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Rule Cloudscapes

Machico - Cloudscapes - Madeira

Machico, Madeira, Portugal

Multi-layered dramatic clouds for striking sky photography

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover4%
Wind Gusts16.4m/s
Precipitation Chance91%
Air Pressure998.5hPa

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Atlantic/Madeira
Next opportunity
Striking Cloud Drama
Machico
Tomorrow · 19:00–20:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
49%
☁️Cloud Drama Score77.3%
Cloud Cover: 75%
Wind Gusts: 10.6m/s
Precipitation Chance: 39%
Air Pressure: 999.3hPa

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast tracks dramatic cloud conditions over Madeira's volcanic landscapes, sea cliffs, and Atlantic coastline. We analyze cloud types, coverage patterns, Atlantic weather systems, and trade wind interactions to predict when sky drama combines with the island's distinctive volcanic features.

Madeira's position 600 kilometers from Morocco means frequent interaction with weather systems, while its topography—rising steeply to 1,862-meter peaks—forces clouds into spectacular patterns. Prevailing northeast trade winds create predictable formations and dramatic rain shadow effects between north and south coasts.

What makes Madeira cloudscape photography special:

  • Trade wind clouds - Predictable northeast winds create stable formations that cling to peaks and northern slopes
  • Volcanic peaks - Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo pierce dramatic cloud systems, creating island-above-clouds compositions
  • Coastal contrast - North coast receives Atlantic weather while south coast often remains sunny beneath clouds
  • Atlantic drama - Winter storms bring towering cumulus and clearing conditions over volcanic cliffs and natural pools

Porto Moniz offers the most powerful cloudscape location—natural volcanic swimming pools on the northwest coast under turbulent Atlantic skies create raw drama, especially when waves crash over black lava formations. Cabo Girão's sea cliff provides epic compositions when clouds build over the Atlantic beyond Europe's highest cliff. Pico do Arieiro becomes extraordinary under dramatic clouds—photograph from the peak as systems move through valleys below. Santana's traditional triangular houses gain moody atmosphere under heavy cloud. Funchal's amphitheater harbour creates compelling urban cloudscapes when storms approach. Ponta de São Lourenço's barren headland takes on Mars-like quality under dark storm clouds. Autumn and winter bring the most spectacular conditions. Monitor conditions carefully—weather changes rapidly.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
1matching hours in the next 95 hoursJump to next match
OR logic: one branch per group is enough
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
Atlantic/Madeira
Cloud Drama Score
≥ 75.0%
Low Clouds
≥ 20.0%
Mid-Level Clouds
OR1·B1
≥ 30.0%
High Clouds
OR1·B2
≥ 40.0%
Visibility
≥ 5000.0m
Wed, Apr 8
02:0011%17%0%100%24135m
03:005.5%23%0%99%24134m
04:008.8%24%0%58%24135m
05:0011%34%0%21%24134m
06:0013%43%0%28%24134m
07:00100%45%0%22%24135m
08:0071%29%0%5%24135m
09:00100%23%0%20%24134m
10:0085%35%0%37%24135m
11:0060%30%0%4.8%24134m
12:0061%8.1%0%32%24135m
13:0057%21%0%7.2%24134m
14:0029%16%0%0%24134m
15:0034%50%0%0%24134m
16:0028%7.7%0%0%24135m
17:0053%54%0%0%24135m
18:0060%31%3.1%0%23692m
19:0045%100%5.4%0%19555m
20:0079%30%0%0%11207m
21:0033%3.9%0%0%24134m
22:0015%45%0%0%23633m
23:0013%50%0%0%23233m
Thu, Apr 9
24:0015%44%0%0%22744m
01:0015%23%16%0%23616m
02:009.2%4.3%0%0%23503m
03:008.7%5.2%0%0%23561m
04:0014%6%0%0%23642m
05:0015%96%0%0%23481m
06:0015%75%0%0%23423m
07:0070%57%0%0%22939m
08:0077%62%0%0%11132m
09:0070%68%0.6%0%9556m
10:0054%74%0%0%10264m
11:0035%100%2.8%0%10083m
12:0040%84%0.6%0%22915m
13:0024%100%0.6%0%9859m
14:0024%99%0%0%16876m
15:0027%50%0%0%24134m
16:0031%18%0%0%24135m
17:0017%8.9%1.6%0%24134m
18:0044%16%2.7%0%24134m
19:0040%10%0%0%24135m
20:0024%1%0%0%24135m
21:0025%5%0.1%0%24134m
22:0014%7.5%0%0%24134m
23:0015%100%6.7%0%24027m
Fri, Apr 10
24:0015%97%12%1.3%22531m
01:0015%71%0.6%5.1%23062m
02:0015%82%0%0.1%23679m
03:0015%45%3%0.1%24086m
04:0014%50%0.6%0%24089m
05:0015%71%0.6%0%22773m
06:0015%43%0%0%23920m
07:0045%100%0%0%22392m
08:0049%100%0%0%22582m
09:0072%49%0%0%23271m
10:0061%55%0%0%10883m
11:0050%41%0%0%24134m
12:0048%59%0.1%0%24120m
13:0034%37%3.9%0%24129m
14:0034%33%0.9%0%24134m
15:0034%68%0%0%24134m
16:0048%42%0%0%24132m
17:0052%61%0%1.8%24133m
18:0056%47%0%0%24135m
19:0077%54%0%69%24135m
20:0056%55%0%100%24126m
21:0044%27%0%98%24134m
22:0015%23%0%100%24135m
23:0015%22%0%2.8%24134m
Sat, Apr 11
24:0015%20%0%4.8%24135m
01:0015%11%0%4.9%24134m
02:0015%1.8%0%0%24134m
03:0013%1.5%0%0%24134m
04:007.5%0.7%0%0%24135m
05:0015%11%0%0%24135m
06:0015%28%0%0%24135m
07:0053%22%0%0%24135m
08:00100%16%0%28%24135m
09:0087%11%0%56%24135m
10:0035%5.2%0%84%24135m
11:0065%12%0%58%24135m
12:0071%18%0%31%24135m
13:0025%25%0%5%24135m
14:0019%42%0%5%24135m
15:0019%60%0%5%24135m
16:0030%78%0%5%24135m
17:0028%77%0%3.3%24135m
18:0034%76%0%1.7%24135m
19:0040%75%0%0%24135m
20:0046%71%0%0.1%24135m
21:0046%67%0%0.2%24135m
22:000%63%0%0.3%24135m
23:000%63%0%0.83%24135m
Sun, Apr 12
24:000%63%0%1.4%24135m
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/Madeira
Air Pressure
hPa
High Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Precipitation Chance
%
Relative Humidity
%
Solar Elevation
°
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Gusts
m/s
Wind Speed
m/s
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 07:45 Sunset 20:32
02:00
999hPa 0% 0% 91% 74% -50° 4% 16m/s 12m/s
03:00
998hPa 0% 0% 88% 72% -48° 5% 17m/s 13m/s
04:00
998hPa 0% 0% 84% 71% -42° 6% 18m/s 13m/s
05:00
997hPa 0% 0% 88% 73% -33° 96% 18m/s 13m/s
06:00
997hPa 0% 0% 91% 78% -22° 75% 17m/s 13m/s
07:00
998hPa 0% 0% 95% 77% -10° 57% 17m/s 13m/s
08:00
998hPa 0% 0% 63% 78% 2.6° 62% 16m/s 12m/s
09:00
999hPa 0% 1% 32% 79% 15° 68% 15m/s 11m/s
10:00
999hPa 0% 0% 0% 79% 27° 74% 14m/s 11m/s
11:00
1000hPa 0% 3% 13% 82% 40° 100% 14m/s 11m/s
12:00
1001hPa 0% 1% 26% 81% 51° 84% 15m/s 12m/s
13:00
1001hPa 0% 1% 39% 82% 60° 100% 14m/s 11m/s
14:00
1001hPa 0% 0% 26% 76% 65° 99% 13m/s 11m/s
15:00
1001hPa 0% 0% 13% 73% 62° 50% 12m/s 9.9m/s
16:00
1000hPa 0% 0% 0% 70% 54° 18% 11m/s 9.4m/s
17:00
1000hPa 0% 2% 13% 70% 43° 9% 11m/s 9.2m/s
18:00
1000hPa 0% 3% 26% 71% 31° 16% 11m/s 9.2m/s
19:00
999hPa 0% 0% 39% 72% 19° 10% 11m/s 9.3m/s
20:00
1000hPa 0% 0% 50% 73% 6.1° 1% 11m/s 9.1m/s
21:00
1000hPa 0% 0% 61% 72% -6.4° 5% 10m/s 8.3m/s
22:00
1000hPa 0% 0% 72% 72% -18° 8% 11m/s 8.4m/s
23:00
1000hPa 0% 7% 78% 79% -30° 100% 9.8m/s 7.8m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 07:45 Sunset 20:32
24:00
999hPa 1% 12% 84% 84% -39° 97% 12m/s 9.4m/s
01:00
999hPa 5% 1% 90% 83% -46° 71% 12m/s 10m/s
02:00
998hPa 0% 0% 76% 84% -49° 82% 12m/s 9.6m/s
03:00
997hPa 0% 3% 63% 83% -48° 44% 12m/s 9.5m/s
04:00
997hPa 0% 1% 49% 84% -41° 50% 12m/s 9.4m/s
05:00
996hPa 0% 1% 60% 84% -32° 71% 12m/s 9.6m/s
06:00
996hPa 0% 0% 71% 86% -22° 43% 13m/s 10m/s
07:00
996hPa 0% 0% 83% 87% -9.8° 100% 15m/s 11m/s
08:00
997hPa 0% 0% 68% 87% 2.8° 100% 15m/s 11m/s
09:00
998hPa 0% 0% 54% 85% 15° 49% 14m/s 11m/s
10:00
998hPa 0% 0% 39% 84% 28° 55% 13m/s 10m/s
11:00
999hPa 0% 0% 39% 83% 40° 41% 12m/s 9.3m/s
12:00
999hPa 0% 0% 39% 79% 51° 59% 11m/s 9m/s
13:00
999hPa 0% 4% 39% 79% 61° 37% 11m/s 8.9m/s
14:00
999hPa 0% 1% 39% 77% 65° 33% 9.9m/s 8.4m/s
15:00
999hPa 0% 0% 39% 77% 63° 68% 9.6m/s 8.3m/s
16:00
999hPa 0% 0% 39% 79% 54° 42% 9.5m/s 8.4m/s
17:00
999hPa 2% 0% 39% 80% 43° 61% 9.9m/s 8.8m/s
18:00
999hPa 0% 0% 39% 81% 31° 47% 10m/s 8.9m/s
19:00
999hPa 69% 0% 39% 82% 19° 75% 11m/s 9m/s
20:00
1000hPa 100% 0% 26% 84% 6.3° 100% 11m/s 8.9m/s
21:00
1000hPa 98% 0% 13% 83% -6.2° 98% 11m/s 8.9m/s
22:00
1001hPa 100% 0% 0% 81% -18° 100% 11m/s 9m/s
23:00
1002hPa 3% 0% 13% 81% -29° 22% 11m/s 9.1m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 07:43 Sunset 20:33
24:00
1002hPa 5% 0% 26% 81% -39° 20% 12m/s 9.7m/s
01:00
1002hPa 5% 0% 39% 78% -46° 11% 12m/s 9.7m/s
02:00
1002hPa 0% 0% 39% 76% -49° 2% 12m/s 9.9m/s
03:00
1002hPa 0% 0% 39% 75% -47° 2% 12m/s 10m/s
04:00
1002hPa 0% 0% 39% 74% -41° 1% 12m/s 9.7m/s
05:00
1002hPa 0% 0% 39% 76% -32° 11% 11m/s 9.4m/s
06:00
1002hPa 0% 0% 39% 77% -21° 28% 11m/s 9.1m/s
07:00
1002hPa 0% 0% 39% 82% -9.5° 22% 11m/s 8.8m/s
08:00
1009hPa 28% 0% 39% 80% 42% 8.4m/s 7.2m/s
09:00
1016hPa 56% 0% 39% 78% 15° 63% 5.8m/s 5.7m/s
10:00
1023hPa 84% 0% 39% 75% 28° 84% 3.1m/s 4.1m/s
11:00
1023hPa 58% 0% 39% 75% 40° 64% 2.8m/s 3.3m/s
12:00
1023hPa 31% 0% 39% 75% 52° 44% 2.4m/s 2.5m/s
13:00
1024hPa 5% 0% 39% 74% 61° 24% 2m/s 1.7m/s
14:00
1024hPa 5% 0% 39% 75% 66° 42% 2.2m/s 2.1m/s
15:00
1025hPa 5% 0% 38% 76% 63° 60% 2.3m/s 2.5m/s
16:00
1025hPa 5% 0% 37% 76% 55° 78% 2.4m/s 2.9m/s
17:00
1025hPa 3% 0% 52% 74% 44° 77% 4m/s 4.4m/s
18:00
1025hPa 2% 0% 67% 71% 31° 76% 5.5m/s 5.9m/s
19:00
1026hPa 0% 0% 82% 68% 19° 75% 7m/s 7.3m/s
20:00
1025hPa 0% 0% 63% 67% 6.4° 71% 6.8m/s 7.4m/s
21:00
1025hPa 0% 0% 43% 66% -6.1° 67% 6.6m/s 7.4m/s
22:00
1025hPa 0% 0% 24% 66% -18° 63% 6.4m/s 7.4m/s
23:00
1025hPa 1% 0% 43% 66% -29° 63% 6.7m/s 7.4m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 07:42 Sunset 20:33
24:00
1026hPa 1% 0% 63% 66% -39° 63% 7m/s 7.5m/s
01:00
1026hPa 2% 0% 82% 67% -46° 63% 7.3m/s 7.5m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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