Rule
Dramatic Seascapes
Santa Cruz - Dramatic Seascapes - California Coast
Capitola, California, United States
Dramatic coastal photography conditions - powerful waves combined with atmospheric drama and good visibility for seascape shots.
Upcoming Opportunities
When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.
Times shown in America/Los_Angeles
Next opportunity
Dramatic Seascapes
Santa Cruz
Today · 07:00–08:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
68%
Dramatic Seascapes
Santa Cruz
Today · 08:00–09:00
Medium
Dramatic Seascapes
Santa Cruz
Today · 17:00–19:00
Medium
Dramatic Seascapes
Santa Cruz
Tomorrow · 08:00–09:00
Medium
Dramatic Seascapes
Santa Cruz
Tomorrow · 16:00–18:00
Medium
What this forecast looks for
Plain-language explanation from the ruleThis 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 hourAND 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jan 11 | |||||
| 04:00 | 27% | 4.5m | 49900m | 1m/s | 0% |
| 05:00 | 27% | 4.6m | 49500m | 1m/s | 0% |
| 06:00 | 27% | 4.7m | 54900m | 1.2m/s | 0% |
| 07:00 | 77% | 4.8m | 57600m | 2m/s | 0% |
| 08:00 | 80% | 4.8m | 57300m | 2m/s | 0% |
| 09:00 | 67% | 4.9m | 56900m | 1.3m/s | 0% |
| 10:00 | 66% | 4.9m | 48700m | 0.6m/s | 0% |
| 11:00 | 66% | 5m | 45800m | 0.7m/s | 0% |
| 12:00 | 56% | 5.1m | 50900m | 0.4m/s | 0% |
| 13:00 | 53% | 5.2m | 62100m | 1.4m/s | 0% |
| 14:00 | 63% | 5.3m | 58600m | 1.5m/s | 0% |
| 15:00 | 63% | 5.5m | 53100m | 1.4m/s | 0% |
| 16:00 | 75% | 5.7m | 44400m | 1.6m/s | 0% |
| 17:00 | 86% | 5.8m | 39200m | 3.3m/s | 0% |
| 18:00 | 76% | 5.9m | 41000m | 4.8m/s | 0% |
| 19:00 | 27% | 6m | 40600m | 4.6m/s | 0% |
| 20:00 | 27% | 6m | 43600m | 4.7m/s | 0% |
| 21:00 | 27% | 6m | 44400m | 4.3m/s | 0% |
| 22:00 | 27% | 6m | 41700m | 2.8m/s | 0% |
| 23:00 | 29% | 5.9m | 39900m | 2m/s | 0% |
| Mon, Jan 12 | |||||
| 24:00 | 28% | 5.8m | 35700m | 1.4m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 27% | 5.6m | 40100m | 2.3m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 27% | 5.5m | 42800m | 3m/s | 0% |
| 03:00 | 27% | 5.4m | 44200m | 2.5m/s | 0% |
| 04:00 | 26% | 5.3m | 48000m | 1.8m/s | 0% |
| 05:00 | 25% | 5.3m | 44300m | 1.2m/s | 0% |
| 06:00 | 28% | 5.2m | 30800m | 1.1m/s | 0% |
| 07:00 | 74% | 5.1m | 26100m | 0.8m/s | 0% |
| 08:00 | 75% | 5m | 31800m | 1m/s | 0% |
| 09:00 | 70% | 4.8m | 38300m | 0.6m/s | 0% |
| 10:00 | 68% | 4.7m | 31400m | 0.6m/s | 0% |
| 11:00 | 68% | 4.6m | 29900m | 0.7m/s | 0% |
| 12:00 | 58% | 4.5m | 35800m | 0.8m/s | 0% |
| 13:00 | 58% | 4.4m | 39300m | 1.1m/s | 0% |
| 14:00 | 68% | 4.4m | 41800m | 1.2m/s | 0% |
| 15:00 | 68% | 4.3m | 43900m | 0.8m/s | 0% |
| 16:00 | 78% | 4.2m | 42700m | 0.8m/s | 0% |
| 17:00 | 78% | 4.1m | 33800m | 0.9m/s | 0% |
| 18:00 | 72% | 4m | 27700m | 2.8m/s | 0% |
| 19:00 | 24% | 4m | 32300m | 3.6m/s | 0% |
| 20:00 | 24% | 3.9m | 33185m | 3.5m/s | 0% |
| 21:00 | 24% | 3.8m | 31170m | 3.1m/s | 0% |
| 22:00 | 26% | 3.7m | 28255m | 3m/s | 0% |
| 23:00 | 26% | 3.7m | 24140m | 2.9m/s | 0% |
| Tue, Jan 13 | |||||
| 24:00 | 26% | 3.6m | 24140m | 3m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 26% | 3.5m | 24140m | 2.9m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 26% | 3.5m | 24140m | 3.1m/s | 0% |
| 03:00 | 26% | 3.5m | 24140m | 3m/s | 0% |
| 04:00 | 26% | 3.4m | 24140m | 3m/s | 0% |
| 05:00 | 26% | 3.4m | 24140m | 2.9m/s | 0% |
| 06:00 | 26% | 3.4m | 24140m | 2.9m/s | 0% |
| 07:00 | 71% | 3.3m | 24140m | 2.9m/s | 0% |
| 08:00 | 70% | 3.3m | 24140m | 2.9m/s | 0% |
| 09:00 | 46% | 3.4m | 24140m | 3.4m/s | 0% |
| 10:00 | 46% | 3.4m | 24140m | 2.8m/s | 0% |
| 11:00 | 50% | 3.4m | 24140m | 2.3m/s | 0% |
| 12:00 | 50% | 3.5m | 24140m | 2.4m/s | 0% |
| 13:00 | 48% | 3.5m | 24140m | 2.1m/s | 0% |
| 14:00 | 61% | 3.6m | 24140m | 2m/s | 0% |
| 15:00 | 55% | 3.7m | 24140m | 1.7m/s | 0% |
| 16:00 | 65% | 3.8m | 24140m | 2.3m/s | 0% |
| 17:00 | 71% | 4m | 24140m | 2.1m/s | 0% |
| 18:00 | 71% | 4.1m | 24140m | 2.3m/s | 0% |
| 19:00 | 27% | 4.3m | 24140m | 3.2m/s | 0% |
| 20:00 | 27% | 4.4m | 24140m | 3.2m/s | 0% |
| 21:00 | 27% | 4.6m | 24140m | 3m/s | 0% |
| 22:00 | 27% | 4.7m | 24140m | 2.4m/s | 0% |
| 23:00 | 27% | 4.8m | 24140m | 2.8m/s | 0% |
| Wed, Jan 14 | |||||
| 24:00 | 27% | 4.8m | 24140m | 3m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 27% | 4.8m | 24140m | 2.9m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 27% | 4.7m | 24140m | 2.9m/s | 0% |
| 03:00 | 27% | 4.5m | 24140m | 3m/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 scoreThis 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jan 11
Sunrise 07:21
Sunset 17:09 | ||||||||||||
| 05:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 0% | 3.7m | 276° | 0.004 | -28° | 100% | 24° | 0.98m/s | 2.7m | 16s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 0% | 3.8m | 276° | 0.004 | -16° | 100% | 5° | 1.2m/s | 2.8m | 16s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 0% | 3.9m | 276° | 0.004 | -4.5° | 100% | 3° | 2m/s | 2.8m | 16s |
| 08:00 ☾ | 8% | 0% | 0% | 3.8m | 276° | 0.004 | 6.1° | 8% | 15° | 2m/s | 2.9m | 16s |
| 09:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.8m | 276° | 0.004 | 15° | 0% | 8° | 1.4m/s | 3m | 16s |
| 10:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.8m | 276° | 0.004 | 23° | 0% | 158° | 0.54m/s | 3.1m | 16s |
| 11:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.7m | 276° | 0.004 | 29° | 0% | 172° | 0.71m/s | 3.3m | 16s |
| 12:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.6m | 276° | 0.004 | 31° | 0% | 225° | 0.42m/s | 3.5m | 16s |
| 13:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.5m | 277° | 0.004 | 30° | 0% | 263° | 0.81m/s | 3.8m | 16s |
| 14:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.5m | 277° | 0.004 | 26° | 0% | 249° | 0.85m/s | 4m | 16s |
| 15:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.6m | 277° | 0.004 | 20° | 0% | 252° | 0.95m/s | 4.2m | 15s |
| 16:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 0% | 3.6m | 278° | 0.004 | 11° | 100% | 270° | 1.1m/s | 4.5m | 15s |
| 17:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 0% | 4m | 276° | 0.005 | 1.5° | 100% | 343° | 2.1m/s | 5m | 15s |
| 18:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 0% | 4.5m | 274° | 0.005 | -9.8° | 100% | 4° | 2.9m/s | 5.5m | 15s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 0% | 4.9m | 272° | 0.006 | -21° | 100% | 8° | 2.8m/s | 6m | 15s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 0% | 5.2m | 270° | 0.006 | -33° | 100% | 8° | 2.9m/s | 6m | 15s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 0% | 5.5m | 269° | 0.006 | -45° | 100% | 13° | 2.7m/s | 6m | 14s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 2% | 5.8m | 268° | 0.007 | -57° | 100% | 11° | 1.5m/s | 6m | 14s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 7% | 5.7m | 267° | 0.007 | -67° | 100% | 35° | 1.6m/s | 5.9m | 14s |
| Mon, Jan 12
Sunrise 07:21
Sunset 17:10 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 92% | 0% | 5% | 5.7m | 267° | 0.007 | -74° | 92% | 25° | 1.4m/s | 5.8m | 14s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 98% | 0% | 0% | 5.6m | 266° | 0.008 | -72° | 98% | 13° | 2.3m/s | 5.7m | 14s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 1% | 5m | 264° | 0.008 | -63° | 1% | 18° | 2.3m/s | 5.5m | 14s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.3m | 263° | 0.007 | -51° | 0% | 16° | 1.9m/s | 5.4m | 14s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.6m | 261° | 0.007 | -40° | 0% | 345° | 1.6m/s | 5.3m | 14s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2.9m | 261° | 0.007 | -28° | 0% | 10° | 1.1m/s | 5.3m | 14s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2.2m | 260° | 0.007 | -16° | 0% | 90° | 1.1m/s | 5.2m | 14s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1.5m | 260° | 0.006 | -4.5° | 0% | 90° | 0.7m/s | 5.1m | 13s |
| 08:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2.6m | 260° | 0.006 | 6.1° | 0% | 18° | 0.95m/s | 4.9m | 13s |
| 09:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.7m | 260° | 0.006 | 15° | 0% | 45° | 0.57m/s | 4.7m | 13s |
| 10:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.7m | 260° | 0.006 | 23° | 0% | 180° | 0.6m/s | 4.6m | 13s |
| 11:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.6m | 259° | 0.006 | 29° | 0% | 203° | 0.76m/s | 4.5m | 13s |
| 12:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.5m | 257° | 0.006 | 31° | 0% | 210° | 0.81m/s | 4.5m | 13s |
| 13:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.4m | 256° | 0.006 | 31° | 0% | 218° | 1.1m/s | 4.5m | 13s |
| 14:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.4m | 256° | 0.005 | 27° | 0% | 215° | 1.2m/s | 4.4m | 13s |
| 15:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.3m | 257° | 0.005 | 20° | 0% | 221° | 0.92m/s | 4.4m | 13s |
| 16:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.2m | 257° | 0.004 | 11° | 0% | 279° | 0.61m/s | 4.3m | 13s |
| 17:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.1m | 257° | - | 1.6° | 0% | 270° | 1m/s | 4.2m | 13s |
| 18:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4m | 257° | - | -9.6° | 0% | 358° | 2.3m/s | 4.2m | 13s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4m | 257° | - | -21° | 0% | 10° | 2.8m/s | 4.1m | 13s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.9m | 258° | - | -33° | 0% | 11° | 2.9m/s | 4m | 13s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.8m | 258° | - | -45° | 0% | 15° | 2.9m/s | 4m | 13s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.7m | 258° | - | -57° | 0% | 19° | 3.1m/s | 3.9m | 13s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.7m | 258° | - | -67° | 0% | 30° | 3.2m/s | 3.9m | 13s |
| Tue, Jan 13
Sunrise 07:20
Sunset 17:11 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.6m | 258° | - | -74° | 0% | 35° | 3.3m/s | 3.8m | 12s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.5m | 258° | - | -72° | 0% | 36° | 3.2m/s | 3.7m | 12s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.5m | 258° | - | -63° | 0% | 39° | 3.2m/s | 3.7m | 12s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.5m | 258° | - | -51° | 0% | 37° | 3.4m/s | 3.6m | 12s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.4m | 258° | - | -40° | 0% | 35° | 3.3m/s | 3.6m | 12s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.4m | 257° | - | -28° | 0% | 38° | 3.3m/s | 3.5m | 12s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.3m | 256° | - | -16° | 0% | 23° | 3m/s | 3.4m | 12s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.3m | 255° | - | -4.5° | 0% | 26° | 3.2m/s | 3.4m | 12s |
| 08:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2.3m | 255° | - | 6.2° | 0% | 27° | 3.1m/s | 3.4m | 12s |
| 09:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1.3m | 255° | - | 16° | 0% | 41° | 3m/s | 3.4m | 12s |
| 10:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.27m | 255° | - | 23° | 0% | 45° | 2.4m/s | 3.3m | 12s |
| 11:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1.3m | 254° | - | 29° | 0% | 61° | 1.8m/s | 2.3m | 12s |
| 12:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2.4m | 253° | - | 32° | 0% | 73° | 1.7m/s | 1.3m | 12s |
| 13:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.5m | 252° | - | 31° | 0% | 85° | 1.2m/s | 0.21m | 12s |
| 14:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3m | 251° | - | 27° | 0% | 45° | 0.57m/s | 1.4m | 12s |
| 15:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2.6m | 249° | - | 20° | 0% | 298° | 1.5m/s | 2.6m | 12s |
| 16:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2.2m | 248° | - | 12° | 0% | 341° | 1.8m/s | 3.8m | 12s |
| 17:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2.9m | 246° | - | 1.8° | 0% | 338° | 2.4m/s | 3.7m | 12s |
| 18:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.6m | 245° | - | -9.4° | 0% | 358° | 2.8m/s | 3.5m | 12s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.3m | 244° | - | -21° | 0% | 28° | 3.4m/s | 3.4m | 12s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.4m | 245° | - | -33° | 0% | 28° | 3.4m/s | 3.3m | 13s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.6m | 246° | - | -45° | 0% | 25° | 3.1m/s | 3.2m | 13s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.7m | 247° | - | -57° | 0% | 15° | 2.8m/s | 3m | 14s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.8m | 247° | - | -67° | 0% | 19° | 2.8m/s | 2.9m | 14s |
| Wed, Jan 14
Sunrise 07:20
Sunset 17:12 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.8m | 247° | - | -74° | 0% | 27° | 3.1m/s | 2.8m | 14s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.8m | 247° | - | -72° | 0% | 31° | 3.1m/s | 2.6m | 14s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.7m | 246° | - | -63° | 0% | 25° | 3.1m/s | 2.5m | 14s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.5m | 246° | - | -51° | 0% | 28° | 3.2m/s | 2.4m | 14s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4.4m | 246° | - | -40° | 0% | 33° | 3.3m/s | 2.3m | 14s |
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.
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