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Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Hvítserkur - Dramatic Seascapes - Iceland Coast

Hvammstangi, Northwest, 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 100% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Wave Height0.2m
Swell Height0.1m
Wind Speed2.7m/s (calm conditions)
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%
Tue, Mar 10
01:008%0.65m19663m1.9m/s61%
02:004.1%0.67m549m1.1m/s60%
03:005%0.52m161m2.1m/s60%
04:003.6%0.52m609m5.7m/s61%
05:003.2%0.53m49m8.1m/s63%
06:002.1%0.2m63m11m/s64%
07:005.3%0.24m106m12m/s62%
08:006.8%0.29m467m13m/s50%
09:008%0.33m7809m12m/s38%
10:008.9%0.39m19343m11m/s40%
11:009%0.45m19344m11m/s42%
12:0018%0.67m19403m9.8m/s44%
13:0015%0.65m19402m8.5m/s42%
14:0013%0.63m4561m4.7m/s52%
15:0013%0.61m11003m2.3m/s43%
16:0018%0.6m11862m0.91m/s46%
17:0022%0.58m7974m2.8m/s49%
18:009.7%0.25m19376m3.1m/s52%
19:0013%0.26m1312m3.2m/s73%
20:007.2%0.28m1590m3.5m/s71%
21:002.5%0.29m3893m3.3m/s69%
22:004.1%0.27m19572m3.5m/s78%
23:003.3%0.24m14201m4.1m/s86%
Wed, Mar 11
24:001.9%0.25m2014m4.7m/s94%
01:001.9%0.21m301m4.2m/s96%
02:001.6%0.18m213m3.6m/s97%
03:002.5%0.14m7981m2.4m/s98%
04:003.8%0.16m19408m1.6m/s99%
05:003.5%0.19m14668m1.4m/s99%
06:002.7%0.21m5677m1.6m/s100%
07:009.1%0.24m646m1.6m/s98%
08:008.8%0.26m206m3.1m/s97%
09:008.8%0.29m127m4.6m/s95%
10:006.8%0.32m188m6.8m/s97%
11:0011%0.34m309m9.3m/s98%
12:0012%0.37m360m11m/s99%
13:0012%0.38m273m14m/s98%
14:006.3%0.38m311m15m/s97%
15:006.1%0.39m214m16m/s97%
16:006.1%0.34m224m16m/s97%
17:008.1%0.3m281m15m/s98%
18:007.4%0.25m430m14m/s98%
19:008%0.23m418m14m/s98%
20:006.4%0.22m475m13m/s97%
21:006.4%0.2m311m13m/s97%
22:002.5%0.21m292m12m/s98%
23:002.5%0.23m143m12m/s99%
Thu, Mar 12
24:002.5%0.24m165m14m/s99%
01:002.5%0.24m137m14m/s99%
02:002.7%0.25m124m15m/s99%
03:002.5%0.25m127m15m/s99%
04:002.5%0.25m136m14m/s99%
05:002.5%0.25m146m15m/s99%
06:002.7%0.25m160m15m/s100%
07:007.8%0.25m152m15m/s99%
08:008.8%0.26m146m15m/s99%
09:0010%0.26m164m15m/s99%
10:008.1%0.31m116m17m/s99%
11:006.8%0.36m78m23m/s99%
12:008%0.41m150m23m/s99%
13:005.8%0.51m177m20m/s98%
14:005.8%0.6m296m18m/s97%
15:005.8%0.7m419m16m/s95%
16:006.4%0.78m566m16m/s96%
17:007%0.86m680m17m/s97%
18:007%0.94m312m17m/s98%
19:0017%1m260m18m/s98%
20:0017%1.1m332m19m/s98%
21:0015%1.1m920m20m/s97%
22:006.3%1.1m813m20m/s98%
23:004.5%1.2m1850m20m/s99%
Fri, Mar 13
24:004.5%1.2m479m19m/s100%
01:004.5%1.2m211m17m/s100%
02:005.1%1.1m118m17m/s100%
03:005.1%1.1m120m19m/s99%
04:005.1%1.1m107m18m/s100%
05:005.9%1m123m18m/s100%
06:002%0.94m143m16m/s100%
07:005.7%0.84m310m16m/s99%
08:006.4%0.74m478m15m/s99%
09:005.2%0.64m645m14m/s98%
10:005.2%0.57m680m14m/s98%
11:003.8%0.49m714m14m/s98%
12:007.5%0.42m749m14m/s98%
13:003.9%0.39m667m14m/s89%
14:006.2%0.37m585m14m/s80%
15:003.8%0.34m503m14m/s71%
16:006.1%0.31m407m13m/s77%
17:003.8%0.27m312m11m/s84%
18:002.7%0.24m216m8.9m/s90%
19:005.3%0.22m7528m7.3m/s77%
20:006.4%0.21m14840m5.8m/s65%
21:008.1%0.19m22153m4.2m/s52%
22:002.5%0.19m16782m3.9m/s54%
23:002.3%0.19m11411m3.6m/s56%
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
Wed, Mar 11 Sunrise 07:58 Sunset 19:10
01:00
100% 95% 100% 0.13m 302° 0.03 -28° 100% 42° 2.7m/s 0.23m 2.8s
02:00
100% 90% 100% 0.1m 302° 0.03 -28° 100% 53° 2.6m/s 0.18m 2.5s
03:00
100% 100% 100% 0.06m 303° 0.04 -26° 100% 82° 1.7m/s 0.14m 2.2s
04:00
100% 100% 100% 0.06m 303° 0.04 -23° 100% 112° 1.2m/s 0.16m 2.2s
05:00
100% 100% 100% 0.05m 303° 0.04 -18° 100% 112° 1m/s 0.19m 2.1s
06:00
6% 99% 100% 0.05m 303° 0.04 -13° 100% 117° 1.3m/s 0.21m 2s
07:00
21% 100% 100% 0.05m 302° 0.03 -6.8° 100% 112° 1m/s 0.24m 2.1s
08:00
24% 100% 100% 0.05m 301° 0.03 -0.07° 100% 24° 0.8m/s 0.26m 2.2s
09:00
29% 100% 100% 0.05m 300° 0.02 5.6° 100% 51° 2.3m/s 0.29m 2.3s
10:00
99% 100% 100% 0.42m 302° 0.02 11° 100% 45° 4.2m/s 0.32m 2.4s
11:00
99% 100% 100% 0.79m 304° 0.02 16° 100% 41° 7.3m/s 0.34m 2.5s
12:00
100% 100% 100% 1.2m 307° 0.01 19° 100% 37° 9.8m/s 0.37m 2.6s
13:00
98% 100% 100% 0.79m 306° 0.01 21° 100% 34° 13m/s 0.38m 2.7s
14:00
92% 100% 100% 0.43m 305° 0.01 21° 100% 30° 14m/s 0.38m 2.7s
15:00
72% 99% 100% 0.06m 305° 0.01 19° 100% 26° 15m/s 0.39m 2.8s
16:00
79% 98% 100% 0.06m 304° 0.01 16° 100% 24° 14m/s 0.34m 2.7s
17:00
96% 97% 100% 0.07m 302° 0.01 12° 100% 22° 13m/s 0.3m 2.6s
18:00
92% 89% 100% 0.07m 301° 0.01 6.4° 100% 21° 12m/s 0.25m 2.4s
19:00
72% 89% 98% 0.07m 298° 0.01 0.76° 98% 20° 12m/s 0.23m 2.3s
20:00
100% 91% 100% 0.07m 296° 0.01 -5.8° 100% 18° 11m/s 0.22m 2.2s
21:00
100% 96% 100% 0.07m 294° 0.008 -12° 100% 15° 11m/s 0.2m 2s
22:00
100% 100% 100% 0.08m 293° 0.007 -18° 100% 10° 9.7m/s 0.21m 2.1s
23:00
100% 100% 100% 0.09m 292° 0.006 -22° 100% 9.9m/s 0.23m 2.1s
Thu, Mar 12 Sunrise 07:54 Sunset 19:13
24:00
100% 100% 100% 0.1m 291° 0.009 -26° 100% 15° 12m/s 0.24m 2.2s
01:00
100% 100% 100% 0.09m 290° 0.01 -28° 100% 12° 12m/s 0.24m 2.2s
02:00
100% 100% 100% 0.07m 288° 0.01 -28° 100% 13° 13m/s 0.25m 2.3s
03:00
100% 100% 100% 0.06m 287° 0.01 -26° 100% 10° 13m/s 0.25m 2.3s
04:00
100% 100% 100% 0.07m 285° 0.01 -23° 100% 12m/s 0.25m 2.4s
05:00
100% 100% 75% 0.08m 284° 0.01 -18° 100% 13m/s 0.25m 2.4s
06:00
100% 100% 67% 0.09m 282° 0.01 -13° 100% 360° 13m/s 0.25m 2.4s
07:00
100% 100% 39% 0.09m 282° 0.02 -6.4° 100% 353° 13m/s 0.25m 2.4s
08:00
98% 100% 85% 0.09m 283° 0.02 0.29° 100% 354° 12m/s 0.26m 2.4s
09:00
48% 100% 97% 0.09m 284° 0.02 100% 356° 13m/s 0.26m 2.3s
10:00
17% 100% 92% 0.09m 288° 0.02 11° 100% 347° 14m/s 0.31m 2.5s
11:00
15% 100% 100% 0.08m 292° 0.02 16° 100% 19m/s 0.36m 2.6s
12:00
29% 100% 87% 0.08m 295° 0.02 19° 100% 12° 18m/s 0.41m 2.7s
13:00
67% 100% 77% 0.08m 299° - 21° 100% 15° 17m/s 0.51m 3s
14:00
60% 99% 76% 0.08m 303° - 21° 100% 15° 15m/s 0.6m 3.2s
15:00
100% 100% 18% 0.08m 307° - 20° 100% 13° 14m/s 0.7m 3.5s
16:00
52% 100% 84% 0.07m 308° - 17° 100% 10° 15m/s 0.78m 3.7s
17:00
100% 100% 100% 0.07m 309° - 12° 100% 14m/s 0.86m 3.9s
18:00
100% 100% 100% 0.06m 311° - 6.8° 100% 14m/s 0.94m 4.1s
19:00
94% 100% 100% 0.06m 310° - 1.1° 100% 15m/s 1m 4.3s
20:00
56% 100% 90% 0.05m 310° - -5.5° 100% 355° 17m/s 1.1m 4.4s
21:00
65% 100% 96% 0.05m 310° - -12° 100% 358° 16m/s 1.1m 4.5s
22:00
50% 100% 97% 0.06m 309° - -17° 100% 351° 15m/s 1.1m 4.6s
23:00
6% 100% 100% 0.07m 309° - -22° 100% 341° 17m/s 1.2m 4.6s
Fri, Mar 13 Sunrise 07:50 Sunset 19:17
24:00
4% 100% 75% 0.08m 308° - -25° 100% 340° 16m/s 1.2m 4.7s
01:00
6% 100% 98% 0.1m 308° - -27° 100% 340° 13m/s 1.2m 4.7s
02:00
86% 100% 98% 0.12m 309° - -27° 100% 347° 14m/s 1.1m 4.7s
03:00
100% 100% 65% 0.14m 309° - -26° 100% 358° 15m/s 1.1m 4.6s
04:00
75% 100% 78% 0.12m 310° - -22° 100% 349° 14m/s 1.1m 4.6s
05:00
58% 100% 100% 0.11m 310° - -18° 100% 356° 15m/s 1m 4.5s
06:00
11% 100% 7% 0.09m 310° - -12° 100% 352° 14m/s 0.94m 4.4s
07:00
8% 100% 6% 0.09m 307° - -6° 100% 349° 13m/s 0.84m 4.3s
08:00
5% 100% 6% 0.09m 305° - 0.62° 100% 345° 13m/s 0.74m 4.1s
09:00
2% 100% 5% 0.09m 302° - 6.4° 100% 341° 12m/s 0.64m 4s
10:00
1% 100% 5% 0.24m 300° - 12° 100% 340° 11m/s 0.57m 3.6s
11:00
1% 100% 5% 0.4m 298° - 16° 100% 339° 11m/s 0.49m 3.2s
12:00
0% 100% 5% 0.55m 296° - 20° 100% 337° 11m/s 0.42m 2.9s
13:00
0% 100% 9% 0.41m 297° - 22° 100% 225° 11m/s 0.39m 2.8s
14:00
0% 100% 13% 0.27m 298° - 22° 100% 113° 11m/s 0.37m 2.8s
15:00
0% 100% 17% 0.13m 299° - 20° 100% 12m/s 0.34m 2.7s
16:00
0% 100% 12% 0.11m 299° - 17° 100% 111° 9.5m/s 0.31m 2.6s
17:00
0% 100% 6% 0.1m 299° - 12° 100% 220° 7.3m/s 0.27m 2.5s
18:00
0% 100% 0% 0.08m 300° - 7.1° 100% 329° 5.1m/s 0.24m 2.5s
19:00
0% 94% 0% 0.09m 299° - 1.3° 94% 299° 4.6m/s 0.22m 2.3s
20:00
0% 87% 0% 0.09m 299° - -5.2° 87% 268° 4m/s 0.21m 2.2s
21:00
0% 81% 0% 0.1m 298° - -11° 81% 237° 3.5m/s 0.19m 2.1s
22:00
0% 86% 0% 0.2m 299° - -17° 86% 226° 3.3m/s 0.19m 2.1s
23:00
0% 92% 0% 0.3m 300° - -22° 92% 215° 3.1m/s 0.19m 2s
Sat, Mar 14 Sunrise 07:47 Sunset 19:20
24:00
1% 98% 0% 0.4m 300° - -25° 98% 204° 2.8m/s 0.19m 2s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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