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Rule Storm Chaser

Hilo - Storm Chaser - Hawaii

Hilo, 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
Cloud Drama Score 94% failing
CAPE 65% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts2.4m/s
Precipitation Chance100%
Air Pressure1006.1hPa
CAPE493
Lifted Index-3.2°C
Wind Gusts2.4m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

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
09:000%47%177J/kg-1.2°C24135m1m/s
10:000%47%188J/kg-0.3°C24134m1.9m/s
11:000%39%155J/kg0.3°C24135m2.4m/s
12:000%33%159J/kg0°C24135m3.1m/s
13:000%36%248J/kg-1°C24135m3.6m/s
14:000%40%254J/kg-1.1°C24135m3.5m/s
15:000%44%213J/kg-0.6°C24135m5.5m/s
16:000%83%184J/kg-0.5°C24134m4.2m/s
17:0019%39%202J/kg-0.1°C10705m4.4m/s
18:000%31%253J/kg-0.5°C6662m5.5m/s
19:000%86%392J/kg-1.2°C7345m5.5m/s
20:0016%12%408J/kg-0.8°C24134m5.3m/s
21:000%14%306J/kg-1°C12246m5.3m/s
22:000%8.3%296J/kg-1°C24134m4.1m/s
23:0014%4.8%210J/kg-0.9°C18843m3.9m/s
Sun, Feb 22
24:000%6.2%153J/kg-1°C22987m2.6m/s
01:000%2.7%114J/kg-0.9°C24135m2.3m/s
02:0013%5.7%56J/kg-0.7°C24134m2.2m/s
03:000%2.9%16J/kg-0.4°C24135m2.1m/s
04:000%5.1%9J/kg-0.4°C24135m2.2m/s
05:008.4%1.6%71J/kg-1.2°C24135m3.1m/s
06:000%12%248J/kg-2.2°C24135m4.4m/s
07:000%16%344J/kg-2.6°C24135m4.1m/s
08:000%12%412J/kg-2.9°C24135m3.3m/s
09:000%10%493J/kg-3.2°C24134m2.4m/s
10:000%9.6%534J/kg-3.2°C24134m1.6m/s
11:000%15%570J/kg-3.4°C24135m1.9m/s
12:000%19%597J/kg-3.6°C24135m2.9m/s
13:000%22%639J/kg-3.9°C24135m3.4m/s
14:0020%18%662J/kg-4.1°C24135m3.8m/s
15:000%23%705J/kg-4.3°C24135m3.7m/s
16:000%22%776J/kg-4.4°C24135m3.6m/s
17:0018%21%842J/kg-4.8°C24135m3.6m/s
18:000%21%800J/kg-4.6°C24134m3.1m/s
19:000%21%782J/kg-4.6°C24135m3.3m/s
20:000%6.7%807J/kg-4.9°C24134m3.3m/s
21:000%11%809J/kg-5°C13200m3.1m/s
22:000%11%751J/kg-4.6°C13468m2m/s
23:000%11%723J/kg-4.4°C24135m1.9m/s
Mon, Feb 23
24:000%9%627J/kg-4°C24134m2.9m/s
01:000%13%564J/kg-3.5°C24134m4.5m/s
02:000%14%464J/kg-3°C24135m5.8m/s
03:000%10%443J/kg-3°C24134m6.4m/s
04:000%8.9%429J/kg-2.8°C24135m6.7m/s
05:000%7.7%383J/kg-2.4°C23715m6.4m/s
06:000%28%371J/kg-2.2°C24134m6m/s
07:000%24%345J/kg-1.9°C24134m5.6m/s
08:000%32%278J/kg-1.6°C24134m4.9m/s
09:000%16%264J/kg-1.6°C24135m4.6m/s
10:000%33%274J/kg-1.6°C24135m4.1m/s
11:000%34%231J/kg-1.3°C24135m3.6m/s
12:000%20%232J/kg-1°C23612m3.5m/s
13:000%26%195J/kg-0.6°C24134m4.2m/s
14:0017%39%186J/kg-0.4°C22522m4m/s
15:000%36%174J/kg-0.5°C24134m3.8m/s
16:000%43%145J/kg-0.4°C23417m4.1m/s
17:0014%61%148J/kg-0.6°C23857m3.9m/s
18:000%66%163J/kg-0.7°C15308m4m/s
19:000%56%184J/kg-1°C21451m4.4m/s
20:0013%14%203J/kg-1.3°C20973m4.7m/s
21:000%14%222J/kg-1.3°C23592m4.3m/s
22:000%14%229J/kg-1.6°C24134m3.5m/s
23:000%14%234J/kg-1.7°C24135m2.7m/s
Tue, Feb 24
24:000%13%246J/kg-1.7°C24135m2m/s
01:000%15%276J/kg-2.1°C24134m1.8m/s
02:000%11%264J/kg-2.3°C24135m1.7m/s
03:000%9.4%214J/kg-1.5°C24134m1.7m/s
04:000%8.6%191J/kg-0.8°C24135m1.9m/s
05:000%7.1%168J/kg-0.3°C18397m2m/s
06:000%18%155J/kg0.1°C23816m2.5m/s
07:000%20%137J/kg0.1°C24071m3.1m/s
08:000%45%115J/kg0.4°C24135m3.9m/s
09:000%13%100J/kg0.4°C24134m4.1m/s
10:000%16%90J/kg0.4°C24134m4.5m/s
11:000%30%63J/kg0.5°C24134m4.7m/s
12:000%33%63J/kg0.5°C24134m5.1m/s
13:000%28%67J/kg0.4°C24134m5.3m/s
14:000%41%46J/kg0.4°C24135m5.3m/s
15:000%33%41J/kg1.1°C18918m5.8m/s
16:000%43%37J/kg1.9°C13701m6.3m/s
17:0018%47%32J/kg2.6°C8484m6.8m/s
18:000%43%31J/kg2.8°C9217m6.9m/s
19:000%28%31J/kg2.9°C9950m7m/s
20:0027%0%30J/kg3.1°C10683m7m/s
21:000%0%29J/kg3.2°C11566m7.1m/s
22:000%0%29J/kg3.2°C12450m7.1m/s
23:0015%0%28J/kg3.3°C13333m7.1m/s
Wed, Feb 25
24:000%0%25J/kg3.6°C15873m6.9m/s
01:000%0%21J/kg3.9°C18413m6.6m/s
02:0015%0%18J/kg4.2°C20952m6.4m/s
03:000%0%16J/kg4.7°C22013m6.1m/s
04:000%0%13J/kg5.1°C23074m5.8m/s
05:0015%0%11J/kg5.5°C24135m5.5m/s
06:000%42%8.3J/kg6°C24135m5.3m/s
07:000%88%5.7J/kg6.6°C24135m5m/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 06:44 Sunset 18:22
09:00
1006hPa 493J/kg 0% -3.2°C 0% 0% 100% 0mm 72% 0mm -11dBZ 30° 0% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
10:00
1006hPa 534J/kg 0% -3.2°C 0% 0% 100% 0mm 71% 0mm -3dBZ 42° 0% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
11:00
1006hPa 570J/kg 0% -3.4°C 0% 0% 100% 0mm 72% 0mm 5.1dBZ 52° 0% 0mm 3.8m/s 16m/s 2m/s
12:00
1005hPa 597J/kg 0% -3.6°C 2% 0% 100% 0mm 72% 0mm 11dBZ 59° 2% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
13:00
1005hPa 639J/kg 0% -3.9°C 7% 0% 100% 0mm 73% 0.01mm 16dBZ 60° 7% 0.06mm - - 3.8m/s
14:00
1004hPa 662J/kg 0% -4.1°C 4% 0% 100% 0mm 73% 0mm 22dBZ 54° 4% 0.13mm 3.8m/s 14m/s 4m/s
15:00
1004hPa 705J/kg 0% -4.3°C 7% 0% 85% 0mm 73% 0.01mm 18dBZ 43° 7% 0.06mm - - 3.6m/s
16:00
1004hPa 776J/kg 0% -4.4°C 3% 0% 71% 0mm 73% 0.01mm 14dBZ 31° 3% 0.06mm - - 3m/s
17:00
1005hPa 842J/kg 0% -4.8°C 4% 0% 56% 0mm 73% 0mm 9.7dBZ 18° 4% 0.13mm 5.1m/s 17m/s 2.8m/s
18:00
1005hPa 800J/kg 0% -4.6°C 1% 0% 65% 0mm 75% 0mm 13dBZ 4.7° 1% 0.38mm - - 2.2m/s
19:00
1006hPa 782J/kg 0% -4.6°C 3% 0% 73% 0mm 76% 0.05mm 16dBZ -9.4° 3% 0.56mm - - 2.2m/s
20:00
1007hPa 807J/kg 0% -4.9°C 24% 0% 82% 0mm 77% 0.14mm 20dBZ -23° 24% 0.63mm 11m/s 20m/s 2.5m/s
21:00
1007hPa 809J/kg 0% -5°C 4% 0% 65% 0mm 77% 0.49mm 16dBZ -38° 4% 0.13mm - - 2.2m/s
22:00
1008hPa 751J/kg 0% -4.6°C 3% 0% 47% 0mm 77% 0.54mm 11dBZ -52° 3% 0.44mm - - 1.3m/s
23:00
1008hPa 723J/kg 0% -4.4°C 3% 0% 30% 0mm 77% 0.08mm 7.1dBZ -65° 3% 0.69mm 12m/s 12m/s 1.9m/s
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 06:44 Sunset 18:22
24:00
1008hPa 627J/kg 0% -4°C 6% 0% 39% 0mm 79% 0.06mm 4dBZ -77° 6% 0.88mm - - 2.8m/s
01:00
1008hPa 564J/kg 0% -3.5°C 6% 0% 47% 0mm 80% 0.04mm 0.83dBZ -78° 6% 1mm - - 4.2m/s
02:00
1007hPa 464J/kg 0% -3°C 0% 0% 56% 0mm 80% 0mm -2.3dBZ -67° 0% 1mm 9.5m/s 12m/s 5.3m/s
03:00
1007hPa 443J/kg 0% -3°C 5% 0% 50% 0mm 80% 0.01mm -0.58dBZ -53° 5% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
04:00
1007hPa 429J/kg 0% -2.8°C 4% 0% 44% 0mm 80% 0.02mm 1.1dBZ -39° 4% 0.06mm - - 5.5m/s
05:00
1007hPa 383J/kg 0% -2.4°C 13% 0% 38% 0mm 79% 0.06mm 2.9dBZ -25° 13% 0.13mm 6.6m/s 9m/s 5.2m/s
06:00
1008hPa 371J/kg 0% -2.2°C 15% 0% 58% 0mm 78% 0.01mm -2.4dBZ -11° 15% 0.13mm - - 5m/s
07:00
1009hPa 345J/kg 0% -1.9°C 9% 0% 78% 0mm 78% 0.02mm -7.7dBZ 3.1° 9% 0.19mm - - 4.8m/s
08:00
1010hPa 278J/kg 0% -1.6°C 11% 0% 98% 0mm 77% 0.01mm -13dBZ 17° 11% 0.31mm 4.5m/s 10m/s 4.3m/s
09:00
1010hPa 264J/kg 0% -1.6°C 8% 0% 97% 0mm 77% 0.03mm -6.7dBZ 30° 8% 0.06mm - - 4.4m/s
10:00
1011hPa 274J/kg 0% -1.6°C 20% 0% 95% 0mm 77% 0.04mm -0.45dBZ 42° 20% 0.19mm - - 4m/s
11:00
1010hPa 231J/kg 0% -1.3°C 20% 0% 94% 0mm 77% 0.05mm 5.8dBZ 53° 20% 0.31mm 5.1m/s 17m/s 3.7m/s
12:00
1010hPa 232J/kg 0% -1°C 5% 0% 96% 0mm 78% 0.21mm 13dBZ 60° 5% 0.44mm - - 3.8m/s
13:00
1009hPa 195J/kg 0% -0.6°C 22% 0% 97% 0mm 78% 0.2mm 19dBZ 60° 22% 0.63mm - - 4.4m/s
14:00
1009hPa 186J/kg 0% -0.4°C 20% 0% 98% 0mm 78% 0.99mm 26dBZ 54° 20% 1.1mm 5.9m/s 18m/s 4m/s
15:00
1008hPa 174J/kg 0% -0.5°C 17% 0% 93% 0mm 77% 0.4mm 22dBZ 44° 17% 0.56mm - - 3.9m/s
16:00
1008hPa 145J/kg 0% -0.4°C 16% 0% 89% 0mm 77% 0.21mm 17dBZ 31° 16% 1mm - - 4.1m/s
17:00
1009hPa 148J/kg 0% -0.6°C 45% 0% 84% 0mm 78% 0.14mm 13dBZ 18° 45% 1.4mm 7.5m/s 19m/s 3.7m/s
18:00
1010hPa 163J/kg 0% -0.7°C 61% 0% 86% 0mm 79% 0.3mm 11dBZ 4.8° 61% 1.7mm - - 3.6m/s
19:00
1010hPa 184J/kg 0% -1°C 51% 0% 88% 0mm 80% 0.24mm 9.2dBZ -9.3° 51% 1.9mm - - 3.9m/s
20:00
1011hPa 203J/kg 0% -1.3°C 51% 0% 90% 0mm 80% 0.3mm 7.5dBZ -23° 51% 2.1mm 6.6m/s 17m/s 4.2m/s
21:00
1012hPa 222J/kg 0% -1.3°C 50% 0% 83% 0mm 80% 0.23mm 1.9dBZ -38° 50% 0.19mm - - 4m/s
22:00
1012hPa 229J/kg 0% -1.6°C 46% 0% 76% 0mm 79% 0.03mm -3.7dBZ -52° 46% 0.25mm - - 3.2m/s
23:00
1012hPa 234J/kg 0% -1.7°C 14% 0% 69% 0mm 78% 0.04mm -9.4dBZ -65° 14% 0.31mm 6.2m/s 17m/s 2.5m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 06:43 Sunset 18:23
24:00
1011hPa 246J/kg 0% -1.7°C 12% 0% 69% 0mm 78% 0.05mm -12dBZ -77° 12% 0.38mm - - 1.8m/s
01:00
1011hPa 276J/kg 0% -2.1°C 10% 0% 70% 0mm 78% 0.03mm -15dBZ -78° 10% 0.44mm - - 1.5m/s
02:00
1010hPa 264J/kg 0% -2.3°C 3% 0% 71% 0mm 78% 0mm -18dBZ -67° 3% 0.44mm 5.8m/s 10m/s 1.5m/s
03:00
1010hPa 214J/kg 0% -1.5°C 0% 0% 66% 0mm 78% 0.04mm -11dBZ -53° 0% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
04:00
1010hPa 191J/kg 0% -0.8°C 1% 0% 61% 0mm 79% 0.03mm -5.1dBZ -39° 1% 0.06mm - - 1.7m/s
05:00
1010hPa 168J/kg 0% -0.3°C 1% 0% 56% 0mm 79% 0.43mm 1.2dBZ -25° 1% 0.13mm 5.2m/s 9.8m/s 1.9m/s
06:00
1011hPa 155J/kg 0% 0.1°C 8% 0% 64% 0mm 79% 0.1mm 2.2dBZ -11° 8% 0.25mm - - 2.3m/s
07:00
1011hPa 137J/kg 0% 0.1°C 10% 0% 72% 0mm 78% 0.07mm 3.2dBZ 3.2° 10% 0.38mm - - 2.7m/s
08:00
1012hPa 115J/kg 0% 0.4°C 21% 0% 80% 0mm 77% 0.11mm 4.2dBZ 17° 21% 0.56mm 6.6m/s 11m/s 3.4m/s
09:00
1012hPa 100J/kg 0% 0.4°C 0% 0% 77% 0mm 76% 0.04mm 7.5dBZ 30° 0% 0.13mm - - 3.9m/s
10:00
1012hPa 90J/kg 0% 0.4°C 8% 0% 74% 0mm 76% 0.06mm 11dBZ 42° 8% 0.19mm - - 4.6m/s
11:00
1012hPa 63J/kg 0% 0.5°C 17% 0% 72% 0mm 76% 0.07mm 14dBZ 53° 17% 0.25mm 7.2m/s 13m/s 5.1m/s
12:00
1012hPa 63J/kg 0% 0.5°C 17% 0% 79% 0mm 77% 0.11mm 16dBZ 60° 17% 0.31mm - - 5.4m/s
13:00
1011hPa 67J/kg 0% 0.4°C 26% 0% 87% 0mm 77% 0.12mm 17dBZ 60° 26% 0.44mm - - 5.4m/s
14:00
1010hPa 46J/kg 0% 0.4°C 26% 0% 94% 0mm 77% 0.13mm 19dBZ 54° 26% 0.63mm 9.4m/s 15m/s 5.3m/s
15:00
1001hPa 41J/kg 0% 1.1°C 42% 0% 90% 0mm 81% 0.2mm 18dBZ 44° 42% 0.6mm - - 5m/s
16:00
992hPa 37J/kg 0% 1.9°C 57% 0% 87% 0mm 85% 0.28mm 17dBZ 32° 57% 0.58mm - - 4.7m/s
17:00
983hPa 32J/kg 0% 2.6°C 73% 0% 83% 0mm 89% 0.35mm 16dBZ 18° 73% 0.56mm 11m/s 14m/s 4.5m/s
18:00
982hPa 31J/kg 0% 2.8°C 82% 0% 85% 0.03mm 89% 0.29mm 16dBZ 4.9° 82% 0.77mm - - 4.4m/s
19:00
982hPa 31J/kg 0% 2.9°C 90% 0% 88% 0.06mm 89% 0.22mm 17dBZ -9.2° 90% 0.98mm - - 4.3m/s
20:00
981hPa 30J/kg 0% 3.1°C 99% 0% 90% 0.09mm 89% 0.16mm 17dBZ -23° 99% 1.2mm 8.7m/s 15m/s 4.3m/s
21:00
981hPa 29J/kg 0% 3.2°C 93% 0% 86% 0.07mm 89% 0.12mm 17dBZ -37° 93% 0.92mm - - 4.3m/s
22:00
981hPa 29J/kg 0% 3.2°C 86% 0% 82% 0.05mm 89% 0.08mm 18dBZ -51° 86% 0.65mm - - 4.2m/s
23:00
981hPa 28J/kg 0% 3.3°C 80% 0% 78% 0.03mm 88% 0.04mm 18dBZ -65° 80% 0.38mm 9.1m/s 14m/s 4.2m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 06:42 Sunset 18:23
24:00
982hPa 25J/kg 0% 3.6°C 80% 0% 78% 0.03mm 88% 0.03mm 17dBZ -77° 80% 0.46mm - - 4.1m/s
01:00
982hPa 21J/kg 0% 3.9°C 81% 0% 78% 0.04mm 87% 0.02mm 17dBZ -77° 81% 0.54mm - - 4m/s
02:00
983hPa 18J/kg 0% 4.2°C 81% 0% 79% 0.04mm 86% 0.01mm 16dBZ -66° 81% 0.63mm 9.4m/s 14m/s 3.9m/s
03:00
983hPa 16J/kg 0% 4.7°C 86% 0% 75% 0.03mm 82% 0.01mm 15dBZ -53° 86% 0.46mm - - 4.2m/s
04:00
983hPa 13J/kg 0% 5.1°C 90% 0% 72% 0.02mm 77% 0.01mm 15dBZ -39° 90% 0.29mm - - 4.6m/s
05:00
983hPa 11J/kg 0% 5.5°C 94% 0% 69% 0.01mm 72% 0.01mm 14dBZ -25° 94% 0.13mm 9.1m/s 14m/s 5m/s
06:00
982hPa 8.3J/kg 6% 6°C 82% 0% 67% 0.007mm 69% 0.007mm 14dBZ -11° 82% 0.13mm - - 4.9m/s
07:00
982hPa 5.7J/kg 12% 6.6°C 71% 0% 66% 0.003mm 66% 0.003mm 14dBZ 3.4° 71% 0.13mm - - 4.9m/s
08:00
981hPa 3J/kg 18% 7.1°C 60% 0% 65% 0mm 64% 0mm 14dBZ 17° 60% 0.13mm 7.1m/s 16m/s 4.8m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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