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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 90% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover37%
Wind Gusts0.5m/s
Precipitation Chance13%
Air Pressure990.6hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index7.0°C
Wind Gusts0.5m/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 79 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, Jul 7
22:000%77%0J/kg9.2°C24134m0.4m/s
23:0013%15%0J/kg8.9°C24135m0.51m/s
Wed, Jul 8
24:000%15%0J/kg7.7°C24134m0.82m/s
01:000%14%0J/kg7°C24135m0.7m/s
02:0013%15%0J/kg7°C24134m0.71m/s
03:000%15%0J/kg6.6°C24134m0.7m/s
04:000%15%0J/kg6.5°C24134m0.73m/s
05:0011%59%0J/kg6.6°C24134m0.7m/s
06:000%64%0J/kg6.9°C24134m0.71m/s
07:000%63%0J/kg7°C24135m0.52m/s
08:008.4%58%0J/kg6.8°C24135m1.2m/s
09:000%35%0J/kg6.7°C24135m2.1m/s
10:000%64%0J/kg6.5°C24135m1.7m/s
11:009.1%44%0J/kg6.6°C24134m2.3m/s
12:000%36%0J/kg6.7°C24134m2.6m/s
13:000%43%0J/kg6.9°C24134m3m/s
14:0011%24%0J/kg8.3°C24135m3.2m/s
15:000%29%0J/kg10°C24134m3.5m/s
16:000%44%0J/kg11°C24134m3.5m/s
17:0013%24%0J/kg13°C24135m3.2m/s
18:000%15%0J/kg14°C24135m2.7m/s
19:000%22%0J/kg15°C24135m2.7m/s
20:0011%20%0J/kg16°C24134m2.8m/s
21:000%18%0J/kg16°C24134m0.92m/s
22:000%25%0J/kg16°C24134m0.6m/s
23:009.8%15%0J/kg17°C24135m0.51m/s
Thu, Jul 9
24:000%15%0J/kg17°C24135m0.61m/s
01:000%15%0J/kg18°C24134m0.72m/s
02:0011%15%0J/kg18°C24135m0.8m/s
03:000%15%0J/kg18°C24134m0.9m/s
04:000%15%0J/kg18°C24135m0.84m/s
05:0012%23%0J/kg18°C24135m0.81m/s
06:000%26%0J/kg18°C24134m0.92m/s
07:000%30%0J/kg18°C24135m0.72m/s
08:0012%64%0J/kg17°C24135m0.92m/s
09:000%26%0J/kg15°C24134m1.3m/s
10:000%28%0J/kg13°C24135m1.8m/s
11:0013%33%0J/kg11°C24135m2.7m/s
12:000%24%0J/kg8.5°C24134m2.8m/s
13:000%24%0J/kg8.6°C24135m3m/s
14:0014%23%0J/kg8.6°C24135m3.2m/s
15:000%14%0J/kg8.6°C24135m3.5m/s
16:000%14%0J/kg9.1°C24135m3.4m/s
17:0013%10%0J/kg9.8°C24135m3.4m/s
18:000%11%0J/kg10°C24135m2.9m/s
19:000%9.1%0J/kg10°C24135m2.6m/s
20:0014%14%0J/kg9.6°C24134m2.2m/s
21:000%15%0J/kg9.8°C24135m1.1m/s
22:000%16%0J/kg9.7°C24134m0.33m/s
23:0013%12%0J/kg9.8°C24135m0.13m/s
Fri, Jul 10
24:000%14%0J/kg10°C24134m0.63m/s
01:000%15%0J/kg9.7°C24134m0.71m/s
02:0012%15%0J/kg8.9°C24135m0.21m/s
03:000%15%0J/kg8.6°C24134m0.4m/s
04:000%15%0J/kg8.4°C24134m0.6m/s
05:0012%35%1J/kg9°C24134m0.32m/s
06:000%45%2J/kg9.8°C24135m0.34m/s
07:000%51%0J/kg9.8°C24134m0.71m/s
08:0013%57%0J/kg9.2°C24134m0.91m/s
09:000%45%0J/kg8.7°C24135m0.9m/s
10:000%46%0J/kg8.6°C24135m0.93m/s
11:0014%53%0J/kg8.6°C24134m1.1m/s
12:000%31%0J/kg8°C24134m2m/s
13:000%26%0J/kg7.3°C24134m3m/s
14:000%4.2%0J/kg6.7°C24135m3.9m/s
15:000%9.2%0J/kg6.6°C24135m3m/s
16:000%9.2%0J/kg6.5°C24135m2.1m/s
17:000%4.6%0J/kg6.4°C24135m1.2m/s
18:000%33%0J/kg6.7°C24135m1.3m/s
19:000%38%0J/kg7°C24135m1.4m/s
20:000%12%0J/kg7.3°C24135m1.5m/s
21:000%12%0.67J/kg7.8°C23944m1.4m/s
22:000%14%1.3J/kg8.3°C23753m1.3m/s
23:000%0%2J/kg8.8°C23562m1.2m/s
Sat, Jul 11
24:000%0%2.3J/kg9.2°C23407m2.4m/s
01:000%0%2.7J/kg9.6°C23252m3.6m/s
02:000%0%3J/kg9.9°C23097m4.8m/s
03:000%0%2.3J/kg11°C23443m4.7m/s
04:000%0%1.7J/kg11°C23789m4.6m/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
America/Los_Angeles
Air Pressure
hPa
CAPE
J/kg
Convective Precip Fraction
fraction
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, Jul 8 Sunrise 05:35 Sunset 21:04
07:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0.06fraction 2% 7°C 37% 0% 13% 0mm 95% 0mm 1.5dBZ 12° 37% 0mm - - 0.2m/s
08:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0.08fraction 0% 6.8°C 65% 0% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -2dBZ 23° 65% 0mm 6.3m/s 10m/s 0.83m/s
09:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0.06fraction 1% 6.7°C 96% 0% 0% 0mm 78% 0.01mm -8dBZ 33° 96% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
10:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0.03fraction 58% 6.5°C 81% 0% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -14dBZ 43° 81% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
11:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 96% 6.6°C 74% 0% 0% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 96% 0mm 6.9m/s 11m/s 2.3m/s
12:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 6.7°C 34% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 62° 100% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
13:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 78% 6.9°C 8% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ 67° 78% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
14:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 8.3°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ 66° 100% 0mm 8.3m/s 11m/s 3.5m/s
15:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 94% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ 59° 94% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
16:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 14% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ 50° 14% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
17:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 5% 0mm 6.1m/s 13m/s 3.1m/s
18:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 1% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 1% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
19:00
989hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 5% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
20:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 16°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ 9.3° 5% 0mm 8.1m/s 13m/s 2m/s
21:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 16°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ 0.41° 5% 0mm - - 0.99m/s
22:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 16°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -8.3° 5% 0mm - - 0.65m/s
23:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 17°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 5% 0mm 9.7m/s 16m/s 0.67m/s
Thu, Jul 9 Sunrise 05:36 Sunset 21:04
24:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 67% 17°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 67% 0mm - - 0.74m/s
01:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 18°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 100% 0mm - - 0.79m/s
02:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 97% 18°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 97% 0mm 10m/s 15m/s 0.94m/s
03:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 18°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
04:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 94% 18°C 0% 14% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 94% 0mm - - 1m/s
05:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 4% 18°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -5.9° 5% 0mm 7.3m/s 15m/s 0.9m/s
06:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 18°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ 2.9° 5% 0mm - - 1m/s
07:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 18°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 12° 5% 0mm - - 0.52m/s
08:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 49% 17°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ 22° 49% 0mm 8m/s 15m/s 0.53m/s
09:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 9% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ 33° 9% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
10:00
989hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 13°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 5% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
11:00
989hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 6% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 6% 0mm 7.3m/s 16m/s 2.6m/s
12:00
989hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 96% 8.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 62° 96% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
13:00
989hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 95% 8.6°C 1% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 66° 95% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
14:00
988hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 8.6°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 65° 5% 0mm 7m/s 15m/s 3.5m/s
15:00
988hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.6°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 59° 5% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
16:00
988hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 2% 9.1°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ 50° 5% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
17:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.8°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 5% 0mm 9.4m/s 18m/s 3m/s
18:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 10°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 5% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
19:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 10°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 5% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
20:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.6°C 2% 0% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 9.2° 2% 0mm 11m/s 18m/s 1.8m/s
21:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ 0.35° 0% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
22:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.7°C 2% 0% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -8.4° 2% 0mm - - 0.42m/s
23:00
986hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.8°C 4% 0% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 4% 0mm 12m/s 19m/s 0.09m/s
Fri, Jul 10 Sunrise 05:37 Sunset 21:03
24:00
986hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 10°C 2% 0% 13% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 2% 0mm - - 0.67m/s
01:00
986hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.7°C 0% 0% 26% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 0% 0mm - - 0.67m/s
02:00
985hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.9°C 0% 0% 39% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 0% 0mm 9.1m/s 19m/s 0.26m/s
03:00
985hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.6°C 36% 0% 33% 0mm 98% 0mm -13dBZ -19° 36% 0mm - - 0.48m/s
04:00
985hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.4°C 78% 0% 28% 0mm 98% 0mm -5.9dBZ -13° 78% 0mm - - 0.71m/s
05:00
985hPa 1J/kg 0fraction 0% 9°C 96% 0% 22% 0mm 96% 0mm 1.1dBZ -6° 96% 0mm 7.8m/s 20m/s 0.4m/s
06:00
985hPa 2J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.8°C 84% 0% 15% 0mm 95% 0mm -0.62dBZ 2.8° 84% 0mm - - 0.31m/s
07:00
985hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.8°C 23% 0% 7% 0mm 93% 0mm -2.4dBZ 12° 23% 0mm - - 0.42m/s
08:00
985hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.2°C 51% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -4.1dBZ 22° 51% 0mm 6.9m/s 21m/s 0.77m/s
09:00
985hPa 0J/kg 0.03fraction 0% 8.7°C 77% 0% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -9.4dBZ 33° 77% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
10:00
985hPa 0J/kg 0.06fraction 0% 8.6°C 78% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0.01mm -15dBZ 43° 78% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
11:00
985hPa 0J/kg 0.08fraction 0% 8.6°C 59% 0% 0% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 59% 0mm 6.1m/s 21m/s 2.2m/s
12:00
994hPa 0J/kg 0.06fraction 1% 8°C 39% 2% 0% 0mm 72% 0mm -19dBZ 61° 41% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
13:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0.03fraction 2% 7.3°C 20% 3% 0% 0mm 79% 0mm -19dBZ 66° 23% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
14:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 3% 6.7°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -18dBZ 65° 5% 0mm 6.7m/s 23m/s 3.1m/s
15:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 2% 6.6°C 2% 3% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -19dBZ 59° 5% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
16:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 1% 6.5°C 4% 2% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -19dBZ 50° 6% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
17:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.4°C 6% 0% 0% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 6% 0mm 11m/s 25m/s 1.2m/s
18:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.7°C 37% 0% 0% 0.02mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 37% 0.02mm - - 1.3m/s
19:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 7°C 68% 0% 0% 0.04mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 68% 0.04mm - - 1.4m/s
20:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 7.3°C 100% 0% 0% 0.06mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ 9.2° 100% 0.06mm 13m/s 25m/s 1.6m/s
21:00
1014hPa 0.67J/kg 0fraction 0% 7.8°C 100% 0% 13% 0.13mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ 0.28° 100% 0.19mm - - 1.3m/s
22:00
1014hPa 1.3J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.3°C 100% 0% 26% 0.19mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -8.5° 100% 0.31mm - - 1m/s
23:00
1014hPa 2J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.8°C 100% 0% 39% 0.26mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 100% 0.44mm 13m/s 26m/s 0.74m/s
Sat, Jul 11 Sunrise 05:38 Sunset 21:03
24:00
1015hPa 2.3J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.2°C 100% 0% 26% 0.19mm 92% 0.003mm -9.6dBZ -20° 100% 0.42mm - - 1.9m/s
01:00
1015hPa 2.7J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.6°C 100% 0% 13% 0.13mm 91% 0.007mm 0.9dBZ -22° 100% 0.4mm - - 3.1m/s
02:00
1016hPa 3J/kg 0fraction 0% 9.9°C 100% 0% 0% 0.06mm 91% 0.01mm 11dBZ -22° 100% 0.38mm 13m/s 26m/s 4.3m/s
03:00
1016hPa 2.3J/kg 0fraction 0% 11°C 81% 0% 7% 0.04mm 86% 0.007mm 12dBZ -19° 81% 0.4mm - - 4.3m/s
04:00
1016hPa 1.7J/kg 0fraction 0% 11°C 62% 0% 15% 0.02mm 82% 0.003mm 13dBZ -13° 62% 0.42mm - - 4.3m/s
05:00
1017hPa 1J/kg 0fraction 0% 12°C 44% 0% 22% 0mm 77% 0mm 14dBZ -6.1° 44% 0.44mm 11m/s 28m/s 4.2m/s
06:00
1017hPa 0.67J/kg 0.04fraction 2% 12°C 30% 0% 15% 0mm 75% 0mm 14dBZ 2.7° 31% 0.29mm - - 4.6m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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