Skip to content
Rule Storm Chaser

Dyrhólaey - Storm Chaser - Iceland Coast

Vik, South, 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

Get notified
Free alerts · takes 30 seconds
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)
Storm Intensity 100% failing
CAPE 100% failing
Cloud Drama Score 44% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover35%
Wind Gusts7.0m/s
Precipitation Chance92%
Air Pressure960.6hPa
CAPE17
Lifted Index5.2°C
Wind Gusts7.0m/s
Precipitation0.1mm

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.

Create your own Storm Chaser alerts

Get notified when these conditions match at your own locations.

Get this template

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
Sat, May 23
13:0038%59%0J/kg4.1°C166m11m/s
14:0040%47%1J/kg3.7°C146m11m/s
15:0048%43%7J/kg3.1°C146m12m/s
16:0049%48%10J/kg3.4°C129m12m/s
17:0050%60%12J/kg2.8°C128m13m/s
18:0054%61%8J/kg3.9°C195m8m/s
19:0020%68%2J/kg4.5°C6821m9m/s
20:0017%68%15J/kg5.4°C11162m7.3m/s
21:0026%72%13J/kg5°C10650m7.4m/s
22:0020%43%16J/kg4.7°C9129m8.2m/s
23:0023%44%14J/kg4.4°C8207m9.4m/s
Sun, May 24
24:0039%50%19J/kg4.4°C7303m11m/s
01:000%61%18J/kg4.9°C11069m10m/s
02:000%75%11J/kg5.2°C11060m9.4m/s
03:000%75%14J/kg5.5°C11541m8.9m/s
04:0020%68%23J/kg5.4°C8902m8.5m/s
05:0039%61%27J/kg5.2°C4345m8.7m/s
06:0021%77%35J/kg5.2°C8057m8.5m/s
07:000%80%28J/kg5.5°C5810m7.1m/s
08:000%94%25J/kg5.3°C11049m6.9m/s
09:0018%83%12J/kg5.5°C11048m6.6m/s
10:0016%81%10J/kg5.5°C11046m6.6m/s
11:0018%50%15J/kg5.4°C9872m6.5m/s
12:0017%49%18J/kg5.4°C12894m6.8m/s
13:000%50%17J/kg5.2°C13280m7m/s
14:000%49%19J/kg4.7°C13962m6.9m/s
15:0015%50%13J/kg4.9°C15281m6.2m/s
16:000%87%11J/kg4.7°C24134m5.3m/s
17:000%58%8J/kg4.1°C19441m4.6m/s
18:000%49%4J/kg4.2°C24134m3.1m/s
19:000%54%7J/kg5.1°C9959m4.6m/s
20:0028%52%10J/kg4.9°C3972m5.5m/s
21:0036%61%0J/kg3.8°C3667m5.5m/s
22:0019%62%11J/kg4.4°C7254m4.7m/s
23:0018%59%12J/kg5.1°C11062m3.8m/s
Mon, May 25
24:0035%68%7J/kg5°C11045m4.5m/s
01:000%98%16J/kg4.6°C11050m4.1m/s
02:000%62%13J/kg3.9°C9581m3m/s
03:0018%100%11J/kg2.9°C13572m2.2m/s
04:0025%62%6J/kg1.5°C3293m2.8m/s
05:0020%57%0J/kg0.5°C5529m4.1m/s
06:0038%61%7J/kg0.3°C871m4.1m/s
07:0018%65%28J/kg0.4°C7001m6.6m/s
08:0016%64%19J/kg0.7°C11066m6.5m/s
09:0018%54%8J/kg0.8°C11066m3.5m/s
10:0017%57%9J/kg1.1°C11051m2.7m/s
11:0017%73%6J/kg1.7°C11087m4.3m/s
12:0019%71%17J/kg1.6°C10162m5.6m/s
13:000%69%20J/kg1.2°C8017m5.7m/s
14:000%72%25J/kg0.3°C8426m5.1m/s
15:000%70%23J/kg0°C24134m3.9m/s
16:000%78%1J/kg0.1°C24134m6.1m/s
17:000%52%16J/kg0.1°C12259m6.7m/s
18:000%56%3J/kg0.4°C16929m7.8m/s
19:0015%61%1J/kg0.9°C24135m9.3m/s
20:0015%63%0J/kg2.4°C24134m10m/s
21:000%23%0J/kg3.5°C24135m11m/s
22:000%36%0J/kg3.8°C24134m10m/s
23:000%22%0J/kg4.7°C24134m9.8m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%23%0J/kg5.1°C24135m8.9m/s
01:000%24%0J/kg5.1°C24134m8.9m/s
02:000%26%0J/kg5.4°C24135m8.7m/s
03:000%60%0J/kg5.7°C24134m8.6m/s
04:000%45%0J/kg6.6°C24134m7.6m/s
05:000%30%0J/kg7.1°C24134m6.5m/s
06:000%33%0J/kg7°C24135m6.6m/s
07:000%44%0J/kg7.4°C24134m6.7m/s
08:000%53%1J/kg7.4°C24135m6.6m/s
09:000%50%9J/kg7.2°C24134m7m/s
10:000%50%12J/kg7.4°C24135m7.2m/s
11:000%48%9J/kg6.7°C18763m7.9m/s
12:000%48%5J/kg7.5°C24134m8m/s
13:000%48%0J/kg7.7°C24134m8.2m/s
14:000%46%4J/kg8.4°C24135m9m/s
15:000%31%4J/kg9.2°C24135m8.9m/s
16:000%35%3J/kg9.9°C24134m8.6m/s
17:000%56%3J/kg9.7°C24135m9m/s
18:000%72%1J/kg9.9°C24134m9.3m/s
19:000%90%0.67J/kg9.7°C20498m8.5m/s
20:000%81%0.33J/kg9.5°C16863m7.6m/s
21:0013%55%0J/kg9.3°C13227m6.8m/s
22:000%67%0J/kg9.5°C16863m6.5m/s
23:000%67%0J/kg9.6°C20499m6.2m/s
Wed, May 27
24:0015%62%0J/kg9.8°C24135m5.9m/s
01:000%62%0J/kg10°C19827m5.7m/s
02:000%62%0J/kg11°C15520m5.6m/s
03:0016%59%0J/kg11°C11212m5.4m/s
04:000%59%0J/kg12°C15519m5.6m/s
05:000%80%0J/kg12°C19827m5.8m/s
06:0018%57%0J/kg12°C24135m5.9m/s
07:000%57%0J/kg12°C24135m5.5m/s
08:000%57%0J/kg12°C24135m5.1m/s
09:0017%48%0J/kg12°C24135m4.7m/s
10:000%48%0J/kg12°C24135m4.4m/s
11:000%36%0J/kg12°C24135m4.2m/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
Sun, May 24 Sunrise 03:43 Sunset 22:44
13:00
961hPa 17J/kg 0% 5.2°C 35% 0% 92% 0mm 70% 0.08mm 12dBZ 47° 35% 0.06mm - - 5.4m/s
14:00
961hPa 19J/kg 0% 4.7°C 40% 5% 95% 0mm 69% 0.06mm 8.7dBZ 47° 40% 0.19mm - - 5.7m/s
15:00
961hPa 13J/kg 0% 4.9°C 36% 3% 97% 0mm 70% 0.03mm 5.6dBZ 44° 36% 0.25mm 9.9m/s 12m/s 5.1m/s
16:00
961hPa 11J/kg 0% 4.7°C 33% 17% 98% 0mm 66% 0.01mm 12dBZ 39° 42% 0.25mm - - 3.9m/s
17:00
960hPa 8J/kg 0% 4.1°C 73% 100% 99% 0mm 68% 0.02mm 19dBZ 33° 100% 0.25mm - - 3.6m/s
18:00
960hPa 4J/kg 0% 4.2°C 100% 100% 100% 0.11mm 73% 0.02mm 26dBZ 27° 100% 0.31mm 8.7m/s 9.6m/s 2.4m/s
19:00
959hPa 7J/kg 0% 5.1°C 100% 100% 95% 0.3mm 80% 0.13mm 25dBZ 20° 100% 0.31mm - - 3.1m/s
20:00
959hPa 10J/kg 0% 4.9°C 100% 100% 90% 1.1mm 90% 0.18mm 24dBZ 14° 100% 1mm - - 4.1m/s
21:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.8°C 100% 100% 85% 1.6mm 95% 0.14mm 23dBZ 7.6° 100% 2.6mm 7.7m/s 11m/s 3.3m/s
22:00
959hPa 11J/kg 0% 4.4°C 100% 100% 90% 1.1mm 93% 0.13mm 19dBZ 2.6° 100% 3.9mm - - 2.8m/s
23:00
959hPa 12J/kg 0% 5.1°C 100% 94% 94% 0.44mm 90% 0.06mm 14dBZ -1.6° 100% 4.7mm - - 2.4m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 03:41 Sunset 22:46
24:00
959hPa 7J/kg 0% 5°C 92% 53% 99% 0.18mm 92% 0.23mm 10dBZ -4.4° 92% 5.1mm 7.5m/s 12m/s 3.2m/s
01:00
959hPa 16J/kg 0% 4.6°C 75% 15% 97% 0.01mm 94% 0.22mm 11dBZ -5.6° 75% 0.25mm - - 2.8m/s
02:00
959hPa 13J/kg 0% 3.9°C 65% 5% 95% 0mm 94% 0.18mm 12dBZ -5.1° 65% 0.44mm - - 2.1m/s
03:00
958hPa 11J/kg 0% 2.9°C 66% 11% 92% 0mm 94% 0.15mm 13dBZ -3° 66% 0.56mm 11m/s 17m/s 1.7m/s
04:00
958hPa 6J/kg 0% 1.5°C 100% 100% 94% 1.3mm 95% 0.12mm 20dBZ 0.88° 100% 1.1mm - - 2.2m/s
05:00
957hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.5°C 100% 100% 95% 1.2mm 94% 0.07mm 26dBZ 5.4° 100% 2.6mm - - 2.3m/s
06:00
956hPa 7J/kg 0% 0.3°C 100% 100% 97% 3mm 99% 0.39mm 32dBZ 11° 100% 4.9mm 9.7m/s 7.3m/s 2.6m/s
07:00
956hPa 28J/kg 0% 0.4°C 98% 72% 92% 0.38mm 95% 0.32mm 21dBZ 17° 99% 1.9mm - - 4.3m/s
08:00
956hPa 19J/kg 0% 0.7°C 94% 69% 87% 0.23mm 96% 0.25mm 11dBZ 24° 94% 2.4mm - - 4.1m/s
09:00
957hPa 8J/kg 0% 0.8°C 90% 93% 83% 0.02mm 94% 0.07mm -0.1dBZ 31° 94% 2.6mm 6.2m/s 7.4m/s 2.5m/s
10:00
957hPa 9J/kg 0% 1.1°C 87% 72% 83% 0.01mm 92% 0.01mm 4.2dBZ 37° 87% 2.8mm - - 1.8m/s
11:00
957hPa 6J/kg 0% 1.7°C 50% 42% 83% 0.01mm 85% 0.09mm 8.5dBZ 42° 57% 2.8mm - - 2.8m/s
12:00
958hPa 17J/kg 0% 1.6°C 62% 55% 84% 0mm 80% 0.2mm 13dBZ 46° 73% 2.9mm 5.1m/s 3.9m/s 4.7m/s
13:00
958hPa 20J/kg 0% 1.2°C 61% 70% 66% 0mm 84% 0.39mm 11dBZ 48° 73% 0.31mm - - 4.9m/s
14:00
958hPa 25J/kg 0% 0.3°C 59% 47% 49% 0mm 84% 0.25mm 9.6dBZ 47° 65% 0.56mm - - 4.9m/s
15:00
958hPa 23J/kg 0% 0°C 49% 40% 31% 0mm 79% 0.01mm 8dBZ 44° 60% 0.69mm 3.8m/s 4.2m/s 3.1m/s
16:00
959hPa 1J/kg 0% 0.1°C 23% 22% 28% 0.02mm 70% 0mm 5.1dBZ 39° 24% 0.69mm - - 5.3m/s
17:00
961hPa 16J/kg 0% 0.1°C 63% 5% 25% 0mm 78% 0.05mm 2.3dBZ 33° 63% 0.75mm - - 5.8m/s
18:00
962hPa 3J/kg 0% 0.4°C 33% 1% 22% 0mm 77% 0.02mm -0.61dBZ 27° 33% 0.75mm 4.4m/s 5.2m/s 7m/s
19:00
963hPa 1J/kg 0% 0.9°C 40% 1% 19% 0mm 77% 0.01mm -5dBZ 20° 40% 0mm - - 8m/s
20:00
965hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.4°C 40% 0% 16% 0.01mm 76% 0mm -9.3dBZ 14° 40% 0mm - - 8.3m/s
21:00
966hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.5°C 5% 1% 14% 0mm 78% 0mm -14dBZ 7.8° 5% 0mm 0.42m/s 4.7m/s 7.5m/s
22:00
967hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.8°C 14% 1% 16% 0mm 87% 0mm -16dBZ 2.8° 14% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
23:00
968hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.7°C 3% 1% 19% 0mm 87% 0mm -18dBZ -1.4° 3% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 03:38 Sunset 22:49
24:00
969hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.1°C 3% 1% 22% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -4.2° 3% 0mm 2.7m/s 3.4m/s 5.8m/s
01:00
970hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.1°C 3% 1% 28% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ -5.4° 3% 0mm - - 6m/s
02:00
970hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.4°C 4% 1% 33% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -4.9° 4% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
03:00
971hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.7°C 20% 1% 39% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -2.8° 20% 0mm 0.86m/s 3.4m/s 5.6m/s
04:00
971hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.6°C 11% 0% 45% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ 11% 0mm - - 5m/s
05:00
972hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.1°C 4% 0% 50% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ 5.5° 4% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
06:00
972hPa 0J/kg 0% 7°C 6% 0% 56% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 6% 0mm 4.9m/s 6.3m/s 3.4m/s
07:00
972hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.4°C 14% 0% 50% 0mm 79% 0mm -9.7dBZ 17° 14% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
08:00
973hPa 1J/kg 0% 7.4°C 17% 0% 45% 0mm 78% 0mm 0.59dBZ 24° 17% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
09:00
973hPa 9J/kg 0% 7.2°C 22% 0% 39% 0mm 73% 0.02mm 11dBZ 31° 22% 0mm 6.6m/s 8.3m/s 4.5m/s
10:00
973hPa 12J/kg 0% 7.4°C 25% 0% 39% 0mm 72% 0.02mm 8.7dBZ 37° 25% 0mm - - 6m/s
11:00
974hPa 9J/kg 0% 6.7°C 46% 0% 39% 0.01mm 74% 0.04mm 6.6dBZ 42° 46% 0.06mm - - 7.1m/s
12:00
975hPa 5J/kg 0% 7.5°C 42% 0% 39% 0mm 75% 0.04mm 4.4dBZ 46° 42% 0.06mm 6.4m/s 9.5m/s 7m/s
13:00
975hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.7°C 45% 0% 26% 0mm 73% 0.01mm -3.7dBZ 48° 45% 0mm - - 7m/s
14:00
975hPa 4J/kg 0% 8.4°C 35% 0% 13% 0mm 74% 0.02mm -12dBZ 47° 35% 0mm - - 7.5m/s
15:00
975hPa 4J/kg 0% 9.2°C 13% 0% 0% 0mm 73% 0.01mm -20dBZ 44° 13% 0.06mm 6.4m/s 9.6m/s 7.8m/s
16:00
975hPa 3J/kg 0% 9.9°C 14% 0% 13% 0mm 72% 0.01mm -20dBZ 39° 14% 0.06mm - - 7.4m/s
17:00
975hPa 3J/kg 0% 9.7°C 33% 0% 26% 0mm 74% 0.01mm -20dBZ 34° 33% 0.06mm - - 7.7m/s
18:00
976hPa 1J/kg 22% 9.9°C 7% 0% 39% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ 27° 24% 0.06mm 8.3m/s 8.6m/s 7.9m/s
19:00
976hPa 0.67J/kg 37% 9.7°C 26% 0% 39% 0mm 79% 0.01mm -20dBZ 20° 43% 0.06mm - - 6.7m/s
20:00
976hPa 0.33J/kg 53% 9.5°C 45% 0% 39% 0mm 84% 0.02mm -20dBZ 14° 63% 0.06mm - - 5.4m/s
21:00
976hPa 0J/kg 68% 9.3°C 64% 0% 39% 0mm 90% 0.03mm -20dBZ 82% 0.06mm 9.6m/s 13m/s 4.2m/s
22:00
976hPa 0J/kg 79% 9.5°C 65% 33% 45% 0.003mm 90% 0.02mm -18dBZ 2.9° 88% 0.08mm - - 4.1m/s
23:00
976hPa 0J/kg 89% 9.6°C 65% 66% 50% 0.007mm 89% 0.02mm -16dBZ -1.2° 94% 0.1mm - - 4m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 03:36 Sunset 22:52
24:00
976hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.8°C 65% 100% 56% 0.01mm 88% 0.01mm -14dBZ -4° 100% 0.13mm 11m/s 14m/s 3.9m/s
01:00
976hPa 0J/kg 98% 10°C 64% 100% 50% 0.007mm 87% 0.01mm -12dBZ -5.2° 100% 0.1mm - - 4.2m/s
02:00
976hPa 0J/kg 95% 11°C 63% 100% 44% 0.003mm 85% 0.01mm -11dBZ -4.7° 100% 0.08mm - - 4.4m/s
03:00
976hPa 0J/kg 93% 11°C 62% 100% 37% 0mm 84% 0.01mm -9.4dBZ -2.6° 100% 0.06mm 11m/s 20m/s 4.6m/s
04:00
976hPa 0J/kg 65% 12°C 64% 99% 37% 0.003mm 82% 0.01mm -8.9dBZ 1.2° 100% 0.08mm - - 4.7m/s
05:00
976hPa 0J/kg 37% 12°C 66% 99% 37% 0.007mm 80% 0.01mm -8.4dBZ 5.7° 100% 0.1mm - - 4.9m/s
06:00
976hPa 0J/kg 9% 12°C 68% 99% 38% 0.01mm 78% 0.01mm -7.9dBZ 11° 99% 0.13mm 11m/s 24m/s 5m/s
07:00
976hPa 0J/kg 9% 12°C 61% 100% 37% 0.01mm 77% 0.007mm -4.2dBZ 18° 100% 0.08mm - - 4.8m/s
08:00
975hPa 0J/kg 9% 12°C 53% 100% 37% 0.01mm 75% 0.003mm -0.57dBZ 24° 100% 0.04mm - - 4.5m/s
09:00
975hPa 0J/kg 9% 12°C 45% 100% 37% 0.01mm 73% 0mm 3.1dBZ 31° 100% 0mm 10m/s 24m/s 4.3m/s
10:00
975hPa 0J/kg 6% 12°C 61% 99% 39% 0.007mm 73% 0mm 2.3dBZ 37° 99% 0.02mm - - 4m/s
11:00
975hPa 0J/kg 4% 12°C 77% 99% 40% 0.003mm 72% 0mm 1.4dBZ 42° 99% 0.04mm - - 3.6m/s
12:00
974hPa 0J/kg 1% 11°C 92% 99% 41% 0mm 72% 0mm 0.59dBZ 46° 99% 0.06mm 8.7m/s 27m/s 3.2m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

Get Notified of Opportunities

Create your own custom alerts for this location and more.

Create Free Account