 0% 90% 72% 99% 1.4m/s
15:00
- 100% 4% 61% 72% 100% 1.2m/s
16:00
- 100% 5% 93% 70% 100% 0.78m/s
17:00
- 100% 0% 100% 69% 100% 0.49m/s
18:00
- 100% 5% 100% 69% 100% 1.1m/s
19:00
- 100% 12% 94% 70% 100% 1.2m/s
20:00
- 100% 43% 93% 69% 100% 2m/s
21:00
- 100% 16% 100% 70% 100% 2.2m/s
22:00
- 100% 9% 100% 69% 100% 1.9m/s
23:00
- 100% 13% 100% 67% 100% 1.2m/s
Tue, Jun 9 Sunrise 09:45 Sunset 17:51
24:00
- 99% 5% 100% 66% 100% 1.1m/s
01:00
- 100% 5% 100% 67% 100% 1.7m/s
02:00
- 100% 5% 100% 69% 100% 1.9m/s
03:00
- 100% 4% 98% 70% 100% 1.2m/s
04:00
- 100% 5% 58% 70% 100% 0.81m/s
05:00
- 100% 5% 64% 70% 100% 1.2m/s
06:00
- 100% 6% 66% 71% 100% 1.2m/s
07:00
- 100% 8% 95% 73% 100% 2.5m/s
08:00
- 98% 8% 3% 77% 98% 2.3m/s
09:00
- 17% 8% 49% 80% 49% 2.5m/s
10:00
- 86% 9% 96% 81% 97% 2.6m/s
11:00
- 92% 10% 96% 84% 100% 2.8m/s
12:00
- 0% 5% 0% 86% 5% 3.3m/s
13:00
- 0% 4% 0% 86% 4% 3.4m/s
14:00
- 0% 2% 0% 85% 2% 3.3m/s
15:00
- 0% 1% 0% 83% 1% 2.5m/s
16:00
- 0% 2% 0% 81% 2% 2.4m/s
17:00
- 3% 0% 0% 79% 3% 2.2m/s
18:00
- 2% 0% 0% 80% 2% 1.8m/s
19:00
- 1% 0% 0% 79% 1% 2m/s
20:00
- 2% 0% 1% 78% 3% 1.6m/s
21:00
- 5% 0% 4% 77% 5% 1.1m/s
22:00
- 28% 0% 0% 77% 28% 0.92m/s
23:00
- 98% 0% 1% 78% 98% 1m/s
Wed, Jun 10 Sunrise 09:45 Sunset 17:51
24:00
- 57% 3% 1% 78% 57% 1.2m/s
01:00
- 3% 5% 2% 76% 5% 0.84m/s
02:00
- 0% 5% 1% 75% 5% 1.5m/s
03:00
- 0% 6% 15% 75% 15% 1.3m/s
04:00
- 0% 20% 1% 76% 20% 0.54m/s
05:00
- 0% 95% 39% 79% 95% 6.1m/s
06:00
- 0% 15% 99% 92% 99% 4.2m/s
07:00
- 0% 2% 0% 75% 2% 6.3m/s
08:00
- 0% 1% 0% 66% 1% 6.7m/s
09:00
- 0% 7% 2% 67% 7% 6.6m/s
10:00
- 0% 30% 3% 70% 30% 8.1m/s
11:00
- 0% 31% 0% 70% 31% 8.5m/s
12:00
- 0% 14% 0% 68% 14% 8.6m/s
13:00
- 0% 2% 0% 67% 2% 7.7m/s
14:00
- 0% 1% 0% 66% 1% 7.2m/s
15:00
- 0% 0% 0% 66% 0% 6m/s
16:00
- 1% 0% 2% 64% 2% 4.7m/s
17:00
- 5% 0% 1% 63% 5% 3.7m/s
18:00
- 0% 3% 7% 66% 7% 2.8m/s
19:00
- 0% 4% 95% 67% 95% 1.9m/s
20:00
- 20% 1% 9% 68% 20% 1.6m/s
21:00
- 100% 2% 99% 69% 100% 0.99m/s
22:00
- 67% 19% 67% 74% 84% 1.1m/s
23:00
- 33% 36% 36% 79% 69% 1.1m/s
Thu, Jun 11 Sunrise 09:46 Sunset 17:51
24:00
- 0% 53% 5% 84% 53% 1.2m/s
01:00
- 0% 53% 3% 86% 53% 1.3m/s
02:00
- 0% 54% 2% 88% 54% 1.4m/s
03:00
- 0% 54% 0% 90% 54% 1.5m/s
04:00
- 0% 59% 32% 90% 68% 1.5m/s
05:00
- 0% 64% 65% 91% 83% 1.6m/s
06:00
- 0% 70% 97% 92% 97% 1.6m/s
07:00
- 0% 61% 91% 88% 91% 2m/s
08:00
- 0% 53% 84% 84% 84% 2.5m/s
09:00
- 0% 44% 78% 81% 78% 2.9m/s
10:00
- 0% 34% 84% 82% 84% 3.4m/s
11:00
- 0% 24% 90% 84% 90% 3.9m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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