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 Cloudscapes in Costa Rica

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Rule Cloudscapes

Tamarindo - Cloudscapes - Costa Rica

Q: What conditions does Cloudscapes look for?

Cloud Drama Score: ≥ 75.0%. Low Clouds: ≥ 20.0%. Mid-Level Clouds: ≥ 30.0%. High Clouds: ≥ 40.0%. Visibility: ≥ 5000.0m

Nicoya, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica

Multi-layered dramatic clouds for striking sky photography

No opportunities right now

Here’s what usually blocks matches

No Cloudscapes opportunities in the next 14 days

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Rule requirements (key thresholds)

Cloud Drama Score · ≥ 75.0% Low Clouds · ≥ 20.0% Mid-Level Clouds · ≥ 30.0% High Clouds · ≥ 40.0%

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

Most common blockers (next 72 hours)

Cloud Drama Score 99% failing

Mid-Level Clouds 82% failing

Low Clouds 79% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions

Cloud Drama Score

Cloud Cover35%

Wind Gusts8.9m/s

Precipitation Chance0%

Air Pressure991.0hPa

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Costa_Rica

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 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

0matching hours in the next 95 hours

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, Apr 7
19:00	15%	15%	0%	45%	24135m
20:00	15%	11%	0%	11%	24134m
21:00	15%	0.2%	0%	78%	24135m
22:00	6%	0.5%	0%	100%	24134m
23:00	7.7%	2.9%	0%	100%	24134m
Wed, Apr 8
24:00	10%	7.4%	0%	100%	24135m
01:00	2.1%	0%	0%	100%	24135m
02:00	7.6%	0%	0%	100%	24134m
03:00	2.6%	0%	0%	100%	24135m
04:00	1%	0%	0%	100%	24134m
05:00	18%	0%	0%	100%	24135m
06:00	24%	0%	0%	100%	24134m
07:00	23%	0%	0%	100%	24134m
08:00	25%	0%	0%	100%	24134m
09:00	23%	0%	0%	100%	24135m
10:00	19%	0%	0%	100%	24135m
11:00	20%	0%	0%	100%	24134m
12:00	26%	0%	0%	81%	24135m
13:00	47%	13%	0%	20%	24135m
14:00	41%	37%	0%	87%	24134m
15:00	58%	37%	0%	5.2%	24134m
16:00	44%	54%	0%	100%	24135m
17:00	26%	3.4%	0%	100%	24135m
18:00	29%	1%	0%	98%	24135m
19:00	15%	0%	0%	35%	24134m
20:00	9.5%	0%	0%	70%	24135m
21:00	15%	0%	0%	98%	24135m
22:00	13%	0.1%	0%	57%	24135m
23:00	12%	0%	0%	70%	24134m
Thu, Apr 9
24:00	12%	0%	0%	55%	24134m
01:00	7.6%	0%	0%	36%	24134m
02:00	9.4%	0%	0%	43%	24135m
03:00	14%	0%	0%	5%	24134m
04:00	14%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
05:00	60%	0%	0%	19%	24135m
06:00	37%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
07:00	27%	0%	0%	4.9%	24135m
08:00	25%	0%	0%	4.9%	24134m
09:00	24%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
10:00	14%	0%	0%	5%	24134m
11:00	12%	2.6%	0%	4%	24134m
12:00	14%	9.3%	0%	0%	24135m
13:00	26%	35%	0%	0%	24135m
14:00	43%	41%	0%	0%	24134m
15:00	33%	19%	0%	0%	24134m
16:00	37%	11%	0%	4.9%	24135m
17:00	53%	22%	0%	1%	24134m
18:00	24%	0.1%	0%	1%	24135m
19:00	6.6%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
20:00	7.1%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
21:00	6.7%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
22:00	7.5%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
23:00	8.4%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
Fri, Apr 10
24:00	8.6%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
01:00	9.5%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
02:00	11%	0%	0%	3.1%	24134m
03:00	12%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
04:00	14%	0%	0%	59%	24135m
05:00	54%	0%	0%	60%	24134m
06:00	82%	0%	0%	32%	24134m
07:00	40%	4.1%	0%	8.2%	24134m
08:00	31%	1.5%	0%	5%	24134m
09:00	30%	8.3%	0%	5%	24134m
10:00	22%	17%	0%	0%	24134m
11:00	17%	14%	0%	0%	24135m
12:00	26%	30%	0%	0%	24135m
13:00	23%	18%	0%	0%	24135m
14:00	18%	3.9%	0%	0%	24134m
15:00	19%	3.9%	0%	0%	24135m
16:00	48%	22%	0%	0%	24134m
17:00	40%	13%	0%	0%	24135m
18:00	29%	6.8%	0%	0%	24134m
19:00	12%	2%	0%	0%	24134m
20:00	9.9%	0.1%	0%	0%	24134m
21:00	8.1%	0.1%	0%	2.8%	24135m
22:00	8.3%	0%	0.8%	4.9%	24135m
23:00	9.2%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
Sat, Apr 11
24:00	10%	0%	0%	4.9%	24135m
01:00	0%	0%	0%	3.3%	24135m
02:00	0%	0%	0%	1.6%	24135m
03:00	0%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
04:00	0%	11%	0%	0%	24135m
05:00	36%	23%	0%	0%	24135m
06:00	46%	34%	0%	0%	24135m
07:00	51%	55%	0%	1.4%	24135m
08:00	37%	77%	0%	2.9%	24135m
09:00	17%	98%	0%	4.3%	24135m
10:00	11%	93%	0%	4.2%	24135m
11:00	11%	88%	0%	4.1%	24135m
12:00	16%	83%	0%	4%	24135m
13:00	23%	56%	0%	36%	24135m
14:00	26%	28%	0%	68%	24135m
15:00	12%	0%	0%	100%	24135m
16:00	14%	0%	0%	99%	24135m
17:00	17%	0%	0%	98%	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
Wed, Apr 8 Sunrise 05:34 Sunset 17:52
19:00 ☾	991hPa	35%	0%	0%	52%	-17°	35%	8.9m/s	5.3m/s
20:00 ☾	992hPa	70%	0%	0%	56%	-32°	70%	8.8m/s	4.9m/s
21:00 ☾	993hPa	98%	0%	0%	63%	-46°	98%	10m/s	6.2m/s
22:00 ☾	993hPa	57%	0%	0%	67%	-59°	57%	10m/s	6m/s
23:00 ☾	993hPa	70%	0%	0%	69%	-69°	70%	9.2m/s	5m/s
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 05:34 Sunset 17:52
24:00 ☾	992hPa	55%	0%	0%	70%	-72°	55%	9.1m/s	3.9m/s
01:00 ☾	992hPa	36%	0%	0%	72%	-64°	36%	11m/s	4.7m/s
02:00 ☾	991hPa	43%	0%	0%	74%	-52°	43%	12m/s	5.7m/s
03:00 ☾	991hPa	5%	0%	0%	76%	-38°	5%	12m/s	5.9m/s
04:00 ☾	992hPa	5%	0%	0%	76%	-24°	5%	12m/s	5.5m/s
05:00 ☾	992hPa	19%	0%	0%	75%	-9.2°	19%	11m/s	4.9m/s
06:00	993hPa	5%	0%	0%	75%	5.6°	5%	12m/s	5m/s
07:00	994hPa	5%	0%	0%	66%	20°	5%	12m/s	6.8m/s
08:00	994hPa	5%	0%	0%	56%	35°	5%	12m/s	8.9m/s
09:00	993hPa	5%	0%	0%	47%	50°	5%	12m/s	9m/s
10:00	993hPa	5%	0%	0%	41%	64°	5%	11m/s	9.3m/s
11:00	992hPa	4%	0%	0%	39%	79°	5%	11m/s	9.3m/s
12:00	991hPa	0%	0%	0%	36%	85°	9%	11m/s	9.5m/s
13:00	990hPa	0%	0%	0%	34%	71°	35%	10m/s	9.7m/s
14:00	989hPa	0%	0%	0%	33%	56°	41%	9.5m/s	9.2m/s
15:00	988hPa	0%	0%	0%	34%	41°	19%	9.3m/s	8.9m/s
16:00	988hPa	5%	0%	0%	36%	27°	14%	11m/s	9.6m/s
17:00	989hPa	1%	0%	0%	40%	12°	22%	11m/s	9m/s
18:00 ☾	990hPa	1%	0%	0%	50%	-2.6°	1%	13m/s	9.6m/s
19:00 ☾	991hPa	0%	0%	0%	56%	-17°	0%	13m/s	9.2m/s
20:00 ☾	992hPa	0%	0%	0%	63%	-32°	0%	12m/s	8.6m/s
21:00 ☾	992hPa	0%	0%	0%	67%	-46°	0%	12m/s	7.8m/s
22:00 ☾	992hPa	0%	0%	0%	69%	-59°	0%	12m/s	7.1m/s
23:00 ☾	992hPa	0%	0%	0%	71%	-69°	0%	12m/s	7.3m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 05:34 Sunset 17:52
24:00 ☾	992hPa	0%	0%	0%	72%	-71°	0%	12m/s	7.2m/s
01:00 ☾	991hPa	0%	0%	0%	74%	-64°	0%	12m/s	6.7m/s
02:00 ☾	991hPa	3%	0%	0%	75%	-51°	3%	12m/s	6.4m/s
03:00 ☾	991hPa	5%	0%	0%	76%	-38°	5%	11m/s	6.2m/s
04:00 ☾	992hPa	59%	0%	0%	76%	-24°	59%	10m/s	5.5m/s
05:00 ☾	992hPa	60%	0%	0%	77%	-9°	60%	11m/s	6m/s
06:00	993hPa	32%	0%	0%	77%	5.7°	32%	9.9m/s	5.4m/s
07:00	993hPa	8%	0%	0%	68%	20°	8%	11m/s	7.7m/s
08:00	994hPa	5%	0%	0%	58%	35°	5%	11m/s	8.5m/s
09:00	994hPa	5%	0%	0%	51%	50°	8%	11m/s	9m/s
10:00	993hPa	0%	0%	7%	47%	64°	17%	11m/s	9.3m/s
11:00	993hPa	0%	0%	15%	44%	79°	14%	10m/s	9m/s
12:00	992hPa	0%	0%	22%	43%	85°	30%	9.3m/s	8.9m/s
13:00	991hPa	0%	0%	15%	42%	71°	18%	8.2m/s	8m/s
14:00	990hPa	0%	0%	7%	41%	56°	4%	8.4m/s	8m/s
15:00	989hPa	0%	0%	0%	41%	41°	4%	8.7m/s	8.4m/s
16:00	989hPa	0%	0%	0%	45%	27°	22%	10m/s	8.8m/s
17:00	990hPa	0%	0%	0%	50%	12°	12%	10m/s	7.9m/s
18:00 ☾	991hPa	0%	0%	0%	60%	-2.6°	7%	11m/s	7.1m/s
19:00 ☾	992hPa	0%	0%	0%	68%	-17°	2%	13m/s	7.9m/s
20:00 ☾	993hPa	0%	0%	0%	69%	-32°	0%	12m/s	7.6m/s
21:00 ☾	994hPa	3%	0%	0%	71%	-45°	3%	11m/s	6.1m/s
22:00 ☾	994hPa	5%	1%	0%	70%	-58°	5%	11m/s	5.9m/s
23:00 ☾	994hPa	0%	0%	0%	71%	-69°	0%	11m/s	6m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 05:33 Sunset 17:52
24:00 ☾	993hPa	5%	0%	0%	73%	-71°	5%	11m/s	6.1m/s
01:00 ☾	989hPa	3%	0%	0%	66%	-63°	3%	9.8m/s	5.6m/s
02:00 ☾	985hPa	2%	0%	0%	58%	-51°	2%	8.4m/s	5.1m/s
03:00 ☾	981hPa	0%	0%	0%	51%	-38°	0%	7m/s	4.7m/s
04:00 ☾	980hPa	0%	0%	0%	47%	-23°	11%	6.3m/s	4.1m/s
05:00 ☾	980hPa	0%	0%	0%	43%	-8.9°	23%	5.5m/s	3.5m/s
06:00	979hPa	0%	0%	0%	39%	5.8°	34%	4.8m/s	2.9m/s
07:00	978hPa	1%	0%	5%	44%	20°	55%	4.4m/s	2.1m/s
08:00	978hPa	3%	0%	10%	48%	35°	77%	3.9m/s	1.3m/s
09:00	977hPa	4%	0%	15%	53%	50°	98%	3.4m/s	0.49m/s
10:00	978hPa	4%	0%	17%	56%	65°	93%	3.8m/s	1m/s
11:00	979hPa	4%	0%	20%	59%	79°	88%	4.1m/s	1.6m/s
12:00	979hPa	4%	0%	22%	63%	85°	83%	4.5m/s	2.1m/s
13:00	980hPa	36%	0%	20%	66%	71°	89%	4.8m/s	2.3m/s
14:00	980hPa	68%	0%	18%	70%	56°	94%	5.2m/s	2.4m/s
15:00	981hPa	100%	0%	16%	73%	41°	100%	5.5m/s	2.6m/s
16:00	981hPa	99%	0%	11%	74%	27°	99%	5.3m/s	2.5m/s
17:00	981hPa	98%	0%	5%	76%	12°	98%	5m/s	2.5m/s
18:00 ☾	980hPa	97%	0%	0%	77%	-2.6°	97%	4.8m/s	2.4m/s

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

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