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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

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Atlantic/Reykjavik

No opportunities in the next 14 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 72 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%
Sun, Jan 11
12:0019%0.46m42620m13m/s0%
13:0019%0.45m50000m13m/s0%
14:0010%0.44m49000m13m/s0%
15:0010%0.43m40760m15m/s0%
16:0010%0.41m41800m15m/s0%
17:009.8%0.39m40920m18m/s0%
18:007.4%0.37m9340m20m/s0%
19:003.7%0.34m50000m21m/s1%
20:004.3%0.32m50000m19m/s2%
21:003.7%0.29m37540m20m/s2%
22:004.5%0.28m50000m20m/s2%
23:005%0.26m50000m19m/s1%
Mon, Jan 12
24:003.7%0.25m50000m19m/s0%
01:003.7%0.24m50000m17m/s0%
02:005%0.22m42960m17m/s0%
03:003.7%0.21m50000m17m/s0%
04:003.9%0.2m46320m18m/s0%
05:003.7%0.2m48120m18m/s0%
06:003.4%0.19m49340m16m/s0%
07:003.7%0.19m48420m16m/s1%
08:003.4%0.2m48220m16m/s2%
09:009.8%0.2m46220m16m/s2%
10:009.8%0.2m50000m16m/s1%
11:0011%0.21m50000m16m/s0%
12:0011%0.21m50000m16m/s0%
13:0014%0.21m41200m16m/s1%
14:0019%0.2m43080m18m/s3%
15:0014%0.2m42180m18m/s4%
16:0014%0.19m50000m17m/s4%
17:0013%0.18m50000m18m/s3%
18:0014%0.17m50000m19m/s2%
19:004.9%0.16m45340m19m/s2%
20:004.6%0.14m46960m18m/s2%
21:004.7%0.13m45980m16m/s2%
22:005%0.12m47800m15m/s1%
23:008%0.12m50000m14m/s1%
Tue, Jan 13
24:008%0.11m50000m13m/s0%
01:006.6%0.11m50000m11m/s0%
02:006.7%0.1m50000m9.1m/s0%
03:006.7%0.1m50000m8.9m/s0%
04:006.7%0.09m50000m8.7m/s0%
05:006.7%0.09m50000m8m/s0%
06:006.9%0.08m50000m7.1m/s0%
07:006%0.08m50000m7.2m/s0%
08:006%0.07m50000m7.5m/s0%
09:0020%0.07m51705m8m/s0%
10:0022%0.07m53410m7m/s0%
11:0027%0.07m55115m6.3m/s0%
12:0022%0.07m49780m5.4m/s0%
13:0018%0.07m45840m4.9m/s0%
14:0018%0.08m44640m5.6m/s1%
15:0019%0.08m37380m5.8m/s2%
16:0021%0.08m34960m5.8m/s4%
17:0021%0.08m44560m5.5m/s5%
18:0018%0.08m53420m5.4m/s6%
19:005.3%0.08m55620m5.5m/s5%
20:005.3%0.08m52820m5.6m/s2%
21:006.7%0.08m50000m5.6m/s0%
22:008.3%0.09m54480m5.4m/s0%
23:007.3%0.09m54620m5.9m/s0%
Wed, Jan 14
24:005.5%0.1m54620m6.4m/s0%
01:005.5%0.1m54620m6.4m/s0%
02:005.3%0.1m57940m6.3m/s0%
03:005.3%0.1m57940m7.9m/s0%
04:005.3%0.1m57940m8.4m/s1%
05:005.5%0.1m57940m9.3m/s1%
06:005.5%0.1m54620m9.6m/s2%
07:005.1%0.1m54660m10m/s2%
08:004.9%0.11m54680m11m/s2%
09:0015%0.11m58000m12m/s2%
10:0015%0.11m54700m13m/s3%
11:0017%0.11m54720m15m/s5%
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
Sun, Jan 11 Sunrise 11:22 Sunset 16:04
13:00
0% 0% 0% 0.1m 32° 0.01 3.2° 0% 50° 9.3m/s 0.44m 2.6s
14:00
0% 0% 0% 0.1m 30° 0.01 3.5° 0% 41° 9.3m/s 0.43m 2.7s
15:00
0% 0% 0% 0.11m 29° 0.01 2.4° 0% 44° 10m/s 0.42m 2.7s
16:00
0% 4% 0% 0.11m 28° 0.02 0.03° 4% 44° 11m/s 0.4m 2.7s
17:00
0% 100% 14% 0.11m 27° 0.02 -4.4° 100% 48° 13m/s 0.38m 2.6s
18:00
0% 100% 100% 0.11m 27° 0.02 -9.4° 100% 42° 13m/s 0.36m 2.6s
19:00
0% 100% 0% 0.11m 24° 0.02 -15° 100% 41° 13m/s 0.33m 2.7s
20:00
0% 76% 22% 0.1m 21° 0.02 -21° 81% 34° 14m/s 0.31m 2.8s
21:00
0% 100% 82% 0.1m 19° 0.03 -28° 100% 29° 14m/s 0.28m 2.9s
22:00
0% 74% 0% 0.1m 13° 0.03 -34° 74% 31° 14m/s 0.26m 2.8s
23:00
0% 56% 0% 0.09m 6.8° 0.03 -39° 56% 30° 13m/s 0.25m 2.8s
Mon, Jan 12 Sunrise 11:20 Sunset 16:07
24:00
0% 100% 0% 0.09m 0.76° 0.03 -44° 100% 26° 12m/s 0.23m 2.7s
01:00
0% 0% 0% 0.09m 93° 0.03 -46° 0% 29° 12m/s 0.22m 2.9s
02:00
0% 14% 0% 0.09m 186° 0.02 -47° 14% 20° 12m/s 0.2m 3.1s
03:00
0% 6% 0% 0.09m 278° 0.02 -45° 6% 19° 13m/s 0.19m 3.3s
04:00
0% 0% 0% 0.08m 275° 0.02 -41° 0% 24° 13m/s 0.19m 3.2s
05:00
0% 1% 0% 0.08m 272° 0.02 -36° 1% 26° 12m/s 0.18m 3.2s
06:00
0% 0% 0% 0.07m 269° 0.02 -30° 0% 27° 12m/s 0.18m 3.1s
07:00
0% 1% 0% 0.07m 267° 0.02 -24° 1% 26° 11m/s 0.18m 3.1s
08:00
0% 0% 0% 0.06m 265° 0.02 -18° 0% 19° 12m/s 0.18m 3.1s
09:00
0% 9% 0% 0.06m 263° 0.02 -12° 9% 15° 12m/s 0.18m 3.1s
10:00
0% 100% 0% 0.07m 258° 0.02 -6.4° 100% 13° 12m/s 0.18m 3.1s
11:00
0% 100% 0% 0.09m 254° 0.02 -1.9° 100% 11m/s 0.19m 3.2s
12:00
0% 4% 0% 0.1m 249° 0.02 1.6° 4% 11m/s 0.19m 3.2s
13:00
0% 21% 0% 0.1m 248° 0.02 3.3° 21% 12m/s 0.19m 3.2s
14:00
0% 39% 0% 0.1m 247° 0.02 3.7° 39% 13m/s 0.18m 3.2s
15:00
0% 97% 0% 0.1m 246° 0.03 2.5° 97% 12m/s 0.18m 3.2s
16:00
0% 100% 0% 0.1m 224° 0.03 0.18° 100% 12m/s 0.17m 3.7s
17:00
0% 2% 0% 0.1m 201° 0.02 -4.2° 2% 13m/s 0.16m 4.2s
18:00
0% 0% 0% 0.1m 178° 0.02 -9.2° 0% 13m/s 0.15m 4.7s
19:00
0% 0% 0% 0.1m 179° 0.02 -15° 0% 13m/s 0.13m 4.6s
20:00
0% 0% 0% 0.1m 180° 0.02 -21° 0% 11° 12m/s 0.12m 4.6s
21:00
0% 5% 0% 0.1m 181° 0.02 -27° 5% 14° 11m/s 0.1m 4.5s
22:00
0% 16% 0% 0.1m 176° 0.02 -34° 16% 17° 10m/s 0.09m 6.5s
23:00
0% 2% 0% 0.09m 172° 0.02 -39° 2% 16° 9.3m/s 0.08m 8.6s
Tue, Jan 13 Sunrise 11:18 Sunset 16:10
24:00
0% 1% 0% 0.09m 167° 0.02 -43° 1% 13° 7.7m/s 0.07m 11s
01:00
0% 0% 0% 0.09m 168° - -46° 0% 6.2m/s 0.07m 11s
02:00
0% 0% 0% 0.09m 168° - -46° 0% 6.3m/s 0.06m 11s
03:00
0% 1% 0% 0.09m 169° - -45° 1% 353° 5.7m/s 0.06m 11s
04:00
0% 0% 0% 0.09m 170° - -41° 0% 344° 5.7m/s 0.06m 11s
05:00
0% 1% 0% 0.09m 171° - -36° 1% 328° 5.1m/s 0.05m 11s
06:00
0% 74% 0% 0.09m 171° - -30° 74% 313° 5.1m/s 0.05m 11s
07:00
0% 100% 42% 0.1m 171° - -24° 100% 300° 4.2m/s 0.25m 11s
08:00
0% 100% 6% 0.1m 171° - -18° 100% 296° 5.3m/s 0.44m 11s
09:00
0% 82% 0% 0.11m 171° - -12° 82% 310° 4.8m/s 0.64m 11s
10:00
0% 73% 0% 0.1m 172° - -6.3° 73% 321° 4.2m/s 0.56m 11s
11:00
0% 72% 0% 0.1m 172° - -1.7° 72% 330° 3.6m/s 0.47m 11s
12:00
0% 100% 0% 0.09m 172° - 1.7° 100% 323° 2.9m/s 0.39m 11s
13:00
0% 100% 2% 0.09m 172° - 3.5° 100% 298° 3.1m/s 0.31m 11s
14:00
0% 100% 31% 0.08m 171° - 3.8° 100% 292° 3.7m/s 0.22m 11s
15:00
0% 100% 52% 0.08m 170° - 2.7° 100% 300° 3.7m/s 0.14m 11s
16:00
0% 100% 0% 0.08m 170° - 0.34° 100% 320° 3.5m/s 0.16m 11s
17:00
0% 100% 0% 0.07m 169° - -4° 100% 341° 3.4m/s 0.18m 11s
18:00
0% 100% 0% 0.07m 168° - -9° 100% 3.5m/s 0.2m 11s
19:00
0% 100% 0% 0.07m 164° - -15° 100% 24° 3.5m/s 0.15m 12s
20:00
0% 95% 0% 0.08m 160° - -21° 95% 50° 3.6m/s 0.11m 12s
21:00
2% 73% 0% 0.08m 157° - -27° 74% 73° 3.4m/s 0.06m 13s
22:00
33% 4% 0% 0.08m 157° - -33° 35% 81° 3.3m/s 0.07m 13s
23:00
66% 0% 0% 0.09m 158° - -39° 66% 74° 3.9m/s 0.08m 13s
Wed, Jan 14 Sunrise 11:15 Sunset 16:14
24:00
100% 0% 0% 0.09m 159° - -43° 100% 78° 4.2m/s 0.09m 13s
01:00
100% 0% 0% 0.09m 160° - -46° 100% 92° 3.9m/s 0.08m 12s
02:00
100% 0% 0% 0.08m 161° - -46° 100% 87° 4.3m/s 0.07m 12s
03:00
100% 0% 0% 0.08m 162° - -45° 100% 74° 5.5m/s 0.06m 12s
04:00
100% 0% 10% 0.08m 163° - -41° 100% 74° 5.8m/s 0.06m 12s
05:00
100% 0% 68% 0.09m 163° - -36° 100% 72° 6.5m/s 0.07m 12s
06:00
100% 0% 46% 0.09m 163° - -30° 100% 73° 6.6m/s 0.07m 12s
07:00
94% 0% 55% 0.09m 164° - -24° 97% 70° 7.3m/s 0.08m 12s
08:00
100% 0% 10% 0.08m 166° - -18° 100% 71° 7.6m/s 0.09m 12s
09:00
100% 1% 70% 0.08m 167° - -12° 100% 74° 8.3m/s 0.1m 12s
10:00
100% 6% 66% 0.08m 167° - -6.2° 100% 70° 9.1m/s 0.1m 12s
11:00
100% 39% 0% 0.08m 168° - -1.6° 100% 60° 11m/s 0.09m 12s
12:00
100% 62% 0% 0.08m 169° - 1.8° 100% 56° 11m/s 0.09m 12s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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