Light Breakthrough Potential
Likelihood of sun breaking through clouds creating dramatic rays and dappled light patterns. Best with partial cloud cover (40-70%) and some sunshine reaching the surface.
What is Light Breakthrough Potential?
Technical detailsLight Breakthrough Potential forecasts the likelihood of sun breaking through patchy cloud cover to create dramatic rays, dappled light patterns, and god rays. The algorithm analyzes sunshine duration forecasts, cloud cover at multiple levels, vertical motion (omega) indicating convective activity, visibility for ray definition, and direct radiation to identify conditions where sunlight will pierce clouds in visually striking ways. High scores indicate active convective weather with dynamic clouds and frequent sun breaks—perfect for landscape photography with dramatic lighting.
Photography tip
How to use this conditionHigh scores (70+) indicate dramatic sun breaks likely - great for landscape photography with god rays and dappled light. Best during active weather with convective clouds.
Light Breakthrough Potential in photography
In depthLight Breakthrough Potential is PhotoWeather's Pro-tier metric for forecasting dramatic sunlight breaking through clouds, designed for landscape photographers who seek those iconic images where sun rays pierce through gaps in cloud cover, creating dappled light, god rays, and dynamic lighting patterns. These conditions occur when cloud cover is partial and dynamic—enough clouds to create contrast and ray definition, but with sufficient breaks for sunlight to penetrate and illuminate the landscape below. Total overcast produces flat light with no breakthroughs, while clear skies eliminate the clouds needed to define the rays.
PhotoWeather's algorithm identifies the sweet spot: partial cloud cover (40-70%) combined with active convective conditions that create moving gaps and well-defined cloud edges. Sunshine duration forecasts provide the foundation—models predict how many minutes of sunshine will occur in each hour, indicating how frequently the sun will break through. Cloud cover at low, mid, and high levels is analyzed to identify multi-layer setups where breaks in lower clouds reveal sunlit upper clouds, creating depth and drama. Vertical motion (omega at 700hPa) indicates atmospheric lifting and convection—positive values suggest active weather with dynamic, evolving clouds that frequently create and close gaps. Visibility is critical for god ray definition: dust, haze, or moisture in the air scatter sunlight to make rays visible as beams, while pristine clear air produces invisible rays. Direct solar radiation measurement confirms that sunlight is actually reaching the surface rather than being completely blocked.
Scores above 70% indicate excellent conditions for dramatic light breakthroughs with frequent sun breaks through dynamic clouds. Photographers typically set thresholds of 60-70% and combine this condition with golden hour or blue hour filters to catch light breakthroughs during optimal color windows. This derived field is essential for landscape photographers chasing dramatic lighting, as it predicts those fleeting moments when the sun breaks through and transforms an ordinary scene into something magical.
Frequently asked questions
Common questionsWhat is Light Breakthrough Potential?
Light Breakthrough Potential forecasts the likelihood of sun breaking through patchy cloud cover to create dramatic rays, dappled light patterns, and god rays. The algorithm analyzes sunshine duration forecasts, cloud cover at multiple levels, vertical motion (omega) indicating convective activity, visibility for ray definition, and direct radiation to identify conditions where sunlight will pierce clouds in visually striking ways. High scores indicate active convective weather with dynamic clouds and frequent sun breaks—perfect for landscape photography with dramatic lighting.
How does Light Breakthrough Potential affect photography?
High scores (70+) indicate dramatic sun breaks likely - great for landscape photography with god rays and dappled light. Best during active weather with convective clouds.
What values are typical for Light Breakthrough Potential?
Light Breakthrough Potential typically ranges from 0.0% to 100.0%. PhotoWeather monitors these values to help you identify ideal conditions for your photography goals.
How is Light Breakthrough Potential calculated?
Light Breakthrough Potential is an advanced derived condition calculated from multiple weather parameters including Sunshine Duration, Total Cloud Coverage, Low Clouds, Mid-Level Clouds, High Clouds. PhotoWeather's algorithms analyze these factors to provide a single, easy-to-understand score for this photography opportunity.
Typical values
Value rangeRelated fields
Similar weather conditionsAurora Quality
Combines aurora activity with viewing conditions (darkness, cloud cover, visibility) to provide photography-ready aurora quality scores. Aurora activity is OVATION-aware from the compute step.
Blue Hour Quality
Evaluates atmospheric conditions for blue hour photography quality. Scores sky clarity, cloud type suitability (high thin clouds ideal), visibility, and calm conditions.
Fiery Red Sky Potential
Atmospheric suitability for fiery red sky conditions across extended time window around sunrise/sunset periods. Enhanced with CAMS aerosol data (AOD, particle composition, Ångström exponent) and GFS upper-air humidity for improved color prediction.
Fog Probability
Multi-factor fog formation likelihood combining visibility, dewpoint spread, humidity, and time-of-day analysis
Golden Hour Potential
Atmospheric suitability for golden hour photography across extended time window around golden hour periods
Golden Clouds Potential
Cloud formation suitability for golden hour photography across extended time window around golden hour periods
Cloud Drama Score
Analysis of cloud formations and atmospheric conditions for dramatic sky photography
Storm Intensity
Storm intensity analysis combining precipitation, wind conditions, atmospheric pressure, visibility, GFS simulated radar reflectivity, and wind shear for enhanced storm organization detection.
Frost Probability
Frost formation probability combining temperature, dewpoint spread, cloud cover, and wind analysis
Rainbow Probability
Probability of visible rainbow formation based on solar geometry and precipitation patterns
Coastal Drama Score
Analysis of coastal conditions combining wave dynamics, atmospheric conditions, and lighting for dramatic seascape photography. Evaluates wave height, swell patterns, spray potential, and atmospheric drama factors.
Atmospheric Clarity Score
Comprehensive atmospheric clarity analysis for landscape and astrophotography using CAMS aerosol optical depth, particle composition (dust, smoke, sea salt), particle size distribution (Ångström exponent), and visibility conditions.
Soft Light Index
Quality of diffused light for portrait and product photography. High scores indicate soft, even lighting that minimizes harsh shadows - the 'giant softbox' effect.
Cloud Texture Score
Rates how visually interesting the clouds are - distinguishing dramatic formations from boring flat overcast. High scores indicate structured clouds with good light transmission.
Overcast Flatness
How flat and boring the overcast is. HIGH scores indicate uniform gray sky with no breaks or texture - generally unfavorable for most photography. LOW scores indicate breaks, texture, or clearing.
Total Cloud Coverage
Overall cloud coverage across all altitudes
Sunshine Duration
Seconds of direct sunlight per hour
Direct Radiation
Direct (beam) solar radiation reaching the surface. Higher values indicate harsh, directional light with defined shadows.
Visibility
Horizontal visibility distance
Get started with PhotoWeather
Create rules using Light Breakthrough Potential and get notified when conditions are perfect for your locations.
Create Free Account