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Rule Storm Chaser

Waimea Canyon - Storm Chaser - Hawaii

Lihue, Hawaii, United States

Dramatic storm conditions — from atmospheric builds to active thunderstorms

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover80%
Wind Gusts10.1m/s
Precipitation Chance100%
Air Pressure1007.9hPa
CAPE315
Lifted Index-2.9°C
Wind Gusts10.1m/s
Precipitation0.1mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Pacific/Honolulu
Next opportunity
Moderate Storm
Waimea Canyon
Tomorrow · 09:00–10:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
46%
⛈️Storm Intensity56%
CAPE: 301
Lifted Index: -2.5°C
Wind Gusts: 19.7m/s
Precipitation: 7.8mm
thunderstorms weather icon
Strong Storm
Waimea Canyon
Tomorrow · 14:00–15:00
⛈️Storm Intensity:76.7%
Medium
thunderstorms weather icon
Moderate Storm
Waimea Canyon
Tomorrow · 17:00–18:00
⛈️Storm Intensity:64.4%
Medium

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
3matching hours in the next 95 hoursJump to next match
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
Wed, Mar 11
15:000%19%556J/kg-2.7°C14997m10m/s
16:000%41%668J/kg-3.2°C24135m9.9m/s
17:0028%34%601J/kg-3.1°C11238m9.2m/s
18:000%25%626J/kg-3.1°C14683m9m/s
19:000%22%684J/kg-3.3°C13046m9m/s
20:0025%0.7%955J/kg-3.9°C24135m9.5m/s
21:000%0.6%959J/kg-4°C24134m9.4m/s
22:000%0.6%1075J/kg-4.5°C24134m9.5m/s
23:000%0.6%1032J/kg-4.4°C24134m9.2m/s
Thu, Mar 12
24:000%2.3%984J/kg-4.4°C24134m9.4m/s
01:000%0.7%1022J/kg-4.7°C24134m9.2m/s
02:000%0.9%1072J/kg-4.9°C24135m8.7m/s
03:000%0.9%1090J/kg-4.9°C24135m8.7m/s
04:000%0.9%1094J/kg-5°C24134m7.9m/s
05:000%0.6%1096J/kg-5.1°C24135m7.7m/s
06:000%0.3%1091J/kg-5.2°C24134m7.2m/s
07:000%16%1121J/kg-5.5°C24135m6.8m/s
08:000%16%1121J/kg-5.6°C24134m6.7m/s
09:000%18%1103J/kg-5.6°C24134m7.8m/s
10:000%27%786J/kg-4.8°C24135m8.5m/s
11:0023%47%679J/kg-4.3°C24135m9.4m/s
12:0020%31%456J/kg-3.1°C10469m11m/s
13:0023%27%494J/kg-3.4°C11271m12m/s
14:0030%54%460J/kg-3.9°C24135m10m/s
15:000%63%315J/kg-2.9°C24135m10m/s
16:0013%39%356J/kg-1.9°C24135m11m/s
17:0016%60%483J/kg-3.1°C24134m10m/s
18:0032%67%604J/kg-3.5°C24135m13m/s
19:0032%67%285J/kg-1.7°C9710m13m/s
20:0054%0%230J/kg-1.5°C8554m11m/s
21:0048%0.3%273J/kg-0.9°C2979m13m/s
22:0055%1.9%317J/kg-1.3°C9888m14m/s
23:0046%0.1%116J/kg-0.1°C20452m12m/s
Fri, Mar 13
24:0045%0%109J/kg0°C21202m12m/s
01:0061%0.7%346J/kg-1°C3900m14m/s
02:0075%2.8%460J/kg-2.8°C1212m15m/s
03:0079%4.5%345J/kg-1.4°C785m16m/s
04:0080%0.3%593J/kg-2.6°C1539m20m/s
05:0085%3.8%248J/kg-1.4°C3062m22m/s
06:0077%78%221J/kg-0.3°C3083m19m/s
07:0075%78%209J/kg-1.9°C3434m20m/s
08:0083%72%444J/kg-2.6°C1836m21m/s
09:0056%64%301J/kg-2.5°C3382m20m/s
10:0063%63%364J/kg-2.2°C1389m14m/s
11:0074%73%634J/kg-3.7°C1269m15m/s
12:0065%30%583J/kg-3.7°C6227m17m/s
13:0068%44%593J/kg-3°C5513m17m/s
14:0077%86%601J/kg-3.6°C5694m17m/s
15:0050%58%653J/kg-3.5°C4894m18m/s
16:0044%92%702J/kg-4°C10395m17m/s
17:0064%92%749J/kg-3.8°C6993m18m/s
18:0053%51%816J/kg-3.8°C6339m17m/s
19:0053%63%789J/kg-3.9°C6524m16m/s
20:0071%1.8%739J/kg-3.9°C6406m16m/s
21:0037%7.3%662J/kg-3.5°C13434m15m/s
22:0048%8.8%674J/kg-3.6°C12976m15m/s
23:0062%9.2%505J/kg-3.3°C13496m15m/s
Sat, Mar 14
24:0049%6%362J/kg-2.4°C6038m15m/s
01:0050%10%483J/kg-2.3°C9211m16m/s
02:0065%13%350J/kg-2.1°C12255m18m/s
03:0031%15%391J/kg-2°C12497m16m/s
04:0026%14%397J/kg-2.4°C24135m17m/s
05:0038%15%273J/kg-1.3°C24135m17m/s
06:0026%73%212J/kg-1.1°C24134m17m/s
07:0026%54%247J/kg-0.9°C23979m17m/s
08:0039%67%254J/kg-1.4°C24134m17m/s
09:0016%47%229J/kg-2°C24134m18m/s
10:0017%46%137J/kg-1.2°C24135m18m/s
11:0036%44%79J/kg-0.4°C24135m19m/s
12:0031%22%140J/kg-0.4°C12249m17m/s
13:0017%53%104J/kg-0.1°C23934m18m/s
14:0036%60%81J/kg0°C24134m19m/s
15:0015%36%22J/kg0.3°C23744m19m/s
16:0015%54%44J/kg0.8°C24135m19m/s
17:0034%44%73J/kg0.5°C24135m20m/s
18:0015%46%78J/kg1.6°C24134m20m/s
19:0015%41%133J/kg1.9°C24135m20m/s
20:0036%13%243J/kg1.4°C24135m20m/s
21:0019%0%215J/kg1.4°C19867m18m/s
22:0027%0%186J/kg1.4°C15599m17m/s
23:0051%0%158J/kg1.4°C11332m15m/s
Sun, Mar 15
24:0047%0%132J/kg1.4°C9234m15m/s
01:0037%0%106J/kg1.5°C7136m14m/s
02:0049%0%80J/kg1.5°C5038m14m/s
03:0036%0%72J/kg1.8°C7098m13m/s
04:0023%0%63J/kg2.1°C9157m11m/s
05:0041%0%55J/kg2.3°C11216m9.9m/s
06:0018%72%54J/kg2.6°C15285m10m/s
07:0021%100%53J/kg2.8°C19353m10m/s
08:0042%100%52J/kg3.1°C23422m11m/s
09:0018%83%42J/kg3.4°C21450m9.4m/s
10:0018%50%33J/kg3.7°C19479m8.3m/s
11:0024%40%23J/kg4.1°C17508m7.1m/s
12:000%22%21J/kg3.8°C19677m6.3m/s
13:000%22%20J/kg3.5°C21846m5.5m/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
Thu, Mar 12 Sunrise 06:47 Sunset 18:45
15:00
1008hPa 315J/kg 80% -2.9°C 15% 2% 100% 0mm 80% 0mm 25dBZ 49° 80% 0.06mm - - 8.4m/s
16:00
1007hPa 356J/kg 100% -1.9°C 76% 0% 100% 0mm 81% 0.09mm 32dBZ 37° 100% 0.06mm - - 8.7m/s
17:00
1007hPa 483J/kg 100% -3.1°C 68% 100% 100% 0mm 79% 0.26mm 39dBZ 23° 100% 0.31mm 6.6m/s 8m/s 8.8m/s
18:00
1008hPa 604J/kg 100% -3.5°C 100% 100% 100% 0.08mm 82% 0.76mm 37dBZ 9.8° 100% 0.81mm - - 9.8m/s
19:00
1009hPa 285J/kg 100% -1.7°C 12% 100% 100% 0.94mm 86% 0.35mm 34dBZ -4° 100% 3.1mm - - 9.9m/s
20:00
1009hPa 230J/kg 100% -1.5°C 55% 100% 100% 0.84mm 87% 1.7mm 31dBZ -18° 100% 4.8mm 10m/s 22m/s 8.4m/s
21:00
1010hPa 273J/kg 100% -0.9°C 100% 100% 100% 6mm 90% 0.94mm 36dBZ -32° 100% 6mm - - 11m/s
22:00
1010hPa 317J/kg 100% -1.3°C 100% 100% 99% 1.8mm 92% 0.63mm 40dBZ -45° 100% 11mm - - 10m/s
23:00
1009hPa 116J/kg 100% -0.1°C 81% 32% 99% 0.36mm 87% 0.09mm 45dBZ -58° 100% 13mm 9.3m/s 12m/s 8.3m/s
Fri, Mar 13 Sunrise 06:47 Sunset 18:45
24:00
1008hPa 109J/kg 100% 0°C 97% 15% 99% 0.26mm 88% 0.13mm 42dBZ -68° 100% 16mm - - 8.2m/s
01:00
1007hPa 346J/kg 100% -1°C 100% 96% 100% 3.2mm 92% 0.75mm 39dBZ -71° 100% 21mm - - 10m/s
02:00
1006hPa 460J/kg 100% -2.8°C 100% 100% 100% 13mm 93% 1.2mm 35dBZ -64° 100% 28mm 10m/s 18m/s 11m/s
03:00
1004hPa 345J/kg 95% -1.4°C 100% 100% 100% 29mm 94% 1mm 40dBZ -52° 100% 14mm - - 12m/s
04:00
1003hPa 593J/kg 100% -2.6°C 100% 100% 100% 12mm 94% 1.4mm 45dBZ -39° 100% 30mm - - 15m/s
05:00
1004hPa 248J/kg 100% -1.4°C 100% 100% 100% 11mm 94% 1.1mm 50dBZ -26° 100% 46mm 11m/s 17m/s 16m/s
06:00
1005hPa 221J/kg 57% -0.3°C 100% 100% 100% 4.8mm 92% 0.6mm 44dBZ -12° 100% 54mm - - 15m/s
07:00
1003hPa 209J/kg 100% -1.9°C 100% 94% 100% 8.1mm 90% 0.59mm 38dBZ 2.3° 100% 59mm - - 15m/s
08:00
1006hPa 444J/kg 100% -2.6°C 100% 100% 100% 10mm 93% 1.4mm 32dBZ 16° 100% 82mm 15m/s 17m/s 15m/s
09:00
1005hPa 301J/kg 100% -2.5°C 99% 100% 100% 5.7mm 92% 1.6mm 32dBZ 29° 100% 7.8mm - - 16m/s
10:00
1005hPa 364J/kg 59% -2.2°C 84% 86% 100% 17mm 95% 1.1mm 31dBZ 42° 90% 21mm - - 11m/s
11:00
1006hPa 634J/kg 69% -3.7°C 66% 56% 100% 2.3mm 93% 1.6mm 30dBZ 54° 76% 35mm 13m/s 19m/s 12m/s
12:00
1004hPa 583J/kg 92% -3.7°C 96% 94% 100% 1.8mm 92% 0.98mm 29dBZ 63° 100% 38mm - - 14m/s
13:00
1003hPa 593J/kg 11% -3°C 96% 92% 100% 0.01mm 89% 1.6mm 28dBZ 65° 100% 40mm - - 13m/s
14:00
1003hPa 601J/kg 20% -3.6°C 68% 71% 100% 0.18mm 91% 2mm 27dBZ 60° 73% 44mm 15m/s 19m/s 14m/s
15:00
1002hPa 653J/kg 81% -3.5°C 38% 72% 100% 1.3mm 91% 1.4mm 27dBZ 49° 82% 2.7mm - - 14m/s
16:00
1002hPa 702J/kg 10% -4°C 52% 53% 100% 0.23mm 90% 1.3mm 27dBZ 37° 53% 4.4mm - - 14m/s
17:00
1002hPa 749J/kg 10% -3.8°C 83% 72% 100% 0.09mm 90% 1.3mm 27dBZ 24° 83% 6.1mm 17m/s 22m/s 14m/s
18:00
1002hPa 816J/kg 3% -3.8°C 92% 2% 100% 0.01mm 89% 1.6mm 27dBZ 9.9° 92% 7.4mm - - 13m/s
19:00
1003hPa 789J/kg 1% -3.9°C 78% 0% 100% 0.01mm 88% 1.6mm 27dBZ -3.9° 78% 9.1mm - - 13m/s
20:00
1003hPa 739J/kg 5% -3.9°C 98% 4% 100% 0.13mm 88% 1.4mm 27dBZ -18° 98% 11mm 18m/s 27m/s 13m/s
21:00
1003hPa 662J/kg 44% -3.5°C 41% 12% 93% 0.01mm 86% 0.69mm 27dBZ -32° 47% 0.94mm - - 11m/s
22:00
1003hPa 674J/kg 14% -3.6°C 89% 94% 86% 0.32mm 89% 0.51mm 26dBZ -45° 94% 5.1mm - - 10m/s
23:00
1003hPa 505J/kg 0% -3.3°C 62% 5% 79% 0.11mm 88% 0.61mm 26dBZ -58° 62% 6.3mm 19m/s 29m/s 9.6m/s
Sat, Mar 14 Sunrise 06:46 Sunset 18:46
24:00
1001hPa 362J/kg 43% -2.4°C 72% 86% 83% 0.88mm 87% 1.1mm 24dBZ -67° 88% 7.4mm - - 9.7m/s
01:00
1001hPa 483J/kg 0% -2.3°C 99% 98% 88% 0.82mm 87% 0.78mm 23dBZ -70° 100% 9.6mm - - 10m/s
02:00
1001hPa 350J/kg 0% -2.1°C 58% 0% 93% 0.06mm 85% 0.57mm 21dBZ -64° 58% 11mm 23m/s 29m/s 12m/s
03:00
1000hPa 391J/kg 0% -2°C 89% 44% 93% 0.43mm 87% 0.62mm 19dBZ -52° 89% 0.56mm - - 11m/s
04:00
1000hPa 397J/kg 0% -2.4°C 49% 0% 93% 0.01mm 85% 0.46mm 18dBZ -39° 49% 1.1mm - - 11m/s
05:00
999hPa 273J/kg 0% -1.3°C 39% 0% 93% 0mm 83% 0.04mm 16dBZ -26° 39% 1.2mm 25m/s 29m/s 11m/s
06:00
1000hPa 212J/kg 0% -1.1°C 45% 0% 91% 0mm 81% 0.13mm 18dBZ -12° 45% 1.3mm - - 10m/s
07:00
1001hPa 247J/kg 0% -0.9°C 86% 0% 89% 0mm 80% 0.18mm 20dBZ 2.5° 86% 1.4mm - - 11m/s
08:00
1001hPa 254J/kg 0% -1.4°C 78% 0% 87% 0mm 82% 0.07mm 22dBZ 16° 78% 1.5mm 24m/s 30m/s 11m/s
09:00
1002hPa 229J/kg 0% -2°C 12% 0% 81% 0mm 80% 0.12mm 20dBZ 30° 12% 0.13mm - - 11m/s
10:00
1002hPa 137J/kg 94% -1.2°C 2% 15% 75% 0mm 78% 0.05mm 17dBZ 43° 94% 0.19mm - - 11m/s
11:00
1002hPa 79J/kg 100% -0.4°C 1% 100% 69% 0mm 78% 0.09mm 15dBZ 54° 100% 0.25mm 23m/s 28m/s 11m/s
12:00
1002hPa 140J/kg 100% -0.4°C 1% 5% 75% 0mm 76% 0.67mm 16dBZ 63° 100% 0.44mm - - 11m/s
13:00
1001hPa 104J/kg 46% -0.1°C 0% 12% 81% 0mm 75% 0.06mm 18dBZ 66° 52% 0.69mm - - 11m/s
14:00
1001hPa 81J/kg 0% 0°C 0% 53% 87% 0mm 75% 0.05mm 20dBZ 60° 53% 0.81mm 23m/s 27m/s 11m/s
15:00
1000hPa 22J/kg 4% 0.3°C 0% 5% 82% 0mm 75% 0.08mm 18dBZ 49° 5% 0mm - - 11m/s
16:00
999hPa 44J/kg 0% 0.8°C 0% 14% 76% 0mm 75% 0mm 16dBZ 37° 14% 0.06mm - - 10m/s
17:00
999hPa 73J/kg 0% 0.5°C 0% 8% 71% 0mm 76% 0mm 15dBZ 24° 8% 0.06mm 25m/s 26m/s 11m/s
18:00
1000hPa 78J/kg 3% 1.6°C 0% 3% 77% 0mm 76% 0mm 14dBZ 10° 4% 0.06mm - - 10m/s
19:00
1000hPa 133J/kg 3% 1.9°C 0% 5% 82% 0mm 78% 0mm 14dBZ -3.9° 5% 0.06mm - - 9.9m/s
20:00
1001hPa 243J/kg 16% 1.4°C 0% 3% 88% 0mm 79% 0.01mm 13dBZ -18° 16% 0.06mm 25m/s 28m/s 10m/s
21:00
987hPa 215J/kg 38% 1.4°C 31% 35% 85% 0.01mm 83% 0.21mm 12dBZ -32° 44% 0.67mm - - 8.9m/s
22:00
972hPa 186J/kg 61% 1.4°C 63% 68% 82% 0.03mm 86% 0.42mm 12dBZ -45° 72% 1.3mm - - 7.7m/s
23:00
958hPa 158J/kg 83% 1.4°C 94% 100% 79% 0.04mm 90% 0.62mm 11dBZ -57° 100% 1.9mm 22m/s 27m/s 6.4m/s
Sun, Mar 15 Sunrise 06:46 Sunset 18:46
24:00
959hPa 132J/kg 89% 1.4°C 95% 100% 85% 0.24mm 90% 0.53mm 16dBZ -67° 100% 2.7mm - - 6.5m/s
01:00
959hPa 106J/kg 94% 1.5°C 96% 100% 90% 0.43mm 91% 0.43mm 20dBZ -70° 100% 3.5mm - - 6.6m/s
02:00
960hPa 80J/kg 100% 1.5°C 97% 100% 96% 0.63mm 91% 0.34mm 25dBZ -63° 100% 4.3mm 22m/s 29m/s 6.8m/s
03:00
961hPa 72J/kg 100% 1.8°C 83% 100% 92% 0.48mm 90% 0.32mm 27dBZ -52° 100% 3.6mm - - 6m/s
04:00
961hPa 63J/kg 100% 2.1°C 69% 99% 88% 0.34mm 89% 0.31mm 28dBZ -39° 100% 2.9mm - - 5.3m/s
05:00
962hPa 55J/kg 100% 2.3°C 55% 99% 84% 0.19mm 88% 0.29mm 30dBZ -25° 100% 2.1mm 25m/s 29m/s 4.6m/s
06:00
961hPa 54J/kg 81% 2.6°C 54% 76% 85% 0.18mm 84% 0.21mm 29dBZ -11° 84% 2.4mm - - 4.6m/s
07:00
961hPa 53J/kg 63% 2.8°C 53% 52% 86% 0.16mm 79% 0.12mm 27dBZ 2.7° 68% 2.7mm - - 4.5m/s
08:00
961hPa 52J/kg 44% 3.1°C 52% 29% 87% 0.15mm 74% 0.04mm 25dBZ 16° 52% 2.9mm 17m/s 27m/s 4.5m/s
09:00
961hPa 42J/kg 63% 3.4°C 52% 53% 70% 0.1mm 76% 0.08mm 24dBZ 30° 68% 2.1mm - - 4m/s
10:00
961hPa 33J/kg 81% 3.7°C 52% 76% 54% 0.05mm 78% 0.12mm 22dBZ 43° 84% 1.2mm - - 3.6m/s
11:00
961hPa 23J/kg 100% 4.1°C 53% 100% 37% 0mm 79% 0.16mm 21dBZ 55° 100% 0.38mm 19m/s 31m/s 3.2m/s
12:00
962hPa 21J/kg 100% 3.8°C 53% 100% 35% 0.02mm 83% 0.12mm 12dBZ 64° 100% 0.5mm - - 3m/s
13:00
962hPa 20J/kg 100% 3.5°C 54% 100% 32% 0.04mm 86% 0.09mm 3.5dBZ 66° 100% 0.63mm - - 2.8m/s
14:00
963hPa 18J/kg 100% 3.2°C 55% 100% 29% 0.06mm 89% 0.05mm -5dBZ 60° 100% 0.75mm 19m/s 26m/s 2.6m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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