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Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Dyrhólaey - Dramatic Seascapes - Iceland Coast

Vik, South, 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 Height0.4m
Swell Height0.1m
Wind Speed5.1m/s (moderate winds)
Cloud Cover0%

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
01:003.8%0.04m24135m13m/s0%
02:003.8%0.06m24135m13m/s0%
03:00-0.06m24135m12m/s0%
04:00-0.07m24135m11m/s0%
05:00-0.08m24135m9.1m/s0%
06:00-0.09m24134m7.6m/s0%
07:00-0.12m24134m8.6m/s0%
08:00-0.18m24134m7.2m/s0%
09:00-0.19m24134m6.2m/s0%
10:00-0.21m24134m6.3m/s0%
11:0010%0.22m24134m6m/s0%
12:00-0.23m24134m5.4m/s0%
13:0013%0.25m24135m4.9m/s0%
14:0015%0.26m24135m4m/s0%
15:009.2%0.28m24135m3m/s0%
16:008.1%0.28m24134m2.3m/s0%
17:008.8%0.29m24134m2.1m/s0%
18:009.9%0.13m24134m2.2m/s0%
19:007.8%0.37m24134m2.6m/s0%
20:004.9%0.44m24134m2.6m/s0%
21:004.9%0.45m24135m3.1m/s0%
22:004.9%0.45m24134m3.9m/s0%
23:002.7%0.44m24135m4.8m/s0%
Mon, Feb 16
24:002.7%0.44m24134m5m/s0%
01:002.7%0.43m24134m4.9m/s0%
02:002.7%0.42m24135m5m/s0%
03:002.7%0.41m24135m5.5m/s0%
04:003.5%0.41m24135m5.7m/s0%
05:003.5%0.4m24135m6.2m/s0%
06:002.7%0.4m24135m5.9m/s0%
07:002.7%0.4m24135m5.9m/s0%
08:007.8%0.4m24135m5.1m/s0%
09:008.8%0.4m24134m4m/s0%
10:008.8%0.4m24135m3.4m/s0%
11:009.2%0.4m24134m2.7m/s0%
12:009.2%0.4m24135m2.2m/s0%
13:008.9%0.4m24134m2.2m/s0%
14:0010%0.4m24134m2.5m/s0%
15:0010%0.4m24135m2.9m/s0%
16:0010%0.4m24135m2.2m/s0%
17:0012%0.39m24135m2.1m/s0%
18:0011%0.39m24135m2.5m/s0%
19:009.9%0.4m24134m2.3m/s0%
20:002.9%0.41m24135m2.4m/s0%
21:002.9%0.42m24135m2.2m/s0%
22:003.4%0.45m24135m1.8m/s0%
23:003.5%0.49m24135m1.6m/s0%
Tue, Feb 17
24:004.5%0.52m24135m1.6m/s0%
01:004%0.56m24134m1.5m/s7.4%
02:003.5%0.59m24134m1.7m/s15%
03:003.3%0.63m24135m1.9m/s22%
04:003.3%0.64m24134m2m/s31%
05:003.3%0.65m24134m2.1m/s41%
06:003.7%0.66m24134m2.3m/s50%
07:004.1%0.64m24135m3m/s53%
08:009.5%0.63m24134m3.7m/s57%
09:009.9%0.61m24135m4.4m/s60%
10:0011%0.59m24135m5.8m/s64%
11:009.5%0.56m16948m7.6m/s69%
12:0011%0.54m356m7.7m/s73%
13:009.5%0.54m343m9.9m/s79%
14:0011%0.53m268m12m/s85%
15:0013%0.53m185m13m/s91%
16:0013%0.53m147m14m/s92%
17:0012%0.54m151m14m/s94%
18:0012%0.54m156m15m/s95%
19:0012%0.53m144m15m/s91%
20:004%0.51m112m16m/s86%
21:004.8%0.5m99m16m/s82%
22:003.4%0.49m71m19m/s82%
23:003.4%0.48m69m19m/s83%
Wed, Feb 18
24:001.9%0.47m69m19m/s84%
01:001.9%0.47m70m16m/s81%
02:001.6%0.46m91m13m/s77%
03:001.4%0.46m169m13m/s73%
04:001.7%0.46m148m11m/s78%
05:001.6%0.46m135m12m/s82%
06:001.6%0.46m146m11m/s87%
07:001.6%0.47m1558m10m/s84%
08:004.7%0.48m2970m9m/s81%
09:005.3%0.49m4382m7.9m/s78%
10:006.4%0.5m3059m8.2m/s84%
11:005.9%0.52m1736m8.5m/s89%
12:004.9%0.53m413m8.8m/s95%
13:005.6%0.56m361m9.7m/s89%
14:005.6%0.58m309m11m/s83%
15:005.6%0.61m258m11m/s77%
16:006.3%0.65m396m12m/s79%
17:006.8%0.69m535m12m/s82%
18:0013%0.73m673m13m/s85%
19:0011%0.72m567m13m/s84%
20:003.9%0.72m460m13m/s84%
21:004.3%0.71m354m14m/s83%
22:004.3%0.75m307m14m/s86%
23:004.3%0.8m260m15m/s88%
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 09:05 Sunset 17:56
02:00
0% 0% 0% 0.12m 343° 0.006 -39° 0% 348° 5.1m/s 0.4m 2.6s
03:00
0% 0% 0% 0.13m 342° 0.006 -37° 0% 352° 5.7m/s 0.38m 2.6s
04:00
0% 0% 0% 0.15m 232° 0.006 -33° 0% 353° 5.7m/s 0.37m 2.8s
05:00
0% 0% 0% 0.17m 122° 0.005 -27° 0% 355° 5.7m/s 0.36m 3s
06:00
0% 0% 0% 0.19m 12° 0.005 -21° 0% 354° 5.6m/s 0.35m 3.3s
07:00
1% 0% 0% 0.2m 11° 0.005 -14° 1% 351° 5.6m/s 0.35m 3.2s
08:00
4% 0% 0% 0.2m 10° 0.005 -7.6° 4% 347° 5m/s 0.35m 3.2s
09:00
5% 0% 0% 0.21m 9.9° 0.005 -1.1° 5% 344° 4.6m/s 0.35m 3.2s
10:00
5% 0% 4% 0.22m 9.8° 0.005 4.5° 5% 342° 4m/s 0.34m 3.2s
11:00
5% 0% 5% 0.22m 9.8° 0.005 9.1° 5% 335° 3.3m/s 0.34m 3.2s
12:00
4% 0% 7% 0.23m 9.8° 0.005 12° 7% 321° 2.5m/s 0.33m 3.2s
13:00
5% 0% 9% 0.24m 29° 0.005 14° 9% 295° 2.2m/s 0.32m 3.7s
14:00
6% 0% 6% 0.24m 49° 0.005 14° 6% 287° 2.3m/s 0.32m 4.3s
15:00
5% 0% 5% 0.25m 69° 0.006 13° 5% 281° 2.4m/s 0.31m 4.8s
16:00
6% 0% 5% 0.24m 70° 0.006 9.2° 6% 306° 2.1m/s 0.3m 4.8s
17:00
18% 0% 92% 0.24m 72° 0.008 4.7° 92% 340° 2.6m/s 0.29m 4.8s
18:00
57% 4% 100% 0.23m 73° 0.01 -0.9° 100% 352° 3.2m/s 0.28m 4.7s
19:00
27% 0% 100% 0.23m 78° 0.02 -7.5° 100% 353° 2.7m/s 0.28m 4.7s
20:00
11% 0% 100% 0.23m 83° 0.02 -14° 100% 348° 2.6m/s 0.29m 4.7s
21:00
68% 0% 100% 0.23m 89° 0.02 -21° 100% 341° 2.5m/s 0.29m 4.8s
22:00
100% 0% 100% 0.23m 91° 0.02 -27° 100% 326° 2.1m/s 0.32m 4.9s
23:00
89% 0% 100% 0.23m 93° 0.02 -32° 100% 316° 1.9m/s 0.35m 5.1s
Tue, Feb 17 Sunrise 09:01 Sunset 17:59
24:00
53% 2% 100% 0.23m 96° 0.02 -36° 100% 306° 1.6m/s 0.38m 5.3s
01:00
65% 2% 100% 0.24m 96° 0.01 -38° 100% 300° 1.3m/s 0.42m 5.5s
02:00
95% 2% 100% 0.25m 97° 0.01 -38° 100% 335° 1.2m/s 0.47m 5.7s
03:00
100% 5% 100% 0.26m 98° 0.01 -36° 100% 353° 1.4m/s 0.51m 5.8s
04:00
83% 2% 100% 0.25m 97° 0.01 -32° 100% 1.9m/s 0.52m 5.9s
05:00
9% 22% 100% 0.25m 97° 0.01 -27° 100% 22° 2.1m/s 0.54m 6s
06:00
15% 33% 100% 0.24m 97° 0.01 -21° 100% 37° 2.4m/s 0.55m 6s
07:00
56% 38% 100% 0.24m 96° 0.02 -14° 100% 44° 3.1m/s 0.53m 6.1s
08:00
85% 2% 100% 0.23m 95° 0.02 -7.3° 100% 40° 3.7m/s 0.51m 6.2s
09:00
99% 1% 100% 0.23m 94° 0.03 -0.66° 100% 32° 4.3m/s 0.49m 6.3s
10:00
68% 21% 100% 0.25m 103° 0.03 4.9° 100% 32° 4.9m/s 0.46m 8.7s
11:00
81% 96% 100% 0.28m 113° 0.04 9.5° 100% 31° 5.4m/s 0.43m 11s
12:00
78% 100% 100% 0.3m 122° 0.05 13° 100% 36° 5.1m/s 0.4m 14s
13:00
69% 100% 100% 0.3m 122° - 15° 100% 38° 5.6m/s 0.39m 13s
14:00
98% 96% 100% 0.3m 122° - 15° 100% 41° 6.7m/s 0.37m 13s
15:00
58% 100% 100% 0.3m 123° - 13° 100% 39° 7.3m/s 0.36m 13s
16:00
35% 99% 100% 0.3m 121° - 9.5° 100% 39° 7.4m/s 0.35m 13s
17:00
98% 100% 100% 0.31m 119° - 100% 36° 7.5m/s 0.35m 13s
18:00
86% 99% 100% 0.31m 117° - -0.48° 100% 38° 8m/s 0.34m 13s
19:00
93% 97% 100% 0.3m 119° - -7.2° 100% 40° 8.8m/s 0.33m 12s
20:00
80% 98% 100% 0.29m 120° - -14° 100% 41° 8.8m/s 0.33m 12s
21:00
40% 100% 96% 0.28m 122° - -20° 100% 45° 9m/s 0.32m 12s
22:00
5% 100% 100% 0.27m 122° - -27° 100% 50° 10m/s 0.32m 12s
23:00
5% 100% 98% 0.27m 122° - -32° 100% 50° 11m/s 0.32m 12s
Wed, Feb 18 Sunrise 08:58 Sunset 18:02
24:00
0% 100% 0% 0.26m 122° - -36° 100% 51° 11m/s 0.32m 12s
01:00
5% 100% 0% 0.25m 122° - -38° 100% 51° 9.5m/s 0.33m 12s
02:00
8% 98% 0% 0.24m 122° - -38° 98% 51° 7.6m/s 0.33m 12s
03:00
11% 98% 2% 0.23m 122° - -36° 98% 55° 7.9m/s 0.34m 12s
04:00
89% 99% 40% 0.22m 112° - -32° 99% 46° 6.8m/s 0.35m 9.6s
05:00
100% 97% 100% 0.22m 103° - -27° 100% 52° 7.6m/s 0.37m 7.4s
06:00
100% 97% 100% 0.21m 94° - -20° 100% 46° 6.3m/s 0.38m 5.2s
07:00
100% 98% 100% 0.2m 95° - -14° 100% 45° 5.8m/s 0.39m 5.3s
08:00
100% 99% 100% 0.19m 97° - -7° 100% 45° 5.4m/s 0.41m 5.3s
09:00
99% 100% 100% 0.18m 98° - -0.16° 100% 44° 4.9m/s 0.42m 5.4s
10:00
100% 100% 100% 0.17m 184° - 5.2° 100% 43° 5.2m/s 0.44m 4.8s
11:00
100% 100% 100% 0.17m 270° - 9.8° 100% 42° 5.4m/s 0.46m 4.3s
12:00
100% 100% 100% 0.16m 356° - 13° 100% 42° 5.6m/s 0.48m 3.7s
13:00
100% 100% 100% 0.16m 356° - 15° 100% 40° 5.9m/s 0.51m 3.8s
14:00
100% 100% 100% 0.15m 357° - 15° 100% 39° 6.3m/s 0.54m 3.9s
15:00
100% 100% 100% 0.15m 357° - 13° 100% 37° 6.6m/s 0.57m 3.9s
16:00
100% 88% 100% 0.15m 349° - 9.9° 100% 37° 6.9m/s 0.61m 3.7s
17:00
100% 75% 100% 0.14m 341° - 5.3° 100% 38° 7.2m/s 0.66m 3.5s
18:00
100% 63% 100% 0.14m 333° - 0.02° 100% 38° 7.4m/s 0.7m 3.3s
19:00
100% 75% 100% 0.14m 334° - -6.8° 100% 38° 7.7m/s 0.69m 3.3s
20:00
100% 88% 100% 0.14m 335° - -14° 100% 38° 8m/s 0.69m 3.3s
21:00
100% 100% 100% 0.14m 336° - -20° 100% 38° 8.3m/s 0.68m 3.3s
22:00
100% 100% 100% 0.14m 337° - -26° 100% 39° 8.3m/s 0.72m 3.4s
23:00
100% 99% 100% 0.13m 337° - -32° 100% 40° 8.4m/s 0.77m 3.4s
Thu, Feb 19 Sunrise 08:55 Sunset 18:05
24:00
100% 99% 100% 0.13m 338° - -36° 100% 40° 8.5m/s 0.81m 3.4s
01:00
100% 99% 100% 0.13m 341° - -38° 100% 38° 8.6m/s 0.87m 3.5s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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