Skip to content
PhotoWeather
Get started
More Dramatic Seascapes in California Coast
Create your own alerts
Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Dramatic Seascapes Forecast for Big Sur, California Coast

Big Sur, California, United States

Big Sur’s Santa Lucia Mountains descend directly into the Pacific, creating stacked headlands, sea cliffs, coves, and surf beneath changing marine fog.

Currently

Real-time conditions
Coastal Drama Score
11%
Wave Height0.4m
Swell Height0.4m
Wind Speed2.7m/s (calm conditions)
Wind Gusts2.2m/s
Cloud Cover29%
Visibility24134 (Clear)

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Los_Angeles

No opportunities in the next 14 days

See which requirements block the most forecast hours below.

Most common blockers (85-hour forecast)

  • Coastal Drama Score100% of hours

How this forecast is evaluated

See which weather signals PhotoWeather uses to identify Dramatic Seascapes conditions across California Coast. The requirements and hourly values below show how those signals apply at Big Sur.

Explore Dramatic Seascapes conditions across California Coast →

Recorded match history

Completed PhotoWeather forecast matches recorded for this exact rule at Big Sur during the last 365 days.

Last 30 days
1
recorded matching window · 52% average confidence
Last 90 days
1
recorded matching window · 52% average confidence
Last 365 days
19
recorded matching windows · 69% average confidence
Most frequent recorded start hour

08:00 local time, shared by 5 of 19 matches recorded in the last 365 days.

Most represented month

January, with 18 of 19 matches recorded in the last 365 days.

These figures use completed PhotoWeather MatchEvent records from the previous 365 days only. They describe recorded forecast matches, not observations, climatological probability, or a guarantee of future conditions.

Create your own Dramatic Seascapes alerts

Get notified when these conditions match at your own locations.

Get this template

85-hour requirements breakdown

When available, the detailed table below covers only the stated 85-hour horizon (typically 72–168 hours, depending on available hourly data). Opportunity records above span the next 14 days, so this table does not explain that entire 14-day period.

What passed or failed, hour by hour
0matching hours in the next 85 hours
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
America/Los_Angeles
Coastal Drama Score
≥ 45.0%
Fri, Aug 21
22:007.5%
23:007.5%
Sat, Aug 22
24:008.9%
01:009.8%
02:0013%
03:0012%
04:006.1%
05:006.1%
06:0010%
07:009.8%
08:0015%
09:008.7%
10:007.6%
11:007.8%
12:0011%
13:0012%
14:007.1%
15:008.1%
16:008.4%
17:006.1%
18:007.4%
19:007.4%
20:008.9%
21:007.5%
22:007.6%
23:007.6%
Sun, Aug 23
24:006%
01:006.2%
02:0011%
03:0011%
04:008.7%
05:008%
06:006.3%
07:006.3%
08:006.2%
09:005.2%
10:006.7%
11:006.7%
12:006.7%
13:007.5%
14:007.8%
15:008.8%
16:007.7%
17:007.7%
18:007.5%
19:0011%
20:0012%
21:005.9%
22:007%
23:006.1%
Mon, Aug 24
24:006.1%
01:007.5%
02:007.5%
03:007.5%
04:005.7%
05:005.7%
06:007.1%
07:008.6%
08:008.8%
09:008.8%
10:009.5%
11:0010%
12:007.5%
13:009.2%
14:008.5%
15:0011%
16:006.5%
17:0011%
18:006.7%
19:006.7%
20:005.7%
21:007%
22:0011%
23:008.2%
Tue, Aug 25
24:005.5%
01:005.5%
02:008.2%
03:0012%
04:0011%
05:009.7%
06:009.7%
07:007.4%
08:007.4%
09:007.1%
10:008.2%
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Coastal Drama Score mean?

Inputs that drive the score

This derived score summarizes multiple raw weather signals. The table below shows the supporting inputs hour by hour, so you can see what's pushing the score up or down.

Time
America/Los_Angeles
High Clouds
%
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Primary Swell Height
m
Primary Wave Direction
°
Significant Wave Height
m
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Direction
°
Wind Gusts
m/s
Wind Speed
m/s
Wind Wave Height
m
Wind Wave Period
s
Sat, Aug 22 Sunrise 06:31 Sunset 19:48
12:00
29% 0% 0% 0.41m 177° 0.42m 29% 271° 2.2m/s 2.7m/s 0.47m 4.4s
13:00
31% 0% 0% 0.37m 178° 0.37m 31% 276° 2.6m/s 3.1m/s 0.3m 4.2s
14:00
5% 0% 0% 0.32m 178° 0.33m 5% 282° 2.9m/s 3.6m/s 0.14m 4.1s
15:00
85% 0% 0% 0.29m 178° 0.3m 85% 293° 2.8m/s 3.9m/s 0.12m 3.9s
16:00
100% 0% 0% 0.25m 178° 0.28m 100% 303° 2.5m/s 4.2m/s 0.11m 3.8s
17:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.22m 178° 0.25m 100% 316° 2.9m/s 4.3m/s 0.09m 3.6s
18:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.2m 171° 0.24m 100% 328° 4.1m/s 4.4m/s 0.09m 4.1s
19:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.17m 164° 0.22m 100% 342° 4.9m/s 4.1m/s 0.08m 4.6s
20:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.15m 156° 0.21m 100% 3° 4.2m/s 3.8m/s 0.08m 5s
21:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.14m 155° 0.2m 100% 15° 3.8m/s 3.6m/s 0.1m 5.1s
22:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.14m 154° 0.19m 100% 23° 3.6m/s 3.6m/s 0.11m 5.3s
23:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.13m 153° 0.18m 100% 30° 3.4m/s 3.6m/s 0.13m 5.3s
Sun, Aug 23 Sunrise 06:32 Sunset 19:46
24:00 ☾
99% 0% 0% 0.12m 153° 0.18m 99% 39° 3.3m/s 3.4m/s 0.13m 5.8s
01:00 ☾
97% 0% 0% 0.12m 153° 0.17m 97% 47° 3m/s 3.3m/s 0.12m 6.1s
02:00 ☾
48% 0% 0% 0.11m 153° 0.17m 48% 52° 2.3m/s 3m/s 0.12m 6.5s
03:00 ☾
59% 0% 1% 0.11m 153° 0.17m 59% 57° 2.1m/s 2.7m/s 0.13m 7.1s
04:00 ☾
77% 0% 0% 0.12m 152° 0.16m 77% 61° 2.1m/s 2.5m/s 0.14m 7.6s
05:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.12m 152° 0.16m 100% 64° 1.9m/s 2.2m/s 0.15m 8.1s
06:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.12m 153° 0.16m 100% 63° 1.9m/s 2.2m/s 0.14m 7.6s
07:00
100% 0% 0% 0.11m 153° 0.15m 100% 64° 1.7m/s 2m/s 0.12m 7.1s
08:00
100% 0% 0% 0.11m 153° 0.15m 100% 74° 2.1m/s 1.5m/s 0.11m 6.6s
09:00
100% 0% 1% 0.11m 153° 0.15m 100% 151° 1.6m/s 0.65m/s 0.1m 6.6s
10:00
100% 0% 1% 0.12m 153° 0.14m 100% 247° 1.1m/s 0.87m/s 0.1m 6.6s
11:00
100% 0% 0% 0.12m 153° 0.14m 100% 265° 1.8m/s 1.9m/s 0.09m 6.6s
12:00
100% 0% 4% 0.12m 152° 0.14m 100% 267° 2.6m/s 2.8m/s 0.09m 6.6s
13:00
84% 0% 3% 0.11m 152° 0.14m 84% 268° 2.9m/s 3m/s 0.1m 6.5s
14:00
8% 0% 0% 0.11m 152° 0.14m 8% 273° 2.7m/s 3.1m/s 0.1m 6.5s
15:00
88% 0% 0% 0.11m 151° 0.14m 88% 276° 2.2m/s 3m/s 0.1m 6.5s
16:00
100% 0% 0% 0.1m 151° 0.13m 100% 282° 2.1m/s 3.2m/s 0.1m 6.4s
17:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.1m 151° 0.13m 100% 293° 2.3m/s 3m/s 0.1m 6.4s
18:00 ☾
96% 0% 0% 0.1m 151° 0.14m 96% 300° 3.2m/s 3.1m/s 0.1m 6.4s
19:00 ☾
79% 0% 0% 0.09m 151° 0.14m 79% 324° 4.2m/s 2.8m/s 0.11m 6.4s
20:00 ☾
44% 0% 0% 0.09m 150° 0.15m 44% 11° 1.8m/s 1.9m/s 0.11m 6.3s
21:00 ☾
10% 0% 0% 0.09m 150° 0.14m 10% 48° 1.5m/s 1.7m/s 0.11m 6.5s
22:00 ☾
12% 0% 0% 0.09m 150° 0.14m 12% 60° 1.5m/s 1.7m/s 0.1m 6.7s
23:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.09m 150° 0.13m 100% 73° 1.4m/s 1.6m/s 0.1m 6.9s
Mon, Aug 24 Sunrise 06:32 Sunset 19:45
24:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.09m 149° 0.13m 100% 81° 1.5m/s 1.6m/s 0.08m 7.8s
01:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.08m 149° 0.12m 100% 79° 1.5m/s 1.6m/s 0.07m 8.7s
02:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.08m 149° 0.12m 100% 65° 1.6m/s 1.6m/s 0.05m 9.6s
03:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.08m 151° 0.12m 100% 75° 1.4m/s 1.3m/s 0.05m 8.3s
04:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.07m 153° 0.12m 100% 77° 1.4m/s 1.4m/s 0.06m 6.9s
05:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.07m 156° 0.12m 100% 84° 1.3m/s 1.3m/s 0.06m 5.6s
06:00 ☾
100% 0% 12% 0.07m 154° 0.12m 100% 83° 1.5m/s 1.5m/s 0.06m 8.1s
07:00
94% 0% 37% 0.06m 152° 0.11m 94% 97° 1.3m/s 1.4m/s 0.06m 11s
08:00
94% 0% 93% 0.06m 151° 0.11m 94% 130° 1.4m/s 0.73m/s 0.06m 13s
09:00
100% 0% 98% 0.07m 151° 0.11m 100% 222° 1m/s 1m/s 0.1m 13s
10:00
89% 0% 100% 0.08m 151° 0.11m 100% 250° 1m/s 1.8m/s 0.13m 13s
11:00
71% 1% 95% 0.09m 151° 0.11m 95% 259° 1.6m/s 2.4m/s 0.17m 13s
12:00
77% 0% 97% 0.08m 154° 0.12m 97% 262° 2.1m/s 2.9m/s 0.17m 12s
13:00
81% 0% 55% 0.08m 156° 0.12m 81% 261° 2.1m/s 2.9m/s 0.16m 11s
14:00
84% 0% 12% 0.07m 159° 0.13m 84% 264° 2.1m/s 2.9m/s 0.16m 9.2s
15:00
58% 0% 5% 0.06m 163° 0.14m 58% 268° 2.1m/s 2.9m/s 0.17m 7.9s
16:00
80% 0% 5% 0.06m 168° 0.16m 80% 272° 2.1m/s 2.8m/s 0.17m 6.5s
17:00 ☾
56% 0% 5% 0.05m 172° 0.17m 56% 274° 2.2m/s 2.6m/s 0.18m 5.1s
18:00 ☾
71% 0% 5% 0.05m 179° 0.19m 71% 292° 2.5m/s 2.8m/s 0.21m 4.5s
19:00 ☾
85% 0% 5% 0.06m 186° 0.22m 85% 309° 2.7m/s 3m/s 0.24m 3.8s
20:00 ☾
100% 0% 5% 0.06m 193° 0.24m 100% 327° 2.9m/s 3.1m/s 0.27m 3.1s
21:00 ☾
68% 0% 5% 0.06m 189° 0.31m 68% 219° 3.6m/s 3.7m/s 0.33m 3.3s
22:00 ☾
37% 0% 5% 0.05m 185° 0.37m 37% 110° 4.3m/s 4.2m/s 0.38m 3.4s
23:00 ☾
5% 0% 5% 0.05m 181° 0.44m 5% 2° 5m/s 4.7m/s 0.44m 3.6s
Tue, Aug 25 Sunrise 06:33 Sunset 19:44
24:00 ☾
5% 0% 6% 0.09m 179° 0.44m 6% 118° 5m/s 4.8m/s 0.46m 3.6s
01:00 ☾
5% 0% 7% 0.14m 176° 0.44m 7% 233° 4.9m/s 4.8m/s 0.47m 3.7s
02:00 ☾
5% 0% 8% 0.18m 174° 0.44m 8% 349° 4.8m/s 4.8m/s 0.49m 3.7s
03:00 ☾
37% 0% 5% 0.21m 172° 0.4m 39% 345° 5m/s 5.1m/s 0.45m 3.6s
04:00 ☾
68% 1% 3% 0.23m 170° 0.36m 69% 340° 5.2m/s 5.3m/s 0.41m 3.5s
05:00 ☾
100% 1% 0% 0.26m 168° 0.32m 100% 335° 5.4m/s 5.6m/s 0.37m 3.5s
06:00 ☾
100% 14% 0% 0.25m 167° 0.3m 100% 333° 5.4m/s 5.3m/s 0.37m 3.5s
07:00
100% 28% 0% 0.23m 166° 0.29m 100% 331° 5.3m/s 5.1m/s 0.36m 3.5s
08:00
100% 41% 0% 0.22m 165° 0.27m 100% 329° 5.2m/s 4.8m/s 0.36m 3.5s
09:00
100% 35% 0% 0.2m 166° 0.35m 100% 335° 4.9m/s 4.4m/s 0.41m 3.5s
10:00
100% 29% 0% 0.17m 167° 0.44m 100% 341° 4.6m/s 4.1m/s 0.47m 3.6s
11:00
100% 23% 0% 0.15m 168° 0.52m 100% 347° 4.3m/s 3.7m/s 0.52m 3.6s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

How this forecast is made

Opportunities are threshold-based signals: PhotoWeather checks whether forecast conditions match the rules for a photography scenario. They are planning guidance, not guarantees. Forecasts can change as new model runs arrive, and confidence generally decreases farther into the forecast horizon, so recheck conditions before travelling.

The weather forecast foundation comes through Open-Meteo , which aggregates models from weather agencies. PhotoWeather applies condition-specific thresholds and derived calculations; not every condition uses every model or data input.

How opportunities work → Weather data sources →
Forecast generated

Get Notified of Opportunities

Create your own custom alerts for this location and more.

Create Free Account