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Rule Cloudscapes

Manuel Antonio - Cloudscapes - Costa Rica

Quepos, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica

Multi-layered dramatic clouds for striking sky photography

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts1.0m/s
Precipitation Chance88%
Air Pressure993.8hPa

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Costa_Rica
cloudscapes weather icon
Next opportunity
Dramatic Cloud Drama
Manuel Antonio
Tomorrow · 14:00–15:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
49%
☁️Cloud Drama Score88%
Cloud Cover: 53%
Wind Gusts: 1.4m/s
Precipitation Chance: 95%
Air Pressure: 992.2hPa
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunrise
Manuel Antonio
Mon, Jul 13 · 05:00–06:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:88.4%
Medium
cloudscapes weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama
Manuel Antonio
Mon, Jul 13 · 08:00–09:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:78.2%
Low
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunrise
Manuel Antonio
Thu, Jul 16 · 05:00–06:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:94.9%
Low
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama
Manuel Antonio
Thu, Jul 16 · 06:00–09:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:78.2-100%
Low
cloudscapes weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama at Sunrise
Manuel Antonio
Fri, Jul 17 · 05:00–06:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:83.2%
Low
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama
Manuel Antonio
Fri, Jul 17 · 07:00–08:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:100%
Low

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast tracks dramatic cloud conditions across Costa Rica's remarkable diversity of landscapes—from volcanic peaks to Pacific coast to pristine rainforest. We analyze cloud types, coverage patterns, and tropical atmospheric instability to predict when sky drama combines with the country's iconic natural features.

Costa Rica's position between Pacific and Caribbean, combined with volcanic peaks reaching over 3,800 meters, creates extraordinary cloud dynamics. The green season (May-November) brings afternoon convective storms and dramatic cloud buildup, while the dry season (December-April) offers clearer skies but occasionally spectacular transitions. The country's multiple microclimates mean cloud conditions can vary dramatically within short distances.

What makes Costa Rica cloudscape photography special:

  • Volcanic drama - Arenal, Rincón de la Vieja, and Turrialba volcanic peaks piercing cloud layers, sometimes adding volcanic steam to natural clouds
  • Green season storms - Afternoon convective buildups create towering cumulus and dramatic storm light over rainforest and coast
  • Pacific coast systems - Offshore weather approaching Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio creates layered cloud compositions over ocean
  • Rainforest scale - Osa Peninsula and Drake Bay's pristine wilderness under tropical cloud systems provides untouched landscape drama

Arenal Volcano provides Costa Rica's classic cloudscape composition—the symmetrical cone often partially wrapped in clouds or emerging from cloud layers, especially during green season when afternoon convection builds around the peak. Rincón de la Vieja's active volcanic features combine with cloud drama—steam vents and fumaroles adding to natural cloud formations. Tamarindo's Pacific coast works brilliantly for sunset cloudscapes when afternoon storms clear, leaving dramatic cloud remnants for golden hour. Manuel Antonio's combination of rainforest hills and Pacific creates compositions with clouds at multiple elevations. Drake Bay and Osa Peninsula offer pristine wilderness cloudscapes without human development. Green season (May-November) produces the most dramatic conditions with daily afternoon storm buildups.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
1matching hours in the next 79 hoursJump to next match
OR logic: one branch per group is enough
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
America/Costa_Rica
Cloud Drama Score
≥ 75.0%
Low Clouds
≥ 20.0%
Mid-Level Clouds
OR1·B1
≥ 30.0%
High Clouds
OR1·B2
≥ 40.0%
Visibility
≥ 5000.0m
Tue, Jul 7
23:0013%0%0%0%24134m
Wed, Jul 8
24:0014%0%0%0%24135m
01:0012%4.8%0%0.4%24134m
02:0012%0.7%0%0%24135m
03:0013%0%0%0%24134m
04:0012%0%0%0%24134m
05:0023%0%0%0%24134m
06:0025%0%0%0%24134m
07:0025%0%0%0%24134m
08:0020%0%0%0%24135m
09:0019%0%0%0%24135m
10:0018%2%0%0%24135m
11:0022%9.2%0%0%24135m
12:0042%27%0%0%24134m
13:0037%17%0%0%24134m
14:0048%20%0%0.9%24134m
15:0048%2.2%0%12%22709m
16:00100%6.4%15%32%23549m
17:00100%17%55%80%10880m
18:0074%18%76%100%24135m
19:0014%29%100%100%24135m
20:0014%28%93%92%24135m
21:0014%12%94%96%24134m
22:0014%0%81%87%24134m
23:0014%0%47%91%24134m
Thu, Jul 9
24:0013%0%3.1%99%24135m
01:0013%0%1.1%100%24135m
02:0012%0%0%71%24134m
03:0014%0%0%28%24135m
04:0012%0%0%65%24134m
05:0040%0%0%5.9%24135m
06:0080%0%0%31%24135m
07:0073%0%0%28%24134m
08:0068%0%0%28%24135m
09:0034%1.2%0%5%24135m
10:0032%4.7%0%5%24134m
11:0046%19%0%5.2%24135m
12:0070%29%0.2%10%23331m
13:0060%19%1.5%15%24134m
14:0088%23%6.4%49%24135m
15:0091%15%24%74%24135m
16:0061%13%60%92%23306m
17:0064%20%100%98%11275m
18:0052%6.2%99%100%24135m
19:000.1%4.8%100%95%24135m
20:002.4%21%100%99%24135m
21:000.7%8.3%80%100%24134m
22:000%7.1%38%100%23571m
23:002%3.1%61%100%24134m
Fri, Jul 10
24:000.1%2.6%58%99%24135m
01:004.7%3.3%62%100%24134m
02:005.4%4.1%59%100%24134m
03:004.6%4.7%16%98%16076m
04:006.7%0.5%2.1%42%24134m
05:0029%2.3%0.7%92%24134m
06:0023%0%0%97%24134m
07:0025%0%0%97%24135m
08:0021%0%0%100%24134m
09:0021%0.3%1.5%100%24134m
10:0031%15%5%100%24135m
11:0027%29%5%100%24135m
12:0027%52%7.6%100%24135m
13:0041%38%29%93%17333m
14:0055%24%50%85%10531m
15:0078%10%71%78%3728m
16:0055%17%78%85%3827m
17:0062%23%86%93%3925m
18:0060%30%93%100%4023m
19:000%40%96%99%10002m
20:000%51%98%98%15982m
21:000%62%100%97%21961m
22:000%46%100%98%22686m
23:000%30%100%99%23411m
Sat, Jul 11
24:000%14%100%100%24135m
01:000%14%96%100%24135m
02:000%13%92%100%24135m
03:000%13%88%100%24135m
04:000%25%90%100%20224m
05:0060%38%92%100%16313m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity). For OR groups, only one branch is required, so some OR-branch predicates can be ✕ even in a matching hour.

What does Cloud 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/Costa_Rica
Air Pressure
hPa
High Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Precipitation Chance
%
Relative Humidity
%
Solar Elevation
°
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Gusts
m/s
Wind Speed
m/s
Wed, Jul 8 Sunrise 05:22 Sunset 18:01
07:00
994hPa 0% 0% 88% 67% 22° 0% 1m/s 0.86m/s
08:00
995hPa 0% 0% 94% 64% 35° 0% 1m/s 0.64m/s
09:00
995hPa 0% 0% 100% 62% 49° 0% 1.2m/s 1.3m/s
10:00
995hPa 0% 0% 100% 62% 62° 2% 1.3m/s 2m/s
11:00
994hPa 0% 0% 100% 63% 74° 9% 1.7m/s 2.8m/s
12:00
994hPa 0% 0% 100% 66% 76° 27% 2m/s 3.4m/s
13:00
993hPa 0% 0% 97% 67% 67° 17% 2.2m/s 3.2m/s
14:00
993hPa 1% 0% 93% 67% 54° 20% 2.1m/s 3m/s
15:00
993hPa 12% 0% 90% 75% 41° 12% 2.9m/s 3.2m/s
16:00
993hPa 32% 15% 87% 78% 27° 32% 2.9m/s 2.6m/s
17:00
993hPa 80% 55% 84% 81% 13° 80% 2.6m/s 1.9m/s
18:00
993hPa 100% 76% 81% 83% 0.01° 100% 1.8m/s 1.5m/s
19:00
994hPa 100% 100% 54% 84% -14° 100% 1.5m/s 0.98m/s
20:00
994hPa 92% 93% 27% 83% -27° 94% 1.4m/s 1.3m/s
21:00
995hPa 96% 94% 0% 84% -39° 96% 1.2m/s 1.3m/s
22:00
995hPa 86% 81% 0% 84% -50° 86% 1.4m/s 1.6m/s
23:00
994hPa 91% 46% 0% 84% -57° 91% 1.2m/s 1.3m/s
Thu, Jul 9 Sunrise 05:22 Sunset 18:01
24:00
994hPa 99% 3% 0% 84% -58° 99% 1.3m/s 1.4m/s
01:00
993hPa 100% 1% 0% 84% -53° 100% 1.6m/s 1.8m/s
02:00
993hPa 71% 0% 0% 84% -44° 71% 1.7m/s 1.8m/s
03:00
993hPa 28% 0% 0% 83% -32° 28% 1.9m/s 2.1m/s
04:00
993hPa 64% 0% 33% 82% -19° 64% 1.8m/s 1.9m/s
05:00
993hPa 6% 0% 66% 82% -5.9° 6% 1.4m/s 1.7m/s
06:00
993hPa 31% 0% 99% 81% 7.8° 31% 1.3m/s 1.5m/s
07:00
994hPa 28% 0% 100% 76% 22° 28% 0.82m/s 0.77m/s
08:00
994hPa 28% 0% 100% 72% 35° 28% 0.92m/s 0.65m/s
09:00
995hPa 5% 0% 100% 68% 49° 5% 1.2m/s 1.2m/s
10:00
994hPa 5% 0% 100% 65% 62° 6% 1.3m/s 1.8m/s
11:00
994hPa 5% 0% 100% 66% 74° 19% 2.1m/s 3.1m/s
12:00
994hPa 10% 0% 100% 69% 76° 28% 2.7m/s 3.3m/s
13:00
993hPa 14% 2% 97% 69% 67° 19% 2m/s 2.5m/s
14:00
992hPa 48% 6% 95% 68% 55° 53% 1.4m/s 2.2m/s
15:00
992hPa 74% 24% 92% 70% 41° 74% 1.8m/s 2.6m/s
16:00
992hPa 92% 60% 92% 75% 27° 92% 3m/s 2.7m/s
17:00
992hPa 98% 100% 92% 83% 13° 100% 2.6m/s 1.5m/s
18:00
993hPa 100% 99% 93% 84% 0.02° 100% 0.62m/s 0.22m/s
19:00
994hPa 95% 100% 74% 85% -14° 100% 0.61m/s 0.51m/s
20:00
994hPa 99% 100% 56% 86% -27° 100% 1.1m/s 1.3m/s
21:00
995hPa 100% 80% 37% 86% -39° 100% 1.2m/s 1.3m/s
22:00
995hPa 100% 38% 40% 87% -50° 100% 0.8m/s 0.88m/s
23:00
995hPa 100% 61% 42% 86% -57° 100% 0.83m/s 0.92m/s
Fri, Jul 10 Sunrise 05:23 Sunset 18:01
24:00
994hPa 99% 58% 44% 86% -58° 99% 1.1m/s 1.3m/s
01:00
993hPa 100% 62% 37% 86% -53° 100% 0.93m/s 1.1m/s
02:00
993hPa 100% 59% 30% 86% -44° 100% 1m/s 1.3m/s
03:00
993hPa 98% 16% 24% 87% -32° 98% 1.5m/s 1.6m/s
04:00
993hPa 42% 2% 47% 86% -19° 42% 1.4m/s 1.5m/s
05:00
993hPa 92% 1% 71% 86% -6° 92% 1.5m/s 1.6m/s
06:00
993hPa 97% 0% 95% 84% 7.8° 97% 1.4m/s 1.6m/s
07:00
994hPa 97% 0% 97% 80% 22° 97% 1m/s 0.94m/s
08:00
994hPa 100% 0% 98% 75% 35° 100% 0.51m/s 0.13m/s
09:00
994hPa 100% 2% 100% 72% 49° 100% 0.81m/s 1.1m/s
10:00
994hPa 100% 5% 100% 68% 62° 100% 1.1m/s 1.6m/s
11:00
994hPa 100% 5% 100% 67% 74° 100% 1.6m/s 2.5m/s
12:00
993hPa 100% 8% 100% 69% 77° 100% 1.9m/s 2.9m/s
13:00
970hPa 93% 29% 99% 78% 67° 93% 1.8m/s 2.5m/s
14:00
947hPa 85% 50% 98% 86% 55° 85% 1.7m/s 2.1m/s
15:00
925hPa 78% 71% 97% 95% 41° 78% 1.6m/s 1.7m/s
16:00
925hPa 85% 78% 98% 95% 27° 85% 1.7m/s 1.7m/s
17:00
925hPa 93% 86% 98% 95% 13° 93% 1.8m/s 1.8m/s
18:00
925hPa 100% 93% 98% 95% 0.03° 100% 1.9m/s 1.8m/s
19:00
924hPa 99% 96% 88% 95% -14° 100% 1.5m/s 1.4m/s
20:00
924hPa 98% 98% 77% 95% -27° 100% 1.1m/s 1m/s
21:00
923hPa 97% 100% 66% 96% -39° 100% 0.64m/s 0.62m/s
22:00
923hPa 98% 100% 68% 96% -50° 100% 0.63m/s 0.55m/s
23:00
924hPa 99% 100% 70% 96% -57° 100% 0.63m/s 0.49m/s
Sat, Jul 11 Sunrise 05:23 Sunset 18:01
24:00
924hPa 100% 100% 73% 96% -58° 100% 0.62m/s 0.43m/s
01:00
924hPa 100% 96% 71% 94% -53° 100% 0.59m/s 0.46m/s
02:00
925hPa 100% 92% 70% 92% -44° 100% 0.56m/s 0.48m/s
03:00
925hPa 100% 88% 68% 91% -32° 100% 0.53m/s 0.51m/s
04:00
925hPa 100% 90% 79% 89% -19° 100% 0.7m/s 0.98m/s
05:00
925hPa 100% 92% 89% 88% -6° 100% 0.87m/s 1.5m/s
06:00
925hPa 100% 94% 100% 87% 7.7° 100% 1m/s 1.9m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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