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Rule Fire Sky

Sedona - Fire Sky - US Southwest

Sedona, Arizona, United States

Those rare, intensely red and orange sunset skies

Currently

Real-time conditions
Fiery Red Sky Potential
21%
Low Cloud Cover0%
Mid Cloud Cover7%
High Cloud Cover5%
Aerosol Optical Depth0.1dimensionless
Sun Elevation-1.9° (Civil twilight)

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Denver
fire-sky weather icon
Next opportunity
Excellent Fiery Red Sky at Sunrise
Sedona
Thu, Apr 16 · 07:00–07:26 · 1h window
Medium confidence
45%
🔥Fiery Red Sky Potential79%
Low Cloud Cover: 0%
Mid Cloud Cover: 68%
High Cloud Cover: 2%
Sun Elevation: 0.8° (Golden hour)

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
≥ 65.0%
Precipitation Chance
≤ 15.0%
Visibility
≥ 8000.0m
Tue, Apr 7
19:00✕0%0%24135m
20:00✕51%0%24134m
21:00✕0%0%24135m
22:00✕0%0%24134m
23:00✕0%0%24134m
Wed, Apr 8
24:00✕0%0%24135m
01:00✕0%0%24135m
02:00✕0%0%24134m
03:00✕0%0%24135m
04:00✕0%0%24134m
05:00✕0%0%24135m
06:00✓0%0%24134m
07:00✓3.6%0%24135m
08:00✕0%0%24134m
09:00✕0%0%24135m
10:00✕0%0%24135m
11:00✕0%0%24134m
12:00✕0%0%24135m
13:00✕0%0%24135m
14:00✕0%0%24134m
15:00✕0%0%24134m
16:00✕0%0%24135m
17:00✕0%0%24135m
18:00✕0%0%24135m
19:00✕0%0%24134m
20:00✕21%0%24135m
21:00✕0%0%24135m
22:00✕0%0%24135m
23:00✕0%0%24134m
Thu, Apr 9
24:00✕0%0%24134m
01:00✕0%0%24134m
02:00✕0%0%24135m
03:00✕0%0%24134m
04:00✕0%0%24135m
05:00✕0%0%24135m
06:00✓0%0%24135m
07:00✓11%0%24135m
08:00✕0%0%24134m
09:00✕0%0%24135m
10:00✕0%0%24134m
11:00✕0%0%24134m
12:00✕0%0%24135m
13:00✕0%0%24135m
14:00✕0%0%24134m
15:00✕0%0%24134m
16:00✕0%0%24135m
17:00✕0%0%24134m
18:00✕0%0%24135m
19:00✕0%0%24134m
20:00✕55%0%24134m
21:00✕0%0%24135m
22:00✕0%0%24134m
23:00✕0%0%24134m
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%24134m
06:00✓0%0%24134m
07:00✓24%0%24134m
08:00✕0%0%24134m
09:00✕0%0%24134m
10:00✕0%0%24134m
11:00✕0%0%24135m
12:00✕0%0%24135m
13:00✕0%0%24135m
14:00✕0%0%24134m
15:00✕0%0%24135m
16:00✕0%0%24134m
17:00✕0%0%24135m
18:00✕0%0%24134m
19:00✕0%0%24134m
20:00✕18%0%24134m
21:00✕0%0%24135m
22:00✕0%0%24135m
23:00✕0%0%24135m
Sat, Apr 11
24:00✕0%0%24135m
01:00✕0%0%24135m
02:00✕0%0%24135m
03:00✕0%0%24135m
04:00✕0%13%23452m
05:00✕0%26%22769m
06:00✓0%39%22087m
07:00✓8.6%34%22770m
08:00✕0%30%23452m
09:00✕0%25%24135m
10:00✕0%24%24135m
11:00✕0%23%24135m
12:00✕0%22%24135m
13:00✕0%15%24135m
14:00✕0%7.4%24135m
15:00✕0%0%24135m
16:00✕0%0%24135m
17:00✕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
Wed, Apr 8 Sunrise 07:03 Sunset 19:53
20:00 ☾
0.09 57% 27% 0.01 - 5% 0% 7% 30% 0.009 -1.9° 0seconds
21:00 ☾
0.09 55% 34% 0.01 - 5% 0% 1% 31% 0.009 -14° 0seconds
22:00 ☾
0.09 63% 29% 0.01 - 5% 0% 0% 31% 0.009 -25° 0seconds
23:00 ☾
0.08 70% 24% 0.01 - 5% 0% 0% 31% 0.008 -35° 0seconds
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 07:03 Sunset 19:53
24:00 ☾
0.08 78% 19% 0.01 - 0% 0% 0% 32% 0.007 -43° 0seconds
01:00 ☾
0.07 85% 13% 0.01 - 0% 0% 0% 32% 0.007 -47° 0seconds
02:00 ☾
0.07 93% 6% 0.01 - 0% 0% 0% 32% 0.006 -47° 0seconds
03:00 ☾
0.07 100% 0% 0.01 - 0% 0% 0% 33% 0.006 -42° 0seconds
04:00 ☾
0.07 100% 2% 0.02 - 5% 0% 0% 33% 0.006 -34° 0seconds
05:00 ☾
0.07 99% 4% 0.02 - 23% 0% 0% 33% 0.006 -24° 0seconds
06:00 ☾
0.07 99% 6% 0.02 - 10% 0% 0% 33% 0.005 -13° 0seconds
07:00 ☾
0.07 89% 10% 0.01 - 6% 0% 0% 34% 0.006 -1.2° 0seconds
08:00 ☾
0.08 79% 15% 0.01 - 6% 0% 0% 34% 0.006 11° 0seconds
09:00 ☾
0.08 69% 19% 0.01 - 5% 0% 0% 35% 0.006 23° 0seconds
10:00 ☾
0.07 63% 18% 0.01 - 15% 0% 0% 36% 0.006 35° 3600seconds
11:00 ☾
0.07 58% 17% 0.01 - 16% 0% 0% 38% 0.006 47° 3600seconds
12:00 ☾
0.07 52% 16% 0.01 - 5% 0% 0% 40% 0.006 56° 3600seconds
13:00 ☾
0.08 38% 20% 0.01 - 16% 0% 0% 36% 0.006 62° 3600seconds
14:00 ☾
0.09 24% 23% 0.01 - 8% 0% 0% 33% 0.007 62° 3600seconds
15:00 ☾
0.09 10% 27% 0.01 - 13% 0% 0% 29% 0.007 56° 3600seconds
16:00 ☾
0.09 7% 24% 0.01 - 19% 0% 0% 29% 0.007 46° 3600seconds
17:00 ☾
0.1 4% 20% 0.01 - 20% 0% 0% 28% 0.008 35° 3600seconds
18:00 ☾
0.11 1% 17% 0.01 - 46% 0% 2% 27% 0.008 23° 3600seconds
19:00 ☾
0.12 1% 18% 0.02 - 91% 0% 5% 31% 0.008 10° 3600seconds
20:00 ☾
0.13 2% 18% 0.02 - 100% 0% 5% 34% 0.008 -1.7° 0seconds
21:00 ☾
0.13 2% 19% 0.02 - 100% 0% 31% 38% 0.008 -14° 0seconds
22:00 ☾
0.13 1% 16% 0.03 - 100% 0% 6% 38% 0.009 -25° 0seconds
23:00 ☾
0.13 1% 13% 0.03 - 100% 0% 6% 39% 0.009 -35° 0seconds
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 07:01 Sunset 19:54
24:00 ☾
0.13 0% 10% 0.03 - 100% 0% 42% 39% 0.009 -42° 0seconds
01:00 ☾
0.13 0% 7% 0.03 - 100% 0% 14% 38% 0.009 -47° 0seconds
02:00 ☾
0.14 0% 4% 0.03 - 100% 0% 63% 36% 0.01 -46° 0seconds
03:00 ☾
0.14 0% 1% 0.03 - 100% 0% 8% 35% 0.01 -42° 0seconds
04:00 ☾
0.12 0% 1% 0.02 - 100% 0% 0% 37% 0.009 -34° 0seconds
05:00 ☾
0.1 0% 1% 0.02 - 100% 0% 4% 39% 0.007 -24° 0seconds
06:00 ☾
0.1 0% 1% 0.02 - 100% 0% 76% 41% 0.008 -13° 0seconds
07:00 ☾
- 0% 1% - - 100% 0% 100% 38% - -0.85° 0seconds
08:00 ☾
- 0% 0% - - 100% 0% 25% 35% - 11° 0seconds
09:00 ☾
- 0% 0% - - 100% 0% 100% 33% - 23° 0seconds
10:00 ☾
- 0% 1% - - 100% 0% 99% 37% - 35° 3600seconds
11:00 ☾
- 0% 2% - - 100% 0% 100% 42% - 47° 3600seconds
12:00 ☾
- 0% 3% - - 100% 0% 100% 47% - 56° 3600seconds
13:00 ☾
- 0% 7% - - 100% 0% 99% 46% - 63° 3600seconds
14:00 ☾
- 1% 12% - - 83% 0% 78% 44% - 62° 3600seconds
15:00 ☾
- 1% 16% - - 99% 0% 100% 43% - 56° 3600seconds
16:00 ☾
- 1% 17% - - 5% 0% 36% 43% - 46° 3600seconds
17:00 ☾
- 2% 17% - - 5% 0% 4% 43% - 35° 3600seconds
18:00 ☾
- 2% 18% - - 5% 0% 4% 43% - 23° 3600seconds
19:00 ☾
- 20% 21% - - 2% 0% 0% 45% - 11° 3600seconds
20:00 ☾
- 39% 24% - - 5% 0% 0% 46% - -1.5° 3600seconds
21:00 ☾
- 57% 27% - - 5% 0% 4% 48% - -14° 0seconds
22:00 ☾
- 62% 25% - - 5% 0% 5% 49% - -25° 0seconds
23:00 ☾
- 66% 22% - - 90% 0% 96% 50% - -34° 0seconds
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 07:00 Sunset 19:55
24:00 ☾
- 71% 20% - - 100% 0% 55% 52% - -42° 0seconds
01:00 ☾
- 72% 22% - - 67% 32% 68% 55% - -46° 0seconds
02:00 ☾
- 74% 24% - - 33% 64% 82% 58% - -46° 0seconds
03:00 ☾
- 75% 26% - - 0% 96% 95% 61% - -42° 0seconds
04:00 ☾
- 74% 25% - - 0% 97% 93% 70% - -34° 1200seconds
05:00 ☾
- 72% 25% - - 0% 98% 91% 78% - -24° 2400seconds
06:00 ☾
- 71% 24% - - 0% 99% 89% 87% - -13° 3600seconds
07:00 ☾
- 68% 27% - - 0% 67% 61% 89% - -0.49° 3600seconds
08:00 ☾
- 66% 30% - - 0% 35% 33% 91% - 11° 3600seconds
09:00 ☾
- 63% 33% - - 0% 3% 5% 92% - 24° 3600seconds
10:00 ☾
- 65% 31% - - 1% 3% 7% 91% - 36° 3600seconds
11:00 ☾
- 66% 30% - - 2% 3% 9% 90% - 47° 3600seconds
12:00 ☾
- 68% 28% - - 3% 3% 10% 89% - 57° 3600seconds
13:00 ☾
- 74% 27% - - 2% 3% 11% 79% - 63° 2400seconds
14:00 ☾
- 79% 27% - - 2% 2% 12% 68% - 63° 1200seconds
15:00 ☾
- 85% 26% - - 1% 1% 13% 58% - 56° 0seconds
16:00 ☾
- 86% 24% - - 1% 1% 9% 59% - 46° 0seconds
17:00 ☾
- 88% 22% - - 0% 0% 4% 61% - 35° 0seconds
18:00 ☾
- 89% 20% - - 0% 0% 0% 62% - 23° 0seconds
19:00 ☾
- 89% 20% - - 2% 0% 0% 65% - 11° 0seconds
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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