What conditions does Fire Sky look for?

Golden Hour: Any. Fiery Red Sky Potential: ≥ 65.0%. Precipitation Chance: ≤ 15.0%. Visibility: ≥ 8000.0m

How often do conditions match?

There are 3 upcoming opportunity windows in the next 10 days.

More Fire Sky in US Southwest

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Rule Fire Sky

Grand Canyon - Fire Sky - US Southwest

Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States

Those rare, intensely red and orange sunset skies

Currently

Real-time conditions

Fiery Red Sky Potential

Low Cloud Cover0%

Mid Cloud Cover0%

High Cloud Cover0%

Aerosol Optical Depth0.1dimensionless

Sun Elevation-45.8° (Astronomical night)

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Denver

Next opportunity

Excellent Fiery Red Sky at Sunrise

Grand Canyon

Sun, Apr 12 · 07:00–07:32 · 1h window

Medium confidence

52%

🔥Fiery Red Sky Potential82.8%

Low Cloud Cover: 0%

Mid Cloud Cover: 2%

High Cloud Cover: 65%

Sun Elevation: -0.2° (Civil twilight)

Excellent Fiery Red Sky at Sunrise

Grand Canyon

Tue, Apr 14 · 07:00–07:30

🔥Fiery Red Sky Potential:70.5%

Medium

Excellent Fiery Red Sky at Sunrise

Grand Canyon

Fri, Apr 17 · 07:00–07:26

🔥Fiery Red Sky Potential:83.6%

Medium

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 74 hours

AND logic: all conditions required

Meets requirement

Misses requirement

Time America/Denver	Golden Hour Any	Fiery Red Sky Potential ≥ 65.0%	Precipitation Chance ≤ 15.0%	Visibility ≥ 8000.0m
Wed, Apr 8
22:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
23:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
Thu, Apr 9
24:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
01:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
02:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
03:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
04:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
05:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
06:00	✓	0%	0%	24134m
07:00	✓	10%	0%	24135m
08:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
09:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
10:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
11:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
12:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
13:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
14:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
15:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
16:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
17:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
18:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
19:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
20:00	✕	77%	0%	24135m
21:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
22:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
23:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
Fri, Apr 10
24:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
01:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
02:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
03:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
04:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
05:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
06:00	✓	0%	0%	24135m
07:00	✓	24%	0%	24135m
08:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
09:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
10:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
11:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
12:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
13:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
14:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
15:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
16:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
17:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
18:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
19:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
20:00	✕	39%	0%	24134m
21:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
22:00	✕	0%	0%	24134m
23:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
Sat, Apr 11
24:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
01:00	✕	0%	6%	24134m
02:00	✕	0%	12%	24134m
03:00	✕	0%	18%	24134m
04:00	✕	0%	19%	24135m
05:00	✕	0%	21%	23217m
06:00	✓	0%	22%	19241m
07:00	✓	51%	15%	20872m
08:00	✕	0%	7.4%	22504m
09:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
10:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
11:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
12:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
13:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
14:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
15:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
16:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
17:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
18:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
19:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
20:00	✕	54%	0%	24135m
21:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
22:00	✕	0%	0%	24135m
23:00	✕	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)	Clear Sky Probability (Ensemble) %	Cloud Cover Uncertainty (Ensemble) %	Dust AOD (550nm)	Golden Hour	High Clouds %	Low Clouds %	Mid-Level Clouds %	RH @ 700 hPa %	Smoke AOD (550nm)	Solar Elevation °	Sunshine Duration seconds
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 07:03 Sunset 19:56
02:00 ☾	0.07	77%	5%	0.01	-	0%	0%	0%	34%	0.005	-46°	0seconds
03:00 ☾	0.07	100%	0%	0.01	-	5%	0%	0%	34%	0.005	-41°	0seconds
04:00 ☾	0.08	99%	3%	0.01	-	57%	0%	0%	34%	0.005	-34°	0seconds
05:00 ☾	0.08	99%	5%	0.01	-	41%	0%	0%	34%	0.006	-24°	0seconds
06:00 ☾	0.08	98%	8%	0.01	-	20%	0%	0%	34%	0.006	-13°	0seconds
07:00 ☾	0.08	81%	13%	0.01	-	5%	0%	0%	35%	0.006	-1.3°	0seconds
08:00 ☾	0.08	63%	19%	0.01	-	5%	0%	0%	36%	0.006	11°	0seconds
09:00 ☾	0.08	46%	24%	0.01	-	8%	0%	0%	37%	0.006	23°	0seconds
10:00 ☾	0.08	38%	22%	0.01	-	18%	0%	0%	36%	0.006	35°	3600seconds
11:00 ☾	0.08	30%	20%	0.01	-	6%	0%	0%	35%	0.006	46°	3600seconds
12:00 ☾	0.07	22%	18%	0.01	-	71%	0%	0%	35%	0.006	55°	3600seconds
13:00 ☾	0.07	15%	17%	0.01	-	100%	0%	0%	33%	0.006	61°	3600seconds
14:00 ☾	0.08	8%	16%	0.01	-	100%	0%	2%	31%	0.006	61°	3600seconds
15:00 ☾	0.09	1%	15%	0.01	-	100%	0%	5%	30%	0.007	55°	3600seconds
16:00 ☾	0.1	1%	13%	0.01	-	100%	0%	0%	27%	0.008	46°	3600seconds
17:00 ☾	0.1	0%	10%	0.01	-	78%	0%	0%	25%	0.008	35°	3600seconds
18:00 ☾	0.1	0%	8%	0.01	-	84%	0%	0%	23%	0.008	23°	3600seconds
19:00 ☾	0.1	0%	7%	0.01	-	50%	0%	0%	26%	0.008	11°	3600seconds
20:00 ☾	0.12	0%	5%	0.01	-	77%	0%	0%	30%	0.008	-1.1°	0seconds
21:00 ☾	0.13	0%	4%	0.02	-	92%	0%	0%	34%	0.008	-13°	0seconds
22:00 ☾	0.15	0%	3%	0.02	-	100%	0%	2%	35%	0.01	-24°	0seconds
23:00 ☾	0.17	0%	3%	0.02	-	100%	0%	15%	37%	0.01	-34°	0seconds
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 07:02 Sunset 19:57
24:00 ☾	0.19	0%	2%	0.03	-	100%	0%	99%	39%	0.01	-41°	0seconds
01:00 ☾	0.19	0%	1%	0.03	-	100%	0%	100%	37%	0.01	-45°	0seconds
02:00 ☾	0.19	0%	1%	0.03	-	100%	0%	100%	34%	0.01	-45°	0seconds
03:00 ☾	0.19	0%	0%	0.03	-	100%	0%	81%	32%	0.01	-41°	0seconds
04:00 ☾	0.19	0%	0%	0.03	-	100%	0%	99%	34%	0.01	-34°	0seconds
05:00 ☾	0.17	0%	0%	0.02	-	100%	0%	5%	36%	0.01	-24°	0seconds
06:00 ☾	0.15	0%	0%	0.02	-	100%	0%	100%	38%	0.01	-13°	0seconds
07:00 ☾	-	0%	0%	-	-	100%	0%	100%	39%	-	-0.95°	0seconds
08:00 ☾	-	0%	1%	-	-	100%	0%	100%	40%	-	11°	0seconds
09:00 ☾	-	0%	1%	-	-	100%	0%	100%	41%	-	23°	0seconds
10:00 ☾	-	0%	1%	-	-	100%	0%	100%	41%	-	35°	0seconds
11:00 ☾	-	0%	1%	-	-	100%	0%	100%	40%	-	46°	3600seconds
12:00 ☾	-	0%	1%	-	-	100%	0%	100%	39%	-	55°	3600seconds
13:00 ☾	-	0%	2%	-	-	100%	0%	100%	38%	-	61°	3600seconds
14:00 ☾	-	0%	2%	-	-	22%	0%	100%	37%	-	61°	3600seconds
15:00 ☾	-	0%	3%	-	-	64%	0%	100%	36%	-	55°	3600seconds
16:00 ☾	-	0%	5%	-	-	26%	0%	100%	36%	-	46°	3600seconds
17:00 ☾	-	0%	6%	-	-	40%	0%	100%	35%	-	35°	3600seconds
18:00 ☾	-	0%	8%	-	-	72%	0%	100%	34%	-	23°	3600seconds
19:00 ☾	-	4%	15%	-	-	3%	0%	32%	36%	-	11°	3600seconds
20:00 ☾	-	9%	22%	-	-	0%	0%	87%	37%	-	-0.91°	0seconds
21:00 ☾	-	13%	29%	-	-	0%	0%	7%	39%	-	-13°	0seconds
22:00 ☾	-	14%	29%	-	-	0%	0%	2%	44%	-	-24°	0seconds
23:00 ☾	-	16%	29%	-	-	17%	0%	62%	49%	-	-33°	0seconds
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 07:00 Sunset 19:57
24:00 ☾	-	17%	29%	-	-	40%	0%	100%	55%	-	-41°	0seconds
01:00 ☾	-	24%	33%	-	-	21%	0%	38%	58%	-	-45°	0seconds
02:00 ☾	-	30%	38%	-	-	62%	0%	14%	61%	-	-45°	0seconds
03:00 ☾	-	37%	42%	-	-	6%	2%	87%	63%	-	-41°	0seconds
04:00 ☾	-	37%	41%	-	-	0%	1%	57%	66%	-	-33°	0seconds
05:00 ☾	-	36%	40%	-	-	0%	3%	100%	69%	-	-24°	0seconds
06:00 ☾	-	36%	39%	-	-	0%	30%	100%	72%	-	-13°	0seconds
07:00 ☾	-	39%	39%	-	-	0%	20%	67%	74%	-	-0.6°	1200seconds
08:00 ☾	-	42%	39%	-	-	0%	10%	34%	76%	-	11°	2400seconds
09:00 ☾	-	45%	39%	-	-	0%	0%	1%	78%	-	23°	3600seconds
10:00 ☾	-	44%	37%	-	-	2%	0%	1%	68%	-	35°	3600seconds
11:00 ☾	-	44%	36%	-	-	3%	0%	1%	59%	-	46°	3600seconds
12:00 ☾	-	43%	34%	-	-	5%	0%	1%	50%	-	56°	3600seconds
13:00 ☾	-	56%	32%	-	-	6%	0%	2%	45%	-	62°	2400seconds
14:00 ☾	-	68%	30%	-	-	6%	0%	3%	40%	-	62°	1200seconds
15:00 ☾	-	81%	28%	-	-	7%	0%	3%	35%	-	56°	0seconds
16:00 ☾	-	83%	26%	-	-	6%	0%	2%	34%	-	46°	0seconds
17:00 ☾	-	84%	23%	-	-	5%	0%	1%	33%	-	35°	0seconds
18:00 ☾	-	86%	21%	-	-	4%	0%	0%	32%	-	23°	0seconds
19:00 ☾	-	87%	19%	-	-	13%	0%	0%	37%	-	11°	0seconds
20:00 ☾	-	89%	16%	-	-	23%	0%	0%	41%	-	-0.7°	0seconds
21:00 ☾	-	90%	14%	-	-	32%	0%	0%	45%	-	-13°	0seconds
22:00 ☾	-	92%	12%	-	-	55%	0%	0%	50%	-	-24°	0seconds
23:00 ☾	-	95%	11%	-	-	78%	0%	0%	54%	-	-33°	0seconds
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 06:59 Sunset 19:58
24:00 ☾	-	97%	9%	-	-	100%	0%	0%	59%	-	-41°	0seconds
01:00 ☾	-	94%	12%	-	-	97%	0%	0%	58%	-	-45°	0seconds

How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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