in 22h 22m
Partly lit cloud edges
Exactly at sunrise: Good
Photo locations · Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
Sugarloaf Mountain View: sunrise photography forecast
From Sugarloaf, Rio unfolds in layers: Guanabara Bay, Botafogo, the city mountains and Christ the Redeemer across the gap. Sunset is only half the picture—the transition into city lights is what makes the viewpoint worth staying for.
Will tomorrow's sunrise be worth it?
Simplified forecast from the open model run. The full forecast — a second model, your exact viewpoint, the hourly cloud timeline — is in the app.
Global model, about 13 km: less certain than in Europe.
Mid and high cloud covers 37% overhead, a canvas that can catch colour.
Recommended arrival
Sky colors
Golden hour
Sunrise
Glow before
Light corridor
-5 km
Behind you
Your location
250 m asl
5 km
Nearby
20 km
Near horizon
50 km
Light path
100 km
Light path
150 km
Far light path
200 km
Far light path
300 km
Far light path
350 km
Far light path
cloud-cover fieldinterpolation uncertaintysun directionnear-ground humiditycloud at unresolved heightmodelled underlightunderlight · height uncertainunderlight · lit on one readinglit but hidden behind nearer cloud
Terrain is drawn for illustration only — it is not used to calculate underlight or obstruction.
Clouds: Excellent lit screen for color
High clouds over you (37% mid/high cover) — a large screen for colour.
Cloud occupies two height bands, giving the sky useful layered structure.
Cloud cover changes between nearby and distant parts of the scene, adding texture and depth.
A thin high/mid veil (29%) acts as a natural diffuser — soft, even light.
Corridor partly open
Partial cloud at the light ray's height along the path (38%) — some light may get through, but the path is not open.
Sun likely hidden. Low cloud fills the horizon (94%) — the sun will probably stay behind it.
Best colour
05:18
in 22h 15m
05:10–05:55, look east 30–40° up · brief, colour behind you too
Clarity: Reduced
High humidity (95%) may soften and mute colors.
Forecast refreshed a few hours before sunrise.
Will Sunday's sunrise be worth it?
Simplified forecast from the open model run. The full forecast — a second model, your exact viewpoint, the hourly cloud timeline — is in the app.
Global model, about 13 km: less certain than in Europe.
Most of the cloud overhead sits in shadow and is unlikely to catch colour. The light path toward the sun is open.
Sky colors
Golden hour
Sunrise
Light corridor
-5 km
Behind you
Your location
250 m asl
5 km
Nearby
20 km
Near horizon
50 km
Light path
100 km
Light path
150 km
Far light path
200 km
Far light path
300 km
Far light path
350 km
Far light path
cloud-cover fieldinterpolation uncertaintysun directionnear-ground humiditycloud at unresolved heightmodelled underlightunderlight · height uncertainunderlight · lit on one readinglit but hidden behind nearer cloud
Terrain is drawn for illustration only — it is not used to calculate underlight or obstruction.
Clouds: Cloud canvas mostly unlit
Very thick mid/high cover (100%) — colour likely only at cloud edges.
Most clouds above you sit in shadow — their undersides are unlikely to catch colour.
Cloud cover is nearly solid and uniform across the near scene — a flat lid rather than separated layers.
Cloud occupies two height bands, giving the sky useful layered structure.
Light corridor is open
20% blocking cloud at the ray's height out to 350 km — the low sun's own path is clear. Cloud above that ray is judged separately.
Distant low cloud sits below the light ray (Earth's curvature) — it can't block the light.
Sun likely hidden. Low cloud fills the horizon (70%) — the sun will probably stay behind it.
Clarity: Reduced
High humidity (94%) may soften and mute colors.
Forecast refreshed a few hours before sunrise.
Will Monday's sunrise be worth it?
The sunrise forecast for Sugarloaf Mountain View on this day is being prepared. Create a free account to check it on demand.
Know the light
before it happens
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For photographers: shooting Sugarloaf Mountain View
Best months
May to September for cooler, generally clearer conditions; summer brings haze, storms and dramatic cloud.
Suggested focal lengths
24–70 mm for bay and city; 70–200 mm for Christ the Redeemer and compressed mountain layers.
Composition
Separate the cable-car structures from the skyline and use the bay as negative space. Shoot a second, tighter sequence as the city lights become brighter than the remaining sky.
Recommended arrival
Reach the upper mountain 90 minutes before sunset and remain at least 30 minutes after.
Access planning
Buy official cable-car tickets and check the last descent and weather status. Keep equipment compact around railings and crowds.
Parking: Limited paid parking around Praia Vermelha; taxi, rideshare or public transport is easier.
Approach: A short walk from Praia Vermelha to the cable-car station, then two cable-car stages to the summit.