Rule
Cloudscapes
Swakopmund - Cloudscapes - Namibia
Swakopmund, Erongo Region, Namibia
Multi-layered dramatic clouds for striking sky photography
Currently
Real-time conditionsCloud Cover84%
Wind Gusts3.7m/s
Precipitation Chance12%
Air Pressure1010.4hPa
Upcoming Opportunities
When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.
Times shown in Africa/Windhoek
Next opportunity
Striking Cloud Drama
Swakopmund
Sat, Apr 11 · 09:00–10:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
47%
☁️Cloud Drama Score82.6%
Cloud Cover: 82%
Wind Gusts: 1.1m/s
Precipitation Chance: 72%
Air Pressure: 1013.4hPa
Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunrise
Swakopmund
Sat, Apr 18 · 07:00–08:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:99.4%
Low
Dramatic Cloud Drama
Swakopmund
Sat, Apr 18 · 09:00–11:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:83.6-100%
Low
What this forecast looks for
Plain-language explanation from the ruleThis forecast tracks dramatic cloud conditions over Namibia's extreme desert landscapes, where rare weather events and atmospheric phenomena create spectacular skies above ancient geology. We analyze cloud types, coverage patterns, and atmospheric instability to predict when sky drama combines with iconic Namibian landmarks from canyon to coast.
Namibia's position between the cold Atlantic Benguela Current and the interior plateau creates unique atmospheric conditions. The desert's extreme aridity means clouds are relatively rare—but when weather systems do develop, they're often dramatic. From Fish River Canyon's vast scale to Etosha Pan's endless horizons, Namibia provides epic foregrounds for cloudscape photography.
What makes Namibia cloudscape photography special:
- Fish River Canyon scale - Africa's largest canyon provides 160 kilometers of dramatic geological foreground under big desert skies
- Coastal fog drama - Swakopmund and Skeleton Coast where cold Atlantic fog meets scorching desert create surreal atmospheric conditions
- Etosha Pan vastness - Massive salt pan creates horizon-to-horizon sky coverage with minimal foreground distraction
- Storm rarity - Desert thunderstorms are infrequent enough that each dramatic sky becomes a significant photographic event
Fish River Canyon offers Namibia's most dramatic cloudscape location—the massive gorge provides scale and layered geological foreground under approaching weather. Etosha Pan's vast white expanse under dramatic skies removes all distraction—pure sky drama reflected in salt crust. Spitzkoppe's granite formations provide natural focal points under developing clouds, especially when late afternoon light hits rock while dark skies loom behind. The Skeleton Coast's fog creates entirely different opportunities—dense banks rolling inland from the Atlantic create ethereal, minimalist scenes. Sossusvlei's dunes under rare clouds create extraordinary color contrasts—red sand against dark skies. Summer months bring Namibia's rainy season with the highest probability of dramatic clouds, though "rainy" is relative.
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72-hour requirements breakdown
What passed or failed, hour by hourOR logic: one branch per group is enough
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time Africa/Windhoek | 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 | |||||
| 09:00 | 23% | 0.8% | 4.1% | 0% | 24135m |
| 10:00 | 21% | 0% | 1.1% | 0% | 24134m |
| 11:00 | 23% | 7.9% | 4.3% | 0% | 21859m |
| 12:00 | 41% | 8.3% | 80% | 0% | 24134m |
| 13:00 | 31% | 19% | 99% | 0% | 24135m |
| 14:00 | 66% | 12% | 68% | 0% | 8852m |
| 15:00 | 40% | 24% | 3.9% | 0% | 1245m |
| 16:00 | 25% | 5.5% | 1.7% | 0% | 24134m |
| 17:00 | 24% | 0% | 1.9% | 0% | 24135m |
| 18:00 | 54% | 27% | 3.5% | 0% | 4519m |
| 19:00 | 37% | 11% | 2.7% | 0% | 24134m |
| 20:00 | 15% | 15% | 0.3% | 0% | 24135m |
| 21:00 | 15% | 3.3% | 0% | 0% | 24134m |
| 22:00 | 15% | 43% | 76% | 0% | 24134m |
| 23:00 | 15% | 84% | 100% | 0% | 24134m |
| Thu, Apr 9 | |||||
| 24:00 | 15% | 6.6% | 89% | 0% | 24135m |
| 01:00 | 15% | 1.1% | 53% | 0% | 24135m |
| 02:00 | 15% | 0% | 14% | 0% | 24135m |
| 03:00 | 14% | 32% | 1.6% | 0% | 24134m |
| 04:00 | 14% | 45% | 2.6% | 0% | 24134m |
| 05:00 | 14% | 38% | 18% | 0% | 24135m |
| 06:00 | 15% | 20% | 3.7% | 0% | 24134m |
| 07:00 | 61% | 62% | 1.2% | 0% | 24135m |
| 08:00 | 58% | 57% | 3.2% | 0% | 24134m |
| 09:00 | 62% | 56% | 9.8% | 0% | 24135m |
| 10:00 | 59% | 84% | 17% | 0% | 24135m |
| 11:00 | 62% | 22% | 16% | 0% | 24134m |
| 12:00 | 65% | 45% | 16% | 0% | 24135m |
| 13:00 | 47% | 12% | 11% | 0% | 24134m |
| 14:00 | 50% | 3.5% | 39% | 0% | 24134m |
| 15:00 | 30% | 5.2% | 97% | 0% | 24135m |
| 16:00 | 34% | 5% | 98% | 0% | 24135m |
| 17:00 | 51% | 13% | 100% | 0% | 24135m |
| 18:00 | 31% | 5% | 100% | 0% | 24134m |
| 19:00 | 34% | 4.7% | 100% | 0% | 24135m |
| 20:00 | 13% | 5.2% | 100% | 0% | 24135m |
| 21:00 | 13% | 22% | 100% | 0% | 24135m |
| 22:00 | 11% | 71% | 95% | 0% | 24135m |
| 23:00 | 12% | 8% | 32% | 0% | 24134m |
| Fri, Apr 10 | |||||
| 24:00 | 12% | 55% | 37% | 0% | 24134m |
| 01:00 | 12% | 37% | 31% | 0% | 24135m |
| 02:00 | 11% | 35% | 33% | 0% | 24134m |
| 03:00 | 11% | 16% | 15% | 0% | 24135m |
| 04:00 | 13% | 1% | 41% | 0% | 24135m |
| 05:00 | 12% | 0% | 12% | 0% | 24135m |
| 06:00 | 13% | 14% | 14% | 0% | 8560m |
| 07:00 | 24% | 0.7% | 7.9% | 0% | 24135m |
| 08:00 | 25% | 8.4% | 5% | 0% | 24135m |
| 09:00 | 83% | 27% | 13% | 0% | 7726m |
| 10:00 | 76% | 32% | 25% | 0% | 7521m |
| 11:00 | 36% | 47% | 5% | 0% | 566m |
| 12:00 | 42% | 62% | 6.7% | 0% | 88m |
| 13:00 | 43% | 62% | 9.5% | 0% | 115m |
| 14:00 | 40% | 62% | 5% | 0% | 130m |
| 15:00 | 45% | 47% | 92% | 0% | 168m |
| 16:00 | 53% | 48% | 93% | 0% | 188m |
| 17:00 | 60% | 14% | 89% | 0% | 13818m |
| 18:00 | 42% | 0% | 97% | 0% | 24134m |
| 19:00 | 70% | 0% | 66% | 0% | 24135m |
| 20:00 | 13% | 0% | 5% | 0% | 24134m |
| 21:00 | 14% | 0% | 5% | 0% | 24135m |
| 22:00 | 15% | 4.8% | 7.5% | 0% | 24135m |
| 23:00 | 15% | 20% | 17% | 4.3% | 16957m |
| Sat, Apr 11 | |||||
| 24:00 | 15% | 25% | 3.2% | 0% | 16903m |
| 01:00 | 15% | 13% | 6.3% | 0% | 16883m |
| 02:00 | 13% | 13% | 28% | 0% | 16856m |
| 03:00 | 15% | 15% | 45% | 46% | 15429m |
| 04:00 | 14% | 34% | 24% | 8.4% | 1433m |
| 05:00 | 15% | 27% | 37% | 66% | 3458m |
| 06:00 | 11% | 7.5% | 4.8% | 100% | 24134m |
| 07:00 | 33% | 3.8% | 5% | 100% | 24135m |
| 08:00 | 74% | 27% | 51% | 100% | 12158m |
| 09:00 | 83% | 31% | 48% | 77% | 12631m |
| 10:00 | 61% | 44% | 92% | 84% | 530m |
| 11:00 | 55% | 61% | 69% | 75% | 210m |
| 12:00 | 86% | 15% | 73% | 39% | 17857m |
| 13:00 | 64% | 5.3% | 52% | 6.4% | 24135m |
| 14:00 | 68% | 7.1% | 73% | 79% | 14659m |
| 15:00 | 63% | 31% | 49% | 53% | 9811m |
| 16:00 | 85% | 55% | 24% | 26% | 4964m |
| 17:00 | 34% | 79% | 0% | 0% | 116m |
| 18:00 | 34% | 77% | 0% | 0% | 138m |
| 19:00 | 39% | 76% | 0% | 0% | 161m |
| 20:00 | 0% | 74% | 0% | 0% | 183m |
| 21:00 | 0% | 76% | 0% | 0% | 288m |
| 22:00 | 0% | 79% | 0% | 0% | 393m |
| 23:00 | 0% | 82% | 0% | 0% | 498m |
| Sun, Apr 12 | |||||
| 24:00 | 0% | 79% | 0% | 0% | 1010m |
| 01:00 | 0% | 77% | 0% | 0% | 1522m |
| 02:00 | 0% | 74% | 0% | 0% | 2034m |
| 03:00 | 0% | 70% | 0% | 0% | 1477m |
| 04:00 | 0% | 66% | 0% | 0% | 920m |
| 05:00 | 0% | 62% | 0% | 0% | 362m |
| 06:00 | 0% | 61% | 0% | 0% | 350m |
| 07:00 | 52% | 60% | 0% | 0% | 337m |
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 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 Africa/Windhoek | 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 07:12
Sunset 18:53 | |||||||||
| 10:00 | 1010hPa | 0% | 17% | 12% | 57% | 36° | 84% | 3.7m/s | 2.7m/s |
| 11:00 | 1011hPa | 0% | 16% | 0% | 56% | 47° | 22% | 3.6m/s | 2.6m/s |
| 12:00 | 1010hPa | 0% | 16% | 13% | 57% | 56° | 47% | 2.8m/s | 1.4m/s |
| 13:00 | 1009hPa | 0% | 11% | 26% | 52% | 60° | 13% | 4.8m/s | 2m/s |
| 14:00 | 1008hPa | 0% | 39% | 39% | 52% | 57° | 39% | 5.1m/s | 3m/s |
| 15:00 | 1008hPa | 0% | 96% | 35% | 61% | 48° | 96% | 4.6m/s | 4.1m/s |
| 16:00 | 1008hPa | 0% | 98% | 32% | 67% | 37° | 98% | 3.1m/s | 3.2m/s |
| 17:00 | 1008hPa | 0% | 100% | 28% | 70% | 25° | 100% | 4.1m/s | 4m/s |
| 18:00 | 1008hPa | 0% | 100% | 29% | 69% | 11° | 100% | 4m/s | 4m/s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 1008hPa | 0% | 100% | 30% | 68% | -2.1° | 100% | 3.3m/s | 3.2m/s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 100% | 31% | 74% | -16° | 100% | 3.6m/s | 3.4m/s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 100% | 33% | 73% | -30° | 100% | 3.5m/s | 3.2m/s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 1010hPa | 0% | 95% | 36% | 71% | -44° | 95% | 2m/s | 1.9m/s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 1010hPa | 0% | 32% | 39% | 69% | -57° | 32% | 2.3m/s | 2.3m/s |
| Fri, Apr 10
Sunrise 07:12
Sunset 18:53 | |||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 37% | 35% | 70% | -69° | 55% | 2.5m/s | 2.5m/s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 31% | 32% | 75% | -75° | 46% | 2.1m/s | 2m/s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 33% | 28% | 82% | -70° | 49% | 2.4m/s | 2.3m/s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 1008hPa | 0% | 15% | 26% | 78% | -58° | 21% | 2.7m/s | 2.6m/s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 1008hPa | 0% | 41% | 23% | 75% | -45° | 41% | 2.3m/s | 2.2m/s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 12% | 20% | 81% | -31° | 12% | 3.1m/s | 3m/s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 1010hPa | 0% | 14% | 13% | 92% | -18° | 23% | 7.5m/s | 6.4m/s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 1011hPa | 0% | 8% | 7% | 91% | -3.7° | 8% | 10m/s | 7m/s |
| 08:00 | 1011hPa | 0% | 5% | 0% | 94% | 9.9° | 10% | 9.1m/s | 6.1m/s |
| 09:00 | 1012hPa | 0% | 13% | 0% | 93% | 23° | 33% | 7.1m/s | 4.9m/s |
| 10:00 | 1013hPa | 0% | 25% | 0% | 92% | 36° | 42% | 5.4m/s | 4m/s |
| 11:00 | 1012hPa | 0% | 5% | 0% | 90% | 47° | 46% | 4.6m/s | 3.7m/s |
| 12:00 | 1012hPa | 0% | 7% | 0% | 90% | 56° | 62% | 4.1m/s | 3.5m/s |
| 13:00 | 1012hPa | 0% | 10% | 0% | 91% | 59° | 62% | 3.9m/s | 3.6m/s |
| 14:00 | 1011hPa | 0% | 5% | 0% | 90% | 56° | 62% | 3.6m/s | 3m/s |
| 15:00 | 1010hPa | 0% | 92% | 6% | 86% | 48° | 92% | 4.8m/s | 3.9m/s |
| 16:00 | 1009hPa | 0% | 93% | 11% | 85% | 37° | 93% | 8.4m/s | 6.5m/s |
| 17:00 | 1009hPa | 0% | 89% | 17% | 80% | 24° | 89% | 9.8m/s | 7.2m/s |
| 18:00 | 1008hPa | 0% | 97% | 25% | 71% | 11° | 97% | 8.8m/s | 6.3m/s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 66% | 34% | 74% | -2.3° | 66% | 8.1m/s | 5.9m/s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 5% | 42% | 73% | -16° | 5% | 6.5m/s | 5m/s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 1010hPa | 0% | 5% | 50% | 75% | -30° | 5% | 5.5m/s | 4.7m/s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 1011hPa | 0% | 8% | 59% | 86% | -44° | 8% | 5.1m/s | 4.3m/s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 1011hPa | 4% | 17% | 67% | 90% | -57° | 24% | 4m/s | 3.1m/s |
| Sat, Apr 11
Sunrise 07:13
Sunset 18:52 | |||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 1012hPa | 0% | 3% | 72% | 92% | -69° | 25% | 4.1m/s | 2.8m/s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 1012hPa | 0% | 6% | 76% | 90% | -76° | 16% | 2m/s | 1.3m/s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 1011hPa | 0% | 28% | 81% | 90% | -70° | 28% | 2.1m/s | 1.5m/s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 1011hPa | 46% | 45% | 77% | 92% | -58° | 57% | 2.6m/s | 2.1m/s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 1012hPa | 8% | 24% | 74% | 95% | -45° | 35% | 2.5m/s | 2.3m/s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 1012hPa | 66% | 37% | 70% | 95% | -31° | 68% | 2.2m/s | 1.8m/s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 1012hPa | 100% | 5% | 73% | 93% | -18° | 100% | 1m/s | 0.85m/s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 1013hPa | 100% | 5% | 76% | 91% | -3.8° | 100% | 1.2m/s | 0.81m/s |
| 08:00 | 1013hPa | 100% | 51% | 79% | 93% | 9.8° | 100% | 2.2m/s | 2.1m/s |
| 09:00 | 1013hPa | 77% | 48% | 72% | 93% | 23° | 82% | 1.1m/s | 1m/s |
| 10:00 | 1014hPa | 84% | 92% | 65% | 92% | 36° | 93% | 4.2m/s | 3.7m/s |
| 11:00 | 1014hPa | 75% | 68% | 58% | 90% | 47° | 89% | 7.7m/s | 5m/s |
| 12:00 | 1013hPa | 39% | 73% | 59% | 80% | 55° | 76% | 7.3m/s | 4.7m/s |
| 13:00 | 1012hPa | 6% | 52% | 61% | 75% | 59° | 52% | 9m/s | 6m/s |
| 14:00 | 1011hPa | 79% | 73% | 62% | 66% | 56° | 79% | 8.8m/s | 6.6m/s |
| 15:00 | 1010hPa | 53% | 49% | 46% | 76% | 48° | 79% | 7m/s | 5.1m/s |
| 16:00 | 1010hPa | 26% | 24% | 29% | 85% | 37° | 79% | 5.2m/s | 3.7m/s |
| 17:00 | 1009hPa | 0% | 0% | 13% | 95% | 24° | 79% | 3.3m/s | 2.2m/s |
| 18:00 | 1009hPa | 0% | 0% | 17% | 95% | 11° | 77% | 3m/s | 2.1m/s |
| 19:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 0% | 20% | 96% | -2.5° | 76% | 2.7m/s | 2.1m/s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 1008hPa | 0% | 0% | 24% | 96% | -16° | 74% | 2.3m/s | 2m/s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 1008hPa | 0% | 0% | 49% | 96% | -30° | 76% | 2.2m/s | 2m/s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 1008hPa | 0% | 0% | 75% | 96% | -44° | 79% | 2.1m/s | 1.9m/s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 1008hPa | 0% | 0% | 100% | 96% | -57° | 82% | 1.9m/s | 1.9m/s |
| Sun, Apr 12
Sunrise 07:13
Sunset 18:52 | |||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 1008hPa | 0% | 0% | 100% | 96% | -69° | 79% | 1.7m/s | 1.6m/s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 0% | 100% | 96% | -76° | 77% | 1.4m/s | 1.4m/s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 0% | 100% | 96% | -70° | 74% | 1.1m/s | 1.2m/s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 0% | 93% | 93% | -59° | 70% | 1.4m/s | 1.6m/s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 0% | 87% | 91% | -45° | 66% | 1.7m/s | 2m/s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 0% | 80% | 88% | -32° | 62% | 1.9m/s | 2.4m/s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 1009hPa | 0% | 0% | 87% | 88% | -18° | 61% | 2.4m/s | 2.8m/s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 1008hPa | 0% | 0% | 93% | 88% | -3.9° | 60% | 2.8m/s | 3.1m/s |
| 08:00 | 1007hPa | 0% | 0% | 100% | 88% | 9.7° | 59% | 3.2m/s | 3.5m/s |
| 09:00 | 1007hPa | 0% | 0% | 70% | 88% | 23° | 56% | 3.7m/s | 3.7m/s |
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.
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