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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 100% failing
Cloud Drama Score 65% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts2.1m/s
Precipitation Chance96%
Air Pressure877.5hPa
CAPE11
Lifted Index1.5°C
Wind Gusts2.1m/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 79 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
Thu, Mar 12
19:0017%30%12J/kg0.2°C24135m2.7m/s
20:0032%1.1%5J/kg0.3°C24135m2m/s
21:000%11%14J/kg1°C24134m1.3m/s
22:0015%15%6J/kg1.2°C1731m1.1m/s
23:0013%5.2%3J/kg1.1°C24134m2.8m/s
Fri, Mar 13
24:000%0%2J/kg1.4°C24135m4.8m/s
01:000%0%2J/kg1.2°C24135m2.9m/s
02:0015%0%8J/kg1°C24135m1.8m/s
03:000%0.1%11J/kg1.5°C24135m2.1m/s
04:0015%0%6J/kg1.8°C11123m2.1m/s
05:0040%0%2J/kg1.1°C3469m3.6m/s
06:0031%55%4J/kg0.4°C1821m1m/s
07:0035%64%17J/kg1.4°C352m1.1m/s
08:0042%60%24J/kg0.1°C311m1m/s
09:0018%53%8J/kg0.4°C3743m6.5m/s
10:000%41%3J/kg0.6°C15690m5.3m/s
11:0028%42%2J/kg1.1°C23515m1.5m/s
12:0025%23%12J/kg0.2°C3522m1.5m/s
13:0015%23%14J/kg0.3°C21775m2.2m/s
14:0028%43%8J/kg0.6°C23387m4.7m/s
15:000%43%3J/kg1.1°C13382m5.1m/s
16:0016%53%1J/kg0.9°C12318m5.2m/s
17:0039%62%1J/kg0.9°C15041m7.3m/s
18:0030%64%0J/kg0.5°C4421m1.8m/s
19:0036%58%0J/kg0.7°C211m3.9m/s
20:0047%0.2%8J/kg0.3°C848m7.9m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg0.9°C22918m6.8m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg0.6°C21399m10m/s
23:0020%0%0J/kg0.7°C24135m7.7m/s
Sat, Mar 14
24:000%0.4%4J/kg0.2°C24134m10m/s
01:000%0.2%0J/kg0.3°C24135m11m/s
02:0023%0%0J/kg0.4°C24135m10m/s
03:0018%0.9%4J/kg1.1°C24135m12m/s
04:000%0.2%1J/kg0.4°C24134m8.6m/s
05:0039%2.7%2J/kg-0.1°C21111m12m/s
06:0036%57%0J/kg0.3°C9176m15m/s
07:0037%77%15J/kg-0.4°C23144m13m/s
08:0048%87%8J/kg0.7°C24135m12m/s
09:000%100%17J/kg-0.2°C24134m9.1m/s
10:0018%84%20J/kg-0.3°C24134m13m/s
11:0036%49%32J/kg-0.7°C24135m13m/s
12:0018%39%57J/kg-0.4°C23199m13m/s
13:0018%30%48J/kg-0.8°C23883m13m/s
14:0024%59%53J/kg-0.6°C23444m12m/s
15:000%60%44J/kg-0.4°C24134m11m/s
16:000%56%2J/kg0.2°C24135m9.6m/s
17:0021%57%5J/kg0.6°C24134m9.5m/s
18:000%58%5J/kg1.3°C24134m7.6m/s
19:000%61%4J/kg1.5°C24135m6.8m/s
20:0021%10%0J/kg0.7°C24135m7.6m/s
21:000%12%1J/kg1.4°C24134m7.1m/s
22:000%5.1%0J/kg1.1°C24135m7.2m/s
23:0021%3.8%0J/kg1.6°C24134m7.4m/s
Sun, Mar 15
24:000%8%0J/kg1.4°C24134m7.5m/s
01:000%8.6%10J/kg0.8°C24135m7.9m/s
02:0020%1.9%16J/kg1.2°C24135m7.4m/s
03:000%3.2%20J/kg0.7°C24135m7.9m/s
04:000%3.9%24J/kg0.7°C24135m8.1m/s
05:0021%2.5%29J/kg0.6°C24135m7.4m/s
06:000%82%22J/kg0.7°C24135m7.2m/s
07:000%100%9J/kg0.8°C24134m6.4m/s
08:0022%73%33J/kg-0.1°C24135m8.4m/s
09:000%55%24J/kg0.08°C24135m8.4m/s
10:000%45%16J/kg0.26°C24135m8.5m/s
11:0022%43%7J/kg0.43°C24135m8.5m/s
12:000%25%8.3J/kg0.34°C24135m7.7m/s
13:000%22%9.7J/kg0.26°C24135m6.8m/s
14:0020%46%11J/kg0.17°C24135m5.9m/s
15:000%45%11J/kg0.11°C24135m6.1m/s
16:000%55%12J/kg0.05°C24135m6.2m/s
17:0019%62%12J/kg-0.008°C24135m6.3m/s
18:000%64%11J/kg-0.02°C23857m5.6m/s
19:000%55%11J/kg-0.04°C23579m5m/s
20:0018%0%10J/kg-0.06°C23300m4.3m/s
21:000%0%8.7J/kg-0.05°C23579m4m/s
22:000%0%7.3J/kg-0.04°C23857m3.8m/s
23:0015%0%6J/kg-0.03°C24135m3.5m/s
Mon, Mar 16
24:000%0%5.7J/kg-0.04°C24135m4.1m/s
01:000%0%5.3J/kg-0.05°C24135m4.6m/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
Fri, Mar 13 Sunrise 06:31 Sunset 18:30
03:00
878hPa 11J/kg 100% 1.5°C 61% 100% 96% 0.23mm 82% 0mm 21dBZ -50° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.6m/s
04:00
877hPa 6J/kg 100% 1.8°C 56% 100% 93% 1.2mm 80% 0mm 18dBZ -36° 100% 0.69mm - - 1.4m/s
05:00
877hPa 2J/kg 100% 1.1°C 77% 100% 90% 2.7mm 83% 0mm 16dBZ -22° 100% 2.4mm 14m/s 17m/s 3m/s
06:00
877hPa 4J/kg 100% 0.4°C 83% 95% 93% 0.12mm 83% 0.01mm 17dBZ -8.2° 100% 3.1mm - - 0.4m/s
07:00
877hPa 17J/kg 100% 1.4°C 27% 47% 96% 0mm 86% 0.03mm 18dBZ 5.9° 100% 3.1mm - - 1.1m/s
08:00
878hPa 24J/kg 100% 0.1°C 73% 88% 100% 0mm 84% 0.02mm 20dBZ 20° 100% 3.2mm 14m/s 18m/s 0.56m/s
09:00
878hPa 8J/kg 98% 0.4°C 28% 98% 100% 0mm 75% 0mm 13dBZ 33° 98% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
10:00
879hPa 3J/kg 100% 0.6°C 66% 100% 100% 0.89mm 78% 0.06mm 6.6dBZ 47° 100% 0.31mm - - 3.5m/s
11:00
878hPa 2J/kg 100% 1.1°C 20% 100% 100% 0.44mm 84% 0mm 0.11dBZ 58° 100% 1.1mm 13m/s 17m/s 1.1m/s
12:00
877hPa 12J/kg 100% 0.2°C 56% 100% 100% 0.1mm 77% 0.07mm 9.4dBZ 66° 100% 1.3mm - - 1.2m/s
13:00
877hPa 14J/kg 100% 0.3°C 42% 100% 100% 0.13mm 82% 0.15mm 19dBZ 66° 100% 1.5mm - - 1.5m/s
14:00
876hPa 8J/kg 100% 0.6°C 38% 100% 100% 0.24mm 80% 0.07mm 28dBZ 59° 100% 1.8mm 7.7m/s 18m/s 2.7m/s
15:00
875hPa 3J/kg 100% 1.1°C 54% 100% 97% 0.99mm 80% 0.06mm 28dBZ 47° 100% 0.69mm - - 2.8m/s
16:00
875hPa 1J/kg 100% 0.9°C 71% 100% 94% 0.87mm 87% 0mm 29dBZ 34° 100% 1.5mm - - 2.6m/s
17:00
875hPa 1J/kg 100% 0.9°C 90% 100% 90% 0.62mm 88% 0.02mm 29dBZ 20° 100% 2.7mm 18m/s 17m/s 3.4m/s
18:00
875hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.5°C 86% 100% 93% 0.4mm 90% 0.02mm 28dBZ 6.5° 100% 3.3mm - - 0.44m/s
19:00
876hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.7°C 94% 100% 96% 1.3mm 96% 0.04mm 27dBZ -7.6° 100% 4mm - - 1.8m/s
20:00
876hPa 8J/kg 100% 0.3°C 66% 94% 99% 0.19mm 82% 0.03mm 27dBZ -22° 100% 4.8mm 19m/s 19m/s 2.2m/s
21:00
877hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.9°C 22% 100% 98% 0.03mm 82% 0mm 24dBZ -36° 100% 0.06mm - - 3m/s
22:00
877hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.6°C 75% 100% 98% 0.39mm 77% 0mm 22dBZ -49° 100% 0.19mm - - 6.3m/s
23:00
876hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.7°C 11% 89% 97% 0.09mm 80% 0mm 20dBZ -62° 100% 0.5mm 19m/s 19m/s 2.7m/s
Sat, Mar 14 Sunrise 06:31 Sunset 18:30
24:00
875hPa 4J/kg 100% 0.2°C 22% 81% 98% 0.04mm 84% 0.1mm 8.8dBZ -71° 100% 0.75mm - - 4.6m/s
01:00
874hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.3°C 17% 71% 99% 0mm 76% 0mm -2dBZ -71° 100% 0.81mm - - 4.5m/s
02:00
874hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.4°C 7% 16% 100% 0.01mm 78% 0.11mm -13dBZ -62° 100% 0.88mm 24m/s 23m/s 4.3m/s
03:00
874hPa 4J/kg 100% 1.1°C 30% 75% 95% 0mm 77% 0.26mm -13dBZ -50° 100% 0.06mm - - 6.2m/s
04:00
873hPa 1J/kg 100% 0.4°C 35% 97% 91% 0.09mm 77% 0.1mm -13dBZ -36° 100% 0.38mm - - 4.5m/s
05:00
873hPa 2J/kg 72% -0.1°C 12% 96% 86% 0.91mm 78% 0.1mm -13dBZ -22° 96% 2.2mm 24m/s 20m/s 5.9m/s
06:00
874hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.3°C 9% 73% 90% 2.3mm 78% 0mm -6.8dBZ -8° 100% 4.6mm - - 6.4m/s
07:00
875hPa 15J/kg 77% -0.4°C 86% 86% 94% 0.77mm 76% 0.05mm -0.23dBZ 6.1° 88% 6.4mm - - 5.6m/s
08:00
875hPa 8J/kg 42% 0.7°C 91% 96% 98% 0.02mm 70% 0.03mm 6.3dBZ 20° 96% 7.3mm 20m/s 21m/s 5.6m/s
09:00
876hPa 17J/kg 48% -0.2°C 48% 44% 98% 0mm 72% 0.02mm -1.9dBZ 34° 55% 0.06mm - - 4.9m/s
10:00
876hPa 20J/kg 8% -0.3°C 26% 32% 97% 0mm 62% 0.05mm -10dBZ 47° 32% 0.19mm - - 6.9m/s
11:00
875hPa 32J/kg 98% -0.7°C 5% 10% 97% 0mm 59% 0.05mm -18dBZ 58° 98% 0.25mm 16m/s 21m/s 6.4m/s
12:00
875hPa 57J/kg 7% -0.4°C 10% 35% 97% 0mm 54% 0.33mm -17dBZ 66° 35% 0.38mm - - 6.8m/s
13:00
875hPa 48J/kg 97% -0.8°C 28% 93% 96% 0mm 53% 0.1mm -16dBZ 67° 98% 0.63mm - - 6.5m/s
14:00
875hPa 53J/kg 82% -0.6°C 65% 75% 96% 0mm 55% 0.15mm -15dBZ 59° 83% 0.81mm 13m/s 20m/s 7.1m/s
15:00
874hPa 44J/kg 74% -0.4°C 65% 80% 95% 0mm 58% 0.01mm -12dBZ 47° 82% 0.06mm - - 5.9m/s
16:00
874hPa 2J/kg 97% 0.2°C 20% 24% 93% 0mm 59% 0mm -8.4dBZ 34° 97% 0.06mm - - 5.2m/s
17:00
875hPa 5J/kg 100% 0.6°C 6% 24% 92% 0mm 59% 0.02mm -5.1dBZ 20° 100% 0.13mm 18m/s 19m/s 5.2m/s
18:00
875hPa 5J/kg 96% 1.3°C 4% 69% 92% 0mm 65% 0mm -10dBZ 6.6° 96% 0.13mm - - 4.1m/s
19:00
876hPa 4J/kg 100% 1.5°C 27% 71% 93% 0mm 68% 0mm -15dBZ -7.5° 100% 0.13mm - - 3.8m/s
20:00
876hPa 0J/kg 92% 0.7°C 0% 20% 93% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 92% 0.13mm 18m/s 18m/s 4.3m/s
21:00
877hPa 1J/kg 99% 1.4°C 8% 5% 92% 0mm 70% 0mm -19dBZ -36° 99% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
22:00
877hPa 0J/kg 95% 1.1°C 7% 11% 90% 0mm 69% 0mm -19dBZ -49° 95% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
23:00
877hPa 0J/kg 90% 1.6°C 17% 18% 89% 0mm 67% 0mm -18dBZ -61° 90% 0mm 17m/s 22m/s 4.1m/s
Sun, Mar 15 Sunrise 06:30 Sunset 18:31
24:00
877hPa 0J/kg 74% 1.4°C 20% 20% 91% 0mm 66% 0mm -18dBZ -70° 74% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
01:00
877hPa 10J/kg 100% 0.8°C 54% 55% 94% 0mm 65% 0mm -18dBZ -71° 100% 0mm - - 5m/s
02:00
876hPa 16J/kg 100% 1.2°C 49% 51% 96% 0mm 65% 0mm -18dBZ -62° 100% 0mm 14m/s 22m/s 4m/s
03:00
876hPa 20J/kg 86% 0.7°C 73% 72% 96% 0mm 65% 0mm -10dBZ -49° 86% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
04:00
876hPa 24J/kg 11% 0.7°C 78% 84% 95% 0mm 65% 0.01mm -2.6dBZ -36° 86% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
05:00
876hPa 29J/kg 39% 0.6°C 81% 97% 95% 0.01mm 66% 0mm 4.9dBZ -22° 97% 0mm 15m/s 23m/s 4.2m/s
06:00
877hPa 22J/kg 52% 0.7°C 61% 80% 96% 0mm 66% 0mm 3.9dBZ -7.8° 81% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
07:00
877hPa 9J/kg 5% 0.8°C 25% 19% 98% 0mm 67% 0mm 2.9dBZ 6.3° 25% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
08:00
878hPa 33J/kg 66% -0.1°C 90% 79% 100% 0mm 64% 0.1mm 1.9dBZ 20° 91% 0.13mm 15m/s 21m/s 4.5m/s
09:00
878hPa 24J/kg 76% 0.08°C 65% 58% 100% 0.01mm 66% 0.08mm -3.5dBZ 34° 92% 0.21mm - - 4.5m/s
10:00
877hPa 16J/kg 86% 0.26°C 39% 37% 99% 0.02mm 67% 0.06mm -8.8dBZ 47° 94% 0.29mm - - 4.5m/s
11:00
877hPa 7J/kg 95% 0.43°C 14% 16% 99% 0.03mm 68% 0.04mm -14dBZ 59° 95% 0.38mm 14m/s 21m/s 4.4m/s
12:00
878hPa 8.3J/kg 91% 0.34°C 11% 38% 99% 0.04mm 74% 0.04mm -13dBZ 67° 91% 0.46mm - - 4m/s
13:00
878hPa 9.7J/kg 86% 0.26°C 9% 60% 99% 0.04mm 80% 0.04mm -11dBZ 67° 87% 0.54mm - - 3.6m/s
14:00
879hPa 11J/kg 82% 0.17°C 6% 83% 99% 0.05mm 86% 0.04mm -9.6dBZ 59° 83% 0.63mm 14m/s 21m/s 3.2m/s
15:00
879hPa 11J/kg 88% 0.11°C 13% 83% 90% 0.04mm 84% 0.03mm -13dBZ 47° 88% 0.5mm - - 3.5m/s
16:00
879hPa 12J/kg 94% 0.05°C 19% 84% 81% 0.04mm 83% 0.03mm -15dBZ 34° 94% 0.38mm - - 3.8m/s
17:00
880hPa 12J/kg 100% -0.008°C 26% 85% 73% 0.03mm 81% 0.02mm -18dBZ 21° 100% 0.25mm 15m/s 17m/s 4.1m/s
18:00
879hPa 11J/kg 100% -0.02°C 19% 90% 79% 0.02mm 81% 0.01mm -17dBZ 6.7° 100% 0.29mm - - 3.7m/s
19:00
879hPa 11J/kg 100% -0.04°C 12% 95% 84% 0.02mm 81% 0.007mm -16dBZ -7.5° 100% 0.33mm - - 3.3m/s
20:00
879hPa 10J/kg 100% -0.06°C 6% 100% 90% 0.01mm 80% 0mm -15dBZ -22° 100% 0.38mm 15m/s 16m/s 2.9m/s
21:00
878hPa 8.7J/kg 100% -0.05°C 5% 85% 83% 0.007mm 80% 0mm -13dBZ -35° 100% 0.25mm - - 2.6m/s
22:00
878hPa 7.3J/kg 100% -0.04°C 4% 70% 76% 0.003mm 80% 0mm -9.7dBZ -49° 100% 0.13mm - - 2.3m/s
23:00
878hPa 6J/kg 100% -0.03°C 4% 54% 69% 0mm 80% 0mm -6.8dBZ -61° 100% 0mm 11m/s 15m/s 2m/s
Mon, Mar 16 Sunrise 06:29 Sunset 18:31
24:00
879hPa 5.7J/kg 100% -0.04°C 3% 39% 76% 0mm 80% 0mm -11dBZ -70° 100% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
01:00
879hPa 5.3J/kg 100% -0.05°C 3% 23% 83% 0mm 79% 0mm -16dBZ -70° 100% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
02:00
880hPa 5J/kg 100% -0.06°C 3% 7% 90% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 100% 0mm 11m/s 16m/s 2.2m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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