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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)
CAPE 100% failing
Storm Intensity 97% failing
Cloud Drama Score 85% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts6.7m/s
Precipitation Chance96%
Air Pressure1010.4hPa
CAPE176
Lifted Index-0.7°C
Wind Gusts6.7m/s
Precipitation2.9mm

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
21:000%0%111J/kg1.4°C24135m3.4m/s
22:000%0%135J/kg1°C24134m3.4m/s
23:000%0%176J/kg0.7°C24135m3.6m/s
Wed, Apr 8
24:000%0%196J/kg0.8°C24134m3.2m/s
01:000%0%178J/kg0.7°C24135m2.6m/s
02:000%9.2%150J/kg0.9°C24134m2.4m/s
03:000%15%152J/kg1°C24134m2.7m/s
04:000%15%145J/kg1°C21517m2.2m/s
05:000%15%131J/kg1.3°C24135m1.9m/s
06:000%30%161J/kg1.1°C24135m1.6m/s
07:000%30%179J/kg0.7°C24134m1.6m/s
08:000%30%196J/kg0.2°C24135m2.2m/s
09:000%27%352J/kg-0.6°C24135m3.3m/s
10:000%11%478J/kg-1.3°C24134m3.2m/s
11:000%16%605J/kg-2.4°C24134m4.5m/s
12:000%19%638J/kg-3°C24135m5.6m/s
13:000%19%588J/kg-3.3°C24135m5.5m/s
14:000%19%554J/kg-3.3°C24135m5.8m/s
15:000%41%679J/kg-3.5°C24134m6.6m/s
16:000%48%529J/kg-2.6°C24134m6.4m/s
17:0016%57%343J/kg-1.8°C12505m4.1m/s
18:000%57%301J/kg-2.3°C23972m4.1m/s
19:000%62%339J/kg-2.2°C21536m3.8m/s
20:0042%0%214J/kg-1.1°C4271m5.7m/s
21:0021%0%176J/kg-0.7°C4410m6.7m/s
22:000%0%179J/kg-0.7°C17208m6.2m/s
23:0026%0%211J/kg-1.1°C6300m7.4m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%0%162J/kg-0.7°C7789m7.7m/s
01:000%0%141J/kg-0.4°C11082m8.1m/s
02:0036%0%141J/kg-0.6°C8045m10m/s
03:000%0%191J/kg-1.2°C9213m11m/s
04:000%0%203J/kg-1.3°C7787m11m/s
05:0040%0%220J/kg-1°C12727m11m/s
06:0023%67%200J/kg-0.6°C11395m11m/s
07:0028%67%195J/kg-1°C11382m13m/s
08:0033%65%158J/kg-0.5°C23783m13m/s
09:000%45%137J/kg-0.8°C24028m13m/s
10:000%44%120J/kg-0.4°C23907m12m/s
11:0020%25%88J/kg-0.5°C24134m15m/s
12:000%25%142J/kg-0.5°C24134m15m/s
13:000%25%129J/kg-0.8°C24135m16m/s
14:0025%25%85J/kg-0.1°C24134m17m/s
15:000%48%25J/kg0.7°C23861m17m/s
16:000%58%27J/kg0.6°C22093m18m/s
17:0036%69%15J/kg0.8°C4134m17m/s
18:0038%69%70J/kg0.3°C3339m18m/s
19:0027%74%23J/kg0.4°C12117m18m/s
20:0051%0%73J/kg0.5°C8474m17m/s
21:0040%0%54J/kg0.3°C2569m16m/s
22:0038%0%104J/kg0.5°C9465m16m/s
23:0043%0%91J/kg0.9°C15509m16m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:0039%0%45J/kg1.1°C14512m16m/s
01:0026%0%37J/kg1.1°C14764m14m/s
02:0051%0%66J/kg0.9°C3931m13m/s
03:0021%0%40J/kg0.4°C5004m15m/s
04:0041%0%51J/kg0°C4664m15m/s
05:0051%0%13J/kg0.3°C4907m11m/s
06:0045%67%4J/kg-0.1°C2356m9.7m/s
07:0042%62%42J/kg1°C1367m4m/s
08:0057%57%19J/kg1.1°C610m2.6m/s
09:0038%48%86J/kg0°C411m2.1m/s
10:0056%40%6J/kg0.8°C423m8.8m/s
11:0035%21%43J/kg0.1°C748m5.2m/s
12:000%19%182J/kg0.3°C20407m4.7m/s
13:000%22%141J/kg0.9°C24135m4.1m/s
14:000%16%0J/kg1.8°C24134m4.9m/s
15:000%16%0J/kg2.1°C24135m4.3m/s
16:000%21%0J/kg2.6°C24134m3.7m/s
17:000%29%1J/kg2.3°C24135m2.8m/s
18:000%21%0J/kg2.4°C24134m2.3m/s
19:000%37%0J/kg2.3°C24135m2.1m/s
20:000%15%0J/kg2.7°C24135m1.4m/s
21:000%14%10J/kg3.2°C24134m0.52m/s
22:000%15%0J/kg3.4°C24134m0.51m/s
23:000%11%0J/kg3.9°C24134m1.4m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%8.2%0J/kg4.8°C24135m1.6m/s
01:000%14%0J/kg5.8°C24135m1.9m/s
02:000%11%0J/kg6.1°C24134m2.3m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg5.6°C24134m2.5m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg5.1°C24135m2.6m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg4.5°C24135m2.7m/s
06:000%18%0J/kg4°C24135m2.8m/s
07:000%18%0J/kg3.5°C24135m2.8m/s
08:000%20%0J/kg3°C24135m2.8m/s
09:000%30%0.33J/kg2.7°C24135m2.3m/s
10:000%24%0.67J/kg2.5°C24135m1.8m/s
11:0012%14%1J/kg2.2°C24135m1.3m/s
12:000%15%3J/kg1.9°C24135m1.3m/s
13:000%15%5J/kg1.5°C24135m1.3m/s
14:0012%15%7J/kg1.2°C24135m1.2m/s
15:000%40%5J/kg1.2°C24135m1.2m/s
16:000%48%3J/kg1.2°C24135m1.2m/s
17:0013%57%1J/kg1.2°C24135m1.2m/s
18:000%48%0.67J/kg1.1°C24135m1.2m/s
19:000%52%0.33J/kg0.96°C24135m1.1m/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 06:17 Sunset 18:48
21:00
1010hPa 176J/kg 100% -0.7°C 100% 100% 96% 0.18mm 90% 2.6mm 27dBZ -30° 100% 2.9mm - - 5.3m/s
22:00
1011hPa 179J/kg 100% -0.7°C 100% 100% 93% 0.54mm 85% 0.74mm 19dBZ -42° 100% 5.4mm - - 4.6m/s
23:00
1010hPa 211J/kg 100% -1.1°C 100% 100% 89% 0.01mm 85% 1.2mm 11dBZ -53° 100% 6.4mm 1.8m/s 13m/s 5.3m/s
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:17 Sunset 18:48
24:00
1009hPa 162J/kg 100% -0.7°C 100% 100% 90% 0.18mm 86% 0.82mm 17dBZ -60° 100% 7.4mm - - 5.1m/s
01:00
1009hPa 141J/kg 100% -0.4°C 100% 100% 92% 0.14mm 85% 0.72mm 22dBZ -60° 100% 8.4mm - - 4.9m/s
02:00
1009hPa 141J/kg 100% -0.6°C 92% 100% 93% 0.11mm 86% 1.1mm 28dBZ -54° 100% 9.8mm 3.7m/s 19m/s 6.5m/s
03:00
1008hPa 191J/kg 100% -1.2°C 100% 100% 87% 0.25mm 86% 0.82mm 26dBZ -44° 100% 1.2mm - - 7.4m/s
04:00
1007hPa 203J/kg 100% -1.3°C 78% 99% 80% 0mm 86% 1.2mm 24dBZ -31° 100% 2.4mm - - 7.7m/s
05:00
1008hPa 220J/kg 100% -1°C 68% 97% 74% 0mm 86% 0.52mm 22dBZ -18° 100% 3.5mm 2.7m/s 23m/s 8.4m/s
06:00
1008hPa 200J/kg 100% -0.6°C 97% 100% 73% 0mm 86% 0.72mm 24dBZ -4.7° 100% 4.3mm - - 8.4m/s
07:00
1008hPa 195J/kg 100% -1°C 26% 100% 72% 0mm 86% 0.6mm 26dBZ 9.2° 100% 5.1mm - - 9.6m/s
08:00
1008hPa 158J/kg 100% -0.5°C 99% 100% 71% 0mm 85% 0.46mm 28dBZ 23° 100% 5.8mm 4.1m/s 12m/s 7.3m/s
09:00
1008hPa 137J/kg 100% -0.8°C 7% 100% 73% 0mm 84% 0.06mm 27dBZ 37° 100% 0.31mm - - 7.7m/s
10:00
1009hPa 120J/kg 100% -0.4°C 79% 100% 76% 0mm 80% 0.17mm 27dBZ 51° 100% 0.5mm - - 7.9m/s
11:00
1008hPa 88J/kg 100% -0.5°C 18% 100% 78% 0mm 81% 0.14mm 26dBZ 64° 100% 0.63mm 11m/s 19m/s 8.6m/s
12:00
1007hPa 142J/kg 100% -0.5°C 100% 100% 82% 0mm 81% 0.07mm 27dBZ 74° 100% 0.69mm - - 8.9m/s
13:00
1006hPa 129J/kg 100% -0.8°C 61% 100% 87% 0.01mm 82% 0.1mm 28dBZ 75° 100% 0.69mm - - 8.6m/s
14:00
1006hPa 85J/kg 100% -0.1°C 12% 100% 92% 0.1mm 83% 0.08mm 28dBZ 65° 100% 1mm 13m/s 20m/s 9.2m/s
15:00
1005hPa 25J/kg 100% 0.7°C 86% 100% 86% 0.21mm 81% 0.1mm 27dBZ 52° 100% 0.25mm - - 10m/s
16:00
1005hPa 27J/kg 100% 0.6°C 100% 100% 80% 0.69mm 79% 0.08mm 25dBZ 38° 100% 0.56mm - - 11m/s
17:00
1006hPa 15J/kg 100% 0.8°C 100% 100% 74% 4.3mm 89% 0.11mm 23dBZ 24° 100% 3.5mm 2.6m/s 14m/s 11m/s
18:00
1006hPa 70J/kg 100% 0.3°C 100% 100% 81% 6mm 90% 0.34mm 25dBZ 11° 100% 7.3mm - - 11m/s
19:00
1006hPa 23J/kg 100% 0.4°C 72% 100% 89% 2.8mm 86% 0.12mm 26dBZ -3.2° 100% 11mm - - 11m/s
20:00
1007hPa 73J/kg 100% 0.5°C 100% 100% 97% 3mm 88% 0.19mm 27dBZ -17° 100% 14mm 11m/s 25m/s 11m/s
21:00
1008hPa 54J/kg 100% 0.3°C 100% 100% 96% 8.3mm 91% 0.3mm 30dBZ -30° 100% 5.8mm - - 9.8m/s
22:00
1009hPa 104J/kg 100% 0.5°C 85% 100% 96% 1.3mm 88% 0.24mm 33dBZ -42° 100% 9.3mm - - 9.9m/s
23:00
1009hPa 91J/kg 100% 0.9°C 98% 100% 96% 0.92mm 88% 0.16mm 37dBZ -53° 100% 10mm 2.4m/s 11m/s 10m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:16 Sunset 18:48
24:00
1008hPa 45J/kg 100% 1.1°C 98% 100% 97% 0.7mm 88% 0.05mm 32dBZ -59° 100% 11mm - - 11m/s
01:00
1007hPa 37J/kg 100% 1.1°C 100% 100% 98% 0.96mm 88% 0.06mm 28dBZ -60° 100% 12mm - - 10m/s
02:00
1007hPa 66J/kg 100% 0.9°C 100% 100% 99% 5.7mm 92% 0.21mm 24dBZ -53° 100% 15mm 8.2m/s 17m/s 9.6m/s
03:00
1006hPa 40J/kg 100% 0.4°C 100% 100% 95% 3.3mm 93% 0.23mm 25dBZ -43° 100% 4.9mm - - 11m/s
04:00
1005hPa 51J/kg 100% 0°C 100% 100% 90% 3.6mm 92% 0.24mm 27dBZ -31° 100% 7.7mm - - 9.6m/s
05:00
1005hPa 13J/kg 100% 0.3°C 100% 100% 86% 3.1mm 94% 0.35mm 29dBZ -18° 100% 11mm 19m/s 20m/s 8.3m/s
06:00
1004hPa 4J/kg 100% -0.1°C 100% 100% 86% 12mm 94% 0.15mm 31dBZ -4.4° 100% 16mm - - 7.7m/s
07:00
1005hPa 42J/kg 100% 1°C 100% 100% 86% 20mm 96% 0.2mm 34dBZ 9.4° 100% 29mm - - 2.6m/s
08:00
1005hPa 19J/kg 100% 1.1°C 100% 100% 86% 18mm 98% 0.4mm 36dBZ 23° 100% 43mm 16m/s 17m/s 1.9m/s
09:00
1006hPa 86J/kg 100% 0°C 100% 100% 71% 26mm 97% 1.4mm 26dBZ 37° 100% 20mm - - 0.64m/s
10:00
1005hPa 6J/kg 100% 0.8°C 100% 100% 56% 45mm 98% 0.29mm 15dBZ 51° 100% 56mm - - 9.6m/s
11:00
1007hPa 43J/kg 100% 0.1°C 92% 40% 41% 1.6mm 98% 0.47mm 4dBZ 64° 100% 84mm 15m/s 7.9m/s 5.2m/s
12:00
1007hPa 182J/kg 100% 0.3°C 97% 0% 45% 0.22mm 92% 0.01mm -2.6dBZ 75° 100% 86mm - - 4.1m/s
13:00
1007hPa 141J/kg 100% 0.9°C 75% 0% 48% 0mm 89% 0.01mm -9.3dBZ 75° 100% 86mm - - 3.2m/s
14:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.8°C 39% 0% 51% 0mm 86% 0mm -16dBZ 65° 100% 86mm 16m/s 8.7m/s 4.1m/s
15:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.1°C 4% 0% 44% 0mm 83% 0mm -17dBZ 52° 100% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
16:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.6°C 3% 0% 36% 0mm 81% 0.01mm -19dBZ 38° 100% 0mm - - 3.7m/s
17:00
1006hPa 1J/kg 98% 2.3°C 0% 0% 28% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 98% 0mm 13m/s 11m/s 3.1m/s
18:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.4°C 0% 0% 31% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 0% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
19:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.3°C 15% 0% 34% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -3.2° 15% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
20:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 5% 2.7°C 25% 0% 37% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -17° 25% 0mm 11m/s 11m/s 1.8m/s
21:00
1009hPa 10J/kg 0% 3.2°C 21% 0% 34% 0mm 82% 0.02mm -20dBZ -30° 21% 0mm - - 0.28m/s
22:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 2% 3.4°C 0% 0% 32% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 2% 0mm - - 0.44m/s
23:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 3% 3.9°C 0% 0% 29% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -52° 3% 0mm 8.7m/s 11m/s 1.3m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:15 Sunset 18:49
24:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.8°C 0% 0% 35% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -59° 5% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
01:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 5% 5.8°C 0% 0% 40% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -59° 5% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
02:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 78% 6.1°C 0% 0% 46% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -53° 78% 0mm 6.6m/s 10m/s 2.2m/s
03:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 85% 5.6°C 0% 0% 38% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -43° 85% 0mm - - 2m/s
04:00
991hPa 0J/kg 92% 5.1°C 0% 0% 30% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 92% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
05:00
982hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.5°C 0% 0% 22% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 100% 0mm 6.8m/s 8.2m/s 1.6m/s
06:00
981hPa 0J/kg 98% 4°C 0% 0% 25% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -4.2° 98% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
07:00
981hPa 0J/kg 97% 3.5°C 0% 0% 27% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ 9.6° 97% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
08:00
980hPa 0J/kg 95% 3°C 0% 0% 30% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 95% 0mm 8.1m/s 8.9m/s 1.5m/s
09:00
980hPa 0.33J/kg 96% 2.7°C 14% 0% 32% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 96% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
10:00
981hPa 0.67J/kg 97% 2.5°C 28% 0% 35% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 51° 97% 0mm - - 0.75m/s
11:00
981hPa 1J/kg 99% 2.2°C 42% 0% 37% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ 64° 99% 0mm 12m/s 12m/s 0.4m/s
12:00
981hPa 3J/kg 99% 1.9°C 48% 0% 42% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 75° 99% 0mm - - 0.49m/s
13:00
982hPa 5J/kg 100% 1.5°C 53% 0% 47% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ 75° 100% 0mm - - 0.58m/s
14:00
982hPa 7J/kg 100% 1.2°C 59% 0% 51% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 65° 100% 0mm 13m/s 14m/s 0.68m/s
15:00
982hPa 5J/kg 100% 1.2°C 43% 20% 49% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 52° 100% 0mm - - 0.76m/s
16:00
983hPa 3J/kg 100% 1.2°C 27% 40% 47% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 100% 0mm - - 0.84m/s
17:00
983hPa 1J/kg 100% 1.2°C 12% 60% 44% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 100% 0mm 16m/s 15m/s 0.92m/s
18:00
983hPa 0.67J/kg 100% 1.1°C 8% 61% 50% 0mm 85% 0mm -14dBZ 11° 100% 0mm - - 0.92m/s
19:00
982hPa 0.33J/kg 100% 0.96°C 5% 62% 55% 0mm 87% 0mm -8.4dBZ -3.1° 100% 0mm - - 0.93m/s
20:00
982hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.85°C 2% 63% 61% 0mm 88% 0mm -2.6dBZ -17° 100% 0mm 15m/s 14m/s 0.93m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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