The method behind the idea
How Sol is being built to check the sun
Sol is being built to compare forecast sunshine for your dates with places inside your travel limit, while showing what has and has not been checked. A weather icon alone is not enough. Sol is not public yet; this guide explains the approach behind the build.
Planning guide · Updated
Ask a precise question
“Somewhere sunny” needs a starting point, calendar dates and a maximum journey time. Car, train and plane change what is practical. The useful result is a trip that fits those choices, not just a place with an attractive forecast.
The travel limit should remain the same throughout the decision. A short flight is not a short door-to-door journey, and a suggested route needs to reach the actual destination rather than a similarly named place.
Read more than the weather symbol
Look at sunshine separately
The intended method uses forecast sunshine duration as its own measure, alongside rain, temperature and wind. A daily icon cannot express every condition across the day.
Check every requested day
Coverage should describe the dates with usable forecast evidence. A checked day does not stand in for an unchecked one.
Keep unknowns visible
Missing forecast data is not zero sunshine and is not a sunny result. Forecast coverage and when the evidence was checked should be clear.
Show the limits alongside the appeal
As a hypothetical example, “3 of 4 days checked” would mean one requested day is not covered. It would not mean four sunny days, nor prove the trip is a good choice. This example is not a Sol search result.
A useful recommendation also needs the right place, a realistic route and a clear compromise. These are standards for the build, not proof that every check is complete. This guide publishes no search totals, forecast results or destination rankings.
Even a fully covered forecast can change. Before booking or travelling, the latest weather and journey details still need checking. Sol’s purpose is to make the decision easier to inspect, not to promise sunshine.
Before you go
A few good questions.
Why look at sunshine hours instead of only a weather icon?
Sunshine duration describes a different part of the forecast from a summary icon. The intended Sol approach considers it alongside temperature, rain and wind for the dates of the trip.
What does partial forecast coverage mean?
It means usable forecast evidence is available for only some requested dates. Unchecked days remain unknown; they should not count as sunny days or as zero sunshine.
Is this method available in a public Sol product?
Sol is not public yet. This page explains the intended approach and its evidence standards; it does not certify a live service, announce a launch date or guarantee sunshine.