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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 78% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts1.4m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure984.8hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index14.6°C
Wind Gusts1.4m/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
Sat, May 23
06:000%43%0J/kg9.6°C24134m1.1m/s
07:000%41%0J/kg10°C24135m2m/s
08:000%43%0J/kg9.7°C24134m1.9m/s
09:000%40%0J/kg9.7°C24135m1.9m/s
10:000%50%0J/kg9.7°C24135m2.4m/s
11:000%15%0J/kg8.5°C24134m2.8m/s
12:000%6.8%0J/kg8.5°C24135m4m/s
13:000%15%0J/kg8.5°C24134m3.9m/s
14:0013%22%0J/kg7.9°C24135m3.7m/s
15:000%38%0J/kg6.5°C24135m3.5m/s
16:000%24%0J/kg6.6°C24135m3.7m/s
17:0013%76%0J/kg6.8°C24135m3.8m/s
18:000%20%0J/kg7.5°C24134m3.6m/s
19:000%32%0J/kg7.4°C24135m3.1m/s
20:0014%21%0J/kg8.5°C24135m2.4m/s
21:000%15%0J/kg10°C24134m1.1m/s
22:000%24%0J/kg11°C24135m0.8m/s
23:0012%15%0J/kg12°C24134m0.81m/s
Sun, May 24
24:000%9.4%0J/kg12°C24134m0.6m/s
01:000%15%0J/kg13°C24134m0.71m/s
02:0014%13%0J/kg14°C24134m0.91m/s
03:000%15%0J/kg14°C24135m1.2m/s
04:000%8.9%0J/kg15°C24134m0.93m/s
05:0014%47%0J/kg15°C24135m1m/s
06:000%61%0J/kg15°C24135m1.4m/s
07:000%73%0J/kg15°C24135m0.81m/s
08:0012%49%0J/kg15°C24134m0.5m/s
09:000%60%0J/kg15°C24134m0.61m/s
10:000%50%0J/kg14°C24134m0.9m/s
11:0011%21%0J/kg14°C24134m1.5m/s
12:000%14%0J/kg13°C24135m2m/s
13:000%17%0J/kg13°C24134m2.6m/s
14:0013%20%0J/kg12°C24135m2.7m/s
15:000%37%0J/kg11°C24134m2.8m/s
16:000%18%0J/kg11°C24135m3.2m/s
17:0011%80%0J/kg11°C24135m3m/s
18:000%64%0J/kg11°C24135m2.6m/s
19:000%71%0J/kg11°C24135m2.1m/s
20:0011%55%0J/kg10°C24135m1m/s
21:000%52%0J/kg9.9°C24134m0.9m/s
22:000%14%0J/kg10°C24134m1m/s
23:0014%0.5%0J/kg11°C24134m1.2m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%5%0J/kg12°C24135m1.1m/s
01:000%1.9%0J/kg11°C24134m1.1m/s
02:0015%0%0J/kg9.7°C24135m1.6m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg11°C24135m0.7m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg13°C24134m0.7m/s
05:0014%55%0J/kg14°C24135m1.1m/s
06:000%56%0J/kg13°C24134m0.82m/s
07:000%56%0J/kg13°C24134m6.4m/s
08:0019%65%0J/kg14°C24134m9.6m/s
09:000%73%0J/kg12°C24134m9.2m/s
10:0017%49%3J/kg9.1°C24115m16m/s
11:0043%40%3J/kg9.1°C4683m13m/s
12:0045%32%61J/kg7.4°C1885m9.4m/s
13:0033%42%41J/kg6.5°C9567m11m/s
14:0051%45%58J/kg6.7°C10058m7.7m/s
15:0021%96%17J/kg7.2°C24056m7.6m/s
16:0022%42%20J/kg6.1°C13233m7m/s
17:0021%60%35J/kg6.3°C15405m6.5m/s
18:000%55%22J/kg6.3°C23501m7.7m/s
19:000%68%22J/kg6.2°C19013m7.9m/s
20:000%75%22J/kg5.8°C24130m8.2m/s
21:000%67%19J/kg5.6°C24131m2.5m/s
22:0013%63%16J/kg5.3°C24134m3.5m/s
23:0013%5.4%8J/kg4.9°C24135m2.3m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%5.7%2J/kg4.5°C24134m1.8m/s
01:000%4%4J/kg4.5°C24135m1.7m/s
02:000%9.4%7J/kg4.6°C24134m1.2m/s
03:000%11%2J/kg4.6°C24135m1.2m/s
04:000%12%0J/kg4.6°C24134m1.8m/s
05:0011%32%2J/kg4.7°C24134m1.3m/s
06:000%32%2J/kg4.9°C24134m1m/s
07:000%38%8J/kg5.3°C24135m1.5m/s
08:0011%38%13J/kg5.6°C24135m1.1m/s
09:000%52%20J/kg5.8°C22853m0.63m/s
10:000%46%25J/kg5.6°C14049m1.3m/s
11:000%50%27J/kg5.7°C15308m2m/s
12:000%19%26J/kg5.5°C18168m3m/s
13:000%18%26J/kg5.4°C21028m3.9m/s
14:000%16%25J/kg5.2°C23888m4.9m/s
15:000%30%19J/kg5.2°C23970m4.5m/s
16:000%25%12J/kg5.2°C24053m4.2m/s
17:000%11%6J/kg5.2°C24135m3.8m/s
18:000%8.8%4J/kg7.1°C24135m3.3m/s
19:000%10%2J/kg9°C24135m2.8m/s
20:000%8.4%0J/kg11°C24135m2.3m/s
21:000%17%0J/kg11°C24135m2.1m/s
22:000%14%0J/kg12°C24135m1.9m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg12°C24135m1.7m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%0%0J/kg12°C24135m2.5m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg12°C24135m3.2m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg12°C24135m3.9m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg12°C24135m4.4m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg12°C24135m4.9m/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
Sun, May 24 Sunrise 05:36 Sunset 20:49
06:00
985hPa 0J/kg 100% 15°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ 3.1° 100% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
07:00
985hPa 0J/kg 49% 15°C 0% 90% 0% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 90% 0mm - - 0.83m/s
08:00
985hPa 0J/kg 13% 15°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 13% 0mm 11m/s 15m/s 0.19m/s
09:00
985hPa 0J/kg 26% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 33° 26% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
10:00
984hPa 0J/kg 59% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 59% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
11:00
984hPa 0J/kg 100% 14°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 100% 0mm 9.3m/s 13m/s 2m/s
12:00
984hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 61° 100% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
13:00
983hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 0% 94% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ 65° 100% 0mm - - 3m/s
14:00
983hPa 0J/kg 98% 12°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 64° 100% 0mm 6.8m/s 14m/s 3.1m/s
15:00
982hPa 0J/kg 86% 11°C 0% 32% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ 57° 86% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
16:00
982hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 100% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
17:00
981hPa 0J/kg 12% 11°C 0% 69% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 69% 0mm 6m/s 14m/s 2.7m/s
18:00
981hPa 0J/kg 22% 11°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 27° 100% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
19:00
981hPa 0J/kg 36% 11°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 17° 100% 0mm - - 2m/s
20:00
981hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 0% 23% 0% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ 100% 0mm 8.6m/s 14m/s 1.1m/s
21:00
981hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.9°C 0% 46% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -12dBZ -2.3° 100% 0mm - - 0.96m/s
22:00
981hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -3dBZ -11° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
23:00
981hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm 5.4dBZ -17° 100% 0mm 11m/s 16m/s 1.4m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 05:35 Sunset 20:50
24:00
981hPa 0J/kg 5% 12°C 0% 95% 10% 0mm 63% 0mm -3dBZ -22° 95% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
01:00
980hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 0% 100% 20% 0mm 68% 0mm -12dBZ -23° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
02:00
979hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.7°C 0% 100% 29% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 100% 0mm 14m/s 21m/s 2m/s
03:00
979hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 0% 100% 53% 0mm 53% 0mm -14dBZ -19° 100% 0mm - - 0.82m/s
04:00
979hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 0% 100% 76% 0mm 55% 0mm -7.3dBZ -13° 100% 0mm - - 0.84m/s
05:00
978hPa 0J/kg 83% 14°C 0% 100% 99% 0mm 55% 0mm -0.92dBZ -5.8° 100% 0mm 12m/s 18m/s 1.3m/s
06:00
978hPa 0J/kg 61% 13°C 0% 100% 98% 0mm 59% 0mm 1.3dBZ 3.2° 100% 0mm - - 0.88m/s
07:00
977hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 5% 100% 98% 0mm 62% 0mm 3.4dBZ 13° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
08:00
977hPa 0J/kg 65% 14°C 72% 100% 97% 0mm 62% 0mm 5.6dBZ 23° 100% 0mm 16m/s 21m/s 2.5m/s
09:00
976hPa 0J/kg 24% 12°C 93% 100% 98% 0mm 58% 0mm 15dBZ 34° 100% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
10:00
976hPa 3J/kg 5% 9.1°C 100% 100% 98% 0.42mm 58% 0mm 25dBZ 44° 100% 0.13mm - - 4.1m/s
11:00
976hPa 3J/kg 0% 9.1°C 100% 100% 99% 3.8mm 91% 0.03mm 34dBZ 54° 100% 2mm 2.7m/s 23m/s 4m/s
12:00
977hPa 61J/kg 0% 7.4°C 100% 100% 99% 1.6mm 99% 0.62mm 26dBZ 61° 100% 3.7mm - - 3.5m/s
13:00
977hPa 41J/kg 33% 6.5°C 71% 100% 99% 0.17mm 99% 0.58mm 17dBZ 65° 100% 4.9mm - - 3.6m/s
14:00
977hPa 58J/kg 10% 6.7°C 100% 100% 99% 0.28mm 97% 0.73mm 8.4dBZ 64° 100% 5.9mm 14m/s 33m/s 3.6m/s
15:00
977hPa 17J/kg 10% 7.2°C 70% 33% 99% 0mm 97% 0.18mm 10dBZ 57° 70% 6.4mm - - 2.1m/s
16:00
977hPa 20J/kg 0% 6.1°C 16% 0% 100% 0mm 88% 0.27mm 12dBZ 48° 16% 6.7mm - - 3.3m/s
17:00
977hPa 35J/kg 0% 6.3°C 58% 0% 100% 0mm 84% 0.38mm 14dBZ 38° 58% 7.1mm 2.7m/s 8.1m/s 3.8m/s
18:00
977hPa 22J/kg 0% 6.3°C 26% 0% 96% 0mm 85% 0.23mm 17dBZ 27° 26% 0.31mm - - 3.3m/s
19:00
977hPa 22J/kg 0% 6.2°C 63% 0% 91% 0mm 88% 0.29mm 19dBZ 17° 63% 0.56mm - - 3.1m/s
20:00
977hPa 22J/kg 0% 5.8°C 57% 0% 87% 0mm 93% 0.13mm 22dBZ 7.1° 57% 0.75mm 2m/s 1m/s 2.4m/s
21:00
977hPa 19J/kg 0% 5.6°C 95% 11% 88% 0mm 98% 0.16mm 18dBZ -2.1° 95% 0.94mm - - 1.7m/s
22:00
977hPa 16J/kg 0% 5.3°C 92% 49% 90% 0.01mm 98% 0.11mm 15dBZ -10° 92% 1.1mm - - 1.6m/s
23:00
977hPa 8J/kg 0% 4.9°C 100% 66% 91% 0.02mm 97% 0.01mm 11dBZ -17° 100% 1.2mm 5.4m/s 3.1m/s 1.6m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 05:34 Sunset 20:51
24:00
977hPa 2J/kg 0% 4.5°C 100% 99% 69% 0mm 97% 0.01mm 5.9dBZ -21° 100% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
01:00
977hPa 4J/kg 0% 4.5°C 100% 5% 48% 0mm 96% 0.01mm 0.43dBZ -23° 100% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
02:00
977hPa 7J/kg 0% 4.6°C 100% 5% 26% 0mm 95% 0.03mm -5dBZ -22° 100% 0.06mm 7.7m/s 8.6m/s 1.3m/s
03:00
978hPa 2J/kg 0% 4.6°C 100% 58% 36% 0mm 95% 0.01mm -4.9dBZ -19° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.5m/s
04:00
978hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.6°C 100% 38% 46% 0mm 95% 0mm -4.8dBZ -13° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.6m/s
05:00
978hPa 2J/kg 0% 4.7°C 100% 5% 56% 0mm 95% 0mm -4.7dBZ -5.7° 100% 0.06mm 7.7m/s 11m/s 1.5m/s
06:00
979hPa 2J/kg 0% 4.9°C 100% 4% 65% 0mm 94% 0mm -5.1dBZ 3.3° 100% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
07:00
980hPa 8J/kg 0% 5.3°C 97% 5% 74% 0mm 93% 0.01mm -5.5dBZ 13° 97% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
08:00
981hPa 13J/kg 0% 5.6°C 96% 0% 82% 0mm 87% 0.07mm -6dBZ 23° 96% 0.06mm 7.2m/s 11m/s 0.73m/s
09:00
981hPa 20J/kg 0% 5.8°C 76% 0% 82% 0mm 86% 0.13mm -11dBZ 34° 76% 0.13mm - - 0.23m/s
10:00
982hPa 25J/kg 0% 5.6°C 71% 0% 83% 0mm 79% 0.24mm -15dBZ 44° 71% 0.31mm - - 0.74m/s
11:00
982hPa 27J/kg 0% 5.7°C 59% 0% 83% 0mm 75% 0.29mm -20dBZ 54° 59% 0.56mm 5.2m/s 8.1m/s 1.6m/s
12:00
992hPa 26J/kg 0% 5.5°C 61% 0% 68% 0mm 78% 0.24mm -20dBZ 62° 61% 0.42mm - - 2.3m/s
13:00
1002hPa 26J/kg 0% 5.4°C 63% 0% 54% 0mm 80% 0.19mm -20dBZ 66° 63% 0.27mm - - 3.1m/s
14:00
1012hPa 25J/kg 0% 5.2°C 65% 0% 39% 0mm 83% 0.14mm -20dBZ 64° 65% 0.13mm 5.2m/s 5.8m/s 3.8m/s
15:00
1012hPa 19J/kg 0% 5.2°C 45% 2% 53% 0.01mm 84% 0.1mm -20dBZ 57° 45% 0.21mm - - 3.4m/s
16:00
1012hPa 12J/kg 0% 5.2°C 25% 3% 67% 0.02mm 86% 0.05mm -20dBZ 48° 25% 0.29mm - - 3m/s
17:00
1012hPa 6J/kg 0% 5.2°C 5% 5% 82% 0.03mm 87% 0.01mm -20dBZ 38° 5% 0.38mm 5.3m/s 8.6m/s 2.6m/s
18:00
1012hPa 4J/kg 0% 7.1°C 6% 3% 68% 0.02mm 88% 0.007mm -9.1dBZ 28° 7% 0.27mm - - 2.4m/s
19:00
1012hPa 2J/kg 0% 9°C 8% 2% 54% 0.01mm 88% 0.003mm 1.7dBZ 17° 8% 0.17mm - - 2.3m/s
20:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 9% 0% 40% 0mm 89% 0mm 13dBZ 7.3° 9% 0.06mm 3.3m/s 9m/s 2.2m/s
21:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 1% 11°C 8% 1% 45% 0mm 89% 0mm 8.4dBZ -1.9° 8% 0.06mm - - 2m/s
22:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 3% 12°C 7% 1% 51% 0mm 88% 0mm 4.3dBZ -10° 7% 0.06mm - - 1.8m/s
23:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 4% 12°C 5% 2% 56% 0mm 87% 0mm 0.2dBZ -17° 5% 0.06mm 6.3m/s 17m/s 1.6m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 05:33 Sunset 20:52
24:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 3% 12°C 6% 1% 42% 0mm 87% 0mm -6.3dBZ -21° 6% 0.04mm - - 1.8m/s
01:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 3% 12°C 7% 1% 28% 0mm 86% 0mm -13dBZ -23° 7% 0.02mm - - 1.9m/s
02:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 2% 12°C 8% 0% 14% 0mm 85% 0mm -19dBZ -22° 8% 0mm 7.4m/s 14m/s 2.1m/s
03:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 2% 12°C 9% 0% 22% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 9% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
04:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 2% 12°C 9% 0% 31% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 10% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
05:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 2% 11°C 10% 0% 39% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -5.6° 10% 0mm 7.9m/s 14m/s 5.3m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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