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Rule Storm Chaser

Djúpalónssandur - Storm Chaser - Iceland Coast

Hellissandur, 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

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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)
CAPE 100% failing
Storm Intensity 99% failing
Cloud Drama Score 61% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts2.8m/s
Precipitation Chance90%
Air Pressure994.9hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index3.8°C
Wind Gusts2.8m/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.

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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
Sun, Feb 22
01:0013%0%0J/kg11°C24135m14m/s
02:0013%0%0J/kg11°C24134m15m/s
03:0024%0%0J/kg8.6°C24135m15m/s
04:0013%0%0J/kg8.6°C24134m14m/s
05:0013%0%0J/kg8.6°C24135m14m/s
06:0026%0.1%0J/kg8.7°C24134m14m/s
07:0013%1.7%0J/kg8.5°C24134m14m/s
08:0013%47%0J/kg8.9°C24134m15m/s
09:0027%54%0J/kg7.9°C24135m14m/s
10:0013%54%0J/kg7.1°C24135m14m/s
11:0013%53%0J/kg6.6°C24135m13m/s
12:0022%49%0J/kg6.8°C24134m12m/s
13:0012%59%0J/kg6.9°C24135m12m/s
14:0012%59%0J/kg6.5°C24135m11m/s
15:0013%78%0J/kg6.2°C24135m11m/s
16:0012%61%0J/kg6°C24135m10m/s
17:0012%62%0J/kg5.9°C24135m9.6m/s
18:0013%65%0J/kg5.7°C24135m8.6m/s
19:000%80%0J/kg5.8°C24135m7.4m/s
20:000%65%0J/kg5.6°C24135m6.1m/s
21:000%0.4%0J/kg5.5°C24134m4.5m/s
22:000%2.6%0J/kg5.2°C24134m3.2m/s
23:000%2.2%0J/kg5°C24135m2.4m/s
Mon, Feb 23
24:000%3.2%0J/kg5.2°C24134m2m/s
01:000%1.9%0J/kg4.5°C24134m1.6m/s
02:000%2%0J/kg3.8°C22299m2.8m/s
03:000%0.4%0J/kg3.8°C24134m2.9m/s
04:000%0.8%0J/kg3.3°C21614m3m/s
05:0013%2.5%0J/kg2.6°C4034m4.2m/s
06:0036%0.1%1J/kg1.6°C75m5.8m/s
07:0020%0.2%3J/kg0.7°C82m9.1m/s
08:0021%61%0J/kg0.9°C273m10m/s
09:0042%74%0J/kg0.7°C305m12m/s
10:0037%73%6J/kg0.4°C145m15m/s
11:0033%77%6J/kg0.6°C6571m16m/s
12:0035%79%6J/kg0.9°C13164m16m/s
13:0015%91%1J/kg1.1°C17810m15m/s
14:0015%68%0J/kg1°C21181m15m/s
15:0025%60%0J/kg0.8°C21190m14m/s
16:0015%74%0J/kg1°C21182m14m/s
17:0015%100%0J/kg1.2°C21235m13m/s
18:0018%100%0J/kg1.3°C21227m12m/s
19:000%100%0J/kg1.4°C21247m11m/s
20:000%90%3J/kg1.7°C21264m11m/s
21:000%8.2%4J/kg1.3°C21183m10m/s
22:000%8.4%15J/kg1°C17213m8.5m/s
23:000%9.6%20J/kg1.3°C18110m7.5m/s
Tue, Feb 24
24:000%8.3%24J/kg1.6°C21180m6.4m/s
01:000%14%12J/kg2.6°C21909m6m/s
02:000%13%11J/kg3.8°C20651m5.1m/s
03:0016%5%15J/kg4.3°C18178m4.4m/s
04:0032%0.5%17J/kg4.7°C102m7.6m/s
05:0035%0%2J/kg5.3°C43m9.6m/s
06:0044%0%11J/kg5.3°C51m10m/s
07:0029%0.5%0J/kg6.4°C1652m10m/s
08:0027%42%0J/kg7.5°C4300m11m/s
09:0036%67%0J/kg8.6°C8831m11m/s
10:0016%67%0J/kg11°C13886m11m/s
11:0015%52%0J/kg15°C24135m10m/s
12:0032%46%3J/kg17°C24135m11m/s
13:0014%44%4J/kg17°C24135m10m/s
14:0014%45%6J/kg17°C24135m10m/s
15:0030%35%5J/kg17°C24134m11m/s
16:0014%35%5J/kg18°C24134m11m/s
17:0014%41%5J/kg18°C24134m12m/s
18:0030%37%6J/kg17°C24134m13m/s
19:0013%34%10J/kg16°C24135m15m/s
20:0013%33%12J/kg16°C24135m16m/s
21:0024%1.5%13J/kg17°C24134m18m/s
22:0015%0.5%16J/kg17°C24134m19m/s
23:0015%0.3%17J/kg16°C24135m20m/s
Wed, Feb 25
24:0027%0.3%22J/kg15°C24134m22m/s
01:0017%0.1%20J/kg15°C24135m22m/s
02:0017%0.5%19J/kg17°C24135m23m/s
03:0032%1%21J/kg18°C24134m24m/s
04:0018%1.4%9J/kg19°C24135m26m/s
05:0018%2.2%12J/kg20°C24134m26m/s
06:0034%3.4%26J/kg20°C16352m25m/s
07:0027%0%17J/kg16°C10978m19m/s
08:0029%61%8.7J/kg12°C5603m13m/s
09:0047%67%0J/kg8°C229m7.2m/s
10:0039%67%0J/kg8.1°C241m6.9m/s
11:0039%67%0J/kg8.2°C253m6.5m/s
12:0055%62%0J/kg8.3°C265m6.1m/s
13:0042%77%0J/kg8.4°C263m5.7m/s
14:0039%57%0J/kg8.4°C260m5.3m/s
15:0046%57%0J/kg8.4°C258m4.9m/s
16:0035%57%0J/kg7.5°C250m4.9m/s
17:0035%62%0J/kg6.6°C242m4.9m/s
18:0047%62%0J/kg5.7°C234m4.8m/s
19:0034%64%0J/kg6.3°C226m5.2m/s
20:0034%55%0J/kg6.9°C218m5.7m/s
21:0049%0%0J/kg7.4°C210m6.1m/s
22:0037%0%0J/kg7.6°C260m6.1m/s
23:0042%0%0J/kg7.8°C309m6.1m/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
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 09:07 Sunset 18:31
02:00
995hPa 0J/kg 54% 3.8°C 100% 95% 90% 0.01mm 66% 0mm -9.7dBZ -35° 100% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
03:00
995hPa 0J/kg 76% 3.8°C 100% 100% 93% 0mm 71% 0mm -4.6dBZ -34° 100% 0mm 8.9m/s 9.9m/s 2.9m/s
04:00
995hPa 0J/kg 94% 3.3°C 91% 86% 94% 0.02mm 72% 0mm 4.8dBZ -30° 94% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
05:00
994hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.6°C 100% 99% 95% 0.64mm 87% 0mm 14dBZ -26° 100% 0.31mm - - 3.6m/s
06:00
994hPa 1J/kg 100% 1.6°C 100% 100% 96% 1mm 99% 0mm 24dBZ -20° 100% 1.4mm 11m/s 16m/s 4.8m/s
07:00
993hPa 3J/kg 100% 0.7°C 100% 100% 94% 0.15mm 97% 0mm 25dBZ -14° 100% 0.5mm - - 6.3m/s
08:00
993hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.9°C 100% 68% 92% 0.69mm 96% 0.01mm 26dBZ -7.6° 100% 0.88mm - - 6.5m/s
09:00
993hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.7°C 100% 100% 90% 0.65mm 96% 0.01mm 27dBZ -1.3° 100% 1.6mm 15m/s 16m/s 6.6m/s
10:00
993hPa 6J/kg 100% 0.4°C 100% 100% 92% 0.82mm 97% 0mm 20dBZ 4.4° 100% 2.5mm - - 8m/s
11:00
993hPa 6J/kg 100% 0.6°C 100% 100% 94% 0.31mm 93% 0.03mm 13dBZ 9.1° 100% 3.1mm - - 10m/s
12:00
992hPa 6J/kg 58% 0.9°C 100% 100% 96% 0.14mm 93% 0.05mm 5.8dBZ 13° 100% 3.3mm 14m/s 14m/s 11m/s
13:00
992hPa 1J/kg 19% 1.1°C 100% 91% 87% 0.01mm 94% 0.01mm 3.7dBZ 15° 100% 0.13mm - - 11m/s
14:00
992hPa 0J/kg 4% 1°C 81% 95% 78% 0mm 92% 0.02mm 1.6dBZ 15° 96% 0.19mm - - 10m/s
15:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.8°C 66% 96% 68% 0mm 92% 0.02mm -0.48dBZ 14° 96% 0.19mm 9.1m/s 11m/s 9.6m/s
16:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0% 1°C 74% 82% 75% 0mm 92% 0.03mm 7.3dBZ 12° 82% 0.25mm - - 9.2m/s
17:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.2°C 44% 43% 81% 0mm 91% 0mm 15dBZ 7.5° 46% 0.25mm - - 8.7m/s
18:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.3°C 49% 46% 87% 0mm 91% 0mm 23dBZ 2.5° 52% 0.25mm 6.1m/s 9.5m/s 8.2m/s
19:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.4°C 23% 36% 82% 0mm 90% 0.01mm 22dBZ -3.5° 51% 0mm - - 7.4m/s
20:00
989hPa 3J/kg 0% 1.7°C 27% 34% 78% 0mm 90% 0.06mm 21dBZ -9.8° 53% 0.06mm - - 6.9m/s
21:00
989hPa 4J/kg 0% 1.3°C 41% 53% 73% 0mm 91% 0.13mm 20dBZ -16° 55% 0.19mm 5.8m/s 9.2m/s 6.4m/s
22:00
989hPa 15J/kg 0% 1°C 36% 79% 75% 0.01mm 93% 0.11mm 21dBZ -22° 79% 0.38mm - - 5.2m/s
23:00
988hPa 20J/kg 0% 1.3°C 90% 47% 78% 0.04mm 93% 0.13mm 22dBZ -27° 90% 0.56mm - - 4.7m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 09:03 Sunset 18:35
24:00
988hPa 24J/kg 0% 1.6°C 82% 7% 81% 0.01mm 92% 0.17mm 23dBZ -31° 82% 0.75mm 5.8m/s 9.4m/s 4.5m/s
01:00
987hPa 12J/kg 0% 2.6°C 100% 5% 69% 0.01mm 88% 0.08mm 20dBZ -34° 100% 0.19mm - - 4.4m/s
02:00
987hPa 11J/kg 0% 3.8°C 92% 2% 58% 0mm 86% 0.19mm 16dBZ -35° 92% 0.31mm - - 4.1m/s
03:00
987hPa 15J/kg 0% 4.3°C 100% 2% 46% 0.01mm 90% 0.1mm 13dBZ -33° 100% 0.5mm 14m/s 10m/s 4.2m/s
04:00
987hPa 17J/kg 6% 4.7°C 100% 0% 51% 0.3mm 99% 0.01mm 7.3dBZ -30° 100% 0.63mm - - 8.8m/s
05:00
987hPa 2J/kg 7% 5.3°C 100% 0% 56% 0.38mm 99% 0.02mm 1.8dBZ -25° 100% 1.1mm - - 9.4m/s
06:00
987hPa 11J/kg 6% 5.3°C 100% 0% 62% 0.44mm 99% 0.07mm -3.7dBZ -20° 100% 1.6mm 17m/s 17m/s 9.4m/s
07:00
987hPa 0J/kg 22% 6.4°C 100% 0% 54% 0.24mm 90% 0.04mm -2.8dBZ -14° 100% 0.44mm - - 10m/s
08:00
988hPa 0J/kg 84% 7.5°C 100% 0% 47% 0.17mm 88% 0.03mm -2dBZ -7.3° 100% 0.69mm - - 10m/s
09:00
988hPa 0J/kg 31% 8.6°C 100% 0% 39% 0.09mm 83% 0.03mm -1.2dBZ -0.85° 100% 0.81mm 17m/s 22m/s 11m/s
10:00
988hPa 0J/kg 47% 11°C 100% 0% 47% 0.02mm 75% 0.02mm -0.75dBZ 4.7° 100% 0.88mm - - 11m/s
11:00
988hPa 0J/kg 96% 15°C 99% 0% 56% 0.01mm 64% 0mm -0.32dBZ 9.4° 99% 0.94mm - - 10m/s
12:00
988hPa 3J/kg 82% 17°C 97% 0% 64% 0mm 60% 0mm 0.1dBZ 13° 100% 0.94mm 14m/s 23m/s 9.9m/s
13:00
988hPa 4J/kg 7% 17°C 97% 0% 61% 0mm 59% 0.01mm 0.13dBZ 15° 97% 0mm - - 9.6m/s
14:00
988hPa 6J/kg 5% 17°C 99% 0% 59% 0mm 58% 0.01mm 0.15dBZ 16° 99% 0mm - - 10m/s
15:00
988hPa 5J/kg 0% 17°C 99% 0% 56% 0mm 57% 0.01mm 0.18dBZ 15° 99% 0mm 12m/s 24m/s 11m/s
16:00
989hPa 5J/kg 0% 18°C 100% 0% 65% 0mm 57% 0.01mm -1.8dBZ 12° 100% 0.06mm - - 11m/s
17:00
989hPa 5J/kg 0% 18°C 100% 0% 74% 0mm 58% 0.02mm -3.7dBZ 7.9° 100% 0.06mm - - 12m/s
18:00
990hPa 6J/kg 0% 17°C 100% 0% 83% 0mm 59% 0.02mm -5.7dBZ 2.8° 100% 0.06mm 7m/s 21m/s 12m/s
19:00
990hPa 10J/kg 0% 16°C 100% 0% 82% 0mm 61% 0.01mm -3.6dBZ -3.2° 100% 0mm - - 14m/s
20:00
991hPa 12J/kg 0% 16°C 100% 0% 82% 0.01mm 63% 0mm -1.5dBZ -9.5° 100% 0mm - - 15m/s
21:00
991hPa 13J/kg 0% 17°C 100% 0% 82% 0mm 64% 0.01mm 0.55dBZ -16° 100% 0mm 5.7m/s 19m/s 16m/s
22:00
991hPa 16J/kg 0% 17°C 100% 0% 82% 0mm 64% 0.01mm -6.3dBZ -22° 100% 0mm - - 17m/s
23:00
992hPa 17J/kg 0% 16°C 100% 0% 83% 0mm 65% 0mm -13dBZ -27° 100% 0mm - - 18m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 08:59 Sunset 18:38
24:00
993hPa 22J/kg 0% 15°C 100% 0% 83% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 100% 0mm 4.9m/s 20m/s 19m/s
01:00
994hPa 20J/kg 0% 15°C 100% 0% 74% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 100% 0mm - - 19m/s
02:00
995hPa 19J/kg 0% 17°C 100% 0% 65% 0mm 60% 0mm -19dBZ -34° 100% 0mm - - 20m/s
03:00
995hPa 21J/kg 0% 18°C 100% 0% 56% 0mm 60% 0mm -19dBZ -33° 100% 0mm 8.5m/s 22m/s 20m/s
04:00
996hPa 9J/kg 0% 19°C 100% 0% 58% 0mm 58% 0mm -19dBZ -30° 100% 0mm - - 20m/s
05:00
996hPa 12J/kg 0% 20°C 100% 0% 59% 0mm 60% 0mm -19dBZ -25° 100% 0mm - - 19m/s
06:00
997hPa 26J/kg 5% 20°C 100% 3% 61% 0.03mm 68% 0mm -19dBZ -19° 100% 0mm 15m/s 17m/s 19m/s
07:00
995hPa 17J/kg 5% 16°C 100% 36% 60% 0.42mm 76% 0.003mm -9.6dBZ -13° 100% 2.3mm - - 15m/s
08:00
993hPa 8.7J/kg 5% 12°C 100% 68% 58% 0.82mm 84% 0.007mm -0.17dBZ -6.9° 100% 4.6mm - - 11m/s
09:00
992hPa 0J/kg 5% 8°C 100% 100% 57% 1.2mm 92% 0.01mm 9.3dBZ -0.37° 100% 6.9mm 21m/s 15m/s 7.4m/s
10:00
991hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.1°C 100% 100% 61% 1.2mm 92% 0.01mm 10dBZ 5.1° 100% 8mm - - 6.9m/s
11:00
991hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.2°C 100% 100% 65% 1.1mm 92% 0.01mm 11dBZ 9.8° 100% 9.1mm - - 6.5m/s
12:00
990hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.3°C 100% 100% 69% 1.1mm 92% 0.01mm 12dBZ 13° 100% 10mm 27m/s 26m/s 6m/s
13:00
990hPa 0J/kg 37% 8.4°C 100% 100% 59% 0.95mm 92% 0.01mm 14dBZ 16° 100% 7.7mm - - 5.5m/s
14:00
989hPa 0J/kg 68% 8.4°C 100% 100% 50% 0.8mm 92% 0.02mm 17dBZ 16° 100% 5.1mm - - 5m/s
15:00
988hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.4°C 100% 100% 40% 0.65mm 91% 0.02mm 20dBZ 15° 100% 2.6mm 30m/s 27m/s 4.5m/s
16:00
987hPa 0J/kg 98% 7.5°C 100% 100% 48% 0.62mm 91% 0.02mm 20dBZ 12° 100% 3.2mm - - 4.5m/s
17:00
986hPa 0J/kg 95% 6.6°C 100% 100% 56% 0.59mm 91% 0.02mm 21dBZ 8.2° 100% 3.8mm - - 4.6m/s
18:00
985hPa 0J/kg 93% 5.7°C 100% 100% 64% 0.56mm 92% 0.02mm 21dBZ 3.2° 100% 4.4mm 28m/s 25m/s 4.7m/s
19:00
985hPa 0J/kg 95% 6.3°C 100% 100% 74% 0.8mm 92% 0.04mm 19dBZ -2.8° 100% 4.1mm - - 5.1m/s
20:00
984hPa 0J/kg 97% 6.9°C 100% 100% 85% 1mm 92% 0.05mm 17dBZ -9.2° 100% 3.7mm - - 5.5m/s
21:00
983hPa 0J/kg 98% 7.4°C 100% 100% 95% 1.3mm 92% 0.07mm 14dBZ -16° 100% 3.3mm 29m/s 26m/s 5.8m/s
22:00
982hPa 0J/kg 99% 7.6°C 100% 100% 96% 1.1mm 92% 0.05mm 14dBZ -21° 100% 4.4mm - - 5.9m/s
23:00
981hPa 0J/kg 99% 7.8°C 100% 100% 97% 0.86mm 92% 0.03mm 14dBZ -27° 100% 5.4mm - - 6m/s
Thu, Feb 26 Sunrise 08:56 Sunset 18:41
24:00
981hPa 0J/kg 100% 8°C 100% 100% 98% 0.65mm 91% 0.01mm 15dBZ -31° 100% 6.4mm 29m/s 29m/s 6.1m/s
01:00
980hPa 0J/kg 68% 8.3°C 100% 100% 91% 0.87mm 91% 0.03mm 17dBZ -33° 100% 5.3mm - - 5.5m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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