GoldCast · Outer Banks, NC

Sunset Tonight in Outer Banks


Reading tonight's sky
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/ 100
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Sunset
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Golden hour
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What's in the score
Sky coverage
Atmosphere
Horizon clarity

GoldCast sunset forecast — LightCast Suite
LightCast
iOS App LightCast Suite
🌅 GoldCast — golden hour score & cloud forecast
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What GoldCast shows you

The app is more than the score. Get a full 7-day golden hour outlook, cloud layer timing, and a map of better light nearby. Set notification preferences so you can plan shoots days out, not just check tonight.

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Frequently asked
Will the sunset be good tonight in Outer Banks?
The live score above pulls today's forecast and runs it through GoldCast's scoring model. Above 70 is worth going out. Below 40, stay home. The score updates daily.
What makes a good sunset in Outer Banks?
The Outer Banks are a chain of barrier islands off the North Carolina coast, with the Pamlico Sound to the west and the Atlantic to the east. Sunset happens over the Sound side, where the flat open water gives an unobstructed western horizon and reflects the sky color across a wide surface. Jockey's Ridge State Park, the highest natural sand dune on the East Coast, provides an elevated vantage above the surrounding landscape. Roanoke Island and the marshes along the sound's edge add layered foreground texture.
What time is sunset in Outer Banks tonight?
Outer Banks sunset ranges from around 5:00 PM in December to 8:30 PM in June. Tonight's exact time is shown in the score card above, updated daily from live weather data.
Sunset tonight in other locations
What makes a good sunset?

GoldCast scores six atmospheric variables weighted by how much each one actually affects the light. A clear sky isn't always best.

High Cloud
20–80%
Cirrus clouds scatter warm light across the sky. Too little means a bare sky. Too much blocks everything.
Humidity
Under 50%
Low humidity keeps colors vivid and punchy. Above 80% produces milky, washed-out tones.
Horizon Cloud
Clear
Low cloud at the horizon blocks the sun at peak warmth. A small gap makes all the difference.
Post-Storm
Best skies
Rain clears the air and leaves textured cloud at altitude. Often the most dramatic light of the year.

Score guide
75–100
Epic
Rare. Multiple factors aligned. Don't miss it.
55–74
Great
Strong showing expected. Go if you can.
35–54
Decent
Modest but workable. Worth a short trip.
0–34
Flat
Uninspiring sky expected. Save your time.
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