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Rule Storm Chaser

Mt Rainier - Storm Chaser - Pacific Northwest

Eatonville, Washington, 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 68% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts2.8m/s
Precipitation Chance59%
Air Pressure937.8hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index4.2°C
Wind Gusts2.8m/s
Precipitation0.2mm

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
Fri, Apr 10
12:000%37%0J/kg3.3°C24134m1.6m/s
13:000%78%0J/kg2.6°C24135m2.5m/s
14:0013%36%0J/kg1.9°C24135m2.9m/s
15:000%42%0J/kg0.8°C24135m2.1m/s
16:000%42%3J/kg0.7°C24134m2.6m/s
17:0015%44%7J/kg0.5°C24134m2.3m/s
18:000%54%65J/kg-0.5°C24135m2.6m/s
19:000%37%27J/kg0.2°C19452m1.2m/s
20:0014%98%5J/kg0.3°C24134m0.7m/s
21:000%63%4J/kg0.2°C24135m0.9m/s
22:000%8.6%22J/kg-0.2°C16276m1m/s
23:000%10%21J/kg0.1°C13283m0.9m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%1.8%13J/kg0.2°C22891m0.81m/s
01:000%2.3%9J/kg0.5°C19243m1m/s
02:0017%0.7%25J/kg0.7°C1973m0.92m/s
03:0019%0%34J/kg0.9°C412m1.5m/s
04:0032%0%18J/kg1.2°C367m2m/s
05:0044%0%9J/kg2.8°C146m2.4m/s
06:0033%64%11J/kg2.7°C452m1.2m/s
07:0036%64%15J/kg2.8°C226m2.2m/s
08:0047%60%1J/kg3.4°C407m3.3m/s
09:0036%60%0J/kg3.5°C3423m2.7m/s
10:0021%51%0J/kg3.7°C11555m1.8m/s
11:0022%43%0J/kg4.2°C24135m1.9m/s
12:000%51%0J/kg4.2°C23780m2.8m/s
13:000%55%0J/kg3.9°C22102m2.1m/s
14:000%57%1J/kg4.1°C24134m1.4m/s
15:000%84%4J/kg4°C24134m1.4m/s
16:000%60%16J/kg3°C24135m1.3m/s
17:000%58%26J/kg2.6°C24012m1.3m/s
18:000%67%18J/kg3.1°C21883m1.9m/s
19:0017%100%6J/kg3.5°C1099m2.1m/s
20:000%66%0J/kg4.1°C7008m1.5m/s
21:000%52%0J/kg4.1°C24134m0.9m/s
22:000%2.7%0J/kg4°C24135m0.51m/s
23:000%5.1%0J/kg4.1°C24134m0.71m/s
Sun, Apr 12
24:000%9.1%0J/kg4°C24135m0.7m/s
01:000%13%0J/kg4°C24135m0.81m/s
02:000%9.3%0J/kg3.8°C24134m0.7m/s
03:000%13%0J/kg3.6°C24135m0.71m/s
04:000%14%0J/kg3.5°C24135m0.71m/s
05:000%11%0J/kg2.9°C24135m0.61m/s
06:000%81%0J/kg2.8°C24135m0.82m/s
07:000%48%0J/kg2.8°C24135m0.71m/s
08:000%47%0J/kg3.1°C18435m0.6m/s
09:000%57%0J/kg3.3°C24135m1.9m/s
10:000%35%0J/kg3.7°C24134m1.8m/s
11:000%49%0J/kg4°C24134m1.8m/s
12:000%43%0J/kg4.1°C24134m1.9m/s
13:000%42%0J/kg4.2°C24135m2.2m/s
14:000%42%0J/kg4.2°C24135m2.6m/s
15:000%54%0J/kg4.4°C24135m2.8m/s
16:000%56%6J/kg4.7°C24135m3.1m/s
17:000%49%9J/kg4.7°C24135m2.8m/s
18:000%60%17J/kg4.5°C23119m2.4m/s
19:000%37%19J/kg4.2°C21852m2.6m/s
20:000%33%14J/kg4.1°C24135m2.7m/s
21:000%25%9J/kg4.2°C24134m2.3m/s
22:000%5.7%2J/kg4.2°C7286m2.1m/s
23:000%5.8%5J/kg4.1°C6929m2.3m/s
Mon, Apr 13
24:000%4.7%0J/kg4.4°C7732m3.1m/s
01:000%7.3%0J/kg4.9°C13782m3.4m/s
02:000%8.8%0J/kg5.8°C14215m5.6m/s
03:000%8.8%0J/kg5.6°C22184m5.6m/s
04:000%6.9%0J/kg5.2°C24135m5.1m/s
05:000%11%0J/kg5.8°C14842m4.9m/s
06:000%41%0J/kg6.3°C13855m3.2m/s
07:000%38%0J/kg6.5°C16809m2.5m/s
08:0015%42%0J/kg6.9°C24134m4.1m/s
09:000%35%0J/kg7.7°C13880m5m/s
10:000%30%1J/kg8.2°C7682m4.9m/s
11:0030%30%3J/kg8.6°C3054m5.2m/s
12:000%32%14J/kg9.1°C13733m5.2m/s
13:000%35%16J/kg10°C15539m4.8m/s
14:0016%49%32J/kg10°C21007m4.7m/s
15:000%49%36J/kg10°C15998m5.1m/s
16:0015%59%30J/kg10°C21318m5.5m/s
17:0026%62%27J/kg11°C17371m5.4m/s
18:000%62%22J/kg12°C19626m6.5m/s
19:000%64%18J/kg13°C21880m7.7m/s
20:000%62%13J/kg15°C24135m8.8m/s
21:000%55%11J/kg14°C24135m8.7m/s
22:000%0%9J/kg14°C24135m8.6m/s
23:000%0%7J/kg14°C24135m8.6m/s
Tue, Apr 14
24:000%0%5J/kg14°C24135m8.5m/s
01:000%0%3J/kg14°C24135m8.5m/s
02:0012%0%1J/kg14°C24135m8.4m/s
03:000%0%1J/kg14°C24135m9m/s
04:000%0%1J/kg13°C24135m9.6m/s
05:0015%0%1J/kg13°C24135m10m/s
06:000%67%5.3J/kg13°C20214m11m/s
07:000%67%9.7J/kg12°C16293m11m/s
08:0019%62%14J/kg12°C12372m12m/s
09:0023%55%9.7J/kg11°C11983m12m/s
10:0027%55%5.3J/kg11°C11594m13m/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
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:28 Sunset 19:50
12:00
938hPa 0J/kg 10% 4.2°C 100% 12% 59% 0.19mm 94% 0.03mm 27dBZ 49° 100% 0.19mm - - 1.2m/s
13:00
938hPa 0J/kg 39% 3.9°C 100% 38% 39% 0.26mm 93% 0.03mm 26dBZ 52° 100% 0.44mm - - 0.95m/s
14:00
938hPa 1J/kg 16% 4.1°C 95% 56% 19% 0.13mm 92% 0.02mm 24dBZ 50° 95% 0.69mm 7.4m/s 1.1m/s 0.51m/s
15:00
938hPa 4J/kg 32% 4°C 60% 57% 20% 0.04mm 87% 0.05mm 14dBZ 45° 65% 0.81mm - - 0.29m/s
16:00
937hPa 16J/kg 85% 3°C 52% 95% 21% 0.01mm 81% 0.06mm 3.1dBZ 37° 95% 0.88mm - - 0.89m/s
17:00
937hPa 26J/kg 92% 2.6°C 65% 100% 22% 0mm 83% 0.11mm -7.6dBZ 28° 100% 0.94mm 7.9m/s 2.9m/s 1.8m/s
18:00
937hPa 18J/kg 81% 3.1°C 62% 90% 15% 0mm 91% 0.09mm -12dBZ 18° 90% 0.06mm - - 1.9m/s
19:00
937hPa 6J/kg 13% 3.5°C 69% 10% 7% 0mm 96% 0.05mm -16dBZ 8.1° 69% 0.19mm - - 1.6m/s
20:00
937hPa 0J/kg 89% 4.1°C 64% 25% 0% 0mm 99% 0.01mm -20dBZ -1.9° 89% 0.19mm 7.6m/s 5.7m/s 1.1m/s
21:00
937hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.1°C 34% 40% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 100% 0.19mm - - 0.6m/s
22:00
937hPa 0J/kg 100% 4°C 22% 92% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 100% 0.19mm - - 0.51m/s
23:00
937hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.1°C 14% 20% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -27° 100% 0.19mm 6.4m/s 6m/s 0.55m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 06:26 Sunset 19:52
24:00
936hPa 0J/kg 100% 4°C 12% 2% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 100% 0mm - - 0.66m/s
01:00
936hPa 0J/kg 22% 4°C 11% 0% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 22% 0mm - - 0.76m/s
02:00
935hPa 0J/kg 60% 3.8°C 10% 3% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 60% 0mm 5.4m/s 9m/s 0.56m/s
03:00
935hPa 0J/kg 24% 3.6°C 8% 0% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 26% 0mm - - 0.41m/s
04:00
935hPa 0J/kg 5% 3.5°C 8% 0% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 8% 0mm - - 0.66m/s
05:00
935hPa 0J/kg 57% 2.9°C 6% 1% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 58% 0mm 5.5m/s 6.5m/s 0.47m/s
06:00
935hPa 0J/kg 66% 2.8°C 16% 6% 13% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -5.2° 68% 0mm - - 0.76m/s
07:00
935hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.8°C 14% 3% 26% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ 4.9° 100% 0mm - - 0.47m/s
08:00
935hPa 0J/kg 98% 3.1°C 22% 3% 39% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ 15° 98% 0mm 7.1m/s 3.9m/s 0.34m/s
09:00
935hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.3°C 46% 15% 54% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
10:00
935hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.7°C 66% 2% 68% 0mm 84% 0.01mm -20dBZ 35° 100% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
11:00
936hPa 0J/kg 100% 4°C 84% 42% 83% 0mm 79% 0.02mm -20dBZ 43° 100% 0mm 2.9m/s 2.1m/s 2m/s
12:00
936hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.1°C 84% 62% 71% 0mm 81% 0.02mm -18dBZ 49° 100% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
13:00
936hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.2°C 76% 94% 60% 0mm 78% 0.02mm -15dBZ 52° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.1m/s
14:00
937hPa 0J/kg 82% 4.2°C 65% 95% 49% 0mm 71% 0.01mm -13dBZ 51° 100% 0.06mm 2.1m/s 1.7m/s 2.4m/s
15:00
937hPa 0J/kg 42% 4.4°C 64% 95% 56% 0mm 73% 0.03mm -4dBZ 45° 98% 0.06mm - - 2.5m/s
16:00
937hPa 6J/kg 9% 4.7°C 79% 93% 62% 0mm 73% 0.06mm 5dBZ 38° 93% 0.13mm - - 2.3m/s
17:00
937hPa 9J/kg 4% 4.7°C 63% 4% 69% 0mm 77% 0.09mm 14dBZ 28° 63% 0.19mm 3.6m/s 1.6m/s 1.8m/s
18:00
938hPa 17J/kg 24% 4.5°C 96% 1% 59% 0mm 78% 0.13mm 16dBZ 18° 96% 0.13mm - - 1.5m/s
19:00
938hPa 19J/kg 5% 4.2°C 100% 2% 49% 0.03mm 89% 0.16mm 18dBZ 8.3° 100% 0.25mm - - 1.5m/s
20:00
939hPa 14J/kg 5% 4.1°C 100% 5% 39% 0.05mm 96% 0.01mm 20dBZ -1.7° 100% 0.38mm 5.9m/s 4.8m/s 1.4m/s
21:00
940hPa 9J/kg 0% 4.2°C 100% 5% 53% 0.05mm 97% 0.03mm 10dBZ -11° 100% 0.44mm - - 1.2m/s
22:00
940hPa 2J/kg 2% 4.2°C 100% 4% 68% 0.02mm 98% 0.02mm 1dBZ -20° 100% 0.5mm - - 1.1m/s
23:00
940hPa 5J/kg 2% 4.1°C 100% 1% 82% 0.03mm 98% 0.02mm -8.4dBZ -27° 100% 0.56mm 11m/s 8.1m/s 1.4m/s
Mon, Apr 13 Sunrise 06:25 Sunset 19:53
24:00
941hPa 0J/kg 10% 4.4°C 94% 13% 82% 0.01mm 98% 0.04mm -12dBZ -32° 94% 0.06mm - - 1.6m/s
01:00
942hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.9°C 100% 45% 82% 0mm 96% 0.05mm -16dBZ -34° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.4m/s
02:00
942hPa 0J/kg 1% 5.8°C 100% 67% 82% 0mm 94% 0.03mm -20dBZ -33° 100% 0.13mm 11m/s 9.3m/s 1.3m/s
03:00
943hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.6°C 100% 4% 86% 0mm 94% 0.03mm -12dBZ -29° 100% 0.19mm - - 1.2m/s
04:00
943hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.2°C 100% 1% 90% 0mm 94% 0.02mm -4.7dBZ -22° 100% 0.19mm - - 1.1m/s
05:00
943hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.8°C 100% 3% 95% 0.03mm 94% 0.01mm 2.9dBZ -14° 100% 0.25mm 9.5m/s 6.8m/s 1m/s
06:00
944hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.3°C 100% 5% 96% 0.05mm 94% 0.08mm 1.7dBZ -4.8° 100% 0.06mm - - 0.86m/s
07:00
944hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.5°C 100% 5% 97% 0.03mm 94% 0.08mm 0.53dBZ 5.2° 100% 0.19mm - - 0.78m/s
08:00
945hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.9°C 100% 1% 98% 0mm 92% 0.08mm -0.68dBZ 15° 100% 0.25mm 9.7m/s 12m/s 1.2m/s
09:00
946hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.7°C 100% 0% 96% 0mm 90% 0.09mm -4.7dBZ 25° 100% 0.38mm - - 1.3m/s
10:00
946hPa 1J/kg 0% 8.2°C 100% 0% 95% 0mm 90% 0.12mm -8.8dBZ 35° 100% 0.5mm - - 1.4m/s
11:00
947hPa 3J/kg 0% 8.6°C 100% 0% 93% 0mm 91% 0.18mm -13dBZ 43° 100% 0.63mm 8.6m/s 16m/s 1.4m/s
12:00
947hPa 14J/kg 3% 9.1°C 100% 0% 75% 0mm 92% 0.2mm -7.7dBZ 50° 100% 0.19mm - - 1.3m/s
13:00
948hPa 16J/kg 5% 10°C 100% 0% 57% 0mm 90% 0.21mm -2.7dBZ 52° 100% 0.38mm - - 1.4m/s
14:00
948hPa 32J/kg 79% 10°C 100% 16% 39% 0mm 86% 0.24mm 2.4dBZ 51° 100% 0.63mm 7m/s 14m/s 1.6m/s
15:00
948hPa 36J/kg 71% 10°C 100% 100% 59% 0mm 86% 0.25mm -3dBZ 46° 100% 0.88mm - - 2m/s
16:00
948hPa 30J/kg 100% 10°C 94% 68% 79% 0mm 89% 0.23mm -8.3dBZ 38° 100% 1.1mm - - 1.8m/s
17:00
948hPa 27J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 87% 98% 0mm 85% 0.21mm -14dBZ 29° 100% 1.3mm 8m/s 11m/s 2.4m/s
18:00
967hPa 22J/kg 100% 12°C 91% 81% 79% 0mm 86% 0.15mm -11dBZ 19° 100% 0.9mm - - 2.5m/s
19:00
985hPa 18J/kg 100% 13°C 82% 74% 59% 0mm 88% 0.1mm -7.7dBZ 8.5° 100% 0.48mm - - 2.7m/s
20:00
1004hPa 13J/kg 100% 15°C 73% 68% 39% 0mm 89% 0.04mm -4.8dBZ -1.4° 100% 0.06mm 10m/s 9.8m/s 2.9m/s
21:00
1004hPa 11J/kg 70% 14°C 82% 67% 53% 0.003mm 87% 0.03mm -9.8dBZ -11° 100% 0.08mm - - 3m/s
22:00
1004hPa 9J/kg 41% 14°C 91% 65% 68% 0.007mm 85% 0.02mm -15dBZ -20° 100% 0.1mm - - 3.1m/s
23:00
1004hPa 7J/kg 12% 14°C 100% 63% 82% 0.01mm 83% 0.01mm -20dBZ -27° 100% 0.13mm 9.2m/s 6.9m/s 3.2m/s
Tue, Apr 14 Sunrise 06:23 Sunset 19:54
24:00
1003hPa 5J/kg 41% 14°C 100% 76% 73% 0.007mm 80% 0.007mm -12dBZ -32° 100% 0.1mm - - 3.4m/s
01:00
1003hPa 3J/kg 70% 14°C 100% 88% 65% 0.003mm 78% 0.003mm -4.6dBZ -34° 100% 0.08mm - - 3.6m/s
02:00
1003hPa 1J/kg 100% 14°C 100% 100% 56% 0mm 75% 0mm 3.1dBZ -33° 100% 0.06mm 9.8m/s 13m/s 3.8m/s
03:00
1003hPa 1J/kg 100% 14°C 100% 100% 64% 0mm 71% 0mm 3.2dBZ -28° 100% 0.06mm - - 4.3m/s
04:00
1002hPa 1J/kg 100% 13°C 100% 100% 71% 0mm 68% 0mm 3.3dBZ -22° 100% 0.06mm - - 4.8m/s
05:00
1002hPa 1J/kg 100% 13°C 100% 100% 79% 0mm 64% 0mm 3.3dBZ -14° 100% 0.06mm 11m/s 17m/s 5.4m/s
06:00
1001hPa 5.3J/kg 100% 13°C 100% 100% 80% 0.27mm 73% 0.04mm -2.7dBZ -4.5° 100% 0.35mm - - 5.4m/s
07:00
1001hPa 9.7J/kg 100% 12°C 100% 100% 81% 0.55mm 81% 0.09mm -8.7dBZ 5.5° 100% 0.65mm - - 5.4m/s
08:00
1000hPa 14J/kg 100% 12°C 100% 100% 82% 0.82mm 90% 0.13mm -15dBZ 16° 100% 0.94mm 11m/s 21m/s 5.5m/s
09:00
1000hPa 9.7J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 87% 1mm 91% 0.09mm -14dBZ 26° 100% 1.9mm - - 5.7m/s
10:00
999hPa 5.3J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 92% 1.2mm 92% 0.06mm -13dBZ 35° 100% 2.9mm - - 5.9m/s
11:00
998hPa 1J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 97% 1.4mm 94% 0.02mm -11dBZ 44° 100% 3.9mm 13m/s 27m/s 6.1m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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