The most colorful sunsets usually have some clouds — roughly 30–70% sky cover — with clear sky near the horizon so sunlight can reach the cloud undersides. This tool reads the National Weather Service hourly forecast at the exact sunrise and sunset time for your location and scores each one.
It's a heuristic, not a guarantee: high clouds glow better than low overcast, and haze can mute colors.
How to use the Sunset & Sunrise Color Forecast
- Enter your U.S. location.
- Look for sunrises and sunsets scoring 6+.
- Check again the morning of the shoot — cloud forecasts change quickly.
FAQ
Why do clouds make better sunsets?
Clear skies give clean gradients; partial clouds catch red and orange light from below after the sun drops.
Does it separate high and low clouds?
The NWS grid forecast gives total sky cover; use a satellite loop to see whether clouds are high (best) or low.
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