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Rule Storm Chaser

Raudisandur - Storm Chaser - Iceland Coast

Patreksfjordur, Westfjords, 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

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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 53% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts5.1m/s
Precipitation Chance29%
Air Pressure951.2hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index2.0°C
Wind Gusts5.1m/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.

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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
Wed, Apr 8
01:0020%14%13J/kg9.1°C24084m13m/s
02:0036%6.5%1J/kg9.6°C837m14m/s
03:0039%2.1%18J/kg9.4°C81m14m/s
04:0024%2.3%3J/kg8.5°C47m9.7m/s
05:0024%29%0J/kg6.4°C37m12m/s
06:0044%72%0J/kg4.4°C86m14m/s
07:0039%67%0J/kg1.7°C47m16m/s
08:0042%69%0J/kg1.7°C58m17m/s
09:0047%57%2J/kg2.2°C49m13m/s
10:0042%55%0J/kg1.9°C39m10m/s
11:0039%47%1J/kg1.9°C90m8.7m/s
12:0037%44%0J/kg1.2°C36m7.2m/s
13:0020%47%0J/kg1.4°C38m6.7m/s
14:0020%44%9J/kg1°C53m7.8m/s
15:0020%42%14J/kg0.7°C88m7.8m/s
16:0019%69%4J/kg1.4°C727m7.7m/s
17:000%59%1J/kg2.3°C19433m8.1m/s
18:000%65%0J/kg2.9°C24135m7.9m/s
19:000%59%0J/kg3.1°C19533m7.2m/s
20:000%58%0J/kg3.3°C19486m6.4m/s
21:000%58%0J/kg3.4°C19610m5.1m/s
22:000%51%0J/kg2.5°C19667m4.3m/s
23:0015%52%0J/kg1.1°C2627m4.2m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:0020%10%0J/kg1.5°C690m5.2m/s
01:000%7.7%0J/kg2°C19568m5.1m/s
02:0016%8.6%0J/kg1.8°C1978m5.8m/s
03:000%9.5%0J/kg1.3°C24135m5.8m/s
04:0017%8%0J/kg0.7°C1835m6.5m/s
05:0022%52%0J/kg0.9°C296m7.7m/s
06:0018%56%0J/kg0.7°C1237m6.6m/s
07:0019%57%0J/kg0.7°C450m5.2m/s
08:000%66%1J/kg0.8°C23252m5.7m/s
09:000%63%0J/kg1.2°C24134m7.5m/s
10:0020%63%0J/kg0.6°C1329m11m/s
11:0035%56%1J/kg0.3°C42m12m/s
12:0039%51%10J/kg0.3°C36m11m/s
13:0022%53%2J/kg0.9°C34m11m/s
14:0036%53%2J/kg0.6°C50m13m/s
15:0041%54%0J/kg0.5°C139m15m/s
16:0041%55%5J/kg0°C81m14m/s
17:0040%67%0J/kg0.4°C53m15m/s
18:0046%63%0J/kg0.8°C53m15m/s
19:0036%63%0J/kg1.4°C65m15m/s
20:0036%67%0J/kg1.8°C93m15m/s
21:0039%69%0J/kg1.9°C166m14m/s
22:0030%92%4J/kg2.5°C13687m15m/s
23:0030%61%0J/kg2.9°C20166m16m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:0031%1.8%0J/kg2.2°C11337m14m/s
01:0022%4.5%0J/kg1.7°C656m11m/s
02:0022%2.2%4J/kg1.8°C112m9.3m/s
03:0041%2.8%11J/kg2.3°C64m8.3m/s
04:0035%58%14J/kg3.3°C68m13m/s
05:0042%59%0J/kg4.1°C73m16m/s
06:0048%73%11J/kg4.6°C50m17m/s
07:0036%77%5J/kg4.9°C132m14m/s
08:0039%91%9J/kg4.8°C339m13m/s
09:0040%65%12J/kg4.5°C3574m12m/s
10:0032%56%14J/kg4.2°C2331m11m/s
11:0018%49%12J/kg4.4°C13247m9.2m/s
12:0030%48%4J/kg4.8°C21952m8.3m/s
13:000%52%0J/kg4.8°C24134m7.1m/s
14:000%58%2J/kg4.9°C23684m5.4m/s
15:0013%70%2J/kg5.2°C20908m3.6m/s
16:000%87%5J/kg5.3°C24134m2.9m/s
17:000%71%0J/kg5.5°C24135m2.6m/s
18:0015%48%0J/kg5.4°C24135m2m/s
19:000%68%0J/kg5.5°C24135m1.4m/s
20:000%70%0J/kg5.5°C24134m1.1m/s
21:0013%26%0J/kg5.5°C24135m1m/s
22:000%49%0J/kg5.3°C24134m0.9m/s
23:000%30%0J/kg5.1°C24135m1.4m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:0013%4.3%0J/kg4.7°C24134m1.9m/s
01:000%11%0J/kg4.6°C24134m2.1m/s
02:000%8.6%0J/kg5°C24134m2m/s
03:0013%2.5%0J/kg4.9°C24135m2m/s
04:000%23%0J/kg4.8°C24135m1.5m/s
05:000%20%0J/kg5°C24135m1.2m/s
06:0013%24%0J/kg4.9°C24135m1.4m/s
07:000%56%0J/kg4.6°C24135m1.9m/s
08:000%52%0J/kg4.2°C24135m2.5m/s
09:0011%35%0J/kg3.9°C24135m3m/s
10:000%48%0J/kg3.8°C24135m3.5m/s
11:000%41%0J/kg3.7°C24135m3.9m/s
12:0011%31%0J/kg3.5°C24135m4.3m/s
13:000%25%0J/kg3.5°C24135m3.6m/s
14:000%18%0J/kg3.4°C24135m2.9m/s
15:000%7.7%0J/kg3.3°C24135m2.1m/s
16:000%67%0J/kg3.7°C24135m3.1m/s
17:000%82%0J/kg4°C24135m4m/s
18:000%52%0J/kg4.3°C24135m4.9m/s
19:000%60%0J/kg4.4°C24135m6.6m/s
20:000%64%0J/kg4.5°C24135m8.3m/s
21:000%49%0J/kg4.6°C24135m9.9m/s
22:000%88%0J/kg4.7°C24135m9.3m/s
23:000%73%0J/kg4.8°C24135m8.6m/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
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:21 Sunset 20:56
01:00
951hPa 0J/kg 0% 2°C 97% 100% 29% 0mm 96% 0mm -12dBZ -17° 100% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
02:00
951hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.8°C 37% 100% 37% 0mm 95% 0mm -16dBZ -17° 100% 0.06mm - - 4m/s
03:00
950hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.3°C 31% 100% 44% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 100% 0.06mm 5.1m/s 3.5m/s 4.4m/s
04:00
950hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.7°C 77% 100% 39% 0.05mm 92% 0mm -14dBZ -12° 100% 0.06mm - - 4.6m/s
05:00
950hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.9°C 77% 100% 35% 0.06mm 97% 0mm -8.1dBZ -8° 100% 0.19mm - - 4.5m/s
06:00
950hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.7°C 94% 100% 30% 0.03mm 96% 0mm -2.1dBZ -2.7° 100% 0.19mm 4.1m/s 5.9m/s 4m/s
07:00
949hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.7°C 86% 100% 45% 0mm 96% 0mm -7.6dBZ 3.3° 100% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
08:00
949hPa 1J/kg 0% 0.8°C 92% 54% 61% 0mm 95% 0mm -13dBZ 9.4° 92% 0mm - - 3.7m/s
09:00
949hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.2°C 74% 100% 76% 0mm 93% 0.01mm -19dBZ 15° 100% 0mm 4.7m/s 9.5m/s 4.4m/s
10:00
949hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.6°C 90% 98% 79% 0.09mm 93% 0.01mm -11dBZ 21° 98% 0.06mm - - 5.9m/s
11:00
949hPa 1J/kg 0% 0.3°C 100% 96% 82% 0.29mm 99% 0.03mm -3.4dBZ 26° 100% 0.38mm - - 5.8m/s
12:00
949hPa 10J/kg 0% 0.3°C 100% 43% 85% 0.2mm 98% 0.06mm 4.2dBZ 30° 100% 0.75mm 9.1m/s 11m/s 5.5m/s
13:00
949hPa 2J/kg 0% 0.9°C 100% 22% 86% 0.08mm 98% 0.01mm 8.8dBZ 32° 100% 0.13mm - - 5.4m/s
14:00
948hPa 2J/kg 0% 0.6°C 100% 64% 86% 0.83mm 98% 0mm 14dBZ 32° 100% 0.69mm - - 6.3m/s
15:00
948hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.5°C 100% 16% 87% 0.2mm 97% 0.01mm 18dBZ 30° 100% 1mm 5.7m/s 5m/s 10m/s
16:00
948hPa 5J/kg 0% 0°C 100% 30% 90% 0.86mm 98% 0.02mm 13dBZ 27° 100% 1.4mm - - 10m/s
17:00
949hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.4°C 100% 60% 93% 0.68mm 98% 0.01mm 8.3dBZ 23° 100% 2.3mm - - 12m/s
18:00
950hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.8°C 100% 82% 96% 0.51mm 98% 0.01mm 3.4dBZ 17° 100% 2.9mm 4.3m/s 5.4m/s 12m/s
19:00
951hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.4°C 100% 100% 95% 0.43mm 98% 0.02mm 2.9dBZ 11° 100% 0.44mm - - 11m/s
20:00
952hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.8°C 100% 93% 94% 0.46mm 97% 0.02mm 2.5dBZ 100% 0.94mm - - 10m/s
21:00
953hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.9°C 93% 15% 94% 0.11mm 96% 0.01mm 2dBZ -0.88° 93% 1.3mm 3.4m/s 1.4m/s 10m/s
22:00
954hPa 4J/kg 0% 2.5°C 55% 13% 95% 0.01mm 88% 0.04mm 4.3dBZ -6.5° 55% 1.3mm - - 11m/s
23:00
954hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.9°C 100% 72% 97% 0.01mm 89% 0.01mm 6.6dBZ -11° 100% 1.3mm - - 10m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:17 Sunset 20:59
24:00
955hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.2°C 99% 98% 99% 0.04mm 89% 0mm 8.9dBZ -14° 100% 1.3mm 5.3m/s 3.4m/s 8m/s
01:00
955hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.7°C 100% 100% 96% 0.07mm 94% 0.01mm 13dBZ -16° 100% 0.06mm - - 7m/s
02:00
956hPa 4J/kg 0% 1.8°C 99% 100% 93% 0.1mm 98% 0.06mm 17dBZ -16° 100% 0.19mm - - 6.4m/s
03:00
957hPa 11J/kg 0% 2.3°C 100% 99% 90% 0.08mm 97% 0.15mm 20dBZ -15° 100% 0.38mm 16m/s 24m/s 5.5m/s
04:00
958hPa 14J/kg 0% 3.3°C 100% 100% 90% 0.03mm 98% 0.09mm 18dBZ -12° 100% 0.63mm - - 10m/s
05:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.1°C 100% 96% 90% 0.45mm 98% 0.05mm 15dBZ -7.6° 100% 1mm - - 13m/s
06:00
961hPa 11J/kg 0% 4.6°C 100% 100% 90% 0.77mm 98% 0.11mm 12dBZ -2.3° 100% 1.6mm 9.4m/s 20m/s 13m/s
07:00
962hPa 5J/kg 9% 4.9°C 100% 100% 67% 0.66mm 96% 0.08mm 5.4dBZ 3.7° 100% 0.81mm - - 10m/s
08:00
964hPa 9J/kg 10% 4.8°C 100% 100% 44% 0.3mm 92% 0.1mm -0.73dBZ 9.7° 100% 1.4mm - - 10m/s
09:00
965hPa 12J/kg 0% 4.5°C 93% 100% 21% 0.03mm 85% 0.13mm -6.9dBZ 16° 100% 1.6mm 8m/s 22m/s 9.5m/s
10:00
967hPa 14J/kg 0% 4.2°C 99% 87% 22% 0.03mm 84% 0.26mm -5.3dBZ 21° 99% 1.8mm - - 9m/s
11:00
968hPa 12J/kg 0% 4.4°C 98% 47% 22% 0.01mm 81% 0.33mm -3.7dBZ 26° 98% 2.2mm - - 7.5m/s
12:00
970hPa 4J/kg 0% 4.8°C 65% 100% 23% 0mm 77% 0.12mm -2.1dBZ 30° 100% 2.4mm 6.3m/s 18m/s 7m/s
13:00
971hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.8°C 34% 99% 49% 0mm 73% 0.07mm -8dBZ 32° 99% 0.13mm - - 6.1m/s
14:00
971hPa 2J/kg 0% 4.9°C 74% 100% 74% 0mm 70% 0.09mm -14dBZ 32° 100% 0.19mm - - 4.5m/s
15:00
972hPa 2J/kg 0% 5.2°C 82% 66% 100% 0mm 67% 0.14mm -20dBZ 31° 82% 0.31mm 4.4m/s 17m/s 2.5m/s
16:00
973hPa 5J/kg 0% 5.3°C 37% 51% 100% 0mm 65% 0.04mm -20dBZ 27° 52% 0.38mm - - 1.9m/s
17:00
974hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.5°C 5% 58% 100% 0mm 61% 0.01mm -19dBZ 23° 58% 0.38mm - - 1.6m/s
18:00
975hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.4°C 5% 88% 100% 0mm 63% 0mm -19dBZ 17° 88% 0.38mm 2.2m/s 21m/s 1.4m/s
19:00
976hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.5°C 4% 52% 67% 0mm 69% 0mm -19dBZ 11° 52% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
20:00
976hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.5°C 0% 49% 33% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ 5.3° 49% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
21:00
977hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.5°C 0% 7% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -0.45° 7% 0mm 10m/s 14m/s 1.1m/s
22:00
978hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.3°C 0% 70% 13% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -6.2° 70% 0mm - - 0.94m/s
23:00
978hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.1°C 4% 86% 26% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ -11° 86% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:13 Sunset 21:02
24:00
978hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.7°C 5% 100% 39% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 100% 0mm 13m/s 12m/s 2.1m/s
01:00
978hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.6°C 10% 68% 26% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 68% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
02:00
978hPa 0J/kg 0% 5°C 26% 100% 13% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 100% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
03:00
979hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.9°C 5% 100% 0% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 100% 0mm 13m/s 12m/s 2.1m/s
04:00
979hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.8°C 5% 100% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 100% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
05:00
979hPa 0J/kg 0% 5°C 5% 100% 0% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -7.3° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
06:00
979hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.9°C 6% 100% 0% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -1.9° 100% 0mm 12m/s 12m/s 1.6m/s
07:00
979hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.6°C 32% 67% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ 94% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
08:00
979hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.2°C 57% 33% 0% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 10° 88% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
09:00
980hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.9°C 82% 0% 0% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 82% 0mm 7.2m/s 11m/s 2.3m/s
10:00
980hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.8°C 64% 0% 0% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 22° 64% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
11:00
980hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.7°C 45% 0% 0% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 27° 45% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
12:00
980hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.5°C 26% 0% 0% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 26% 0mm 2.6m/s 11m/s 2.5m/s
13:00
979hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.5°C 19% 0% 8% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ 33° 19% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
14:00
979hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.4°C 12% 0% 17% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 33° 12% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
15:00
979hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.3°C 5% 0% 25% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ 31° 5% 0mm 4.4m/s 8.5m/s 2.1m/s
16:00
979hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.7°C 33% 19% 33% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 33% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
17:00
978hPa 0J/kg 0% 4°C 61% 38% 42% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 61% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
18:00
978hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.3°C 89% 57% 50% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 89% 0mm 2.4m/s 6m/s 3.2m/s
19:00
978hPa 0J/kg 2% 4.4°C 61% 66% 49% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 12° 88% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
20:00
977hPa 0J/kg 3% 4.5°C 34% 76% 48% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 5.6° 87% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
21:00
977hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.6°C 6% 86% 47% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 0.04° 86% 0mm 3m/s 4.7m/s 6.2m/s
22:00
977hPa 0J/kg 20% 4.7°C 38% 91% 48% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ -5.9° 91% 0mm - - 5.9m/s
23:00
976hPa 0J/kg 34% 4.8°C 69% 95% 49% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ -10° 95% 0mm - - 5.7m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 06:09 Sunset 21:06
24:00
976hPa 0J/kg 48% 4.9°C 100% 100% 50% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 100% 0mm 0.09m/s 1.6m/s 5.5m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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