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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 53% failing
Precipitation Chance 21% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Wave Height0.5m
Swell Height0.2m
Wind Speed1.5m/s (calm conditions)
Cloud Cover94%

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 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, Feb 7
18:0014%0.44m24134m2.3m/s0%
19:0011%0.47m24134m2.2m/s0%
20:003.7%0.5m24134m1.6m/s0%
21:003.7%0.53m23971m0.91m/s0%
22:003.9%0.57m23647m0.9m/s0%
23:003.7%0.6m24134m1m/s0%
Sun, Feb 8
24:003.7%0.64m24134m0.8m/s0%
01:004.1%0.68m24134m0.61m/s13%
02:004.6%0.72m24135m0.7m/s26%
03:002.9%0.76m24134m1m/s39%
04:003.3%0.81m24134m1.1m/s45%
05:003.3%0.86m24134m1.3m/s50%
06:003.3%0.91m24134m1.5m/s56%
07:003.3%0.96m24135m1m/s44%
08:0019%1m24135m1.6m/s32%
09:0019%1.1m24134m1.3m/s20%
10:0022%1.1m24134m1.7m/s21%
11:0024%1.1m24134m1.7m/s21%
12:0024%1.2m21977m1.3m/s22%
13:0020%1.1m24135m2m/s15%
14:0026%1.1m20437m6.8m/s7.4%
15:0018%1m18606m7.3m/s0%
16:0021%1.2m13601m7.3m/s13%
17:0021%1.3m11952m8.2m/s26%
18:0017%1.5m8926m9.9m/s39%
19:0017%1.4m12232m9.3m/s29%
20:007.5%1.4m22379m7m/s20%
21:008.3%1.4m22462m4.1m/s10%
22:009.3%1.4m22473m3.2m/s20%
23:007.7%1.5m22469m3m/s29%
Mon, Feb 9
24:0012%1.5m22627m2.6m/s39%
01:008.8%1.6m12427m2.8m/s39%
02:0012%1.7m10891m3.9m/s39%
03:008.8%1.7m9047m6.4m/s39%
04:008.5%1.7m10889m8.5m/s39%
05:009.1%1.8m15329m10m/s39%
06:0011%1.8m23021m12m/s39%
07:0011%1.8m20827m13m/s26%
08:0030%1.7m20206m13m/s13%
09:0029%1.7m22598m12m/s0%
10:0034%1.7m22571m12m/s13%
11:0034%1.8m22217m12m/s26%
12:0032%1.8m23454m11m/s39%
13:0032%1.7m23358m11m/s26%
14:0021%1.7m23291m12m/s13%
15:0021%1.6m23117m11m/s0.001%
16:0022%1.6m22746m11m/s0%
17:0034%1.6m21796m12m/s0%
18:0034%1.6m22371m11m/s0%
19:0019%1.6m22003m11m/s0%
20:006.7%1.6m21843m10m/s0%
21:006.3%1.5m21408m9.8m/s0%
22:006.1%1.4m22148m9.4m/s0%
23:006.3%1.4m23744m10m/s0%
Tue, Feb 10
24:008.3%1.3m24134m11m/s0%
01:008.9%1.3m24134m11m/s0%
02:008.9%1.3m24135m12m/s0%
03:008.9%1.3m24135m12m/s0%
04:009.9%1.4m24135m11m/s0%
05:009.5%1.5m24135m11m/s0%
06:0014%1.6m24135m9.9m/s0%
07:0015%1.7m24135m10m/s0%
08:0049%1.8m24135m10m/s0%
09:0047%1.8m24135m10m/s0%
10:0053%1.8m24135m11m/s0%
11:0050%1.8m24135m11m/s0%
12:0040%1.7m24135m12m/s0%
13:0040%1.7m24135m12m/s0%
14:0040%1.7m24135m12m/s0%
15:0040%1.7m24135m11m/s0%
16:0040%1.6m24135m11m/s7.4%
17:0041%1.6m24135m9.8m/s15%
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
Sat, Feb 7 Sunrise 09:54 Sunset 17:22
19:00
0% 83% 94% 0.22m 165° 0.006 -9.8° 94% 45° 1.5m/s 0.38m 9.2s
20:00
0% 73% 86% 0.21m 109° 0.006 -16° 88% 59° 1.2m/s 0.42m 6.5s
21:00
0% 41% 86% 0.21m 53° 0.007 -22° 87% 89° 0.86m/s 0.46m 3.7s
22:00
0% 30% 93% 0.2m 53° 0.008 -28° 93% 136° 0.93m/s 0.51m 3.6s
23:00
0% 6% 93% 0.2m 52° 0.008 -33° 93% 149° 1.1m/s 0.55m 3.5s
Sun, Feb 8 Sunrise 09:50 Sunset 17:26
24:00
0% 5% 85% 0.19m 52° 0.008 -37° 85% 152° 0.94m/s 0.6m 3.3s
01:00
0% 4% 76% 0.19m 49° 0.009 -39° 76% 136° 0.62m/s 0.64m 3.4s
02:00
0% 4% 42% 0.18m 46° 0.009 -39° 42% 86° 0.37m/s 0.69m 3.5s
03:00
0% 2% 7% 0.18m 43° 0.01 -38° 7% 55° 0.72m/s 0.73m 3.6s
04:00
0% 2% 5% 0.18m 45° 0.01 -34° 5% 76° 0.91m/s 0.78m 3.7s
05:00
0% 8% 5% 0.17m 47° 0.01 -29° 9% 103° 1.2m/s 0.84m 3.8s
06:00
0% 2% 5% 0.17m 50° 0.01 -24° 5% 92° 1.4m/s 0.89m 3.9s
07:00
0% 3% 4% 0.17m 49° 0.01 -18° 4% 106° 0.91m/s 0.95m 4s
08:00
0% 5% 2% 0.17m 48° 0.01 -11° 5% 114° 1.1m/s 1m 4.1s
09:00
0% 5% 0% 0.17m 47° 0.01 -5.3° 5% 118° 1.2m/s 1.1m 4.2s
10:00
0% 5% 0% 0.17m 48° 0.01 0.46° 5% 102° 1.4m/s 1.1m 4.3s
11:00
0% 13% 0% 0.16m 49° 0.009 4.6° 13% 129° 1.6m/s 1.1m 4.3s
12:00
0% 27% 0% 0.16m 49° 0.007 7.7° 27% 128° 1.2m/s 1.1m 4.3s
13:00
1% 7% 0% 0.16m 48° 0.006 9.5° 7% 83° 1.6m/s 1.1m 4.3s
14:00
5% 49% 0% 0.16m 46° 0.005 9.7° 49% 58° 2.6m/s 1m 4.2s
15:00
5% 89% 0% 0.16m 45° 0.004 8.4° 89% 60° 3.6m/s 0.99m 4.1s
16:00
5% 84% 0% 0.16m 48° 0.003 5.6° 84% 64° 4.4m/s 1.1m 4.3s
17:00
5% 95% 0% 0.16m 51° 0.002 1.7° 95% 50° 4.2m/s 1.3m 4.6s
18:00
5% 98% 0% 0.16m 53° 0.003 -3.7° 98% 46° 5.7m/s 1.5m 4.8s
19:00
5% 99% 1% 0.16m 52° 0.003 -9.5° 99% 43° 5.5m/s 1.4m 4.8s
20:00
5% 95% 1% 0.16m 50° 0.003 -16° 95% 45° 3.7m/s 1.4m 4.7s
21:00
5% 68% 5% 0.16m 48° 0.003 -22° 68% 66° 2.1m/s 1.3m 4.7s
22:00
5% 52% 4% 0.16m 50° 0.005 -28° 52% 98° 1.8m/s 1.4m 4.8s
23:00
5% 19% 5% 0.16m 52° 0.005 -33° 19% 98° 1.8m/s 1.5m 4.8s
Mon, Feb 9 Sunrise 09:47 Sunset 17:29
24:00
5% 16% 5% 0.16m 54° 0.005 -37° 16% 87° 1.7m/s 1.5m 4.9s
01:00
5% 14% 6% 0.16m 54° - -39° 14% 71° 1.9m/s 1.6m 5s
02:00
5% 19% 26% 0.17m 53° - -39° 32% 68° 2m/s 1.6m 5.1s
03:00
4% 83% 41% 0.17m 52° - -37° 83% 65° 2.9m/s 1.7m 5.2s
04:00
5% 100% 69% 0.17m 52° - -34° 100% 56° 4.2m/s 1.7m 5.2s
05:00
4% 98% 70% 0.16m 53° - -29° 98% 51° 5.7m/s 1.7m 5.2s
06:00
5% 100% 94% 0.16m 53° - -23° 100% 45° 7.4m/s 1.8m 5.2s
07:00
5% 100% 100% 0.16m 53° - -17° 100% 43° 8.8m/s 1.7m 5.2s
08:00
5% 100% 100% 0.15m 53° - -11° 100% 43° 8.7m/s 1.7m 5.2s
09:00
4% 100% 100% 0.15m 53° - -5° 100% 45° 8m/s 1.7m 5.2s
10:00
5% 99% 92% 0.14m 54° - 0.72° 99% 42° 8.7m/s 1.7m 5.2s
11:00
5% 98% 89% 0.14m 54° - 4.9° 98% 41° 9m/s 1.7m 5.2s
12:00
5% 100% 96% 0.13m 54° - 100% 43° 8.3m/s 1.8m 5.3s
13:00
5% 99% 98% 0.13m 54° - 9.8° 100% 41° 8.2m/s 1.7m 5.2s
14:00
5% 99% 88% 0.13m 54° - 10° 99% 41° 8.5m/s 1.7m 5.2s
15:00
5% 100% 77% 0.13m 55° - 8.7° 100% 42° 8.1m/s 1.6m 5.2s
16:00
5% 100% 99% 0.14m 55° - 5.9° 100% 42° 7.9m/s 1.6m 5.1s
17:00
1% 100% 100% 0.14m 55° - 1.9° 100% 40° 8.3m/s 1.6m 5.1s
18:00
3% 100% 100% 0.15m 55° - -3.4° 100% 40° 8.1m/s 1.6m 5.1s
19:00
2% 100% 100% 0.2m 56° - -9.2° 100% 41° 7.7m/s 1.6m 5.4s
20:00
2% 100% 100% 0.26m 57° - -15° 100% 40° 7.2m/s 1.5m 5.8s
21:00
0% 100% 100% 0.31m 59° - -22° 100% 42° 6.7m/s 1.5m 6.2s
22:00
0% 100% 100% 0.37m 107° - -27° 100% 42° 6.2m/s 1.4m 7.7s
23:00
1% 100% 100% 0.44m 155° - -33° 100% 42° 7m/s 1.3m 9.2s
Tue, Feb 10 Sunrise 09:43 Sunset 17:33
24:00
3% 100% 100% 0.5m 203° - -36° 100% 40° 7.7m/s 1.2m 11s
01:00
3% 99% 89% 0.55m 206° - -39° 100% 40° 8.5m/s 1.2m 13s
02:00
4% 98% 78% 0.6m 209° - -39° 99% 40° 9.2m/s 1.1m 16s
03:00
5% 97% 67% 0.65m 212° - -37° 99% 40° 10m/s 1.1m 18s
04:00
5% 91% 61% 0.69m 212° - -34° 93% 41° 8.9m/s 1.2m 18s
05:00
5% 86% 54% 0.72m 212° - -29° 87% 42° 7.8m/s 1.3m 18s
06:00
5% 81% 48% 0.76m 213° - -23° 81% 43° 6.8m/s 1.4m 17s
07:00
4% 71% 34% 0.78m 213° - -17° 71% 44° 6.7m/s 1.4m 17s
08:00
3% 61% 19% 0.8m 213° - -11° 61% 44° 6.6m/s 1.5m 17s
09:00
2% 52% 5% 0.82m 213° - -4.7° 52% 44° 6.5m/s 1.6m 17s
10:00
3% 36% 4% 0.82m 214° - 0.98° 36% 43° 7.1m/s 1.6m 16s
11:00
3% 21% 3% 0.82m 214° - 5.2° 21% 42° 7.6m/s 1.5m 16s
12:00
4% 5% 2% 0.82m 214° - 8.3° 5% 41° 8.1m/s 1.5m 16s
13:00
4% 5% 2% 0.8m 214° - 10° 5% 41° 8.5m/s 1.5m 16s
14:00
5% 4% 1% 0.79m 215° - 10° 5% 42° 8.8m/s 1.5m 16s
15:00
5% 4% 0% 0.77m 215° - 5% 42° 9.1m/s 1.5m 15s
16:00
5% 3% 0% 0.75m 212° - 6.2° 5% 44° 8.3m/s 1.4m 14s
17:00
5% 2% 0% 0.73m 209° - 2.2° 5% 46° 7.4m/s 1.4m 12s
18:00
5% 2% 0% 0.71m 207° - -3.1° 5% 48° 6.6m/s 1.4m 9.9s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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