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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)
CAPE 100% failing
Storm Intensity 93% failing
Visibility 78% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts17.3m/s
Precipitation Chance100%
Air Pressure946.1hPa
CAPE22
Lifted Index6.6°C
Wind Gusts17.3m/s
Precipitation1.5mm

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
Wed, Mar 11
24:0020%6.8%0J/kg11°C31m5.6m/s
01:0033%7.7%0J/kg11°C38m7.2m/s
02:0044%8.3%1J/kg11°C32m8.4m/s
03:0033%7.1%0J/kg11°C27m7.5m/s
04:0037%5.1%0J/kg10°C25m5.1m/s
05:0045%4.5%0J/kg10°C26m4.2m/s
06:0031%1.1%0J/kg8.6°C33m4.3m/s
07:0035%67%0J/kg8.4°C54m4.5m/s
08:0047%67%0J/kg7.9°C60m4.7m/s
09:0040%62%0J/kg6.7°C75m5.6m/s
10:0044%62%0J/kg6.1°C63m7.1m/s
11:0061%55%0J/kg5.8°C203m10m/s
12:0037%55%0J/kg5.4°C249m10m/s
13:0044%55%0J/kg4.2°C350m12m/s
14:0062%55%0J/kg4.4°C362m13m/s
15:0058%55%1J/kg4.7°C350m14m/s
16:0058%55%2J/kg4.3°C322m14m/s
17:0073%68%2J/kg4.6°C278m16m/s
18:0048%70%10J/kg5.4°C676m18m/s
19:0052%76%1J/kg4.6°C379m19m/s
20:0066%65%29J/kg4.8°C536m18m/s
21:0056%0%1J/kg4.4°C439m19m/s
22:0060%0%2J/kg5.2°C470m18m/s
23:0071%0%22J/kg6.5°C199m19m/s
Thu, Mar 12
24:0040%0%22J/kg6.6°C1620m17m/s
01:0044%0%6J/kg8.6°C232m16m/s
02:0055%0%11J/kg8.5°C776m17m/s
03:0044%0%3J/kg12°C266m16m/s
04:0039%0%30J/kg14°C644m11m/s
05:0054%0%34J/kg14°C264m9.3m/s
06:0020%0%25J/kg15°C567m9m/s
07:0023%70%17J/kg16°C218m7.8m/s
08:0045%70%22J/kg16°C58m7.3m/s
09:0032%62%21J/kg17°C58m5.8m/s
10:0036%62%11J/kg17°C44m4.8m/s
11:0046%53%6J/kg17°C31m4.1m/s
12:0031%53%0J/kg17°C32m3.4m/s
13:0035%54%0J/kg18°C28m2.3m/s
14:0047%53%0J/kg18°C28m2.6m/s
15:0039%52%0J/kg17°C28m1.9m/s
16:0039%55%0J/kg17°C24m1.5m/s
17:0051%62%0J/kg16°C24m1.7m/s
18:0020%62%0J/kg15°C23m1.9m/s
19:0030%67%0J/kg14°C23m1.6m/s
20:0043%58%0J/kg13°C26m2.2m/s
21:0034%2.6%0J/kg13°C31m2m/s
22:0035%1.1%0J/kg13°C39m2.4m/s
23:0047%1.4%0J/kg13°C48m2.2m/s
Fri, Mar 13
24:0031%0.4%0J/kg12°C48m1.9m/s
01:0037%0.2%0J/kg11°C50m1.6m/s
02:0054%0%0J/kg11°C51m2.1m/s
03:0043%0%0J/kg10°C50m1.2m/s
04:0047%0%0J/kg10°C48m1.1m/s
05:0063%0%0J/kg10°C37m0.62m/s
06:0038%0%0J/kg10°C33m0.52m/s
07:0043%64%0J/kg9.6°C41m0.81m/s
08:0059%64%0J/kg9.6°C47m1.3m/s
09:0050%60%0J/kg10°C39m1.3m/s
10:0050%60%0J/kg10°C26m0.81m/s
11:0062%51%0J/kg10°C23m0.81m/s
12:0031%51%0J/kg11°C23m0.81m/s
13:0035%41%0J/kg11°C22m0.91m/s
14:0052%51%0J/kg11°C21m1.2m/s
15:0039%51%0J/kg11°C22m1.5m/s
16:0038%51%0J/kg11°C22m1m/s
17:0050%60%0J/kg11°C22m0.82m/s
18:0018%60%0J/kg12°C21m0.51m/s
19:0029%62%0J/kg12°C23m0.9m/s
20:0041%50%0J/kg12°C24m0.91m/s
21:0030%0%0J/kg12°C26m1.5m/s
22:0029%4.5%0J/kg13°C24m1.2m/s
23:0041%0.1%0J/kg15°C24m1.2m/s
Sat, Mar 14
24:0017%0.2%1J/kg15°C23m1.8m/s
01:0018%2.4%4J/kg15°C26m1.7m/s
02:0038%11%3J/kg16°C75m2.4m/s
03:0019%14%6J/kg16°C159m3.9m/s
04:000%13%4J/kg17°C13681m2.3m/s
05:0031%13%0J/kg16°C4368m2.1m/s
06:0019%0%6J/kg14°C159m2.5m/s
07:0017%27%0J/kg15°C1202m2.7m/s
08:0019%52%5J/kg16°C13477m2.5m/s
09:000%25%4J/kg15°C13968m4.4m/s
10:0020%27%1J/kg14°C172m7.4m/s
11:0036%32%23J/kg14°C2569m7.3m/s
12:0015%53%22J/kg14°C8824m5.7m/s
13:000%35%21J/kg14°C15080m4.2m/s
14:000%19%20J/kg14°C21335m2.6m/s
15:000%23%19J/kg15°C21461m2.2m/s
16:000%40%18J/kg16°C21587m1.9m/s
17:0015%47%17J/kg16°C21713m1.5m/s
18:000%60%12J/kg17°C22520m1.4m/s
19:000%85%7J/kg18°C23328m1.3m/s
20:000%79%2J/kg19°C24135m1.2m/s
21:000%0%1.3J/kg20°C24135m1.2m/s
22:000%0%0.67J/kg20°C24135m1.1m/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
Thu, Mar 12 Sunrise 07:27 Sunset 19:09
24:00
946hPa 22J/kg 100% 6.6°C 100% 100% 100% 1.9mm 98% 0.03mm 25dBZ -43° 100% 1.5mm - - 6.3m/s
01:00
948hPa 6J/kg 100% 8.6°C 100% 100% 100% 0.38mm 98% 0.01mm 25dBZ -46° 100% 2.6mm - - 4m/s
02:00
949hPa 11J/kg 100% 8.5°C 100% 100% 100% 0.36mm 98% 0.02mm 25dBZ -45° 100% 3mm 19m/s 33m/s 3.7m/s
03:00
950hPa 3J/kg 100% 12°C 100% 100% 100% 0.57mm 98% 0.05mm 22dBZ -41° 100% 3.6mm - - 3.2m/s
04:00
950hPa 30J/kg 100% 14°C 100% 100% 100% 0.6mm 98% 0.17mm 19dBZ -34° 100% 4.4mm - - 3.1m/s
05:00
951hPa 34J/kg 100% 14°C 100% 100% 100% 0.4mm 98% 0.21mm 16dBZ -25° 100% 5.1mm 22m/s 38m/s 2.5m/s
06:00
952hPa 25J/kg 100% 15°C 100% 100% 100% 0.34mm 97% 0.16mm 14dBZ -16° 100% 0.63mm - - 2.7m/s
07:00
952hPa 17J/kg 100% 16°C 100% 100% 100% 0.35mm 99% 0.09mm 12dBZ -5.5° 100% 1mm - - 2.1m/s
08:00
953hPa 22J/kg 100% 16°C 100% 100% 100% 0.47mm 99% 0.13mm 10dBZ 4.9° 100% 1.6mm 20m/s 42m/s 1.8m/s
09:00
953hPa 21J/kg 100% 17°C 100% 100% 100% 0.56mm 99% 0.09mm 13dBZ 15° 100% 2.1mm - - 1.7m/s
10:00
954hPa 11J/kg 100% 17°C 100% 100% 100% 1.1mm 98% 0.02mm 16dBZ 24° 100% 3.1mm - - 1.7m/s
11:00
954hPa 6J/kg 100% 17°C 100% 100% 100% 1.1mm 100% 0.04mm 18dBZ 31° 100% 4.3mm 21m/s 42m/s 1.6m/s
12:00
954hPa 0J/kg 100% 17°C 100% 100% 100% 1.2mm 99% 0.04mm 21dBZ 37° 100% 1.1mm - - 1.2m/s
13:00
954hPa 0J/kg 100% 18°C 100% 100% 100% 1.4mm 99% 0.02mm 24dBZ 40° 100% 2.5mm - - 1m/s
14:00
954hPa 0J/kg 100% 18°C 100% 100% 100% 1.3mm 99% 0.02mm 27dBZ 39° 100% 3.9mm 18m/s 41m/s 1.1m/s
15:00
953hPa 0J/kg 100% 17°C 100% 100% 100% 1.4mm 99% 0.03mm 26dBZ 35° 100% 5.3mm - - 0.93m/s
16:00
953hPa 0J/kg 100% 17°C 100% 100% 100% 1.2mm 100% 0.01mm 25dBZ 29° 100% 6.6mm - - 0.85m/s
17:00
952hPa 0J/kg 100% 16°C 100% 100% 100% 1.1mm 100% 0mm 23dBZ 21° 100% 7.8mm 22m/s 39m/s 0.97m/s
18:00
952hPa 0J/kg 100% 15°C 100% 100% 100% 0.82mm 100% 0.01mm 24dBZ 11° 100% 0.94mm - - 1.1m/s
19:00
951hPa 0J/kg 100% 14°C 100% 100% 99% 0.57mm 100% 0.01mm 25dBZ 1.4° 100% 1.6mm - - 0.88m/s
20:00
951hPa 0J/kg 90% 13°C 100% 100% 99% 0.38mm 100% 0mm 26dBZ -9.2° 100% 2mm 25m/s 41m/s 1m/s
21:00
951hPa 0J/kg 86% 13°C 100% 100% 99% 0.9mm 100% 0mm 26dBZ -19° 100% 2.6mm - - 0.94m/s
22:00
950hPa 0J/kg 73% 13°C 100% 100% 100% 0.82mm 100% 0mm 27dBZ -29° 100% 3.5mm - - 1.1m/s
23:00
950hPa 0J/kg 98% 13°C 100% 100% 100% 1.3mm 100% 0mm 27dBZ -37° 100% 4.6mm 26m/s 39m/s 1.1m/s
Fri, Mar 13 Sunrise 07:25 Sunset 19:10
24:00
950hPa 0J/kg 88% 12°C 100% 100% 100% 1.7mm 100% 0mm 29dBZ -43° 100% 1.5mm - - 0.96m/s
01:00
949hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 100% 2.5mm 100% 0mm 31dBZ -46° 100% 3.4mm - - 0.93m/s
02:00
948hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 100% 3.2mm 100% 0mm 33dBZ -45° 100% 6.3mm 28m/s 39m/s 0.99m/s
03:00
948hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 100% 100% 100% 3.6mm 100% 0mm 35dBZ -41° 100% 9.7mm - - 0.72m/s
04:00
947hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 100% 100% 100% 4.2mm 100% 0mm 37dBZ -34° 100% 14mm - - 0.63m/s
05:00
947hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 100% 100% 100% 4.6mm 100% 0mm 39dBZ -25° 100% 18mm 26m/s 44m/s 0.34m/s
06:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 100% 100% 100% 4.8mm 100% 0mm 38dBZ -15° 100% 4.8mm - - 0.29m/s
07:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.6°C 100% 100% 99% 3.9mm 100% 0mm 36dBZ -5.1° 100% 9.3mm - - 0.52m/s
08:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.6°C 100% 100% 99% 2.9mm 100% 0mm 35dBZ 5.2° 100% 13mm 25m/s 42m/s 0.76m/s
09:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 100% 100% 99% 2.4mm 100% 0mm 34dBZ 15° 100% 15mm - - 0.58m/s
10:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 100% 100% 99% 2.2mm 100% 0mm 32dBZ 24° 100% 18mm - - 0.31m/s
11:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 100% 100% 100% 2.4mm 100% 0mm 30dBZ 32° 100% 20mm 22m/s 40m/s 0.37m/s
12:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 98% 2.1mm 100% 0mm 28dBZ 38° 100% 2.1mm - - 0.32m/s
13:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 96% 2mm 100% 0mm 26dBZ 40° 100% 4.3mm - - 0.33m/s
14:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 94% 1.7mm 100% 0mm 24dBZ 40° 100% 6.2mm 22m/s 41m/s 0.58m/s
15:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 93% 1.2mm 100% 0mm 16dBZ 36° 100% 7.4mm - - 0.61m/s
16:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 93% 1.1mm 100% 0mm 7.7dBZ 29° 100% 8.5mm - - 0.39m/s
17:00
945hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 92% 0.79mm 100% 0mm -0.24dBZ 21° 100% 9.4mm 21m/s 38m/s 0.43m/s
18:00
945hPa 0J/kg 100% 12°C 100% 100% 72% 0.8mm 100% 0mm -6.5dBZ 11° 100% 0.88mm - - 0.34m/s
19:00
945hPa 0J/kg 100% 12°C 100% 100% 53% 0.58mm 100% 0mm -13dBZ 1.6° 100% 1.6mm - - 0.38m/s
20:00
945hPa 0J/kg 81% 12°C 100% 100% 33% 0.4mm 100% 0mm -19dBZ -8.9° 100% 2.1mm 20m/s 38m/s 0.56m/s
21:00
945hPa 0J/kg 100% 12°C 100% 100% 36% 0.04mm 100% 0mm -9.9dBZ -19° 100% 2.2mm - - 1m/s
22:00
945hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 100% 100% 39% 0.02mm 100% 0mm -0.66dBZ -28° 100% 2.3mm - - 0.65m/s
23:00
946hPa 0J/kg 100% 15°C 100% 100% 42% 0.01mm 100% 0mm 8.6dBZ -36° 100% 2.3mm 17m/s 36m/s 0.65m/s
Sat, Mar 14 Sunrise 07:23 Sunset 19:11
24:00
946hPa 1J/kg 100% 15°C 100% 100% 44% 0.07mm 100% 0mm 1.9dBZ -42° 100% 0.06mm - - 0.96m/s
01:00
946hPa 4J/kg 100% 15°C 100% 0% 45% 0.03mm 100% 0.03mm -4.9dBZ -45° 100% 0.13mm - - 0.81m/s
02:00
946hPa 3J/kg 19% 16°C 100% 0% 47% 0.02mm 99% 0.05mm -12dBZ -45° 100% 0.19mm 14m/s 36m/s 1.3m/s
03:00
947hPa 6J/kg 0% 16°C 91% 0% 52% 0.03mm 98% 0.05mm -14dBZ -40° 91% 0.31mm - - 1.5m/s
04:00
948hPa 4J/kg 0% 17°C 27% 0% 58% 0mm 98% 0mm -17dBZ -33° 27% 0.31mm - - 1.6m/s
05:00
948hPa 0J/kg 0% 16°C 71% 0% 64% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 71% 0.31mm 9m/s 35m/s 2.1m/s
06:00
948hPa 6J/kg 0% 14°C 100% 0% 60% 0.36mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.8m/s
07:00
949hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 92% 0% 56% 0.27mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -4.8° 92% 0.5mm - - 1.2m/s
08:00
949hPa 5J/kg 0% 16°C 42% 0% 52% 0.01mm 98% 0.01mm -20dBZ 5.5° 42% 0.63mm 8.4m/s 38m/s 1.8m/s
09:00
950hPa 4J/kg 0% 15°C 100% 0% 56% 0.04mm 97% 0.02mm -9dBZ 15° 100% 0.63mm - - 1.8m/s
10:00
951hPa 1J/kg 0% 14°C 100% 0% 60% 0.63mm 98% 0.03mm 2dBZ 24° 100% 0.94mm - - 1.9m/s
11:00
952hPa 23J/kg 0% 14°C 82% 0% 64% 0.12mm 97% 0.31mm 13dBZ 32° 82% 1.5mm 8.5m/s 42m/s 2.5m/s
12:00
971hPa 22J/kg 30% 14°C 74% 0% 47% 0.08mm 92% 0.29mm 7.3dBZ 38° 86% 1.2mm - - 2.1m/s
13:00
991hPa 21J/kg 59% 14°C 67% 0% 29% 0.04mm 88% 0.26mm 1.7dBZ 41° 91% 0.92mm - - 1.8m/s
14:00
1010hPa 20J/kg 89% 14°C 60% 0% 12% 0mm 84% 0.24mm -3.9dBZ 40° 96% 0.63mm 8m/s 47m/s 1.4m/s
15:00
1010hPa 19J/kg 92% 15°C 48% 9% 8% 0.03mm 83% 0.18mm -0.03dBZ 36° 97% 0.85mm - - 1.3m/s
16:00
1011hPa 18J/kg 96% 16°C 36% 17% 4% 0.07mm 83% 0.12mm 3.8dBZ 29° 98% 1.1mm - - 1.1m/s
17:00
1011hPa 17J/kg 99% 16°C 24% 26% 0% 0.1mm 83% 0.06mm 7.6dBZ 21° 99% 1.3mm 14m/s 51m/s 0.94m/s
18:00
1012hPa 12J/kg 82% 17°C 19% 27% 0% 0.07mm 87% 0.04mm -1.6dBZ 12° 84% 0.94mm - - 1m/s
19:00
1012hPa 7J/kg 65% 18°C 13% 29% 0% 0.03mm 92% 0.02mm -11dBZ 1.8° 69% 0.56mm - - 1.1m/s
20:00
1013hPa 2J/kg 48% 19°C 7% 30% 0% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -8.7° 54% 0.19mm 16m/s 47m/s 1.2m/s
21:00
1013hPa 1.3J/kg 46% 20°C 8% 22% 0% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 49% 0.19mm - - 1.1m/s
22:00
1013hPa 0.67J/kg 43% 20°C 10% 14% 0% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -28° 44% 0.19mm - - 1.1m/s
23:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 40% 21°C 11% 6% 0% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 40% 0.19mm 18m/s 43m/s 1.1m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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