How often do conditions match?

No opportunity windows are predicted in the next 10 days. Conditions can change quickly, so check back for updates.

More Dramatic Seascapes in California Coast

Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Mendocino - Dramatic Seascapes - California Coast

Q: What conditions does Dramatic Seascapes look for?

Coastal Drama Score: ≥ 75.0%. Significant Wave Height: ≥ 1.5m. Visibility: ≥ 5000.0m. Wind Gusts: ≤ 22.0m/s. Precipitation Chance: ≤ 30.0%

Mendocino City, California, United States

Dramatic coastal photography conditions - powerful waves combined with atmospheric drama and good visibility for seascape shots.

No opportunities right now

Here’s what usually blocks matches

No Dramatic Seascapes opportunities in the next 14 days

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Rule requirements (key thresholds)

Coastal Drama Score · ≥ 75.0% Significant Wave Height · ≥ 1.5m Visibility · ≥ 5000.0m Wind Gusts · ≤ 22.0m/s

Tip: Scroll down to the 72-hour table to see exactly which condition fails hour by hour.

Most common blockers (next 72 hours)

Coastal Drama Score 100% failing

Significant Wave Height 100% failing

Precipitation Chance 53% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions

Coastal Drama Score

Wave Height0.0m

Swell Height0.1m

Wind Speed7.7m/s (moderate winds)

Cloud Cover100%

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Los_Angeles

No opportunities in the next 10 days

See the blocker timeline below to understand which conditions are preventing matches.

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast identifies when dramatic conditions align for coastal photography along California's legendary shoreline. We track cloud drama, visibility, and wind patterns to predict when the coast will come alive with photogenic conditions.

California's 840-mile coastline offers endless variety—from the towering cliffs of Big Sur to the sea stacks of Mendocino to the coves of Laguna Beach. The interplay between Pacific weather systems and the coastal mountains creates ever-changing conditions that can transform familiar locations.

What makes the California coast special for dramatic photography:

Dynamic weather - Pacific storms bring dramatic skies, and clearing conditions create spectacular light
Diverse geography - Sea stacks, arches, waterfalls, cliffs, and beaches in endless variety
Fog and mist - Marine layer creates moody atmosphere, especially summer mornings
Year-round access - Mild climate means photography opportunities in every season

The best dramatic conditions often occur during and after winter storms (November-March), when clearing skies can produce spectacular light. Summer brings reliable morning fog that burns off by midday, creating soft, ethereal conditions. Wind patterns affect wave action—some drama is good, but excessive gusts make shooting difficult. Check our forecast to time your coastal adventures.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour

0matching hours in the next 95 hours

AND logic: all conditions required

Meets requirement

Misses requirement

Time America/Los_Angeles	Coastal Drama Score ≥ 75.0%	Significant Wave Height ≥ 1.5m	Visibility ≥ 5000.0m	Wind Gusts ≤ 22.0m/s	Precipitation Chance ≤ 30.0%
Fri, Apr 10
12:00	8%	0.28m	7207m	3.9m/s	90%
13:00	6.8%	0.38m	502m	5.2m/s	86%
14:00	5.4%	0.34m	7428m	6m/s	82%
15:00	8.3%	0.45m	21547m	5.2m/s	88%
16:00	7.5%	0.38m	13973m	5.3m/s	93%
17:00	12%	0.43m	24134m	5.2m/s	99%
18:00	7.2%	0.4m	6656m	3.5m/s	100%
19:00	12%	0.37m	24124m	3.2m/s	100%
20:00	9.7%	0.32m	21448m	2.6m/s	100%
21:00	2.4%	0.3m	10865m	2.1m/s	100%
22:00	3.7%	0.35m	12901m	3.2m/s	100%
23:00	3.3%	0.35m	24134m	4.1m/s	100%
Sat, Apr 11
24:00	3.3%	0.22m	24127m	4.3m/s	100%
01:00	2.9%	0.08m	18260m	5.8m/s	100%
02:00	2%	0.07m	13276m	5.8m/s	100%
03:00	2.1%	0.16m	13917m	5.4m/s	100%
04:00	2.4%	0.16m	16608m	4.9m/s	100%
05:00	3.6%	0.05m	16373m	5.3m/s	100%
06:00	7.5%	0.05m	17264m	6.4m/s	100%
07:00	9.6%	0.05m	20518m	7.6m/s	100%
08:00	10%	0.05m	21800m	8.8m/s	100%
09:00	7.4%	0.05m	24135m	9.4m/s	100%
10:00	7.3%	0.04m	24135m	10m/s	100%
11:00	6.8%	0.01m	24135m	11m/s	100%
12:00	5.2%	0.01m	24131m	12m/s	94%
13:00	3.5%	0.01m	8487m	14m/s	88%
14:00	4.6%	0.01m	24124m	15m/s	82%
15:00	3.1%	0.01m	5046m	13m/s	82%
16:00	4%	0.01m	5479m	9.6m/s	81%
17:00	5.8%	0.01m	10485m	8.2m/s	81%
18:00	8.9%	0.01m	22537m	7.5m/s	83%
19:00	8.1%	0.01m	24135m	6.8m/s	86%
20:00	9.6%	0.01m	24135m	7.5m/s	88%
21:00	3%	0.01m	24134m	8m/s	92%
22:00	3.7%	0.01m	24135m	7.8m/s	96%
23:00	3%	0.01m	24134m	7.4m/s	100%
Sun, Apr 12
24:00	3.1%	0.01m	20076m	9.4m/s	95%
01:00	3%	0.01m	23890m	11m/s	91%
02:00	3%	0.01m	24134m	8.6m/s	87%
03:00	2.9%	0.01m	14583m	7.1m/s	82%
04:00	1.3%	0.01m	4159m	7m/s	78%
05:00	2.1%	0.01m	7972m	4.7m/s	73%
06:00	6.2%	0.01m	6708m	3.4m/s	61%
07:00	10%	0.01m	6680m	5.1m/s	49%
08:00	6.5%	0.01m	14592m	0.9m/s	38%
09:00	8.7%	0.02m	24135m	1.3m/s	42%
10:00	7.3%	0.02m	24130m	2.2m/s	47%
11:00	12%	0.03m	24134m	2.7m/s	52%
12:00	7.5%	0.03m	24134m	1.4m/s	54%
13:00	6%	0.03m	24133m	2.2m/s	55%
14:00	4.5%	0.03m	24126m	4.8m/s	56%
15:00	6.2%	0.03m	20166m	5.2m/s	60%
16:00	7.3%	0.03m	24135m	4.1m/s	64%
17:00	7%	0.03m	24135m	4m/s	69%
18:00	6.2%	0.08m	23500m	3.9m/s	53%
19:00	6.4%	0.13m	19415m	4m/s	38%
20:00	8%	0.18m	18909m	3.9m/s	22%
21:00	2.8%	0.19m	24134m	2.7m/s	31%
22:00	3.4%	0.19m	24134m	1.7m/s	41%
23:00	2.9%	0.2m	24135m	1.2m/s	50%
Mon, Apr 13
24:00	4.7%	0.17m	24135m	1.3m/s	41%
01:00	4.6%	0.15m	24134m	1.5m/s	31%
02:00	3.7%	0.12m	24135m	1.8m/s	22%
03:00	3.7%	0.11m	24134m	2m/s	22%
04:00	3.7%	0.11m	24135m	2.2m/s	22%
05:00	3.7%	0.1m	24135m	2m/s	22%
06:00	12%	0.09m	24135m	2.1m/s	15%
07:00	16%	0.07m	24135m	2.6m/s	7.4%
08:00	15%	0.06m	24134m	2.5m/s	0%
09:00	9.8%	0.05m	24134m	1.9m/s	0%
10:00	7.8%	0.04m	24135m	1m/s	0%
11:00	6.8%	0.03m	24135m	2m/s	0%
12:00	6.9%	0.03m	24134m	3.4m/s	0%
13:00	4.2%	0.02m	24135m	4.6m/s	0%
14:00	4.2%	0.02m	24134m	5.5m/s	0%
15:00	4.2%	0.02m	24135m	5.8m/s	0%
16:00	5%	0.03m	24135m	7.1m/s	0%
17:00	5%	0.03m	24134m	7.8m/s	0%
18:00	6.3%	0.05m	24134m	7.6m/s	0%
19:00	9%	0.06m	24135m	7.5m/s	0%
20:00	9.8%	0.08m	24135m	7.3m/s	0%
21:00	5%	0.07m	24135m	7.1m/s	0%
22:00	4.5%	0.07m	24135m	6.8m/s	0%
23:00	2.8%	0.06m	24135m	6.6m/s	0%
Tue, Apr 14
24:00	4%	0.08m	24135m	6m/s	0%
01:00	4.5%	0.09m	24135m	5.5m/s	0%
02:00	2.5%	0.11m	24135m	4.9m/s	0%
03:00	2.1%	0.09m	24135m	4.8m/s	0%
04:00	2.1%	0.08m	24135m	4.7m/s	0%
05:00	2%	0.06m	24135m	4.7m/s	0%
06:00	5.7%	0.05m	24135m	5.5m/s	0%
07:00	7.6%	0.04m	24135m	6.4m/s	0%
08:00	7%	0.03m	24135m	7.2m/s	0%
09:00	7.4%	0.03m	24135m	8.1m/s	0%
10:00	6.3%	0.02m	24135m	8.9m/s	0%

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 °	Sea Salt AOD (550nm)	Solar Elevation °	Total Cloud Coverage %	Wind Direction °	Wind Speed m/s	Wind Wave Height m	Wind Wave Period s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:44 Sunset 19:47
12:00 ☾	0%	91%	100%	0.07m	208°	0.04	55°	100%	167°	7.7m/s	0.05m	4.1s
13:00 ☾	0%	100%	100%	0.06m	208°	0.07	59°	100%	169°	8.1m/s	0.06m	4.1s
14:00 ☾	0%	72%	100%	0.06m	207°	0.09	58°	100%	152°	7.5m/s	0.06m	4.1s
15:00 ☾	0%	100%	100%	0.06m	207°	0.06	51°	100%	193°	9.2m/s	0.06m	4.2s
16:00 ☾	100%	100%	100%	0.06m	207°	0.04	42°	100%	205°	5.7m/s	0.06m	4.2s
17:00 ☾	100%	100%	100%	0.06m	207°	0.02	32°	100%	142°	6.5m/s	0.06m	4.3s
18:00 ☾	100%	49%	100%	0.06m	207°	0.03	20°	100%	115°	5.1m/s	0.07m	4.3s
19:00 ☾	100%	6%	100%	0.05m	207°	0.03	8.7°	100%	100°	5.3m/s	0.07m	4.3s
20:00 ☾	100%	4%	100%	0.05m	207°	0.05	-2.8°	100%	98°	4.7m/s	0.07m	4.3s
21:00 ☾	2%	5%	100%	0.06m	207°	0.07	-14°	100%	106°	4.5m/s	0.07m	4.3s
22:00 ☾	0%	4%	37%	0.08m	207°	0.08	-24°	37%	91°	4.2m/s	0.08m	4.3s
23:00 ☾	0%	70%	86%	0.09m	207°	0.09	-33°	86%	95°	4m/s	0.08m	4.2s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 06:42 Sunset 19:48
24:00 ☾	0%	100%	100%	0.1m	219°	0.08	-39°	100%	78°	4.3m/s	0.07m	3.2s
01:00 ☾	0%	100%	100%	0.1m	230°	0.08	-42°	100%	110°	7.1m/s	0.06m	2.1s
02:00 ☾	0%	30%	100%	0.11m	241°	0.06	-41°	100%	125°	6m/s	0.05m	1.1s
03:00 ☾	0%	100%	100%	0.1m	237°	0.04	-36°	100%	90°	4.7m/s	0.05m	1.1s
04:00 ☾	0%	100%	100%	0.09m	233°	0.04	-29°	100%	96°	6m/s	0.05m	1.1s
05:00 ☾	0%	100%	100%	0.08m	229°	0.04	-19°	100%	85°	4.3m/s	0.05m	1.1s
06:00 ☾	0%	100%	100%	0.08m	225°	0.04	-8.7°	100%	67°	2.7m/s	0.05m	1.1s
07:00 ☾	0%	100%	100%	0.09m	221°	0.03	2.8°	100%	16°	1.4m/s	0.06m	1.1s
08:00 ☾	0%	100%	98%	0.09m	216°	0.03	14°	100%	121°	1.4m/s	0.06m	1.1s
09:00 ☾	0%	98%	100%	0.08m	214°	0.03	26°	100%	108°	1.6m/s	0.06m	2.2s
10:00 ☾	0%	97%	63%	0.07m	212°	0.03	37°	97%	139°	1.9m/s	0.07m	3.2s
11:00 ☾	0%	67%	15%	0.06m	210°	0.03	47°	67%	127°	2.4m/s	0.07m	4.2s
12:00 ☾	3%	44%	87%	0.06m	240°	0.03	55°	87%	116°	1.8m/s	0.08m	3.4s
13:00 ☾	58%	32%	95%	0.06m	270°	0.03	59°	95%	292°	0.69m/s	0.08m	2.6s
14:00 ☾	1%	56%	100%	0.06m	300°	0.03	58°	100%	280°	3.8m/s	0.09m	1.8s
15:00 ☾	0%	92%	16%	0.06m	292°	0.03	52°	92%	299°	4.9m/s	0.09m	1.6s
16:00 ☾	1%	71%	8%	0.06m	283°	0.03	42°	71%	275°	3.9m/s	0.08m	1.4s
17:00 ☾	1%	90%	23%	0.06m	274°	0.03	32°	90%	275°	3.8m/s	0.08m	1.2s
18:00 ☾	4%	100%	87%	0.08m	268°	-	20°	100%	292°	3.2m/s	0.13m	1.5s
19:00 ☾	0%	100%	4%	0.09m	262°	-	8.8°	100%	294°	3.1m/s	0.19m	1.8s
20:00 ☾	63%	100%	39%	0.11m	256°	-	-2.6°	100%	315°	2.7m/s	0.24m	2s
21:00 ☾	100%	100%	100%	0.1m	251°	-	-14°	100%	339°	2m/s	0.24m	2.2s
22:00 ☾	56%	100%	5%	0.08m	246°	-	-24°	100%	3°	1.3m/s	0.24m	2.3s
23:00 ☾	15%	95%	0%	0.07m	241°	-	-32°	95%	11°	0.92m/s	0.24m	2.5s
Mon, Apr 13 Sunrise 06:41 Sunset 19:49
24:00 ☾	0%	65%	0%	0.09m	237°	-	-39°	65%	45°	1.1m/s	0.21m	2.5s
01:00 ☾	0%	43%	0%	0.12m	232°	-	-41°	43%	61°	1.5m/s	0.18m	2.4s
02:00 ☾	0%	32%	0%	0.14m	228°	-	-40°	32%	92°	1.9m/s	0.15m	2.4s
03:00 ☾	0%	67%	0%	0.12m	233°	-	-36°	67%	94°	2m/s	0.14m	2.2s
04:00 ☾	0%	66%	0%	0.09m	238°	-	-28°	66%	94°	2.2m/s	0.13m	2s
05:00 ☾	0%	45%	0%	0.07m	244°	-	-19°	45%	84°	2m/s	0.12m	1.8s
06:00 ☾	5%	42%	0%	0.07m	244°	-	-8.4°	42%	83°	2.1m/s	0.1m	1.8s
07:00 ☾	44%	34%	0%	0.08m	245°	-	3°	44%	85°	2.5m/s	0.09m	1.8s
08:00 ☾	66%	39%	0%	0.08m	246°	-	14°	66%	89°	2.3m/s	0.07m	1.9s
09:00 ☾	90%	63%	4%	0.08m	246°	-	26°	90%	90°	1.9m/s	0.06m	1.8s
10:00 ☾	100%	71%	94%	0.09m	245°	-	37°	100%	49°	0.68m/s	0.06m	1.8s
11:00 ☾	55%	45%	99%	0.09m	245°	-	47°	99%	308°	1.9m/s	0.05m	1.7s
12:00 ☾	5%	14%	63%	0.09m	232°	-	56°	63%	297°	4m/s	0.06m	2.1s
13:00 ☾	5%	5%	5%	0.1m	219°	-	60°	5%	301°	4.6m/s	0.06m	2.5s
14:00 ☾	5%	9%	3%	0.1m	207°	-	58°	9%	307°	5.3m/s	0.07m	2.8s
15:00 ☾	0%	7%	0%	0.1m	215°	-	52°	7%	317°	5.6m/s	0.07m	2.3s
16:00 ☾	0%	5%	0%	0.1m	223°	-	43°	5%	321°	6.7m/s	0.08m	1.7s
17:00 ☾	0%	4%	0%	0.1m	231°	-	32°	4%	325°	7m/s	0.08m	1.1s
18:00 ☾	2%	3%	2%	0.1m	233°	-	21°	4%	328°	7.1m/s	0.09m	1.2s
19:00 ☾	3%	1%	3%	0.09m	235°	-	9°	5%	331°	7.2m/s	0.09m	1.4s
20:00 ☾	5%	0%	5%	0.09m	237°	-	-2.4°	5%	335°	7.3m/s	0.1m	1.5s
21:00 ☾	35%	0%	36%	0.08m	235°	-	-13°	36%	337°	7m/s	0.1m	1.6s
22:00 ☾	66%	0%	68%	0.06m	234°	-	-23°	68%	338°	6.6m/s	0.1m	1.6s
23:00 ☾	96%	0%	99%	0.05m	232°	-	-32°	99%	340°	6.2m/s	0.1m	1.7s
Tue, Apr 14 Sunrise 06:39 Sunset 19:50
24:00 ☾	66%	0%	68%	0.05m	241°	-	-38°	68%	342°	5.6m/s	0.1m	1.7s
01:00 ☾	35%	0%	36%	0.05m	249°	-	-41°	36%	344°	5m/s	0.09m	1.7s
02:00 ☾	5%	0%	5%	0.05m	258°	-	-40°	5%	346°	4.5m/s	0.09m	1.7s
03:00 ☾	4%	0%	4%	0.06m	261°	-	-35°	4%	341°	4.5m/s	0.08m	1.7s
04:00 ☾	3%	0%	3%	0.06m	264°	-	-28°	4%	336°	4.6m/s	0.07m	1.7s
05:00 ☾	1%	0%	2%	0.07m	267°	-	-19°	3%	331°	4.7m/s	0.06m	1.7s
06:00 ☾	3%	0%	1%	0.06m	255°	-	-8.1°	4%	332°	5.7m/s	0.08m	2s
07:00 ☾	4%	0%	1%	0.06m	242°	-	3.3°	4%	332°	6.8m/s	0.1m	2.4s
08:00 ☾	5%	0%	0%	0.05m	229°	-	15°	5%	333°	7.8m/s	0.12m	2.7s
09:00 ☾	11%	0%	0%	0.06m	222°	-	26°	11%	330°	8.5m/s	0.1m	3s
10:00 ☾	16%	0%	0%	0.07m	215°	-	37°	16%	326°	9.2m/s	0.09m	3.3s
11:00 ☾	22%	0%	0%	0.08m	209°	-	48°	22%	323°	9.9m/s	0.07m	3.6s

How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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