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Rule Storm Chaser

Manoa Falls - Storm Chaser - Hawaii

Honolulu, 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 100% failing
Cloud Drama Score 78% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover4%
Wind Gusts11.1m/s
Precipitation Chance54%
Air Pressure1009.9hPa
CAPE2
Lifted Index7.2°C
Wind Gusts11.1m/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, May 23
03:000%7.7%2J/kg6.9°C24134m14m/s
04:000%9.3%2J/kg6.8°C24135m13m/s
05:0014%64%42J/kg5.7°C24134m13m/s
06:000%46%39J/kg6.2°C24135m14m/s
07:000%44%16J/kg6.3°C24135m15m/s
08:0015%39%12J/kg6.9°C24134m15m/s
09:000%40%25J/kg7°C24135m14m/s
10:000%41%22J/kg7.2°C24134m14m/s
11:0014%31%18J/kg7.2°C24135m13m/s
12:000%26%8J/kg7.7°C24135m13m/s
13:000%6.9%0J/kg8.5°C24135m12m/s
14:0014%8.5%4J/kg7.2°C24135m13m/s
15:000%12%0J/kg7.8°C24134m14m/s
16:000%12%0J/kg8°C24135m15m/s
17:000%19%0J/kg7°C24135m14m/s
18:000%50%19J/kg5.9°C24134m14m/s
19:000%26%1J/kg6.5°C24135m14m/s
20:0013%9.8%2J/kg6.7°C24134m13m/s
21:000%1.6%3J/kg6.9°C24134m13m/s
22:000%2.7%17J/kg6.6°C24134m13m/s
23:0013%6.4%19J/kg6.4°C24134m14m/s
Sun, May 24
24:000%6.6%15J/kg6.5°C24135m14m/s
01:000%6.4%10J/kg6.7°C24134m13m/s
02:0013%7.5%2J/kg7.1°C24135m12m/s
03:000%5.4%2J/kg7.2°C24135m11m/s
04:000%4.6%9J/kg6.5°C24135m11m/s
05:000%38%26J/kg5.9°C24134m11m/s
06:000%23%4J/kg6.4°C24134m12m/s
07:000%17%0J/kg6.9°C24134m12m/s
08:000%14%1J/kg6.9°C24134m12m/s
09:000%17%0J/kg7.1°C24135m11m/s
10:000%14%2J/kg7°C24134m12m/s
11:000%12%4J/kg6.8°C24135m12m/s
12:000%17%0J/kg7.2°C24134m13m/s
13:000%12%0J/kg7°C24135m13m/s
14:000%16%0J/kg7.4°C24135m13m/s
15:000%29%0J/kg7.7°C24135m13m/s
16:000%29%9J/kg6.2°C24135m13m/s
17:000%33%30J/kg5.5°C24135m12m/s
18:000%24%29J/kg5.6°C24134m12m/s
19:000%60%57J/kg5.2°C15503m13m/s
20:000%10%53J/kg5.3°C24134m14m/s
21:000%11%51J/kg5.3°C24135m13m/s
22:000%10%48J/kg5.3°C24134m14m/s
23:000%13%51J/kg5.4°C24135m13m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%12%40J/kg6.2°C24135m13m/s
01:000%13%41J/kg6.5°C24134m13m/s
02:000%9.7%36J/kg6.9°C24135m12m/s
03:000%13%32J/kg7°C24134m12m/s
04:000%13%26J/kg6.7°C24134m13m/s
05:000%93%35J/kg6.4°C24049m11m/s
06:000%71%10J/kg7°C24134m12m/s
07:000%63%8J/kg7.5°C24135m11m/s
08:000%79%8J/kg7.8°C24134m11m/s
09:000%23%7J/kg7.8°C24135m11m/s
10:000%22%5J/kg7.7°C24134m10m/s
11:000%19%0J/kg7.7°C24135m11m/s
12:000%19%8J/kg6.5°C24134m11m/s
13:000%22%8J/kg6.4°C24134m12m/s
14:000%22%2J/kg6.3°C24135m11m/s
15:000%24%0J/kg6°C24134m12m/s
16:000%58%0J/kg6.6°C24135m12m/s
17:000%30%0J/kg6.5°C24134m11m/s
18:000%58%0J/kg6.7°C24134m11m/s
19:000%36%2J/kg6.7°C24134m11m/s
20:000%49%4J/kg6.4°C24135m11m/s
21:000%15%6J/kg6.2°C24134m11m/s
22:000%12%11J/kg5.9°C24135m11m/s
23:000%14%16J/kg5.3°C24134m12m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%12%23J/kg5.3°C24135m13m/s
01:000%8.3%50J/kg4.9°C24134m12m/s
02:000%13%40J/kg4.9°C24134m12m/s
03:000%14%11J/kg5.1°C24134m12m/s
04:000%11%8J/kg5°C24135m12m/s
05:000%63%6J/kg5.5°C24135m12m/s
06:000%71%5J/kg5.4°C24134m12m/s
07:000%72%11J/kg5.3°C24135m12m/s
08:000%90%21J/kg4.9°C24134m12m/s
09:0013%58%21J/kg4.7°C24134m10m/s
10:000%57%22J/kg4.6°C24135m9.2m/s
11:000%13%22J/kg4.4°C24135m8m/s
12:000%20%25J/kg4.4°C24135m8.6m/s
13:000%23%29J/kg4.4°C24135m9.1m/s
14:000%13%32J/kg4.4°C24135m9.7m/s
15:000%45%24J/kg4.8°C24135m9.7m/s
16:000%45%16J/kg5.2°C24135m9.7m/s
17:000%24%8J/kg5.7°C24135m9.7m/s
18:000%85%10J/kg5.8°C24135m9.6m/s
19:000%99%12J/kg6°C24135m9.5m/s
20:0015%88%14J/kg6.1°C24135m9.3m/s
21:000%0%17J/kg5.9°C24131m9m/s
22:000%0%21J/kg5.8°C24127m8.7m/s
23:0015%0%24J/kg5.6°C24123m8.3m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%0%17J/kg6.1°C24127m8.3m/s
01:000%0%9.3J/kg6.7°C24131m8.3m/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, May 24 Sunrise 05:50 Sunset 19:06
03:00
1010hPa 2J/kg 0% 7.2°C 4% 0% 54% 0mm 70% 0mm -11dBZ -34° 4% 0mm - - 9.8m/s
04:00
1010hPa 9J/kg 0% 6.5°C 10% 0% 27% 0mm 72% 0mm -15dBZ -23° 10% 0mm - - 9.7m/s
05:00
1010hPa 26J/kg 0% 5.9°C 26% 0% 0% 0mm 76% 0.02mm -20dBZ -11° 26% 0mm 5.5m/s 7.7m/s 9.9m/s
06:00
1010hPa 4J/kg 0% 6.4°C 8% 0% 19% 0mm 72% 0.01mm -19dBZ 1.6° 8% 0mm - - 10m/s
07:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.9°C 0% 0% 37% 0mm 70% 0mm -19dBZ 15° 0% 0mm - - 10m/s
08:00
1010hPa 1J/kg 0% 6.9°C 0% 0% 56% 0mm 68% 0mm -19dBZ 28° 0% 0mm 8.2m/s 8m/s 10m/s
09:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.1°C 0% 0% 63% 0mm 66% 0mm -19dBZ 42° 0% 0mm - - 9.8m/s
10:00
1011hPa 2J/kg 0% 7°C 0% 0% 69% 0mm 66% 0mm -19dBZ 55° 0% 0mm - - 10m/s
11:00
1011hPa 4J/kg 0% 6.8°C 0% 0% 76% 0mm 67% 0mm -19dBZ 69° 0% 0mm 8.3m/s 9m/s 10m/s
12:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.2°C 0% 0% 83% 0mm 66% 0mm -11dBZ 83° 0% 0mm - - 11m/s
13:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 7°C 0% 0% 90% 0mm 66% 0mm -2.9dBZ 83° 0% 0mm - - 11m/s
14:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.4°C 0% 0% 96% 0mm 64% 0mm 5.4dBZ 69° 0% 0mm 6.5m/s 8.3m/s 11m/s
15:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.7°C 0% 0% 81% 0mm 65% 0mm 5.5dBZ 55° 0% 0mm - - 11m/s
16:00
1010hPa 9J/kg 4% 6.2°C 3% 0% 66% 0mm 70% 0.07mm 5.6dBZ 41° 4% 0mm - - 11m/s
17:00
1010hPa 30J/kg 0% 5.5°C 3% 0% 52% 0mm 75% 0.07mm 5.7dBZ 27° 4% 0.06mm 7.9m/s 9.6m/s 10m/s
18:00
1010hPa 29J/kg 0% 5.6°C 1% 0% 56% 0mm 74% 0.07mm 5dBZ 14° 1% 0.13mm - - 11m/s
19:00
1011hPa 57J/kg 0% 5.2°C 24% 0% 60% 0mm 79% 0.27mm 4.3dBZ 0.99° 24% 0.19mm - - 11m/s
20:00
1011hPa 53J/kg 0% 5.3°C 27% 0% 64% 0mm 78% 0.05mm 3.7dBZ -12° 27% 0.31mm 7.7m/s 8.5m/s 11m/s
21:00
1012hPa 51J/kg 2% 5.3°C 34% 0% 50% 0mm 77% 0.11mm 2.5dBZ -24° 34% 0.06mm - - 11m/s
22:00
1012hPa 48J/kg 4% 5.3°C 34% 0% 36% 0mm 77% 0.06mm 1.2dBZ -34° 34% 0.13mm - - 11m/s
23:00
1012hPa 51J/kg 5% 5.4°C 54% 0% 22% 0mm 77% 0.08mm -0.03dBZ -43° 54% 0.25mm 5.2m/s 8.4m/s 12m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 05:50 Sunset 19:06
24:00
1012hPa 40J/kg 0% 6.2°C 48% 0% 28% 0mm 76% 0.05mm -2.4dBZ -47° 48% 0.38mm - - 11m/s
01:00
1011hPa 41J/kg 2% 6.5°C 37% 0% 33% 0mm 75% 0.03mm -4.8dBZ -47° 37% 0.38mm - - 11m/s
02:00
1010hPa 36J/kg 5% 6.9°C 42% 0% 39% 0mm 75% 0.04mm -7.2dBZ -42° 43% 0.44mm 4.9m/s 2.8m/s 10m/s
03:00
1010hPa 32J/kg 5% 7°C 50% 0% 34% 0mm 76% 0.03mm -11dBZ -34° 50% 0mm - - 11m/s
04:00
1010hPa 26J/kg 5% 6.7°C 49% 0% 29% 0mm 76% 0.04mm -15dBZ -23° 50% 0.06mm - - 11m/s
05:00
1011hPa 35J/kg 29% 6.4°C 68% 0% 24% 0mm 75% 0.08mm -19dBZ -11° 72% 0.13mm 5m/s 3.1m/s 10m/s
06:00
1011hPa 10J/kg 0% 7°C 42% 0% 29% 0mm 74% 0.01mm -17dBZ 1.6° 42% 0.19mm - - 10m/s
07:00
1011hPa 8J/kg 1% 7.5°C 32% 0% 34% 0mm 71% 0mm -14dBZ 15° 32% 0.19mm - - 9.9m/s
08:00
1012hPa 8J/kg 51% 7.8°C 15% 0% 39% 0mm 68% 0mm -12dBZ 28° 51% 0.19mm 2.3m/s 3.9m/s 9.5m/s
09:00
1012hPa 7J/kg 2% 7.8°C 0% 0% 31% 0mm 66% 0.01mm -14dBZ 42° 2% 0mm - - 10m/s
10:00
1012hPa 5J/kg 1% 7.7°C 0% 0% 24% 0mm 65% 0.01mm -17dBZ 55° 1% 0mm - - 9.3m/s
11:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.7°C 0% 0% 16% 0mm 64% 0mm -19dBZ 69° 100% 0mm 2.5m/s 4.4m/s 9.7m/s
12:00
1012hPa 8J/kg 100% 6.5°C 0% 0% 27% 0mm 68% 0mm -15dBZ 83° 100% 0mm - - 10m/s
13:00
1011hPa 8J/kg 100% 6.4°C 0% 0% 39% 0mm 69% 0.01mm -11dBZ 83° 100% 0mm - - 10m/s
14:00
1011hPa 2J/kg 100% 6.3°C 0% 0% 50% 0.01mm 69% 0mm -6.7dBZ 69° 100% 0mm 3.5m/s 5m/s 9.5m/s
15:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 6°C 0% 0% 52% 0mm 71% 0.01mm -3.1dBZ 55° 100% 0mm - - 10m/s
16:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 46% 6.6°C 0% 0% 54% 0mm 69% 0.01mm 0.42dBZ 41° 46% 0mm - - 10m/s
17:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.5°C 0% 0% 56% 0mm 70% 0mm 4dBZ 27° 5% 0mm 3.4m/s 5.2m/s 10m/s
18:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 65% 6.7°C 0% 0% 65% 0mm 69% 0.01mm -3.8dBZ 14° 65% 0.06mm - - 9.6m/s
19:00
1011hPa 2J/kg 100% 6.7°C 0% 0% 73% 0mm 70% 0mm -12dBZ 1.1° 100% 0.06mm - - 9.9m/s
20:00
1012hPa 4J/kg 84% 6.4°C 0% 0% 82% 0mm 71% 0mm -19dBZ -12° 84% 0.06mm 3.5m/s 7.2m/s 10m/s
21:00
1013hPa 6J/kg 99% 6.2°C 16% 0% 82% 0mm 71% 0mm -15dBZ -24° 99% 0mm - - 9.7m/s
22:00
1013hPa 11J/kg 100% 5.9°C 27% 0% 82% 0mm 73% 0.02mm -11dBZ -34° 100% 0mm - - 10m/s
23:00
1013hPa 16J/kg 71% 5.3°C 44% 0% 82% 0.01mm 75% 0.02mm -6.7dBZ -42° 71% 0mm 3.2m/s 7.7m/s 11m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 05:50 Sunset 19:07
24:00
1012hPa 23J/kg 100% 5.3°C 56% 0% 82% 0mm 76% 0.04mm -2.1dBZ -47° 100% 0.06mm - - 11m/s
01:00
1012hPa 50J/kg 100% 4.9°C 86% 0% 82% 0mm 77% 0.21mm 2.4dBZ -47° 100% 0.13mm - - 10m/s
02:00
1011hPa 40J/kg 100% 4.9°C 100% 0% 82% 0mm 76% 0.08mm 6.9dBZ -42° 100% 0.19mm 2.8m/s 6.5m/s 11m/s
03:00
1010hPa 11J/kg 93% 5.1°C 100% 0% 73% 0mm 74% 0.02mm 6.1dBZ -34° 100% 0mm - - 11m/s
04:00
1010hPa 8J/kg 5% 5°C 100% 0% 65% 0mm 73% 0.02mm 5.3dBZ -23° 100% 0.06mm - - 11m/s
05:00
1010hPa 6J/kg 10% 5.5°C 100% 0% 56% 0mm 73% 0.01mm 4.5dBZ -11° 100% 0.06mm 3.5m/s 7.6m/s 11m/s
06:00
1011hPa 5J/kg 42% 5.4°C 100% 0% 50% 0mm 72% 0.01mm 4.5dBZ 1.7° 100% 0.06mm - - 11m/s
07:00
1011hPa 11J/kg 44% 5.3°C 87% 0% 44% 0mm 72% 0.02mm 4.5dBZ 15° 87% 0.06mm - - 10m/s
08:00
1012hPa 21J/kg 32% 4.9°C 19% 0% 39% 0mm 74% 0.04mm 4.6dBZ 28° 34% 0.13mm 3.8m/s 7.8m/s 10m/s
09:00
1003hPa 21J/kg 22% 4.7°C 18% 0% 26% 0mm 73% 0.05mm 3.1dBZ 42° 27% 0.1mm - - 8.6m/s
10:00
994hPa 22J/kg 11% 4.6°C 17% 0% 13% 0mm 72% 0.06mm 1.6dBZ 55° 21% 0.08mm - - 6.9m/s
11:00
984hPa 22J/kg 0% 4.4°C 15% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0.07mm 0.02dBZ 69° 15% 0.06mm 2.9m/s 6.6m/s 5.2m/s
12:00
985hPa 25J/kg 3% 4.4°C 43% 0% 7% 0.01mm 74% 0.06mm -3.3dBZ 83° 43% 0.21mm - - 5.2m/s
13:00
985hPa 29J/kg 6% 4.4°C 71% 0% 15% 0.03mm 77% 0.06mm -6.6dBZ 83° 71% 0.35mm - - 5.3m/s
14:00
985hPa 32J/kg 8% 4.4°C 100% 0% 22% 0.04mm 80% 0.05mm -10dBZ 69° 100% 0.5mm 2.4m/s 8.5m/s 5.3m/s
15:00
986hPa 24J/kg 7% 4.8°C 70% 0% 30% 0.03mm 80% 0.03mm -7.3dBZ 55° 70% 0.4mm - - 5.3m/s
16:00
986hPa 16J/kg 6% 5.2°C 40% 0% 38% 0.02mm 79% 0.02mm -4.7dBZ 41° 40% 0.29mm - - 5.4m/s
17:00
986hPa 8J/kg 5% 5.7°C 10% 0% 45% 0.01mm 78% 0mm -2.1dBZ 27° 10% 0.19mm 2.4m/s 9m/s 5.5m/s
18:00
986hPa 10J/kg 11% 5.8°C 23% 0% 57% 0.01mm 79% 0.01mm 0.47dBZ 14° 23% 0.21mm - - 5.1m/s
19:00
985hPa 12J/kg 16% 6°C 35% 0% 70% 0.02mm 80% 0.02mm 3dBZ 1.2° 35% 0.23mm - - 4.8m/s
20:00
984hPa 14J/kg 22% 6.1°C 48% 0% 82% 0.02mm 80% 0.03mm 5.5dBZ -12° 48% 0.25mm 5.4m/s 13m/s 4.5m/s
21:00
984hPa 17J/kg 14% 5.9°C 64% 2% 72% 0.02mm 80% 0.04mm -2.8dBZ -24° 64% 0.25mm - - 4.3m/s
22:00
984hPa 21J/kg 7% 5.8°C 81% 3% 63% 0.02mm 80% 0.04mm -11dBZ -34° 81% 0.25mm - - 4.1m/s
23:00
984hPa 24J/kg 0% 5.6°C 98% 5% 53% 0.02mm 80% 0.05mm -19dBZ -42° 98% 0.25mm 5.2m/s 11m/s 3.9m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 05:49 Sunset 19:07
24:00
984hPa 17J/kg 0% 6.1°C 70% 3% 48% 0.01mm 75% 0.03mm -14dBZ -47° 70% 0.27mm - - 4.3m/s
01:00
985hPa 9.3J/kg 0% 6.7°C 41% 2% 43% 0.007mm 71% 0.02mm -9.5dBZ -47° 41% 0.29mm - - 4.7m/s
02:00
985hPa 2J/kg 0% 7.2°C 13% 0% 39% 0mm 66% 0mm -4.5dBZ -42° 13% 0.31mm 4.7m/s 11m/s 5.2m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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