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Rule Storm Chaser

Wailea - Storm Chaser - Hawaii

Kīhei, 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 99% failing
CAPE 99% failing
Cloud Drama Score 81% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts1.2m/s
Precipitation Chance97%
Air Pressure987.6hPa
CAPE212
Lifted Index-1.8°C
Wind Gusts1.2m/s
Precipitation1.4mm

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%30%89J/kg-0.4°C21231m2.5m/s
16:000%90%76J/kg-0.2°C20992m2m/s
17:0027%55%58J/kg-0.1°C19556m1.7m/s
18:0012%55%67J/kg0°C24134m1.5m/s
19:0011%39%54J/kg0.2°C24134m1m/s
20:0022%15%54J/kg0.6°C23101m1m/s
21:000%15%95J/kg0.8°C23012m0.5m/s
22:000%15%77J/kg1°C24134m1m/s
23:0014%15%77J/kg0.8°C24135m1.4m/s
Wed, Apr 8
24:000%15%56J/kg0.7°C24134m1.6m/s
01:000%15%59J/kg0.6°C24135m1.7m/s
02:0013%15%72J/kg0.9°C24134m1.3m/s
03:000%15%95J/kg1.1°C24135m0.91m/s
04:000%15%145J/kg0.9°C24134m1.3m/s
05:0011%12%124J/kg1.1°C24135m1.1m/s
06:000%48%166J/kg-0.4°C24135m1m/s
07:000%22%150J/kg0°C24134m1m/s
08:000%40%144J/kg0.1°C24135m1m/s
09:000%19%288J/kg-1.1°C24135m2.3m/s
10:000%41%284J/kg-1°C18889m2.7m/s
11:0026%23%321J/kg-1.4°C17913m2.3m/s
12:0018%23%338J/kg-1.9°C9064m2.4m/s
13:0022%23%279J/kg-3°C5209m1.5m/s
14:0019%23%223J/kg-2.8°C16895m1.2m/s
15:0016%41%212J/kg-1.8°C10940m1.2m/s
16:0019%51%197J/kg-1.3°C16796m1.5m/s
17:0015%60%170J/kg-1.1°C18036m1.5m/s
18:0020%64%176J/kg-1.1°C20530m1.4m/s
19:0015%64%159J/kg-0.6°C24134m1.8m/s
20:0038%0%123J/kg-0.6°C14342m1.1m/s
21:0018%0%110J/kg-0.5°C14537m1.4m/s
22:0023%0%100J/kg-0.2°C8982m1.3m/s
23:0043%0%95J/kg-0.1°C6068m1.6m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:0020%0%118J/kg0.1°C15719m3.8m/s
01:0026%0%162J/kg0.1°C11507m4.4m/s
02:0036%0%162J/kg-0.1°C17310m5m/s
03:000%0%76J/kg0.8°C24135m4.2m/s
04:000%0%31J/kg1.5°C24134m1.1m/s
05:0015%0%12J/kg1.6°C24135m0.9m/s
06:000%59%11J/kg1.5°C24134m1.8m/s
07:000%55%5J/kg1.5°C24134m3m/s
08:0014%57%16J/kg1.1°C24135m2.2m/s
09:000%48%8J/kg0.7°C24135m1.7m/s
10:000%40%9J/kg0.2°C24134m1.1m/s
11:000%24%10J/kg0.8°C24134m1.9m/s
12:000%25%10J/kg0.6°C24135m2m/s
13:000%23%3J/kg0.5°C24134m2.4m/s
14:000%23%1J/kg1.3°C24135m4.3m/s
15:000%45%0J/kg1.8°C24134m11m/s
16:000%56%2J/kg1.9°C24134m12m/s
17:0018%65%12J/kg1.4°C23929m12m/s
18:0018%70%36J/kg1.7°C10058m12m/s
19:0015%67%32J/kg2.5°C23518m9.8m/s
20:0028%0%21J/kg2.5°C23958m9.2m/s
21:000%0%12J/kg2.6°C18669m11m/s
22:000%0%7J/kg2°C16132m11m/s
23:0032%0%1J/kg2.2°C24103m9.8m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:0018%0%0J/kg2.7°C11729m9.2m/s
01:0015%0%3J/kg2.3°C11780m5.4m/s
02:0039%0%15J/kg1.2°C5158m4.7m/s
03:0014%0%69J/kg0.4°C10656m4.9m/s
04:0020%0%67J/kg0.7°C7559m6.1m/s
05:0056%0%92J/kg-0.2°C8392m8.3m/s
06:0031%68%125J/kg-1.2°C9141m8.6m/s
07:0036%68%79J/kg-1.1°C23723m12m/s
08:0048%68%97J/kg-1.9°C16693m15m/s
09:0018%55%148J/kg-1.6°C20569m14m/s
10:0040%49%130J/kg-0.7°C9331m14m/s
11:0044%26%173J/kg-0.9°C11804m13m/s
12:0038%27%220J/kg-1°C13147m14m/s
13:0046%34%147J/kg-0.3°C5952m14m/s
14:0054%21%206J/kg-0.7°C3818m13m/s
15:0039%33%266J/kg-1°C2332m11m/s
16:0023%36%109J/kg-0.3°C5066m8.5m/s
17:0035%49%105J/kg-0.2°C8760m8.1m/s
18:0026%67%71J/kg0.1°C5059m6.9m/s
19:0028%53%70J/kg0.8°C4516m6.5m/s
20:0018%7.5%46J/kg0.6°C10724m5.7m/s
21:0014%0%31J/kg1.7°C15194m6.3m/s
22:0011%0%15J/kg2.8°C19665m6.9m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg3.9°C24135m7.4m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%0%0J/kg3.9°C24135m7m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg4°C24135m6.6m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg4°C24135m6.2m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg3.6°C24135m5.5m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg3.1°C24135m4.8m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg2.6°C24135m4.1m/s
06:000%21%0.33J/kg2.4°C24135m3.8m/s
07:000%17%0.67J/kg2.2°C24135m3.5m/s
08:000%14%1J/kg2°C24135m3.2m/s
09:000%28%1.7J/kg1.5°C24135m3.2m/s
10:000%23%2.3J/kg1.1°C24135m3.2m/s
11:000%13%3J/kg0.65°C24135m3.2m/s
12:000%14%4.7J/kg0.69°C23278m2.9m/s
13:000%14%6.3J/kg0.74°C22421m2.5m/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 06:12 Sunset 18:42
15:00
988hPa 212J/kg 100% -1.8°C 80% 100% 97% 0mm 77% 1.9mm 8.1dBZ 51° 100% 1.4mm - - 0.19m/s
16:00
988hPa 197J/kg 100% -1.3°C 56% 100% 95% 0mm 75% 1.2mm 13dBZ 37° 100% 2.4mm - - 0.49m/s
17:00
988hPa 170J/kg 100% -1.1°C 25% 100% 94% 0mm 73% 0.4mm 19dBZ 23° 100% 3.1mm 3.2m/s 6.5m/s 0.58m/s
18:00
988hPa 176J/kg 100% -1.1°C 18% 100% 96% 0mm 74% 0.84mm 19dBZ 9.1° 100% 3.6mm - - 1.3m/s
19:00
989hPa 159J/kg 100% -0.6°C 53% 100% 97% 0.08mm 79% 0.12mm 19dBZ -4.8° 100% 4.3mm - - 1.7m/s
20:00
990hPa 123J/kg 100% -0.6°C 76% 100% 98% 0.02mm 81% 1.1mm 19dBZ -18° 100% 5.1mm 4m/s 11m/s 0.74m/s
21:00
990hPa 110J/kg 100% -0.5°C 74% 100% 93% 0mm 82% 0.99mm 22dBZ -32° 100% 1.2mm - - 1.2m/s
22:00
990hPa 100J/kg 100% -0.2°C 81% 100% 87% 0.08mm 83% 2mm 25dBZ -44° 100% 2.4mm - - 1.2m/s
23:00
990hPa 95J/kg 100% -0.1°C 100% 100% 81% 1.2mm 87% 1.3mm 28dBZ -54° 100% 4.8mm 4.7m/s 12m/s 1.3m/s
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:12 Sunset 18:42
24:00
989hPa 118J/kg 100% 0.1°C 100% 100% 82% 0.55mm 91% 0.31mm 29dBZ -61° 100% 6.9mm - - 2.5m/s
01:00
989hPa 162J/kg 100% 0.1°C 100% 100% 83% 0.09mm 90% 0.56mm 30dBZ -60° 100% 7.5mm - - 2.9m/s
02:00
988hPa 162J/kg 100% -0.1°C 100% 100% 85% 0.24mm 89% 0.15mm 30dBZ -54° 100% 8mm 7.9m/s 13m/s 4m/s
03:00
988hPa 76J/kg 100% 0.8°C 98% 100% 66% 0.2mm 88% 0mm 16dBZ -43° 100% 0.5mm - - 3.5m/s
04:00
987hPa 31J/kg 100% 1.5°C 100% 100% 48% 0.04mm 82% 0mm 2.7dBZ -31° 100% 0.63mm - - 0.84m/s
05:00
987hPa 12J/kg 100% 1.6°C 92% 100% 30% 0mm 81% 0mm -11dBZ -17° 100% 0.63mm 13m/s 17m/s 0.73m/s
06:00
988hPa 11J/kg 100% 1.5°C 62% 100% 35% 0mm 81% 0.01mm -13dBZ -3.5° 100% 0.63mm - - 1.5m/s
07:00
988hPa 5J/kg 100% 1.5°C 89% 100% 40% 0.01mm 82% 0mm -16dBZ 10° 100% 0.69mm - - 2.7m/s
08:00
989hPa 16J/kg 100% 1.1°C 20% 100% 45% 0mm 82% 0mm -18dBZ 24° 100% 0.69mm 12m/s 11m/s 1.8m/s
09:00
989hPa 8J/kg 100% 0.7°C 37% 100% 56% 0mm 78% 0mm -13dBZ 38° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
10:00
988hPa 9J/kg 100% 0.2°C 24% 100% 67% 0mm 74% 0mm -9dBZ 52° 100% 0mm - - 0.85m/s
11:00
988hPa 10J/kg 100% 0.8°C 22% 65% 78% 0mm 75% 0mm -4.6dBZ 65° 100% 0mm 14m/s 9m/s 2.7m/s
12:00
987hPa 10J/kg 100% 0.6°C 88% 55% 81% 0mm 75% 0mm -0.95dBZ 76° 100% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
13:00
986hPa 3J/kg 100% 0.5°C 84% 98% 85% 0mm 77% 0mm 2.7dBZ 75° 100% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
14:00
985hPa 1J/kg 100% 1.3°C 59% 100% 89% 0mm 75% 0mm 6.4dBZ 64° 100% 0mm 20m/s 9.1m/s 2.9m/s
15:00
985hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.8°C 23% 100% 87% 0mm 70% 0mm 12dBZ 51° 100% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
16:00
985hPa 2J/kg 100% 1.9°C 94% 99% 85% 0mm 67% 0.01mm 18dBZ 37° 100% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
17:00
986hPa 12J/kg 100% 1.4°C 100% 100% 83% 0.07mm 74% 0.03mm 24dBZ 23° 100% 0.06mm 6.2m/s 4.2m/s 8.1m/s
18:00
987hPa 36J/kg 100% 1.7°C 100% 100% 87% 1mm 83% 0.14mm 20dBZ 9.2° 100% 0.88mm - - 7.8m/s
19:00
988hPa 32J/kg 100% 2.5°C 100% 100% 91% 0.02mm 78% 0.04mm 15dBZ -4.7° 100% 1.3mm - - 5.4m/s
20:00
988hPa 21J/kg 100% 2.5°C 93% 100% 96% 0mm 72% 0.07mm 11dBZ -18° 100% 1.3mm 4.7m/s 10m/s 5.6m/s
21:00
989hPa 12J/kg 100% 2.6°C 100% 100% 96% 0.42mm 78% 0.06mm 15dBZ -32° 100% 0.19mm - - 6.4m/s
22:00
989hPa 7J/kg 100% 2°C 82% 100% 97% 0.59mm 80% 0.02mm 18dBZ -44° 100% 0.81mm - - 6.4m/s
23:00
989hPa 1J/kg 100% 2.2°C 95% 100% 97% 0.04mm 78% 0.04mm 22dBZ -54° 100% 1.1mm 6.1m/s 16m/s 5.9m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:11 Sunset 18:42
24:00
988hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.7°C 100% 100% 98% 0.84mm 81% 0.07mm 25dBZ -60° 100% 1.5mm - - 6.2m/s
01:00
987hPa 3J/kg 100% 2.3°C 100% 100% 99% 1.1mm 79% 0mm 28dBZ -60° 100% 2.1mm - - 3.1m/s
02:00
986hPa 15J/kg 100% 1.2°C 100% 100% 99% 3mm 83% 0.09mm 31dBZ -53° 100% 3.7mm 21m/s 21m/s 2.8m/s
03:00
985hPa 69J/kg 100% 0.4°C 89% 100% 93% 1.2mm 87% 0.13mm 30dBZ -43° 100% 2.4mm - - 2.9m/s
04:00
984hPa 67J/kg 100% 0.7°C 100% 100% 87% 1.9mm 87% 0.19mm 28dBZ -30° 100% 3.8mm - - 2.7m/s
05:00
984hPa 92J/kg 100% -0.2°C 98% 100% 81% 0.62mm 90% 0.99mm 27dBZ -17° 100% 7mm 18m/s 22m/s 4.1m/s
06:00
985hPa 125J/kg 100% -1.2°C 100% 100% 83% 0.41mm 87% 0.8mm 28dBZ -3.3° 100% 8.1mm - - 3.9m/s
07:00
984hPa 79J/kg 96% -1.1°C 20% 96% 84% 0mm 81% 0.1mm 29dBZ 11° 96% 8.5mm - - 6.8m/s
08:00
985hPa 97J/kg 100% -1.9°C 96% 100% 86% 0mm 80% 0.06mm 30dBZ 25° 100% 8.9mm 20m/s 20m/s 9.2m/s
09:00
986hPa 148J/kg 100% -1.6°C 81% 88% 81% 0mm 79% 0.2mm 20dBZ 39° 100% 0.13mm - - 9.4m/s
10:00
987hPa 130J/kg 100% -0.7°C 88% 60% 76% 0mm 84% 0.99mm 9.5dBZ 52° 100% 1mm - - 8.4m/s
11:00
987hPa 173J/kg 98% -0.9°C 88% 2% 70% 0mm 83% 0.9mm -0.68dBZ 66° 99% 1.7mm 14m/s 17m/s 8.2m/s
12:00
987hPa 220J/kg 100% -1°C 100% 54% 71% 0.37mm 86% 0.68mm -1.7dBZ 76° 100% 2.3mm - - 8.1m/s
13:00
987hPa 147J/kg 100% -0.3°C 96% 55% 73% 0mm 91% 0.52mm -2.7dBZ 75° 100% 3.2mm - - 8.1m/s
14:00
986hPa 206J/kg 100% -0.7°C 100% 1% 74% 0.02mm 90% 1.1mm -3.7dBZ 64° 100% 4mm 16m/s 11m/s 8.9m/s
15:00
986hPa 266J/kg 100% -1°C 100% 2% 71% 0.01mm 94% 0.66mm -7.8dBZ 51° 100% 1.1mm - - 8.3m/s
16:00
986hPa 109J/kg 100% -0.3°C 78% 3% 68% 0mm 91% 0.68mm -12dBZ 37° 100% 2.3mm - - 6.6m/s
17:00
987hPa 105J/kg 87% -0.2°C 63% 4% 65% 0mm 90% 0.44mm -16dBZ 23° 87% 3.1mm 12m/s 11m/s 6.3m/s
18:00
987hPa 71J/kg 100% 0.1°C 40% 21% 60% 0.01mm 92% 0.52mm -17dBZ 9.3° 100% 3.6mm - - 5.7m/s
19:00
987hPa 70J/kg 91% 0.8°C 40% 4% 54% 0mm 93% 0.47mm -19dBZ -4.6° 91% 4.1mm - - 5.1m/s
20:00
988hPa 46J/kg 100% 0.6°C 51% 2% 49% 0mm 91% 0.15mm -20dBZ -18° 100% 4.3mm 9.4m/s 8.5m/s 4.7m/s
21:00
992hPa 31J/kg 100% 1.7°C 35% 1% 46% 0mm 89% 0.1mm -19dBZ -31° 100% 2.9mm - - 5m/s
22:00
997hPa 15J/kg 100% 2.8°C 19% 1% 42% 0mm 87% 0.05mm -18dBZ -44° 100% 1.4mm - - 5.4m/s
23:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.9°C 4% 0% 38% 0mm 84% 0mm -17dBZ -54° 100% 0mm 11m/s 8.6m/s 5.7m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:10 Sunset 18:43
24:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.9°C 2% 0% 38% 0mm 82% 0mm -18dBZ -60° 100% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
01:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 100% 4°C 1% 0% 37% 0mm 81% 0mm -19dBZ -60° 100% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
02:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 100% 4°C 0% 0% 37% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -53° 100% 0mm 10m/s 6.9m/s 5m/s
03:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.6°C 0% 0% 58% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 100% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
04:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.1°C 0% 0% 79% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 100% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
05:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.6°C 0% 0% 100% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ -17° 100% 0mm 9.3m/s 5.5m/s 3.2m/s
06:00
1003hPa 0.33J/kg 100% 2.4°C 0% 0% 75% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -3.1° 100% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
07:00
1002hPa 0.67J/kg 100% 2.2°C 1% 0% 50% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 100% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
08:00
1002hPa 1J/kg 100% 2°C 1% 0% 25% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 100% 0mm 10m/s 4.8m/s 3.6m/s
09:00
1002hPa 1.7J/kg 99% 1.5°C 12% 0% 28% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 99% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
10:00
1002hPa 2.3J/kg 99% 1.1°C 23% 0% 32% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 99% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
11:00
1002hPa 3J/kg 98% 0.65°C 33% 0% 35% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ 66° 98% 0mm 11m/s 7.5m/s 3.6m/s
12:00
1003hPa 4.7J/kg 99% 0.69°C 52% 0% 42% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ 76° 99% 0mm - - 3m/s
13:00
1003hPa 6.3J/kg 99% 0.74°C 71% 0% 48% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ 75° 99% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
14:00
1004hPa 8J/kg 100% 0.78°C 89% 0% 55% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ 64° 100% 0mm 13m/s 8.4m/s 1.8m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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