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Rule Painted Sky

Painted Sky Forecast for Waynesville, Smoky Mountains & Blue Ridge

Waynesville, North Carolina, United States

Waynesville occupies a broad mountain basin, where farms, church spires, and receding Blue Ridge slopes create layered western North Carolina views.

1 matching opportunities in the 14-day forecast.

Hourly forecast scores

Forecast valid from Oct 9, 2026, 1:00 PM UTC (one hour; not an observation)
Low Cloud Cover0%
Mid Cloud Cover0%
High Cloud Cover100%
Sun Elevation16.3°

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/New_York
golden-clouds weather icon
First upcoming window
Spectacular Painted Sky at Sunset
Waynesville
Thu, Oct 15 · 19:00–19:12 · 1h window
Low confidence
47%
🌤️Painted Sky Potential90.2%
Low Cloud Cover: 37%
Mid Cloud Cover: 22%
High Cloud Cover: 1%
Sun Elevation: -1.3° (Civil twilight)

72-hour requirements breakdown

When available, this detailed table covers only the stated 72-hour horizon (typically 72–168 hours, depending on available hourly data). Opportunity records above span the full 14-day forecast period, so this table does not explain that entire period. Times shown in America/New_York.

Most common blockers

Ranked across the 95-hour forecast horizon, not the full opportunity period.

  • Painted Sky Potential100% of hours
  • Golden Hour83% of hours
  • Precipitation Chance67% of hours
0matching hours in the displayed 72-hour forecast
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
America/New_York
Golden Hour
Any
Painted Sky Potential
≥ 80.0%
Wind Speed
≤ 6.0m/s
Precipitation Chance
≤ 10.0%
Fri, Oct 9
Rule fails. 09:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 0%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 10:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 18%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.1m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 0%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 11:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 18%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.4m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 0%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 12:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.7m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 0%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 13:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.6m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 0%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 14:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 4.3m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 0%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 15:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 4.5m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 1%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 16:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 4.3m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 1%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 17:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.6m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 1%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 18:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 50%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.6m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 2%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 19:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 50%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.4m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 3%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 20:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.4m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 4%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 21:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 21%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.4m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 4%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 22:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 22%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.7m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 3%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 23:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 23%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.3m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 2%. Meets requirement
Sat, Oct 10
Rule fails. 24:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 23%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 1%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 01:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 21%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.3m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 1%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 02:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 27%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.5m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 3%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 03:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 22%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.6m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 19%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 04:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 22%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.5m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 25%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 05:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 19%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.5m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 51%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 06:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 23%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 4m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 46%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 07:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 52%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.7m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 38%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 08:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 48%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.3m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 44%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 09:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 23%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 35%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 10:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.8m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 40%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 11:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 6.2m/s. Misses requirementPrecipitation Chance: 47%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 12:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 5.8m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 58%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 13:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 18%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 5.1m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 62%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 14:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 26%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 5.6m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 61%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 15:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 26%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 5.2m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 57%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 16:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 27%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 6.6m/s. Misses requirementPrecipitation Chance: 56%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 17:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 28%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 5.6m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 57%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 18:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 48%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.5m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 57%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 19:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 56%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.4m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 61%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 20:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 26%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.1m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 89%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 21:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 26%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.8m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 97%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 22:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 26%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 97%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 23:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 27%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 4.8m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 97%. Misses requirement
Sun, Oct 11
Rule fails. 24:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 28%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.7m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 97%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 01:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 27%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.5m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 97%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 02:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 24%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.5m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 97%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 03:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 16%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.3m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 91%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 04:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 12%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.1m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 91%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 05:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 11%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.3m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 91%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 06:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 10%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.9m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 91%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 07:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 18%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.6m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 91%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 08:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 28%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.8m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 91%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 09:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 9.6%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.2m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 33%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 10:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 9.6%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.1m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 33%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 11:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 17%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.9m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 33%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 12:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 14%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.9m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 33%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 13:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 21%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.2m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 33%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 14:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 15%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.3m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 33%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 15:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 18%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 3.1m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 32%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 16:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 17%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.9m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 32%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 17:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 20%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.6m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 32%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 18:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 31%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2.2m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 32%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 19:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 31%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 2m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 32%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 20:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 21%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.7m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 32%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 21:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 3.2%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.8m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 16%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 22:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 2.6%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.7m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 16%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 23:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 2.6%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.5m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 16%. Misses requirement
Mon, Oct 12
Rule fails. 24:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 2.6%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.5m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 16%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 01:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 2.6%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.6m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 16%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 02:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 2.6%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.8m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 16%. Misses requirement
Rule fails. 03:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 3%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.9m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 5%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 04:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 2.6%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.8m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 5%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 05:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 2.6%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.8m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 5%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 06:00Golden Hour: No. Misses requirementPainted Sky Potential: 3%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.9m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 5%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 07:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 18%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.9m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 5%. Meets requirement
Rule fails. 08:00Golden Hour: Yes. Meets requirementPainted Sky Potential: 18%. Misses requirementWind Speed: 1.8m/s. Meets requirementPrecipitation Chance: 5%. Meets requirement
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

Supporting forecast inputs

Additional hourly values for interpreting the forecast and any derived scores. See the separate requirements breakdown for rule logic; missing values are unavailable.

Forecast time (America/New_York)Golden HourHigh CloudsLow CloudsMid-Level CloudsSolar ElevationTotal Cloud CoverageVisibility
Fri, Oct 9, 2026Sunrise · Sunset
Unavailable100%0%0%16°100%28400m
Unavailable100%0%0%27°100%32800m
Unavailable100%0%0%37°100%44300m
Unavailable100%0%100%44°100%57200m
Unavailable100%0%36%48°100%63000m
Unavailable100%0%99%47°100%72300m
Unavailable100%0%100%42°100%71900m
Unavailable100%0%100%34°100%75000m
Unavailable100%0%94%23°100%76300m
Unavailable100%0%100%12°100%70000m
Unavailable100%0%100%0.53°100%57600m
NightUnavailable100%0%100%-12°100%54600m
NightUnavailable100%0%91%-24°100%52000m
NightUnavailable100%0%45%-36°100%52400m
NightUnavailable100%0%100%-47°100%52200m
Sat, Oct 10, 2026Sunrise · Sunset
NightUnavailable100%0%100%-56°100%54300m
NightUnavailable100%0%100%-61°100%56000m
NightUnavailable100%0%100%-60°100%53500m
NightUnavailable100%0%100%-53°100%54600m
NightUnavailable100%0%100%-43°100%36400m
NightUnavailable100%3%100%-32°100%8100m
NightUnavailable100%0%100%-20°100%23600m
NightUnavailable98%0%100%-7.7°100%21800m
Unavailable100%0%23%4.5°100%25500m
Unavailable100%0%100%16°100%30700m
Unavailable0%0%100%27°100%30000m
Unavailable0%48%100%37°100%18200m
Unavailable0%60%100%44°100%9500m
Unavailable0%68%100%47°100%8100m
Unavailable0%83%100%47°100%5100m
Unavailable98%100%92%41°100%3200m
Unavailable100%13%100%33°100%4500m
Unavailable28%100%81%23°100%3500m
Unavailable11%100%100%12°100%2200m
Unavailable97%88%100%0.3°100%3800m
NightUnavailable10%86%100%-12°100%2000m
NightUnavailable0%36%100%-25°100%1800m
NightUnavailable100%11%84%-36°100%11200m
NightUnavailable100%67%100%-47°100%3800m
Sun, Oct 11, 2026Sunrise · Sunset
NightUnavailable76%92%75%-56°100%875m
NightUnavailable37%92%43%-61°93%1840m
NightUnavailable94%96%25%-60°100%1470m
NightUnavailable100%100%0%-53°100%160m
NightUnavailable5%100%0%-43°100%160m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-32°100%140m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-20°100%160m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-7.9°100%220m
Unavailable0%75%0%4.4°80%300m
Unavailable0%100%0%16°100%340m
Unavailable0%100%0%27°100%720m
Unavailable0%76%0%36°78%24140m
Unavailable0%0%0%43°0%24140m
Unavailable0%52%0%47°53%24100m
Unavailable0%100%0%46°100%24140m
Unavailable0%67%0%41°71%24140m
Unavailable0%100%0%33°100%24140m
Unavailable0%100%0%23°100%24140m
Unavailable0%100%0%11°100%19740m
Unavailable0%100%0%0.07°100%18740m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-13°100%24140m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-25°100%11400m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-37°100%3440m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-48°100%2320m
Mon, Oct 12, 2026Sunrise · Sunset
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-57°100%1260m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-62°100%960m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-60°100%280m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-54°100%9800m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-44°100%600m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-32°100%1380m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-20°100%9840m
NightUnavailable0%100%0%-8°100%10060m
Unavailable5%100%0%4.2°100%10200m

How this forecast is evaluated

See which weather signals PhotoWeather uses to identify Painted Sky conditions across Smoky Mountains & Blue Ridge. The requirements and hourly values above show how those signals apply at Waynesville.

Explore Painted Sky conditions across Smoky Mountains & Blue Ridge →

Recorded match history

Completed PhotoWeather forecast matches recorded for this exact rule at Waynesville during the last 365 days.

Last 30 days
0
recorded matching windows
Last 90 days
1
recorded matching window · 81% average confidence
Last 365 days
5
recorded matching windows · 77% average confidence

Only 5 completed matches are recorded in the last 365 days—insufficient history to identify a reliable typical start time or month.

These figures use completed PhotoWeather MatchEvent records from the previous 365 days only. They describe recorded forecast matches, not observations, climatological probability, or a guarantee of future conditions.

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How this forecast is made

Opportunities are threshold-based signals: PhotoWeather checks whether forecast conditions match the rules for a photography scenario. They are planning guidance, not guarantees. Forecasts can change as new model runs arrive, and confidence generally decreases farther into the forecast horizon, so recheck conditions before travelling.

The weather forecast foundation comes through Open-Meteo , which aggregates models from weather agencies. PhotoWeather applies condition-specific thresholds and derived calculations; not every condition uses every model or data input.

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