Skip to content
✨ New: PhotoWeather is now available on iOS and Android
Rule Storm Chaser

Hvítserkur - Storm Chaser - Iceland Coast

Hvammstangi, Northwest, 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 58% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts0.5m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure985.4hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index6.9°C
Wind Gusts0.5m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

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, Feb 21
19:000%46%0J/kg11°C24135m1.4m/s
20:000%55%0J/kg12°C24134m1.1m/s
21:009.1%0.1%0J/kg12°C24135m1m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg12°C24135m1.3m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg12°C24135m1.3m/s
Sun, Feb 22
24:000%0%0J/kg11°C24135m0.51m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg11°C24135m0.5m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg10°C24134m1.2m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg10°C24135m2m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg10°C24134m2.3m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg9.8°C24135m2.6m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg9.9°C24134m3.9m/s
07:000%0%0J/kg9.9°C24134m1.6m/s
08:000%45%0J/kg10°C24134m1.5m/s
09:000%48%0J/kg9.8°C24135m1.6m/s
10:000%48%0J/kg9.4°C24135m1.2m/s
11:000%47%0J/kg9.3°C24135m1m/s
12:000%43%0J/kg9.1°C24134m0.8m/s
13:000%48%0J/kg8.8°C24135m0.6m/s
14:000%45%0J/kg8.6°C24135m0.72m/s
15:000%43%0J/kg8.6°C24135m0.74m/s
16:000%63%0J/kg8°C24135m0.71m/s
17:000%59%0J/kg7.5°C24135m0.61m/s
18:000%64%0J/kg7.2°C24135m0.42m/s
19:000%47%0J/kg6.9°C24134m0.51m/s
20:000%49%0J/kg6.7°C24134m0.61m/s
21:009.8%2.7%0J/kg6.2°C24135m1.1m/s
22:000%3.9%0J/kg5.8°C24135m1.2m/s
23:000%5.3%0J/kg5.6°C24135m1.5m/s
Mon, Feb 23
24:0011%6.4%0J/kg5.4°C24135m2.3m/s
01:000%6.1%0J/kg5.2°C24135m3.8m/s
02:000%2.3%0J/kg5°C24135m5m/s
03:000%2%0J/kg4.9°C24135m5.4m/s
04:000%2.5%0J/kg4.2°C24134m5.3m/s
05:000%3.9%0J/kg3.3°C24135m5.5m/s
06:000%5.1%0J/kg3°C24134m4.9m/s
07:000%2.5%0J/kg2.9°C22339m4.4m/s
08:000%61%0J/kg2.7°C23176m5.3m/s
09:0012%74%0J/kg2.4°C24135m5m/s
10:000%68%0J/kg2.5°C24134m4.8m/s
11:000%99%0J/kg2°C24134m6.1m/s
12:000%63%0J/kg1.5°C24135m7.2m/s
13:000%63%0J/kg1°C24134m8m/s
14:000%76%1J/kg0.8°C17826m9.5m/s
15:0027%64%0J/kg1.3°C3931m12m/s
16:0015%76%0J/kg1.1°C24134m13m/s
17:0015%87%0J/kg1°C22720m13m/s
18:000%67%0J/kg1°C22407m12m/s
19:000%54%0J/kg1.6°C20397m9.5m/s
20:000%56%0J/kg1.3°C23640m9.9m/s
21:000%10%0J/kg1.7°C24135m11m/s
22:000%6.8%0J/kg1.4°C24135m7.7m/s
23:000%2.7%0J/kg1.6°C24134m5m/s
Tue, Feb 24
24:000%2.1%0J/kg1.7°C21930m4.6m/s
01:000%2.5%0J/kg2°C22618m5.2m/s
02:000%2.9%0J/kg2.5°C24135m3.8m/s
03:000%2.2%0J/kg2.6°C20501m3.9m/s
04:000%4.6%0J/kg2.8°C19497m4.2m/s
05:000%6.8%0J/kg3.7°C19436m4.6m/s
06:000%6.6%0J/kg4.1°C19478m4.9m/s
07:000%4.2%0J/kg4.5°C21580m5.4m/s
08:000%39%0J/kg4.8°C19433m4.9m/s
09:000%47%1J/kg5.1°C19319m3.8m/s
10:0017%87%0J/kg5.6°C217m2.7m/s
11:0018%91%0J/kg6.2°C83m1.9m/s
12:0033%87%0J/kg7.8°C38m2.4m/s
13:0034%71%0J/kg10°C57m8.6m/s
14:0036%56%0J/kg11°C183m11m/s
15:0051%50%0J/kg13°C381m10m/s
16:0036%51%0J/kg16°C481m7m/s
17:0031%65%0J/kg17°C181m2.9m/s
18:0041%49%0J/kg17°C480m2.5m/s
19:000%72%0J/kg18°C6118m8.4m/s
20:000%30%0J/kg18°C24134m9.5m/s
21:0020%8%1J/kg18°C16252m11m/s
22:0019%9.8%5J/kg18°C6117m13m/s
23:0019%6.5%5J/kg17°C6079m15m/s
Wed, Feb 25
24:0036%4.2%9J/kg17°C1012m15m/s
01:0032%0%11J/kg17°C1809m17m/s
02:0032%0%14J/kg18°C2606m18m/s
03:0038%0%16J/kg18°C3403m19m/s
04:0030%0%11J/kg18°C2398m19m/s
05:0032%0%5.3J/kg17°C1393m18m/s
06:0047%0%0J/kg17°C388m17m/s
07:0038%0%0J/kg15°C313m17m/s
08:0038%77%0J/kg13°C238m17m/s
09:0052%66%0J/kg12°C163m17m/s
10:0042%67%0J/kg11°C239m14m/s
11:0043%60%0J/kg11°C314m10m/s
12:0049%62%0J/kg11°C390m7.2m/s
13:0034%62%0J/kg11°C324m6.3m/s
14:0034%75%0J/kg9.9°C257m5.5m/s
15:0040%77%0J/kg9.2°C191m4.7m/s
16:0018%82%0J/kg8.5°C6640m7.7m/s
17:0017%73%0J/kg7.8°C13090m11m/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, Feb 22 Sunrise 09:00 Sunset 18:14
19:00
985hPa 0J/kg 71% 6.9°C 8% 100% 0% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ -5.2° 100% 0mm - - 0.46m/s
20:00
986hPa 0J/kg 63% 6.7°C 24% 100% 0% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ -11° 100% 0mm - - 0.58m/s
21:00
986hPa 0J/kg 66% 6.2°C 58% 100% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 100% 0mm 3.2m/s 11m/s 0.98m/s
22:00
986hPa 0J/kg 67% 5.8°C 66% 92% 7% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 92% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
23:00
986hPa 0J/kg 58% 5.6°C 51% 68% 15% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -28° 68% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 08:57 Sunset 18:18
24:00
986hPa 0J/kg 23% 5.4°C 48% 76% 22% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 76% 0mm 7.8m/s 11m/s 2.5m/s
01:00
986hPa 0J/kg 70% 5.2°C 41% 91% 31% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 91% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
02:00
986hPa 0J/kg 52% 5°C 35% 100% 41% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 100% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
03:00
986hPa 0J/kg 49% 4.9°C 86% 98% 50% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 98% 0mm 4.2m/s 6.9m/s 4.9m/s
04:00
986hPa 0J/kg 62% 4.2°C 100% 95% 43% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 100% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
05:00
986hPa 0J/kg 31% 3.3°C 99% 100% 36% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 100% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
06:00
986hPa 0J/kg 45% 3°C 99% 90% 28% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 99% 0mm 3.5m/s 7.1m/s 4.2m/s
07:00
985hPa 0J/kg 91% 2.9°C 84% 76% 52% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 91% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
08:00
986hPa 0J/kg 63% 2.7°C 88% 80% 76% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ -6.5° 88% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
09:00
985hPa 0J/kg 87% 2.4°C 41% 20% 100% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 0.04° 87% 0mm 5.8m/s 11m/s 4.4m/s
10:00
985hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.5°C 82% 23% 100% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 5.1° 100% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
11:00
985hPa 0J/kg 79% 2°C 72% 53% 100% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 9.5° 79% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
12:00
985hPa 0J/kg 94% 1.5°C 28% 100% 100% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 100% 0mm 4.1m/s 7.3m/s 5.2m/s
13:00
985hPa 0J/kg 65% 1°C 100% 80% 80% 0mm 77% 0mm -12dBZ 15° 100% 0mm - - 4.9m/s
14:00
984hPa 1J/kg 48% 0.8°C 99% 100% 60% 0.04mm 79% 0mm -3.1dBZ 15° 100% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
15:00
984hPa 0J/kg 71% 1.3°C 100% 100% 40% 0.47mm 93% 0mm 5.3dBZ 13° 100% 0.38mm 5.4m/s 5.2m/s 6.4m/s
16:00
984hPa 0J/kg 56% 1.1°C 100% 100% 43% 0mm 92% 0mm -3.1dBZ 10° 100% 0.63mm - - 6.9m/s
17:00
984hPa 0J/kg 12% 1°C 100% 100% 47% 0mm 89% 0mm -12dBZ 6.3° 100% 0.63mm - - 6.6m/s
18:00
983hPa 0J/kg 2% 1°C 71% 100% 50% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ 1.3° 100% 0.63mm 4.6m/s 6.5m/s 5.8m/s
19:00
983hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.6°C 14% 100% 50% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ -4.9° 100% 0mm - - 5.4m/s
20:00
983hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.3°C 13% 91% 50% 0mm 83% 0mm -19dBZ -11° 91% 0mm - - 5.7m/s
21:00
982hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.7°C 6% 66% 50% 0mm 83% 0mm -19dBZ -17° 66% 0mm 6.4m/s 6.3m/s 5.8m/s
22:00
982hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.4°C 38% 100% 67% 0mm 83% 0mm -16dBZ -23° 100% 0mm - - 4.9m/s
23:00
981hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.6°C 100% 100% 83% 0.03mm 83% 0mm -12dBZ -28° 100% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 08:53 Sunset 18:21
24:00
980hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.7°C 91% 41% 100% 0mm 85% 0mm -9dBZ -32° 91% 0.06mm 8.7m/s 9.6m/s 3.8m/s
01:00
980hPa 0J/kg 1% 2°C 94% 40% 75% 0.05mm 89% 0mm -7.7dBZ -34° 94% 0.06mm - - 3.1m/s
02:00
979hPa 0J/kg 6% 2.5°C 100% 93% 51% 0mm 91% 0.01mm -6.4dBZ -34° 100% 0.13mm - - 3.2m/s
03:00
979hPa 0J/kg 14% 2.6°C 100% 100% 26% 0mm 92% 0.01mm -5.1dBZ -32° 100% 0.13mm 6.1m/s 8.7m/s 3.5m/s
04:00
978hPa 0J/kg 54% 2.8°C 40% 5% 33% 0mm 90% 0mm -10dBZ -29° 56% 0.13mm - - 3.3m/s
05:00
977hPa 0J/kg 65% 3.7°C 54% 6% 41% 0mm 89% 0mm -15dBZ -24° 68% 0.13mm - - 3.8m/s
06:00
977hPa 0J/kg 98% 4.1°C 18% 0% 48% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 98% 0.13mm 1.7m/s 8.6m/s 3.7m/s
07:00
976hPa 0J/kg 58% 4.5°C 79% 4% 57% 0mm 88% 0mm -13dBZ -12° 79% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
08:00
975hPa 0J/kg 85% 4.8°C 60% 4% 67% 0mm 90% 0mm -5.8dBZ -6.1° 85% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
09:00
975hPa 1J/kg 100% 5.1°C 100% 5% 76% 0mm 93% 0mm 1.3dBZ 0.34° 100% 0mm 2.9m/s 5.7m/s 3.3m/s
10:00
975hPa 0J/kg 38% 5.6°C 100% 85% 83% 0.14mm 98% 0mm 9.5dBZ 5.4° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.6m/s
11:00
975hPa 0J/kg 32% 6.2°C 100% 83% 89% 0.62mm 99% 0mm 18dBZ 9.9° 100% 0.5mm - - 1.5m/s
12:00
975hPa 0J/kg 33% 7.8°C 100% 95% 96% 1.3mm 100% 0.01mm 26dBZ 13° 100% 1.3mm 7.7m/s 12m/s 1.9m/s
13:00
976hPa 0J/kg 74% 10°C 100% 66% 85% 1.3mm 99% 0.02mm 22dBZ 15° 100% 1.4mm - - 7.7m/s
14:00
976hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 0% 73% 0.38mm 95% 0mm 18dBZ 15° 100% 2.3mm - - 11m/s
15:00
976hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 100% 0% 62% 0.18mm 90% 0mm 14dBZ 14° 100% 2.6mm 16m/s 21m/s 9.5m/s
16:00
977hPa 0J/kg 96% 16°C 100% 0% 68% 0.28mm 88% 0mm 4.4dBZ 11° 100% 2.9mm - - 6m/s
17:00
977hPa 0J/kg 55% 17°C 100% 0% 75% 0.42mm 93% 0.06mm -5.4dBZ 6.6° 100% 3.3mm - - 1.4m/s
18:00
978hPa 0J/kg 2% 17°C 94% 0% 82% 0.28mm 90% 0.06mm -15dBZ 1.6° 94% 3.7mm 12m/s 20m/s 1.6m/s
19:00
978hPa 0J/kg 0% 18°C 65% 0% 73% 0.1mm 77% 0.02mm -12dBZ -4.5° 65% 0.19mm - - 6.5m/s
20:00
979hPa 0J/kg 0% 18°C 7% 0% 65% 0mm 64% 0mm -8.2dBZ -11° 7% 0.25mm - - 5.8m/s
21:00
979hPa 1J/kg 0% 18°C 100% 0% 56% 0.01mm 70% 0.01mm -4.6dBZ -17° 100% 0.25mm 7.7m/s 21m/s 7.3m/s
22:00
980hPa 5J/kg 0% 18°C 99% 0% 59% 0.01mm 75% 0.06mm -0.28dBZ -23° 99% 0.31mm - - 10m/s
23:00
980hPa 5J/kg 0% 17°C 98% 0% 61% 0.01mm 76% 0.05mm 4.1dBZ -28° 98% 0.38mm - - 11m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 08:49 Sunset 18:25
24:00
981hPa 9J/kg 0% 17°C 100% 0% 64% 0.13mm 84% 0.09mm 8.4dBZ -31° 100% 0.5mm 4.1m/s 16m/s 11m/s
01:00
983hPa 11J/kg 2% 17°C 98% 0% 61% 0.1mm 83% 0.09mm 6.7dBZ -33° 98% 0.44mm - - 11m/s
02:00
985hPa 14J/kg 3% 18°C 96% 0% 59% 0.06mm 81% 0.1mm 5.1dBZ -34° 96% 0.38mm - - 12m/s
03:00
987hPa 16J/kg 5% 18°C 94% 0% 56% 0.03mm 79% 0.1mm 3.4dBZ -32° 94% 0.31mm 6.8m/s 19m/s 13m/s
04:00
986hPa 11J/kg 13% 18°C 95% 16% 59% 0.09mm 83% 0.07mm -0.15dBZ -29° 95% 0.46mm - - 12m/s
05:00
985hPa 5.3J/kg 21% 17°C 96% 31% 61% 0.15mm 86% 0.05mm -3.7dBZ -24° 96% 0.6mm - - 11m/s
06:00
985hPa 0J/kg 29% 17°C 96% 47% 64% 0.21mm 90% 0.02mm -7.2dBZ -18° 96% 0.75mm 18m/s 24m/s 9.7m/s
07:00
984hPa 0J/kg 20% 15°C 98% 39% 57% 0.69mm 91% 0.01mm -1.4dBZ -12° 98% 1.6mm - - 10m/s
08:00
983hPa 0J/kg 10% 13°C 99% 30% 51% 1.2mm 93% 0.007mm 4.3dBZ -5.8° 99% 2.5mm - - 10m/s
09:00
982hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 22% 44% 1.6mm 94% 0mm 10dBZ 0.65° 100% 3.3mm 22m/s 16m/s 11m/s
10:00
982hPa 0J/kg 2% 11°C 100% 29% 48% 1.2mm 93% 0mm 8.3dBZ 5.8° 100% 4.2mm - - 8.5m/s
11:00
982hPa 0J/kg 3% 11°C 100% 35% 52% 0.79mm 92% 0mm 6.5dBZ 10° 100% 5mm - - 6.4m/s
12:00
982hPa 0J/kg 5% 11°C 100% 42% 56% 0.36mm 91% 0mm 4.7dBZ 14° 100% 5.9mm 29m/s 22m/s 4.3m/s
13:00
981hPa 0J/kg 9% 11°C 100% 51% 53% 0.37mm 92% 0mm 12dBZ 15° 100% 4.4mm - - 3.9m/s
14:00
981hPa 0J/kg 13% 9.9°C 100% 60% 51% 0.39mm 93% 0mm 19dBZ 16° 100% 3mm - - 3.5m/s
15:00
980hPa 0J/kg 17% 9.2°C 100% 69% 48% 0.4mm 94% 0mm 26dBZ 14° 100% 1.5mm 20m/s 18m/s 3m/s
16:00
979hPa 0J/kg 13% 8.5°C 94% 48% 54% 0.3mm 90% 0mm 20dBZ 11° 94% 1.8mm - - 3.7m/s
17:00
978hPa 0J/kg 9% 7.8°C 89% 28% 59% 0.19mm 86% 0mm 14dBZ 89% 2.1mm - - 4.4m/s
18:00
977hPa 0J/kg 5% 7.1°C 83% 7% 64% 0.09mm 82% 0mm 8.4dBZ 1.9° 83% 2.4mm 23m/s 20m/s 5m/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