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Rule Storm Chaser

Crater Lake - Storm Chaser - Pacific Northwest

Klamath Falls, 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 99% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts2.2m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure866.3hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index1.4°C
Wind Gusts2.2m/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%6.8%12J/kg0.2°C24134m3.3m/s
23:000%1.2%0J/kg1.1°C24135m2.9m/s
Wed, Jul 8
24:000%0.8%0J/kg0.9°C24134m2.6m/s
01:000%2%0J/kg0.9°C24135m2.5m/s
02:000%2.4%0J/kg1.2°C24134m2.8m/s
03:000%1.2%0J/kg1.4°C24134m3.1m/s
04:000%0.9%0J/kg1.4°C24134m2.6m/s
05:000%7.2%0J/kg1.4°C24134m2.5m/s
06:000%7%0J/kg1.3°C24134m2.6m/s
07:000%7%0J/kg1.4°C24135m2.2m/s
08:000%8.5%0J/kg1.5°C24135m2.4m/s
09:000%7.5%0J/kg1.8°C24135m2m/s
10:000%6.9%0J/kg2.1°C24135m1.4m/s
11:000%6.9%0J/kg2.2°C21692m1.6m/s
12:000%14%0J/kg1.8°C21984m2m/s
13:000%5.3%0J/kg1.7°C24134m3m/s
14:000%8.7%0J/kg1.8°C24135m4.1m/s
15:000%16%0J/kg1.6°C24134m4.8m/s
16:000%23%0J/kg1.1°C24134m5.1m/s
17:000%24%0J/kg1.3°C24135m5.2m/s
18:000%19%0J/kg1.9°C24135m5.6m/s
19:000%15%0J/kg1.5°C24135m6.5m/s
20:000%31%0J/kg1.1°C24134m8.8m/s
21:000%12%0J/kg1.3°C24134m5.8m/s
22:000%7.5%0J/kg1.9°C24134m4.6m/s
23:000%1%0J/kg2.5°C24135m3m/s
Thu, Jul 9
24:000%0.8%0J/kg3.3°C24135m2.2m/s
01:000%0.6%0J/kg3.3°C24134m2.7m/s
02:000%0.3%0J/kg3.7°C24135m3.2m/s
03:000%0.4%0J/kg3.9°C24134m4.1m/s
04:000%0.3%0J/kg3.8°C24135m3.3m/s
05:000%7%0J/kg4°C24135m3.2m/s
06:000%7.4%0J/kg4.3°C24134m2.7m/s
07:000%7.4%0J/kg4.8°C24135m3.2m/s
08:000%7%0J/kg5.8°C24134m2.6m/s
09:000%5.8%0J/kg6.3°C24134m2.7m/s
10:000%5.8%0J/kg6.8°C24135m2.4m/s
11:000%5.8%0J/kg7.9°C24135m2.8m/s
12:000%4.6%0J/kg7.3°C24134m3.2m/s
13:000%4.3%0J/kg6.2°C24135m3.6m/s
14:000%4.2%0J/kg5°C24135m4.2m/s
15:000%5.8%0J/kg4.4°C24135m4.8m/s
16:000%5.8%0J/kg4.2°C24135m4.8m/s
17:000%5.8%0J/kg4.4°C24135m5.4m/s
18:000%8.1%0J/kg4.9°C24135m5.3m/s
19:000%9.1%0J/kg5.4°C24135m5.8m/s
20:000%9.1%0J/kg5.3°C24134m7.6m/s
21:000%6.5%0J/kg4.3°C24135m6.2m/s
22:000%6.5%0J/kg3.5°C24134m4.8m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg3.5°C24135m3.5m/s
Fri, Jul 10
24:000%0%0J/kg3.4°C24134m3.3m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg3.3°C24134m3.2m/s
02:0015%0%0J/kg3.4°C24135m4.1m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg3.2°C24134m2.9m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg3°C24134m2.5m/s
05:0013%6.5%0J/kg3.1°C24134m2.4m/s
06:000%6.5%0J/kg3.4°C24135m2.1m/s
07:000%6.5%0J/kg3.4°C24134m2m/s
08:0013%6.5%0J/kg3.4°C24134m1.4m/s
09:000%5.8%0J/kg3.4°C24135m0.7m/s
10:000%5.8%0J/kg3.8°C24135m1.5m/s
11:0016%5.8%0J/kg3.8°C24135m2.5m/s
12:000%4.2%0J/kg4.2°C24135m4.7m/s
13:000%6%0J/kg4.6°C24135m7m/s
14:0016%6%0J/kg5°C24135m9.2m/s
15:000%13%0J/kg4.8°C24135m6.8m/s
16:000%10%0J/kg4.6°C24135m4.4m/s
17:0015%10%0J/kg4.5°C24135m1.9m/s
18:000%10%0J/kg4.6°C24135m1.7m/s
19:000%12%0J/kg4.7°C24135m1.4m/s
20:0015%12%0J/kg4.8°C24135m1.1m/s
21:000%53%0J/kg4.9°C24135m1.1m/s
22:000%56%0J/kg5°C24135m1.1m/s
23:0016%0%0J/kg5.1°C24135m1m/s
Sat, Jul 11
24:000%0%0J/kg5.2°C24135m0.79m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg5.4°C24135m0.56m/s
02:0018%0%0J/kg5.5°C24135m0.33m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg5.1°C24135m1.1m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg4.6°C24135m1.8m/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 05:39 Sunset 20:45
07:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 1.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 0% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
08:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 1.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 0% 0mm 0.98m/s 8.3m/s 2.4m/s
09:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 1.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 0% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
10:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 2.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 0% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
11:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 2.2°C 1% 0% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 56° 1% 0mm 1.2m/s 7.6m/s 2.3m/s
12:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 4% 1.8°C 1% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 65° 4% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
13:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 1.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 70° 0% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
14:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 4% 1.8°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ 68° 4% 0mm 4.3m/s 7.6m/s 4.6m/s
15:00
864hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 1.6°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 60° 5% 0mm - - 5.9m/s
16:00
864hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 1.1°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ 50° 5% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
17:00
864hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 1.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 0% 0mm 5.6m/s 8m/s 8m/s
18:00
864hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 1.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 0% 0mm - - 7m/s
19:00
864hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 1.5°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 17° 5% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
20:00
864hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 1.1°C 0% 12% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 6.7° 12% 0mm 5.7m/s 6.4m/s 5.7m/s
21:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 1.3°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -3° 5% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
22:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 1.9°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 5% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
23:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 2.5°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 4% 0mm 2.9m/s 4.8m/s 3.1m/s
Thu, Jul 9 Sunrise 05:39 Sunset 20:44
24:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.3°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 1% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
01:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 0% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
02:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ -24° 0% 0mm 3.3m/s 2.3m/s 3.3m/s
03:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 0% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
04:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 0% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
05:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ -6.8° 0% 0mm 3.9m/s 5.2m/s 3.3m/s
06:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ 2.7° 0% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
07:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 0% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
08:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 5.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 0% 0mm 4.2m/s 6.2m/s 2.4m/s
09:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 0% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
10:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 0% 0mm - - 3m/s
11:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 7.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 56° 0% 0mm 3.3m/s 5m/s 3.2m/s
12:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 7.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 65° 0% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
13:00
864hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 70° 0% 0mm - - 3m/s
14:00
863hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 68° 0% 0mm 3.2m/s 2.1m/s 3.5m/s
15:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 60° 0% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
16:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 50° 0% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
17:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 0% 0mm 6.9m/s 5.3m/s 5.8m/s
18:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 0% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
19:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 5.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 17° 0% 0mm - - 6.2m/s
20:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 5.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 6.6° 0% 0mm 7.9m/s 6.8m/s 5.1m/s
21:00
863hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -3.1° 0% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
22:00
863hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 0% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
23:00
863hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 0% 0mm 6.5m/s 9.2m/s 3.5m/s
Fri, Jul 10 Sunrise 05:40 Sunset 20:44
24:00
863hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 0% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
01:00
863hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 0% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
02:00
863hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 0% 0mm 8.6m/s 12m/s 3.7m/s
03:00
863hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 0% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
04:00
863hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 0% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
05:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ -6.9° 0% 0mm 9.1m/s 12m/s 2.5m/s
06:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ 2.6° 0% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
07:00
863hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 0% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
08:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 0% 0mm 9.9m/s 15m/s 1.7m/s
09:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 0% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
10:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 0% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
11:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 56° 0% 0mm 11m/s 15m/s 2.4m/s
12:00
862hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 65° 0% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
13:00
863hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ 70° 0% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
14:00
864hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 68° 0% 0mm 6.8m/s 13m/s 5.3m/s
15:00
864hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 2% 4.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ 60° 2% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
16:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 3% 4.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ 50° 3% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
17:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 4.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 5% 0mm 12m/s 15m/s 2.2m/s
18:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 4.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 5% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
19:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 4.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ 17° 5% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
20:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 4% 4.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 6.6° 4% 0mm 11m/s 15m/s 1.3m/s
21:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 23% 4.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -3.2° 23% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
22:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 41% 5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 41% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
23:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 60% 5.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 60% 0mm 10m/s 19m/s 1m/s
Sat, Jul 11 Sunrise 05:41 Sunset 20:43
24:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 72% 5.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ -24° 72% 0mm - - 0.76m/s
01:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 84% 5.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ -26° 84% 0mm - - 0.51m/s
02:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 96% 5.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 96% 0mm 11m/s 25m/s 0.25m/s
03:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 65% 5.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 65% 0mm - - 0.43m/s
04:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 35% 4.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 35% 0mm - - 0.62m/s
05:00
866hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 4.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ -7° 5% 0mm 13m/s 25m/s 0.8m/s
06:00
865hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 37% 3.6°C 0% 2% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 2.5° 37% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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