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Rule Storm Chaser

Na Pali Coast - Storm Chaser - Hawaii

Hanalei, 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 96% failing
Cloud Drama Score 88% failing
Storm Intensity 86% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts4.8m/s
Precipitation Chance97%
Air Pressure989.0hPa
CAPE430
Lifted Index-3.5°C
Wind Gusts4.8m/s
Precipitation0.8mm

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%25%106J/kg3.2°C24135m1.8m/s
16:000%39%119J/kg3.3°C23667m1.9m/s
17:0012%10%111J/kg3°C24135m2.3m/s
18:000%36%121J/kg2.9°C24134m1.8m/s
19:000%22%129J/kg2.4°C24134m1.9m/s
20:0012%0.1%136J/kg2.1°C24135m1.8m/s
21:000%0.3%131J/kg1.9°C24135m1.5m/s
22:000%0.3%164J/kg1.5°C24134m1.7m/s
23:009.1%0.5%137J/kg1.6°C24135m1.9m/s
Wed, Apr 8
24:000%0.4%86J/kg2.4°C24134m2.4m/s
01:000%0.4%38J/kg3.3°C24135m2.1m/s
02:0011%0.4%27J/kg3.4°C24134m1.7m/s
03:000%0.4%46J/kg2.8°C24134m1.5m/s
04:000%0.5%30J/kg3.2°C24134m1.3m/s
05:009.8%1.3%33J/kg3.3°C24135m1.1m/s
06:000%18%26J/kg3.1°C24135m0.81m/s
07:000%22%12J/kg3°C24134m1.4m/s
08:0011%25%9J/kg2.3°C24135m1.8m/s
09:000%20%2J/kg2.1°C24135m1.2m/s
10:000%23%1J/kg1.8°C24134m2m/s
11:0012%24%26J/kg1.2°C24134m3.2m/s
12:000%20%189J/kg-0.6°C24135m3.7m/s
13:000%20%385J/kg-1.9°C24135m4.2m/s
14:0018%20%389J/kg-2.3°C23538m4.4m/s
15:0017%41%430J/kg-3.5°C23334m4.8m/s
16:0014%51%274J/kg-2.4°C17101m4.7m/s
17:0039%51%157J/kg-0.1°C23569m3.4m/s
18:0013%61%91J/kg0.3°C20750m1.2m/s
19:0024%64%118J/kg0.5°C5071m1.7m/s
20:0037%0%115J/kg1.6°C2850m1.1m/s
21:0018%0%6J/kg2.6°C15446m5.9m/s
22:0018%0%0J/kg1.3°C17198m5.1m/s
23:0022%0%4J/kg-0.2°C24134m6.7m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:0019%0%37J/kg-0.8°C23050m7.4m/s
01:0026%0%33J/kg0.4°C6143m7.1m/s
02:0040%0%46J/kg-0.1°C24135m6.6m/s
03:0014%0%40J/kg0.6°C23355m7.3m/s
04:0014%0%15J/kg0.8°C23890m7.7m/s
05:0046%0%47J/kg0.4°C3239m5.3m/s
06:0044%58%99J/kg0.2°C3060m5m/s
07:0052%67%144J/kg-1.1°C5105m8m/s
08:0063%62%173J/kg-0.6°C4439m8.9m/s
09:0051%53%196J/kg-1.2°C2292m7.9m/s
10:0052%45%115J/kg-0.3°C9335m10m/s
11:0066%25%120J/kg-0.6°C4099m9.9m/s
12:0043%25%97J/kg-0.1°C13745m10m/s
13:0049%25%62J/kg-0.6°C9410m10m/s
14:0050%25%73J/kg-0.8°C12293m10m/s
15:0043%43%109J/kg-1.1°C4786m9.3m/s
16:0046%53%102J/kg-0.5°C3179m8.3m/s
17:0059%53%80J/kg-0.1°C1453m6m/s
18:0049%60%117J/kg-0.6°C2807m4m/s
19:0054%64%151J/kg-0.7°C4388m4.9m/s
20:0077%0%185J/kg-0.7°C1788m5.6m/s
21:0053%0%56J/kg0.7°C5632m5.8m/s
22:0048%0%4J/kg1°C1138m3.6m/s
23:0076%0%32J/kg0.7°C832m3m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:0071%0%39J/kg-0.1°C969m4.2m/s
01:0054%0%15J/kg0.7°C1757m5.5m/s
02:0063%0%36J/kg0.3°C1513m3m/s
03:0031%0%36J/kg0.3°C3888m3.2m/s
04:0065%0%32J/kg0.7°C190m4.8m/s
05:0063%0%1J/kg2.4°C134m3.6m/s
06:0069%64%49J/kg0.1°C185m5.6m/s
07:0037%71%346J/kg-1.8°C10811m2.5m/s
08:0049%52%393J/kg-1.7°C23221m2.2m/s
09:000%48%156J/kg0.8°C15353m4.7m/s
10:000%29%38J/kg2.2°C15926m3.5m/s
11:0015%33%41J/kg2.8°C22796m3m/s
12:000%29%46J/kg3.4°C23775m4.5m/s
13:000%35%49J/kg3.8°C23789m4.6m/s
14:0025%25%45J/kg3.9°C24042m5.4m/s
15:000%26%23J/kg4.2°C24134m5.6m/s
16:000%14%0J/kg4.8°C24134m5.9m/s
17:0015%15%0J/kg5.4°C24135m6.1m/s
18:000%15%0J/kg5.5°C24135m5.3m/s
19:000%11%0J/kg5.6°C24135m3.5m/s
20:0013%0.6%0J/kg5.7°C24135m2.8m/s
21:000%0%6.3J/kg5.7°C21813m3.3m/s
22:000%0%13J/kg5.6°C19491m3.8m/s
23:0014%0%19J/kg5.6°C17170m4.2m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%0%22J/kg5.4°C19492m3.6m/s
01:000%0%26J/kg5.2°C21813m3m/s
02:0014%0%29J/kg5°C24135m2.4m/s
03:000%0%24J/kg4.9°C24135m2.4m/s
04:000%0%20J/kg4.8°C24135m2.4m/s
05:0014%0%15J/kg4.7°C24135m2.4m/s
06:000%38%14J/kg4.6°C23615m2.1m/s
07:000%38%14J/kg4.5°C23095m1.8m/s
08:0013%40%13J/kg4.4°C22575m1.5m/s
09:000%32%9.7J/kg4.7°C23095m1.7m/s
10:000%28%6.3J/kg5.1°C23615m1.9m/s
11:0014%16%3J/kg5.5°C24135m2.1m/s
12:000%16%3J/kg5.1°C24135m2m/s
13:000%16%3J/kg4.7°C24135m1.8m/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
Wed, Apr 8 Sunrise 06:23 Sunset 18:55
15:00
989hPa 430J/kg 100% -3.5°C 16% 100% 97% 0mm 68% 0.83mm -1.9dBZ 53° 100% 0.75mm - - 3.6m/s
16:00
989hPa 274J/kg 100% -2.4°C 50% 100% 97% 0.97mm 70% 0.07mm 16dBZ 40° 100% 2.3mm - - 3.9m/s
17:00
990hPa 157J/kg 98% -0.1°C 84% 100% 98% 0.12mm 75% 0.53mm 33dBZ 26° 100% 2.9mm 6.5m/s 20m/s 2.7m/s
18:00
990hPa 91J/kg 100% 0.3°C 100% 100% 99% 0.35mm 78% 0mm 18dBZ 12° 100% 3.8mm - - 0.41m/s
19:00
992hPa 118J/kg 100% 0.5°C 100% 100% 99% 3.4mm 84% 1mm 3.9dBZ -1.6° 100% 5.4mm - - 1.7m/s
20:00
992hPa 115J/kg 100% 1.6°C 100% 100% 100% 11mm 92% 0.02mm -11dBZ -15° 100% 12mm 6.1m/s 18m/s 0.69m/s
21:00
993hPa 6J/kg 100% 2.6°C 93% 100% 100% 1.9mm 91% 0mm 2.8dBZ -29° 100% 7.4mm - - 4.9m/s
22:00
993hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.3°C 100% 100% 100% 0.96mm 86% 0.02mm 16dBZ -41° 100% 8.1mm - - 4.3m/s
23:00
992hPa 4J/kg 100% -0.2°C 66% 100% 100% 0mm 87% 0.04mm 30dBZ -51° 100% 8.4mm 12m/s 8.3m/s 5.1m/s
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:23 Sunset 18:55
24:00
991hPa 37J/kg 100% -0.8°C 83% 100% 100% 0.27mm 85% 0.27mm 30dBZ -59° 100% 8.7mm - - 5.3m/s
01:00
990hPa 33J/kg 100% 0.4°C 99% 100% 100% 2.7mm 89% 0.01mm 30dBZ -60° 100% 12mm - - 5.1m/s
02:00
989hPa 46J/kg 100% -0.1°C 35% 100% 100% 0.16mm 87% 0.01mm 30dBZ -54° 100% 13mm 8.8m/s 19m/s 4.6m/s
03:00
989hPa 40J/kg 100% 0.6°C 100% 100% 100% 0.23mm 83% 0.1mm 32dBZ -44° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.4m/s
04:00
988hPa 15J/kg 100% 0.8°C 55% 100% 99% 0.07mm 87% 0.05mm 33dBZ -33° 100% 0.5mm - - 5.4m/s
05:00
988hPa 47J/kg 100% 0.4°C 100% 100% 99% 7.5mm 89% 0.29mm 35dBZ -20° 100% 2.6mm 12m/s 19m/s 3.5m/s
06:00
989hPa 99J/kg 100% 0.2°C 100% 100% 99% 2mm 95% 0.81mm 33dBZ -6.1° 100% 9mm - - 3m/s
07:00
988hPa 144J/kg 100% -1.1°C 68% 100% 99% 0.63mm 94% 0.65mm 31dBZ 7.8° 100% 11mm - - 5m/s
08:00
989hPa 173J/kg 100% -0.6°C 99% 100% 100% 0.49mm 92% 1mm 29dBZ 22° 100% 12mm 7.8m/s 18m/s 5.8m/s
09:00
989hPa 196J/kg 100% -1.2°C 100% 100% 99% 5.9mm 93% 0.79mm 32dBZ 35° 100% 3.2mm - - 5.6m/s
10:00
988hPa 115J/kg 100% -0.3°C 97% 99% 99% 0.7mm 92% 0.71mm 36dBZ 49° 100% 9.1mm - - 6.8m/s
11:00
988hPa 120J/kg 100% -0.6°C 99% 100% 99% 3.7mm 92% 0.56mm 39dBZ 62° 100% 12mm 8.8m/s 17m/s 6.3m/s
12:00
987hPa 97J/kg 100% -0.1°C 98% 90% 100% 1.4mm 90% 0.18mm 37dBZ 73° 100% 14mm - - 6.5m/s
13:00
986hPa 62J/kg 100% -0.6°C 84% 100% 100% 1.4mm 90% 0.17mm 35dBZ 75° 100% 16mm - - 6.7m/s
14:00
985hPa 73J/kg 100% -0.8°C 100% 100% 100% 1.1mm 90% 0.04mm 34dBZ 66° 100% 17mm 9.3m/s 11m/s 6.9m/s
15:00
985hPa 109J/kg 100% -1.1°C 100% 100% 100% 5.4mm 92% 0.18mm 37dBZ 53° 100% 3.6mm - - 5.7m/s
16:00
984hPa 102J/kg 100% -0.5°C 100% 100% 100% 9.5mm 94% 0.21mm 41dBZ 40° 100% 13mm - - 5.2m/s
17:00
984hPa 80J/kg 100% -0.1°C 100% 100% 100% 26mm 96% 0.18mm 44dBZ 26° 100% 28mm 13m/s 15m/s 3.8m/s
18:00
985hPa 117J/kg 100% -0.6°C 98% 100% 100% 16mm 93% 0.24mm 43dBZ 12° 100% 42mm - - 2.4m/s
19:00
985hPa 151J/kg 100% -0.7°C 100% 100% 100% 2.9mm 91% 0.33mm 42dBZ -1.5° 100% 52mm - - 3.3m/s
20:00
986hPa 185J/kg 100% -0.7°C 100% 100% 100% 19mm 93% 1.3mm 41dBZ -15° 100% 58mm 12m/s 11m/s 4.3m/s
21:00
988hPa 56J/kg 100% 0.7°C 95% 100% 93% 4.3mm 92% 0.54mm 40dBZ -28° 100% 12mm - - 4.7m/s
22:00
988hPa 4J/kg 100% 1°C 100% 100% 86% 18mm 95% 0.28mm 39dBZ -41° 100% 20mm - - 3.2m/s
23:00
988hPa 32J/kg 100% 0.7°C 100% 100% 80% 21mm 97% 0.61mm 38dBZ -51° 100% 36mm 16m/s 16m/s 3.2m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:22 Sunset 18:55
24:00
988hPa 39J/kg 100% -0.1°C 100% 100% 82% 15mm 97% 0.54mm 38dBZ -58° 100% 53mm - - 4m/s
01:00
988hPa 15J/kg 100% 0.7°C 100% 100% 84% 8.6mm 94% 0.17mm 37dBZ -59° 100% 66mm - - 5.3m/s
02:00
987hPa 36J/kg 100% 0.3°C 100% 100% 87% 4.8mm 96% 0.31mm 37dBZ -54° 100% 73mm 18m/s 25m/s 2.9m/s
03:00
985hPa 36J/kg 100% 0.3°C 98% 100% 68% 2.5mm 96% 0.5mm 37dBZ -44° 100% 4.5mm - - 2.9m/s
04:00
985hPa 32J/kg 100% 0.7°C 100% 100% 48% 19mm 98% 1.3mm 37dBZ -32° 100% 17mm - - 4.7m/s
05:00
984hPa 1J/kg 100% 2.4°C 100% 100% 29% 31mm 99% 0.33mm 37dBZ -19° 100% 42mm 19m/s 20m/s 3.5m/s
06:00
982hPa 49J/kg 100% 0.1°C 100% 100% 32% 34mm 99% 0.77mm 18dBZ -5.8° 100% 68mm - - 4.2m/s
07:00
985hPa 346J/kg 98% -1.8°C 80% 38% 34% 2.3mm 92% 1.9mm -1.1dBZ 7.9° 99% 82mm - - 1.6m/s
08:00
987hPa 393J/kg 0% -1.7°C 21% 0% 36% 0.05mm 88% 0.06mm -20dBZ 22° 21% 83mm 15m/s 16m/s 1.2m/s
09:00
988hPa 156J/kg 0% 0.8°C 75% 0% 33% 0.03mm 89% 0.23mm -20dBZ 36° 75% 0.5mm - - 4.9m/s
10:00
988hPa 38J/kg 0% 2.2°C 96% 0% 29% 0.02mm 88% 0.28mm -20dBZ 49° 96% 0.63mm - - 3.7m/s
11:00
989hPa 41J/kg 0% 2.8°C 44% 0% 26% 0mm 84% 0.11mm -20dBZ 62° 44% 0.81mm 14m/s 15m/s 2.9m/s
12:00
989hPa 46J/kg 0% 3.4°C 16% 0% 40% 0mm 79% 0.12mm -20dBZ 73° 16% 0.88mm - - 4.4m/s
13:00
988hPa 49J/kg 16% 3.8°C 8% 0% 54% 0mm 77% 0.16mm -20dBZ 75° 16% 1mm - - 4.3m/s
14:00
988hPa 45J/kg 5% 3.9°C 5% 0% 69% 0mm 72% 0.12mm -20dBZ 66° 7% 1.1mm 12m/s 10m/s 4.7m/s
15:00
988hPa 23J/kg 5% 4.2°C 1% 0% 53% 0mm 67% 0.04mm -17dBZ 53° 5% 0.06mm - - 4.5m/s
16:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.8°C 0% 0% 38% 0mm 62% 0.03mm -15dBZ 40° 0% 0.13mm - - 4.4m/s
17:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.4°C 0% 0% 22% 0mm 60% 0mm -12dBZ 26° 0% 0.13mm 12m/s 15m/s 5.2m/s
18:00
988hPa 0J/kg 2% 5.5°C 0% 0% 23% 0mm 62% 0mm -15dBZ 12° 2% 0.13mm - - 4.7m/s
19:00
988hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.6°C 0% 0% 25% 0mm 68% 0mm -17dBZ -1.4° 0% 0.13mm - - 3.5m/s
20:00
989hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.7°C 0% 0% 26% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 0% 0.13mm 8.8m/s 13m/s 2.5m/s
21:00
981hPa 6.3J/kg 33% 5.7°C 33% 0% 25% 0mm 77% 0.02mm -20dBZ -28° 33% 0.15mm - - 2.5m/s
22:00
973hPa 13J/kg 67% 5.6°C 65% 0% 23% 0mm 82% 0.04mm -20dBZ -40° 67% 0.17mm - - 2.4m/s
23:00
965hPa 19J/kg 100% 5.6°C 98% 0% 22% 0mm 88% 0.06mm -20dBZ -51° 100% 0.19mm 8.3m/s 14m/s 2.4m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:21 Sunset 18:56
24:00
965hPa 22J/kg 100% 5.4°C 74% 0% 31% 0.01mm 87% 0.06mm -20dBZ -58° 100% 0.27mm - - 2.1m/s
01:00
966hPa 26J/kg 100% 5.2°C 51% 0% 41% 0.02mm 86% 0.06mm -19dBZ -59° 100% 0.35mm - - 1.8m/s
02:00
966hPa 29J/kg 100% 5°C 28% 0% 50% 0.03mm 85% 0.06mm -19dBZ -54° 100% 0.44mm 7m/s 12m/s 1.6m/s
03:00
967hPa 24J/kg 99% 4.9°C 26% 0% 37% 0.03mm 78% 0.05mm -11dBZ -44° 99% 0.4mm - - 1.6m/s
04:00
967hPa 20J/kg 99% 4.8°C 24% 0% 23% 0.03mm 71% 0.04mm -3.3dBZ -32° 99% 0.35mm - - 1.7m/s
05:00
967hPa 15J/kg 98% 4.7°C 21% 0% 10% 0.03mm 64% 0.03mm 4.4dBZ -19° 98% 0.31mm 7.1m/s 11m/s 1.7m/s
06:00
967hPa 14J/kg 97% 4.6°C 22% 0% 23% 0.03mm 62% 0.02mm 3.9dBZ -5.6° 97% 0.33mm - - 1.3m/s
07:00
966hPa 14J/kg 96% 4.5°C 22% 0% 37% 0.02mm 61% 0.01mm 3.3dBZ 8.1° 96% 0.35mm - - 0.81m/s
08:00
966hPa 13J/kg 95% 4.4°C 22% 0% 50% 0.02mm 60% 0mm 2.8dBZ 22° 95% 0.38mm 7.1m/s 13m/s 0.34m/s
09:00
966hPa 9.7J/kg 96% 4.7°C 22% 0% 67% 0.02mm 60% 0.003mm -1.9dBZ 36° 96% 0.27mm - - 0.62m/s
10:00
966hPa 6.3J/kg 98% 5.1°C 22% 0% 83% 0.01mm 60% 0.007mm -6.5dBZ 49° 98% 0.17mm - - 0.91m/s
11:00
966hPa 3J/kg 100% 5.5°C 22% 0% 100% 0.01mm 59% 0.01mm -11dBZ 63° 100% 0.06mm 9.7m/s 15m/s 1.2m/s
12:00
966hPa 3J/kg 100% 5.1°C 20% 0% 100% 0.01mm 65% 0.01mm -11dBZ 73° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.1m/s
13:00
967hPa 3J/kg 100% 4.7°C 18% 0% 100% 0.01mm 71% 0.01mm -10dBZ 75° 100% 0.06mm - - 0.94m/s
14:00
968hPa 3J/kg 100% 4.4°C 16% 0% 100% 0.01mm 77% 0.01mm -9.7dBZ 66° 100% 0.06mm 15m/s 21m/s 0.81m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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