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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 43% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Wave Height0.4m
Swell Height0.2m
Wind Speed6.9m/s (moderate 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%
Sun, Feb 15
19:0010%0.35m24134m15m/s0%
20:006.9%0.31m24134m15m/s0%
21:004.3%0.09m24135m14m/s0%
22:004.5%0.09m24134m14m/s0%
23:007.4%0.23m24135m13m/s0%
Mon, Feb 16
24:009.1%0.2m24134m12m/s0%
01:008%0.22m24135m12m/s0%
02:005.4%0.23m24134m10m/s0%
03:004.3%0.08m24134m9.5m/s0%
04:007%0.24m24134m8.6m/s0%
05:004.1%0.36m24134m7.6m/s0%
06:003.6%0.3m24134m6.8m/s0%
07:003.2%0.31m24135m6.8m/s0%
08:008.8%0.33m24134m6.2m/s0%
09:009.9%0.34m24135m5.8m/s0%
10:009.9%0.39m24134m5.4m/s0%
11:009.2%0.44m24135m4.9m/s0%
12:0010%0.16m24134m4.9m/s0%
13:009.2%0.2m24134m3.2m/s0%
14:009.2%0.23m24135m3.8m/s0%
15:0010%0.27m24135m4.6m/s0%
16:0011%0.31m24135m5m/s0%
17:009.2%0.34m24134m5.3m/s0%
18:009.2%0.33m24135m5.8m/s0%
19:008.1%0.36m24134m6.1m/s0%
20:003.1%0.39m24134m6.6m/s0%
21:003.1%0.42m24135m7.1m/s0%
22:003.1%0.46m24134m7.7m/s0%
23:003.1%0.49m24134m8.4m/s0%
Tue, Feb 17
24:007.3%0.53m24135m9.5m/s0%
01:006.5%0.53m24135m10m/s0%
02:007.5%0.54m24134m11m/s0%
03:006.9%0.54m24135m12m/s0%
04:007.9%0.55m24135m13m/s7.4%
05:007.9%0.55m24134m14m/s15%
06:0010%0.56m24135m15m/s22%
07:008.5%0.52m24134m15m/s22%
08:0015%0.48m24135m15m/s22%
09:0014%0.44m24134m16m/s22%
10:0011%0.44m24134m16m/s25%
11:0015%0.43m24135m17m/s27%
12:009.9%0.43m24134m17m/s30%
13:0010%0.39m24134m16m/s33%
14:008.9%0.36m24135m16m/s36%
15:0010%0.32m24134m16m/s40%
16:008.6%0.31m24134m16m/s45%
17:009.3%0.3m24135m16m/s50%
18:0011%0.29m24135m18m/s54%
19:009.3%0.26m24134m18m/s53%
20:0010%0.23m24134m18m/s51%
21:003.5%0.2m21997m17m/s50%
22:003.5%0.18m24135m18m/s52%
23:003.5%0.17m24135m18m/s54%
Wed, Feb 18
24:003.5%0.15m23908m18m/s56%
01:002.5%0.14m16139m19m/s50%
02:002.6%0.13m11804m18m/s43%
03:002.9%0.12m19015m19m/s37%
04:002.9%0.11m15781m20m/s34%
05:001.8%0.11m4044m20m/s31%
06:002%0.1m2723m21m/s28%
07:002%0.1m2045m21m/s23%
08:005.2%0.09m2584m21m/s18%
09:005.9%0.09m2550m21m/s14%
10:007%0.09m6437m21m/s13%
11:007.9%0.08m10843m21m/s13%
12:007.9%0.08m14020m21m/s13%
13:009.7%0.08m24135m21m/s17%
14:009.7%0.07m24134m21m/s22%
15:009.7%0.07m24135m21m/s26%
16:0017%0.07m24135m20m/s30%
17:0019%0.06m24134m20m/s33%
18:0020%0.06m23910m20m/s37%
19:0016%0.06m18431m21m/s29%
20:0016%0.06m19086m20m/s22%
21:004.4%0.06m9503m20m/s14%
22:003.4%0.06m2015m20m/s13%
23:001.7%0.06m713m21m/s13%
Thu, Feb 19
24:001.4%0.06m336m21m/s13%
01:001.8%0.06m8269m20m/s25%
02:002.5%0.06m16202m19m/s38%
03:002.5%0.06m24135m18m/s50%
04:002.9%0.06m24135m18m/s67%
05:003.4%0.07m24135m18m/s83%
06:002.9%0.07m24135m18m/s100%
07:003.7%0.08m24135m17m/s67%
08:0015%0.08m24135m17m/s33%
09:0014%0.09m24135m16m/s0%
10:0013%0.11m24135m16m/s7.4%
11:0010%0.13m24135m16m/s15%
12:008.9%0.15m24135m16m/s22%
13:008.9%0.16m24135m16m/s41%
14:008.9%0.18m24135m16m/s61%
15:009%0.19m24135m15m/s80%
16:0015%0.18m24135m16m/s87%
17:0014%0.18m24135m16m/s93%
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
Mon, Feb 16 Sunrise 09:31 Sunset 18:08
19:00
85% 36% 100% 0.21m 62° 0.03 -5.8° 100% 69° 6.9m/s 0.33m 3s
20:00
99% 20% 100% 0.22m 66° 0.03 -12° 100% 70° 7.5m/s 0.35m 3.2s
21:00
98% 22% 100% 0.23m 69° 0.03 -18° 100% 71° 7.9m/s 0.38m 3.4s
22:00
75% 18% 100% 0.25m 55° 0.03 -24° 100% 71° 8.5m/s 0.42m 3.2s
23:00
76% 33% 100% 0.26m 41° 0.03 -30° 100% 66° 9.2m/s 0.46m 3s
Tue, Feb 17 Sunrise 09:28 Sunset 18:12
24:00
55% 78% 100% 0.28m 27° 0.04 -34° 100% 64° 10m/s 0.5m 2.7s
01:00
84% 89% 100% 0.28m 26° 0.04 -36° 100% 65° 11m/s 0.51m 2.8s
02:00
65% 64% 69% 0.29m 25° 0.04 -37° 87% 64° 12m/s 0.51m 2.8s
03:00
100% 72% 34% 0.29m 24° 0.05 -36° 100% 65° 12m/s 0.52m 2.8s
04:00
92% 86% 71% 0.29m 25° 0.05 -33° 92% 67° 13m/s 0.53m 2.9s
05:00
95% 60% 71% 0.28m 26° 0.06 -28° 95% 65° 14m/s 0.53m 2.9s
06:00
30% 58% 20% 0.28m 28° 0.06 -22° 60% 66° 15m/s 0.54m 2.9s
07:00
5% 60% 5% 0.27m 25° 0.07 -16° 60% 68° 15m/s 0.5m 2.9s
08:00
46% 37% 23% 0.27m 23° 0.07 -9.7° 74% 72° 15m/s 0.46m 2.8s
09:00
36% 74% 100% 0.26m 21° 0.06 -3.4° 100% 71° 16m/s 0.42m 2.8s
10:00
12% 6% 99% 0.26m 21° 0.05 2.4° 99% 70° 16m/s 0.42m 2.7s
11:00
67% 5% 62% 0.25m 22° 0.06 67% 69° 16m/s 0.41m 2.7s
12:00
99% 1% 11% 0.25m 22° 0.07 11° 99% 69° 17m/s 0.41m 2.7s
13:00
100% 0% 77% 0.25m 34° 0.07 13° 100% 69° 16m/s 0.37m 2.9s
14:00
87% 0% 100% 0.24m 46° 0.06 13° 100% 67° 16m/s 0.33m 3.1s
15:00
43% 0% 100% 0.24m 59° 0.06 12° 100% 67° 16m/s 0.29m 3.3s
16:00
64% 0% 100% 0.26m 58° 0.06 9.5° 100% 70° 16m/s 0.28m 3.3s
17:00
72% 2% 100% 0.28m 58° 0.05 5.6° 100% 68° 16m/s 0.26m 3.2s
18:00
69% 19% 100% 0.3m 57° 0.04 0.77° 100% 68° 17m/s 0.25m 3.2s
19:00
96% 91% 100% 0.26m 54° 0.03 -5.4° 100% 68° 17m/s 0.21m 3.1s
20:00
100% 100% 100% 0.23m 51° 0.02 -12° 100% 66° 17m/s 0.17m 3s
21:00
100% 100% 100% 0.19m 49° 0.02 -18° 100% 65° 17m/s 0.13m 2.9s
22:00
100% 100% 100% 0.21m 50° 0.01 -24° 100% 66° 17m/s 0.12m 2.9s
23:00
100% 100% 100% 0.23m 51° 0.01 -29° 100% 66° 17m/s 0.1m 2.9s
Wed, Feb 18 Sunrise 09:24 Sunset 18:15
24:00
100% 100% 100% 0.25m 52° 0.007 -34° 100% 64° 17m/s 0.09m 2.9s
01:00
100% 100% 100% 0.22m 76° - -36° 100% 65° 17m/s 0.09m 3.3s
02:00
100% 100% 100% 0.18m 100° - -37° 100% 65° 17m/s 0.09m 3.7s
03:00
100% 100% 100% 0.15m 124° - -35° 100% 66° 17m/s 0.09m 4.1s
04:00
100% 100% 100% 0.15m 126° - -32° 100% 67° 18m/s 0.08m 4.1s
05:00
100% 100% 100% 0.16m 128° - -28° 100% 64° 19m/s 0.06m 4s
06:00
100% 100% 100% 0.16m 130° - -22° 100% 67° 19m/s 0.05m 4s
07:00
100% 100% 100% 0.17m 133° - -16° 100% 69° 18m/s 0.07m 3.9s
08:00
100% 100% 100% 0.17m 135° - -9.3° 100% 66° 19m/s 0.08m 3.8s
09:00
100% 100% 100% 0.18m 138° - -3.1° 100% 67° 19m/s 0.1m 3.7s
10:00
100% 100% 100% 0.17m 134° - 2.7° 100% 65° 20m/s 0.09m 3.6s
11:00
100% 100% 100% 0.17m 131° - 7.3° 100% 63° 19m/s 0.09m 3.4s
12:00
100% 100% 100% 0.16m 127° - 11° 100% 63° 19m/s 0.08m 3.2s
13:00
100% 100% 100% 0.15m 127° - 13° 100% 62° 19m/s 0.08m 3.2s
14:00
100% 100% 100% 0.13m 126° - 14° 100% 61° 19m/s 0.08m 3.2s
15:00
100% 100% 100% 0.12m 126° - 13° 100% 60° 20m/s 0.08m 3.2s
16:00
100% 100% 100% 0.12m 125° - 9.9° 100% 60° 19m/s 0.08m 5.3s
17:00
100% 100% 100% 0.12m 124° - 5.9° 100% 60° 19m/s 0.09m 7.3s
18:00
100% 100% 100% 0.12m 123° - 100% 61° 19m/s 0.09m 9.4s
19:00
100% 100% 100% 0.12m 124° - -5.1° 100% 61° 19m/s 0.09m 9.4s
20:00
100% 100% 100% 0.11m 124° - -11° 100% 62° 19m/s 0.09m 9.3s
21:00
100% 100% 100% 0.11m 124° - -18° 100% 64° 19m/s 0.09m 9.3s
22:00
100% 100% 100% 0.11m 108° - -24° 100% 64° 19m/s 0.08m 7.1s
23:00
69% 100% 100% 0.1m 92° - -29° 100% 65° 18m/s 0.08m 4.8s
Thu, Feb 19 Sunrise 09:21 Sunset 18:18
24:00
90% 100% 100% 0.1m 76° - -33° 100% 63° 19m/s 0.07m 2.6s
01:00
93% 69% 100% 0.1m 78° - -36° 100% 61° 18m/s 0.07m 2.6s
02:00
96% 37% 100% 0.1m 80° - -36° 100% 59° 18m/s 0.06m 2.6s
03:00
99% 6% 100% 0.1m 82° - -35° 100% 57° 17m/s 0.06m 2.6s
04:00
70% 6% 100% 0.11m 94° - -32° 100% 57° 17m/s 0.07m 2.9s
05:00
41% 5% 100% 0.11m 107° - -27° 100% 57° 17m/s 0.08m 3.1s
06:00
12% 5% 100% 0.12m 119° - -22° 100% 57° 16m/s 0.09m 3.3s
07:00
8% 5% 74% 0.12m 174° - -15° 74% 56° 16m/s 0.11m 2.9s
08:00
4% 5% 48% 0.11m 229° - -9° 48% 56° 16m/s 0.12m 2.4s
09:00
0% 5% 22% 0.11m 283° - -2.8° 22% 55° 15m/s 0.14m 1.9s
10:00
0% 5% 16% 0.11m 292° - 16% 56° 15m/s 0.14m 1.9s
11:00
0% 5% 11% 0.1m 301° - 7.7° 11% 57° 15m/s 0.14m 1.8s
12:00
0% 5% 5% 0.1m 310° - 11° 5% 58° 15m/s 0.14m 1.8s
13:00
2% 5% 3% 0.13m 313° - 13° 5% 58° 15m/s 0.15m 1.8s
14:00
3% 5% 2% 0.15m 315° - 14° 5% 57° 15m/s 0.16m 1.9s
15:00
5% 5% 0% 0.18m 318° - 13° 5% 56° 15m/s 0.17m 2s
16:00
37% 5% 33% 0.17m 314° - 10° 37% 56° 15m/s 0.16m 2.1s
17:00
68% 5% 67% 0.17m 311° - 6.2° 68% 57° 16m/s 0.14m 2.3s
18:00
100% 5% 100% 0.16m 307° - 1.3° 100% 57° 16m/s 0.13m 2.4s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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