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Rule Storm Chaser

Astoria - Storm Chaser - Pacific Northwest

Tillamook, Oregon, United States

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 79% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover5%
Wind Gusts1.6m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure984.5hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index10.8°C
Wind Gusts1.6m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Los_Angeles

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 Pacific storm systems hitting the Northwest coast, identifying when conditions create dramatic photography opportunities while balancing safety considerations. We monitor storm intensity, wave height, wind patterns, and King Tide timing to predict optimal storm photography windows.

The Pacific Northwest receives powerful storm systems throughout fall and winter, creating spectacular wave action along its rugged coastline. These storms combine with the region's dramatic sea stacks, headlands, and coastal forests to produce compelling images. Winter "King Tides"—exceptionally high tides—amplify storm impacts.

What makes the Pacific Northwest special for storm photography:

  • Pacific storm power - Powerful winter systems bring dramatic wave action to exposed coastlines
  • King Tides - December-February extreme high tides create exceptional wave drama
  • Haystack Rock storms - Cannon Beach's iconic sea stack withstanding storm waves
  • Cape Disappointment - One of the most dangerous bar crossings offers dramatic lighthouse storm scenes

Cannon Beach becomes a premier storm photography destination during winter storm events, particularly during King Tides when waves can reach spectacular heights around Haystack Rock and the surrounding sea stacks. The combination of accessible beach, dramatic rock formations, and powerful Pacific swells creates world-class opportunities. Cape Disappointment at the mouth of the Columbia River offers lighthouse drama during storms—waves crash against the rocky headland while the historic lighthouse stands sentinel. Shore Acres State Park near Coos Bay features a protected viewing platform where photographers can safely capture massive storm waves exploding against the cliff face. The Olympic coast provides wilderness storm photography with sea stacks and rugged shoreline. Safety is essential—our forecast helps identify conditions that are dramatic but manageable, tracking when peak storm intensity has passed but seas remain photogenic. Never turn your back on the ocean, watch for sneaker waves, and maintain safe distances from surf.

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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
America/Los_Angeles
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
Tue, Apr 7
18:000%20%0J/kg14°C24135m2.1m/s
19:000%26%0J/kg14°C24134m2m/s
20:0012%28%0J/kg14°C24135m0.9m/s
21:000%13%0J/kg14°C24134m0.2m/s
22:000%11%0J/kg13°C24134m0.51m/s
23:000%11%0J/kg13°C24135m0.63m/s
Wed, Apr 8
24:000%9.6%0J/kg13°C24135m0.7m/s
01:000%10%0J/kg13°C24134m0.8m/s
02:000%15%0J/kg13°C24135m0.92m/s
03:000%14%0J/kg13°C24134m0.9m/s
04:000%14%0J/kg13°C24135m0.9m/s
05:0013%15%0J/kg12°C24134m0.92m/s
06:000%68%0J/kg12°C24134m0.9m/s
07:000%35%0J/kg12°C24134m1.1m/s
08:000%67%0J/kg12°C24135m0.82m/s
09:000%19%0J/kg12°C24135m0.71m/s
10:000%27%0J/kg12°C24134m0.91m/s
11:000%38%0J/kg12°C24135m1.4m/s
12:000%18%0J/kg11°C24135m1.8m/s
13:000%19%0J/kg10°C24134m1.8m/s
14:000%20%0J/kg9.8°C24134m1.6m/s
15:000%18%0J/kg9.8°C24135m1.6m/s
16:000%14%0J/kg10°C24135m1.8m/s
17:000%18%0J/kg11°C24135m1.6m/s
18:000%20%0J/kg11°C24134m1.6m/s
19:000%26%0J/kg10°C24135m1.4m/s
20:000%26%0J/kg10°C24135m0.52m/s
21:000%21%0J/kg9.4°C24135m1.1m/s
22:000%4.1%0J/kg9.9°C24134m0.9m/s
23:000%9.1%0J/kg11°C24134m0.9m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%1.1%0J/kg11°C24134m1m/s
01:000%1.6%0J/kg10°C24135m1.1m/s
02:000%2%0J/kg9.2°C24134m1.2m/s
03:000%1.3%0J/kg8.5°C24135m1.3m/s
04:000%8.6%0J/kg8.1°C24135m1.2m/s
05:000%13%0J/kg8°C24135m1.3m/s
06:000%30%0J/kg7.9°C24135m1.4m/s
07:000%28%0J/kg7.9°C24134m1.3m/s
08:000%26%0J/kg8.2°C24135m1.4m/s
09:000%31%0J/kg8.2°C24134m1.1m/s
10:000%67%0J/kg7.4°C24134m1m/s
11:000%50%0J/kg6.6°C24135m1.3m/s
12:000%22%0J/kg5.3°C24135m1.7m/s
13:000%45%0J/kg4.9°C24134m2.2m/s
14:000%44%0J/kg3.9°C24134m1.8m/s
15:000%41%0J/kg3.4°C24135m2.1m/s
16:000%66%0J/kg3.3°C24134m1.9m/s
17:000%40%0J/kg2.8°C24135m1.8m/s
18:000%46%0J/kg2.7°C24134m1.9m/s
19:000%49%0J/kg2.5°C24134m0.7m/s
20:000%53%0J/kg2.2°C24135m0.41m/s
21:000%52%0J/kg2.7°C24134m0.8m/s
22:000%14%0J/kg3.1°C24134m0.7m/s
23:000%12%0J/kg3.1°C24135m1.2m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:000%15%0J/kg3°C24134m0.91m/s
01:000%9.6%0J/kg3.5°C24134m1.1m/s
02:000%13%0J/kg3.6°C24135m0.81m/s
03:000%14%0J/kg4.2°C24135m1.2m/s
04:000%15%0J/kg4.1°C24134m1m/s
05:0011%14%0J/kg4.3°C24134m0.9m/s
06:000%71%0J/kg3.6°C24134m1m/s
07:000%66%0J/kg2.8°C24134m1.3m/s
08:000%60%0J/kg2.9°C24134m1m/s
09:000%67%0J/kg3.3°C24134m1m/s
10:000%51%1J/kg3°C24135m1.4m/s
11:000%48%4J/kg3.1°C24135m1.4m/s
12:000%29%0J/kg3.5°C24135m1.8m/s
13:000%29%1J/kg3.9°C24134m1.6m/s
14:0011%45%0J/kg3.9°C24132m1.5m/s
15:000%35%0J/kg4.2°C24131m2.4m/s
16:000%72%0J/kg5.1°C24131m2.6m/s
17:0011%59%0J/kg4.4°C24134m2.2m/s
18:000%97%0J/kg2.5°C24134m1.8m/s
19:000%84%0J/kg2.5°C24134m1.9m/s
20:0011%82%0J/kg2.8°C24135m0.6m/s
21:000%57%0J/kg2.9°C24135m0.7m/s
22:000%12%0J/kg2.7°C24135m0.22m/s
23:0011%13%0J/kg2.7°C24135m0.7m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%0%0J/kg2.8°C24135m0.85m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg2.9°C24135m0.99m/s
02:0011%0%0J/kg3.1°C24135m1.1m/s
03:000%0%0.67J/kg2.7°C24135m1.7m/s
04:000%0%1.3J/kg2.4°C24135m2.3m/s
05:000%0%2J/kg2°C24135m2.9m/s
06:000%48%2.7J/kg1.9°C24135m3.5m/s
07:000%73%3.3J/kg1.7°C24135m4.1m/s
08:009.8%69%4J/kg1.5°C24135m4.7m/s
09:000%68%3J/kg1.6°C23016m4.9m/s
10:000%44%2J/kg1.6°C21897m5m/s
11:0013%38%1J/kg1.6°C20778m5.2m/s
12:000%38%1J/kg1.8°C21180m5.2m/s
13:0011%38%1J/kg2.1°C21582m5.2m/s
14:0020%38%1J/kg2.4°C21984m5.2m/s
15:0011%38%3.7J/kg2.4°C22701m5.3m/s
16:0011%46%6.3J/kg2.4°C23418m5.3m/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
America/Los_Angeles
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
Wed, Apr 8 Sunrise 06:40 Sunset 19:52
18:00
985hPa 0J/kg 5% 11°C 4% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 5% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
19:00
984hPa 0J/kg 5% 10°C 4% 0% 0% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 8.4° 5% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
20:00
984hPa 0J/kg 5% 10°C 2% 0% 0% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -1.9° 5% 0mm 4.5m/s 5.5m/s 0.52m/s
21:00
984hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 5% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
22:00
984hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 5% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
23:00
984hPa 0J/kg 4% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 4% 0mm 4.6m/s 5m/s 1.1m/s
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:40 Sunset 19:52
24:00
984hPa 0J/kg 2% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 2% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
01:00
984hPa 0J/kg 2% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -37° 2% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
02:00
984hPa 0J/kg 3% 9.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 3% 0mm 3.5m/s 3.3m/s 1.4m/s
03:00
984hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 0% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
04:00
983hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -26° 0% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
05:00
983hPa 0J/kg 0% 8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -17° 0% 0mm 2.4m/s 1.1m/s 1.6m/s
06:00
983hPa 0J/kg 5% 7.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -7.6° 5% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
07:00
983hPa 0J/kg 2% 7.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ 2.8° 2% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
08:00
983hPa 0J/kg 2% 8.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 2% 0mm 1.9m/s 2.4m/s 1.2m/s
09:00
983hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 5% 0mm - - 0.47m/s
10:00
983hPa 0J/kg 6% 7.4°C 0% 77% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ 33° 77% 0mm - - 0.32m/s
11:00
983hPa 0J/kg 1% 6.6°C 0% 46% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 42° 46% 0mm 2.5m/s 3.7m/s 1.1m/s
12:00
982hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.3°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 49° 5% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
13:00
982hPa 0J/kg 84% 4.9°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 52° 100% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
14:00
982hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.9°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 51° 100% 0mm 2.7m/s 4.9m/s 2.6m/s
15:00
982hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.4°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 100% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
16:00
981hPa 0J/kg 25% 3.3°C 0% 86% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 89% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
17:00
980hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.8°C 0% 89% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 100% 0mm 6m/s 6.5m/s 1.8m/s
18:00
981hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.7°C 0% 84% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
19:00
980hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.5°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ 8.7° 100% 0mm - - 0.79m/s
20:00
980hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.2°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ -1.7° 100% 0mm 5.7m/s 6.8m/s 0.37m/s
21:00
980hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.7°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 100% 0mm - - 0.79m/s
22:00
980hPa 0J/kg 73% 3.1°C 0% 96% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 100% 0mm - - 0.76m/s
23:00
981hPa 0J/kg 5% 3.1°C 4% 23% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -28° 23% 0mm 4.8m/s 5.1m/s 1.4m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:38 Sunset 19:53
24:00
980hPa 0J/kg 44% 3°C 7% 42% 6% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 48% 0mm - - 0.98m/s
01:00
980hPa 0J/kg 94% 3.5°C 8% 94% 11% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 95% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
02:00
980hPa 0J/kg 56% 3.6°C 5% 52% 17% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 59% 0mm 5.5m/s 6m/s 0.91m/s
03:00
980hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.2°C 6% 7% 21% 0mm 90% 0mm -9.5dBZ -32° 7% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
04:00
980hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.1°C 17% 17% 25% 0mm 93% 0mm 0.93dBZ -25° 19% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
05:00
980hPa 0J/kg 40% 4.3°C 89% 97% 30% 0mm 96% 0mm 11dBZ -17° 97% 0mm 9.7m/s 11m/s 0.91m/s
06:00
979hPa 0J/kg 12% 3.6°C 90% 97% 27% 0mm 92% 0mm 15dBZ -7.3° 97% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
07:00
979hPa 0J/kg 5% 2.8°C 94% 96% 25% 0mm 91% 0mm 19dBZ 3.1° 97% 0mm - - 0.99m/s
08:00
979hPa 0J/kg 5% 2.9°C 100% 56% 22% 0mm 86% 0mm 23dBZ 13° 100% 0mm 11m/s 8.8m/s 0.65m/s
09:00
979hPa 0J/kg 5% 3.3°C 100% 18% 22% 0mm 81% 0mm 9.6dBZ 24° 100% 0mm - - 0.64m/s
10:00
979hPa 1J/kg 10% 3°C 98% 1% 22% 0mm 77% 0mm -3.9dBZ 34° 98% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
11:00
979hPa 4J/kg 16% 3.1°C 87% 1% 22% 0mm 75% 0mm -17dBZ 43° 87% 0mm 10m/s 9.3m/s 1.3m/s
12:00
979hPa 0J/kg 5% 3.5°C 88% 0% 15% 0mm 67% 0mm -18dBZ 49° 88% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
13:00
978hPa 1J/kg 5% 3.9°C 98% 0% 7% 0mm 71% 0mm -19dBZ 53° 98% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
14:00
978hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.9°C 32% 4% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ 52° 32% 0mm 8m/s 10m/s 1.4m/s
15:00
977hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.2°C 16% 5% 9% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 47° 16% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
16:00
976hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.1°C 40% 75% 17% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 75% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
17:00
976hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.4°C 43% 7% 26% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 43% 0mm 8.9m/s 13m/s 2.2m/s
18:00
975hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.5°C 26% 48% 51% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 48% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
19:00
975hPa 0J/kg 4% 2.5°C 8% 26% 75% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ 8.9° 26% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
20:00
975hPa 0J/kg 56% 2.8°C 5% 87% 100% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -1.4° 87% 0mm 6.4m/s 14m/s 0.59m/s
21:00
975hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.9°C 5% 100% 76% 0mm 94% 0mm -9.7dBZ -12° 100% 0mm - - 0.63m/s
22:00
975hPa 0J/kg 98% 2.7°C 8% 99% 51% 0mm 96% 0mm 0.65dBZ -21° 99% 0mm - - 0.28m/s
23:00
974hPa 0J/kg 5% 2.7°C 59% 55% 27% 0mm 96% 0mm 11dBZ -28° 59% 0mm 6.3m/s 14m/s 0.69m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:37 Sunset 19:55
24:00
983hPa 0J/kg 37% 2.8°C 54% 46% 26% 0.007mm 92% 0mm 13dBZ -34° 73% 0mm - - 0.8m/s
01:00
992hPa 0J/kg 68% 2.9°C 49% 37% 25% 0.01mm 88% 0mm 15dBZ -36° 86% 0mm - - 0.91m/s
02:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.1°C 44% 28% 24% 0.02mm 84% 0mm 16dBZ -35° 100% 0mm 6.3m/s 17m/s 1m/s
03:00
1001hPa 0.67J/kg 100% 2.7°C 44% 51% 32% 0.02mm 83% 0mm 7.9dBZ -31° 100% 0.04mm - - 1.6m/s
04:00
1001hPa 1.3J/kg 100% 2.4°C 44% 75% 40% 0.01mm 81% 0mm -0.75dBZ -25° 100% 0.08mm - - 2.2m/s
05:00
1001hPa 2J/kg 100% 2°C 44% 99% 48% 0.01mm 80% 0mm -9.4dBZ -17° 100% 0.13mm 9.3m/s 9.2m/s 2.7m/s
06:00
1001hPa 2.7J/kg 72% 1.9°C 60% 99% 37% 0.01mm 81% 0mm -10dBZ -7° 100% 0.1mm - - 3m/s
07:00
1001hPa 3.3J/kg 45% 1.7°C 77% 99% 25% 0.01mm 83% 0mm -11dBZ 3.4° 100% 0.08mm - - 3.3m/s
08:00
1001hPa 4J/kg 17% 1.5°C 94% 98% 14% 0.01mm 84% 0mm -12dBZ 14° 100% 0.06mm 5.3m/s 14m/s 3.6m/s
09:00
1001hPa 3J/kg 45% 1.6°C 96% 99% 24% 0.1mm 86% 0.03mm -11dBZ 24° 100% 0.21mm - - 3.5m/s
10:00
1001hPa 2J/kg 72% 1.6°C 98% 99% 34% 0.18mm 89% 0.06mm -10dBZ 34° 100% 0.35mm - - 3.4m/s
11:00
1001hPa 1J/kg 100% 1.6°C 100% 100% 44% 0.27mm 91% 0.09mm -9.2dBZ 43° 100% 0.5mm 11m/s 11m/s 3.3m/s
12:00
1001hPa 1J/kg 100% 1.8°C 100% 100% 47% 0.25mm 92% 0.06mm -9.6dBZ 50° 100% 0.98mm - - 3.3m/s
13:00
1001hPa 1J/kg 100% 2.1°C 100% 100% 49% 0.22mm 92% 0.04mm -10dBZ 53° 100% 1.5mm - - 3.4m/s
14:00
1001hPa 1J/kg 100% 2.4°C 100% 100% 51% 0.2mm 93% 0.01mm -10dBZ 52° 100% 1.9mm 8.8m/s 15m/s 3.4m/s
15:00
1001hPa 3.7J/kg 100% 2.4°C 95% 74% 55% 0.14mm 93% 0.007mm -0.98dBZ 47° 100% 2.1mm - - 3.5m/s
16:00
1001hPa 6.3J/kg 100% 2.4°C 90% 48% 58% 0.08mm 92% 0.003mm 8.5dBZ 39° 100% 2.2mm - - 3.6m/s
17:00
1001hPa 9J/kg 100% 2.4°C 85% 22% 61% 0.02mm 92% 0mm 18dBZ 30° 100% 2.4mm 10m/s 16m/s 3.7m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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