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Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Point Reyes - Dramatic Seascapes - California Coast

Point Reyes Station, 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
Visibility 1% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Coastal Drama Score
10%
Wave Height0.4m
Swell Height0.3m
Wind Speed3.7m/s (calm conditions)
Cloud Cover5%

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%
Wed, Mar 11
18:009%0.27m24134m5.5m/s0%
19:009.7%0.2m24135m4.1m/s0%
20:008.5%0.2m24134m2.9m/s0%
21:003%0.26m24135m2.8m/s0%
22:003%0.16m24134m2.4m/s0%
23:003.1%0.15m24135m2.1m/s0%
Thu, Mar 12
24:003%0.16m24134m1.7m/s0%
01:003.9%0.17m24134m1.7m/s0%
02:003%0.18m24134m2.3m/s0%
03:003%0.19m24134m1.9m/s0%
04:004.7%0.3m24134m1.7m/s0%
05:004.8%0.29m24135m2m/s0%
06:004.9%0.2m24135m1.9m/s0%
07:0014%0.22m24134m1.6m/s0%
08:0015%0.23m24135m1.5m/s0%
09:0013%0.17m24134m1.4m/s0%
10:0014%0.65m24135m1.3m/s0%
11:006.6%0.62m24134m1.4m/s0%
12:008.4%0.21m24134m1.8m/s0%
13:006.6%0.55m24135m2.2m/s0%
14:006.6%0.51m24135m3m/s0%
15:006.3%0.48m24134m4.4m/s0%
16:006.3%0.43m24135m5.3m/s0%
17:007.5%0.39m24135m6.4m/s0%
18:009.7%0.36m24135m5.7m/s0%
19:009.7%0.32m24135m4.8m/s0%
20:009.3%0.29m24134m5.7m/s0%
21:002.9%0.28m24135m6.1m/s0%
22:002.8%0.27m24135m5.9m/s0%
23:002.7%0.26m24134m4.8m/s0%
Fri, Mar 13
24:003.1%0.3m24135m4m/s0%
01:004%0.35m24134m3.3m/s0%
02:003.1%0.39m24134m2.7m/s0%
03:003.1%0.44m24135m2.6m/s0%
04:003.1%0.49m24135m2.7m/s0%
05:003.3%0.54m24135m3m/s0%
06:004.9%0.57m24134m2m/s0%
07:0011%0.61m24135m1.6m/s0%
08:008.8%0.64m24134m1.2m/s0%
09:009.2%0.66m24134m0.63m/s0%
10:0012%0.67m24135m0.9m/s0%
11:007%0.69m24135m1.1m/s0%
12:008.3%0.66m24135m2.4m/s0%
13:007%0.64m24135m3m/s0%
14:007%0.61m24134m3.3m/s0%
15:007%0.56m24134m4.3m/s0%
16:007%0.52m24134m5.3m/s0%
17:007.7%0.47m24135m6.1m/s0%
18:009.9%0.42m24135m6.9m/s0%
19:0011%0.38m24135m8.1m/s0%
20:0014%0.33m24135m7.7m/s0%
21:003.8%0.3m24134m6.8m/s0%
22:003.2%0.28m24134m6.1m/s0%
23:004.3%0.25m24135m7.1m/s0%
Sat, Mar 14
24:003.8%0.27m24134m7.3m/s0%
01:003.2%0.29m24135m7.6m/s0%
02:003.2%0.31m24135m7.1m/s0%
03:004.1%0.35m24134m5.8m/s0%
04:003.1%0.39m24135m4.8m/s0%
05:003.1%0.43m24134m5.8m/s0%
06:002.5%0.45m24135m5m/s0%
07:009.8%0.48m24135m3.2m/s0%
08:008.5%0.5m24135m3.4m/s0%
09:006.1%0.53m24134m4m/s0%
10:006.8%0.57m24135m4.8m/s0%
11:005.7%0.6m24134m5.3m/s0%
12:006.2%0.65m24134m6.7m/s0%
13:005.7%0.71m24135m6.5m/s0%
14:005.7%0.76m24135m6.8m/s0%
15:005.7%0.81m24134m6.2m/s0%
16:005.7%0.86m24135m7.1m/s0%
17:007.4%0.91m24134m9.3m/s0%
18:009.9%0.98m24135m9.2m/s0%
19:0020%1.1m24135m10m/s0%
20:0018%1.1m24135m7.5m/s0%
21:009.1%1.2m24134m7m/s0%
22:005.7%1.3m24135m5.4m/s0%
23:008.9%1.4m24135m3.5m/s0%
Sun, Mar 15
24:008.1%1.4m24135m3.9m/s0%
01:006.5%1.4m24135m4.3m/s0%
02:005.9%1.5m24135m4.8m/s0%
03:008.9%1.4m24135m4.3m/s0%
04:008.1%1.4m24135m3.9m/s0%
05:005.9%1.4m24135m3.5m/s0%
06:005.1%1.4m17339m4.1m/s0%
07:0014%1.4m10542m4.7m/s0%
08:009.9%1.4m3746m5.2m/s0%
09:0012%1.3m10542m6.2m/s0%
10:0013%1.3m17339m7.1m/s0%
11:0012%1.3m24135m8m/s0%
12:0012%1.3m24135m8m/s0%
13:0012%1.3m24135m8m/s0%
14:0013%1.3m24135m7.9m/s0%
15:0012%1.2m24135m7.4m/s0%
16:0012%1.2m24135m6.8m/s0%
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
Thu, Mar 12 Sunrise 07:25 Sunset 19:15
18:00 ☾
5% 0% 0% 0.3m 257° 0.006 14° 5% 313° 3.7m/s 0.19m 3.5s
19:00 ☾
8% 0% 0% 0.27m 258° 0.007 2.5° 8% 308° 3.5m/s 0.19m 3.4s
20:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.24m 259° 0.007 -9.5° 100% 312° 3.5m/s 0.19m 3.3s
21:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.22m 287° 0.008 -21° 100% 317° 3.9m/s 0.19m 3.1s
22:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.19m 315° 0.009 -32° 100% 322° 3.8m/s 0.2m 3s
23:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.17m 343° 0.01 -42° 100% 321° 3.5m/s 0.2m 2.8s
Fri, Mar 13 Sunrise 07:25 Sunset 19:15
24:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.16m 237° 0.01 -50° 100% 319° 3.2m/s 0.26m 2.9s
01:00 ☾
95% 0% 0% 0.14m 130° 0.01 -54° 95% 330° 2.8m/s 0.31m 2.9s
02:00 ☾
100% 0% 57% 0.13m 24° 0.01 -54° 100% 319° 2.5m/s 0.37m 2.9s
03:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.12m 24° 0.01 -48° 100% 331° 2.3m/s 0.42m 3.1s
04:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.1m 24° 0.01 -39° 100% 327° 2.4m/s 0.48m 3.3s
05:00 ☾
100% 0% 16% 0.09m 24° 0.01 -29° 100% 326° 2.6m/s 0.53m 3.4s
06:00 ☾
70% 0% 37% 0.08m 23° 0.01 -18° 70% 342° 1.8m/s 0.57m 3.5s
07:00 ☾
92% 0% 14% 0.08m 23° 0.01 -5.7° 92% 344° 1.5m/s 0.6m 3.6s
08:00 ☾
100% 0% 73% 0.07m 23° 0.01 6.1° 100% 23° 1.2m/s 0.64m 3.7s
09:00 ☾
89% 0% 6% 0.07m 23° 0.009 18° 89% 309° 0.55m/s 0.65m 3.7s
10:00 ☾
17% 0% 43% 0.06m 22° 0.008 28° 44% 330° 0.7m/s 0.67m 3.8s
11:00 ☾
100% 0% 98% 0.06m 21° 0.01 38° 100% 293° 1.2m/s 0.68m 3.9s
12:00 ☾
79% 0% 93% 0.06m 22° 0.01 45° 93% 303° 2.4m/s 0.65m 3.8s
13:00 ☾
96% 0% 58% 0.06m 22° 0.02 49° 96% 299° 3.3m/s 0.63m 3.8s
14:00 ☾
100% 0% 53% 0.06m 22° 0.02 48° 100% 297° 3.9m/s 0.6m 3.8s
15:00 ☾
100% 0% 100% 0.13m 23° 0.02 43° 100% 306° 4.3m/s 0.56m 3.8s
16:00 ☾
100% 0% 75% 0.19m 23° 0.02 35° 100% 303° 4.9m/s 0.51m 3.7s
17:00 ☾
100% 0% 100% 0.26m 24° 0.02 25° 100% 309° 4.7m/s 0.47m 3.6s
18:00 ☾
100% 0% 85% 0.26m 24° 0.02 14° 100% 307° 4.4m/s 0.43m 3.5s
19:00 ☾
100% 0% 76% 0.27m 24° 0.02 2.7° 100% 312° 4.8m/s 0.38m 3.4s
20:00 ☾
35% 0% 76% 0.27m 24° 0.01 -9.3° 76% 317° 4.4m/s 0.34m 3.3s
21:00 ☾
93% 0% 64% 0.23m 21° 0.01 -21° 93% 318° 4.3m/s 0.3m 3.2s
22:00 ☾
100% 0% 70% 0.2m 18° 0.01 -32° 100% 315° 4m/s 0.27m 3.1s
23:00 ☾
75% 0% 39% 0.16m 16° 0.01 -42° 75% 313° 4.5m/s 0.23m 3s
Sat, Mar 14 Sunrise 07:23 Sunset 19:16
24:00 ☾
92% 0% 11% 0.16m 27° 0.02 -50° 94% 316° 4.5m/s 0.23m 3.3s
01:00 ☾
7% 3% 5% 0.17m 38° 0.02 -54° 12% 317° 4.7m/s 0.24m 3.7s
02:00 ☾
1% 4% 5% 0.17m 49° 0.02 -53° 7% 321° 4.3m/s 0.24m 4s
03:00 ☾
97% 6% 2% 0.2m 149° 0.02 -48° 97% 322° 3.7m/s 0.27m 3.7s
04:00 ☾
100% 7% 18% 0.22m 249° 0.02 -39° 100% 322° 3.4m/s 0.31m 3.4s
05:00 ☾
100% 5% 9% 0.25m 350° 0.02 -29° 100% 318° 3.9m/s 0.34m 3.1s
06:00 ☾
100% 2% 13% 0.24m 235° - -17° 100% 335° 3.3m/s 0.37m 3.2s
07:00 ☾
100% 0% 5% 0.24m 120° - -5.4° 100% 328° 2.5m/s 0.41m 3.3s
08:00 ☾
16% 0% 0% 0.23m 5.5° - 6.4° 16% 330° 2.6m/s 0.44m 3.4s
09:00 ☾
0% 0% 0% 0.23m 10° - 18° 0% 337° 2.5m/s 0.47m 3.4s
10:00 ☾
0% 0% 0% 0.23m 14° - 29° 0% 332° 3m/s 0.51m 3.5s
11:00 ☾
0% 0% 0% 0.23m 19° - 38° 0% 323° 3.5m/s 0.54m 3.6s
12:00 ☾
0% 0% 0% 0.22m 20° - 46° 0% 322° 4.6m/s 0.6m 3.7s
13:00 ☾
0% 0% 0% 0.21m 22° - 49° 0% 323° 4.7m/s 0.67m 3.8s
14:00 ☾
0% 0% 0% 0.2m 23° - 49° 0% 320° 5.1m/s 0.73m 3.9s
15:00 ☾
0% 0% 0% 0.19m 23° - 44° 0% 314° 4.9m/s 0.78m 4s
16:00 ☾
4% 1% 0% 0.18m 23° - 35° 5% 308° 5.5m/s 0.84m 4.1s
17:00 ☾
4% 2% 0% 0.17m 23° - 25° 6% 311° 6.5m/s 0.89m 4.2s
18:00 ☾
89% 0% 0% 0.16m 23° - 14° 89% 313° 5.5m/s 0.97m 4.3s
19:00 ☾
8% 3% 0% 0.15m 23° - 2.9° 8% 310° 5.4m/s 1m 4.5s
20:00 ☾
5% 6% 0% 0.14m 23° - -9.1° 7% 318° 4.5m/s 1.1m 4.6s
21:00 ☾
55% 5% 0% 0.13m 23° - -21° 55% 321° 4.5m/s 1.2m 4.7s
22:00 ☾
5% 4% 0% 0.13m 23° - -32° 7% 326° 3.7m/s 1.3m 4.9s
23:00 ☾
39% 0% 0% 0.12m 23° - -42° 39% 348° 2.9m/s 1.4m 5s
Sun, Mar 15 Sunrise 07:22 Sunset 19:17
24:00 ☾
28% 0% 0% 0.12m 23° - -50° 28% 342° 3.4m/s 1.4m 5s
01:00 ☾
17% 0% 0% 0.13m 23° - -54° 17% 337° 3.9m/s 1.4m 5s
02:00 ☾
6% 0% 0% 0.13m 23° - -53° 6% 331° 4.4m/s 1.4m 5.1s
03:00 ☾
37% 0% 0% 0.14m 23° - -47° 37% 327° 4.1m/s 1.4m 5s
04:00 ☾
68% 0% 0% 0.14m 22° - -39° 68% 323° 3.8m/s 1.4m 5s
05:00 ☾
99% 0% 0% 0.15m 22° - -28° 99% 319° 3.6m/s 1.4m 5s
06:00 ☾
100% 9% 0% 0.14m 22° - -17° 100% 317° 4.1m/s 1.4m 5s
07:00 ☾
100% 18% 0% 0.13m 22° - -5.1° 100% 316° 4.6m/s 1.4m 5s
08:00 ☾
100% 26% 0% 0.12m 21° - 6.7° 100% 315° 5.1m/s 1.4m 5s
09:00 ☾
100% 21% 0% 0.12m 22° - 18° 100% 316° 5.6m/s 1.3m 4.9s
10:00 ☾
100% 16% 0% 0.12m 22° - 29° 100% 318° 6.1m/s 1.3m 4.9s
11:00 ☾
100% 11% 0% 0.12m 23° - 39° 100% 319° 6.6m/s 1.3m 4.8s
12:00 ☾
100% 7% 0% 0.12m 23° - 46° 100% 320° 6.4m/s 1.3m 4.8s
13:00 ☾
100% 4% 0% 0.13m 23° - 50° 100% 321° 6.1m/s 1.3m 4.8s
14:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.13m 23° - 49° 100% 322° 5.8m/s 1.3m 4.8s
15:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.14m 22° - 44° 100% 324° 5.7m/s 1.2m 4.8s
16:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.15m 22° - 36° 100% 326° 5.5m/s 1.2m 4.8s
17:00 ☾
100% 0% 0% 0.16m 21° - 26° 100% 328° 5.3m/s 1.1m 4.7s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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