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Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Old Harry Rocks - Dramatic Seascapes - Dorset & Jurassic Coast

Swanage, England, United Kingdom

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 92% failing
Precipitation Chance 76% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Wave Height0.9m
Swell Height0.6m
Wind Speed8.7m/s (moderate winds)
Cloud Cover1%

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Europe/London

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 weather conditions align for photography along the Jurassic Coast's UNESCO World Heritage geology. We track cloud patterns, visibility, and wind conditions to predict when storms and clearing weather create photogenic drama.

The Jurassic Coast's layered geology—185 million years exposed in cliffs and sea stacks—becomes even more powerful under dramatic skies. From the golden sandstone cliffs at West Bay to the white chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks, this coastline offers geological diversity unmatched in Britain, and dramatic weather amplifies these natural features.

What makes the Jurassic Coast special for dramatic coastal photography:

  • Geological drama - 185 million years of Earth history exposed in colorful cliff layers
  • Natural arches - Durdle Door's limestone arch creates iconic silhouettes under storm skies
  • Exposed headlands - Portland Bill's tidal race and lighthouse face the full force of Channel weather
  • Golden cliffs - West Bay's sandstone cliffs (famous from Broadchurch) glow dramatically in storm light

The most dramatic conditions occur during autumn and winter frontal systems (October-March). Portland Bill's tidal race creates spectacular wave action when strong winds oppose tidal currents. Post-storm clearing often produces rainbow opportunities as sun breaks through over dramatic geology. The golden sandstone at West Bay becomes even more vivid when lit by low-angle storm light. Durdle Door's limestone arch creates powerful silhouettes against turbulent skies. Always respect cliff edges—the Jurassic Coast's soft geology means active erosion and landslips are common.

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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
Europe/London
Coastal Drama Score
≥ 75.0%
Significant Wave Height
≥ 1.5m
Visibility
≥ 5000.0m
Wind Gusts
≤ 22.0m/s
Precipitation Chance
≤ 30.0%
Sun, Jun 7
15:0013%1.4m24134m10m/s0%
16:0016%1.5m24134m10m/s0%
17:0016%1.4m24135m9.7m/s0%
18:0026%1.3m24135m9.2m/s0%
19:0014%0.92m24135m8.8m/s0%
20:0018%1.3m24134m8.5m/s13%
21:0018%0.94m24135m8.9m/s26%
22:0015%1.2m24135m9.4m/s39%
23:0017%1.2m24134m9.5m/s56%
Mon, Jun 8
24:004.9%0.87m24134m11m/s74%
01:005.5%1.2m24135m11m/s91%
02:005.5%1.2m24134m11m/s95%
03:006.6%1m24135m11m/s92%
04:0013%1m16547m12m/s89%
05:0017%1.1m16691m12m/s93%
06:0016%1.1m20237m12m/s96%
07:009%0.9m12772m12m/s100%
08:008.5%0.92m8006m10m/s94%
09:009.1%0.98m6776m8.7m/s88%
10:0010%1m8411m4.6m/s82%
11:0011%0.97m23186m7.1m/s82%
12:0010%0.86m23880m8.8m/s82%
13:009.6%0.62m24135m8.3m/s83%
14:0011%0.87m24134m8m/s38%
15:0011%0.88m24134m9.5m/s19%
16:0014%0.88m24134m12m/s0%
17:0014%0.89m24135m11m/s13%
18:0017%0.91m24135m11m/s26%
19:0017%0.92m24134m11m/s39%
20:0021%1m24134m9.6m/s54%
21:0024%1.1m24134m9.3m/s69%
22:0028%1.1m24135m9.6m/s85%
23:0030%1.2m24134m9.3m/s89%
Tue, Jun 9
24:0012%1.3m24135m10m/s93%
01:0012%1.4m24135m10m/s98%
02:0012%1.4m24135m10m/s94%
03:0015%1.4m21636m10m/s90%
04:0035%1.4m20580m11m/s86%
05:0040%1.4m24134m10m/s89%
06:0037%1.4m24102m11m/s92%
07:0031%1.3m18741m11m/s95%
08:0027%1.4m14518m12m/s85%
09:0026%1.4m23979m11m/s74%
10:0030%1.4m22751m12m/s64%
11:0021%1.4m24135m11m/s70%
12:0021%1.4m24134m11m/s76%
13:0021%1.4m23284m11m/s83%
14:0025%1.4m23982m11m/s69%
15:0020%1.4m21502m11m/s55%
16:0024%1.4m24134m11m/s41%
17:0024%1.3m24135m11m/s46%
18:0029%1.3m24135m11m/s51%
19:0028%1.3m24134m11m/s56%
20:0026%1.2m24135m10m/s45%
21:0025%1.2m24134m9.1m/s33%
22:0022%1.1m24134m8.2m/s22%
23:0029%1.2m24134m8.2m/s28%
Wed, Jun 10
24:009.3%1.3m24134m8.4m/s33%
01:008%1.4m24135m8.5m/s39%
02:008.1%1.3m24134m8.9m/s39%
03:0012%1.2m24134m8.9m/s40%
04:0035%1.1m24134m9.1m/s41%
05:0040%1.2m24134m9.4m/s55%
06:0034%1.2m24134m9.3m/s69%
07:0029%1.3m24134m9.4m/s83%
08:0032%1.4m24134m9.4m/s83%
09:0027%1.4m24135m8.6m/s82%
10:0027%1.5m24134m8.6m/s82%
11:0028%1.5m24134m8.5m/s82%
12:0025%1.5m24135m9.4m/s83%
13:0025%1.5m24135m9.8m/s83%
14:0025%1.5m24134m11m/s58%
15:0025%1.5m24134m11m/s32%
16:0033%1.5m24135m11m/s7%
17:0032%1.5m24134m11m/s4.7%
18:0035%1.5m24135m11m/s2.3%
19:0035%1.5m24134m12m/s0%
20:0048%1.4m24135m11m/s0%
21:0043%1.4m24134m9.8m/s0%
22:0039%1.3m24135m9.7m/s0%
23:0041%1.3m24135m9.8m/s7.4%
Thu, Jun 11
24:0013%1.3m24134m9.6m/s15%
01:0013%1.2m24134m9.2m/s22%
02:0013%1.2m18761m9.8m/s29%
03:0012%1.2m13388m10m/s36%
04:0034%1.1m8015m11m/s43%
05:0042%1.1m11081m13m/s52%
06:0035%1.1m14146m15m/s61%
07:0030%1.1m17211m18m/s70%
08:0030%1.1m19519m18m/s67%
09:0030%1.1m21827m18m/s64%
10:0028%1.1m24135m18m/s61%
11:0023%1.2m24135m17m/s68%
12:0016%1.2m24135m17m/s74%
13:0015%1.2m24135m16m/s81%
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
Europe/London
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
Mon, Jun 8 Sunrise 04:57 Sunset 21:17
16:00
0% 1% 0% 0.6m 187° 0.02 47° 1% 256° 8.7m/s 0.27m 10s
17:00
0% 2% 0% 0.6m 187° 0.02 37° 2% 261° 8.7m/s 0.28m 10s
18:00
0% 5% 0% 0.61m 186° 0.02 28° 5% 277° 8.5m/s 0.29m 10s
19:00
0% 5% 0% 0.61m 185° 0.03 19° 5% 284° 8.1m/s 0.31m 10s
20:00
0% 6% 0% 0.72m 171° 0.03 9.7° 6% 290° 7.4m/s 0.32m 10s
21:00
0% 5% 0% 0.82m 156° 0.03 1.7° 5% 291° 7.2m/s 0.33m 9.8s
22:00
0% 0% 0% 0.93m 141° 0.04 -5.7° 0% 286° 7.7m/s 0.34m 9.6s
23:00
0% 0% 0% 1m 130° 0.05 -11° 0% 279° 7.7m/s 0.31m 9.5s
Tue, Jun 9 Sunrise 04:57 Sunset 21:17
24:00
0% 5% 0% 1.1m 119° 0.05 -15° 5% 273° 8.5m/s 0.27m 9.4s
01:00
0% 5% 1% 1.3m 107° 0.05 -16° 5% 265° 8.9m/s 0.24m 9.3s
02:00
0% 5% 0% 1.3m 102° 0.05 -16° 5% 262° 8.9m/s 0.27m 9.3s
03:00
0% 43% 0% 1.3m 96° 0.05 -12° 43% 259° 8.7m/s 0.31m 9.2s
04:00
0% 0% 0% 1.3m 90° 0.05 -7.1° 0% 262° 9.4m/s 0.34m 9.1s
05:00
0% 0% 5% 1.3m 89° 0.05 0.16° 5% 264° 8.9m/s 0.27m 9.1s
06:00
0% 5% 3% 1.2m 89° 0.05 7.7° 5% 258° 8.7m/s 0.19m 9.1s
07:00
0% 8% 83% 1.2m 89° 0.05 17° 83% 252° 9.5m/s 0.12m 9.1s
08:00
0% 5% 5% 1.3m 89° 0.05 26° 5% 256° 10m/s 0.13m 9.1s
09:00
0% 5% 0% 1.3m 88° 0.05 35° 5% 263° 9.8m/s 0.13m 9.2s
10:00
0% 24% 0% 1.3m 87° 0.05 45° 24% 260° 10m/s 0.14m 9.2s
11:00
0% 5% 1% 1.3m 86° 0.05 53° 5% 255° 10m/s 0.15m 9.2s
12:00
0% 5% 1% 1.3m 85° 0.06 59° 5% 253° 10m/s 0.15m 9.2s
13:00
5% 5% 3% 1.4m 84° 0.06 62° 5% 253° 10m/s 0.16m 9.2s
14:00
28% 5% 5% 1.4m 84° - 61° 28% 252° 10m/s 0.17m 9.2s
15:00
100% 5% 8% 1.3m 84° - 55° 100% 247° 10m/s 0.17m 9.1s
16:00
100% 3% 77% 1.3m 84° - 47° 100% 243° 11m/s 0.18m 9.1s
17:00
100% 5% 84% 1.3m 84° - 38° 100% 244° 11m/s 0.23m 9s
18:00
98% 0% 100% 1.2m 84° - 28° 100% 247° 11m/s 0.28m 9s
19:00
69% 0% 100% 1.2m 84° - 19° 100% 248° 9.9m/s 0.33m 8.9s
20:00
34% 0% 100% 0.93m 85° - 9.8° 100% 252° 9.2m/s 0.56m 8.9s
21:00
3% 0% 100% 0.7m 86° - 1.8° 100% 259° 8.4m/s 0.8m 8.8s
22:00
3% 0% 100% 0.47m 87° - -5.6° 100% 267° 7.7m/s 1m 8.7s
23:00
1% 0% 37% 0.59m 87° - -11° 37% 273° 7.6m/s 1.1m 8.6s
Wed, Jun 10 Sunrise 04:56 Sunset 21:17
24:00
5% 0% 23% 0.7m 87° - -15° 23% 275° 7.7m/s 1.1m 8.5s
01:00
5% 0% 100% 0.82m 87° - -16° 100% 273° 7.6m/s 1.1m 8.4s
02:00
3% 0% 100% 0.9m 87° - -15° 100% 270° 7.9m/s 1.1m 8.3s
03:00
0% 0% 100% 0.97m 86° - -12° 100% 269° 7.9m/s 1.2m 8.2s
04:00
3% 0% 96% 1m 86° - -7.1° 96% 270° 7.8m/s 1.2m 8.1s
05:00
0% 0% 5% 1.1m 83° - 0.2° 5% 269° 7.9m/s 1m 9s
06:00
0% 4% 0% 1.2m 79° - 7.8° 4% 271° 7.8m/s 0.88m 9.8s
07:00
0% 5% 0% 1.3m 76° - 17° 5% 270° 7.8m/s 0.72m 11s
08:00
0% 2% 0% 1.3m 76° - 26° 2% 274° 8m/s 1.1m 10s
09:00
0% 4% 0% 1.4m 75° - 35° 4% 273° 7.3m/s 1.6m 10s
10:00
0% 4% 0% 1.5m 74° - 45° 4% 266° 7.5m/s 2m 9.6s
11:00
4% 39% 5% 1.5m 74° - 53° 39% 253° 7.2m/s 1.9m 9.5s
12:00
100% 67% 93% 1.5m 75° - 59° 100% 241° 7.6m/s 1.8m 9.3s
13:00
99% 5% 100% 1.5m 75° - 62° 100% 255° 8.3m/s 1.7m 9.1s
14:00
65% 5% 100% 1.5m 75° - 61° 100% 251° 9.2m/s 1.7m 9s
15:00
95% 2% 98% 1.5m 75° - 55° 99% 243° 10m/s 1.8m 8.9s
16:00
100% 12% 14% 1.5m 75° - 47° 100% 259° 9m/s 1.8m 8.9s
17:00
100% 43% 5% 1.5m 75° - 38° 100% 263° 8.1m/s 1.8m 8.9s
18:00
100% 22% 5% 1.4m 76° - 28° 100% 262° 8.2m/s 1.8m 8.9s
19:00
100% 14% 6% 1.4m 76° - 19° 100% 281° 9.1m/s 1.9m 8.9s
20:00
70% 5% 0% 1.4m 76° - 9.9° 70% 287° 8.1m/s 1.8m 8.8s
21:00
14% 2% 5% 1.3m 76° - 1.9° 14% 288° 7.2m/s 1.8m 8.8s
22:00
9% 0% 5% 1.3m 76° - -5.5° 9% 286° 7.2m/s 1.8m 8.8s
23:00
14% 4% 4% 1.3m 77° - -11° 14% 284° 7.5m/s 1.7m 8.7s
Thu, Jun 11 Sunrise 04:56 Sunset 21:18
24:00
5% 0% 0% 1.2m 77° - -15° 5% 278° 7.7m/s 1.6m 8.5s
01:00
100% 0% 2% 1.2m 77° - -16° 100% 272° 7.8m/s 1.5m 8.4s
02:00
100% 33% 34% 1.2m 78° - -15° 100% 262° 8.2m/s 1.4m 8.4s
03:00
100% 67% 67% 1.1m 79° - -12° 100% 252° 8.5m/s 1.3m 8.3s
04:00
100% 100% 100% 1.1m 79° - -7° 100% 242° 8.9m/s 1.2m 8.3s
05:00
100% 100% 100% 1.1m 80° - 0.23° 100% 236° 10m/s 1.1m 8.2s
06:00
100% 100% 100% 1.1m 81° - 7.8° 100% 230° 12m/s 1.1m 8.2s
07:00
100% 100% 100% 1.1m 82° - 17° 100% 224° 13m/s 0.97m 8.1s
08:00
100% 100% 68% 1.1m 83° - 26° 100% 231° 14m/s 0.88m 8.1s
09:00
100% 100% 37% 1m 84° - 35° 100% 239° 14m/s 0.79m 8.1s
10:00
100% 100% 5% 1m 85° - 45° 100% 246° 14m/s 0.7m 8.1s
11:00
100% 98% 37% 0.94m 85° - 53° 100% 249° 13m/s 0.77m 8.1s
12:00
99% 97% 68% 0.87m 85° - 60° 100% 251° 12m/s 0.85m 8s
13:00
99% 95% 100% 0.81m 85° - 62° 100% 254° 12m/s 0.92m 7.9s
14:00
88% 97% 68% 0.61m 82° - 61° 100% 256° 11m/s 1.3m 7.6s
15:00
77% 98% 37% 0.41m 79° - 55° 100% 259° 10m/s 1.8m 7.2s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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