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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.

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 24% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Wave Height0.6m
Swell Height0.2m
Wind Speed6.7m/s (moderate winds)
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%
Mon, Feb 16
13:007.8%0.39m24134m1.2m/s0%
14:008.8%0.4m24135m1.1m/s0%
15:008.8%0.4m24135m1.2m/s0%
16:008.8%0.4m24135m1.5m/s0%
17:0011%0.39m24134m1.8m/s0%
18:0013%0.28m24135m2.3m/s0%
19:0014%0.28m24134m2.4m/s0%
20:004.5%0.27m24134m2.5m/s0%
21:004.1%0.27m24135m2.6m/s0%
22:0024%2m24134m2.6m/s0%
23:0021%1.8m24134m3.6m/s0%
Tue, Feb 17
24:0015%1.9m24134m3.7m/s0%
01:0014%1.9m24134m3.6m/s0%
02:0016%1.9m24134m4.3m/s0%
03:0017%1.9m24135m4.7m/s0%
04:0011%1.2m24054m5.3m/s0%
05:004.5%0.37m24134m5.7m/s0%
06:003.7%0.38m24134m5.5m/s0%
07:004.5%0.41m24134m6.3m/s0%
08:0015%0.45m24134m6.9m/s0%
09:0014%0.48m24134m8.1m/s0%
10:009.9%0.49m24135m9.9m/s0%
11:0011%0.52m24134m12m/s0%
12:0013%0.55m24135m14m/s0%
13:0011%0.55m24134m14m/s0%
14:0012%0.56m24135m14m/s0%
15:0012%0.56m24135m15m/s0%
16:0014%0.53m24134m14m/s0%
17:0013%0.49m24135m12m/s0%
18:0012%0.46m24134m9.2m/s0%
19:008.8%0.43m24134m6.3m/s17%
20:008.8%0.39m24134m4.4m/s33%
21:003.7%0.36m24134m5.3m/s50%
22:002.6%0.35m24134m6.4m/s67%
23:002.8%0.33m24134m7.1m/s83%
Wed, Feb 18
24:004.3%0.32m24135m12m/s100%
01:004.4%0.32m23918m20m/s83%
02:004.4%0.33m16209m20m/s67%
03:003.3%0.33m5105m21m/s50%
04:004.4%0.33m24134m20m/s67%
05:004.4%0.33m24135m18m/s83%
06:004.1%0.33m24135m18m/s100%
07:004.1%0.35m24134m16m/s83%
08:0015%0.38m24134m15m/s67%
09:0014%0.4m24135m14m/s50%
10:0013%0.44m24135m13m/s42%
11:0012%0.48m24134m13m/s34%
12:0022%0.52m24134m12m/s26%
13:0019%0.54m24134m11m/s17%
14:0019%0.57m24135m11m/s8.7%
15:0018%0.59m24134m10m/s0%
16:0016%0.59m24135m8.9m/s0%
17:0017%0.59m24134m7.7m/s0%
18:0017%0.59m24134m8.9m/s0%
19:0018%0.58m24134m9.9m/s0%
20:0018%0.56m24134m9m/s0%
21:006.1%0.55m24135m7.8m/s0%
22:005.7%0.55m24134m7.2m/s0%
23:004.9%0.54m24135m6.2m/s0%
Thu, Feb 19
24:004.9%0.54m24134m4.7m/s0%
01:005.7%0.53m24134m3.9m/s0%
02:006.3%0.51m24134m2.3m/s0%
03:005.3%0.5m24134m2.1m/s0%
04:005.3%0.49m24135m1.9m/s0%
05:005.3%0.49m24135m2.1m/s0%
06:005.3%0.48m24134m2.1m/s0%
07:008.5%0.47m24134m2.3m/s0%
08:0021%0.47m18857m2.2m/s0%
09:0024%0.46m18850m2.3m/s0%
10:0015%0.46m18732m2.4m/s0%
11:0010%0.47m17728m2.6m/s0%
12:008.8%0.47m19341m2.8m/s0%
13:007.4%0.47m24134m3m/s0%
14:007.4%0.47m24134m2.9m/s0%
15:007.4%0.47m24134m2.7m/s0%
16:007.4%0.47m24135m2.6m/s0%
17:008%0.47m24134m2.5m/s0%
18:0011%0.47m19434m2.3m/s0%
19:009.8%0.47m19687m5.5m/s0%
20:0012%0.47m19941m8.7m/s0%
21:006.3%0.47m20194m12m/s0%
22:005.5%0.48m21508m12m/s0%
23:005.5%0.49m22821m11m/s0%
Fri, Feb 20
24:004.9%0.5m24135m11m/s0%
01:004.9%0.51m24135m12m/s7.4%
02:005.3%0.52m24135m12m/s15%
03:005.7%0.53m24135m12m/s22%
04:005.7%0.54m24135m12m/s22%
05:005.3%0.54m24135m13m/s22%
06:005.3%0.55m24135m13m/s22%
07:006.3%0.56m24135m13m/s20%
08:0022%0.56m24135m14m/s17%
09:0022%0.57m24135m14m/s15%
10:0026%0.58m24135m14m/s26%
11:0024%0.58m24135m14m/s38%
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
Tue, Feb 17 Sunrise 09:32 Sunset 18:09
13:00
100% 7% 54% 0.2m 354° 0.03 12° 100% 67° 6.7m/s 0.51m 3.8s
14:00
79% 5% 76% 0.21m 356° 0.03 13° 85% 66° 7.3m/s 0.52m 3.8s
15:00
77% 5% 100% 0.21m 357° 0.03 12° 100% 65° 8.4m/s 0.52m 3.8s
16:00
99% 6% 100% 0.21m 239° 0.03 100% 66° 7.8m/s 0.48m 3.7s
17:00
22% 5% 100% 0.2m 121° 0.03 5.1° 100% 63° 6.7m/s 0.45m 3.6s
18:00
58% 4% 96% 0.2m 3.4° 0.02 0.51° 96% 63° 5.2m/s 0.41m 3.6s
19:00
45% 4% 100% 0.2m 32° 0.02 -5.6° 100% 57° 4.6m/s 0.37m 4s
20:00
21% 2% 96% 0.19m 61° 0.02 -12° 96% 55° 3.1m/s 0.34m 4.4s
21:00
53% 2% 89% 0.19m 90° 0.01 -18° 89% 70° 3.9m/s 0.3m 4.9s
22:00
10% 4% 100% 0.18m 90° 0.01 -24° 100% 61° 4.9m/s 0.29m 4.7s
23:00
5% 10% 100% 0.18m 90° 0.01 -29° 100% 62° 4.9m/s 0.27m 4.6s
Wed, Feb 18 Sunrise 09:28 Sunset 18:12
24:00
37% 35% 100% 0.17m 89° 0.02 -33° 100% 57° 5.5m/s 0.26m 4.5s
01:00
48% 51% 100% 0.17m 62° 0.02 -35° 100% 65° 13m/s 0.27m 4s
02:00
39% 100% 100% 0.16m 35° 0.02 -36° 100% 67° 14m/s 0.27m 3.5s
03:00
68% 100% 100% 0.16m 7.8° 0.02 -35° 100% 66° 14m/s 0.28m 3s
04:00
61% 100% 100% 0.15m 6.2° 0.02 -32° 100% 67° 13m/s 0.28m 3s
05:00
99% 100% 100% 0.15m 4.4° 0.02 -27° 100% 68° 12m/s 0.29m 3s
06:00
100% 100% 100% 0.14m 2.7° 0.02 -22° 100% 58° 12m/s 0.29m 3s
07:00
100% 100% 100% 0.13m 122° 0.02 -16° 100% 54° 9.9m/s 0.32m 3s
08:00
100% 100% 100% 0.13m 241° 0.02 -9.5° 100% 54° 8.8m/s 0.35m 3.1s
09:00
69% 100% 96% 0.12m 359° 0.02 -3.4° 100% 53° 8.3m/s 0.38m 3.2s
10:00
67% 88% 98% 0.11m 350° 0.02 2.3° 98% 50° 7.1m/s 0.42m 3s
11:00
95% 75% 100% 0.11m 341° 0.02 6.8° 100% 49° 7.4m/s 0.47m 2.9s
12:00
100% 80% 100% 0.1m 331° 0.01 10° 100% 45° 6.1m/s 0.51m 2.7s
13:00
100% 50% 100% 0.1m 331° - 12° 100% 44° 5.4m/s 0.53m 2.7s
14:00
100% 29% 100% 0.09m 332° - 13° 100% 38° 5.7m/s 0.56m 2.8s
15:00
94% 12% 100% 0.09m 332° - 12° 100% 37° 5.3m/s 0.58m 2.8s
16:00
94% 5% 100% 0.11m 333° - 9.3° 100% 35° 5m/s 0.58m 2.9s
17:00
80% 5% 100% 0.13m 333° - 5.5° 100% 33° 5.1m/s 0.58m 2.9s
18:00
6% 5% 100% 0.15m 334° - 0.79° 100% 34° 5.9m/s 0.58m 2.9s
19:00
24% 5% 100% 0.17m 334° - -5.3° 100% 40° 6m/s 0.57m 2.9s
20:00
40% 5% 100% 0.18m 334° - -11° 100% 32° 5.7m/s 0.55m 2.9s
21:00
58% 5% 100% 0.2m 333° - -18° 100% 27° 5.6m/s 0.54m 2.8s
22:00
56% 5% 100% 0.2m 333° - -23° 100% 23° 5.3m/s 0.54m 2.8s
23:00
17% 5% 100% 0.2m 333° - -29° 100% 23° 4.8m/s 0.53m 2.8s
Thu, Feb 19 Sunrise 09:24 Sunset 18:16
24:00
3% 5% 100% 0.2m 332° - -33° 100% 34° 3.7m/s 0.53m 2.8s
01:00
28% 9% 100% 0.2m 334° - -35° 100% 33° 3.1m/s 0.51m 2.8s
02:00
35% 11% 100% 0.2m 335° - -36° 100% 28° 2.3m/s 0.5m 2.8s
03:00
31% 10% 100% 0.2m 336° - -34° 100% 45° 2.2m/s 0.48m 2.7s
04:00
55% 9% 100% 0.18m 336° - -31° 100% 36° 2m/s 0.47m 2.7s
05:00
40% 7% 100% 0.15m 336° - -27° 100% 33° 2.1m/s 0.47m 2.7s
06:00
42% 6% 99% 0.13m 336° - -21° 99% 43° 2m/s 0.46m 2.7s
07:00
30% 21% 23% 0.14m 336° - -15° 38% 38° 2.2m/s 0.45m 2.7s
08:00
22% 34% 2% 0.15m 336° - -9.1° 38% 37° 2.3m/s 0.45m 2.6s
09:00
23% 32% 2% 0.16m 335° - -3° 35% 43° 2.4m/s 0.44m 2.6s
10:00
13% 38% 5% 0.17m 224° - 2.6° 38% 49° 2.4m/s 0.44m 2.9s
11:00
5% 38% 5% 0.17m 112° - 7.2° 38% 50° 2.5m/s 0.44m 3.2s
12:00
4% 27% 2% 0.18m 1.1° - 11° 27% 46° 2.5m/s 0.44m 3.5s
13:00
3% 5% 0% 0.18m 1.1° - 13° 5% 41° 2.5m/s 0.44m 3.5s
14:00
5% 5% 0% 0.19m 1.1° - 13° 5% 38° 2.4m/s 0.44m 3.5s
15:00
5% 5% 2% 0.19m 1.2° - 12° 5% 38° 2.5m/s 0.44m 3.5s
16:00
5% 5% 0% 0.18m 1.2° - 9.7° 5% 38° 2.4m/s 0.44m 3.4s
17:00
5% 5% 2% 0.18m 1.1° - 5.8° 5% 37° 2.4m/s 0.44m 3.4s
18:00
5% 36% 5% 0.17m 1.1° - 1.1° 36% 33° 2.4m/s 0.44m 3.4s
19:00
3% 32% 3% 0.17m 112° - -5° 32% 29° 4m/s 0.44m 3.1s
20:00
2% 28% 2% 0.16m 223° - -11° 28% 26° 5.6m/s 0.44m 2.9s
21:00
0% 25% 0% 0.16m 334° - -17° 25% 23° 7.3m/s 0.44m 2.6s
22:00
0% 18% 0% 0.16m 335° - -23° 18% 22° 7.1m/s 0.45m 2.6s
23:00
0% 12% 0% 0.15m 335° - -28° 12% 22° 7m/s 0.47m 2.6s
Fri, Feb 20 Sunrise 09:21 Sunset 18:19
24:00
0% 5% 0% 0.15m 336° - -32° 5% 21° 6.8m/s 0.48m 2.6s
01:00
0% 5% 0% 0.15m 335° - -35° 5% 20° 6.9m/s 0.49m 2.7s
02:00
0% 5% 0% 0.14m 335° - -35° 5% 18° 7m/s 0.5m 2.7s
03:00
0% 4% 0% 0.14m 335° - -34° 4% 17° 7.1m/s 0.51m 2.7s
04:00
0% 4% 0% 0.14m 335° - -31° 4% 16° 7.4m/s 0.52m 2.7s
05:00
0% 5% 0% 0.13m 335° - -26° 5% 15° 7.6m/s 0.53m 2.8s
06:00
0% 5% 0% 0.13m 335° - -21° 5% 15° 7.9m/s 0.54m 2.8s
07:00
0% 13% 0% 0.13m 337° - -15° 13% 12° 8.4m/s 0.55m 2.8s
08:00
0% 21% 0% 0.12m 338° - -8.8° 21% 10° 8.9m/s 0.55m 2.8s
09:00
0% 29% 0% 0.12m 339° - -2.7° 29% 9.4m/s 0.56m 2.8s
10:00
0% 31% 0% 0.14m 338° - 2.9° 31% 9.1m/s 0.57m 2.8s
11:00
0% 32% 0% 0.17m 337° - 7.5° 32% 8.8m/s 0.57m 2.8s
12:00
0% 33% 0% 0.19m 336° - 11° 33% 10° 8.6m/s 0.58m 2.8s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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