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Rule Cloudscapes

Puerto Viejo - Cloudscapes - Costa Rica

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón Province, Costa Rica

Multi-layered dramatic clouds for striking sky photography

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover91%
Wind Gusts2.1m/s
Precipitation Chance100%
Air Pressure1009.3hPa

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
Puerto Viejo
Today · 06:00–07:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
61%
☁️Cloud Drama Score100%
Cloud Cover: 56%
Wind Gusts: 2.6m/s
Precipitation Chance: 100%
Air Pressure: 1008.8hPa
cloudscapes weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama
Puerto Viejo
Tomorrow · 06:00–07:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:82.2%
Medium
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunrise
Puerto Viejo
Wed, May 27 · 05:00–06:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:100%
Medium
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama
Puerto Viejo
Wed, May 27 · 06:00–10:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:77.4-100%
Low
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunset
Puerto Viejo
Wed, May 27 · 17:00–19:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:88.4-99.4%
Low
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama
Puerto Viejo
Thu, May 28 · 07:00–08:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:88.4%
Medium
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama
Puerto Viejo
Sat, May 30 · 06:00–08:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:98.8-100%
Low
+1 more windows in the next 10 days

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
3matching hours in the next 95 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
Sat, May 23
07:0037%0%5%87%24134m
08:0032%3.5%3.9%93%24135m
09:0029%0%2.9%94%24134m
10:0020%0.8%3.8%96%24135m
11:0027%3.9%4.5%76%24135m
12:0038%5.6%4.6%40%24134m
13:0026%3%5%74%24135m
14:0039%3.1%5%67%24134m
15:0018%2.3%5.2%98%9727m
16:0050%1.9%5.5%10%24135m
17:0065%0%6.5%18%8942m
18:0085%0%9%27%24135m
19:009.3%0%83%99%24134m
20:004.2%0%64%88%24135m
21:003.8%0%100%100%24135m
22:003.2%0%95%100%24134m
23:001.3%0%99%99%24135m
Sun, May 24
24:000.1%0%92%99%24134m
01:001.2%0%85%100%24134m
02:001.6%6%59%99%24134m
03:005.2%0.1%72%77%24134m
04:001.5%1.9%31%99%24135m
05:0058%5.9%10%85%22388m
06:00100%37%40%50%15728m
07:0070%91%30%65%12357m
08:0071%78%5.6%70%22181m
09:0041%42%3.5%97%22930m
10:0027%12%0%98%24134m
11:0023%1.9%0%84%24134m
12:0022%4.6%2.1%81%24134m
13:0029%2.7%5%26%24135m
14:0043%2.9%5%15%24134m
15:0056%4.3%5%60%24135m
16:0049%0.9%19%100%9288m
17:0090%0%45%67%24135m
18:0055%0%79%97%4660m
19:005.4%33%95%100%5680m
20:004.5%79%100%100%6087m
21:004.9%100%100%100%5187m
22:003.4%73%98%100%24134m
23:003.7%20%92%70%24134m
Mon, May 25
24:007.5%2.3%99%71%24134m
01:0014%0%84%59%24135m
02:0015%0%77%79%22978m
03:0015%0%6.7%86%24135m
04:0015%0.1%5%68%14330m
05:0054%14%5%98%24134m
06:0082%21%5%70%11885m
07:0055%20%4.8%90%24134m
08:0047%44%5%100%24134m
09:0038%23%5%100%24134m
10:0016%0.4%5%100%24134m
11:0015%0.1%5%100%24135m
12:0013%1.3%5%100%24134m
13:0015%1.5%5%100%24135m
14:0034%1.1%13%100%24134m
15:0021%0%5%100%24135m
16:0025%0%5%100%24134m
17:0021%0.1%5%100%24134m
18:0054%0%27%100%9781m
19:007.6%0%76%100%10100m
20:008.9%0.7%97%100%11085m
21:009.4%0.8%92%89%4181m
22:005.6%0.9%39%77%6792m
23:003%0.1%71%87%6640m
Tue, May 26
24:001.1%0.5%84%95%24135m
01:002.5%2.9%19%66%24134m
02:0012%1.1%53%39%24135m
03:0013%0%40%6.7%24134m
04:0012%0%43%45%24135m
05:0042%0%6.3%5%24134m
06:0041%0%5.2%9.8%24134m
07:0039%0%6.3%6.1%24134m
08:0077%15%8.3%56%24135m
09:0018%2.3%5.2%100%24135m
10:0019%16%5.3%100%24134m
11:0013%2.4%9.1%100%24135m
12:0021%1.7%34%100%24134m
13:0023%17%56%100%19923m
14:0041%32%78%100%15713m
15:0051%48%100%100%11502m
16:0057%38%100%100%15086m
17:0057%28%100%100%18670m
18:0062%19%100%100%22254m
19:000%13%95%100%22881m
20:000%7%90%100%23508m
21:000%1.1%85%100%24135m
22:000%0.9%80%100%24135m
23:000%0.7%76%99%24135m
Wed, May 27
24:000%0.5%71%99%24135m
01:000%1.2%63%85%24135m
02:000%1.9%56%71%24135m
03:000%2.6%49%56%24135m
04:000%20%57%39%24135m
05:00100%37%64%22%24135m
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
Sun, May 24 Sunrise 05:09 Sunset 17:46
07:00
1009hPa 65% 30% 100% 78% 25° 91% 2.1m/s 2.2m/s
08:00
1010hPa 70% 6% 100% 76% 39° 80% 1.5m/s 1.5m/s
09:00
1010hPa 97% 4% 100% 75% 53° 97% 1.8m/s 1.6m/s
10:00
1009hPa 98% 0% 100% 74% 66° 98% 2.1m/s 1.9m/s
11:00
1009hPa 84% 0% 100% 73% 77° 84% 3.1m/s 2.9m/s
12:00
1008hPa 81% 2% 100% 73% 76° 81% 3.4m/s 3.5m/s
13:00
1007hPa 26% 5% 99% 73% 65° 26% 3.1m/s 3.3m/s
14:00
1007hPa 15% 5% 98% 73% 52° 15% 2.7m/s 2.9m/s
15:00
1006hPa 60% 5% 97% 73% 38° 60% 2.6m/s 2.8m/s
16:00
1006hPa 100% 19% 98% 76% 24° 100% 2.9m/s 2.9m/s
17:00
1007hPa 67% 45% 99% 77% 10° 67% 3.6m/s 3.4m/s
18:00
1007hPa 97% 79% 100% 80% -3.8° 97% 3.2m/s 2.9m/s
19:00
1008hPa 100% 94% 94% 80% -17° 100% 3.2m/s 2.9m/s
20:00
1009hPa 100% 100% 89% 81% -30° 100% 2.8m/s 2.5m/s
21:00
1009hPa 100% 100% 83% 80% -42° 100% 2.1m/s 1.9m/s
22:00
1009hPa 100% 98% 83% 79% -53° 100% 0.7m/s 0.67m/s
23:00
1009hPa 70% 92% 83% 79% -59° 92% 2.1m/s 2.4m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 05:09 Sunset 17:46
24:00
1008hPa 71% 99% 83% 80% -58° 99% 3m/s 3.2m/s
01:00
1007hPa 58% 84% 82% 80% -52° 84% 3m/s 3m/s
02:00
1007hPa 79% 77% 82% 78% -42° 87% 2m/s 1.9m/s
03:00
1007hPa 86% 7% 82% 78% -30° 86% 2.3m/s 2.1m/s
04:00
1007hPa 68% 5% 85% 80% -17° 68% 2.5m/s 2.1m/s
05:00
1008hPa 98% 5% 87% 78% -2.9° 98% 2.7m/s 2.4m/s
06:00
1008hPa 70% 5% 90% 78% 11° 70% 2.9m/s 2.6m/s
07:00
1008hPa 90% 5% 92% 77% 25° 90% 2.6m/s 2.5m/s
08:00
1009hPa 100% 5% 93% 74% 39° 100% 2.4m/s 2.1m/s
09:00
1009hPa 100% 5% 94% 72% 53° 100% 2.3m/s 2.1m/s
10:00
1009hPa 100% 5% 96% 71% 66° 100% 2m/s 1.9m/s
11:00
1008hPa 100% 5% 98% 70% 77° 100% 2.5m/s 2.6m/s
12:00
1007hPa 100% 5% 99% 70% 76° 100% 3m/s 3.2m/s
13:00
1007hPa 100% 5% 96% 70% 65° 100% 3m/s 3.3m/s
14:00
1006hPa 100% 13% 92% 70% 52° 100% 2.7m/s 3m/s
15:00
1005hPa 100% 5% 89% 71% 38° 100% 2.6m/s 2.7m/s
16:00
1005hPa 100% 5% 91% 72% 24° 100% 2.8m/s 2.7m/s
17:00
1006hPa 100% 5% 92% 73% 10° 100% 2.1m/s 1.9m/s
18:00
1007hPa 100% 27% 94% 77% -3.8° 100% 2.1m/s 1.8m/s
19:00
1007hPa 100% 76% 79% 78% -17° 100% 2.3m/s 1.9m/s
20:00
1008hPa 100% 96% 64% 78% -30° 100% 2.4m/s 2m/s
21:00
1008hPa 89% 92% 49% 79% -42° 92% 1.9m/s 1.6m/s
22:00
1008hPa 77% 39% 53% 79% -52° 77% 2m/s 1.7m/s
23:00
1008hPa 87% 71% 57% 79% -58° 88% 2.4m/s 2.1m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 05:09 Sunset 17:46
24:00
1007hPa 95% 84% 62% 78% -58° 95% 2.8m/s 2.8m/s
01:00
1007hPa 66% 19% 49% 79% -52° 66% 3.5m/s 3.4m/s
02:00
1006hPa 38% 52% 36% 80% -42° 53% 3.3m/s 3.1m/s
03:00
1006hPa 7% 40% 24% 80% -30° 40% 3.6m/s 3.4m/s
04:00
1006hPa 45% 43% 48% 80% -16° 50% 3.7m/s 3.3m/s
05:00
1007hPa 5% 6% 73% 79% -2.9° 6% 3.2m/s 2.9m/s
06:00
1007hPa 10% 5% 98% 78% 11° 10% 3.5m/s 3.1m/s
07:00
1008hPa 6% 6% 98% 77% 25° 7% 3.9m/s 3.4m/s
08:00
1008hPa 56% 8% 99% 75% 39° 56% 3.8m/s 3.3m/s
09:00
1009hPa 100% 5% 100% 74% 53° 100% 4.3m/s 3.7m/s
10:00
1008hPa 100% 5% 100% 74% 66° 100% 4.5m/s 4.3m/s
11:00
1008hPa 100% 9% 100% 74% 77° 100% 5.2m/s 5.2m/s
12:00
1007hPa 100% 34% 100% 75% 76° 100% 5.6m/s 5.6m/s
13:00
983hPa 100% 56% 86% 82% 65° 100% 5.1m/s 4.4m/s
14:00
958hPa 100% 78% 72% 88% 52° 100% 4.5m/s 3.2m/s
15:00
934hPa 100% 100% 57% 95% 38° 100% 4m/s 2m/s
16:00
933hPa 100% 100% 57% 94% 24° 100% 3.8m/s 2.1m/s
17:00
933hPa 100% 100% 57% 92% 10° 100% 3.5m/s 2.1m/s
18:00
933hPa 100% 100% 56% 91% -3.7° 100% 3.3m/s 2.2m/s
19:00
932hPa 100% 95% 71% 91% -17° 100% 2.5m/s 1.8m/s
20:00
932hPa 100% 90% 85% 90% -30° 100% 1.7m/s 1.5m/s
21:00
931hPa 100% 85% 100% 90% -42° 100% 0.83m/s 1.1m/s
22:00
932hPa 100% 80% 71% 89% -52° 100% 0.93m/s 1.2m/s
23:00
932hPa 99% 76% 43% 89% -58° 99% 1m/s 1.3m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 05:09 Sunset 17:47
24:00
933hPa 99% 71% 14% 89% -58° 99% 1.1m/s 1.4m/s
01:00
933hPa 85% 63% 14% 80% -52° 86% 1.1m/s 1.4m/s
02:00
934hPa 71% 56% 14% 71% -42° 73% 1.1m/s 1.4m/s
03:00
934hPa 56% 49% 13% 63% -29° 60% 1m/s 1.4m/s
04:00
933hPa 39% 57% 36% 63% -16° 65% 1.2m/s 1.7m/s
05:00
933hPa 22% 64% 59% 63% -2.8° 69% 1.5m/s 2m/s
06:00
932hPa 5% 72% 82% 63% 11° 73% 1.7m/s 2.3m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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