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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.

Sunset tomorrowSunset TuesdaySunset Wednesday

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.

in 10h 2m

Blocked grey lid

Flat grey light · moody close-ups at best

Sky colors

Golden hour
Sunrise

Light corridor: blocked

Why: Thick cloud along the sun's path is likely to stop the low light.

  • Light path: blocked (100% blocking cloud at the ray's height)
  • Sun: likely hidden. Low cloud fills the horizon (100%); the sun will probably stay behind it.
  • Cloud: thick cloud between you and the low sun (91%); no real golden hour expected.
Viewer's line of sight, tangent to the Earth at your locationNear-ground relative humidity19% cover — too thin to draw as cloudConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 10–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 25–25% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 10–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 10–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 10–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 61–100% cover · 10–45% visual uncertaintymid cloud · 100% reported, 66% resolved on a pressure surface — 34% is somewhere between 3 and 8 kmmid cloud · 100% reported, 66% resolved on a pressure surface — 34% is somewhere between 3 and 8 kmmid cloud · 92% reported, 61% resolved on a pressure surface — 31% is somewhere between 3 and 8 kmmid cloud · 68% reported, 45% resolved on a pressure surface — 23% is somewhere between 3 and 8 km-5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light0 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light20 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light50 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light100 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light

Terrain is drawn for illustration only — it is not used to calculate underlight or obstruction.

cloud-cover fieldinterpolation uncertaintysun directionnear-ground humiditycloud at unresolved heightmodelled underlightunderlight · height uncertainunderlight · lit on one readinglit but hidden behind nearer cloud

Forecast refreshed a few hours before sunrise.

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.

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