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Rule Storm Chaser

Olympic Rainforest - Storm Chaser - Pacific Northwest

Forks, 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 85% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover4%
Wind Gusts4.0m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure1003.2hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index11.7°C
Wind Gusts4.0m/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
Tue, Apr 7
18:000%19%0J/kg18°C24135m1.9m/s
19:000%14%0J/kg17°C24134m1.9m/s
20:000%6.6%0J/kg15°C24135m0.7m/s
21:000%5.1%0J/kg15°C24134m0.7m/s
22:000%0.6%0J/kg15°C24134m0.91m/s
23:000%0.7%0J/kg15°C24135m0.93m/s
Wed, Apr 8
24:000%0.8%0J/kg15°C24135m1m/s
01:000%0.6%0J/kg15°C24134m1.1m/s
02:000%0.8%0J/kg15°C24135m1.1m/s
03:000%1%0J/kg15°C24134m1.2m/s
04:000%1.1%0J/kg15°C24135m1.2m/s
05:000%1%0J/kg15°C24134m1.1m/s
06:000%18%0J/kg14°C24135m1.1m/s
07:000%23%0J/kg14°C24134m1.2m/s
08:000%21%0J/kg14°C24135m1.4m/s
09:000%17%0J/kg14°C24135m1.4m/s
10:000%15%0J/kg14°C24134m1.4m/s
11:009.1%14%0J/kg14°C24135m1.3m/s
12:000%21%0J/kg12°C24135m1.8m/s
13:000%19%0J/kg12°C24134m2.2m/s
14:000%17%0J/kg12°C24134m2.6m/s
15:000%20%0J/kg12°C24135m3.1m/s
16:000%19%0J/kg12°C24135m3.2m/s
17:000%15%0J/kg12°C24135m3.7m/s
18:000%18%0J/kg12°C24134m4m/s
19:000%20%0J/kg12°C24135m4.7m/s
20:000%16%0J/kg12°C24135m3.6m/s
21:000%14%0J/kg13°C24135m3.5m/s
22:000%3.9%0J/kg13°C24134m3.1m/s
23:000%6.4%0J/kg12°C24134m2.3m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%5.8%0J/kg12°C24134m2.1m/s
01:000%7.7%0J/kg11°C24135m1.8m/s
02:000%6.8%0J/kg11°C24134m1.6m/s
03:000%11%0J/kg10°C24135m1.4m/s
04:000%9.8%0J/kg10°C24135m1.4m/s
05:000%9.7%0J/kg10°C24135m1.5m/s
06:000%37%0J/kg10°C24135m1.4m/s
07:000%41%0J/kg10°C24134m1.6m/s
08:000%19%0J/kg10°C24135m2m/s
09:000%17%0J/kg11°C24134m2.5m/s
10:000%21%0J/kg11°C24134m2.6m/s
11:000%15%0J/kg11°C24135m2.3m/s
12:000%14%0J/kg11°C24135m2m/s
13:000%14%0J/kg10°C24134m2m/s
14:000%31%0J/kg9.8°C24134m1.9m/s
15:000%23%0J/kg9.4°C24135m2m/s
16:000%28%0J/kg9°C24134m2.1m/s
17:000%43%0J/kg8.7°C24135m2.3m/s
18:000%54%0J/kg8.6°C24134m2.8m/s
19:000%54%0J/kg8.8°C24134m3.3m/s
20:000%65%0J/kg8.9°C24135m3.1m/s
21:000%57%0J/kg8.2°C24134m2.8m/s
22:000%11%0J/kg7.5°C24134m2.1m/s
23:000%15%0J/kg7.5°C24135m1.7m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:000%12%0J/kg7.8°C24134m1.7m/s
01:000%11%0J/kg7.6°C24134m1.2m/s
02:000%13%0J/kg7.6°C24135m1.1m/s
03:000%15%0J/kg7.8°C24135m0.7m/s
04:000%13%0J/kg8°C24134m0.7m/s
05:000%2.9%0J/kg8.2°C24134m0.9m/s
06:000%41%0J/kg8.3°C24134m0.92m/s
07:000%48%0J/kg8.5°C24134m1m/s
08:000%23%0J/kg8.5°C24134m1.2m/s
09:000%52%0J/kg8.7°C24134m2.4m/s
10:000%49%0J/kg8.3°C24135m3m/s
11:000%46%0J/kg7.5°C24135m3.2m/s
12:000%43%0J/kg6.7°C24135m3.5m/s
13:000%33%0J/kg6.5°C24134m3.2m/s
14:000%70%0J/kg6.8°C24135m3.8m/s
15:000%43%0J/kg6.8°C24134m4.3m/s
16:000%52%0J/kg6°C24135m4.8m/s
17:000%46%0J/kg5°C24134m4.8m/s
18:000%80%0J/kg4.9°C24134m5.1m/s
19:000%62%1J/kg5.3°C24134m4.4m/s
20:000%56%0J/kg3.7°C23452m0.8m/s
21:000%56%1J/kg3.8°C24135m1m/s
22:000%3.2%0J/kg4.3°C24135m1m/s
23:009.1%4.4%1J/kg3.4°C24135m0.8m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%0%2.3J/kg3.6°C19796m0.78m/s
01:000%0%3.7J/kg3.8°C15458m0.76m/s
02:0011%0%5J/kg4°C11119m0.73m/s
03:009.1%0%4J/kg3.9°C15458m0.73m/s
04:009.1%0%3J/kg3.9°C19796m0.72m/s
05:0017%0%2J/kg3.8°C24135m0.71m/s
06:009.8%50%2.3J/kg3.8°C24135m1.4m/s
07:0011%59%2.7J/kg3.7°C24135m2m/s
08:000%52%3J/kg3.6°C24135m2.6m/s
09:000%52%2.7J/kg3.6°C24135m2.7m/s
10:000%61%2.3J/kg3.5°C24135m2.7m/s
11:000%31%2J/kg3.5°C24135m2.8m/s
12:000%60%1.3J/kg3.3°C24135m2.5m/s
13:000%60%0.67J/kg3.2°C24135m2.2m/s
14:000%20%0J/kg3.1°C24135m1.9m/s
15:000%28%0J/kg3°C24135m1.9m/s
16:000%37%0J/kg2.9°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
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, Apr 8 Sunrise 06:39 Sunset 19:57
18:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 4% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 4% 0mm - - 3m/s
19:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 5% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ 8.9° 5% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
20:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 5% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -0.86° 5% 0mm 5.3m/s 7.8m/s 2.3m/s
21:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -11° 5% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
22:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 5% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
23:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 43% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -27° 43% 0mm 7.5m/s 7.9m/s 2.2m/s
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:39 Sunset 19:57
24:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 16% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 16% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
01:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 6% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 6% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
02:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 26% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 26% 0mm 8.4m/s 8.5m/s 1.8m/s
03:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 21% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 21% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
04:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 19% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -24° 19% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
05:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 38% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 38% 0mm 8.5m/s 9.5m/s 1.6m/s
06:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 14% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -7.1° 14% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
07:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 14% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ 2.8° 14% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
08:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 5% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 5% 0mm 5.4m/s 5.1m/s 1.5m/s
09:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 5% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 5% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
10:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 5% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 5% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
11:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 5% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 5% 0mm 3.5m/s 2.6m/s 1.4m/s
12:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 5% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 47° 5% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
13:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 5% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 50° 5% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
14:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 15% 9.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 49° 15% 0mm 2.7m/s 3.3m/s 1.8m/s
15:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 9% 9.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 9% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
16:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 6% 9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 6% 0mm - - 2m/s
17:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 71% 8.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 71% 0mm 2.5m/s 3.6m/s 1.9m/s
18:00
999hPa 0J/kg 67% 8.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 67% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
19:00
999hPa 0J/kg 67% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 9.1° 67% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
20:00
999hPa 0J/kg 54% 8.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ -0.55° 54% 0mm 4.8m/s 5.6m/s 2.3m/s
21:00
999hPa 0J/kg 55% 8.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -10° 55% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
22:00
999hPa 0J/kg 62% 7.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 62% 0mm - - 2m/s
23:00
999hPa 0J/kg 74% 7.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -26° 74% 0mm 5m/s 4m/s 1.7m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:37 Sunset 19:59
24:00
998hPa 0J/kg 96% 7.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 96% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
01:00
998hPa 0J/kg 75% 7.6°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 75% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
02:00
998hPa 0J/kg 55% 7.6°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 55% 0mm 5.2m/s 4.9m/s 1.1m/s
03:00
997hPa 0J/kg 89% 7.8°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 89% 0mm - - 0.77m/s
04:00
997hPa 0J/kg 73% 8°C 0% 60% 0% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ -24° 83% 0mm - - 0.77m/s
05:00
996hPa 0J/kg 94% 8.2°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 100% 0mm 4m/s 4.4m/s 1m/s
06:00
996hPa 0J/kg 81% 8.3°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -6.8° 99% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
07:00
996hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.5°C 0% 18% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 3.1° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
08:00
996hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.5°C 0% 9% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 100% 0mm 3m/s 4.1m/s 1.1m/s
09:00
996hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.7°C 0% 99% 17% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 100% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
10:00
996hPa 0J/kg 76% 8.3°C 0% 100% 33% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
11:00
995hPa 0J/kg 4% 7.5°C 0% 84% 50% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ 41° 84% 0mm 4.6m/s 4m/s 2.3m/s
12:00
995hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.7°C 2% 94% 42% 0mm 56% 0mm -16dBZ 47° 94% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
13:00
995hPa 0J/kg 4% 6.5°C 6% 93% 34% 0mm 56% 0mm -13dBZ 50° 93% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
14:00
994hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.8°C 34% 68% 26% 0mm 55% 0mm -8.8dBZ 49° 68% 0mm 8.2m/s 8.3m/s 3.1m/s
15:00
994hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.8°C 40% 100% 51% 0mm 58% 0mm 2.5dBZ 45° 100% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
16:00
993hPa 0J/kg 1% 6°C 52% 100% 75% 0.01mm 61% 0mm 14dBZ 38° 100% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
17:00
993hPa 0J/kg 0% 5°C 86% 100% 100% 0.01mm 66% 0mm 25dBZ 29° 100% 0mm 7.9m/s 7.6m/s 3.1m/s
18:00
993hPa 0J/kg 20% 4.9°C 97% 100% 74% 0mm 72% 0mm 21dBZ 19° 100% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
19:00
993hPa 1J/kg 77% 5.3°C 100% 100% 48% 0.01mm 80% 0mm 18dBZ 9.3° 100% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
20:00
993hPa 0J/kg 5% 3.7°C 100% 66% 22% 0.21mm 91% 0mm 14dBZ -0.19° 100% 0.13mm 8.1m/s 8.5m/s 0.76m/s
21:00
993hPa 1J/kg 0% 3.8°C 100% 71% 48% 0mm 92% 0mm 2.5dBZ -10° 100% 0.13mm - - 0.95m/s
22:00
992hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.3°C 100% 26% 74% 0mm 92% 0mm -8.7dBZ -19° 100% 0.13mm - - 0.92m/s
23:00
991hPa 1J/kg 8% 3.4°C 88% 86% 100% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -26° 92% 0.13mm 4.7m/s 12m/s 0.81m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:35 Sunset 20:00
24:00
991hPa 2.3J/kg 38% 3.6°C 92% 91% 72% 0.27mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 95% 0.33mm - - 0.73m/s
01:00
991hPa 3.7J/kg 69% 3.8°C 96% 95% 45% 0.55mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 97% 0.54mm - - 0.65m/s
02:00
991hPa 5J/kg 100% 4°C 100% 100% 17% 0.82mm 96% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 100% 0.75mm 7m/s 12m/s 0.57m/s
03:00
991hPa 4J/kg 100% 3.9°C 100% 100% 26% 0.65mm 96% 0mm -9.4dBZ -29° 100% 1.3mm - - 0.58m/s
04:00
991hPa 3J/kg 100% 3.9°C 100% 100% 34% 0.47mm 95% 0mm 1.2dBZ -23° 100% 1.8mm - - 0.59m/s
05:00
991hPa 2J/kg 100% 3.8°C 100% 100% 43% 0.3mm 95% 0mm 12dBZ -16° 100% 2.3mm 5.5m/s 11m/s 0.6m/s
06:00
991hPa 2.3J/kg 98% 3.8°C 100% 100% 32% 0.24mm 94% 0mm 18dBZ -6.5° 100% 1.8mm - - 0.98m/s
07:00
991hPa 2.7J/kg 96% 3.7°C 100% 100% 22% 0.17mm 94% 0mm 24dBZ 3.4° 100% 1.3mm - - 1.4m/s
08:00
991hPa 3J/kg 94% 3.6°C 100% 100% 11% 0.11mm 93% 0mm 30dBZ 13° 100% 0.75mm 3.5m/s 8.7m/s 1.7m/s
09:00
990hPa 2.7J/kg 63% 3.6°C 100% 98% 14% 0.07mm 92% 0mm 25dBZ 23° 100% 0.77mm - - 1.7m/s
10:00
990hPa 2.3J/kg 31% 3.5°C 99% 96% 16% 0.04mm 91% 0mm 20dBZ 33° 100% 0.79mm - - 1.7m/s
11:00
990hPa 2J/kg 0% 3.5°C 99% 94% 18% 0mm 90% 0mm 16dBZ 41° 100% 0.81mm 2.7m/s 3.6m/s 1.7m/s
12:00
990hPa 1.3J/kg 2% 3.3°C 69% 64% 42% 0mm 92% 0mm 15dBZ 47° 69% 0.54mm - - 1.6m/s
13:00
990hPa 0.67J/kg 3% 3.2°C 38% 34% 66% 0mm 95% 0mm 14dBZ 50° 39% 0.27mm - - 1.5m/s
14:00
990hPa 0J/kg 5% 3.1°C 8% 4% 90% 0mm 97% 0mm 13dBZ 50° 8% 0mm 0.72m/s 3.3m/s 1.4m/s
15:00
990hPa 0J/kg 3% 3°C 15% 4% 65% 0mm 97% 0mm 2.8dBZ 45° 15% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
16:00
990hPa 0J/kg 2% 2.9°C 22% 5% 40% 0mm 98% 0mm -7.4dBZ 38° 22% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
17:00
990hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.9°C 30% 5% 15% 0mm 98% 0mm -18dBZ 29° 30% 0mm 2.3m/s 8.5m/s 1.2m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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