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 29% failing
Upcoming Opportunities
When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.
Times shown in Atlantic/Reykjavik
No opportunities in the next 14 days
See the blocker timeline below to understand which conditions are preventing matches.
What this forecast looks for
Plain-language explanation from the ruleThis 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 hour0matching hours in the next 72 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Jan 10 | |||||
| 23:00 | 3.3% | 0.22m | 50000m | 8.5m/s | 0% |
| Sun, Jan 11 | |||||
| 24:00 | 3.3% | 0.22m | 48820m | 11m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 3.3% | 0.23m | 48840m | 12m/s | 1% |
| 02:00 | 3.3% | 0.23m | 48780m | 13m/s | 3% |
| 03:00 | 3.5% | 0.24m | 50000m | 14m/s | 4% |
| 04:00 | 3.8% | 0.25m | 50000m | 15m/s | 4% |
| 05:00 | 3.9% | 0.26m | 50000m | 14m/s | 3% |
| 06:00 | 3.5% | 0.27m | 50000m | 15m/s | 2% |
| 07:00 | 3.5% | 0.27m | 50000m | 16m/s | 3% |
| 08:00 | 3.5% | 0.26m | 50000m | 17m/s | 3% |
| 09:00 | 11% | 0.26m | 50000m | 16m/s | 4% |
| 10:00 | 9.5% | 0.26m | 50000m | 12m/s | 4% |
| 11:00 | 11% | 0.26m | 50000m | 9.6m/s | 3% |
| 12:00 | 11% | 0.26m | 50000m | 9.3m/s | 2% |
| 13:00 | 11% | 0.25m | 50000m | 9.2m/s | 1% |
| 14:00 | 11% | 0.24m | 50000m | 12m/s | 1% |
| 15:00 | 9.9% | 0.23m | 50000m | 13m/s | 0% |
| 16:00 | 9.9% | 0.24m | 46720m | 11m/s | 0% |
| 17:00 | 10% | 0.25m | 43920m | 14m/s | 0% |
| 18:00 | 15% | 0.26m | 45120m | 16m/s | 0% |
| 19:00 | 6.7% | 0.28m | 43140m | 15m/s | 0% |
| 20:00 | 6.7% | 0.29m | 50000m | 15m/s | 0% |
| 21:00 | 7.1% | 0.31m | 50000m | 19m/s | 0% |
| 22:00 | 7.1% | 0.35m | 50000m | 23m/s | 0% |
| 23:00 | 7.1% | 0.38m | 37440m | 24m/s | 0% |
| Mon, Jan 12 | |||||
| 24:00 | 7.1% | 0.42m | 50000m | 23m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 7.1% | 0.42m | 31280m | 22m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 7.1% | 0.43m | 34900m | 19m/s | 1% |
| 03:00 | 7.7% | 0.43m | 34880m | 19m/s | 2% |
| 04:00 | 7.3% | 0.43m | 38120m | 19m/s | 5% |
| 05:00 | 8.1% | 0.43m | 37520m | 17m/s | 9% |
| 06:00 | 7.1% | 0.43m | 8800m | 17m/s | 14% |
| 07:00 | 7.1% | 0.43m | 6980m | 17m/s | 23% |
| 08:00 | 4.9% | 0.44m | 5320m | 15m/s | 33% |
| 09:00 | 15% | 0.44m | 6455m | 16m/s | 41% |
| 10:00 | 30% | 0.45m | 30340m | 16m/s | 44% |
| 11:00 | 25% | 0.46m | 21365m | 15m/s | 46% |
| 12:00 | 15% | 0.47m | 18020m | 14m/s | 49% |
| 13:00 | 20% | 0.47m | 49760m | 12m/s | 57% |
| 14:00 | 24% | 0.47m | 22440m | 9.3m/s | 67% |
| 15:00 | 21% | 0.47m | 16040m | 8.3m/s | 75% |
| 16:00 | 8.1% | 0.45m | 6020m | 11m/s | 80% |
| 17:00 | 15% | 0.44m | 16660m | 13m/s | 82% |
| 18:00 | 12% | 0.42m | 16620m | 13m/s | 84% |
| 19:00 | 7.1% | 0.4m | 16000m | 15m/s | 85% |
| 20:00 | 2.8% | 0.37m | 12540m | 15m/s | 85% |
| 21:00 | 3.3% | 0.35m | 13860m | 16m/s | 82% |
| 22:00 | 3.9% | 0.35m | 29000m | 17m/s | 75% |
| 23:00 | 3.4% | 0.34m | 42360m | 17m/s | 66% |
| Tue, Jan 13 | |||||
| 24:00 | 5.7% | 0.34m | 66640m | 16m/s | 57% |
| 01:00 | 5.3% | 0.35m | 68120m | 15m/s | 51% |
| 02:00 | 6.9% | 0.37m | 68120m | 14m/s | 45% |
| 03:00 | 5.3% | 0.38m | 65140m | 11m/s | 39% |
| 04:00 | 5.9% | 0.41m | 57320m | 7.7m/s | 32% |
| 05:00 | 5.5% | 0.43m | 52460m | 6.7m/s | 24% |
| 06:00 | 7.1% | 0.46m | 61640m | 6.6m/s | 18% |
| 07:00 | 4.9% | 0.48m | 65120m | 5.9m/s | 15% |
| 08:00 | 5.3% | 0.5m | 65120m | 4.4m/s | 14% |
| 09:00 | 15% | 0.52m | 65120m | 3.3m/s | 14% |
| 10:00 | 14% | 0.54m | 65120m | 2.3m/s | 14% |
| 11:00 | 19% | 0.57m | 65120m | 1.8m/s | 14% |
| 12:00 | 21% | 0.59m | 61600m | 2.1m/s | 14% |
| 13:00 | 21% | 0.6m | 61600m | 2.7m/s | 13% |
| 14:00 | 21% | 0.61m | 61600m | 2.7m/s | 13% |
| 15:00 | 21% | 0.62m | 61600m | 2.5m/s | 12% |
| 16:00 | 21% | 0.64m | 61080m | 2.2m/s | 11% |
| 17:00 | 19% | 0.66m | 57780m | 2.1m/s | 10% |
| 18:00 | 19% | 0.68m | 53820m | 2.1m/s | 10% |
| 19:00 | 6.5% | 0.67m | 49460m | 2.2m/s | 12% |
| 20:00 | 7.1% | 0.67m | 50660m | 2.2m/s | 14% |
| 21:00 | 7.1% | 0.66m | 47020m | 2m/s | 16% |
| 22:00 | 6.5% | 0.64m | 53540m | 2m/s | 16% |
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 scoreThis 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jan 11
Sunrise 11:18
Sunset 15:45 | ||||||||||||
| 01:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.1m | 324° | 0.03 | -46° | 0% | 75° | 8.8m/s | 0.2m | 2.4s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.09m | 324° | 0.03 | -46° | 0% | 75° | 9.5m/s | 0.2m | 2.4s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 14% | 0% | 0% | 0.09m | 324° | 0.03 | -44° | 14% | 69° | 9.9m/s | 0.21m | 2.4s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.09m | 325° | 0.03 | -40° | 0% | 69° | 12m/s | 0.22m | 2.3s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.08m | 325° | 0.03 | -35° | 0% | 77° | 9.4m/s | 0.24m | 2.1s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.08m | 325° | 0.03 | -29° | 0% | 73° | 9.6m/s | 0.25m | 2s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.08m | 329° | 0.03 | -23° | 0% | 69° | 9.2m/s | 0.26m | 2.1s |
| 08:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.07m | 333° | 0.03 | -17° | 0% | 64° | 8.5m/s | 0.27m | 2.1s |
| 09:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.07m | 337° | 0.03 | -11° | 0% | 73° | 10m/s | 0.28m | 2.2s |
| 10:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.07m | 340° | 0.03 | -5.9° | 0% | 68° | 8.4m/s | 0.28m | 2.2s |
| 11:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 5% | 0.06m | 342° | 0.03 | -1.7° | 5% | 71° | 8.5m/s | 0.28m | 2.2s |
| 12:00 | 0% | 0% | 12% | 0.06m | 345° | 0.03 | 1.5° | 12% | 61° | 8.3m/s | 0.28m | 2.3s |
| 13:00 | 0% | 0% | 19% | 0.06m | 345° | 0.03 | 2.9° | 19% | 52° | 7.3m/s | 0.29m | 2.3s |
| 14:00 | 0% | 0% | 16% | 0.06m | 345° | 0.03 | 2.9° | 16% | 57° | 9.9m/s | 0.29m | 2.3s |
| 15:00 | 0% | 0% | 5% | 0.06m | 345° | 0.03 | 1.6° | 5% | 55° | 8.7m/s | 0.3m | 2.3s |
| 16:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.06m | 345° | 0.03 | -1.4° | 0% | 64° | 14m/s | 0.31m | 2.3s |
| 17:00 ☾ | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0.07m | 344° | 0.03 | -5.6° | 1% | 56° | 14m/s | 0.33m | 2.3s |
| 18:00 ☾ | 0% | 2% | 17% | 0.07m | 344° | 0.03 | -11° | 18% | 55° | 14m/s | 0.34m | 2.3s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 56% | 0.07m | 343° | 0.03 | -16° | 56% | 54° | 16m/s | 0.36m | 2.4s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 19% | 0.08m | 343° | 0.02 | -23° | 19% | 51° | 16m/s | 0.38m | 2.4s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 0% | 2% | 0% | 0.08m | 342° | 0.02 | -29° | 2% | 44° | 14m/s | 0.4m | 2.5s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 0% | 10% | 0% | 0.08m | 343° | 0.02 | -35° | 10% | 38° | 12m/s | 0.41m | 2.5s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 0% | 11% | 16% | 0.09m | 343° | 0.02 | -40° | 25% | 37° | 12m/s | 0.42m | 2.6s |
| Mon, Jan 12
Sunrise 11:16
Sunset 15:48 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 0% | 28% | 0% | 0.09m | 344° | 0.03 | -44° | 28% | 35° | 10m/s | 0.43m | 2.6s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 0% | 48% | 0% | 0.09m | 345° | 0.03 | -46° | 49% | 28° | 11m/s | 0.44m | 2.6s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 0% | 71% | 0% | 0.08m | 346° | 0.03 | -46° | 71% | 23° | 11m/s | 0.44m | 2.6s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 0% | 99% | 0% | 0.08m | 348° | 0.03 | -44° | 99% | 16° | 11m/s | 0.45m | 2.6s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 0% | 97% | 0% | 0.08m | 348° | 0.03 | -40° | 97% | 12° | 11m/s | 0.47m | 2.6s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 0% | 85% | 0% | 0.08m | 349° | 0.02 | -35° | 85% | 11° | 11m/s | 0.48m | 2.7s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0.08m | 349° | 0.03 | -29° | 100% | 7° | 11m/s | 0.5m | 2.7s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 0% | 97% | 0% | 0.08m | 350° | 0.03 | -23° | 97% | 6° | 11m/s | 0.5m | 2.7s |
| 08:00 ☾ | 0% | 26% | 0% | 0.09m | 351° | 0.03 | -17° | 26% | 7° | 11m/s | 0.51m | 2.8s |
| 09:00 ☾ | 0% | 64% | 0% | 0.09m | 353° | 0.03 | -11° | 65% | 359° | 11m/s | 0.51m | 2.8s |
| 10:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0.09m | 353° | 0.04 | -5.8° | 100% | 356° | 12m/s | 0.51m | 2.8s |
| 11:00 ☾ | 0% | 44% | 0% | 0.1m | 353° | 0.05 | -1.5° | 44% | 354° | 11m/s | 0.52m | 2.8s |
| 12:00 | 0% | 70% | 0% | 0.1m | 353° | 0.06 | 1.6° | 70% | 356° | 9.2m/s | 0.52m | 2.8s |
| 13:00 | 0% | 100% | 100% | 0.11m | 352° | - | 3° | 100% | 7° | 4.9m/s | 0.53m | 2.8s |
| 14:00 | 0% | 5% | 2% | 0.12m | 351° | - | 3.1° | 7% | 19° | 5m/s | 0.55m | 2.8s |
| 15:00 | 0% | 100% | 100% | 0.13m | 350° | - | 1.7° | 100% | 20° | 8.2m/s | 0.56m | 2.8s |
| 16:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 1% | 0.15m | 349° | - | -1.2° | 100% | 12° | 12m/s | 0.56m | 2.9s |
| 17:00 ☾ | 0% | 27% | 0% | 0.16m | 348° | - | -5.4° | 27% | 14° | 12m/s | 0.56m | 2.9s |
| 18:00 ☾ | 0% | 37% | 0% | 0.18m | 346° | - | -10° | 37% | 10° | 11m/s | 0.56m | 2.9s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0.19m | 346° | - | -16° | 100% | 4° | 11m/s | 0.55m | 2.9s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0.2m | 345° | - | -22° | 100% | 360° | 11m/s | 0.53m | 2.9s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 1% | 0.21m | 344° | - | -29° | 100% | 360° | 11m/s | 0.52m | 2.8s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0.21m | 349° | - | -34° | 100% | 0° | 11m/s | 0.51m | 3s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 0% | 66% | 0% | 0.22m | 354° | - | -40° | 66% | 1° | 11m/s | 0.5m | 3.2s |
| Tue, Jan 13
Sunrise 11:13
Sunset 15:52 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 0% | 24% | 0% | 0.22m | 359° | - | -44° | 24% | 5° | 10m/s | 0.49m | 3.4s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 0% | 11% | 0% | 0.23m | 359° | - | -46° | 11% | 0° | 8m/s | 0.5m | 3.5s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 0% | 22% | 0% | 0.23m | 360° | - | -46° | 22% | 354° | 6.5m/s | 0.51m | 3.5s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0.24m | 360° | - | -44° | 100% | 338° | 8.4m/s | 0.52m | 3.5s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 0% | 97% | 0% | 0.25m | 240° | - | -40° | 97% | 317° | 8.4m/s | 0.53m | 3.5s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 0% | 10% | 0% | 0.26m | 121° | - | -35° | 10% | 329° | 7.1m/s | 0.54m | 3.6s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 0% | 23% | 9% | 0.27m | 1.4° | - | -29° | 23% | 309° | 4.2m/s | 0.55m | 3.6s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 0% | 46% | 1% | 0.28m | 1.8° | - | -23° | 46% | 308° | 2.5m/s | 0.57m | 3.7s |
| 08:00 ☾ | 0% | 44% | 1% | 0.28m | 2.2° | - | -17° | 44% | 219° | 1.9m/s | 0.6m | 3.7s |
| 09:00 ☾ | 0% | 27% | 2% | 0.29m | 2.7° | - | -11° | 28% | 252° | 1.1m/s | 0.62m | 3.8s |
| 10:00 ☾ | 0% | 10% | 0% | 0.29m | 2.3° | - | -5.7° | 10% | 220° | 0.78m/s | 0.64m | 3.8s |
| 11:00 ☾ | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0.3m | 1.9° | - | -1.4° | 1% | 193° | 1.1m/s | 0.65m | 3.9s |
| 12:00 | 0% | 2% | 0% | 0.3m | 1.5° | - | 1.7° | 2% | 160° | 1.4m/s | 0.67m | 3.9s |
| 13:00 | 0% | 5% | 0% | 0.3m | 1.6° | - | 3.2° | 5% | 151° | 1.7m/s | 0.69m | 4s |
| 14:00 | 0% | 4% | 0% | 0.29m | 1.6° | - | 3.3° | 4% | 143° | 1.6m/s | 0.71m | 4s |
| 15:00 | 0% | 6% | 0% | 0.29m | 1.7° | - | 1.9° | 6% | 138° | 1.4m/s | 0.73m | 4s |
| 16:00 ☾ | 0% | 9% | 0% | 0.29m | 117° | - | -0.97° | 9% | 138° | 1.3m/s | 0.75m | 3.8s |
| 17:00 ☾ | 0% | 22% | 0% | 0.28m | 233° | - | -5.2° | 22% | 144° | 1.4m/s | 0.77m | 3.5s |
| 18:00 ☾ | 0% | 55% | 0% | 0.28m | 348° | - | -10° | 55% | 144° | 1.3m/s | 0.79m | 3.3s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 0% | 88% | 0% | 0.28m | 348° | - | -16° | 88% | 141° | 1.4m/s | 0.8m | 3.3s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0.27m | 349° | - | -22° | 100% | 138° | 1.3m/s | 0.8m | 3.3s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0.27m | 349° | - | -28° | 100% | 173° | 1.3m/s | 0.81m | 3.3s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 0% | 98% | 0% | 0.26m | 348° | - | -34° | 98% | 175° | 1.3m/s | 0.82m | 3.4s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 0% | 91% | 0% | 0.26m | 348° | - | -39° | 91% | 141° | 1m/s | 0.82m | 3.4s |
| Wed, Jan 14
Sunrise 11:10
Sunset 15:55 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 0% | 60% | 0% | 0.25m | 347° | - | -43° | 60% | 146° | 0.72m/s | 0.83m | 3.4s |
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.
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