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Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Raudisandur - Dramatic Seascapes - Iceland Coast

Patreksfjordur, Westfjords, Iceland

Dramatic coastal photography conditions - powerful waves combined with atmospheric drama and good visibility for seascape shots.

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Atlantic/Reykjavik
Next opportunity
Dramatic Seascapes
Raudisandur
Thu, Jan 15 · 09:00–10:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
45%
Dramatic Seascapes
Raudisandur
Thu, Jan 15 · 10:00–11:00
Medium
Dramatic Seascapes
Raudisandur
Thu, Jan 15 · 11:00–16:00
Low
Dramatic Seascapes
Raudisandur
Thu, Jan 15 · 16:00–17:00
Medium
Dramatic Seascapes
Raudisandur
Sun, Jan 18 · 14:00–17:00
Low
Dramatic Seascapes
Raudisandur
Sun, Jan 18 · 17:00–18:00
Medium
Dramatic Seascapes
Raudisandur
Sun, Jan 18 · 18:00–19:00
Medium

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%
Sun, Jan 11
24:007.3%1.5m34820m7.8m/s0%
01:007.3%1.8m36520m7.6m/s0%
02:0012%2m40060m7.7m/s0%
03:0012%2.3m39680m6.3m/s0%
04:0012%2.4m50000m6.7m/s0%
05:0013%2.5m50000m6.4m/s0%
06:0012%2.6m40580m4m/s0%
07:0012%2.6m43020m4m/s0%
08:0012%2.6m44040m4.8m/s0%
09:0013%2.7m48240m6.3m/s0%
10:0036%2.7m44340m6.4m/s0%
11:0041%2.7m40700m7.7m/s0%
12:0042%2.8m38160m9.1m/s0%
13:0042%2.8m50000m9.7m/s0%
14:0042%2.8m50000m8.7m/s0%
15:0049%2.8m50000m7.7m/s0%
16:0041%2.8m7040m8m/s0%
17:0046%2.8m27740m8.7m/s0%
18:0043%2.8m31300m11m/s0%
19:0015%2.7m32760m11m/s0%
20:0013%2.6m50000m12m/s0%
21:0016%2.6m50000m11m/s0%
22:0015%2.6m50000m11m/s0%
23:0016%2.6m34620m12m/s0%
Mon, Jan 12
24:0014%2.6m50000m11m/s0%
01:0013%2.7m35480m8.3m/s0%
02:0014%2.9m34160m8.4m/s0%
03:0015%3m1740m8.2m/s0%
04:0016%3.1m6540m9.7m/s0%
05:0021%3.1m33640m14m/s0%
06:0020%3.2m50000m14m/s0%
07:0019%3.2m50000m14m/s0%
08:0019%3.2m50000m11m/s0%
09:0020%3.2m47420m10m/s0%
10:0064%3.2m39790m12m/s1%
11:0072%3.2m32195m14m/s3%
12:0072%3.3m14080m15m/s4%
13:0072%3.2m23220m13m/s4%
14:0072%3.1m25940m13m/s4%
15:0072%3m23800m13m/s4%
16:0047%3m20960m15m/s3%
17:0038%2.9m20800m14m/s1%
18:0037%2.8m24600m14m/s0%
19:0017%2.7m29320m15m/s0%
20:0018%2.6m46400m14m/s1%
21:0018%2.4m48800m14m/s2%
22:0018%2.4m49480m13m/s2%
23:0020%2.3m55260m13m/s2%
Tue, Jan 13
24:0017%2.3m61780m13m/s2%
01:0017%2.3m61740m12m/s2%
02:0017%2.3m61740m11m/s2%
03:0017%2.2m61720m9.4m/s2%
04:0020%2.2m61740m8.2m/s2%
05:0020%2.2m61640m7m/s2%
06:0017%2.2m53280m6.2m/s2%
07:0017%2.1m44380m6.3m/s1%
08:0017%2.1m51400m6.3m/s1%
09:0016%2.1m53740m6.3m/s0%
10:0053%2.1m60640m5.9m/s0%
11:0050%2.1m61820m5.7m/s0%
12:0059%2m61800m5.2m/s0%
13:0062%2m61840m4.3m/s2%
14:0062%2m61860m2.9m/s4%
15:0050%2m58680m3.1m/s6%
16:0052%2m58740m4.4m/s8%
17:0046%2m58760m4.6m/s9%
18:0050%2.1m58780m4.2m/s10%
19:0016%2.1m58800m4.1m/s10%
20:0015%2.2m58800m4.4m/s9%
21:0012%2.3m58820m4.9m/s8%
22:0015%2.6m58860m5.1m/s7%
23:0013%2.9m62100m5.2m/s7%
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
Sun, Jan 11 Sunrise 11:34 Sunset 15:54
01:00
0% 0% 0% 0.45m 51° 0.02 -46° 0% 54° 7.8m/s 1.8m 6.1s
02:00
0% 0% 0% 0.44m 52° 0.02 -46° 0% 50° 7.7m/s 2m 6.5s
03:00
0% 0% 0% 0.42m 53° 0.02 -44° 0% 50° 7.8m/s 2.2m 6.8s
04:00
0% 0% 0% 0.41m 54° 0.02 -41° 0% 46° 7.1m/s 2.3m 7s
05:00
0% 0% 0% 0.41m 54° 0.02 -36° 0% 45° 6.3m/s 2.4m 7.1s
06:00
0% 0% 0% 0.4m 55° 0.02 -30° 0% 44° 6.6m/s 2.5m 7.3s
07:00
0% 0% 0% 0.43m 54° 0.02 -24° 0% 41° 7.4m/s 2.5m 7.4s
08:00
0% 0% 0% 0.46m 54° 0.02 -18° 0% 44° 7.3m/s 2.5m 7.4s
09:00
0% 0% 0% 0.49m 53° 0.02 -12° 0% 42° 7m/s 2.6m 7.4s
10:00
0% 5% 0% 0.55m 53° 0.02 -7° 5% 31° 6.2m/s 2.6m 7.5s
11:00
0% 9% 7% 0.61m 52° 0.02 -2.6° 15% 45° 5.6m/s 2.6m 7.5s
12:00
0% 68% 5% 0.67m 52° 0.02 0.85° 70% 41° 4.2m/s 2.6m 7.5s
13:00
0% 65% 14% 0.71m 51° 0.02 2.5° 70% 2.1m/s 2.6m 7.5s
14:00
0% 99% 91% 0.74m 51° 0.02 2.9° 100% 43° 6.3m/s 2.6m 7.5s
15:00
0% 100% 100% 0.78m 51° 0.02 1.8° 100% 39° 4.8m/s 2.6m 7.5s
16:00
0% 70% 94% 0.78m 50° 0.03 -0.79° 98% 38° 7.7m/s 2.6m 7.5s
17:00
0% 1% 1% 0.77m 50° 0.03 -4.8° 2% 39° 7.8m/s 2.6m 7.5s
18:00
0% 0% 0% 0.77m 49° 0.03 -9.7° 1% 38° 8.4m/s 2.6m 7.4s
19:00
0% 4% 0% 0.76m 49° 0.03 -15° 4% 33° 6.8m/s 2.6m 7.4s
20:00
0% 9% 0% 0.74m 48° 0.03 -21° 9% 27° 6.7m/s 2.5m 7.3s
21:00
0% 9% 0% 0.73m 47° 0.03 -27° 9% 27° 6.6m/s 2.5m 7.3s
22:00
0% 0% 0% 0.72m 47° 0.03 -33° 0% 26° 7m/s 2.5m 7.3s
23:00
0% 0% 0% 0.7m 46° 0.03 -39° 0% 24° 8.1m/s 2.5m 7.3s
Mon, Jan 12 Sunrise 11:31 Sunset 15:57
24:00
0% 0% 0% 0.69m 45° 0.02 -43° 0% 24° 7.7m/s 2.5m 7.2s
01:00
0% 0% 0% 0.67m 46° 0.02 -45° 0% 21° 8m/s 2.6m 7.4s
02:00
0% 0% 0% 0.65m 46° 0.02 -46° 0% 21° 6.4m/s 2.8m 7.5s
03:00
0% 1% 0% 0.63m 46° 0.02 -44° 1% 22° 5.9m/s 2.9m 7.7s
04:00
0% 1% 0% 0.62m 47° 0.02 -41° 1% 22° 6.7m/s 2.9m 7.9s
05:00
0% 1% 0% 0.6m 48° 0.02 -36° 1% 30° 8m/s 2.9m 8s
06:00
0% 1% 0% 0.59m 49° 0.02 -30° 1% 28° 8.6m/s 2.8m 8.2s
07:00
0% 5% 0% 0.57m 50° 0.02 -24° 5% 24° 8.4m/s 2.8m 8.2s
08:00
0% 17% 0% 0.56m 50° 0.01 -18° 17% 18° 8.2m/s 2.8m 8.3s
09:00
0% 33% 0% 0.54m 50° 0.01 -12° 33% 14° 8.3m/s 2.8m 8.3s
10:00
0% 92% 0% 0.5m 50° 0.01 -6.9° 92% 9.1m/s 2.9m 8.4s
11:00
0% 100% 0% 0.47m 49° 0.02 -2.5° 100% 9.6m/s 2.9m 8.4s
12:00
0% 98% 0% 0.43m 49° 0.02 0.98° 98% 8.8m/s 3m 8.5s
13:00
0% 81% 0% 0.42m 50° - 2.7° 81% 8.9m/s 2.9m 8.6s
14:00
0% 71% 0% 0.41m 50° - 72% 9.1m/s 2.9m 8.7s
15:00
0% 69% 0% 0.4m 51° - 1.9° 70% 8.5m/s 2.8m 8.8s
16:00
0% 67% 0% 0.59m 52° - -0.55° 68% 11° 7.8m/s 2.8m 8.9s
17:00
0% 58% 0% 0.77m 53° - -4.6° 59% 8m/s 2.7m 9s
18:00
0% 52% 0% 0.96m 53° - -9.5° 52% 8m/s 2.7m 9.1s
19:00
0% 71% 0% 1.5m 54° - -15° 71% 7.3m/s 1.9m 9.3s
20:00
0% 28% 0% 2m 55° - -21° 28% 14° 7m/s 1.2m 9.6s
21:00
0% 20% 0% 2.5m 57° - -27° 20% 14° 6m/s 0.48m 9.8s
22:00
0% 2% 0% 2.5m 57° - -33° 2% 6.1m/s 0.59m 10s
23:00
0% 0% 0% 2.4m 57° - -39° 0% 357° 6m/s 0.71m 10s
Tue, Jan 13 Sunrise 11:28 Sunset 16:01
24:00
0% 0% 0% 2.4m 58° - -43° 0% 359° 6.1m/s 0.82m 10s
01:00
0% 0% 0% 2.4m 57° - -45° 0% 359° 5.7m/s 0.83m 11s
02:00
0% 0% 0% 2.4m 57° - -46° 0% 343° 5.7m/s 0.85m 11s
03:00
0% 0% 0% 2.3m 56° - -44° 0% 321° 5.8m/s 0.86m 11s
04:00
0% 12% 0% 2.3m 56° - -41° 12% 304° 5.5m/s 0.78m 11s
05:00
0% 90% 0% 2.3m 55° - -36° 90% 268° 4.2m/s 0.71m 11s
06:00
0% 81% 0% 2.3m 54° - -30° 81% 265° 3m/s 0.63m 11s
07:00
0% 93% 0% 2.3m 53° - -24° 93% 290° 3.9m/s 0.56m 11s
08:00
0% 85% 0% 2.3m 53° - -18° 85% 294° 3.8m/s 0.48m 11s
09:00
0% 97% 0% 2.2m 53° - -12° 97% 300° 3m/s 0.41m 11s
10:00
0% 92% 0% 2.2m 52° - -6.8° 92% 306° 3m/s 0.4m 11s
11:00
0% 77% 0% 2.2m 52° - -2.3° 77% 319° 2.8m/s 0.39m 11s
12:00
0% 60% 0% 2.2m 51° - 1.1° 60% 314° 2.2m/s 0.38m 11s
13:00
0% 34% 0% 2.2m 51° - 2.8° 34% 331° 1.3m/s 0.71m 11s
14:00
0% 0% 0% 2.2m 51° - 3.2° 0% 47° 0.88m/s 1m 11s
15:00
0% 0% 0% 2.2m 50° - 2.1° 0% 87° 2.1m/s 1.4m 11s
16:00
0% 0% 0% 2.2m 50° - -0.27° 0% 100° 2.9m/s 1.5m 11s
17:00
0% 0% 0% 2.2m 50° - -4.4° 0% 104° 2.7m/s 1.7m 11s
18:00
0% 0% 0% 2.3m 50° - -9.3° 0% 99° 2.5m/s 1.8m 11s
19:00
0% 0% 0% 2.3m 50° - -15° 0% 101° 2.4m/s 2m 11s
20:00
0% 0% 0% 2.4m 50° - -21° 0% 105° 2.7m/s 2.2m 11s
21:00
0% 0% 0% 2.4m 49° - -27° 0% 103° 2.6m/s 2.4m 11s
22:00
0% 0% 0% 1.9m 50° - -33° 0% 107° 2.6m/s 2.6m 11s
23:00
0% 0% 0% 1.5m 50° - -38° 0% 102° 2.4m/s 2.8m 11s
Wed, Jan 14 Sunrise 11:26 Sunset 16:04
24:00
0% 0% 0% 1m 50° - -43° 0% 101° 2.1m/s 2.9m 11s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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