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Rule Storm Chaser

Waipio Valley - Storm Chaser - Hawaii

Honokaa, 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 96% failing
Cloud Drama Score 79% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts2.1m/s
Precipitation Chance96%
Air Pressure878.7hPa
CAPE385
Lifted Index-3.7°C
Wind Gusts2.1m/s
Precipitation1.0mm

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
15:0021%54%162J/kg-0.5°C10844m3.9m/s
16:0018%62%74J/kg-0.2°C19217m3.4m/s
17:0039%62%73J/kg-0.3°C19332m3.9m/s
18:0022%66%77J/kg-0.4°C19277m3.5m/s
19:0026%68%55J/kg-0.2°C19115m3.6m/s
20:0032%5.2%31J/kg0.1°C20870m2.5m/s
21:000%9.7%95J/kg-0.8°C23271m3.6m/s
22:000%9.1%41J/kg-0.1°C24134m3m/s
23:0014%0.6%37J/kg0.2°C23657m2.5m/s
Wed, Apr 8
24:000%11%36J/kg0.2°C24020m1.8m/s
01:0014%10%46J/kg-0.1°C24135m1.1m/s
02:0023%15%34J/kg-0.1°C24134m0.92m/s
03:000%11%9J/kg1.6°C24134m0.8m/s
04:000%7.3%7J/kg1.3°C24134m1.6m/s
05:0013%5.6%5J/kg1.7°C24135m1.4m/s
06:000%24%0J/kg2.1°C24135m1m/s
07:000%46%0J/kg1.7°C24134m0.51m/s
08:0012%43%0J/kg1.9°C24135m0.4m/s
09:000%20%58J/kg0.2°C24135m1.4m/s
10:000%35%175J/kg-1.2°C23466m1.8m/s
11:0027%23%411J/kg-2.4°C23249m2.3m/s
12:0022%25%438J/kg-3.1°C9495m2.6m/s
13:0026%23%442J/kg-3.4°C5528m2.6m/s
14:0026%23%393J/kg-4°C5516m1.9m/s
15:0022%41%385J/kg-3.7°C5536m2.1m/s
16:0022%51%431J/kg-3.4°C5505m2.2m/s
17:0041%60%246J/kg-1.9°C1520m2.6m/s
18:0034%64%183J/kg-0.5°C3255m1.2m/s
19:0025%64%53J/kg1.1°C13078m1.9m/s
20:0024%0%32J/kg1.4°C24134m1.9m/s
21:000%0%59J/kg1.2°C24134m0.9m/s
22:000%0%40J/kg1.1°C24135m1.4m/s
23:000%0%41J/kg1.2°C24134m1.7m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%0%28J/kg1.3°C24135m0.7m/s
01:000%0%18J/kg1.6°C21799m0.9m/s
02:0015%0%20J/kg1.5°C23556m1.5m/s
03:000%0%17J/kg1.6°C24135m2.5m/s
04:000%0%17J/kg1.4°C18127m2.8m/s
05:0018%0%19J/kg1.6°C1777m1.5m/s
06:0021%62%27J/kg1.8°C854m1.9m/s
07:0028%57%17J/kg1.9°C1173m1.4m/s
08:0015%51%8J/kg1.8°C24135m2.2m/s
09:000%51%2J/kg2°C24135m2.6m/s
10:000%41%1J/kg1.8°C24134m2.4m/s
11:000%24%6J/kg1.4°C24134m2.5m/s
12:000%23%3J/kg1.9°C24135m2.2m/s
13:000%24%1J/kg2.5°C24134m1.8m/s
14:0014%23%23J/kg2°C17507m2.6m/s
15:000%41%5J/kg1.9°C22945m3.3m/s
16:000%51%0J/kg1.8°C24134m2.7m/s
17:0018%60%0J/kg1.5°C24135m1.5m/s
18:000%64%0J/kg1.7°C5689m2m/s
19:0017%64%1J/kg1.5°C3351m1.5m/s
20:0019%0%2J/kg1.9°C19486m1.5m/s
21:0018%0%1J/kg2°C1093m0.91m/s
22:0019%0%2J/kg1.9°C602m1.1m/s
23:0032%0%0J/kg1.3°C945m0.71m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:0032%0%0J/kg1.5°C210m1.3m/s
01:0032%0%2J/kg1.2°C487m1.2m/s
02:0043%0%5J/kg0.9°C584m1.7m/s
03:0029%0%15J/kg0.3°C1475m2.3m/s
04:0031%0%7J/kg0.5°C2427m1.7m/s
05:0044%0%4J/kg0.6°C9302m2.4m/s
06:0024%64%20J/kg0.5°C5681m3.3m/s
07:0040%60%13J/kg0.5°C12370m4.7m/s
08:0049%53%6J/kg-0.2°C24135m5m/s
09:0027%53%61J/kg-0.5°C11678m5.8m/s
10:0020%44%63J/kg-0.8°C10051m6.1m/s
11:0036%25%42J/kg-0.2°C15903m6.3m/s
12:0023%24%25J/kg-0.6°C15258m5.1m/s
13:0022%24%41J/kg-0.8°C17592m5.8m/s
14:0046%25%48J/kg-0.6°C19746m5.2m/s
15:000%48%60J/kg-0.4°C15295m4.3m/s
16:0015%55%37J/kg-0.3°C22793m5.9m/s
17:0028%61%37J/kg-0.1°C20215m6.4m/s
18:0018%65%28J/kg0.2°C5361m7.5m/s
19:0018%64%10J/kg0.5°C5423m7.9m/s
20:0020%0.2%1J/kg0.1°C6802m7.4m/s
21:0016%0%0.67J/kg0.96°C12580m6m/s
22:000%0%0.33J/kg1.8°C18357m4.6m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg2.7°C24135m3.1m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%0%0J/kg2.9°C24135m2.8m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg3.2°C24135m2.4m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg3.4°C24135m2.1m/s
03:000%0%10J/kg2.5°C24135m2.8m/s
04:000%0%20J/kg1.5°C24135m3.4m/s
05:000%0%30J/kg0.53°C24135m4m/s
06:000%62%55J/kg0.25°C16225m4m/s
07:000%57%79J/kg-0.03°C8315m3.9m/s
08:0023%48%104J/kg-0.3°C405m3.9m/s
09:0019%51%101J/kg-0.52°C421m3.7m/s
10:0019%41%98J/kg-0.73°C437m3.6m/s
11:0022%23%95J/kg-0.95°C453m3.4m/s
12:0018%23%79J/kg-1°C506m3.3m/s
13:0018%23%63J/kg-1.1°C559m3.2m/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 06:08 Sunset 18:38
15:00
879hPa 385J/kg 100% -3.7°C 67% 100% 96% 0.01mm 84% 0.78mm 17dBZ 50° 100% 1mm - - 1.8m/s
16:00
879hPa 431J/kg 100% -3.4°C 66% 100% 92% 0.65mm 86% 1.3mm 17dBZ 36° 100% 1.8mm - - 1.8m/s
17:00
879hPa 246J/kg 100% -1.9°C 77% 100% 88% 3.1mm 88% 1.4mm 16dBZ 22° 100% 4.4mm 1.4m/s 5.7m/s 1.5m/s
18:00
880hPa 183J/kg 100% -0.5°C 93% 100% 89% 5.1mm 88% 0.46mm 17dBZ 8.2° 100% 8.4mm - - 0.46m/s
19:00
880hPa 53J/kg 100% 1.1°C 82% 100% 90% 0.69mm 78% 0.27mm 17dBZ -5.8° 100% 11mm - - 1.3m/s
20:00
881hPa 32J/kg 100% 1.4°C 30% 100% 91% 0.21mm 74% 0.01mm 18dBZ -20° 100% 12mm 4.1m/s 5m/s 1.3m/s
21:00
881hPa 59J/kg 100% 1.2°C 53% 100% 88% 0.22mm 79% 0mm 21dBZ -33° 100% 0.19mm - - 0.18m/s
22:00
881hPa 40J/kg 100% 1.1°C 41% 100% 86% 0.17mm 78% 0mm 24dBZ -45° 100% 0.44mm - - 0.63m/s
23:00
881hPa 41J/kg 100% 1.2°C 29% 100% 84% 0.05mm 79% 0mm 27dBZ -56° 100% 0.5mm 4m/s 7.3m/s 1m/s
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:08 Sunset 18:38
24:00
880hPa 28J/kg 100% 1.3°C 35% 100% 83% 0.07mm 79% 0mm 22dBZ -62° 100% 0.56mm - - 0.19m/s
01:00
880hPa 18J/kg 100% 1.6°C 50% 100% 82% 0.34mm 82% 0.15mm 17dBZ -61° 100% 1mm - - 0.47m/s
02:00
879hPa 20J/kg 100% 1.5°C 34% 100% 81% 0.34mm 84% 0.01mm 12dBZ -53° 100% 1.4mm 5.7m/s 8.8m/s 0.99m/s
03:00
879hPa 17J/kg 100% 1.6°C 54% 100% 67% 0.21mm 85% 0.01mm 15dBZ -43° 100% 0.31mm - - 1.4m/s
04:00
878hPa 17J/kg 100% 1.4°C 28% 100% 53% 0.12mm 86% 0.08mm 17dBZ -30° 100% 0.5mm - - 2m/s
05:00
878hPa 19J/kg 100% 1.6°C 55% 100% 39% 0.13mm 89% 0.06mm 19dBZ -17° 100% 0.69mm 4.4m/s 9.6m/s 1.1m/s
06:00
879hPa 27J/kg 100% 1.8°C 86% 100% 52% 0.34mm 89% 0.03mm 20dBZ -2.7° 100% 1mm - - 1.6m/s
07:00
879hPa 17J/kg 100% 1.9°C 77% 100% 66% 0.12mm 82% 0.01mm 20dBZ 11° 100% 1.1mm - - 1.2m/s
08:00
879hPa 8J/kg 100% 1.8°C 89% 100% 80% 0.14mm 75% 0.01mm 20dBZ 25° 100% 1.3mm 3.7m/s 5.2m/s 1.7m/s
09:00
879hPa 2J/kg 100% 2°C 69% 99% 84% 0.08mm 74% 0mm 8.6dBZ 39° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.6m/s
10:00
879hPa 1J/kg 100% 1.8°C 48% 100% 88% 0.03mm 72% 0mm -3.1dBZ 53° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.3m/s
11:00
879hPa 6J/kg 100% 1.4°C 73% 100% 93% 0.23mm 68% 0mm -15dBZ 66° 100% 0.19mm 5.1m/s 9.3m/s 0.46m/s
12:00
878hPa 3J/kg 63% 1.9°C 66% 99% 94% 0.1mm 74% 0.01mm -13dBZ 77° 99% 0.31mm - - 1m/s
13:00
878hPa 1J/kg 93% 2.5°C 22% 95% 96% 0mm 74% 0.04mm -12dBZ 75° 95% 0.31mm - - 0.59m/s
14:00
877hPa 23J/kg 100% 2°C 57% 66% 98% 0mm 78% 0.1mm -9.9dBZ 64° 100% 0.38mm 3.3m/s 10m/s 1.8m/s
15:00
877hPa 5J/kg 100% 1.9°C 63% 100% 97% 0mm 80% 0.06mm 1.7dBZ 50° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.8m/s
16:00
877hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.8°C 51% 100% 95% 0.01mm 79% 0.02mm 13dBZ 36° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.4m/s
17:00
877hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.5°C 79% 100% 94% 0.08mm 75% 0mm 25dBZ 22° 100% 0.13mm 6.9m/s 15m/s 1m/s
18:00
878hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.7°C 57% 100% 95% 0.06mm 88% 0.1mm 23dBZ 8.2° 100% 0.19mm - - 1.8m/s
19:00
879hPa 1J/kg 100% 1.5°C 69% 100% 95% 0.36mm 93% 0.11mm 21dBZ -5.7° 100% 0.44mm - - 1.5m/s
20:00
879hPa 2J/kg 100% 1.9°C 47% 100% 95% 0.47mm 92% 0.04mm 19dBZ -19° 100% 1mm 7.5m/s 18m/s 1.2m/s
21:00
880hPa 1J/kg 91% 2°C 64% 100% 92% 0.13mm 92% 0.05mm 19dBZ -33° 100% 0.5mm - - 1m/s
22:00
880hPa 2J/kg 100% 1.9°C 90% 99% 88% 0.15mm 90% 0.03mm 19dBZ -45° 100% 0.69mm - - 1m/s
23:00
880hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.3°C 95% 100% 84% 0.34mm 91% 0.01mm 19dBZ -55° 100% 0.94mm 8.6m/s 19m/s 0.81m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:07 Sunset 18:38
24:00
879hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.5°C 82% 100% 88% 0.75mm 95% 0.02mm 23dBZ -61° 100% 1.6mm - - 1.3m/s
01:00
879hPa 2J/kg 100% 1.2°C 94% 100% 92% 1.5mm 95% 0.02mm 26dBZ -60° 100% 2.4mm - - 1.2m/s
02:00
878hPa 5J/kg 100% 0.9°C 84% 100% 95% 1.4mm 93% 0.01mm 30dBZ -53° 100% 4.4mm 8.8m/s 24m/s 1.5m/s
03:00
877hPa 15J/kg 100% 0.3°C 88% 100% 84% 1.3mm 91% 0.09mm 29dBZ -42° 100% 1.6mm - - 1.8m/s
04:00
876hPa 7J/kg 100% 0.5°C 86% 100% 73% 2.7mm 91% 0.02mm 29dBZ -30° 100% 3.8mm - - 1.2m/s
05:00
877hPa 4J/kg 100% 0.6°C 94% 100% 62% 2.3mm 87% 0mm 29dBZ -16° 100% 5.6mm 14m/s 22m/s 2.2m/s
06:00
877hPa 20J/kg 100% 0.5°C 95% 100% 70% 3.1mm 86% 0.01mm 30dBZ -2.5° 100% 8.3mm - - 2.8m/s
07:00
877hPa 13J/kg 96% 0.5°C 87% 100% 78% 1.5mm 82% 0.02mm 30dBZ 11° 100% 10mm - - 3.5m/s
08:00
877hPa 6J/kg 100% -0.2°C 41% 100% 85% 0.36mm 78% 0mm 31dBZ 26° 100% 11mm 18m/s 26m/s 2.6m/s
09:00
878hPa 61J/kg 100% -0.5°C 51% 100% 87% 1.4mm 79% 0.21mm 30dBZ 40° 100% 1.1mm - - 2.8m/s
10:00
878hPa 63J/kg 100% -0.8°C 69% 82% 88% 0.17mm 81% 0.47mm 30dBZ 53° 100% 4.1mm - - 2.3m/s
11:00
879hPa 42J/kg 100% -0.2°C 63% 80% 90% 1.3mm 80% 0.06mm 29dBZ 67° 100% 4.8mm 12m/s 17m/s 2.4m/s
12:00
878hPa 25J/kg 100% -0.6°C 93% 96% 92% 0.22mm 79% 0.23mm 27dBZ 77° 100% 5.3mm - - 3.3m/s
13:00
878hPa 41J/kg 100% -0.8°C 96% 96% 95% 1mm 86% 0.13mm 25dBZ 75° 100% 6.2mm - - 3m/s
14:00
878hPa 48J/kg 90% -0.6°C 100% 94% 97% 1.1mm 88% 0.63mm 24dBZ 64° 100% 7.4mm 9.3m/s 12m/s 3.1m/s
15:00
878hPa 60J/kg 83% -0.4°C 64% 84% 86% 0.18mm 87% 0.28mm 11dBZ 50° 85% 0.69mm - - 1.9m/s
16:00
878hPa 37J/kg 98% -0.3°C 15% 16% 74% 0.02mm 81% 0.23mm -0.89dBZ 36° 98% 1.1mm - - 3.3m/s
17:00
878hPa 37J/kg 100% -0.1°C 50% 25% 62% 0mm 86% 0.31mm -13dBZ 22° 100% 1.5mm 10m/s 10m/s 4.2m/s
18:00
878hPa 28J/kg 100% 0.2°C 80% 35% 66% 0mm 96% 0.1mm -15dBZ 8.3° 100% 1.8mm - - 4.6m/s
19:00
879hPa 10J/kg 100% 0.5°C 77% 58% 69% 0.03mm 95% 0mm -18dBZ -5.7° 100% 1.9mm - - 5.2m/s
20:00
879hPa 1J/kg 100% 0.1°C 22% 48% 73% 0.01mm 92% 0.06mm -20dBZ -19° 100% 1.9mm 11m/s 5.6m/s 4.8m/s
21:00
879hPa 0.67J/kg 89% 0.96°C 15% 32% 58% 0.007mm 89% 0.04mm -20dBZ -33° 89% 1.3mm - - 4.1m/s
22:00
879hPa 0.33J/kg 77% 1.8°C 8% 16% 44% 0.003mm 85% 0.02mm -20dBZ -45° 77% 0.65mm - - 3.3m/s
23:00
879hPa 0J/kg 66% 2.7°C 1% 0% 30% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -55° 66% 0mm 10m/s 7.4m/s 2.6m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:06 Sunset 18:38
24:00
879hPa 0J/kg 77% 2.9°C 1% 0% 30% 0.003mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 77% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
01:00
879hPa 0J/kg 89% 3.2°C 0% 0% 30% 0.007mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 89% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
02:00
880hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.4°C 0% 0% 29% 0.01mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -53° 100% 0mm 10m/s 8.5m/s 1.3m/s
03:00
880hPa 10J/kg 100% 2.5°C 5% 1% 36% 0.01mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
04:00
880hPa 20J/kg 100% 1.5°C 11% 2% 42% 0.01mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 100% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
05:00
881hPa 30J/kg 100% 0.53°C 16% 2% 49% 0.01mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 100% 0mm 11m/s 6.4m/s 2.8m/s
06:00
880hPa 55J/kg 100% 0.25°C 23% 18% 53% 0.007mm 76% 0.08mm -20dBZ -2.3° 100% 0.1mm - - 2.9m/s
07:00
880hPa 79J/kg 100% -0.03°C 31% 34% 56% 0.003mm 79% 0.16mm -20dBZ 12° 100% 0.21mm - - 3m/s
08:00
880hPa 104J/kg 100% -0.3°C 39% 50% 60% 0mm 82% 0.24mm -20dBZ 26° 100% 0.31mm 10m/s 6.5m/s 3.1m/s
09:00
880hPa 101J/kg 99% -0.52°C 33% 40% 71% 0.01mm 83% 0.18mm -16dBZ 40° 99% 0.35mm - - 2.9m/s
10:00
880hPa 98J/kg 98% -0.73°C 28% 30% 83% 0.02mm 83% 0.13mm -13dBZ 54° 98% 0.4mm - - 2.6m/s
11:00
880hPa 95J/kg 97% -0.95°C 22% 21% 95% 0.03mm 84% 0.07mm -8.8dBZ 67° 97% 0.44mm 13m/s 7.3m/s 2.3m/s
12:00
880hPa 79J/kg 98% -1°C 27% 46% 95% 0.02mm 87% 0.05mm -5.5dBZ 77° 98% 0.46mm - - 2m/s
13:00
880hPa 63J/kg 99% -1.1°C 32% 72% 96% 0.02mm 90% 0.02mm -2.3dBZ 75° 99% 0.48mm - - 1.6m/s
14:00
881hPa 47J/kg 100% -1.1°C 37% 97% 96% 0.01mm 92% 0mm 0.99dBZ 64° 100% 0.5mm 11m/s 7.8m/s 1.3m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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