Skip to content
✨ New: PhotoWeather is now available on iOS and Android
Rule Storm Chaser

Arnarstapi - Storm Chaser - Iceland Coast

Hellnar, West, Iceland

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

Get notified
Free alerts · takes 30 seconds
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 46% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover73%
Wind Gusts5.8m/s
Precipitation Chance4%
Air Pressure995.5hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index2.1°C
Wind Gusts5.8m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Atlantic/Reykjavik

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 North Atlantic storm systems hitting Iceland's volcanic coastline, identifying when conditions create dramatic—but photographable—opportunities. We monitor storm intensity, wave height, wind speed, and post-storm clearing to predict optimal storm photography windows.

Iceland's position in the North Atlantic storm track means powerful weather systems regularly batter its shores. These storms create some of the most dramatic coastal photography opportunities on Earth, with massive waves crashing against black sand, icebergs, and basalt formations. The key is timing—shooting after peak storm intensity when conditions remain dramatic but become safer.

What makes Iceland's coast special for storm photography:

  • North Atlantic power - Powerful storm systems generate massive waves hitting volcanic shores
  • Sneaker wave drama - Reynisfjara's notorious sneaker waves create spectacular but dangerous conditions
  • Storm-driven waterfalls - Coastal waterfalls like Svartifoss and Seljalandsfoss become more dramatic in storms
  • Black sand contrast - Dark volcanic beaches make white storm waves and spray even more dramatic

Reynisfjara black sand beach becomes Iceland's most dramatic—and most dangerous—storm location. The beach's gently sloping profile allows waves to rush far up the sand with little warning. Multiple tourists have been killed here by "sneaker waves" that arrive without warning during storm conditions. Our forecast helps identify post-storm windows when seas remain photogenic but the worst danger has passed—never turn your back on the ocean here. Diamond Beach offers similar drama with the added element of icebergs being tossed by storm waves. Stokksnes combines storm seas with the dramatic Vestrahorn mountain backdrop. Icelandic storms also supercharge coastal waterfalls—wind-driven spray and increased flow create spectacular conditions. Safety is absolutely paramount—maintain safe distances, watch wave patterns for several minutes before positioning, and be prepared to retreat quickly.

Create your own Storm Chaser alerts

Get notified when these conditions match at your own locations.

Get this template

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
Atlantic/Reykjavik
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
Mon, Apr 13
19:0015%69%0J/kg1.5°C139m3.4m/s
20:0016%61%0J/kg1.9°C74m3.4m/s
21:0016%80%1J/kg1.7°C94m3.6m/s
22:000%62%0J/kg1.8°C19010m3.6m/s
23:000%66%0J/kg1.4°C19047m3.3m/s
Tue, Apr 14
24:0024%7.5%0J/kg1.3°C670m3m/s
01:0015%7.4%6J/kg1.4°C186m3.7m/s
02:0015%4.2%1J/kg1.7°C185m3.7m/s
03:0015%8.6%1J/kg1.5°C981m4.2m/s
04:000%59%1J/kg1.9°C19144m3.1m/s
05:000%60%3J/kg2.3°C19590m4.1m/s
06:000%90%1J/kg2.7°C20451m4.3m/s
07:000%78%1J/kg2.8°C19675m4.9m/s
08:000%57%2J/kg2.8°C24134m4.8m/s
09:000%92%0J/kg3°C24135m4.8m/s
10:000%62%4J/kg3°C24134m6.7m/s
11:000%57%0J/kg3.5°C24134m7.6m/s
12:000%55%0J/kg3.9°C24135m5.9m/s
13:000%66%0J/kg2.8°C24135m3.2m/s
14:000%52%0J/kg3°C24134m3.7m/s
15:000%51%0J/kg3.1°C24134m4.9m/s
16:000%53%0J/kg2.8°C24134m4.8m/s
17:000%60%0J/kg2.1°C24134m6.4m/s
18:000%63%0J/kg2°C24135m6.9m/s
19:000%87%0J/kg2.1°C24135m5.8m/s
20:000%37%0J/kg2.5°C24134m5.7m/s
21:000%59%0J/kg2.8°C24134m6.6m/s
22:000%40%0J/kg3.8°C24134m6.9m/s
23:000%59%0J/kg7.9°C24135m7.3m/s
Wed, Apr 15
24:0015%12%0J/kg10°C24135m7.1m/s
01:000%12%0J/kg11°C24134m7.8m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg11°C24134m8.1m/s
03:0024%0%0J/kg11°C24134m9.8m/s
04:0017%60%0J/kg11°C24134m12m/s
05:0017%62%1J/kg8.5°C11554m12m/s
06:0035%70%2J/kg9.3°C19150m11m/s
07:000%91%0J/kg8.2°C12181m10m/s
08:0019%55%1J/kg6.9°C8169m10m/s
09:0034%56%1J/kg5.7°C714m7.1m/s
10:0017%52%1J/kg4.6°C19004m5.1m/s
11:0015%52%0J/kg4°C19011m3m/s
12:0024%27%0J/kg3.3°C19041m2.6m/s
13:000%26%0J/kg3.3°C19079m2.4m/s
14:000%28%0J/kg3.7°C20016m2m/s
15:0011%47%0J/kg3.7°C24135m1.3m/s
16:000%41%0J/kg3.6°C24134m1.7m/s
17:000%57%0J/kg3.3°C24134m2.6m/s
18:0011%93%0J/kg3.4°C24134m3.2m/s
19:000%100%0J/kg3.5°C24135m3.5m/s
20:000%92%0J/kg3.3°C24134m4.2m/s
21:000%69%0J/kg2.3°C24135m4.9m/s
22:000%66%0J/kg2°C24135m5m/s
23:000%55%0J/kg1.9°C24135m5.5m/s
Thu, Apr 16
24:000%11%7J/kg1.7°C24135m5.9m/s
01:000%11%10J/kg1.3°C24134m6.3m/s
02:000%8.1%15J/kg1.2°C22192m6m/s
03:000%4.2%14J/kg1°C22497m5.1m/s
04:000%49%23J/kg1°C22703m5.1m/s
05:000%64%18J/kg1.3°C24135m4.4m/s
06:000%88%21J/kg1.3°C24135m3.8m/s
07:000%73%10J/kg1.6°C24135m3.6m/s
08:000%69%8J/kg1.5°C24134m3.5m/s
09:0013%69%4J/kg1.9°C24134m3.3m/s
10:000%64%6J/kg1.9°C24134m3.7m/s
11:000%57%10J/kg1.7°C24134m3.4m/s
12:0011%63%6J/kg1.7°C24135m2.7m/s
13:000%51%1J/kg1.6°C24134m3.9m/s
14:000%49%0J/kg1.7°C24134m5m/s
15:0014%50%0J/kg1.4°C23172m4.4m/s
16:0015%52%1J/kg1.2°C8695m5.5m/s
17:0018%47%6J/kg2°C13993m5.4m/s
18:0029%58%9J/kg2.6°C24134m4.6m/s
19:000%81%19J/kg2.6°C24135m5.4m/s
20:000%65%10J/kg2.9°C24134m5.9m/s
21:000%67%4J/kg2.7°C24135m5.6m/s
22:000%64%18J/kg3.1°C12153m5.2m/s
23:0015%59%8J/kg4.6°C10031m5m/s
Fri, Apr 17
24:0027%10%3J/kg5.1°C14191m3.1m/s
01:0015%0%4.7J/kg5°C12436m3.5m/s
02:0018%0%6.3J/kg5°C10680m4m/s
03:0030%0%8J/kg4.9°C8925m4.4m/s
04:0017%50%12J/kg5.4°C13718m4.8m/s
05:0014%59%15J/kg5.9°C18511m5.2m/s
06:0024%49%19J/kg6.3°C23304m5.6m/s
07:0011%80%16J/kg6.9°C23581m5.5m/s
08:0011%74%14J/kg7.6°C23858m5.4m/s
09:0011%74%11J/kg8.2°C24135m5.3m/s
10:000%100%7.3J/kg8.6°C24135m5.4m/s
11:000%90%3.7J/kg9°C24135m5.6m/s
12:0013%44%0J/kg9.4°C24135m5.7m/s
13:000%76%0J/kg9.4°C24135m5.4m/s
14:000%76%0J/kg9.3°C24135m5m/s
15:0012%51%0J/kg9.3°C24135m4.6m/s
16:000%65%0.33J/kg9.6°C24135m4.5m/s
17:000%48%0.67J/kg9.9°C24135m4.4m/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
Atlantic/Reykjavik
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
Tue, Apr 14 Sunrise 06:04 Sunset 21:07
19:00
996hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.1°C 73% 61% 4% 0mm 73% 0mm 5.6dBZ 12° 73% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
20:00
995hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.5°C 10% 10% 9% 0mm 75% 0mm -7.2dBZ 6.2° 10% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
21:00
995hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.8°C 32% 5% 13% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 0.42° 32% 0mm 2.9m/s 5.2m/s 5.2m/s
22:00
995hPa 0J/kg 5% 3.8°C 5% 0% 38% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -5.5° 5% 0mm - - 5.4m/s
23:00
994hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.9°C 5% 36% 62% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -10° 100% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
Wed, Apr 15 Sunrise 06:00 Sunset 21:10
24:00
994hPa 0J/kg 5% 10°C 0% 100% 87% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 100% 0mm 3.6m/s 22m/s 6m/s
01:00
993hPa 0J/kg 1% 11°C 5% 100% 90% 0mm 75% 0mm -10dBZ -15° 100% 0mm - - 7m/s
02:00
992hPa 0J/kg 87% 11°C 100% 100% 93% 0mm 76% 0mm -0.89dBZ -15° 100% 0mm - - 7.6m/s
03:00
991hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 96% 0.01mm 77% 0mm 8.7dBZ -14° 100% 0mm 5.5m/s 21m/s 8.1m/s
04:00
990hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 95% 0.1mm 80% 0mm 6dBZ -11° 100% 0.06mm - - 8.1m/s
05:00
989hPa 1J/kg 100% 8.5°C 100% 100% 95% 0.7mm 81% 0mm 3.4dBZ -6.2° 100% 0.44mm - - 6.8m/s
06:00
988hPa 2J/kg 100% 9.3°C 100% 100% 95% 0.38mm 86% 0mm 0.75dBZ -0.48° 100% 1.1mm 9.1m/s 15m/s 7.4m/s
07:00
988hPa 0J/kg 30% 8.2°C 100% 100% 73% 0.76mm 88% 0mm 6dBZ 5.4° 100% 0.63mm - - 7.4m/s
08:00
988hPa 1J/kg 0% 6.9°C 100% 100% 52% 0.99mm 90% 0mm 11dBZ 12° 100% 1.4mm - - 7.3m/s
09:00
987hPa 1J/kg 1% 5.7°C 100% 100% 30% 0.68mm 93% 0mm 16dBZ 18° 100% 2.3mm 7.4m/s 9.7m/s 5.3m/s
10:00
987hPa 1J/kg 0% 4.6°C 99% 100% 31% 0.2mm 92% 0mm 15dBZ 24° 100% 2.7mm - - 3.9m/s
11:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 4°C 90% 18% 31% 0.04mm 90% 0mm 14dBZ 29° 90% 2.8mm - - 2.8m/s
12:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.3°C 93% 0% 32% 0mm 88% 0mm 13dBZ 33° 93% 2.8mm 6.6m/s 13m/s 2.1m/s
13:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.3°C 89% 0% 32% 0mm 87% 0mm 5.5dBZ 35° 89% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
14:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.7°C 89% 0% 32% 0mm 87% 0mm -1.8dBZ 35° 89% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
15:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.7°C 26% 0% 32% 0mm 85% 0mm -9.1dBZ 33° 26% 0mm 9.8m/s 8.9m/s 1.1m/s
16:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.6°C 18% 0% 34% 0mm 83% 0mm -13dBZ 30° 18% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
17:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.3°C 62% 0% 36% 0mm 82% 0mm -16dBZ 25° 62% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
18:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.4°C 79% 18% 38% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 79% 0mm 4.9m/s 9.5m/s 2.7m/s
19:00
987hPa 0J/kg 22% 3.5°C 54% 83% 31% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 83% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
20:00
987hPa 0J/kg 32% 3.3°C 11% 100% 25% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ 6.5° 100% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
21:00
988hPa 0J/kg 5% 2.3°C 31% 100% 19% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ 0.69° 100% 0mm 1.7m/s 9.1m/s 4.1m/s
22:00
987hPa 0J/kg 4% 2°C 72% 100% 20% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -5.2° 100% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
23:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.9°C 92% 100% 21% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -9.8° 100% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
Thu, Apr 16 Sunrise 05:57 Sunset 21:13
24:00
987hPa 7J/kg 0% 1.7°C 100% 100% 22% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 100% 0mm 3.7m/s 8.7m/s 4.7m/s
01:00
987hPa 10J/kg 0% 1.3°C 92% 100% 15% 0mm 81% 0.02mm -20dBZ -15° 100% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
02:00
988hPa 15J/kg 0% 1.2°C 93% 100% 7% 0mm 80% 0.15mm -20dBZ -15° 100% 0.06mm - - 4.5m/s
03:00
987hPa 14J/kg 0% 1°C 96% 42% 0% 0mm 78% 0.13mm -20dBZ -13° 96% 0.19mm 6m/s 7.1m/s 4.1m/s
04:00
988hPa 23J/kg 0% 1°C 100% 59% 7% 0mm 78% 0.17mm -20dBZ -10° 100% 0.31mm - - 4.2m/s
05:00
987hPa 18J/kg 1% 1.3°C 99% 72% 15% 0.01mm 78% 0.01mm -20dBZ -5.9° 99% 0.44mm - - 3.8m/s
06:00
987hPa 21J/kg 42% 1.3°C 100% 100% 22% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 0.05° 100% 0.44mm 6.9m/s 7.8m/s 3.7m/s
07:00
988hPa 10J/kg 8% 1.6°C 100% 100% 19% 0mm 76% 0mm -15dBZ 5.7° 100% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
08:00
988hPa 8J/kg 5% 1.5°C 100% 89% 15% 0mm 76% 0mm -9.3dBZ 12° 100% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
09:00
988hPa 4J/kg 5% 1.9°C 100% 71% 12% 0mm 75% 0mm -3.9dBZ 18° 100% 0mm 3.7m/s 8.3m/s 3.4m/s
10:00
988hPa 6J/kg 4% 1.9°C 100% 78% 20% 0mm 75% 0mm -9.3dBZ 24° 100% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
11:00
987hPa 10J/kg 0% 1.7°C 91% 79% 29% 0mm 73% 0mm -15dBZ 29° 91% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
12:00
987hPa 6J/kg 0% 1.7°C 76% 80% 38% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ 33° 80% 0mm 3.1m/s 8.1m/s 2.7m/s
13:00
987hPa 1J/kg 0% 1.6°C 78% 100% 39% 0.01mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 100% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
14:00
988hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.7°C 99% 100% 40% 0.31mm 82% 0.05mm -20dBZ 35° 100% 0.19mm - - 4.3m/s
15:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.4°C 100% 100% 42% 0.19mm 89% 0.06mm -20dBZ 34° 100% 0.94mm 3.8m/s 8.3m/s 4.3m/s
16:00
987hPa 1J/kg 0% 1.2°C 100% 100% 44% 1.1mm 90% 0.19mm -20dBZ 30° 100% 1.6mm - - 4.8m/s
17:00
987hPa 6J/kg 0% 2°C 100% 56% 46% 0.74mm 91% 0.01mm -20dBZ 25° 100% 2.8mm - - 3.7m/s
18:00
987hPa 9J/kg 0% 2.6°C 99% 22% 48% 0.12mm 87% 0.02mm -20dBZ 19° 99% 3.1mm 4.5m/s 6.4m/s 3.4m/s
19:00
987hPa 19J/kg 0% 2.6°C 66% 11% 47% 0mm 85% 0.06mm -20dBZ 13° 66% 0.06mm - - 5.2m/s
20:00
987hPa 10J/kg 0% 2.9°C 86% 22% 46% 0mm 87% 0.01mm -20dBZ 6.8° 86% 0.13mm - - 5.7m/s
21:00
987hPa 4J/kg 0% 2.7°C 98% 59% 45% 0.07mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ 0.95° 98% 0.19mm 4.5m/s 6.4m/s 5.3m/s
22:00
986hPa 18J/kg 0% 3.1°C 100% 98% 48% 0.33mm 88% 0.26mm -20dBZ -4.9° 100% 0.44mm - - 4.5m/s
23:00
986hPa 8J/kg 0% 4.6°C 100% 82% 51% 0.99mm 89% 0.16mm -20dBZ -9.5° 100% 1.3mm - - 3.6m/s
Fri, Apr 17 Sunrise 05:53 Sunset 21:16
24:00
987hPa 3J/kg 0% 5.1°C 100% 21% 54% 1.1mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 100% 2.3mm 3.3m/s 3.8m/s 3.3m/s
01:00
987hPa 4.7J/kg 0% 5°C 100% 48% 52% 0.81mm 90% 0.007mm -13dBZ -15° 100% 2.4mm - - 3.3m/s
02:00
988hPa 6.3J/kg 1% 5°C 100% 74% 49% 0.49mm 92% 0.01mm -5.9dBZ -15° 100% 2.5mm - - 3.4m/s
03:00
989hPa 8J/kg 1% 4.9°C 100% 100% 46% 0.17mm 94% 0.02mm 1.1dBZ -13° 100% 2.6mm 2.3m/s 3.9m/s 3.4m/s
04:00
990hPa 12J/kg 1% 5.4°C 100% 71% 45% 0.16mm 93% 0.02mm -3.3dBZ -9.9° 100% 2.8mm - - 3.5m/s
05:00
991hPa 15J/kg 0% 5.9°C 100% 42% 43% 0.15mm 91% 0.03mm -7.8dBZ -5.5° 100% 3mm - - 3.6m/s
06:00
992hPa 19J/kg 0% 6.3°C 100% 13% 42% 0.14mm 89% 0.03mm -12dBZ 0.34° 100% 3.1mm 2.4m/s 8.8m/s 3.7m/s
07:00
992hPa 16J/kg 11% 6.9°C 84% 42% 35% 0.11mm 84% 0.03mm -15dBZ 100% 2.2mm - - 3.9m/s
08:00
992hPa 14J/kg 21% 7.6°C 68% 71% 28% 0.07mm 78% 0.04mm -17dBZ 12° 100% 1.3mm - - 4m/s
09:00
993hPa 11J/kg 32% 8.2°C 52% 100% 21% 0.04mm 73% 0.04mm -20dBZ 19° 100% 0.44mm 3.4m/s 9.9m/s 4.1m/s
10:00
993hPa 7.3J/kg 23% 8.6°C 44% 67% 29% 0.03mm 70% 0.03mm -6.9dBZ 25° 76% 0.46mm - - 4.4m/s
11:00
993hPa 3.7J/kg 14% 9°C 36% 34% 36% 0.02mm 68% 0.01mm 6.3dBZ 30° 52% 0.48mm - - 4.6m/s
12:00
994hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.4°C 28% 1% 44% 0.01mm 66% 0mm 19dBZ 33° 28% 0.5mm 8.7m/s 15m/s 4.9m/s
13:00
994hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.4°C 29% 31% 39% 0.007mm 69% 0.01mm 17dBZ 36° 48% 0.35mm - - 4.6m/s
14:00
994hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.3°C 30% 60% 34% 0.003mm 72% 0.02mm 14dBZ 36° 69% 0.21mm - - 4.3m/s
15:00
994hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.3°C 30% 90% 29% 0mm 76% 0.03mm 11dBZ 34° 90% 0.06mm 7.3m/s 16m/s 3.9m/s
16:00
994hPa 0.33J/kg 37% 9.6°C 30% 93% 37% 0.007mm 77% 0.03mm 16dBZ 30° 93% 0.13mm - - 3.9m/s
17:00
994hPa 0.67J/kg 68% 9.9°C 29% 97% 46% 0.01mm 78% 0.04mm 21dBZ 25° 97% 0.19mm - - 3.9m/s
18:00
994hPa 1J/kg 100% 10°C 28% 100% 55% 0.02mm 79% 0.04mm 26dBZ 20° 100% 0.25mm 4.9m/s 15m/s 3.8m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

Get Notified of Opportunities

Create your own custom alerts for this location and more.

Create Free Account