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Rule Storm Chaser

Hana Highway - Storm Chaser - Hawaii

Paia, 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 92% failing
Cloud Drama Score 82% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover45%
Wind Gusts3.9m/s
Precipitation Chance93%
Air Pressure999.4hPa
CAPE623
Lifted Index-3.3°C
Wind Gusts3.9m/s
Precipitation0.3mm

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, Feb 21
15:0020%48%256J/kg-0.7°C8846m7.1m/s
16:0024%54%294J/kg-1°C6741m7m/s
17:0034%59%250J/kg-1°C8721m5.6m/s
18:0021%100%145J/kg-0.5°C8556m4.5m/s
19:0021%88%113J/kg-0.3°C15129m3.2m/s
20:0018%11%91J/kg-0.4°C18296m2.6m/s
21:0017%12%169J/kg-0.6°C8213m3.5m/s
22:009.8%14%160J/kg-0.7°C17308m3.3m/s
23:0020%15%186J/kg-1°C8424m2.8m/s
Sun, Feb 22
24:0016%15%142J/kg-1.1°C15285m2.3m/s
01:0013%15%180J/kg-1.3°C24135m2.3m/s
02:0013%15%208J/kg-1.5°C24134m2.3m/s
03:000%12%149J/kg-1.4°C24135m4.3m/s
04:000%12%176J/kg-1.6°C24135m5.2m/s
05:000%6.6%210J/kg-1.8°C24135m6m/s
06:000%9.2%251J/kg-2°C24135m6.2m/s
07:000%23%264J/kg-2°C24135m6.2m/s
08:000%18%318J/kg-2.4°C24135m5.7m/s
09:000%18%425J/kg-3°C24135m6.5m/s
10:000%16%577J/kg-3.6°C24135m5.7m/s
11:0019%23%612J/kg-3.5°C24134m5.4m/s
12:0023%21%614J/kg-3.4°C17956m5.1m/s
13:0021%35%607J/kg-3.2°C24135m5.2m/s
14:0032%44%632J/kg-3.3°C21941m5m/s
15:0024%45%623J/kg-3.3°C18895m3.9m/s
16:0020%53%577J/kg-3.1°C14010m3.2m/s
17:0023%57%518J/kg-3.1°C24134m3.1m/s
18:0015%68%384J/kg-2.4°C16224m4.2m/s
19:0011%62%339J/kg-2°C18578m3.6m/s
20:0024%15%283J/kg-1.6°C18502m4m/s
21:000%15%294J/kg-1.3°C21226m4m/s
22:0012%15%270J/kg-1.3°C15329m3.9m/s
23:000%14%230J/kg-0.9°C12539m4.3m/s
Mon, Feb 23
24:0016%14%147J/kg-0.7°C14860m4.2m/s
01:0011%15%154J/kg-0.7°C19323m4m/s
02:0013%14%132J/kg-0.4°C23468m3.4m/s
03:000%12%108J/kg0.1°C16439m2.8m/s
04:000%12%74J/kg0.5°C24069m3m/s
05:0021%15%68J/kg0.7°C17083m3.2m/s
06:0014%15%77J/kg0.7°C16496m3.4m/s
07:0019%92%58J/kg0.8°C12106m3.2m/s
08:0027%97%92J/kg0.8°C8843m3.6m/s
09:000%81%76J/kg0.6°C5239m4.8m/s
10:000%47%95J/kg0.5°C5040m6m/s
11:0041%47%120J/kg0.2°C4546m6.5m/s
12:000%30%85J/kg-0.2°C9585m7.2m/s
13:0020%50%36J/kg-0.2°C17470m7.5m/s
14:0036%58%17J/kg0.1°C18392m6.8m/s
15:000%47%22J/kg0°C18412m6.3m/s
16:000%54%22J/kg-0.3°C15628m6m/s
17:0013%59%50J/kg-0.7°C18384m5.9m/s
18:000%65%65J/kg-0.3°C18372m6m/s
19:000%59%87J/kg-0.3°C17336m6.1m/s
20:000%14%79J/kg-0.3°C16295m6.4m/s
21:000%14%91J/kg0.1°C20370m5.8m/s
22:000%14%85J/kg0.8°C18412m5.2m/s
23:000%15%90J/kg0.7°C18401m5.2m/s
Tue, Feb 24
24:000%15%85J/kg0.7°C17948m5.4m/s
01:000%15%69J/kg0.6°C9754m5.3m/s
02:0012%15%36J/kg1°C18385m5.2m/s
03:000%15%7J/kg1.5°C18741m5.5m/s
04:000%14%5J/kg1.7°C18380m5.1m/s
05:000%14%5J/kg2.2°C18374m4.6m/s
06:000%14%5J/kg2.3°C18365m4.3m/s
07:000%46%4J/kg2.7°C18377m4.1m/s
08:000%57%4J/kg3°C18393m4.1m/s
09:000%52%7J/kg3°C18435m4.4m/s
10:000%46%20J/kg2.5°C18493m5.1m/s
11:000%45%30J/kg2°C18449m5.7m/s
12:000%48%20J/kg1.9°C18390m6.4m/s
13:000%47%17J/kg2.1°C18378m6.8m/s
14:000%49%18J/kg2.3°C18383m6.8m/s
15:000%49%12J/kg2.7°C18398m6.6m/s
16:000%36%10J/kg3.1°C18400m6.3m/s
17:000%55%8J/kg3.7°C18368m6.1m/s
18:000%60%9J/kg4.1°C18375m6.1m/s
19:000%35%9J/kg4.3°C18393m5.8m/s
20:000%15%12J/kg4.2°C18971m6.2m/s
21:000%0%21J/kg4.6°C20692m6.4m/s
22:000%0%31J/kg5.1°C22414m6.6m/s
23:0015%0%40J/kg5.5°C24135m6.7m/s
Wed, Feb 25
24:000%0%29J/kg6°C24135m6.4m/s
01:000%0%18J/kg6.4°C24135m6.1m/s
02:000%0%7J/kg6.8°C24135m5.8m/s
03:000%0%4.7J/kg7.4°C24135m5.5m/s
04:000%0%2.3J/kg7.9°C24135m5.2m/s
05:0013%0%0J/kg8.4°C24135m4.9m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg8.6°C24135m4.9m/s
07:000%50%0J/kg8.8°C24135m4.9m/s
08:0012%6.5%0J/kg9°C24135m4.9m/s
09:000%23%0.67J/kg8.9°C24135m4.8m/s
10:000%23%1.3J/kg8.8°C24135m4.8m/s
11:0013%28%2J/kg8.7°C24135m4.7m/s
12:000%28%2J/kg8.9°C24135m5m/s
13:000%28%2J/kg9.1°C24135m5.3m/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, Feb 22 Sunrise 06:50 Sunset 18:27
15:00
999hPa 623J/kg 0% -3.3°C 45% 0% 93% 0mm 79% 0.87mm 14dBZ 44° 45% 0.31mm - - 4.6m/s
16:00
1000hPa 577J/kg 0% -3.1°C 48% 0% 87% 0mm 78% 0.73mm 8.8dBZ 32° 48% 0.56mm - - 3.9m/s
17:00
1000hPa 518J/kg 0% -3.1°C 33% 0% 80% 0mm 79% 0.03mm 3.9dBZ 19° 33% 0.75mm 12m/s 16m/s 3.8m/s
18:00
1001hPa 384J/kg 2% -2.4°C 36% 0% 83% 0mm 80% 0.55mm 5.2dBZ 5.6° 36% 1.1mm - - 4.5m/s
19:00
1002hPa 339J/kg 4% -2°C 36% 0% 85% 0mm 79% 0.11mm 6.5dBZ -8.3° 36% 1.6mm - - 3.9m/s
20:00
1003hPa 283J/kg 0% -1.6°C 30% 7% 88% 0mm 79% 0.08mm 7.8dBZ -22° 30% 1.8mm 13m/s 18m/s 4.5m/s
21:00
1003hPa 294J/kg 0% -1.3°C 28% 69% 89% 0mm 79% 0.12mm -0.54dBZ -36° 71% 0.06mm - - 4.1m/s
22:00
1003hPa 270J/kg 0% -1.3°C 31% 100% 89% 0mm 78% 0.52mm -8.8dBZ -50° 100% 0.25mm - - 4.1m/s
23:00
1003hPa 230J/kg 0% -0.9°C 24% 42% 90% 0mm 80% 0.48mm -17dBZ -64° 42% 0.63mm 9.3m/s 8.4m/s 4.5m/s
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 06:50 Sunset 18:27
24:00
1003hPa 147J/kg 7% -0.7°C 18% 12% 92% 0mm 81% 0.51mm -5.7dBZ -75° 22% 1.1mm - - 4.4m/s
01:00
1003hPa 154J/kg 1% -0.7°C 15% 75% 95% 0mm 80% 0.14mm 5.7dBZ -78° 75% 1.2mm - - 3.9m/s
02:00
1003hPa 132J/kg 0% -0.4°C 21% 20% 97% 0mm 79% 0.1mm 17dBZ -67° 29% 1.3mm 9.1m/s 9.1m/s 3.7m/s
03:00
1003hPa 108J/kg 4% 0.1°C 13% 5% 90% 0mm 79% 0.38mm 18dBZ -54° 13% 0.38mm - - 3m/s
04:00
1002hPa 74J/kg 4% 0.5°C 15% 4% 84% 0mm 80% 0.18mm 18dBZ -40° 15% 0.63mm - - 3.1m/s
05:00
1003hPa 68J/kg 4% 0.7°C 8% 2% 77% 0mm 80% 0.38mm 19dBZ -26° 8% 1.1mm 8.6m/s 11m/s 3m/s
06:00
1004hPa 77J/kg 4% 0.7°C 10% 44% 79% 0mm 81% 0.53mm 21dBZ -12° 49% 1.8mm - - 3m/s
07:00
1004hPa 58J/kg 0% 0.8°C 11% 20% 80% 0mm 80% 0.73mm 24dBZ 1.8° 26% 2.5mm - - 2.6m/s
08:00
1005hPa 92J/kg 0% 0.8°C 61% 44% 82% 0mm 81% 1.1mm 26dBZ 15° 61% 3.4mm 10m/s 15m/s 3.3m/s
09:00
1005hPa 76J/kg 0% 0.6°C 63% 14% 74% 0mm 81% 1.1mm 20dBZ 28° 63% 1.3mm - - 4.6m/s
10:00
1006hPa 95J/kg 0% 0.5°C 90% 10% 66% 0.01mm 81% 1.3mm 15dBZ 41° 90% 2.5mm - - 5.9m/s
11:00
1006hPa 120J/kg 0% 0.2°C 98% 58% 58% 0.5mm 84% 1mm 9.2dBZ 51° 98% 3.8mm 11m/s 16m/s 5.8m/s
12:00
1005hPa 85J/kg 0% -0.2°C 100% 5% 58% 0.14mm 85% 0.66mm 7.4dBZ 58° 100% 5.2mm - - 6.1m/s
13:00
1005hPa 36J/kg 0% -0.2°C 76% 6% 58% 0.07mm 80% 0.21mm 5.5dBZ 59° 76% 5.9mm - - 6.4m/s
14:00
1004hPa 17J/kg 0% 0.1°C 80% 20% 57% 0.03mm 77% 0.1mm 3.6dBZ 54° 80% 6.4mm 10m/s 18m/s 6.1m/s
15:00
1004hPa 22J/kg 0% 0°C 100% 93% 51% 0.01mm 75% 0.07mm 2.3dBZ 44° 100% 0.25mm - - 5.6m/s
16:00
1004hPa 22J/kg 0% -0.3°C 99% 94% 44% 0.13mm 76% 0.06mm 1.1dBZ 32° 99% 0.5mm - - 5.6m/s
17:00
1004hPa 50J/kg 0% -0.7°C 100% 94% 37% 0.06mm 76% 0.08mm -0.2dBZ 19° 100% 0.63mm 8.3m/s 16m/s 5.3m/s
18:00
1005hPa 65J/kg 0% -0.3°C 81% 90% 38% 0mm 76% 0.08mm 3.7dBZ 5.7° 90% 0.69mm - - 5.8m/s
19:00
1005hPa 87J/kg 0% -0.3°C 94% 58% 38% 0.02mm 76% 0.14mm 7.7dBZ -8.2° 94% 0.81mm - - 6.1m/s
20:00
1006hPa 79J/kg 0% -0.3°C 58% 53% 38% 0.01mm 76% 0.24mm 12dBZ -22° 71% 1mm 8.3m/s 15m/s 6.2m/s
21:00
1007hPa 91J/kg 0% 0.1°C 62% 58% 35% 0mm 75% 0.06mm 10dBZ -36° 80% 0.13mm - - 5.6m/s
22:00
1007hPa 85J/kg 0% 0.8°C 51% 2% 33% 0.01mm 75% 0.04mm 8.6dBZ -50° 51% 0.25mm - - 4.9m/s
23:00
1007hPa 90J/kg 0% 0.7°C 88% 0% 30% 0mm 76% 0.09mm 7.1dBZ -64° 88% 0.31mm 9.3m/s 11m/s 5m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 06:49 Sunset 18:27
24:00
1006hPa 85J/kg 0% 0.7°C 96% 0% 32% 0.01mm 77% 0.15mm 5.4dBZ -75° 96% 0.44mm - - 5.3m/s
01:00
1006hPa 69J/kg 0% 0.6°C 93% 0% 35% 0.02mm 79% 0.35mm 3.7dBZ -77° 93% 0.75mm - - 5.2m/s
02:00
1006hPa 36J/kg 0% 1°C 96% 0% 37% 0.06mm 78% 0.11mm 2dBZ -67° 96% 1.1mm 9.9m/s 13m/s 5m/s
03:00
1006hPa 7J/kg 0% 1.5°C 100% 0% 34% 0.05mm 76% 0.05mm 3.1dBZ -54° 100% 0.19mm - - 5m/s
04:00
1005hPa 5J/kg 0% 1.7°C 95% 0% 30% 0.06mm 73% 0.02mm 4.2dBZ -40° 95% 0.31mm - - 4.7m/s
05:00
1005hPa 5J/kg 0% 2.2°C 98% 0% 26% 0.03mm 72% 0.01mm 5.2dBZ -26° 98% 0.38mm 11m/s 15m/s 4.3m/s
06:00
1006hPa 5J/kg 0% 2.3°C 87% 0% 30% 0.02mm 71% 0mm 9.7dBZ -12° 87% 0.44mm - - 3.8m/s
07:00
1007hPa 4J/kg 0% 2.7°C 80% 0% 33% 0mm 70% 0mm 14dBZ 1.9° 80% 0.5mm - - 3.5m/s
08:00
1007hPa 4J/kg 0% 3°C 69% 0% 37% 0mm 68% 0.01mm 19dBZ 15° 69% 0.5mm 12m/s 17m/s 3.7m/s
09:00
1008hPa 7J/kg 0% 3°C 67% 0% 52% 0mm 67% 0.01mm 16dBZ 28° 67% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
10:00
1008hPa 20J/kg 0% 2.5°C 58% 0% 67% 0mm 69% 0.04mm 13dBZ 41° 58% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
11:00
1008hPa 30J/kg 0% 2°C 39% 0% 82% 0mm 72% 0.1mm 9.8dBZ 51° 39% 0.13mm 14m/s 19m/s 6.1m/s
12:00
1007hPa 20J/kg 0% 1.9°C 63% 0% 82% 0.01mm 74% 0.06mm 8.8dBZ 58° 63% 0.19mm - - 6.9m/s
13:00
1007hPa 17J/kg 0% 2.1°C 49% 0% 82% 0mm 75% 0.07mm 7.9dBZ 59° 49% 0.25mm - - 7.1m/s
14:00
1006hPa 18J/kg 0% 2.3°C 48% 0% 82% 0mm 74% 0.07mm 6.9dBZ 54° 48% 0.38mm 11m/s 17m/s 6.9m/s
15:00
1006hPa 12J/kg 0% 2.7°C 64% 0% 73% 0mm 72% 0.05mm 3.6dBZ 44° 64% 0.06mm - - 6.6m/s
16:00
1006hPa 10J/kg 0% 3.1°C 91% 0% 65% 0mm 70% 0.04mm 0.23dBZ 32° 91% 0.13mm - - 6.6m/s
17:00
1006hPa 8J/kg 2% 3.7°C 83% 0% 56% 0mm 69% 0.03mm -3.1dBZ 19° 83% 0.19mm 11m/s 19m/s 6.2m/s
18:00
1006hPa 9J/kg 0% 4.1°C 80% 0% 60% 0mm 69% 0.02mm 2.4dBZ 5.8° 80% 0.19mm - - 6.1m/s
19:00
1007hPa 9J/kg 0% 4.3°C 88% 0% 64% 0.01mm 69% 0.02mm 7.9dBZ -8.2° 88% 0.19mm - - 5.9m/s
20:00
1007hPa 12J/kg 0% 4.2°C 89% 0% 69% 0mm 70% 0.04mm 13dBZ -22° 89% 0.25mm 10m/s 19m/s 6.3m/s
21:00
1006hPa 21J/kg 0% 4.6°C 91% 0% 60% 0mm 71% 0.05mm 8.8dBZ -36° 91% 0.21mm - - 6.3m/s
22:00
1005hPa 31J/kg 0% 5.1°C 94% 0% 52% 0mm 71% 0.05mm 4.2dBZ -50° 94% 0.17mm - - 6.3m/s
23:00
1003hPa 40J/kg 0% 5.5°C 96% 0% 44% 0mm 72% 0.06mm -0.38dBZ -63° 96% 0.13mm 9.2m/s 18m/s 6.3m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 06:48 Sunset 18:27
24:00
1004hPa 29J/kg 0% 6°C 93% 0% 48% 0mm 69% 0.04mm 0.64dBZ -75° 93% 0.15mm - - 6.1m/s
01:00
1005hPa 18J/kg 0% 6.4°C 90% 0% 52% 0mm 66% 0.02mm 1.7dBZ -77° 90% 0.17mm - - 5.8m/s
02:00
1005hPa 7J/kg 0% 6.8°C 87% 0% 56% 0mm 63% 0mm 2.7dBZ -67° 87% 0.19mm 9.6m/s 16m/s 5.5m/s
03:00
1005hPa 4.7J/kg 16% 7.4°C 64% 0% 44% 0mm 61% 0mm 6.7dBZ -54° 74% 0.13mm - - 5.5m/s
04:00
1005hPa 2.3J/kg 33% 7.9°C 40% 0% 32% 0mm 59% 0mm 11dBZ -40° 62% 0.06mm - - 5.4m/s
05:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 49% 8.4°C 17% 0% 20% 0mm 57% 0mm 15dBZ -26° 49% 0mm 10m/s 19m/s 5.3m/s
06:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 33% 8.6°C 13% 0% 21% 0mm 58% 0mm 8dBZ -12° 34% 0mm - - 5m/s
07:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 16% 8.8°C 9% 0% 22% 0mm 59% 0mm 1.3dBZ 2.1° 20% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
08:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 9°C 5% 0% 22% 0mm 60% 0mm -5.5dBZ 16° 5% 0mm 9m/s 19m/s 4.5m/s
09:00
1003hPa 0.67J/kg 0% 8.9°C 15% 0% 18% 0mm 60% 0mm -10dBZ 29° 15% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
10:00
1003hPa 1.3J/kg 0% 8.8°C 26% 0% 14% 0mm 61% 0mm -15dBZ 41° 26% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
11:00
1003hPa 2J/kg 0% 8.7°C 36% 0% 10% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 52° 36% 0mm 8.5m/s 21m/s 4.7m/s
12:00
1004hPa 2J/kg 0% 8.9°C 50% 0% 7% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 59° 50% 0mm - - 4.9m/s
13:00
1004hPa 2J/kg 0% 9.1°C 63% 0% 3% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ 60° 63% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
14:00
1005hPa 2J/kg 0% 9.2°C 77% 0% 0% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ 54° 77% 0mm 8.7m/s 23m/s 5.4m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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