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Rule Storm Chaser

Haleakala - Storm Chaser - Hawaii

Makawao, Hawaii, United States

Dramatic storm conditions — from atmospheric builds to active thunderstorms

No opportunities right now
Here’s what usually blocks matches

No Storm Chaser opportunities in the next 14 days

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Rule requirements (key thresholds)
Storm Intensity · ≥ 55.0% Cloud Drama Score · ≥ 55.0% CAPE · ≥ 1200.0J/kg Lifted Index · ≤ -2.0°C

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

Most common blockers (next 72 hours)
Storm Intensity 100% failing
CAPE 100% failing
Cloud Drama Score 79% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover60%
Wind Gusts6.6m/s
Precipitation Chance68%
Air Pressure903.1hPa
CAPE8
Lifted Index6.9°C
Wind Gusts6.6m/s
Precipitation0.1mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Pacific/Honolulu

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 Hawaii's tropical storm conditions, focusing on the dramatic convective storms and rain squalls that create spectacular photography opportunities. We monitor atmospheric instability, trade wind patterns, and convective development to predict when tropical storms will produce dramatic skies and lighting conditions.

Hawaii's tropical location means storm systems behave differently than mainland storms. Trade wind showers create brief, intense rain squalls that pass quickly, often producing rainbows. Kona storms—winter low-pressure systems from the southwest—bring more widespread drama. Summer afternoon convection builds towering clouds over island mountains.

What makes Hawaii special for storm photography:

  • Tropical convection - Towering cumulus clouds develop over volcanic peaks in afternoon heat
  • Dramatic cloud formations - Trade winds create lenticular clouds and wave patterns
  • Kona storm drama - Winter southwest storms bring unusual widespread rain and dramatic conditions
  • Rain squalls with rainbows - Brief intense showers followed immediately by sunshine and rainbows

Hawaiian storm photography is unique because storms are rarely dangerous to photographers—most are brief convective cells or passing squalls rather than severe weather. The dramatic part is the towering cloud formations, not dangerous conditions. Afternoon convection over Mauna Kea and Haleakala creates spectacular anvil clouds and light shows. Kona storms, occurring October through April, bring the most widespread dramatic conditions with dark clouds, wind-driven rain, and spectacular clearing. The windward coasts see more frequent trade wind squalls—brief heavy showers that create dramatic light when sun breaks through. The combination of tropical moisture, volcanic terrain, and reliable sunshine means storm photography often includes rainbows as a bonus. Watch for conditions where dark storm clouds contrast with bright sunlit areas.

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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
Pacific/Honolulu
Storm Intensity
≥ 55.0%
Cloud Drama Score
≥ 55.0%
CAPE
OR1·B1
≥ 1200.0J/kg
Lifted Index
OR1·B2
≤ -2.0°C
Visibility
≥ 2500.0m
Wind Gusts
≤ 22.0m/s
Sat, May 23
03:0020%10%7J/kg7.1°C856m9m/s
04:000%14%1J/kg8.5°C13197m9.7m/s
05:000%67%2J/kg8.1°C10460m9.4m/s
06:0019%68%19J/kg6.3°C2030m9.5m/s
07:0019%64%15J/kg6.4°C3848m9.4m/s
08:0036%59%14J/kg6.7°C165m9.6m/s
09:0023%45%9J/kg7.2°C249m9.3m/s
10:000%42%4J/kg7.5°C6862m8.6m/s
11:000%26%2J/kg7.4°C24135m7.5m/s
12:000%26%3J/kg7.8°C8720m6.5m/s
13:0020%25%4J/kg7.9°C534m6.4m/s
14:0015%23%2J/kg8.1°C24135m5.7m/s
15:000%12%0J/kg10°C24134m7.9m/s
16:000%50%2J/kg8.2°C24135m8.3m/s
17:0020%56%5J/kg6.8°C1077m8.1m/s
18:000%63%4J/kg6.8°C9084m8.5m/s
19:000%68%4J/kg7°C8402m8.3m/s
20:0020%11%3J/kg7.3°C24134m8.8m/s
21:000%9.4%12J/kg6.5°C8188m7.1m/s
22:000%7%2J/kg7.7°C5775m7.2m/s
23:0018%12%0J/kg7.9°C7602m7.2m/s
Sun, May 24
24:0018%8.9%11J/kg6.3°C3955m7.7m/s
01:000%11%12J/kg6.5°C8362m7.5m/s
02:0018%11%4J/kg7°C8897m7.2m/s
03:000%10%8J/kg6.9°C7842m6.6m/s
04:0018%12%9J/kg6.6°C1162m6m/s
05:000%52%5J/kg6.9°C8063m6.2m/s
06:0018%57%2J/kg7.1°C1086m6.8m/s
07:000%55%0J/kg7.3°C5112m7.6m/s
08:0018%49%3J/kg6.5°C2195m7.1m/s
09:000%39%4J/kg6.6°C8518m6.9m/s
10:000%38%2J/kg6.8°C24134m6.7m/s
11:0018%17%1J/kg7.7°C24135m7.1m/s
12:000%8.4%0J/kg8°C24134m6m/s
13:000%17%0J/kg7.9°C24135m5.9m/s
14:000%21%0J/kg7.7°C24135m4.7m/s
15:000%38%3J/kg7°C24135m4.2m/s
16:000%35%1J/kg7.6°C24135m4.8m/s
17:000%46%2J/kg7.8°C24135m5.2m/s
18:0017%60%3J/kg7.9°C2274m6.2m/s
19:000%68%1J/kg8.6°C24134m7.5m/s
20:000%9.5%2J/kg8.6°C24134m8.3m/s
21:000%10%1J/kg9°C24135m8.5m/s
22:000%11%0J/kg9.3°C24134m7.5m/s
23:000%12%1J/kg9.6°C24135m7.4m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%7%1J/kg9.3°C24135m7.2m/s
01:000%8.1%1J/kg8.9°C18236m6.9m/s
02:0018%10%6J/kg8°C4845m6.7m/s
03:0018%8%6J/kg7.6°C3870m7.2m/s
04:0017%9.5%4J/kg7.5°C4204m7.5m/s
05:0017%90%5J/kg7.4°C4682m6.3m/s
06:0020%100%6J/kg7.3°C559m6.7m/s
07:000%64%4J/kg7.4°C14736m6.7m/s
08:0018%91%6J/kg7.3°C4287m6.1m/s
09:0018%50%8J/kg7.5°C963m6.2m/s
10:000%68%3J/kg7.5°C10564m5.8m/s
11:000%44%10J/kg6.7°C18192m5.5m/s
12:0020%50%7J/kg6.7°C495m6.2m/s
13:000%28%4J/kg6.7°C24134m6.3m/s
14:000%30%5J/kg6.4°C8520m6.4m/s
15:000%39%16J/kg5.8°C8354m5.1m/s
16:0017%45%23J/kg5.3°C3675m5.3m/s
17:0032%47%16J/kg5.4°C360m6.5m/s
18:0020%64%12J/kg5.4°C374m7.5m/s
19:000%70%7J/kg5.6°C8266m7.9m/s
20:0020%15%7J/kg5.5°C3695m8.5m/s
21:000%15%6J/kg5.5°C8253m8.8m/s
22:0017%14%7J/kg5.3°C4374m7.8m/s
23:0018%14%11J/kg5.4°C3220m6.9m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%14%8J/kg5.1°C8234m8.2m/s
01:0023%13%9J/kg4.6°C364m8.3m/s
02:0021%11%6J/kg5.4°C633m7.7m/s
03:0018%13%5J/kg5.8°C3811m7.2m/s
04:0018%12%4J/kg5.8°C3828m6.8m/s
05:000%90%3J/kg5.5°C8250m7.8m/s
06:0017%85%9J/kg5°C3385m7.6m/s
07:000%63%4J/kg5°C8244m8.3m/s
08:0022%65%4J/kg4.8°C712m8.8m/s
09:000%39%13J/kg4.7°C8520m9.7m/s
10:0015%37%22J/kg4.6°C16327m11m/s
11:000%14%31J/kg4.4°C24135m12m/s
12:000%14%25J/kg4.6°C24135m11m/s
13:000%11%20J/kg4.9°C24135m11m/s
14:0013%5.5%14J/kg5.1°C24135m11m/s
15:000%13%13J/kg5.6°C24135m11m/s
16:000%18%13J/kg6.1°C24135m10m/s
17:000%18%12J/kg6.6°C24135m9.8m/s
18:000%21%11J/kg7°C24135m9.5m/s
19:000%18%9.3J/kg7.4°C24135m9.2m/s
20:000%0%8J/kg7.8°C24135m8.8m/s
21:000%0%6.3J/kg8.2°C24135m8.6m/s
22:000%0%4.7J/kg8.5°C24135m8.3m/s
23:000%0%3J/kg8.9°C24135m8m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%0%2J/kg8.7°C24135m8.4m/s
01:000%0%1J/kg8.4°C24135m8.8m/s
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
Pacific/Honolulu
Air Pressure
hPa
CAPE
J/kg
High Clouds
%
Lifted Index
°C
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Precipitation Chance
%
Rainfall
mm
Relative Humidity
%
Showers
mm
Simulated Reflectivity
dBZ
Solar Elevation
°
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Total Precipitation
mm
Wind Shear 0-3 km
m/s
Wind Shear 0-6 km
m/s
Wind Speed
m/s
Sun, May 24 Sunrise 05:45 Sunset 18:59
03:00
903hPa 8J/kg 0% 6.9°C 60% 0% 68% 0mm 90% 0.09mm -1.4dBZ -33° 60% 0.06mm - - 4.3m/s
04:00
904hPa 9J/kg 0% 6.6°C 52% 0% 53% 0mm 91% 0.09mm -5.9dBZ -22° 52% 0.19mm - - 4m/s
05:00
904hPa 5J/kg 0% 6.9°C 54% 0% 39% 0mm 90% 0.06mm -10dBZ -10° 54% 0.25mm 4.6m/s 9.6m/s 3.9m/s
06:00
904hPa 2J/kg 0% 7.1°C 42% 0% 39% 0mm 90% 0.04mm -8.2dBZ 2.7° 42% 0.25mm - - 4.5m/s
07:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.3°C 41% 0% 39% 0mm 86% 0.01mm -5.9dBZ 16° 41% 0.31mm - - 5.1m/s
08:00
904hPa 3J/kg 0% 6.5°C 55% 0% 39% 0mm 85% 0.04mm -3.7dBZ 29° 55% 0.31mm 4.7m/s 8.9m/s 5m/s
09:00
904hPa 4J/kg 0% 6.6°C 49% 0% 31% 0mm 83% 0.03mm -8.3dBZ 43° 49% 0.06mm - - 5m/s
10:00
905hPa 2J/kg 0% 6.8°C 47% 0% 23% 0mm 76% 0.03mm -13dBZ 57° 47% 0.06mm - - 5.7m/s
11:00
904hPa 1J/kg 0% 7.7°C 17% 0% 15% 0mm 71% 0.01mm -18dBZ 71° 17% 0.13mm 5m/s 10m/s 6m/s
12:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 8°C 2% 0% 23% 0mm 64% 0.01mm -18dBZ 85° 2% 0.13mm - - 5.4m/s
13:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.9°C 11% 0% 31% 0mm 62% 0mm -19dBZ 81° 11% 0.13mm - - 5.7m/s
14:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.7°C 17% 0% 39% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 67° 17% 0.13mm 4m/s 9.5m/s 4.3m/s
15:00
904hPa 3J/kg 0% 7°C 22% 0% 43% 0mm 65% 0.02mm -19dBZ 53° 22% 0mm - - 3m/s
16:00
903hPa 1J/kg 0% 7.6°C 17% 0% 48% 0mm 63% 0.01mm -18dBZ 39° 17% 0mm - - 3.7m/s
17:00
904hPa 2J/kg 0% 7.8°C 21% 0% 52% 0mm 67% 0.03mm -17dBZ 26° 21% 0.06mm 4.3m/s 9.2m/s 4.7m/s
18:00
904hPa 3J/kg 0% 7.9°C 47% 0% 62% 0mm 77% 0.02mm -17dBZ 12° 47% 0.13mm - - 5.1m/s
19:00
905hPa 1J/kg 0% 8.6°C 43% 0% 72% 0mm 81% 0.02mm -17dBZ -0.56° 43% 0.13mm - - 5.1m/s
20:00
905hPa 2J/kg 0% 8.6°C 38% 0% 82% 0mm 83% 0.01mm -17dBZ -14° 38% 0.13mm 4.8m/s 9.7m/s 5m/s
21:00
905hPa 1J/kg 0% 9°C 31% 0% 68% 0mm 84% 0.01mm -11dBZ -25° 31% 0mm - - 5.9m/s
22:00
906hPa 0J/kg 1% 9.3°C 30% 0% 53% 0mm 84% 0.01mm -5.4dBZ -36° 31% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
23:00
906hPa 1J/kg 26% 9.6°C 40% 0% 39% 0mm 86% 0.04mm 0.59dBZ -44° 46% 0.06mm 3.7m/s 6.6m/s 5.3m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 05:44 Sunset 18:59
24:00
906hPa 1J/kg 15% 9.3°C 36% 0% 53% 0mm 86% 0.03mm 6.3dBZ -48° 37% 0.06mm - - 5.1m/s
01:00
905hPa 1J/kg 0% 8.9°C 44% 0% 67% 0mm 89% 0.04mm 12dBZ -47° 44% 0.13mm - - 4.7m/s
02:00
904hPa 6J/kg 4% 8°C 70% 0% 82% 0mm 91% 0.07mm 18dBZ -42° 70% 0.25mm 3.5m/s 4.8m/s 4.8m/s
03:00
904hPa 6J/kg 4% 7.6°C 69% 0% 67% 0mm 91% 0.05mm 14dBZ -33° 69% 0.13mm - - 5m/s
04:00
904hPa 4J/kg 9% 7.5°C 71% 0% 53% 0mm 91% 0.04mm 10dBZ -22° 71% 0.19mm - - 5.2m/s
05:00
904hPa 5J/kg 31% 7.4°C 72% 0% 39% 0mm 92% 0.07mm 6.2dBZ -10° 77% 0.25mm 3m/s 4.4m/s 4.4m/s
06:00
904hPa 6J/kg 17% 7.3°C 60% 0% 45% 0mm 92% 0.03mm 8.5dBZ 2.7° 60% 0.31mm - - 4.4m/s
07:00
905hPa 4J/kg 5% 7.4°C 76% 0% 50% 0mm 88% 0.04mm 11dBZ 16° 76% 0.38mm - - 4.7m/s
08:00
905hPa 6J/kg 21% 7.3°C 65% 0% 56% 0mm 86% 0.07mm 13dBZ 29° 66% 0.44mm 2.9m/s 4.2m/s 4.7m/s
09:00
906hPa 8J/kg 0% 7.5°C 57% 0% 49% 0mm 81% 0.04mm 8.4dBZ 43° 57% 0.06mm - - 4.9m/s
10:00
906hPa 3J/kg 60% 7.5°C 56% 0% 42% 0mm 77% 0.02mm 3.8dBZ 57° 60% 0.13mm - - 4.4m/s
11:00
906hPa 10J/kg 12% 6.7°C 74% 0% 35% 0mm 79% 0.05mm -0.8dBZ 71° 74% 0.13mm 3m/s 6m/s 4.3m/s
12:00
906hPa 7J/kg 23% 6.7°C 49% 0% 42% 0mm 80% 0.05mm 4dBZ 85° 49% 0.19mm - - 4.9m/s
13:00
905hPa 4J/kg 96% 6.7°C 53% 0% 49% 0mm 73% 0.03mm 8.8dBZ 81° 96% 0.25mm - - 5.5m/s
14:00
905hPa 5J/kg 100% 6.4°C 44% 0% 56% 0mm 74% 0.03mm 14dBZ 67° 100% 0.25mm 3.2m/s 8.2m/s 5.6m/s
15:00
905hPa 16J/kg 100% 5.8°C 65% 0% 56% 0mm 77% 0.1mm 8.7dBZ 53° 100% 0.06mm - - 4m/s
16:00
905hPa 23J/kg 100% 5.3°C 66% 0% 56% 0mm 82% 0.13mm 3.8dBZ 39° 100% 0.19mm - - 3.7m/s
17:00
905hPa 16J/kg 98% 5.4°C 64% 0% 56% 0mm 85% 0.13mm -1.2dBZ 26° 98% 0.31mm 3.8m/s 11m/s 4.9m/s
18:00
905hPa 12J/kg 0% 5.4°C 59% 0% 60% 0mm 87% 0.11mm 2.8dBZ 12° 59% 0.44mm - - 4.9m/s
19:00
905hPa 7J/kg 0% 5.6°C 67% 0% 64% 0.01mm 88% 0.06mm 6.8dBZ -0.43° 67% 0.63mm - - 5.1m/s
20:00
906hPa 7J/kg 100% 5.5°C 60% 0% 69% 0mm 91% 0.06mm 11dBZ -13° 100% 0.69mm 2.5m/s 9.7m/s 5.3m/s
21:00
906hPa 6J/kg 100% 5.5°C 67% 0% 64% 0mm 90% 0.08mm 10dBZ -25° 100% 0.13mm - - 6.1m/s
22:00
906hPa 7J/kg 2% 5.3°C 69% 0% 60% 0mm 90% 0.13mm 9.7dBZ -35° 69% 0.25mm - - 5.4m/s
23:00
906hPa 11J/kg 69% 5.4°C 71% 0% 56% 0mm 90% 0.11mm 9.1dBZ -43° 89% 0.38mm 2.9m/s 9.8m/s 4.7m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 05:44 Sunset 19:00
24:00
906hPa 8J/kg 62% 5.1°C 68% 0% 59% 0.01mm 90% 0.08mm 9.8dBZ -48° 80% 0.56mm - - 5.5m/s
01:00
905hPa 9J/kg 77% 4.6°C 72% 0% 61% 0mm 92% 0.11mm 11dBZ -47° 84% 0.69mm - - 5.7m/s
02:00
904hPa 6J/kg 73% 5.4°C 68% 0% 64% 0.01mm 91% 0.07mm 11dBZ -42° 92% 0.81mm 3m/s 9.3m/s 5.3m/s
03:00
904hPa 5J/kg 100% 5.8°C 69% 0% 56% 0.01mm 92% 0.12mm 11dBZ -33° 100% 0.13mm - - 4.6m/s
04:00
904hPa 4J/kg 100% 5.8°C 56% 0% 47% 0.01mm 91% 0.04mm 11dBZ -22° 100% 0.25mm - - 4.5m/s
05:00
905hPa 3J/kg 47% 5.5°C 62% 0% 39% 0mm 92% 0.1mm 11dBZ -10° 78% 0.38mm 3.3m/s 7.7m/s 5.1m/s
06:00
905hPa 9J/kg 6% 5°C 69% 0% 39% 0mm 94% 0.09mm 9.1dBZ 2.8° 69% 0.5mm - - 5.3m/s
07:00
905hPa 4J/kg 5% 5°C 71% 0% 39% 0.01mm 90% 0.06mm 7.3dBZ 16° 71% 0.63mm - - 5.7m/s
08:00
905hPa 4J/kg 6% 4.8°C 75% 0% 39% 0mm 88% 0.07mm 5.6dBZ 29° 75% 0.75mm 3m/s 9.3m/s 6.6m/s
09:00
939hPa 13J/kg 4% 4.7°C 58% 0% 26% 0mm 85% 0.08mm -0.14dBZ 43° 58% 0.54mm - - 7.6m/s
10:00
972hPa 22J/kg 2% 4.6°C 42% 0% 13% 0mm 82% 0.1mm -5.9dBZ 57° 42% 0.33mm - - 8.6m/s
11:00
1005hPa 31J/kg 0% 4.4°C 26% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0.11mm -12dBZ 71° 26% 0.13mm 2.9m/s 9m/s 9.6m/s
12:00
1006hPa 25J/kg 0% 4.6°C 18% 0% 13% 0.003mm 79% 0.07mm -14dBZ 85° 19% 0.19mm - - 9.5m/s
13:00
1006hPa 20J/kg 0% 4.9°C 11% 0% 26% 0.007mm 78% 0.04mm -16dBZ 81° 12% 0.25mm - - 9.4m/s
14:00
1007hPa 14J/kg 0% 5.1°C 4% 0% 39% 0.01mm 78% 0mm -18dBZ 67° 5% 0.31mm 4.1m/s 10m/s 9.3m/s
15:00
1007hPa 13J/kg 2% 5.6°C 5% 0% 39% 0.007mm 76% 0mm -13dBZ 53° 6% 0.23mm - - 8.8m/s
16:00
1007hPa 13J/kg 3% 6.1°C 5% 0% 39% 0.003mm 75% 0mm -9.2dBZ 40° 7% 0.15mm - - 8.2m/s
17:00
1007hPa 12J/kg 5% 6.6°C 6% 0% 39% 0mm 73% 0mm -5dBZ 26° 8% 0.06mm 5.5m/s 11m/s 7.7m/s
18:00
1007hPa 11J/kg 3% 7°C 4% 0% 45% 0mm 72% 0mm -6.6dBZ 12° 6% 0.06mm - - 7.6m/s
19:00
1006hPa 9.3J/kg 2% 7.4°C 3% 0% 50% 0mm 71% 0mm -8.1dBZ -0.29° 4% 0.06mm - - 7.4m/s
20:00
1005hPa 8J/kg 0% 7.8°C 1% 0% 56% 0mm 69% 0mm -9.7dBZ -13° 1% 0.06mm 5.4m/s 12m/s 7.3m/s
21:00
1005hPa 6.3J/kg 2% 8.2°C 1% 0% 47% 0mm 68% 0mm -11dBZ -25° 2% 0.04mm - - 7.2m/s
22:00
1005hPa 4.7J/kg 3% 8.5°C 0% 0% 37% 0mm 67% 0mm -11dBZ -35° 3% 0.02mm - - 7m/s
23:00
1005hPa 3J/kg 4% 8.9°C 0% 0% 28% 0mm 66% 0mm -12dBZ -43° 4% 0mm 4m/s 10m/s 6.8m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 05:44 Sunset 19:00
24:00
1005hPa 2J/kg 3% 8.7°C 0% 0% 37% 0.003mm 65% 0mm -15dBZ -47° 3% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
01:00
1006hPa 1J/kg 1% 8.4°C 0% 0% 47% 0.007mm 64% 0mm -17dBZ -47° 1% 0mm - - 7m/s
02:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.2°C 0% 0% 56% 0.01mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 0% 0mm 3.4m/s 10m/s 7.1m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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