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Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Djúpalónssandur - Dramatic Seascapes - Iceland Coast

Hellissandur, West, Iceland

Dramatic coastal photography conditions - powerful waves combined with atmospheric drama and good visibility for seascape shots.

No opportunities right now
Here’s what usually blocks matches

No Dramatic Seascapes opportunities in the next 14 days

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Rule requirements (key thresholds)
Coastal Drama Score · ≥ 75.0% Significant Wave Height · ≥ 1.5m Visibility · ≥ 5000.0m Wind Gusts · ≤ 22.0m/s

Tip: Scroll down to the 72-hour table to see exactly which condition fails hour by hour.

Most common blockers (next 72 hours)
Coastal Drama Score 100% failing
Significant Wave Height 100% failing
Precipitation Chance 61% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Wave Height0.2m
Swell Height0.1m
Wind Speed17.0m/s (strong winds)
Cloud Cover100%

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 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 hour
0matching hours in the next 95 hours
AND 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%
Thu, Mar 12
01:003.8%0.2m24134m9.2m/s68%
02:003.8%0.21m24135m9.1m/s53%
03:003.4%0.22m19892m9.2m/s39%
04:008.3%0.49m24135m4.4m/s36%
05:008.3%0.53m24134m4.2m/s50%
06:004.3%0.11m24135m5m/s64%
07:0011%0.21m24134m6.7m/s61%
08:0027%0.58m24134m9.5m/s59%
09:0012%0.09m14200m11m/s56%
10:008.1%0.2m9038m12m/s68%
11:0017%0.53m9714m14m/s80%
12:0018%0.5m9205m13m/s93%
13:006.5%0.14m5804m15m/s93%
14:006.2%0.13m4499m15m/s94%
15:0010%0.11m5644m16m/s95%
16:008.2%0.11m12424m17m/s96%
17:0011%0.05m24135m18m/s97%
18:0010%0.05m17277m19m/s99%
19:0028%0.57m24134m18m/s93%
20:0013%0.11m24135m20m/s88%
21:0013%0.14m24135m23m/s82%
22:004%0.15m24134m21m/s87%
23:003.1%0.16m9429m19m/s93%
Fri, Mar 13
24:002.7%0.22m259m16m/s99%
01:003.9%0.2m24135m19m/s81%
02:004.6%0.19m24135m19m/s62%
03:002.9%0.17m3181m18m/s44%
04:002.9%0.16m2621m18m/s48%
05:002.5%0.16m4034m18m/s52%
06:004%0.15m17550m18m/s56%
07:0010%0.15m23001m18m/s50%
08:0012%0.15m21809m18m/s45%
09:0011%0.15m21616m16m/s39%
10:009.9%0.14m23273m15m/s45%
11:0011%0.14m24135m14m/s50%
12:009.6%0.13m24135m13m/s56%
13:008.7%0.11m24134m12m/s56%
14:009.6%0.09m24135m12m/s56%
15:0012%0.07m24134m13m/s56%
16:0011%0.08m24134m12m/s65%
17:0013%0.1m24135m14m/s74%
18:0010%0.11m24135m13m/s83%
19:009.6%0.11m19208m11m/s68%
20:0010%0.11m24135m10m/s54%
21:0011%0.11m24134m9.5m/s39%
22:002.8%0.12m24134m8m/s45%
23:004.3%0.12m24134m8.4m/s50%
Sat, Mar 14
24:002.7%0.13m24135m8.3m/s56%
01:002.5%0.13m24135m9.2m/s38%
02:003.3%0.13m24135m10m/s19%
03:004.2%0.13m24135m10m/s0.91%
04:003.3%0.14m24134m9.4m/s0.61%
05:003.3%0.14m24134m9.5m/s0.3%
06:004.6%0.15m24135m11m/s0%
07:009.5%0.17m24134m11m/s0%
08:0017%0.18m24135m11m/s0%
09:009.9%0.2m24135m8.4m/s0%
10:009.2%0.25m24134m6.2m/s0%
11:0021%0.3m24135m4m/s0%
12:0014%0.35m24134m5.6m/s0%
13:0017%0.43m24135m7.4m/s0%
14:006.8%0.52m24135m7.7m/s0%
15:006.8%0.6m24135m9.2m/s0%
16:007.4%0.65m24134m11m/s13%
17:008.8%0.71m24135m12m/s25%
18:009.9%0.76m24134m12m/s38%
19:0021%0.85m24134m14m/s49%
20:0021%0.95m24135m14m/s60%
21:0022%1m24135m15m/s71%
22:007.5%1.1m24134m15m/s76%
23:008.3%1.1m24135m15m/s81%
Sun, Mar 15
24:006.9%1.1m24134m14m/s86%
01:006.9%1.1m24135m14m/s73%
02:003.2%0.99m24135m15m/s60%
03:003.2%0.94m24135m16m/s48%
04:002.6%0.82m12201m16m/s52%
05:002.6%0.69m10407m15m/s57%
06:001.7%0.57m3851m15m/s62%
07:009.1%0.47m10612m17m/s54%
08:0013%0.36m17374m20m/s47%
09:009.9%0.26m24135m22m/s39%
10:009.9%0.21m24135m22m/s33%
11:009.8%0.17m24135m22m/s28%
12:007.8%0.12m24135m21m/s22%
13:0010%0.13m24135m21m/s15%
14:009.3%0.13m24135m22m/s7.4%
15:0011%0.14m24135m22m/s0%
16:0013%0.19m24135m21m/s13%
17:0014%0.23m24135m21m/s26%
18:0025%0.28m24135m21m/s39%
19:0014%0.28m24135m21m/s27%
20:0012%0.29m24135m20m/s15%
21:008.5%0.29m24135m20m/s3.4%
22:002.9%0.3m21308m19m/s2.3%
23:002.6%0.32m18482m19m/s1.1%
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 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
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
Fri, Mar 13 Sunrise 08:02 Sunset 19:29
01:00
15% 91% 100% 0.08m 255° 0.03 -28° 100% 354° 17m/s 0.2m 2.1s
02:00
36% 13% 99% 0.07m 256° 0.03 -28° 99% 346° 15m/s 0.19m 2.1s
03:00
43% 85% 100% 0.06m 257° 0.03 -27° 100% 338° 13m/s 0.17m 2s
04:00
51% 96% 100% 0.06m 258° 0.03 -23° 100% 342° 15m/s 0.16m 2s
05:00
80% 100% 100% 0.05m 260° 0.03 -19° 100% 341° 17m/s 0.15m 2s
06:00
37% 100% 98% 0.05m 262° 0.03 -13° 100% 339° 17m/s 0.14m 1.9s
07:00
6% 100% 80% 0.05m 264° 0.03 -7.3° 100% 339° 18m/s 0.14m 1.9s
08:00
5% 100% 37% 0.05m 265° 0.03 -0.69° 100% 339° 17m/s 0.14m 1.9s
09:00
1% 100% 38% 0.05m 267° 0.03 5.4° 100% 341° 16m/s 0.14m 1.9s
10:00
0% 100% 8% 0.07m 263° 0.04 11° 100% 345° 15m/s 0.13m 2.1s
11:00
3% 63% 7% 0.1m 259° 0.03 16° 63% 346° 15m/s 0.13m 2.3s
12:00
6% 8% 94% 0.12m 255° 0.03 20° 94% 348° 14m/s 0.12m 2.4s
13:00
5% 6% 99% 0.11m 259° 0.03 22° 99% 349° 13m/s 0.11m 2.4s
14:00
5% 7% 94% 0.11m 262° 0.03 22° 94% 356° 13m/s 0.11m 2.3s
15:00
0% 31% 5% 0.1m 265° 0.03 21° 31% 354° 13m/s 0.1m 2.2s
16:00
0% 56% 0% 0.1m 276° 0.03 18° 56% 350° 11m/s 0.1m 2s
17:00
0% 80% 0% 0.09m 287° 0.03 14° 80% 354° 12m/s 0.11m 1.7s
18:00
0% 100% 2% 0.09m 298° 0.03 8.4° 100% 354° 12m/s 0.11m 1.5s
19:00
0% 100% 98% 0.08m 295° 0.03 2.5° 100% 343° 9.7m/s 0.11m 1.5s
20:00
0% 100% 100% 0.08m 291° 0.03 -3.9° 100% 343° 8.9m/s 0.11m 1.6s
21:00
0% 92% 24% 0.07m 288° 0.03 -10° 92% 346° 8.8m/s 0.11m 1.6s
22:00
0% 100% 5% 0.07m 287° 0.03 -16° 100% 350° 6.6m/s 0.11m 1.6s
23:00
0% 57% 5% 0.07m 286° 0.03 -21° 57% 316° 5m/s 0.12m 1.7s
Sat, Mar 14 Sunrise 07:58 Sunset 19:32
24:00
0% 6% 5% 0.07m 286° 0.03 -25° 6% 307° 6.8m/s 0.12m 1.7s
01:00
0% 6% 5% 0.07m 285° 0.03 -27° 6% 311° 7.6m/s 0.12m 1.8s
02:00
0% 100% 6% 0.08m 285° 0.03 -28° 100% 321° 8.9m/s 0.13m 1.8s
03:00
0% 23% 0% 0.08m 284° 0.03 -26° 23% 333° 9.6m/s 0.13m 1.8s
04:00
0% 7% 0% 0.08m 290° 0.02 -23° 7% 334° 8.2m/s 0.14m 1.8s
05:00
0% 93% 0% 0.08m 295° 0.02 -19° 93% 323° 7.3m/s 0.14m 1.8s
06:00
24% 6% 0% 0.08m 301° 0.02 -13° 24% 345° 10m/s 0.15m 1.8s
07:00
100% 5% 1% 0.08m 305° 0.02 -6.9° 100% 346° 10m/s 0.17m 1.8s
08:00
40% 6% 5% 0.07m 310° 0.03 -0.11° 40% 351° 11m/s 0.18m 1.9s
09:00
100% 5% 5% 0.07m 314° 0.03 5.8° 100% 345° 8.3m/s 0.2m 2s
10:00
86% 5% 11% 0.07m 325° 0.03 11° 86% 347° 6.4m/s 0.25m 2.1s
11:00
36% 5% 6% 0.07m 335° 0.03 16° 36% 22° 4.1m/s 0.3m 2.2s
12:00
5% 3% 6% 0.07m 345° 0.02 20° 6% 70° 5.1m/s 0.35m 2.3s
13:00
93% 2% 9% 0.07m 235° - 22° 93% 78° 6.9m/s 0.43m 2.6s
14:00
19% 5% 99% 0.07m 124° - 23° 99% 86° 6.5m/s 0.52m 3s
15:00
98% 5% 100% 0.07m 13° - 21° 100% 78° 7.9m/s 0.6m 3.3s
16:00
100% 5% 100% 0.08m 15° - 18° 100% 72° 9.1m/s 0.65m 3.4s
17:00
100% 5% 100% 0.1m 17° - 14° 100% 69° 11m/s 0.71m 3.4s
18:00
100% 16% 100% 0.11m 19° - 8.7° 100% 71° 12m/s 0.76m 3.5s
19:00
100% 40% 100% 0.1m 20° - 2.9° 100% 72° 13m/s 0.85m 3.7s
20:00
100% 42% 100% 0.08m 21° - -3.6° 100% 72° 14m/s 0.95m 3.8s
21:00
100% 99% 100% 0.07m 23° - -9.9° 100% 69° 15m/s 1m 4s
22:00
100% 100% 100% 0.08m 21° - -16° 100% 66° 16m/s 1.1m 4s
23:00
36% 100% 100% 0.09m 20° - -21° 100% 67° 15m/s 1.1m 4.1s
Sun, Mar 15 Sunrise 07:54 Sunset 19:35
24:00
5% 100% 100% 0.1m 18° - -25° 100% 69° 14m/s 1.1m 4.2s
01:00
5% 100% 100% 0.1m 17° - -27° 100% 68° 14m/s 1.1m 4.1s
02:00
5% 100% 100% 0.1m 16° - -27° 100% 65° 14m/s 0.99m 4s
03:00
5% 100% 100% 0.1m 14° - -26° 100% 64° 15m/s 0.94m 4s
04:00
5% 95% 100% 0.1m 12° - -23° 100% 65° 16m/s 0.82m 3.8s
05:00
9% 100% 100% 0.09m 9.9° - -18° 100% 66° 15m/s 0.69m 3.6s
06:00
5% 100% 100% 0.09m 7.7° - -13° 100% 68° 15m/s 0.57m 3.4s
07:00
37% 94% 100% 0.09m 114° - -6.6° 100% 63° 17m/s 0.46m 3s
08:00
68% 89% 100% 0.1m 221° - 0.27° 100% 59° 18m/s 0.35m 2.6s
09:00
100% 84% 100% 0.1m 328° - 6.1° 100% 55° 20m/s 0.24m 2.2s
10:00
71% 58% 100% 0.11m 330° - 12° 100% 56° 20m/s 0.19m 2.3s
11:00
42% 32% 100% 0.11m 333° - 17° 100% 56° 19m/s 0.14m 2.4s
12:00
13% 6% 100% 0.12m 335° - 20° 100% 57° 19m/s 0.09m 2.5s
13:00
10% 21% 92% 0.12m 343° - 23° 92% 56° 19m/s 0.1m 2.3s
14:00
8% 36% 84% 0.13m 352° - 23° 84% 55° 19m/s 0.11m 2.1s
15:00
5% 52% 75% 0.13m 360° - 22° 76% 54° 19m/s 0.12m 1.9s
16:00
5% 57% 66% 0.13m 245° - 19° 73% 53° 19m/s 0.17m 2s
17:00
4% 62% 56% 0.12m 130° - 14° 70% 52° 19m/s 0.22m 2s
18:00
3% 67% 46% 0.12m 15° - 9.1° 67% 51° 19m/s 0.27m 2.1s
19:00
2% 77% 43% 0.11m 16° - 3.2° 77% 51° 19m/s 0.27m 2.2s
20:00
1% 87% 39% 0.11m 17° - -3.3° 87% 50° 18m/s 0.28m 2.4s
21:00
0% 97% 35% 0.1m 19° - -9.6° 97% 50° 18m/s 0.28m 2.5s
22:00
0% 98% 25% 0.1m 16° - -15° 98% 50° 18m/s 0.3m 2.5s
23:00
0% 99% 14% 0.09m 13° - -20° 99% 51° 18m/s 0.31m 2.5s
Mon, Mar 16 Sunrise 07:51 Sunset 19:38
24:00
0% 100% 4% 0.09m 11° - -24° 100% 51° 17m/s 0.33m 2.5s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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