AfterhueA sunset score that shows its reasons
The Glow Score is Afterhue's estimate of how colorful tonight's sunset may be, from 0 to 100. It reads high and mid clouds, low clouds toward the sunset, air dryness and rain, then shows up to three reasons next to the number. It is an estimate and is labeled that way.
Coming soon to iPhone
What does the Glow Score measure?
It measures how likely the sky is to light up around the moment of sunset. Afterhue reads the weather forecast for the hour of sunset at two points: your place, and a point about 150 km toward the setting sun. The second point matters because the light travels along that path before it reaches you.
The result is a number from 0 to 100 and one of four band words.
| Score | Band | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 0-24 | Flat | Little color expected |
| 25-49 | Soft | Some warm light, gentle color |
| 50-74 | Glowing | Good chance of a colorful sky |
| 75-100 | On fire | Conditions line up for strong color |
Which weather factors go into it?
Four things, each tied to how sunsets work. The guide to what makes a good sunset explains the physics in plain language.
- High and mid clouds. Thin cloud at altitude catches red and orange light. A clear sky gives gentle color. A thick ceiling gives less.
- Low clouds to the west. If they sit between you and the sun, the light never reaches the canvas above.
- Air. Dry air with good visibility keeps colors saturated. Humid or hazy air dulls them.
- Rain clearing. Rain that stops before sunset adds a chance of strong color.
What are the reason chips under the score?
Up to three short chips, sorted by how much each one moved the score. Examples from the app: High clouds 32%, Clear to the west, Dry air, Hazy air, Rain clearing, Thick overcast. Tap the score or a chip to open the Why sheet, which writes each factor out as a sentence.
The point is that you can disagree. If the chip says clear to the west and you can see a bank of cloud there, you know the model missed something and you can decide for yourself.
How confident is the score?
Each score carries a confidence level of high, medium or low. Evenings that are close in time and have steady cloud forecasts rate higher. Days further out change more, so the 3-day outlook shows a range such as Glowing 52-68 instead of a single figure.
If the forecast changes during the day, the screen says so: Updated 3:20 PM, was Soft, now Glowing.
How does Afterhue learn from my ratings?
After sunset, a How was it? row offers four buttons: Flat, Soft, Glowing and On fire. Each rating compares what you saw with what the app predicted an hour before sunset. After three ratings in the same area, the app shifts tonight's score by the average miss, limited to 15 points either way. Your ratings stay on the phone.
The Why sheet shows the tally, for example: your sky, last 10 calls, 6 right, 3 close, 1 off. Right means the same band, close means the next band over, and off means further than that.
What if there is no forecast?
Sun times are computed on the iPhone, so they keep working offline. If the forecast cannot load, the score is hidden and the screen says the forecast is taking a break. In places where the sun does not set that day, the app shows the polar-day or polar-night message and skips the score.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Glow Score?
Scores of 50 and above are Glowing, meaning a good chance of a colorful sky. 75 and above is On fire. Below 25 is Flat.
Where does the data come from?
Cloud layers, humidity, visibility and rain chances come from Apple WeatherKit. Sun times are calculated on your iPhone.
Is the score the same for free and Pro users?
Yes. The score and the reasons are identical. Pro adds alerts, planning ahead and extras, not accuracy.
Why does the score change during the day?
Weather models update through the day. When the band changes, Afterhue says so on the Tonight screen.
Can the score be wrong?
Yes. It is an estimate from a weather model. Smoke, dust, sea fog and local terrain can all surprise it, and the app says so in the Why sheet.
Keep exploring
Golden Hour Alerts and Reminders for SunsetsA free daily golden-hour reminder, plus Pro alerts only for evenings above your threshold.
3-Day Sunset Outlook and Saved PlacesThree days of sunsets and sunrises as ranges, and up to 10 saved places with alerts.What Makes a Good Sunset? Clouds, Air and LightThe three ingredients of a colorful sunset, and the weather that ruins each one.Sunset Quality ForecastWhat a sunset score is built from, how far ahead it can be trusted, and what to look for.
Hue ChipsFive colors, a name, a number and your rating from one sunset photo, made on the device.