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Rule Storm Chaser

Kualoa Ranch - Storm Chaser - Hawaii

Kaaawa, 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 93% failing
Cloud Drama Score 85% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover24%
Wind Gusts2.3m/s
Precipitation Chance98%
Air Pressure1004.2hPa
CAPE558
Lifted Index-3.3°C
Wind Gusts2.3m/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
15:000%47%55J/kg0°C24135m2.5m/s
16:000%50%109J/kg-0.8°C23839m3.5m/s
17:000%64%158J/kg-1°C23760m3.9m/s
18:000%64%163J/kg-1°C15536m3.9m/s
19:000%60%110J/kg-1°C23603m3.9m/s
20:000%15%124J/kg-1.1°C24134m3.2m/s
21:000%15%369J/kg-1.5°C24064m1.4m/s
22:000%15%384J/kg-2.1°C23595m1m/s
23:000%15%335J/kg-1.7°C6592m1m/s
Sun, Feb 22
24:000%15%286J/kg-1.5°C24135m1m/s
01:000%14%284J/kg-1.5°C24135m1m/s
02:0011%12%277J/kg-1.3°C24134m0.8m/s
03:0019%14%535J/kg-2.6°C23715m2.8m/s
04:000%14%545J/kg-2.8°C24135m2.7m/s
05:0017%13%579J/kg-3°C24135m2.3m/s
06:000%13%606J/kg-3°C24068m1.8m/s
07:000%57%598J/kg-3.3°C24135m1.9m/s
08:000%54%607J/kg-3.2°C24135m2.3m/s
09:000%88%648J/kg-3.1°C24135m2.5m/s
10:000%84%591J/kg-3°C24135m2.5m/s
11:000%77%548J/kg-2.5°C24134m2.5m/s
12:000%74%564J/kg-2.6°C24134m2.8m/s
13:000%44%565J/kg-2.7°C24135m2.9m/s
14:0020%47%556J/kg-3°C24134m2.4m/s
15:000%44%558J/kg-3.3°C24134m2.3m/s
16:0013%41%486J/kg-3.2°C24135m2m/s
17:0017%56%426J/kg-2.8°C10943m2m/s
18:000%91%355J/kg-2.5°C24134m2.3m/s
19:000%43%281J/kg-1.6°C23703m2.4m/s
20:0016%6.7%281J/kg-1.2°C10032m3m/s
21:000%4.6%211J/kg-0.9°C23721m3.1m/s
22:000%12%177J/kg-1°C24135m3.1m/s
23:000%15%164J/kg-0.7°C24135m3.4m/s
Mon, Feb 23
24:000%14%144J/kg-0.8°C23997m3.7m/s
01:000%14%104J/kg-0.7°C24127m4.7m/s
02:000%13%78J/kg-0.5°C5293m5.9m/s
03:000%14%85J/kg-0.2°C24134m6.5m/s
04:000%13%91J/kg0.4°C10883m6.5m/s
05:0015%12%71J/kg0.7°C21533m7m/s
06:000%12%63J/kg0.9°C20361m7.7m/s
07:0013%100%73J/kg0.4°C23571m8.5m/s
08:0030%96%79J/kg0.6°C13157m9.2m/s
09:0018%54%70J/kg0.3°C10816m9.6m/s
10:0020%57%42J/kg0.2°C7468m9.8m/s
11:0025%45%26J/kg0.7°C24134m9.6m/s
12:0013%40%14J/kg0.9°C24135m8.7m/s
13:000%42%10J/kg0.7°C24135m7.5m/s
14:0015%41%10J/kg0.6°C24134m6.9m/s
15:000%38%14J/kg0.3°C24135m6.2m/s
16:000%51%19J/kg0.7°C24134m6.4m/s
17:000%55%10J/kg0.8°C24134m6.8m/s
18:000%58%15J/kg0.5°C24135m6.6m/s
19:000%57%12J/kg0.7°C24135m6.3m/s
20:000%15%9J/kg1.2°C24135m5.9m/s
21:000%15%13J/kg1.4°C24135m6.1m/s
22:000%15%14J/kg2°C24135m6.1m/s
23:000%15%12J/kg2.6°C24135m6m/s
Tue, Feb 24
24:000%15%9J/kg3.5°C24134m5.9m/s
01:000%15%9J/kg3.7°C24135m5.6m/s
02:000%15%0J/kg4.4°C24135m5.4m/s
03:000%15%0J/kg4.5°C24135m5.8m/s
04:000%15%2J/kg3.9°C24135m6.7m/s
05:000%15%25J/kg2.4°C24127m7m/s
06:000%15%42J/kg1.9°C22404m7.7m/s
07:000%64%72J/kg1.5°C14027m8.7m/s
08:0017%48%66J/kg1.8°C23109m8.6m/s
09:000%54%51J/kg2.2°C22749m8.8m/s
10:000%53%43J/kg2.3°C23446m8.2m/s
11:000%40%28J/kg2.6°C24134m7.8m/s
12:000%42%20J/kg2.9°C24134m7.2m/s
13:000%29%16J/kg3.4°C24135m6.9m/s
14:000%30%20J/kg3.3°C24134m6.5m/s
15:000%36%23J/kg3.5°C24135m6.2m/s
16:000%52%17J/kg3.8°C24135m6m/s
17:000%58%15J/kg4.3°C24134m6.4m/s
18:000%64%13J/kg4.9°C24135m6.7m/s
19:000%33%10J/kg5.1°C24134m6.8m/s
20:000%13%5J/kg5.2°C24135m7.1m/s
21:000%14%3.7J/kg6.1°C24135m7.1m/s
22:000%13%2.3J/kg7°C24135m7.1m/s
23:0017%13%1J/kg7.9°C24135m7m/s
Wed, Feb 25
24:000%11%1J/kg8°C24135m6.9m/s
01:000%9.9%1J/kg8.1°C24135m6.7m/s
02:0018%13%1J/kg8.1°C24135m6.5m/s
03:000%0%4J/kg8.2°C24135m6.4m/s
04:000%0%7J/kg8.2°C24135m6.3m/s
05:0014%0%10J/kg8.3°C24135m6.2m/s
06:000%0%7.7J/kg8.6°C24135m5.9m/s
07:000%100%5.3J/kg8.9°C24135m5.6m/s
08:0015%44%3J/kg9.2°C24135m5.3m/s
09:000%37%2.3J/kg9.3°C24135m4.6m/s
10:000%37%1.7J/kg9.5°C24135m4m/s
11:0015%25%1J/kg9.6°C24135m3.3m/s
12:000%23%0.67J/kg9.5°C24135m3.6m/s
13:000%16%0.33J/kg9.4°C24135m3.8m/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, Feb 22 Sunrise 06:56 Sunset 18:32
15:00
1004hPa 558J/kg 0% -3.3°C 24% 0% 98% 0mm 77% 0.09mm 10dBZ 44° 24% 0.31mm - - 2.7m/s
16:00
1005hPa 486J/kg 0% -3.2°C 12% 0% 96% 0mm 78% 0.64mm 10dBZ 33° 12% 1mm - - 2.1m/s
17:00
1005hPa 426J/kg 91% -2.8°C 10% 12% 95% 0mm 79% 1.3mm 9.5dBZ 20° 93% 1.9mm 10m/s 16m/s 2m/s
18:00
1006hPa 355J/kg 42% -2.5°C 4% 82% 96% 0mm 80% 0.13mm 11dBZ 6.7° 82% 2.7mm - - 2.1m/s
19:00
1007hPa 281J/kg 5% -1.6°C 3% 100% 97% 0mm 79% 0.4mm 13dBZ -7° 100% 3.1mm - - 2.2m/s
20:00
1007hPa 281J/kg 4% -1.2°C 4% 100% 98% 0mm 80% 0.39mm 14dBZ -21° 100% 3.5mm 10m/s 15m/s 3m/s
21:00
1008hPa 211J/kg 0% -0.9°C 12% 26% 94% 0mm 80% 0.31mm 2.7dBZ -35° 30% 0.44mm - - 3m/s
22:00
1008hPa 177J/kg 0% -1°C 16% 6% 90% 0mm 80% 0.04mm -8.6dBZ -49° 16% 0.56mm - - 3.4m/s
23:00
1008hPa 164J/kg 14% -0.7°C 24% 13% 87% 0mm 79% 0.03mm -20dBZ -62° 28% 0.63mm 7.6m/s 8.5m/s 3.4m/s
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 06:56 Sunset 18:32
24:00
1008hPa 144J/kg 98% -0.8°C 25% 38% 89% 0mm 78% 0.09mm -14dBZ -74° 98% 0.75mm - - 3.5m/s
01:00
1008hPa 104J/kg 94% -0.7°C 38% 93% 90% 0mm 78% 0.49mm -8.9dBZ -78° 97% 1.1mm - - 4.3m/s
02:00
1008hPa 78J/kg 97% -0.5°C 77% 40% 92% 0.01mm 77% 1.1mm -3.4dBZ -68° 99% 1.6mm 7.2m/s 9.1m/s 5.1m/s
03:00
1008hPa 85J/kg 76% -0.2°C 86% 26% 85% 0mm 75% 0.16mm 1.1dBZ -55° 86% 0.25mm - - 6.2m/s
04:00
1007hPa 91J/kg 2% 0.4°C 81% 5% 78% 0mm 75% 0.65mm 5.6dBZ -42° 81% 0.69mm - - 6.4m/s
05:00
1008hPa 71J/kg 0% 0.7°C 44% 5% 71% 0mm 74% 0.18mm 10dBZ -28° 44% 1.1mm 6.9m/s 13m/s 6.6m/s
06:00
1008hPa 63J/kg 0% 0.9°C 53% 6% 71% 0mm 72% 0.82mm 8.6dBZ -14° 53% 1.3mm - - 7.4m/s
07:00
1009hPa 73J/kg 0% 0.4°C 30% 42% 70% 0mm 75% 0.17mm 7.1dBZ 0.46° 50% 1.8mm - - 8.2m/s
08:00
1010hPa 79J/kg 0% 0.6°C 68% 32% 70% 0mm 77% 0.56mm 5.6dBZ 14° 68% 2.3mm 6.2m/s 13m/s 8.4m/s
09:00
1011hPa 70J/kg 0% 0.3°C 86% 77% 55% 0mm 76% 0.81mm 6.7dBZ 27° 88% 0.75mm - - 8.7m/s
10:00
1011hPa 42J/kg 0% 0.2°C 87% 42% 41% 0mm 75% 0.81mm 7.8dBZ 39° 87% 1.5mm - - 9m/s
11:00
1011hPa 26J/kg 0% 0.7°C 100% 44% 26% 0mm 74% 0.15mm 9dBZ 50° 100% 1.9mm 7.6m/s 18m/s 9.1m/s
12:00
1010hPa 14J/kg 0% 0.9°C 68% 90% 33% 0mm 71% 0.06mm 1.1dBZ 57° 97% 2mm - - 8.4m/s
13:00
1010hPa 10J/kg 0% 0.7°C 77% 96% 39% 0mm 70% 0.04mm -6.9dBZ 59° 97% 2mm - - 7.5m/s
14:00
1009hPa 10J/kg 0% 0.6°C 71% 99% 46% 0mm 69% 0.02mm -15dBZ 54° 99% 2.1mm 6.8m/s 15m/s 6.8m/s
15:00
1009hPa 14J/kg 0% 0.3°C 79% 98% 38% 0mm 69% 0.01mm -14dBZ 45° 99% 0mm - - 6.3m/s
16:00
1009hPa 19J/kg 0% 0.7°C 96% 81% 30% 0mm 69% 0.01mm -12dBZ 33° 97% 0mm - - 6.3m/s
17:00
1009hPa 10J/kg 0% 0.8°C 100% 99% 22% 0.01mm 69% 0.01mm -11dBZ 20° 100% 0mm 7m/s 13m/s 6.4m/s
18:00
1010hPa 15J/kg 0% 0.5°C 100% 79% 23% 0.01mm 71% 0.03mm -12dBZ 6.8° 100% 0.06mm - - 6m/s
19:00
1011hPa 12J/kg 0% 0.7°C 98% 83% 25% 0.05mm 72% 0.04mm -12dBZ -7° 98% 0.13mm - - 5.8m/s
20:00
1012hPa 9J/kg 0% 1.2°C 94% 5% 26% 0mm 69% 0.02mm -13dBZ -21° 94% 0.13mm 9.8m/s 11m/s 5.2m/s
21:00
1012hPa 13J/kg 0% 1.4°C 94% 0% 25% 0mm 69% 0.02mm -13dBZ -35° 94% 0mm - - 5.4m/s
22:00
1012hPa 14J/kg 0% 2°C 94% 0% 23% 0.02mm 70% 0.04mm -13dBZ -49° 94% 0.06mm - - 5.9m/s
23:00
1012hPa 12J/kg 0% 2.6°C 98% 0% 22% 0.01mm 68% 0.02mm -13dBZ -62° 98% 0.06mm 9.7m/s 12m/s 5.3m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 06:55 Sunset 18:32
24:00
1012hPa 9J/kg 0% 3.5°C 94% 0% 36% 0mm 65% 0.01mm -15dBZ -74° 94% 0.06mm - - 5.4m/s
01:00
1012hPa 9J/kg 0% 3.7°C 52% 0% 50% 0mm 64% 0mm -17dBZ -77° 52% 0.06mm - - 5.3m/s
02:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.4°C 3% 0% 64% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -68° 3% 0.06mm 13m/s 16m/s 5m/s
03:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.5°C 0% 0% 61% 0mm 59% 0mm -12dBZ -55° 0% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
04:00
1010hPa 2J/kg 0% 3.9°C 4% 0% 59% 0mm 62% 0mm -3.6dBZ -42° 4% 0mm - - 6m/s
05:00
1011hPa 25J/kg 0% 2.4°C 40% 0% 56% 0mm 71% 0.08mm 4.4dBZ -28° 40% 0mm 13m/s 19m/s 5.9m/s
06:00
1011hPa 42J/kg 0% 1.9°C 88% 0% 59% 0mm 72% 0.16mm 2.3dBZ -14° 88% 0.13mm - - 6.8m/s
07:00
1012hPa 72J/kg 0% 1.5°C 58% 0% 61% 0mm 76% 0.4mm 0.18dBZ 0.61° 58% 0.38mm - - 8.4m/s
08:00
1013hPa 66J/kg 0% 1.8°C 82% 0% 64% 0.01mm 77% 0.19mm -1.9dBZ 14° 82% 0.69mm 13m/s 18m/s 8.3m/s
09:00
1013hPa 51J/kg 0% 2.2°C 66% 0% 56% 0mm 75% 0.13mm -5.8dBZ 27° 66% 0.25mm - - 8.3m/s
10:00
1013hPa 43J/kg 0% 2.3°C 40% 0% 47% 0mm 73% 0.09mm -9.8dBZ 39° 40% 0.31mm - - 7.9m/s
11:00
1013hPa 28J/kg 0% 2.6°C 25% 0% 39% 0mm 70% 0.06mm -14dBZ 50° 25% 0.38mm 9.8m/s 17m/s 7.3m/s
12:00
1013hPa 20J/kg 0% 2.9°C 74% 0% 53% 0mm 68% 0.05mm -16dBZ 57° 74% 0.38mm - - 7m/s
13:00
1012hPa 16J/kg 0% 3.4°C 100% 0% 67% 0.01mm 66% 0.02mm -18dBZ 59° 100% 0.44mm - - 6.6m/s
14:00
1011hPa 20J/kg 0% 3.3°C 100% 0% 82% 0mm 68% 0.04mm -20dBZ 54° 100% 0.44mm 9.3m/s 16m/s 6.3m/s
15:00
1011hPa 23J/kg 0% 3.5°C 85% 0% 73% 0mm 68% 0.07mm -20dBZ 45° 85% 0.06mm - - 6.2m/s
16:00
1011hPa 17J/kg 0% 3.8°C 66% 0% 65% 0mm 66% 0.05mm -20dBZ 33° 66% 0.13mm - - 6.2m/s
17:00
1011hPa 15J/kg 0% 4.3°C 49% 0% 56% 0mm 66% 0.02mm -20dBZ 20° 49% 0.13mm 7.4m/s 16m/s 6.7m/s
18:00
1011hPa 13J/kg 0% 4.9°C 60% 0% 59% 0mm 65% 0.01mm -17dBZ 60% 0.13mm - - 6.7m/s
19:00
1012hPa 10J/kg 0% 5.1°C 98% 0% 61% 0mm 64% 0.01mm -14dBZ -6.9° 98% 0.13mm - - 6.9m/s
20:00
1012hPa 5J/kg 0% 5.2°C 100% 0% 64% 0.04mm 63% 0mm -11dBZ -21° 100% 0.19mm 8m/s 19m/s 6.7m/s
21:00
1002hPa 3.7J/kg 0% 6.1°C 81% 0% 55% 0.03mm 67% 0mm -5.3dBZ -35° 81% 0.17mm - - 5.5m/s
22:00
992hPa 2.3J/kg 0% 7°C 63% 0% 47% 0.01mm 71% 0mm 0.82dBZ -49° 63% 0.15mm - - 4.3m/s
23:00
982hPa 1J/kg 0% 7.9°C 44% 0% 38% 0mm 75% 0mm 6.9dBZ -62° 44% 0.13mm 9.2m/s 15m/s 3.1m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 06:55 Sunset 18:33
24:00
982hPa 1J/kg 1% 8°C 39% 0% 44% 0.003mm 74% 0mm 8.8dBZ -74° 39% 0.13mm - - 3.1m/s
01:00
983hPa 1J/kg 1% 8.1°C 33% 0% 50% 0.007mm 73% 0mm 11dBZ -77° 33% 0.13mm - - 3m/s
02:00
983hPa 1J/kg 2% 8.1°C 28% 0% 56% 0.01mm 72% 0mm 12dBZ -68° 28% 0.13mm 11m/s 19m/s 3m/s
03:00
983hPa 4J/kg 33% 8.2°C 42% 12% 47% 0.01mm 68% 0mm 1.7dBZ -55° 51% 0.08mm - - 3.7m/s
04:00
984hPa 7J/kg 65% 8.2°C 56% 24% 37% 0.01mm 65% 0mm -9.2dBZ -41° 74% 0.04mm - - 4.4m/s
05:00
984hPa 10J/kg 96% 8.3°C 70% 36% 28% 0.01mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -27° 96% 0mm 9.1m/s 20m/s 5.1m/s
06:00
983hPa 7.7J/kg 66% 8.6°C 55% 24% 30% 0.007mm 59% 0mm -19dBZ -14° 72% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
07:00
982hPa 5.3J/kg 35% 8.9°C 40% 12% 32% 0.003mm 58% 0mm -18dBZ 0.76° 49% 0mm - - 5m/s
08:00
981hPa 3J/kg 4% 9.2°C 25% 0% 34% 0mm 56% 0mm -17dBZ 14° 25% 0mm 8.3m/s 21m/s 5m/s
09:00
981hPa 2.3J/kg 3% 9.3°C 23% 0% 27% 0mm 57% 0mm -12dBZ 27° 23% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
10:00
981hPa 1.7J/kg 1% 9.5°C 22% 0% 21% 0mm 57% 0mm -7.3dBZ 40° 22% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
11:00
981hPa 1J/kg 0% 9.6°C 20% 0% 14% 0mm 58% 0mm -2.3dBZ 50° 20% 0mm 8.7m/s 23m/s 3.4m/s
12:00
982hPa 0.67J/kg 0% 9.5°C 16% 0% 22% 0mm 64% 0mm -8.2dBZ 58° 16% 0mm - - 3m/s
13:00
982hPa 0.33J/kg 0% 9.4°C 11% 0% 31% 0mm 70% 0mm -14dBZ 59° 11% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
14:00
983hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.2°C 7% 0% 39% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 54° 7% 0mm 8.7m/s 24m/s 2.3m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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