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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 100% failing
CAPE 100% failing
Cloud Drama Score 85% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover23%
Wind Gusts7.3m/s
Precipitation Chance68%
Air Pressure990.9hPa
CAPE8
Lifted Index6.9°C
Wind Gusts7.3m/s
Precipitation0.1mm

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%11%9J/kg6.9°C24134m9.7m/s
04:000%13%1J/kg8.3°C24135m9.6m/s
05:000%52%3J/kg7.9°C24134m8.9m/s
06:000%40%6J/kg7.1°C24135m9.5m/s
07:000%68%18J/kg6.9°C24067m9.4m/s
08:0023%58%8J/kg7.3°C24134m9.9m/s
09:0013%48%9J/kg7.3°C24135m9.9m/s
10:0012%47%6J/kg7.3°C24134m10m/s
11:0013%31%10J/kg7°C24135m9.9m/s
12:0012%22%4J/kg7.2°C24135m9.4m/s
13:0012%22%4J/kg7.7°C24135m9.5m/s
14:0012%22%2J/kg7.9°C24135m8.6m/s
15:000%13%1J/kg9.8°C24134m7.6m/s
16:000%26%3J/kg9.5°C24135m9.2m/s
17:000%27%10J/kg7.3°C24135m11m/s
18:0013%60%19J/kg6.9°C24134m12m/s
19:000%70%8J/kg7.6°C24135m12m/s
20:0015%8.6%12J/kg7.5°C24134m12m/s
21:000%6.2%10J/kg6.9°C23972m9.2m/s
22:000%13%6J/kg7.3°C24134m8.7m/s
23:0012%12%8J/kg7.9°C24134m6.7m/s
Sun, May 24
24:000%12%8J/kg7.3°C24135m6.7m/s
01:000%14%9J/kg6.7°C24134m7m/s
02:0013%12%9J/kg6.8°C24135m7.9m/s
03:000%10%8J/kg6.9°C24135m7.3m/s
04:000%10%6J/kg6.7°C24135m6.6m/s
05:000%44%7J/kg6.8°C24134m6.6m/s
06:000%49%6J/kg7°C24134m6.5m/s
07:000%50%5J/kg7.2°C24134m7.1m/s
08:000%32%4J/kg7.3°C24134m7.9m/s
09:000%38%11J/kg6.2°C24135m7.8m/s
10:000%39%8J/kg6.6°C24134m7.3m/s
11:009.8%22%7J/kg7.2°C24135m6.7m/s
12:000%21%7J/kg7.6°C24134m6.6m/s
13:000%23%13J/kg7.6°C24135m6.6m/s
14:000%23%10J/kg7.6°C24135m4.9m/s
15:000%17%4J/kg7.7°C24135m5.5m/s
16:000%22%0J/kg7.3°C24135m6.8m/s
17:000%23%0J/kg7.5°C24135m7.4m/s
18:000%53%5J/kg7.4°C24134m8.6m/s
19:000%44%3J/kg7.9°C24134m9.3m/s
20:000%8.9%6J/kg8.3°C24134m9.9m/s
21:000%9.3%2J/kg8.6°C24135m8.5m/s
22:000%10%3J/kg8.9°C24134m8m/s
23:000%15%3J/kg9°C24135m6m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%9.2%4J/kg8.9°C24135m5.1m/s
01:000%9.9%5J/kg8.7°C24134m4.8m/s
02:000%12%7J/kg8°C24135m5m/s
03:000%9.5%8J/kg7.6°C24134m5.7m/s
04:000%11%8J/kg7.6°C24134m6.6m/s
05:000%74%6J/kg7.4°C24134m7.7m/s
06:000%100%6J/kg7.7°C24134m7.2m/s
07:000%57%3J/kg7.8°C24135m7.7m/s
08:000%49%4J/kg7.5°C24134m6.3m/s
09:000%42%6J/kg7.4°C24135m6.3m/s
10:000%41%7J/kg7.3°C24134m6.5m/s
11:000%33%25J/kg6.6°C24135m5.7m/s
12:000%37%27J/kg6.1°C24134m6m/s
13:000%29%12J/kg6.4°C22817m6m/s
14:000%30%13J/kg6.8°C21891m5.7m/s
15:000%57%13J/kg6.4°C24134m5.7m/s
16:000%46%9J/kg6°C24135m6.3m/s
17:0013%47%18J/kg5.3°C24134m6.3m/s
18:000%63%21J/kg5.3°C23959m7.8m/s
19:000%58%13J/kg5.5°C22551m8.7m/s
20:000%15%15J/kg5.6°C24135m8.3m/s
21:000%15%12J/kg5.5°C24134m9.2m/s
22:000%14%20J/kg5.5°C24135m8m/s
23:000%13%14J/kg5.7°C23653m7.2m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%13%7J/kg5.2°C23967m6.6m/s
01:000%14%12J/kg5.2°C24134m8m/s
02:000%13%15J/kg5.5°C22270m7.5m/s
03:000%14%16J/kg5.6°C23555m7.2m/s
04:000%13%11J/kg5.3°C24135m6m/s
05:000%87%12J/kg5.4°C24096m6.8m/s
06:000%72%12J/kg5.3°C24123m8m/s
07:000%75%8J/kg5.2°C23177m6.5m/s
08:000%84%15J/kg4.9°C24134m7.3m/s
09:000%59%20J/kg4.7°C24134m8.7m/s
10:0013%41%26J/kg4.6°C24135m10m/s
11:000%14%31J/kg4.4°C24135m12m/s
12:000%14%25J/kg4.6°C24135m11m/s
13:000%11%20J/kg4.9°C24135m11m/s
14:0013%5.5%14J/kg5.1°C24135m11m/s
15:000%13%13J/kg5.6°C24135m11m/s
16:000%18%13J/kg6.1°C24135m10m/s
17:000%18%12J/kg6.6°C24135m9.8m/s
18:000%21%11J/kg7°C24135m9.5m/s
19:000%18%9.3J/kg7.4°C24135m9.2m/s
20:000%0%8J/kg7.8°C24135m8.8m/s
21:000%0%6.3J/kg8.2°C24135m8.6m/s
22:000%0%4.7J/kg8.5°C24135m8.3m/s
23:000%0%3J/kg8.9°C24135m8m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%0%2J/kg8.7°C24135m8.4m/s
01:000%0%1J/kg8.4°C24135m8.8m/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, May 24 Sunrise 05:45 Sunset 18:59
03:00
991hPa 8J/kg 0% 6.9°C 23% 0% 68% 0mm 77% 0.06mm -1.4dBZ -33° 23% 0.06mm - - 5.2m/s
04:00
991hPa 6J/kg 0% 6.7°C 20% 0% 53% 0mm 76% 0.03mm -5.9dBZ -23° 20% 0.13mm - - 4.7m/s
05:00
991hPa 7J/kg 0% 6.8°C 22% 0% 39% 0mm 77% 0.07mm -10dBZ -10° 22% 0.19mm 4.6m/s 9.6m/s 4.7m/s
06:00
991hPa 6J/kg 0% 7°C 21% 0% 39% 0mm 78% 0.04mm -8.2dBZ 2.6° 21% 0.19mm - - 4.7m/s
07:00
992hPa 5J/kg 0% 7.2°C 22% 0% 39% 0mm 71% 0.03mm -5.9dBZ 16° 22% 0.19mm - - 5.1m/s
08:00
992hPa 4J/kg 0% 7.3°C 14% 0% 39% 0mm 64% 0.03mm -3.7dBZ 29° 14% 0.25mm 4.7m/s 8.9m/s 6.1m/s
09:00
992hPa 11J/kg 0% 6.2°C 25% 0% 31% 0mm 65% 0.03mm -8.3dBZ 43° 25% 0mm - - 6.1m/s
10:00
992hPa 8J/kg 0% 6.6°C 37% 0% 23% 0mm 56% 0.01mm -13dBZ 57° 37% 0.06mm - - 4.7m/s
11:00
992hPa 7J/kg 0% 7.2°C 44% 0% 15% 0mm 53% 0mm -18dBZ 71° 44% 0.06mm 5m/s 10m/s 4.2m/s
12:00
992hPa 7J/kg 0% 7.6°C 38% 0% 23% 0mm 50% 0mm -18dBZ 85° 38% 0.06mm - - 4m/s
13:00
992hPa 13J/kg 0% 7.6°C 39% 0% 31% 0mm 51% 0.01mm -19dBZ 81° 39% 0.06mm - - 3.3m/s
14:00
991hPa 10J/kg 0% 7.6°C 22% 0% 39% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ 67° 22% 0.06mm 4m/s 9.5m/s 2.6m/s
15:00
991hPa 4J/kg 0% 7.7°C 2% 0% 43% 0mm 52% 0mm -19dBZ 53° 2% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
16:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.3°C 2% 0% 48% 0mm 54% 0mm -18dBZ 40° 2% 0mm - - 6.6m/s
17:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.5°C 2% 0% 52% 0mm 56% 0mm -17dBZ 26° 2% 0mm 4.3m/s 9.2m/s 6.7m/s
18:00
991hPa 5J/kg 0% 7.4°C 18% 0% 62% 0mm 58% 0mm -17dBZ 12° 18% 0mm - - 6.1m/s
19:00
992hPa 3J/kg 0% 7.9°C 12% 0% 72% 0mm 63% 0mm -17dBZ -0.45° 12% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
20:00
992hPa 6J/kg 0% 8.3°C 18% 0% 82% 0mm 62% 0mm -17dBZ -13° 18% 0mm 4.8m/s 9.7m/s 5.1m/s
21:00
993hPa 2J/kg 0% 8.6°C 5% 0% 68% 0mm 66% 0mm -11dBZ -25° 5% 0mm - - 5.7m/s
22:00
993hPa 3J/kg 5% 8.9°C 5% 0% 53% 0mm 66% 0.01mm -5.4dBZ -36° 8% 0mm - - 5.4m/s
23:00
993hPa 3J/kg 37% 9°C 0% 0% 39% 0mm 67% 0.02mm 0.59dBZ -44° 37% 0mm 3.7m/s 6.6m/s 3.7m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 05:45 Sunset 19:00
24:00
993hPa 4J/kg 5% 8.9°C 0% 0% 53% 0mm 68% 0.03mm 6.3dBZ -48° 5% 0.06mm - - 2.9m/s
01:00
993hPa 5J/kg 0% 8.7°C 9% 0% 67% 0mm 73% 0.04mm 12dBZ -47° 9% 0.06mm - - 3.4m/s
02:00
992hPa 7J/kg 5% 8°C 10% 0% 82% 0mm 77% 0.04mm 18dBZ -42° 11% 0.13mm 3.5m/s 4.8m/s 4m/s
03:00
992hPa 8J/kg 5% 7.6°C 21% 0% 67% 0mm 79% 0.05mm 14dBZ -33° 23% 0.06mm - - 4.4m/s
04:00
992hPa 8J/kg 5% 7.6°C 18% 0% 53% 0mm 78% 0.04mm 10dBZ -22° 20% 0.06mm - - 5m/s
05:00
992hPa 6J/kg 12% 7.4°C 18% 0% 39% 0mm 80% 0.04mm 6.2dBZ -10° 20% 0.13mm 3m/s 4.4m/s 6.1m/s
06:00
993hPa 6J/kg 11% 7.7°C 22% 0% 45% 0mm 77% 0.02mm 8.5dBZ 2.6° 28% 0.13mm - - 5.3m/s
07:00
993hPa 3J/kg 2% 7.8°C 18% 0% 50% 0mm 72% 0.01mm 11dBZ 16° 18% 0.19mm - - 6.1m/s
08:00
993hPa 4J/kg 3% 7.5°C 17% 0% 56% 0mm 65% 0.02mm 13dBZ 29° 18% 0.19mm 2.9m/s 4.2m/s 5.9m/s
09:00
993hPa 6J/kg 2% 7.4°C 18% 0% 49% 0mm 60% 0.02mm 8.4dBZ 43° 19% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
10:00
993hPa 7J/kg 5% 7.3°C 18% 0% 42% 0mm 56% 0.01mm 3.8dBZ 57° 20% 0.06mm - - 5.5m/s
11:00
993hPa 25J/kg 3% 6.6°C 45% 0% 35% 0mm 57% 0.03mm -0.8dBZ 71° 45% 0.06mm 3m/s 6m/s 4.6m/s
12:00
993hPa 27J/kg 50% 6.1°C 92% 0% 42% 0mm 57% 0.04mm 4dBZ 85° 92% 0.13mm - - 4.4m/s
13:00
993hPa 12J/kg 91% 6.4°C 97% 0% 49% 0.02mm 58% 0.05mm 8.8dBZ 81° 98% 0.13mm - - 3.4m/s
14:00
992hPa 13J/kg 100% 6.8°C 97% 0% 56% 0.03mm 61% 0.08mm 14dBZ 67° 100% 0.19mm 3.2m/s 8.2m/s 2.7m/s
15:00
992hPa 13J/kg 58% 6.4°C 83% 0% 56% 0mm 62% 0.02mm 8.7dBZ 53° 83% 0.06mm - - 4.7m/s
16:00
992hPa 9J/kg 100% 6°C 14% 0% 56% 0mm 63% 0.02mm 3.8dBZ 40° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.9m/s
17:00
992hPa 18J/kg 100% 5.3°C 40% 0% 56% 0mm 65% 0.04mm -1.2dBZ 26° 100% 0.13mm 3.8m/s 11m/s 5.5m/s
18:00
992hPa 21J/kg 0% 5.3°C 72% 0% 60% 0.02mm 70% 0.05mm 2.8dBZ 12° 72% 0.19mm - - 5.7m/s
19:00
993hPa 13J/kg 10% 5.5°C 90% 0% 64% 0.14mm 73% 0.03mm 6.8dBZ -0.31° 90% 0.31mm - - 6m/s
20:00
994hPa 15J/kg 100% 5.6°C 92% 0% 69% 0.03mm 75% 0.03mm 11dBZ -13° 100% 0.44mm 2.5m/s 9.7m/s 5.7m/s
21:00
994hPa 12J/kg 100% 5.5°C 46% 0% 64% 0mm 74% 0.02mm 10dBZ -25° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.9m/s
22:00
994hPa 20J/kg 5% 5.5°C 62% 0% 60% 0.02mm 76% 0.06mm 9.7dBZ -35° 62% 0.13mm - - 6.2m/s
23:00
994hPa 14J/kg 100% 5.7°C 53% 0% 56% 0mm 76% 0.06mm 9.1dBZ -43° 100% 0.19mm 2.9m/s 9.8m/s 5.5m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 05:45 Sunset 19:00
24:00
993hPa 7J/kg 34% 5.2°C 20% 0% 59% 0mm 76% 0.09mm 9.8dBZ -48° 47% 0.25mm - - 4.7m/s
01:00
993hPa 12J/kg 59% 5.2°C 49% 0% 61% 0.01mm 80% 0.04mm 11dBZ -47° 76% 0.31mm - - 6.1m/s
02:00
992hPa 15J/kg 99% 5.5°C 75% 0% 64% 0.09mm 79% 0.06mm 11dBZ -42° 99% 0.38mm 3m/s 9.3m/s 5.7m/s
03:00
992hPa 16J/kg 100% 5.6°C 73% 0% 56% 0.1mm 79% 0.02mm 11dBZ -33° 100% 0.13mm - - 5m/s
04:00
992hPa 11J/kg 100% 5.3°C 60% 0% 47% 0.02mm 77% 0.02mm 11dBZ -22° 100% 0.19mm - - 4.2m/s
05:00
992hPa 12J/kg 56% 5.4°C 47% 0% 39% 0mm 77% 0.04mm 11dBZ -10° 61% 0.19mm 3.3m/s 7.7m/s 5.1m/s
06:00
992hPa 12J/kg 5% 5.3°C 31% 0% 39% 0.02mm 79% 0.05mm 9.1dBZ 2.6° 31% 0.31mm - - 5.8m/s
07:00
993hPa 8J/kg 5% 5.2°C 32% 0% 39% 0mm 77% 0.07mm 7.3dBZ 16° 32% 0.31mm - - 5.1m/s
08:00
993hPa 15J/kg 16% 4.9°C 74% 0% 39% 0.02mm 70% 0.03mm 5.6dBZ 29° 74% 0.38mm 3m/s 9.3m/s 6.3m/s
09:00
997hPa 20J/kg 11% 4.7°C 58% 0% 26% 0.01mm 73% 0.06mm -0.14dBZ 43° 58% 0.29mm - - 7.4m/s
10:00
1001hPa 26J/kg 6% 4.6°C 42% 0% 13% 0.007mm 76% 0.08mm -5.9dBZ 57° 42% 0.21mm - - 8.5m/s
11:00
1005hPa 31J/kg 0% 4.4°C 26% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0.11mm -12dBZ 71° 26% 0.13mm 2.9m/s 9m/s 9.6m/s
12:00
1006hPa 25J/kg 0% 4.6°C 18% 0% 13% 0.003mm 79% 0.07mm -14dBZ 85° 19% 0.19mm - - 9.5m/s
13:00
1006hPa 20J/kg 0% 4.9°C 11% 0% 26% 0.007mm 78% 0.04mm -16dBZ 81° 12% 0.25mm - - 9.4m/s
14:00
1007hPa 14J/kg 0% 5.1°C 4% 0% 39% 0.01mm 78% 0mm -18dBZ 67° 5% 0.31mm 4.1m/s 10m/s 9.3m/s
15:00
1007hPa 13J/kg 2% 5.6°C 5% 0% 39% 0.007mm 76% 0mm -13dBZ 53° 6% 0.23mm - - 8.8m/s
16:00
1007hPa 13J/kg 3% 6.1°C 5% 0% 39% 0.003mm 75% 0mm -9.2dBZ 40° 7% 0.15mm - - 8.2m/s
17:00
1007hPa 12J/kg 5% 6.6°C 6% 0% 39% 0mm 73% 0mm -5dBZ 26° 8% 0.06mm 5.5m/s 11m/s 7.7m/s
18:00
1007hPa 11J/kg 3% 7°C 4% 0% 45% 0mm 72% 0mm -6.6dBZ 13° 6% 0.06mm - - 7.6m/s
19:00
1006hPa 9.3J/kg 2% 7.4°C 3% 0% 50% 0mm 71% 0mm -8.1dBZ -0.16° 4% 0.06mm - - 7.4m/s
20:00
1005hPa 8J/kg 0% 7.8°C 1% 0% 56% 0mm 69% 0mm -9.7dBZ -13° 1% 0.06mm 5.4m/s 12m/s 7.3m/s
21:00
1005hPa 6.3J/kg 2% 8.2°C 1% 0% 47% 0mm 68% 0mm -11dBZ -25° 2% 0.04mm - - 7.2m/s
22:00
1005hPa 4.7J/kg 3% 8.5°C 0% 0% 37% 0mm 67% 0mm -11dBZ -35° 3% 0.02mm - - 7m/s
23:00
1005hPa 3J/kg 4% 8.9°C 0% 0% 28% 0mm 66% 0mm -12dBZ -43° 4% 0mm 4m/s 10m/s 6.8m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 05:45 Sunset 19:01
24:00
1005hPa 2J/kg 3% 8.7°C 0% 0% 37% 0.003mm 65% 0mm -15dBZ -48° 3% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
01:00
1006hPa 1J/kg 1% 8.4°C 0% 0% 47% 0.007mm 64% 0mm -17dBZ -47° 1% 0mm - - 7m/s
02:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.2°C 0% 0% 56% 0.01mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 0% 0mm 3.4m/s 10m/s 7.1m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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