Rule
Dramatic Seascapes
Arnarstapi - Dramatic Seascapes - Iceland Coast
Hellnar, West, Iceland
Dramatic coastal photography conditions - powerful waves combined with atmospheric drama and good visibility for seascape shots.
Upcoming Opportunities
When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.
Times shown in Atlantic/Reykjavik
Next opportunity
Dramatic Seascapes
Arnarstapi
Tomorrow · 11:00–12:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
50%
Dramatic Seascapes
Arnarstapi
Wed, Jan 14 · 17:00–18:00
Medium
Dramatic Seascapes
Arnarstapi
Thu, Jan 15 · 10:00–11:00
Medium
Dramatic Seascapes
Arnarstapi
Thu, Jan 15 · 11:00–17:00
Low
Dramatic Seascapes
Arnarstapi
Thu, Jan 15 · 17:00–18:00
Low
Dramatic Seascapes
Arnarstapi
Sun, Jan 18 · 09:00–11:00
Low
Dramatic Seascapes
Arnarstapi
Sun, Jan 18 · 11:00–17:00
Low
+2 more windows in the next 14 days
What this forecast looks for
Plain-language explanation from the ruleThis forecast identifies when dramatic conditions align for photography along Iceland's otherworldly coastline. We track cloud drama, visibility, and wind patterns to predict when Atlantic storms create the most photogenic conditions.
Iceland's coastline offers landscapes found nowhere else on Earth—black volcanic sand, basalt columns, sea stacks, glacial icebergs washed ashore, and some of the world's most powerful waves. The interplay between North Atlantic weather and this volcanic shore creates constantly changing drama.
What makes Iceland's coast special for dramatic photography:
- Unique geology - Black sand beaches, columnar basalt, and volcanic formations unlike anywhere else
- Extreme contrast - Dark sand against white waves, blue icebergs, and stormy skies
- Powerful seas - North Atlantic waves create dramatic action (but demand respect and safe distances)
- Arctic light - Long golden hours and dramatic weather fronts
Dramatic conditions peak during autumn and winter storms (September-March), though Iceland can deliver drama year-round. The key is balancing dramatic weather with workable shooting conditions. Our forecast helps identify windows when storms have passed but interesting skies and waves remain. Always maintain safe distances from the waves at Reynisfjara and Diamond Beach—sneaker waves are genuinely dangerous.
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72-hour requirements breakdown
What passed or failed, hour by hourAND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time Atlantic/Reykjavik | Coastal Drama Score ≥ 75.0% | Significant Wave Height ≥ 1.5m | Visibility ≥ 5000.0m | Wind Gusts ≤ 22.0m/s | Precipitation Chance ≤ 30.0% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jan 11 | |||||
| 24:00 | 7.3% | 1.3m | 36820m | 9.4m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 7.3% | 1.3m | 39600m | 9.4m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 7.3% | 1.4m | 43180m | 9.3m/s | 1% |
| 03:00 | 7.7% | 1.5m | 46380m | 11m/s | 2% |
| 04:00 | 8.7% | 1.8m | 50000m | 12m/s | 3% |
| 05:00 | 14% | 2m | 50000m | 13m/s | 5% |
| 06:00 | 14% | 2.3m | 41560m | 14m/s | 6% |
| 07:00 | 14% | 2.4m | 42380m | 15m/s | 7% |
| 08:00 | 15% | 2.5m | 40980m | 17m/s | 8% |
| 09:00 | 45% | 2.6m | 42440m | 17m/s | 8% |
| 10:00 | 42% | 2.7m | 43120m | 17m/s | 6% |
| 11:00 | 49% | 2.8m | 44780m | 17m/s | 4% |
| 12:00 | 47% | 2.9m | 44840m | 15m/s | 2% |
| 13:00 | 49% | 3m | 50000m | 14m/s | 1% |
| 14:00 | 61% | 3m | 50000m | 12m/s | 0% |
| 15:00 | 60% | 3m | 50000m | 12m/s | 0% |
| 16:00 | 61% | 3.1m | 44300m | 12m/s | 0% |
| 17:00 | 52% | 3.2m | 37020m | 10m/s | 0% |
| 18:00 | 54% | 3.2m | 38060m | 11m/s | 0% |
| 19:00 | 19% | 3.2m | 31140m | 13m/s | 1% |
| 20:00 | 19% | 3.2m | 50000m | 13m/s | 3% |
| 21:00 | 19% | 3.1m | 50000m | 14m/s | 4% |
| 22:00 | 20% | 3.1m | 50000m | 18m/s | 3% |
| 23:00 | 20% | 3.1m | 37960m | 18m/s | 1% |
| Mon, Jan 12 | |||||
| 24:00 | 19% | 3m | 3580m | 18m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 19% | 3m | 3020m | 17m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 20% | 3m | 2840m | 20m/s | 0% |
| 03:00 | 21% | 3m | 36960m | 20m/s | 0% |
| 04:00 | 17% | 3.1m | 5420m | 19m/s | 1% |
| 05:00 | 23% | 3.2m | 40280m | 17m/s | 1% |
| 06:00 | 16% | 3.3m | 3840m | 18m/s | 2% |
| 07:00 | 20% | 3.3m | 50000m | 17m/s | 2% |
| 08:00 | 20% | 3.3m | 50000m | 18m/s | 2% |
| 09:00 | 62% | 3.2m | 46705m | 19m/s | 2% |
| 10:00 | 66% | 3.2m | 42160m | 19m/s | 3% |
| 11:00 | 76% | 3.1m | 45680m | 20m/s | 5% |
| 12:00 | 67% | 3.1m | 52160m | 21m/s | 6% |
| 13:00 | 72% | 3m | 47120m | 22m/s | 8% |
| 14:00 | 72% | 3m | 26360m | 22m/s | 10% |
| 15:00 | 55% | 3m | 28560m | 21m/s | 10% |
| 16:00 | 50% | 2.9m | 43180m | 20m/s | 7% |
| 17:00 | 49% | 2.8m | 25640m | 19m/s | 3% |
| 18:00 | 49% | 2.7m | 21760m | 19m/s | 0% |
| 19:00 | 23% | 2.6m | 20160m | 19m/s | 0% |
| 20:00 | 23% | 2.5m | 21420m | 19m/s | 1% |
| 21:00 | 22% | 2.4m | 20160m | 19m/s | 2% |
| 22:00 | 20% | 2.3m | 37180m | 17m/s | 3% |
| 23:00 | 19% | 2.2m | 52460m | 17m/s | 4% |
| Tue, Jan 13 | |||||
| 24:00 | 20% | 2.1m | 53960m | 17m/s | 4% |
| 01:00 | 17% | 2m | 54880m | 16m/s | 3% |
| 02:00 | 12% | 1.9m | 54860m | 15m/s | 1% |
| 03:00 | 12% | 1.9m | 54860m | 14m/s | 0% |
| 04:00 | 11% | 1.8m | 58200m | 13m/s | 0% |
| 05:00 | 11% | 1.8m | 58180m | 13m/s | 0% |
| 06:00 | 14% | 1.7m | 58180m | 12m/s | 0% |
| 07:00 | 13% | 1.7m | 51980m | 11m/s | 1% |
| 08:00 | 14% | 1.7m | 51580m | 9.6m/s | 1% |
| 09:00 | 32% | 1.6m | 36000m | 9.6m/s | 2% |
| 10:00 | 30% | 1.6m | 30040m | 9.4m/s | 2% |
| 11:00 | 34% | 1.6m | 33240m | 8.8m/s | 2% |
| 12:00 | 34% | 1.6m | 29520m | 7.7m/s | 2% |
| 13:00 | 34% | 1.6m | 35360m | 7.5m/s | 3% |
| 14:00 | 34% | 1.6m | 36480m | 7.5m/s | 3% |
| 15:00 | 37% | 1.6m | 53460m | 7.4m/s | 4% |
| 16:00 | 36% | 1.6m | 58360m | 6.5m/s | 4% |
| 17:00 | 36% | 1.6m | 58380m | 6.2m/s | 4% |
| 18:00 | 39% | 1.6m | 58420m | 5m/s | 4% |
| 19:00 | 13% | 1.7m | 55100m | 4.8m/s | 6% |
| 20:00 | 11% | 1.7m | 46480m | 5.8m/s | 9% |
| 21:00 | 11% | 1.8m | 43140m | 5.8m/s | 10% |
| 22:00 | 12% | 1.9m | 43140m | 5.7m/s | 9% |
| 23:00 | 15% | 2m | 46540m | 6.3m/s | 8% |
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).
What does Coastal Drama Score mean?
Inputs that drive the scoreThis 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 Atlantic/Reykjavik | High Clouds % | Low Clouds % | Mid-Level Clouds % | Primary Swell Height m | Primary Wave Direction ° | Sea Salt AOD (550nm) | Solar Elevation ° | Total Cloud Coverage % | Wind Direction ° | Wind Speed m/s | Wind Wave Height m | Wind Wave Period s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jan 11
Sunrise 11:19
Sunset 16:06 | ||||||||||||
| 01:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.4m | 44° | 0.01 | -47° | 85% | 357° | 8m/s | 1.2m | 5.5s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.39m | 42° | 0.01 | -47° | 93% | 354° | 7.9m/s | 1.3m | 5.5s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.37m | 39° | 0.01 | -45° | 64% | 349° | 8.6m/s | 1.4m | 5.4s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0.42m | 39° | 0.01 | -42° | 20% | 346° | 8.9m/s | 1.7m | 5.9s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 2% | 0.48m | 39° | 0.01 | -36° | 5% | 347° | 8.8m/s | 2m | 6.4s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 98% | 0.53m | 39° | 0.01 | -30° | 0% | 346° | 9.4m/s | 2.3m | 6.9s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 96% | 0.6m | 41° | 0.01 | -24° | 0% | 352° | 10m/s | 2.3m | 7.1s |
| 08:00 ☾ | 99% | 0% | 73% | 0.68m | 42° | 0.01 | -18° | 0% | 353° | 11m/s | 2.4m | 7.3s |
| 09:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 76% | 0.75m | 44° | 0.01 | -12° | 0% | 352° | 12m/s | 2.4m | 7.5s |
| 10:00 ☾ | 97% | 0% | 46% | 0.79m | 44° | 0.01 | -6.4° | 0% | 354° | 12m/s | 2.5m | 7.6s |
| 11:00 ☾ | 20% | 0% | 14% | 0.84m | 44° | 0.01 | -1.8° | 0% | 351° | 12m/s | 2.6m | 7.7s |
| 12:00 | 32% | 0% | 72% | 0.88m | 45° | 0.01 | 1.6° | 0% | 350° | 12m/s | 2.7m | 7.8s |
| 13:00 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.88m | 44° | 0.01 | 3.3° | 0% | 352° | 12m/s | 2.8m | 7.8s |
| 14:00 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.88m | 43° | 0.01 | 3.6° | 0% | 352° | 12m/s | 2.8m | 7.8s |
| 15:00 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.88m | 43° | 0.01 | 2.5° | 0% | 355° | 12m/s | 2.9m | 7.9s |
| 16:00 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.86m | 43° | 0.01 | 0.11° | 0% | 6° | 9.9m/s | 2.9m | 7.9s |
| 17:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.84m | 43° | 0.01 | -4.3° | 0% | 17° | 8.9m/s | 2.9m | 7.9s |
| 18:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.82m | 43° | 0.01 | -9.4° | 5% | 18° | 8.4m/s | 2.9m | 7.9s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.8m | 42° | 0.01 | -15° | 3% | 22° | 10m/s | 2.9m | 7.9s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.78m | 42° | 0.01 | -21° | 32% | 28° | 10m/s | 2.9m | 7.9s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.76m | 42° | 0.02 | -28° | 40% | 25° | 11m/s | 2.9m | 7.9s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 0% | 6% | 0% | 0.74m | 42° | 0.02 | -34° | 77% | 40° | 11m/s | 2.8m | 7.9s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 0% | 31% | 0% | 0.72m | 41° | 0.02 | -39° | 100% | 37° | 14m/s | 2.8m | 7.8s |
| Mon, Jan 12
Sunrise 11:17
Sunset 16:09 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 0% | 17% | 0% | 0.7m | 41° | 0.02 | -44° | 57% | 33° | 15m/s | 2.7m | 7.8s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 0% | 5% | 0% | 0.67m | 41° | 0.02 | -46° | 4% | 33° | 15m/s | 2.7m | 7.7s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 0% | 9% | 0% | 0.65m | 40° | 0.02 | -47° | 99% | 29° | 13m/s | 2.7m | 7.7s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 0% | 28% | 0% | 0.62m | 40° | 0.02 | -45° | 1% | 22° | 13m/s | 2.7m | 7.7s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 0% | 2% | 0% | 0.6m | 40° | 0.02 | -41° | 1% | 21° | 14m/s | 2.8m | 7.8s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 0% | 2% | 0% | 0.58m | 40° | 0.02 | -36° | 1% | 21° | 15m/s | 2.8m | 7.8s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.56m | 40° | 0.01 | -30° | 1% | 21° | 13m/s | 2.9m | 7.9s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0.53m | 42° | 0.01 | -24° | 1% | 21° | 13m/s | 2.8m | 8.1s |
| 08:00 ☾ | 0% | 2% | 0% | 0.5m | 44° | 0.01 | -18° | 1% | 16° | 12m/s | 2.8m | 8.2s |
| 09:00 ☾ | 0% | 6% | 0% | 0.47m | 45° | 0.01 | -12° | 1% | 13° | 11m/s | 2.7m | 8.3s |
| 10:00 ☾ | 0% | 6% | 0% | 0.47m | 46° | 0.01 | -6.2° | 3% | 10° | 13m/s | 2.7m | 8.3s |
| 11:00 ☾ | 0% | 9% | 0% | 0.48m | 46° | 0.01 | -1.7° | 19% | 12° | 14m/s | 2.6m | 8.4s |
| 12:00 | 0% | 10% | 0% | 0.48m | 47° | 0.01 | 1.7° | 17% | 8° | 13m/s | 2.6m | 8.4s |
| 13:00 | 0% | 58% | 0% | 0.47m | 47° | - | 3.5° | 13% | 8° | 11m/s | 2.6m | 8.4s |
| 14:00 | 0% | 15% | 0% | 0.46m | 47° | - | 3.8° | 8% | 358° | 11m/s | 2.6m | 8.5s |
| 15:00 | 0% | 29% | 0% | 0.45m | 47° | - | 2.7° | 32% | 352° | 13m/s | 2.5m | 8.6s |
| 16:00 | 0% | 57% | 1% | 0.46m | 47° | - | 0.26° | 67% | 358° | 14m/s | 2.5m | 8.6s |
| 17:00 ☾ | 0% | 48% | 4% | 0.48m | 47° | - | -4.1° | 37% | 359° | 14m/s | 2.4m | 8.7s |
| 18:00 ☾ | 0% | 28% | 0% | 0.49m | 46° | - | -9.2° | 47% | 1° | 14m/s | 2.4m | 8.8s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 0% | 91% | 0% | 0.99m | 46° | - | -15° | 71% | 10° | 12m/s | 1.9m | 8.8s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 50% | 0% | 1.5m | 47° | - | -21° | 42% | 14° | 11m/s | 1.3m | 8.8s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 0% | 19% | 0% | 2m | 47° | - | -28° | 14% | 9° | 11m/s | 0.78m | 8.9s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 0% | 4% | 0% | 1.9m | 47° | - | -34° | 3% | 9° | 12m/s | 0.78m | 9s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 0% | 2% | 0% | 1.9m | 47° | - | -39° | 2% | 13° | 12m/s | 0.77m | 9.2s |
| Tue, Jan 13
Sunrise 11:14
Sunset 16:12 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1.8m | 47° | - | -44° | 2% | 9° | 11m/s | 0.77m | 9.3s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1.8m | 49° | - | -46° | 0% | 349° | 11m/s | 0.73m | 9.6s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1.7m | 52° | - | -47° | 0% | 24° | 3.5m/s | 0.69m | 10s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1.7m | 54° | - | -45° | 0% | 233° | 2.1m/s | 0.65m | 10s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1.7m | 54° | - | -41° | 0% | 338° | 3.9m/s | 0.61m | 10s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 0% | 4% | 0% | 1.7m | 53° | - | -36° | 0% | 340° | 3.6m/s | 0.57m | 11s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 0% | 3% | 0% | 1.7m | 53° | - | -30° | 1% | 338° | 2.5m/s | 0.53m | 11s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 0% | 5% | 0% | 1.7m | 52° | - | -24° | 4% | 331° | 2.2m/s | 0.5m | 11s |
| 08:00 ☾ | 0% | 70% | 0% | 1.7m | 51° | - | -18° | 78% | 316° | 2.2m/s | 0.46m | 11s |
| 09:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 0% | 1.7m | 50° | - | -12° | 100% | 306° | 2.4m/s | 0.43m | 11s |
| 10:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 0% | 1.7m | 49° | - | -6.1° | 100% | 306° | 2.1m/s | 0.42m | 11s |
| 11:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 0% | 1.7m | 48° | - | -1.5° | 100% | 305° | 1.8m/s | 0.41m | 11s |
| 12:00 | 0% | 99% | 0% | 1.7m | 47° | - | 1.9° | 99% | 300° | 1.8m/s | 0.4m | 11s |
| 13:00 | 0% | 100% | 0% | 1.7m | 47° | - | 3.6° | 100% | 306° | 1.8m/s | 0.37m | 11s |
| 14:00 | 0% | 100% | 0% | 1.7m | 46° | - | 4° | 100% | 313° | 1.8m/s | 0.35m | 11s |
| 15:00 | 0% | 100% | 0% | 1.7m | 46° | - | 2.8° | 100% | 342° | 1.3m/s | 0.32m | 11s |
| 16:00 | 0% | 45% | 0% | 1.7m | 46° | - | 0.42° | 45% | 13° | 1.3m/s | 0.33m | 11s |
| 17:00 ☾ | 0% | 5% | 0% | 1.7m | 45° | - | -3.9° | 5% | 25° | 0.94m/s | 0.34m | 11s |
| 18:00 ☾ | 0% | 14% | 0% | 1.7m | 45° | - | -9° | 14% | 63° | 0.89m/s | 0.35m | 11s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 0% | 28% | 0% | 1.8m | 45° | - | -15° | 28% | 103° | 1.4m/s | 0.46m | 11s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 41% | 0% | 1.8m | 45° | - | -21° | 41% | 99° | 1.5m/s | 0.58m | 11s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 0% | 80% | 0% | 1.8m | 45° | - | -27° | 80% | 92° | 1.3m/s | 0.69m | 11s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 21% | 98% | 0% | 1.3m | 45° | - | -34° | 98% | 90° | 1.1m/s | 1.1m | 11s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 100% | 2% | 0% | 0.85m | 45° | - | -39° | 100% | 71° | 1.4m/s | 1.6m | 11s |
| Wed, Jan 14
Sunrise 11:12
Sunset 16:15 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 100% | 2% | 0% | 0.37m | 45° | - | -43° | 100% | 75° | 1.2m/s | 2m | 11s |
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.
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