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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
CAPE 89% failing
Cloud Drama Score 82% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts8.6m/s
Precipitation Chance72%
Air Pressure1009.3hPa
CAPE418
Lifted Index-3.0°C
Wind Gusts8.6m/s
Precipitation0.5mm

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
Tue, Apr 7
15:000%49%129J/kg-0.4°C10826m8.2m/s
16:000%56%178J/kg-0.5°C11156m6.8m/s
17:0043%65%171J/kg-0.5°C3817m6.9m/s
18:0028%64%213J/kg-0.2°C2419m7.1m/s
19:0025%51%211J/kg-1.1°C2790m6.1m/s
20:0043%1.8%189J/kg-0.9°C2955m6.5m/s
21:000%0%278J/kg-1.6°C22310m6.1m/s
22:000%0%240J/kg-1.5°C18805m5.4m/s
23:0021%0%165J/kg-1.1°C5071m5.8m/s
Wed, Apr 8
24:000%0.2%161J/kg-1°C5104m5.9m/s
01:000%0%137J/kg-0.7°C5292m6.6m/s
02:0026%9.4%156J/kg-1°C6481m6.6m/s
03:000%8.5%134J/kg-0.8°C9035m5.8m/s
04:000%7.5%260J/kg-1.5°C24134m5.9m/s
05:000%0%275J/kg-1.4°C24135m5.2m/s
06:000%18%247J/kg-1.1°C24135m5.3m/s
07:000%46%240J/kg-1.2°C24134m6.4m/s
08:000%41%284J/kg-1.7°C24135m7m/s
09:000%44%322J/kg-1.5°C24135m7.6m/s
10:000%42%379J/kg-2.2°C24134m7.9m/s
11:0014%21%381J/kg-2.4°C24134m8.7m/s
12:000%24%325J/kg-2.3°C24135m9.3m/s
13:0013%22%397J/kg-3.4°C24135m8.9m/s
14:000%23%415J/kg-3°C24135m8.7m/s
15:000%41%418J/kg-3°C18634m8.6m/s
16:000%51%436J/kg-3.1°C19459m8m/s
17:000%60%431J/kg-3.2°C23822m7.7m/s
18:000%62%389J/kg-2.8°C23658m7.9m/s
19:000%53%338J/kg-2°C18029m7.9m/s
20:000%0%303J/kg-1.8°C24134m8.9m/s
21:000%0%219J/kg-1.3°C24134m8.2m/s
22:000%0%196J/kg-0.9°C24135m9.4m/s
23:000%0%81J/kg0.1°C24134m11m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%0%38J/kg0.9°C24135m13m/s
01:000%0%50J/kg1°C24135m11m/s
02:000%0%53J/kg0.6°C19477m8.2m/s
03:000%0%46J/kg1.3°C24135m7.2m/s
04:000%0%9J/kg2.1°C24134m9.6m/s
05:000%0%1J/kg2.9°C24135m9.6m/s
06:000%62%0J/kg3.3°C24134m9.3m/s
07:000%57%0J/kg3.3°C24134m9.8m/s
08:000%48%0J/kg3.5°C24135m10m/s
09:000%48%0J/kg3.2°C24135m9.3m/s
10:000%41%0J/kg3.7°C24134m9.1m/s
11:000%22%0J/kg4°C24134m8.2m/s
12:000%21%7J/kg4.5°C24135m5.6m/s
13:000%24%18J/kg4.2°C24134m8.2m/s
14:000%24%23J/kg3.9°C24135m9.7m/s
15:000%43%16J/kg3.8°C24134m11m/s
16:000%53%6J/kg3.6°C24134m10m/s
17:000%62%3J/kg3.8°C24135m11m/s
18:000%67%0J/kg3.7°C24134m10m/s
19:000%58%0J/kg4.4°C24134m10m/s
20:000%0%0J/kg4.5°C24135m9.9m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg5.1°C24134m8.7m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg4.1°C24134m8.2m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg2.8°C24135m8.2m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:000%0%4J/kg2.8°C24135m8.7m/s
01:000%0%13J/kg2.3°C11979m8.1m/s
02:0029%0%31J/kg2.5°C10607m7.5m/s
03:0014%0%30J/kg3.1°C9589m7.4m/s
04:0017%0%25J/kg3.4°C9425m7.2m/s
05:0035%0%27J/kg3.3°C5933m8m/s
06:0020%64%17J/kg2.6°C12213m8.1m/s
07:0023%57%46J/kg2°C6926m8.3m/s
08:0049%46%39J/kg1.2°C3365m7.2m/s
09:0029%49%25J/kg1.8°C4574m7.6m/s
10:0039%38%65J/kg1.1°C2642m5.4m/s
11:0053%23%28J/kg0.6°C7738m12m/s
12:0025%22%25J/kg0.5°C14352m7.3m/s
13:0039%24%115J/kg-0.6°C2620m6.7m/s
14:0043%23%107J/kg-1.1°C3885m5.3m/s
15:0026%43%103J/kg-1.1°C1621m5.3m/s
16:0022%56%156J/kg-1.6°C4675m5.6m/s
17:0023%58%207J/kg-1.9°C9955m4.6m/s
18:000%62%192J/kg-1.8°C22868m3.9m/s
19:000%47%156J/kg-2.1°C23454m2.1m/s
20:0019%0%97J/kg-1.3°C24135m1.9m/s
21:0016%0%72J/kg-0.64°C24135m2.7m/s
22:0015%0%48J/kg0.02°C24135m3.5m/s
23:000%0%23J/kg0.67°C24135m4.3m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%0%26J/kg0.8°C24135m3.3m/s
01:000%0%30J/kg0.92°C24135m2.3m/s
02:000%0%33J/kg1°C24135m1.3m/s
03:000%0%51J/kg0.5°C24135m1.5m/s
04:000%0%70J/kg-0.03°C24135m1.7m/s
05:000%0%88J/kg-0.57°C24135m1.9m/s
06:000%59%131J/kg-1°C24125m2m/s
07:000%55%175J/kg-1.5°C24115m2m/s
08:000%46%218J/kg-2°C24105m2.1m/s
09:000%40%180J/kg-1.9°C24115m2.5m/s
10:000%40%141J/kg-1.8°C24125m2.9m/s
11:000%22%103J/kg-1.6°C24135m3.2m/s
12:000%23%84J/kg-1.7°C24135m2.6m/s
13:000%31%64J/kg-1.8°C24135m2.1m/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
Wed, Apr 8 Sunrise 06:07 Sunset 18:36
15:00
1009hPa 418J/kg 100% -3°C 62% 100% 72% 0.32mm 85% 0.03mm 6.7dBZ 50° 100% 0.5mm - - 7.6m/s
16:00
1009hPa 436J/kg 100% -3.1°C 31% 100% 72% 0.43mm 85% 0.01mm 8.3dBZ 36° 100% 1mm - - 6.4m/s
17:00
1010hPa 431J/kg 100% -3.2°C 13% 100% 72% 0.22mm 85% 0.05mm 10dBZ 22° 100% 1.3mm 5.6m/s 6.1m/s 6.3m/s
18:00
1010hPa 389J/kg 100% -2.8°C 20% 100% 78% 0.19mm 86% 0.07mm 14dBZ 7.8° 100% 1.8mm - - 6.8m/s
19:00
1011hPa 338J/kg 100% -2°C 17% 100% 83% 0.18mm 88% 0.81mm 17dBZ -6.2° 100% 2.3mm - - 6.4m/s
20:00
1012hPa 303J/kg 100% -1.8°C 33% 100% 88% 0.2mm 88% 0mm 20dBZ -20° 100% 2.6mm 3.1m/s 7m/s 7.3m/s
21:00
1012hPa 219J/kg 100% -1.3°C 94% 100% 83% 0.01mm 85% 0mm 19dBZ -33° 100% 0.06mm - - 7.1m/s
22:00
1012hPa 196J/kg 100% -0.9°C 100% 100% 78% 0.03mm 84% 0mm 17dBZ -46° 100% 0.06mm - - 8.2m/s
23:00
1012hPa 81J/kg 100% 0.1°C 99% 100% 73% 0mm 81% 0mm 15dBZ -56° 100% 0.13mm 3.6m/s 1.6m/s 9.4m/s
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:07 Sunset 18:36
24:00
1011hPa 38J/kg 100% 0.9°C 86% 100% 75% 0mm 79% 0mm 19dBZ -62° 100% 0.13mm - - 9.9m/s
01:00
1010hPa 50J/kg 100% 1°C 100% 100% 77% 0.03mm 79% 0mm 23dBZ -61° 100% 0.13mm - - 8.1m/s
02:00
1010hPa 53J/kg 100% 0.6°C 100% 100% 78% 0.13mm 82% 0.16mm 27dBZ -53° 100% 0.38mm 3.4m/s 1.8m/s 6.2m/s
03:00
1010hPa 46J/kg 100% 1.3°C 100% 100% 65% 0.01mm 78% 0mm 27dBZ -42° 100% 0.13mm - - 4.6m/s
04:00
1010hPa 9J/kg 100% 2.1°C 100% 100% 51% 0.02mm 76% 0mm 27dBZ -30° 100% 0.19mm - - 6.6m/s
05:00
1010hPa 1J/kg 100% 2.9°C 100% 100% 37% 0.02mm 73% 0mm 26dBZ -16° 100% 0.19mm 2m/s 9m/s 7m/s
06:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.3°C 100% 100% 47% 0mm 72% 0mm 20dBZ -2.4° 100% 0.25mm - - 6.9m/s
07:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.3°C 100% 100% 57% 0.05mm 73% 0mm 15dBZ 12° 100% 0.31mm - - 7.4m/s
08:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.5°C 100% 100% 67% 0.19mm 74% 0mm 8.6dBZ 26° 100% 0.38mm 4.8m/s 7.7m/s 7.2m/s
09:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.2°C 99% 100% 73% 0.07mm 75% 0mm 8dBZ 40° 100% 0.19mm - - 5.9m/s
10:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.7°C 100% 100% 79% 0.02mm 74% 0mm 7.4dBZ 54° 100% 0.25mm - - 6.2m/s
11:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 4°C 100% 100% 85% 0.05mm 73% 0mm 6.7dBZ 67° 100% 0.25mm 4.8m/s 8.7m/s 5.5m/s
12:00
1010hPa 7J/kg 100% 4.5°C 100% 100% 87% 0.03mm 72% 0mm 8.3dBZ 77° 100% 0.31mm - - 4.1m/s
13:00
1010hPa 18J/kg 100% 4.2°C 100% 100% 88% 0.04mm 74% 0mm 9.9dBZ 75° 100% 0.38mm - - 5.2m/s
14:00
1009hPa 23J/kg 100% 3.9°C 100% 100% 90% 0mm 73% 0mm 11dBZ 63° 100% 0.38mm 9.2m/s 1.5m/s 7m/s
15:00
1009hPa 16J/kg 100% 3.8°C 100% 100% 89% 0mm 71% 0mm 9.9dBZ 50° 100% 0mm - - 7.9m/s
16:00
1008hPa 6J/kg 100% 3.6°C 100% 100% 88% 0mm 73% 0mm 8.3dBZ 36° 100% 0mm - - 7m/s
17:00
1009hPa 3J/kg 100% 3.8°C 100% 100% 87% 0.01mm 69% 0mm 6.7dBZ 22° 100% 0mm 11m/s 11m/s 7.3m/s
18:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.7°C 29% 100% 83% 0mm 71% 0mm 10dBZ 7.9° 100% 0.06mm - - 6.9m/s
19:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.4°C 61% 100% 80% 0mm 70% 0mm 14dBZ -6.2° 100% 0.06mm - - 7.1m/s
20:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.5°C 62% 100% 77% 0.11mm 68% 0mm 17dBZ -20° 100% 0.13mm 7.5m/s 13m/s 6.8m/s
21:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.1°C 54% 100% 76% 0.01mm 71% 0mm 21dBZ -33° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.8m/s
22:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.1°C 100% 100% 76% 0.04mm 72% 0mm 25dBZ -45° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.6m/s
23:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.8°C 100% 100% 75% 0.02mm 74% 0mm 30dBZ -56° 100% 0.13mm 14m/s 17m/s 5.6m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:06 Sunset 18:36
24:00
1011hPa 4J/kg 99% 2.8°C 54% 100% 81% 0.14mm 79% 0mm 32dBZ -62° 100% 0.19mm - - 6.1m/s
01:00
1010hPa 13J/kg 100% 2.3°C 100% 100% 87% 1mm 87% 0.02mm 34dBZ -61° 100% 0.81mm - - 5.4m/s
02:00
1010hPa 31J/kg 100% 2.5°C 100% 100% 93% 0.69mm 91% 0.22mm 36dBZ -53° 100% 1.8mm 11m/s 25m/s 4.8m/s
03:00
1009hPa 30J/kg 100% 3.1°C 100% 100% 88% 1.1mm 90% 0.13mm 35dBZ -42° 100% 1mm - - 5.2m/s
04:00
1009hPa 25J/kg 100% 3.4°C 100% 100% 84% 1.4mm 90% 0.13mm 34dBZ -29° 100% 3.5mm - - 5.2m/s
05:00
1010hPa 27J/kg 100% 3.3°C 99% 100% 79% 2.4mm 91% 0.19mm 33dBZ -16° 100% 5.6mm 9.2m/s 19m/s 5.5m/s
06:00
1010hPa 17J/kg 100% 2.6°C 100% 100% 83% 1.4mm 91% 0.28mm 36dBZ -2.2° 100% 7.4mm - - 5.3m/s
07:00
1010hPa 46J/kg 98% 2°C 100% 100% 87% 1.2mm 94% 0.45mm 38dBZ 12° 100% 9.4mm - - 6.5m/s
08:00
1011hPa 39J/kg 98% 1.2°C 100% 100% 91% 5.3mm 94% 0.49mm 41dBZ 26° 100% 13mm 14m/s 17m/s 5.7m/s
09:00
1011hPa 25J/kg 100% 1.8°C 100% 100% 94% 3.5mm 94% 0.24mm 43dBZ 40° 100% 3.6mm - - 5.3m/s
10:00
1010hPa 65J/kg 100% 1.1°C 100% 100% 97% 8.4mm 96% 0.43mm 45dBZ 54° 100% 10mm - - 4m/s
11:00
1010hPa 28J/kg 100% 0.6°C 87% 100% 99% 0.32mm 95% 0.14mm 48dBZ 67° 100% 14mm 12m/s 20m/s 9.3m/s
12:00
1010hPa 25J/kg 100% 0.5°C 83% 100% 100% 0.22mm 92% 0.1mm 39dBZ 77° 100% 15mm - - 5.9m/s
13:00
1009hPa 115J/kg 100% -0.6°C 99% 100% 100% 1.6mm 95% 0.31mm 31dBZ 75° 100% 16mm - - 4.6m/s
14:00
1008hPa 107J/kg 100% -1.1°C 100% 100% 100% 0.99mm 95% 0.5mm 23dBZ 64° 100% 18mm 7.6m/s 17m/s 3.2m/s
15:00
1007hPa 103J/kg 100% -1.1°C 100% 100% 90% 7.5mm 97% 0.6mm 8.4dBZ 50° 100% 5.4mm - - 3.2m/s
16:00
1007hPa 156J/kg 100% -1.6°C 100% 100% 81% 2.1mm 96% 0.13mm -5.7dBZ 36° 100% 11mm - - 3.1m/s
17:00
1007hPa 207J/kg 99% -1.9°C 70% 90% 72% 0mm 95% 0.04mm -20dBZ 22° 99% 11mm 7.7m/s 15m/s 3.8m/s
18:00
1008hPa 192J/kg 100% -1.8°C 45% 96% 76% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ 7.9° 100% 11mm - - 3.1m/s
19:00
1008hPa 156J/kg 100% -2.1°C 8% 100% 80% 0mm 89% 0.12mm -19dBZ -6.1° 100% 12mm - - 1.6m/s
20:00
1009hPa 97J/kg 100% -1.3°C 17% 34% 84% 0mm 87% 0mm -19dBZ -20° 100% 12mm 4.8m/s 12m/s 1.9m/s
21:00
999hPa 72J/kg 100% -0.64°C 13% 56% 79% 0.003mm 88% 0mm -19dBZ -33° 100% 7.8mm - - 2.2m/s
22:00
989hPa 48J/kg 100% 0.02°C 9% 78% 74% 0.007mm 89% 0mm -19dBZ -45° 100% 4mm - - 2.5m/s
23:00
979hPa 23J/kg 100% 0.67°C 5% 99% 68% 0.01mm 89% 0mm -19dBZ -55° 100% 0.13mm 2.2m/s 8.6m/s 2.8m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:05 Sunset 18:36
24:00
979hPa 26J/kg 100% 0.8°C 15% 100% 64% 0.007mm 88% 0.04mm -18dBZ -61° 100% 0.17mm - - 2.1m/s
01:00
980hPa 30J/kg 100% 0.92°C 25% 100% 60% 0.003mm 87% 0.07mm -18dBZ -60° 100% 0.21mm - - 1.3m/s
02:00
981hPa 33J/kg 100% 1°C 35% 100% 55% 0mm 86% 0.11mm -18dBZ -53° 100% 0.25mm 6.9m/s 9m/s 0.59m/s
03:00
981hPa 51J/kg 100% 0.5°C 36% 100% 43% 0.003mm 82% 0.08mm -18dBZ -42° 100% 0.21mm - - 1.1m/s
04:00
981hPa 70J/kg 100% -0.03°C 37% 100% 30% 0.007mm 79% 0.04mm -17dBZ -29° 100% 0.17mm - - 1.6m/s
05:00
981hPa 88J/kg 100% -0.57°C 38% 100% 18% 0.01mm 75% 0.01mm -17dBZ -16° 100% 0.13mm 2.7m/s 4.1m/s 2.1m/s
06:00
981hPa 131J/kg 99% -1°C 48% 100% 24% 0.01mm 78% 0.03mm -7.3dBZ -1.9° 100% 0.17mm - - 2.3m/s
07:00
981hPa 175J/kg 99% -1.5°C 60% 100% 29% 0.01mm 81% 0.05mm 2.5dBZ 12° 100% 0.21mm - - 2.5m/s
08:00
981hPa 218J/kg 98% -2°C 70% 100% 35% 0.01mm 84% 0.07mm 12dBZ 26° 100% 0.25mm 4.1m/s 4.9m/s 2.7m/s
09:00
981hPa 180J/kg 99% -1.9°C 64% 100% 46% 0.02mm 84% 0.06mm 7.6dBZ 40° 100% 0.29mm - - 2.8m/s
10:00
981hPa 141J/kg 99% -1.8°C 58% 100% 57% 0.02mm 86% 0.04mm 2.8dBZ 54° 100% 0.33mm - - 2.8m/s
11:00
980hPa 103J/kg 100% -1.6°C 52% 100% 68% 0.03mm 86% 0.03mm -2dBZ 67° 100% 0.38mm 5.8m/s 7.2m/s 2.9m/s
12:00
981hPa 84J/kg 69% -1.7°C 35% 100% 70% 0.02mm 88% 0.02mm 3.1dBZ 78° 100% 0.4mm - - 2.3m/s
13:00
981hPa 64J/kg 38% -1.8°C 18% 100% 73% 0.01mm 89% 0.01mm 8.2dBZ 75° 100% 0.42mm - - 1.7m/s
14:00
982hPa 45J/kg 8% -1.8°C 0% 100% 76% 0mm 90% 0mm 13dBZ 64° 100% 0.44mm 5.7m/s 5m/s 1m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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