Is the weather worth going out for?
Type in the forecast for cloud, visibility, wind, rain and temperature, choose the kind of shot, and get a simple Go, Maybe or Probably not with the reasons listed.
How the tool works
This tool does not fetch live weather. You read the forecast from a source such as the Met Office or Windy, type it in, and the page scores each factor from -2 to +2 for the shot you have chosen. The scores are added up. A total of about 60 percent of the best possible for that shot is a Go, about 20 percent is a Maybe and anything lower is Probably not. A Go is held at Maybe if any single factor scores -2.
The scoring is a rule of thumb, not a prediction. Broken cloud with a clear horizon scores best for sunrise and sunset colour, heavy overcast scores well for long exposures and soft light, clear skies score best for astro, and calm damp air scores best for mist. Wind of 35 mph or more caps the verdict at Maybe, because it is unsafe on exposed ground and shakes tripods.
A good score does not make a place safe. Check access, parking, tides and closures, tell someone where you are going and take enough clothing. The checklist on the page covers the basics. A forecast can change quickly, so look again just before you leave.
Questions
Does this tool fetch the weather?
No. It does not use live data. You enter the forecast yourself, so you can use any source you trust.
What weather gives the best sunrise colour?
Broken cloud with a clear gap at the horizon is the classic set-up, because the low sun can light the underside of the cloud. Thick low cloud on the horizon blocks it.
Why does overcast score well for some shots?
Cloud makes the light soft and even, which suits woodland, waterfalls and long exposures of water. It scores badly for sunrise colour and astro.
More photography tools: Golden hour and blue hour calculator, Sunrise and sunset calculator, Landscape photography packing list