Rule
Dramatic Seascapes
Reynisfjara - Dramatic Seascapes - Iceland Coast
Vik, South, Iceland
Dramatic coastal photography conditions - powerful waves combined with atmospheric drama and good visibility for seascape shots.
Currently
Real-time conditionsWave Height5.5m
Swell Height1.8m
Wind Speed4.2m/s (calm conditions)
Cloud Cover62%
Upcoming Opportunities
When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.
Times shown in Atlantic/Reykjavik
Next opportunity
Spectacular Seascape at Sunrise
Reynisfjara
Today · 08:00–09:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
65%
🌊Coastal Drama Score89%
Wave Height: 4.6m
Swell Height: 1.6m
Wind Speed: 5.3m/s (moderate winds)
Cloud Cover: 86%
Powerful Seascape
Reynisfjara
Today · 17:00–18:00
🌊Coastal Drama Score:83.3%
Medium
Powerful Seascape at Sunrise
Reynisfjara
Wed, Mar 18 · 08:00–09:00
🌊Coastal Drama Score:79.9%
Medium
What this forecast looks for
Plain-language explanation from the ruleThis 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.
Create your own Dramatic Seascapes alerts
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72-hour requirements breakdown
What passed or failed, hour by hourAND 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Mar 12 | |||||
| 01:00 | 6.7% | 0.74m | 24134m | 2.3m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 19% | 3.8m | 24135m | 2.3m/s | 0% |
| 03:00 | 19% | 3.9m | 24135m | 2.4m/s | 0% |
| 04:00 | 3.9% | 0.74m | 24134m | 2.4m/s | 0% |
| 05:00 | 3.9% | 0.7m | 24135m | 2.7m/s | 0% |
| 06:00 | 6.7% | 0.65m | 24135m | 2.8m/s | 0% |
| 07:00 | 18% | 0.59m | 24134m | 2.5m/s | 0% |
| 08:00 | 21% | 0.54m | 24134m | 2.7m/s | 0% |
| 09:00 | 20% | 0.48m | 24134m | 2.6m/s | 0% |
| 10:00 | 20% | 0.44m | 24134m | 2.6m/s | 0% |
| 11:00 | 17% | 0.43m | 24134m | 2.1m/s | 0% |
| 12:00 | 45% | 3.4m | 24135m | 2m/s | 0% |
| 13:00 | 50% | 3.5m | 24135m | 2.5m/s | 0% |
| 14:00 | 48% | 2m | 24134m | 2.7m/s | 0% |
| 15:00 | 9.3% | 0.53m | 24135m | 3m/s | 0% |
| 16:00 | 66% | 2.7m | 24134m | 3m/s | 0% |
| 17:00 | 45% | 1.5m | 24135m | 3.2m/s | 0% |
| 18:00 | 46% | 1.6m | 24134m | 4.1m/s | 0% |
| 19:00 | 87% | 3.6m | 24134m | 5.1m/s | 0% |
| 20:00 | 49% | 1.7m | 24135m | 4.5m/s | 0% |
| 21:00 | 13% | 1.8m | 24135m | 4m/s | 0% |
| 22:00 | 16% | 1.8m | 24134m | 3.9m/s | 0% |
| 23:00 | 15% | 1.8m | 24135m | 4m/s | 0% |
| Fri, Mar 13 | |||||
| 24:00 | 25% | 5.6m | 24135m | 4m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 28% | 5.5m | 24135m | 4.3m/s | 1.6% |
| 02:00 | 25% | 5.5m | 24135m | 4.8m/s | 3.3% |
| 03:00 | 24% | 5.4m | 24134m | 5.8m/s | 4.9% |
| 04:00 | 26% | 5.2m | 24135m | 5.9m/s | 3.3% |
| 05:00 | 27% | 5m | 24135m | 5.8m/s | 1.6% |
| 06:00 | 73% | 4.8m | 24134m | 6.8m/s | 0% |
| 07:00 | 73% | 4.7m | 24135m | 7.5m/s | 0% |
| 08:00 | 89% | 4.6m | 24134m | 6.7m/s | 0% |
| 09:00 | 73% | 4.5m | 24134m | 5.7m/s | 0% |
| 10:00 | 71% | 4.3m | 24135m | 5.5m/s | 0% |
| 11:00 | 57% | 4.1m | 24135m | 5.3m/s | 0% |
| 12:00 | 58% | 3.9m | 24135m | 5.5m/s | 0% |
| 13:00 | 48% | 3.8m | 24134m | 5.7m/s | 0% |
| 14:00 | 60% | 3.7m | 24135m | 4.9m/s | 0% |
| 15:00 | 61% | 3.6m | 24134m | 4m/s | 0% |
| 16:00 | 60% | 3.4m | 24134m | 4m/s | 0% |
| 17:00 | 83% | 3.2m | 24135m | 4.3m/s | 0% |
| 18:00 | 64% | 3m | 24135m | 4.6m/s | 0% |
| 19:00 | 63% | 2.9m | 24135m | 4.1m/s | 0% |
| 20:00 | 56% | 2.7m | 24135m | 4.5m/s | 0% |
| 21:00 | 16% | 2.5m | 24134m | 4.5m/s | 0% |
| 22:00 | 17% | 2.5m | 24134m | 4.7m/s | 0% |
| 23:00 | 21% | 2.6m | 24134m | 4.8m/s | 0% |
| Sat, Mar 14 | |||||
| 24:00 | 16% | 2.7m | 24135m | 4.6m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 21% | 3m | 24135m | 4.4m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 19% | 3.3m | 24135m | 4.2m/s | 0% |
| 03:00 | 19% | 3.5m | 24135m | 4.8m/s | 0% |
| 04:00 | 19% | 3.7m | 24134m | 4.4m/s | 0% |
| 05:00 | 19% | 3.9m | 24134m | 3.8m/s | 0% |
| 06:00 | 56% | 4m | 24135m | 4m/s | 0% |
| 07:00 | 56% | 4.2m | 24134m | 4m/s | 0% |
| 08:00 | 73% | 4.3m | 24135m | 4.1m/s | 0% |
| 09:00 | 68% | 4.4m | 24135m | 4.2m/s | 0% |
| 10:00 | 68% | 4.6m | 24134m | 4.4m/s | 0% |
| 11:00 | 60% | 4.7m | 24135m | 4.5m/s | 0% |
| 12:00 | 57% | 4.9m | 24134m | 4.1m/s | 0% |
| 13:00 | 52% | 4.9m | 24135m | 3.2m/s | 9.9% |
| 14:00 | 55% | 4.9m | 24135m | 2.6m/s | 20% |
| 15:00 | 59% | 4.9m | 24135m | 1.9m/s | 30% |
| 16:00 | 61% | 4.9m | 24134m | 1.4m/s | 46% |
| 17:00 | 67% | 5m | 24135m | 1.6m/s | 62% |
| 18:00 | 62% | 5m | 24134m | 1.2m/s | 78% |
| 19:00 | 54% | 5.1m | 21307m | 1m/s | 85% |
| 20:00 | 51% | 5.2m | 24135m | 1.2m/s | 93% |
| 21:00 | 18% | 5.4m | 24135m | 3m/s | 100% |
| 22:00 | 15% | 5.6m | 11498m | 4.2m/s | 100% |
| 23:00 | 14% | 5.9m | 677m | 7.4m/s | 100% |
| Sun, Mar 15 | |||||
| 24:00 | 14% | 6.1m | 95m | 11m/s | 100% |
| 01:00 | 14% | 6.5m | 58m | 13m/s | 99% |
| 02:00 | 16% | 6.9m | 38m | 15m/s | 97% |
| 03:00 | 14% | 7.3m | 30m | 14m/s | 96% |
| 04:00 | 14% | 7.4m | 34m | 12m/s | 96% |
| 05:00 | 14% | 7.5m | 35m | 7.2m/s | 96% |
| 06:00 | 42% | 7.6m | 62m | 3.1m/s | 96% |
| 07:00 | 37% | 7.5m | 164m | 4.6m/s | 87% |
| 08:00 | 42% | 7.5m | 267m | 6.1m/s | 77% |
| 09:00 | 38% | 7.4m | 369m | 7.6m/s | 68% |
| 10:00 | 38% | 7.3m | 327m | 8.2m/s | 70% |
| 11:00 | 31% | 7.2m | 286m | 8.9m/s | 71% |
| 12:00 | 31% | 7.1m | 245m | 9.5m/s | 73% |
| 13:00 | 33% | 7m | 191m | 9.2m/s | 67% |
| 14:00 | 33% | 6.9m | 138m | 8.9m/s | 62% |
| 15:00 | 39% | 6.8m | 85m | 8.6m/s | 56% |
| 16:00 | 44% | 6.9m | 4017m | 7.6m/s | 54% |
| 17:00 | 61% | 7m | 7949m | 6.6m/s | 51% |
| 18:00 | 69% | 7.1m | 11881m | 5.6m/s | 48% |
| 19:00 | 83% | 7.2m | 15965m | 5.1m/s | 43% |
| 20:00 | 81% | 7.2m | 20050m | 4.6m/s | 38% |
| 21:00 | 29% | 7.3m | 24135m | 4.1m/s | 33% |
| 22:00 | 29% | 7.2m | 24135m | 4.9m/s | 34% |
| 23:00 | 28% | 7m | 24135m | 5.7m/s | 36% |
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 scoreThis 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Mar 13
Sunrise 07:41
Sunset 19:10 | ||||||||||||
| 01:00 ☾ | 5% | 55% | 60% | 1.8m | 48° | 0.02 | -29° | 62% | 329° | 4.2m/s | 5.2m | 11s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 5% | 4% | 74% | 1.8m | 46° | 0.02 | -29° | 74% | 332° | 5m/s | 5.2m | 10s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 4% | 7% | 85% | 1.7m | 44° | 0.02 | -27° | 85% | 329° | 5.4m/s | 5.1m | 10s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 25% | 8% | 92% | 1.7m | 43° | 0.01 | -23° | 92% | 330° | 5.5m/s | 4.9m | 10s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 5% | 4% | 64% | 1.7m | 43° | 0.01 | -18° | 64% | 331° | 5.4m/s | 4.7m | 10s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 31% | 47% | 95% | 1.7m | 42° | 0.01 | -12° | 95% | 321° | 5.7m/s | 4.5m | 9.8s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 30% | 48% | 99% | 1.6m | 44° | 0.01 | -5.4° | 99% | 319° | 6m/s | 4.4m | 9.8s |
| 08:00 | 56% | 12% | 86% | 1.6m | 45° | 0.01 | 1.6° | 86% | 320° | 5.3m/s | 4.3m | 9.8s |
| 09:00 | 38% | 4% | 99% | 1.5m | 47° | 0.01 | 7.8° | 99% | 312° | 4.9m/s | 4.2m | 9.7s |
| 10:00 | 5% | 4% | 89% | 1.5m | 49° | 0.01 | 14° | 89% | 309° | 4.7m/s | 4m | 9.8s |
| 11:00 | 5% | 2% | 99% | 1.4m | 50° | 0.01 | 18° | 99% | 315° | 4.6m/s | 3.9m | 9.9s |
| 12:00 | 2% | 2% | 47% | 1.4m | 52° | 0.01 | 22° | 47% | 321° | 4.7m/s | 3.7m | 10s |
| 13:00 | 2% | 2% | 99% | 1.9m | 53° | 0.01 | 24° | 99% | 328° | 4.4m/s | 3.6m | 10s |
| 14:00 | 2% | 8% | 100% | 2.3m | 54° | 0.01 | 24° | 100% | 325° | 3.9m/s | 3.6m | 10s |
| 15:00 | 0% | 8% | 100% | 2.8m | 55° | 0.01 | 22° | 100% | 316° | 3.3m/s | 3.6m | 11s |
| 16:00 | 0% | 4% | 98% | 2.8m | 55° | 0.01 | 18° | 98% | 316° | 3.5m/s | 2.5m | 11s |
| 17:00 | 0% | 2% | 48% | 2.8m | 55° | 0.01 | 13° | 48% | 325° | 3.9m/s | 1.5m | 10s |
| 18:00 | 2% | 2% | 6% | 2.8m | 55° | 0.01 | 7° | 6% | 336° | 4.5m/s | 0.5m | 10s |
| 19:00 | 0% | 2% | 3% | 2.7m | 54° | 0.01 | 0.85° | 4% | 335° | 4.6m/s | 0.43m | 10s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 2% | 3% | 2.5m | 54° | 0.01 | -6.2° | 3% | 331° | 4.8m/s | 0.36m | 10s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 5% | 2.3m | 53° | 0.01 | -13° | 5% | 334° | 4.8m/s | 0.29m | 10s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 0% | 2% | 3% | 1.8m | 52° | 0.01 | -19° | 3% | 334° | 5m/s | 1m | 9.9s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 0% | 5% | 49% | 1.3m | 51° | 0.01 | -24° | 49% | 339° | 5.3m/s | 1.8m | 9.8s |
| Sat, Mar 14
Sunrise 07:38
Sunset 19:13 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 0% | 8% | 51% | 0.75m | 51° | 0.01 | -27° | 53% | 326° | 4.8m/s | 2.5m | 9.7s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 0% | 2% | 40% | 0.72m | 49° | 0.01 | -29° | 40% | 329° | 4.5m/s | 2.9m | 9.4s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 5% | 0.7m | 48° | 0.01 | -29° | 5% | 338° | 4.5m/s | 3.1m | 9.2s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 4% | 0.67m | 47° | 0.01 | -27° | 4% | 343° | 4.9m/s | 3.5m | 8.9s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.72m | 46° | 0.01 | -23° | 0% | 331° | 4.6m/s | 3.6m | 9s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.77m | 45° | 0.009 | -18° | 0% | 326° | 4.4m/s | 3.8m | 9s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0.82m | 45° | 0.009 | -12° | 1% | 331° | 4.5m/s | 3.9m | 9.1s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 5% | 2% | 0% | 0.95m | 44° | 0.009 | -5° | 5% | 331° | 4.5m/s | 4m | 9.1s |
| 08:00 | 99% | 2% | 0% | 1.1m | 44° | 0.009 | 2° | 99% | 328° | 4.6m/s | 4.1m | 9.2s |
| 09:00 | 5% | 2% | 0% | 1.2m | 43° | 0.008 | 8.2° | 5% | 317° | 4.2m/s | 4.2m | 9.2s |
| 10:00 | 6% | 2% | 2% | 1.2m | 43° | 0.007 | 14° | 6% | 323° | 4.1m/s | 4.4m | 9.3s |
| 11:00 | 92% | 2% | 4% | 1.2m | 42° | 0.006 | 19° | 92% | 317° | 3.8m/s | 4.6m | 9.3s |
| 12:00 | 5% | 2% | 5% | 1.2m | 42° | 0.005 | 22° | 5% | 311° | 3.5m/s | 4.7m | 9.4s |
| 13:00 | 5% | 0% | 2% | 1.2m | 43° | - | 24° | 5% | 315° | 2.9m/s | 4.7m | 9.4s |
| 14:00 | 14% | 0% | 5% | 1.2m | 44° | - | 24° | 14% | 300° | 2.2m/s | 4.7m | 9.4s |
| 15:00 | 10% | 0% | 79% | 1.1m | 45° | - | 22° | 79% | 312° | 1.7m/s | 4.7m | 9.4s |
| 16:00 | 58% | 0% | 90% | 1.1m | 46° | - | 18° | 90% | 304° | 1.1m/s | 4.8m | 9.5s |
| 17:00 | 100% | 2% | 100% | 1.1m | 48° | - | 13° | 100% | 283° | 0.66m/s | 4.8m | 9.6s |
| 18:00 | 100% | 2% | 100% | 1m | 49° | - | 7.4° | 100% | 323° | 0.73m/s | 4.9m | 9.7s |
| 19:00 | 100% | 3% | 100% | 0.94m | 49° | - | 1.1° | 100% | 75° | 0.48m/s | 5m | 9.8s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 100% | 9% | 100% | 0.89m | 49° | - | -5.9° | 100% | 86° | 1.3m/s | 5.2m | 10s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 94% | 66% | 100% | 0.83m | 49° | - | -12° | 100% | 63° | 2.9m/s | 5.3m | 10s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 100% | 0.77m | 49° | - | -18° | 100% | 56° | 3.1m/s | 5.6m | 10s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 13% | 100% | 100% | 0.71m | 48° | - | -23° | 100% | 54° | 4.3m/s | 5.8m | 10s |
| Sun, Mar 15
Sunrise 07:34
Sunset 19:16 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 3% | 100% | 100% | 0.65m | 48° | - | -27° | 100% | 58° | 4.8m/s | 6.1m | 11s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 100% | 0.59m | 48° | - | -29° | 100% | 76° | 6.3m/s | 6.5m | 11s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 100% | 0.53m | 48° | - | -28° | 100% | 97° | 9.2m/s | 6.9m | 11s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 100% | 0.47m | 48° | - | -26° | 100% | 106° | 9.5m/s | 7.3m | 12s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 100% | 0.42m | 48° | - | -22° | 100% | 104° | 7.8m/s | 7.4m | 12s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 0% | 100% | 100% | 0.36m | 47° | - | -17° | 100% | 107° | 4.9m/s | 7.5m | 12s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 0% | 94% | 86% | 0.31m | 47° | - | -11° | 95% | 85° | 2.4m/s | 7.6m | 12s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 0% | 96% | 79% | 0.28m | 47° | - | -4.6° | 96% | 86° | 3.5m/s | 7.5m | 12s |
| 08:00 | 0% | 97% | 71% | 0.24m | 47° | - | 2.3° | 97% | 88° | 4.6m/s | 7.5m | 12s |
| 09:00 | 0% | 98% | 63% | 0.21m | 46° | - | 8.6° | 98% | 89° | 5.7m/s | 7.4m | 12s |
| 10:00 | 0% | 98% | 46% | 0.2m | 47° | - | 14° | 98% | 80° | 6.3m/s | 7.3m | 12s |
| 11:00 | 0% | 97% | 30% | 0.2m | 47° | - | 19° | 97% | 70° | 6.8m/s | 7.2m | 12s |
| 12:00 | 0% | 96% | 13% | 0.19m | 48° | - | 23° | 96% | 61° | 7.3m/s | 7.1m | 12s |
| 13:00 | 0% | 97% | 9% | 0.52m | 48° | - | 24° | 97% | 55° | 6.6m/s | 7m | 12s |
| 14:00 | 0% | 98% | 5% | 0.85m | 48° | - | 24° | 98% | 49° | 5.9m/s | 6.9m | 11s |
| 15:00 | 0% | 99% | 1% | 1.2m | 48° | - | 22° | 99% | 43° | 5.2m/s | 6.7m | 11s |
| 16:00 | 0% | 84% | 14% | 1.6m | 49° | - | 19° | 93% | 31° | 5m/s | 6.7m | 11s |
| 17:00 | 0% | 68% | 27% | 2.1m | 49° | - | 14° | 88% | 20° | 4.8m/s | 6.7m | 11s |
| 18:00 | 0% | 52% | 40% | 2.6m | 50° | - | 7.7° | 82% | 9° | 4.6m/s | 6.6m | 11s |
| 19:00 | 0% | 50% | 38% | 2.7m | 50° | - | 1.4° | 71% | 12° | 4.4m/s | 6.6m | 11s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 48% | 37% | 2.9m | 51° | - | -5.6° | 60% | 15° | 4.2m/s | 6.6m | 11s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 0% | 47% | 36% | 3.1m | 51° | - | -12° | 49% | 17° | 3.9m/s | 6.6m | 12s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 0% | 48% | 25% | 3m | 50° | - | -18° | 49% | 19° | 4.2m/s | 6.5m | 11s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 0% | 49% | 14% | 3m | 49° | - | -23° | 50% | 21° | 4.5m/s | 6.4m | 11s |
| Mon, Mar 16
Sunrise 07:31
Sunset 19:19 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 0% | 51% | 3% | 3m | 48° | - | -26° | 51% | 22° | 4.8m/s | 6.3m | 11s |
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.
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