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Rule Fire Sky

Big Bend - Fire Sky - US Southwest

Terlingua, Texas, United States

Those rare, intensely red and orange sunset skies

No opportunities right now
Here’s what usually blocks matches

No Fire Sky opportunities in the next 14 days

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Rule requirements (key thresholds)
Golden Hour · Any Fiery Red Sky Potential · ≥ 90.0% Precipitation Chance · ≤ 15.0% Visibility · ≥ 8000.0m

Tip: Scroll down to the 72-hour table to see exactly which condition fails hour by hour.

Most common blockers (next 72 hours)
Fiery Red Sky Potential 100% failing
Golden Hour 96% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Fiery Red Sky Potential
0%
Low Cloud Cover0%
Mid Cloud Cover0%
Aerosol Optical Depth0.1dimensionless
Sun Elevation50.7° (Daylight)

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Denver

No opportunities in the next 10 days

See the blocker timeline below to understand which conditions are preventing matches.

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast tracks the spectacular sunset conditions that ignite the Southwest's desert landscapes. We combine cloud coverage patterns, atmospheric particulate levels, and visibility data to predict when skies will explode with dramatic color over the region's iconic formations.

The Southwest's desert atmosphere creates fire-sky conditions unlike anywhere else in North America. Fine dust particles suspended in the dry air scatter light dramatically, while the region's distinctive red rock formations amplify and reflect sunset colors. Monsoon season brings additional drama with towering storm clouds catching golden light.

What makes the Southwest special for fire-sky photography:

  • Desert dust advantage - Fine particulate matter creates intense color scattering without haze
  • Red rock amplification - Sandstone formations reflect and intensify sunset colors
  • Monsoon drama - July-September storms create towering cloud formations lit from below
  • Slot canyon magic - Narrow canyons like Antelope glow with reflected light during golden hour

Monument Valley's mesas silhouetted against burning skies create legendary images—the combination of towering buttes and horizontal color bands is quintessential Southwest. Slot canyons like Antelope near Page become luminous during fire-sky conditions, with reflected light painting smooth sandstone walls. The hoodoos at Bryce Canyon catch alpenglow while valleys below fill with shadow. During monsoon season, clearing storms produce the most dramatic conditions—dark storm clouds lit from below by setting sun over red desert create apocalyptic beauty. White Sands offers unique opportunities where pure gypsum dunes reflect fire-sky colors with mirror-like intensity.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
0matching hours in the next 95 hours
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
America/Denver
Golden Hour
Any
Fiery Red Sky Potential
≥ 90.0%
Precipitation Chance
≤ 15.0%
Visibility
≥ 8000.0m
Sat, Feb 21
12:00✕0%0%24135m
13:00✕0%0%24134m
14:00✕0%0%24135m
15:00✕0%0%24135m
16:00✕0%0%24135m
17:00✕0%0%24135m
18:00✕54%0%24135m
19:00✕0%0%24134m
20:00✕0%0%24135m
21:00✕0%0%24134m
22:00✕0%0%24135m
23:00✕0%0%24134m
Sun, Feb 22
24:00✕0%0%24134m
01:00✕0%0%24134m
02:00✕0%0%24135m
03:00✕0%0%24135m
04:00✕0%0%24135m
05:00✕0%0%24134m
06:00✓69%0%24135m
07:00✕44%0%24135m
08:00✕0%0%24135m
09:00✕0%0%24135m
10:00✕0%0%24135m
11:00✕0%0%24135m
12:00✕0%0%24134m
13:00✕0%0%24134m
14:00✕0%0%24135m
15:00✕0%0%24135m
16:00✕0%0%24135m
17:00✕0%0%24135m
18:00✕66%0%24135m
19:00✕0%0%24135m
20:00✕0%0%24135m
21:00✕0%0%24134m
22:00✕0%0%24135m
23:00✕0%0%24134m
Mon, Feb 23
24:00✕0%0%24135m
01:00✕0%0%24134m
02:00✕0%0%24135m
03:00✕0%0%24134m
04:00✕0%0%24134m
05:00✕0%0%24135m
06:00✓67%0%24134m
07:00✕46%0%24135m
08:00✕0%0%24135m
09:00✕0%0%24134m
10:00✕0%0%24134m
11:00✕0%0%24134m
12:00✕0%0%24135m
13:00✕0%0%24135m
14:00✕0%0%24135m
15:00✕0%0%24135m
16:00✕0%0%24134m
17:00✕0%0%24135m
18:00✕57%0%24134m
19:00✕0%0%24134m
20:00✕0%0%24135m
21:00✕0%0%24135m
22:00✕0%0%24135m
23:00✕0%0%24135m
Tue, Feb 24
24:00✕0%0%24134m
01:00✕0%0%24134m
02:00✕0%0%24135m
03:00✕0%0%24135m
04:00✕0%0%24134m
05:00✕0%0%24135m
06:00✓63%0%24134m
07:00✕42%0%24135m
08:00✕0%0%24135m
09:00✕0%0%24134m
10:00✕0%0%24135m
11:00✕0%0%24135m
12:00✕0%0%24134m
13:00✕0%0%24134m
14:00✕0%0%24134m
15:00✕0%0%24134m
16:00✕0%0%24134m
17:00✕0%0%24135m
18:00✕59%0%24135m
19:00✕0%0%24135m
20:00✕0%0%24135m
21:00✕0%0%24135m
22:00✕0%0%24135m
23:00✕0%0%24135m
Wed, Feb 25
24:00✕0%0%24135m
01:00✕0%0%24135m
02:00✕0%0%24135m
03:00✕0%0%24135m
04:00✕0%0%24135m
05:00✕0%0%24135m
06:00✓45%0%24135m
07:00✕30%0%24135m
08:00✕0%0%24135m
09:00✕0%0%24135m
10:00✕0%0%24135m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Fiery Red Sky 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/Denver
Aerosol Optical Depth (550nm)
Air Pressure
hPa
Dust AOD (550nm)
Golden Hour
High Clouds
%
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
RH @ 700 hPa
%
Relative Humidity
%
Smoke AOD (550nm)
Temperature
°C
Wind Speed
m/s
Ångström Exponent
Sun, Feb 22 Sunrise 06:27 Sunset 17:48
12:00 ☾
0.05 922hPa 0.002 - 10% 0% 0% 23% 18% 0.008 14°C 2.2m/s 1.3
13:00 ☾
0.05 921hPa 0.002 - 52% 0% 0% 23% 17% 0.008 15°C 1.8m/s 1.3
14:00 ☾
0.05 920hPa 0.002 - 97% 0% 0% 24% 16% 0.008 16°C 1.3m/s 1.3
15:00 ☾
0.06 919hPa 0.003 - 96% 0% 0% 27% 15% 0.009 17°C 1.2m/s 1.3
16:00 ☾
0.06 918hPa 0.003 - 98% 0% 0% 30% 14% 0.009 17°C 1.5m/s 1.3
17:00 ☾
0.06 918hPa 0.003 - 100% 0% 5% 33% 13% 0.009 17°C 1.8m/s 1.3
18:00 ☾
0.07 918hPa 0.003 - 100% 0% 4% 34% 14% 0.009 16°C 3.1m/s 1.3
19:00 ☾
0.07 919hPa 0.003 - 100% 0% 0% 35% 14% 0.01 14°C 3.2m/s 1.3
20:00 ☾
0.08 920hPa 0.003 - 100% 0% 2% 36% 16% 0.01 13°C 1.6m/s 1.4
21:00 ☾
0.08 920hPa 0.003 - 100% 0% 0% 41% 17% 0.01 12°C 1.1m/s 1.4
22:00 ☾
0.09 920hPa 0.003 - 99% 0% 0% 46% 18% 0.01 12°C 1.5m/s 1.4
23:00 ☾
0.09 920hPa 0.003 - 40% 0% 0% 51% 19% 0.01 11°C 1.6m/s 1.4
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 06:26 Sunset 17:49
24:00 ☾
0.09 920hPa 0.003 - 91% 0% 0% 49% 20% 0.01 10°C 1.1m/s 1.4
01:00 ☾
0.1 920hPa 0.003 - 100% 0% 0% 48% 20% 0.02 10°C 1.2m/s 1.5
02:00 ☾
0.1 919hPa 0.003 - 94% 0% 0% 46% 21% 0.02 9.5°C 1.1m/s 1.5
03:00 ☾
0.11 919hPa 0.003 - 61% 0% 0% 43% 22% 0.02 9°C 1.2m/s 1.5
04:00 ☾
0.11 919hPa 0.003 - 100% 0% 0% 40% 22% 0.02 8.5°C 1.1m/s 1.5
05:00 ☾
0.11 919hPa 0.003 - 100% 0% 0% 37% 22% 0.02 8.4°C 1.3m/s 1.5
06:00 ☾
0.11 919hPa 0.003 - 98% 0% 0% 36% 23% 0.02 8.1°C 1.4m/s 1.5
07:00 ☾
0.11 919hPa 0.003 - 5% 0% 0% 36% 23% 0.02 8.7°C 1.5m/s 1.5
08:00 ☾
0.11 920hPa 0.003 - 3% 0% 0% 35% 20% 0.02 10°C 1.2m/s 1.6
09:00 ☾
0.11 920hPa 0.003 - 0% 0% 0% 35% 18% 0.02 12°C 1.4m/s 1.6
10:00 ☾
0.11 920hPa 0.003 - 0% 0% 0% 35% 18% 0.02 13°C 1.9m/s 1.6
11:00 ☾
0.11 919hPa 0.003 - 0% 0% 0% 35% 17% 0.02 15°C 2.2m/s 1.6
12:00 ☾
0.11 918hPa 0.003 - 5% 0% 0% 37% 17% 0.02 16°C 2.7m/s 1.6
13:00 ☾
0.11 917hPa 0.003 - 0% 0% 0% 38% 17% 0.02 17°C 3.2m/s 1.6
14:00 ☾
0.11 916hPa 0.003 - 0% 0% 0% 39% 17% 0.02 18°C 3m/s 1.6
15:00 ☾
0.1 915hPa 0.003 - 0% 0% 0% 40% 18% 0.02 18°C 2.6m/s 1.6
16:00 ☾
0.1 915hPa 0.004 - 0% 0% 0% 40% 18% 0.02 19°C 2.3m/s 1.6
17:00 ☾
0.09 915hPa 0.004 - 0% 0% 0% 41% 19% 0.01 18°C 1.7m/s 1.6
18:00 ☾
- 914hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 39% 22% - 17°C 1.2m/s -
19:00 ☾
- 914hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 37% 24% - 16°C 1.2m/s -
20:00 ☾
- 914hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 35% 25% - 15°C 1.4m/s -
21:00 ☾
- 914hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 30% 25% - 15°C 1.6m/s -
22:00 ☾
- 914hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 26% 26% - 14°C 1.9m/s -
23:00 ☾
- 914hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 21% 27% - 14°C 2.5m/s -
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 06:25 Sunset 17:49
24:00 ☾
- 913hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 20% 31% - 13°C 3m/s -
01:00 ☾
- 913hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 20% 37% - 12°C 3m/s -
02:00 ☾
- 912hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 19% 40% - 11°C 3.1m/s -
03:00 ☾
- 912hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 16% 41% - 11°C 2.8m/s -
04:00 ☾
- 912hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 14% 42% - 11°C 2.6m/s -
05:00 ☾
- 911hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 11% 43% - 10°C 2.6m/s -
06:00 ☾
- 911hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 11% 45% - 9.9°C 2.3m/s -
07:00 ☾
- 911hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 11% 44% - 10°C 2.3m/s -
08:00 ☾
- 911hPa - - 2% 0% 0% 11% 38% - 13°C 1.9m/s -
09:00 ☾
- 911hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 11% 33% - 15°C 1.8m/s -
10:00 ☾
- 911hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 11% 29% - 17°C 1.9m/s -
11:00 ☾
- 910hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 11% 25% - 19°C 2.6m/s -
12:00 ☾
- 908hPa - - 2% 0% 0% 11% 22% - 21°C 2.3m/s -
13:00 ☾
- 907hPa - - 1% 0% 0% 11% 20% - 22°C 2m/s -
14:00 ☾
- 905hPa - - 5% 0% 0% 11% 18% - 24°C 1.9m/s -
15:00 ☾
- 904hPa - - 100% 0% 0% 11% 17% - 25°C 1.8m/s -
16:00 ☾
- 904hPa - - 100% 0% 0% 11% 17% - 25°C 1.3m/s -
17:00 ☾
- 904hPa - - 100% 0% 0% 11% 18% - 25°C 0.73m/s -
18:00 ☾
- 900hPa - - 68% 0% 0% 11% 21% - 22°C 1.2m/s -
19:00 ☾
- 896hPa - - 37% 0% 0% 11% 25% - 19°C 1.6m/s -
20:00 ☾
- 892hPa - - 5% 0% 0% 11% 28% - 16°C 2m/s -
21:00 ☾
- 892hPa - - 22% 0% 0% 13% 28% - 16°C 2.3m/s -
22:00 ☾
- 892hPa - - 40% 0% 0% 15% 28% - 16°C 2.6m/s -
23:00 ☾
- 891hPa - - 57% 0% 0% 17% 28% - 16°C 2.9m/s -
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 06:24 Sunset 17:50
24:00 ☾
- 892hPa - - 70% 0% 0% 19% 27% - 17°C 2.8m/s -
01:00 ☾
- 892hPa - - 83% 0% 0% 20% 26% - 18°C 2.7m/s -
02:00 ☾
- 892hPa - - 97% 0% 0% 22% 24% - 19°C 2.7m/s -
03:00 ☾
- 892hPa - - 64% 0% 0% 20% 21% - 21°C 5.2m/s -
04:00 ☾
- 892hPa - - 32% 0% 0% 19% 19% - 23°C 7.7m/s -
05:00 ☾
- 892hPa - - 0% 0% 0% 17% 16% - 25°C 10m/s -
06:00 ☾
- 891hPa - - 2% 0% 0% 23% 16% - 26°C 10m/s -
07:00 ☾
- 890hPa - - 3% 0% 0% 29% 16% - 27°C 11m/s -
08:00 ☾
- 889hPa - - 5% 0% 0% 35% 15% - 28°C 11m/s -
09:00 ☾
- 888hPa - - 10% 0% 0% 35% 16% - 28°C 10m/s -
10:00 ☾
- 888hPa - - 15% 0% 0% 34% 16% - 27°C 9.1m/s -
11:00 ☾
- 888hPa - - 20% 0% 0% 33% 16% - 27°C 8.1m/s -
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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