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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

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 Cover27%
Wind Gusts7.6m/s
Precipitation Chance93%
Air Pressure1016.3hPa
CAPE61
Lifted Index5.6°C
Wind Gusts7.6m/s
Precipitation0.2mm

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%14J/kg7.4°C24134m11m/s
04:000%14%13J/kg7.4°C24135m11m/s
05:000%15%28J/kg6.5°C21220m11m/s
06:0014%62%51J/kg6.3°C12442m11m/s
07:000%44%56J/kg6.7°C14971m12m/s
08:0013%30%52J/kg7°C24134m12m/s
09:000%41%42J/kg7.8°C24135m11m/s
10:000%48%46J/kg7.2°C24134m11m/s
11:000%19%26J/kg7.2°C24135m11m/s
12:000%29%9J/kg8.1°C24135m10m/s
13:000%30%11J/kg8.3°C24135m10m/s
14:000%9.8%0J/kg8.5°C24135m11m/s
15:000%11%0J/kg8.4°C24134m10m/s
16:000%35%6J/kg7.2°C24135m9.6m/s
17:000%56%46J/kg5.8°C19503m11m/s
18:000%59%51J/kg5.7°C22584m12m/s
19:000%22%48J/kg6°C24135m11m/s
20:000%49%47J/kg5.7°C24134m11m/s
21:000%15%57J/kg5.2°C20338m11m/s
22:000%14%68J/kg5°C19936m11m/s
23:0013%15%63J/kg5.5°C20010m11m/s
Sun, May 24
24:0013%11%42J/kg5.8°C21760m11m/s
01:0012%11%20J/kg6.8°C24134m11m/s
02:000%9%35J/kg6.9°C24135m8.9m/s
03:000%12%61J/kg5.6°C11821m7.6m/s
04:000%11%61J/kg5.2°C11680m7.6m/s
05:000%13%61J/kg5.4°C13017m8.5m/s
06:000%49%52J/kg5.6°C16204m9.4m/s
07:0012%26%21J/kg6.5°C24134m10m/s
08:000%26%32J/kg6.3°C24134m8.6m/s
09:000%26%30J/kg6.4°C24135m8.6m/s
10:000%25%44J/kg5.9°C21385m9.2m/s
11:000%29%52J/kg5.5°C19741m11m/s
12:000%32%57J/kg5.2°C19425m10m/s
13:0018%31%60J/kg5.2°C6627m10m/s
14:0012%32%50J/kg5.8°C16143m11m/s
15:000%47%51J/kg5.9°C13974m11m/s
16:000%46%49J/kg5.9°C20895m10m/s
17:000%51%51J/kg5.9°C24135m10m/s
18:0013%59%58J/kg6°C16434m10m/s
19:0013%60%51J/kg6.2°C17793m10m/s
20:0012%61%51J/kg6.2°C24134m9.8m/s
21:000%15%37J/kg6.5°C24135m9.5m/s
22:000%15%24J/kg6.5°C24134m9.7m/s
23:000%15%17J/kg6.4°C24135m9.5m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%15%23J/kg6.6°C24135m9.2m/s
01:000%15%33J/kg7°C24134m8.5m/s
02:000%14%26J/kg7.7°C24135m8.3m/s
03:000%12%7J/kg8.2°C24134m9.1m/s
04:000%11%6J/kg8.4°C24134m8m/s
05:000%10%6J/kg8.4°C24134m8.8m/s
06:000%30%17J/kg7.8°C24134m8.6m/s
07:000%98%13J/kg7.4°C24135m9.1m/s
08:000%39%26J/kg7.1°C23353m9.3m/s
09:000%59%60J/kg6.8°C19878m8.7m/s
10:000%27%64J/kg6.5°C19986m8.3m/s
11:000%43%49J/kg6.2°C19421m8.7m/s
12:000%25%53J/kg5.9°C12886m8.3m/s
13:000%27%40J/kg6°C21205m8.1m/s
14:000%47%55J/kg5.7°C20033m8m/s
15:000%39%51J/kg5.6°C20399m8.1m/s
16:000%29%17J/kg6.3°C24135m8.5m/s
17:000%33%8J/kg6.3°C24134m8.9m/s
18:000%94%16J/kg6.5°C24134m8.6m/s
19:000%53%33J/kg6.3°C24134m8.4m/s
20:000%46%44J/kg6°C24135m8.5m/s
21:000%12%57J/kg5.6°C10499m8.7m/s
22:000%14%45J/kg5.4°C15070m9.5m/s
23:000%11%26J/kg6.2°C24134m9.4m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%11%17J/kg6.4°C24135m9.1m/s
01:000%14%7J/kg6.2°C24134m9.2m/s
02:000%15%21J/kg5.8°C24134m8.2m/s
03:000%14%7J/kg6°C24134m8.2m/s
04:000%14%7J/kg6.3°C24135m7.8m/s
05:000%15%19J/kg5.6°C24135m7.5m/s
06:000%66%17J/kg5.7°C24134m7.8m/s
07:000%71%20J/kg5.8°C24135m7.8m/s
08:000%35%26J/kg5.7°C24134m8.1m/s
09:000%48%20J/kg5.9°C24134m7.3m/s
10:000%58%15J/kg6.2°C24135m6.6m/s
11:000%36%9J/kg6.4°C24135m5.8m/s
12:000%36%11J/kg6°C23778m6.1m/s
13:000%30%12J/kg5.7°C23420m6.4m/s
14:000%25%14J/kg5.3°C23062m6.7m/s
15:000%66%26J/kg4.9°C18896m6.7m/s
16:000%60%38J/kg4.5°C14731m6.8m/s
17:0020%30%50J/kg4.2°C10565m6.8m/s
18:0014%35%49J/kg4.4°C10235m6.7m/s
19:0015%38%47J/kg4.6°C9904m6.6m/s
20:0016%32%46J/kg4.8°C9574m6.4m/s
21:0015%0%40J/kg4.9°C13164m6.3m/s
22:0015%0%33J/kg4.9°C16755m6.2m/s
23:000%0%27J/kg5°C20345m6m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%0%27J/kg5°C21608m6.1m/s
01:000%0%27J/kg5.1°C22872m6.1m/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 05:55 Sunset 19:13
03:00
1016hPa 61J/kg 0% 5.6°C 27% 0% 93% 0mm 75% 0.64mm 9dBZ -34° 27% 0.25mm - - 6.8m/s
04:00
1016hPa 61J/kg 0% 5.2°C 38% 0% 87% 0mm 77% 0.74mm 8.2dBZ -24° 38% 0.69mm - - 6.5m/s
05:00
1016hPa 61J/kg 0% 5.4°C 8% 0% 82% 0mm 76% 0.49mm 7.3dBZ -12° 8% 1.3mm 3.3m/s 2.8m/s 7.2m/s
06:00
1016hPa 52J/kg 0% 5.6°C 19% 0% 87% 0mm 74% 0.29mm 8.1dBZ 0.67° 19% 1.8mm - - 7.9m/s
07:00
1016hPa 21J/kg 0% 6.5°C 7% 0% 93% 0mm 69% 0.06mm 8.9dBZ 13° 7% 1.9mm - - 8.8m/s
08:00
1017hPa 32J/kg 0% 6.3°C 8% 0% 99% 0mm 69% 0.02mm 9.7dBZ 27° 8% 1.9mm 2.5m/s 2m/s 7.9m/s
09:00
1017hPa 30J/kg 2% 6.4°C 10% 0% 99% 0mm 69% 0.02mm 11dBZ 40° 10% 0mm - - 7.9m/s
10:00
1017hPa 44J/kg 0% 5.9°C 11% 0% 99% 0mm 72% 0.14mm 12dBZ 54° 11% 0.06mm - - 8.6m/s
11:00
1017hPa 52J/kg 0% 5.5°C 44% 0% 100% 0mm 77% 0.44mm 13dBZ 68° 44% 0.31mm 2.9m/s 2.9m/s 9.4m/s
12:00
1017hPa 57J/kg 0% 5.2°C 36% 0% 100% 0mm 75% 0.38mm 9.9dBZ 82° 36% 0.81mm - - 9.6m/s
13:00
1017hPa 60J/kg 0% 5.2°C 50% 0% 100% 0mm 77% 1.1mm 7dBZ 84° 50% 1.3mm - - 9.3m/s
14:00
1016hPa 50J/kg 0% 5.8°C 46% 0% 100% 0mm 76% 0.44mm 4dBZ 70° 46% 1.9mm 2.4m/s 3.8m/s 9.9m/s
15:00
1016hPa 51J/kg 0% 5.9°C 53% 0% 90% 0mm 74% 0.41mm 6.7dBZ 56° 53% 0.5mm - - 9.5m/s
16:00
1016hPa 49J/kg 0% 5.9°C 53% 0% 79% 0mm 73% 0.22mm 9.4dBZ 42° 53% 0.75mm - - 9.8m/s
17:00
1016hPa 51J/kg 2% 5.9°C 74% 0% 69% 0mm 73% 0.16mm 12dBZ 29° 74% 1mm 4.3m/s 3m/s 9.4m/s
18:00
1016hPa 58J/kg 0% 6°C 30% 0% 73% 0mm 74% 0.26mm 11dBZ 15° 30% 1.3mm - - 9.1m/s
19:00
1017hPa 51J/kg 0% 6.2°C 40% 0% 78% 0mm 73% 0.12mm 11dBZ 2.4° 40% 1.4mm - - 9.4m/s
20:00
1017hPa 51J/kg 2% 6.2°C 69% 0% 83% 0mm 72% 0.03mm 9.7dBZ -10° 69% 1.4mm 5.4m/s 1.2m/s 9.2m/s
21:00
1018hPa 37J/kg 6% 6.5°C 77% 0% 82% 0mm 70% 0.02mm 1.7dBZ -22° 77% 0mm - - 9m/s
22:00
1018hPa 24J/kg 0% 6.5°C 26% 0% 82% 0mm 70% 0.01mm -6.3dBZ -33° 26% 0.06mm - - 8.9m/s
23:00
1018hPa 17J/kg 0% 6.4°C 12% 0% 82% 0mm 69% 0.01mm -14dBZ -41° 12% 0.06mm 3.5m/s 4m/s 8.8m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 05:55 Sunset 19:14
24:00
1018hPa 23J/kg 0% 6.6°C 19% 0% 82% 0mm 69% 0.02mm -8.3dBZ -46° 19% 0.06mm - - 8.4m/s
01:00
1018hPa 33J/kg 0% 7°C 12% 0% 82% 0mm 68% 0.02mm -2.3dBZ -47° 12% 0.13mm - - 7.8m/s
02:00
1017hPa 26J/kg 2% 7.7°C 6% 0% 82% 0mm 68% 0.02mm 3.8dBZ -42° 6% 0.13mm 3.1m/s 4.6m/s 7.4m/s
03:00
1016hPa 7J/kg 0% 8.2°C 2% 0% 71% 0mm 69% 0mm 1.9dBZ -34° 2% 0mm - - 8.1m/s
04:00
1016hPa 6J/kg 1% 8.4°C 2% 0% 60% 0mm 68% 0.01mm 0.02dBZ -24° 2% 0mm - - 7.1m/s
05:00
1016hPa 6J/kg 0% 8.4°C 3% 0% 50% 0mm 69% 0mm -1.9dBZ -12° 3% 0mm 4m/s 6.7m/s 7.6m/s
06:00
1017hPa 17J/kg 3% 7.8°C 6% 0% 56% 0mm 70% 0.01mm -0.82dBZ 0.71° 6% 0.06mm - - 7.3m/s
07:00
1017hPa 13J/kg 39% 7.4°C 10% 0% 62% 0mm 71% 0.02mm 0.24dBZ 13° 44% 0.06mm - - 7.7m/s
08:00
1018hPa 26J/kg 0% 7.1°C 28% 0% 69% 0mm 71% 0.07mm 1.3dBZ 27° 28% 0.13mm 4.2m/s 6.8m/s 8m/s
09:00
1018hPa 60J/kg 42% 6.8°C 6% 0% 61% 0mm 72% 0.25mm 6.2dBZ 40° 43% 0.25mm - - 7.6m/s
10:00
1018hPa 64J/kg 85% 6.5°C 8% 0% 54% 0mm 72% 0.33mm 11dBZ 54° 85% 0.5mm - - 7.7m/s
11:00
1018hPa 49J/kg 60% 6.2°C 27% 0% 47% 0mm 75% 0.43mm 16dBZ 68° 62% 0.88mm 5.2m/s 6.5m/s 8.2m/s
12:00
1018hPa 53J/kg 100% 5.9°C 24% 0% 50% 0mm 76% 0.66mm 14dBZ 82° 100% 1.6mm - - 7.6m/s
13:00
1018hPa 40J/kg 87% 6°C 17% 0% 53% 0mm 74% 0.15mm 13dBZ 84° 87% 1.9mm - - 7.1m/s
14:00
1017hPa 55J/kg 43% 5.7°C 20% 0% 56% 0mm 74% 0.32mm 11dBZ 70° 54% 2.1mm 4.8m/s 5.5m/s 7.3m/s
15:00
1017hPa 51J/kg 2% 5.6°C 18% 0% 65% 0mm 75% 0.17mm 2.9dBZ 56° 18% 0.31mm - - 7.1m/s
16:00
1017hPa 17J/kg 2% 6.3°C 6% 0% 73% 0mm 70% 0.02mm -5dBZ 42° 6% 0.44mm - - 7.5m/s
17:00
1017hPa 8J/kg 85% 6.3°C 3% 0% 82% 0mm 71% 0.01mm -13dBZ 29° 85% 0.44mm 5m/s 3.6m/s 8.3m/s
18:00
1017hPa 16J/kg 51% 6.5°C 11% 0% 87% 0mm 71% 0.01mm -6.9dBZ 15° 51% 0.44mm - - 8m/s
19:00
1018hPa 33J/kg 6% 6.3°C 13% 0% 92% 0mm 71% 0.01mm -0.9dBZ 2.5° 13% 0.44mm - - 7.8m/s
20:00
1018hPa 44J/kg 100% 6°C 11% 0% 98% 0mm 72% 0.01mm 5.1dBZ -10° 100% 0.5mm 3.7m/s 2.9m/s 7.8m/s
21:00
1019hPa 57J/kg 50% 5.6°C 52% 0% 97% 0mm 74% 0.52mm 5.4dBZ -22° 64% 0.19mm - - 7.7m/s
22:00
1019hPa 45J/kg 33% 5.4°C 35% 0% 96% 0mm 75% 0.28mm 5.7dBZ -33° 36% 0.63mm - - 8.5m/s
23:00
1019hPa 26J/kg 100% 6.2°C 11% 0% 95% 0mm 72% 0.04mm 6dBZ -41° 100% 0.75mm 3.9m/s 2.1m/s 8.3m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 05:54 Sunset 19:14
24:00
1018hPa 17J/kg 100% 6.4°C 11% 0% 96% 0mm 71% 0.03mm 6.3dBZ -46° 100% 0.75mm - - 7.9m/s
01:00
1017hPa 7J/kg 86% 6.2°C 6% 0% 97% 0mm 70% 0.01mm 6.6dBZ -46° 86% 0.81mm - - 7.8m/s
02:00
1017hPa 21J/kg 47% 5.8°C 18% 0% 98% 0mm 71% 0.06mm 6.9dBZ -42° 47% 0.88mm 3.7m/s 0.75m/s 6.9m/s
03:00
1016hPa 7J/kg 21% 6°C 14% 0% 93% 0mm 71% 0.02mm 0.83dBZ -34° 31% 0.06mm - - 7.4m/s
04:00
1016hPa 7J/kg 5% 6.3°C 5% 0% 87% 0mm 70% 0.01mm -5.2dBZ -24° 6% 0.06mm - - 7.1m/s
05:00
1017hPa 19J/kg 27% 5.6°C 9% 0% 82% 0mm 70% 0.03mm -11dBZ -12° 28% 0.13mm 3.1m/s 0.26m/s 6.7m/s
06:00
1017hPa 17J/kg 67% 5.7°C 8% 0% 85% 0mm 71% 0.03mm -5.5dBZ 0.75° 67% 0.13mm - - 7.4m/s
07:00
1018hPa 20J/kg 53% 5.8°C 10% 0% 88% 0mm 70% 0.05mm 0.29dBZ 13° 53% 0.19mm - - 7.2m/s
08:00
1018hPa 26J/kg 100% 5.7°C 29% 0% 90% 0mm 71% 0.06mm 6dBZ 27° 100% 0.25mm 3.7m/s 0.35m/s 7.7m/s
09:00
1002hPa 20J/kg 78% 5.9°C 27% 0% 87% 0.003mm 69% 0.04mm 6.7dBZ 40° 80% 0.21mm - - 6.7m/s
10:00
986hPa 15J/kg 55% 6.2°C 25% 0% 85% 0.007mm 66% 0.03mm 7.3dBZ 54° 60% 0.17mm - - 5.6m/s
11:00
970hPa 9J/kg 33% 6.4°C 23% 0% 82% 0.01mm 64% 0.01mm 7.8dBZ 68° 40% 0.13mm 5.4m/s 2.7m/s 4.5m/s
12:00
971hPa 11J/kg 31% 6°C 15% 0% 85% 0.007mm 70% 0.05mm 6.2dBZ 82° 35% 0.17mm - - 4.2m/s
13:00
971hPa 12J/kg 28% 5.7°C 8% 0% 89% 0.003mm 76% 0.09mm 4.6dBZ 84° 30% 0.21mm - - 3.8m/s
14:00
972hPa 14J/kg 26% 5.3°C 1% 0% 93% 0mm 82% 0.13mm 3dBZ 70° 26% 0.25mm 5m/s 4.2m/s 3.5m/s
15:00
972hPa 26J/kg 19% 4.9°C 32% 0% 88% 0mm 84% 0.26mm 2.3dBZ 56° 49% 0.52mm - - 3.6m/s
16:00
972hPa 38J/kg 11% 4.5°C 63% 0% 83% 0mm 86% 0.38mm 1.6dBZ 43° 71% 0.79mm - - 3.7m/s
17:00
972hPa 50J/kg 4% 4.2°C 94% 0% 79% 0mm 87% 0.51mm 0.97dBZ 29° 94% 1.1mm 4.9m/s 5.1m/s 3.8m/s
18:00
972hPa 49J/kg 3% 4.4°C 93% 2% 84% 0.05mm 88% 0.38mm 3.6dBZ 15° 93% 1.4mm - - 3.7m/s
19:00
971hPa 47J/kg 2% 4.6°C 91% 3% 89% 0.11mm 88% 0.25mm 6.2dBZ 2.6° 91% 1.7mm - - 3.7m/s
20:00
970hPa 46J/kg 2% 4.8°C 89% 5% 95% 0.16mm 89% 0.12mm 8.8dBZ -10° 89% 2mm 5.2m/s 6m/s 3.6m/s
21:00
970hPa 40J/kg 1% 4.9°C 87% 3% 91% 0.11mm 89% 0.15mm 13dBZ -22° 87% 1.5mm - - 3.6m/s
22:00
970hPa 33J/kg 0% 4.9°C 86% 2% 87% 0.05mm 89% 0.17mm 17dBZ -33° 86% 1mm - - 3.5m/s
23:00
970hPa 27J/kg 0% 5°C 84% 0% 83% 0mm 89% 0.2mm 21dBZ -41° 84% 0.56mm 3.5m/s 6.6m/s 3.4m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 05:54 Sunset 19:14
24:00
970hPa 27J/kg 0% 5°C 88% 0% 86% 0.02mm 86% 0.14mm 21dBZ -46° 88% 0.67mm - - 3.6m/s
01:00
971hPa 27J/kg 0% 5.1°C 92% 0% 88% 0.04mm 83% 0.09mm 20dBZ -46° 92% 0.77mm - - 3.7m/s
02:00
971hPa 27J/kg 0% 5.1°C 95% 0% 91% 0.06mm 81% 0.03mm 20dBZ -42° 95% 0.88mm 4.6m/s 6.6m/s 3.8m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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