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Rule Storm Chaser

Seaside - Storm Chaser - Pacific Northwest

Gearhart, 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 93% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts11.6m/s
Precipitation Chance100%
Air Pressure1014.6hPa
CAPE5
Lifted Index7.9°C
Wind Gusts11.6m/s
Precipitation1.8mm

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
24:000%0%21J/kg12°C23789m9.3m/s
01:000%0%11J/kg12°C24134m8.5m/s
02:000%0%19J/kg12°C12061m8.5m/s
03:000%0%24J/kg12°C10964m8.8m/s
04:000%0%23J/kg11°C8750m8.9m/s
05:0038%0%23J/kg11°C8114m9m/s
06:0015%0%1J/kg9°C6842m9.1m/s
07:0030%55%5J/kg8.3°C5358m13m/s
08:0051%71%18J/kg6.5°C1646m17m/s
09:0044%66%24J/kg6.5°C1957m18m/s
10:0047%64%30J/kg6.7°C874m17m/s
11:0054%56%2J/kg5.6°C1365m19m/s
12:0033%56%8J/kg5.1°C2720m21m/s
13:0038%46%9J/kg5.5°C2229m22m/s
14:0049%56%12J/kg5.8°C2143m22m/s
15:0043%56%9J/kg5.2°C2725m22m/s
16:0043%56%4J/kg5.5°C3445m22m/s
17:0053%66%2J/kg5.9°C2942m22m/s
18:0034%70%1J/kg5.2°C3586m22m/s
19:0037%76%4J/kg4.5°C3412m22m/s
20:0053%61%1J/kg5.3°C1827m22m/s
21:0042%0%1J/kg6°C1764m21m/s
22:0040%0%4J/kg6.8°C2154m20m/s
23:0050%0%9J/kg6.9°C1847m19m/s
Thu, Mar 12
24:0018%0%5J/kg7.9°C2712m12m/s
01:0030%0%3J/kg10°C3901m12m/s
02:0039%0%0J/kg11°C7639m12m/s
03:0035%0%24J/kg14°C4996m13m/s
04:0021%0%5J/kg15°C11661m11m/s
05:0027%0%3J/kg15°C11154m9.2m/s
06:000%0%18J/kg16°C9873m8.1m/s
07:0011%52%22J/kg16°C10543m7.4m/s
08:0034%60%22J/kg17°C8193m7.4m/s
09:0018%53%28J/kg18°C7425m6.8m/s
10:0018%53%28J/kg18°C6575m6.3m/s
11:0037%45%21J/kg18°C8521m5.8m/s
12:009.8%45%6J/kg18°C10338m5.1m/s
13:0011%37%2J/kg18°C6001m4.3m/s
14:0032%37%0J/kg18°C2937m3.3m/s
15:0027%45%0J/kg17°C2825m1.9m/s
16:0026%45%0J/kg15°C2009m0.91m/s
17:0039%53%0J/kg14°C2169m0.8m/s
18:000%53%0J/kg13°C2589m1.3m/s
19:0011%57%0J/kg13°C2543m1.8m/s
20:0028%49%5J/kg12°C2431m2.5m/s
21:0014%0%4J/kg11°C2434m2.8m/s
22:0015%0%4J/kg10°C4148m3.2m/s
23:0021%0%3J/kg7.7°C11823m3.5m/s
Fri, Mar 13
24:000%0%1J/kg7.5°C19464m3.4m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg7.6°C13817m3.5m/s
02:0018%0%1J/kg7.5°C13045m3.5m/s
03:000%0%1J/kg7.4°C8758m1m/s
04:0020%0%0J/kg7.6°C2577m2.9m/s
05:0043%0%1J/kg6.6°C1522m3.8m/s
06:0015%0%1J/kg6°C1843m4m/s
07:0017%50%0J/kg6.3°C2077m4.1m/s
08:0038%59%1J/kg6.9°C2510m3.3m/s
09:0020%55%1J/kg8.1°C3692m3.5m/s
10:000%55%1J/kg8.9°C8717m3.8m/s
11:0027%46%1J/kg9.6°C9624m3.8m/s
12:000%46%1J/kg11°C7959m4.3m/s
13:000%38%1J/kg11°C12591m3.9m/s
14:0022%38%1J/kg10°C15232m3.6m/s
15:000%46%1J/kg9.5°C24135m3.4m/s
16:000%46%1J/kg10°C23400m3.6m/s
17:0022%55%1J/kg11°C10465m4.3m/s
18:000%55%1J/kg11°C6663m4.2m/s
19:000%56%1J/kg12°C5729m4.5m/s
20:0018%46%1J/kg12°C24134m4.4m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg14°C24134m4.9m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg15°C24135m5.7m/s
23:0018%0%0J/kg16°C24134m5.6m/s
Sat, Mar 14
24:000%0.7%1J/kg17°C24134m6.1m/s
01:000%5.1%5J/kg19°C24135m6m/s
02:000%5.3%7J/kg18°C24135m6.5m/s
03:000%8.2%8J/kg16°C24048m7.4m/s
04:000%8.7%10J/kg16°C24135m7.7m/s
05:000%8.7%20J/kg16°C23298m7.8m/s
06:000%0%33J/kg15°C24135m9.2m/s
07:000%45%12J/kg17°C24135m9m/s
08:000%14%15J/kg17°C24135m8.2m/s
09:000%52%15J/kg17°C24134m8.6m/s
10:000%81%13J/kg17°C24134m8.7m/s
11:000%22%14J/kg18°C24135m8.7m/s
12:000%43%15J/kg18°C24135m8.3m/s
13:000%20%15J/kg19°C24135m8m/s
14:000%20%16J/kg19°C24135m7.6m/s
15:000%24%13J/kg20°C24135m7.4m/s
16:000%24%11J/kg20°C24135m7.2m/s
17:000%26%8J/kg21°C24135m6.9m/s
18:000%26%5.7J/kg21°C24135m6.5m/s
19:000%28%3.3J/kg21°C24135m6.1m/s
20:000%7.2%1J/kg21°C24135m5.7m/s
21:000%0%0.67J/kg21°C24135m5.2m/s
22:000%0%0.33J/kg22°C24135m4.7m/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 07:33 Sunset 19:16
24:00
1015hPa 5J/kg 100% 7.9°C 100% 100% 100% 1.9mm 95% 0mm 28dBZ -43° 100% 1.8mm - - 7.8m/s
01:00
1016hPa 3J/kg 100% 10°C 100% 100% 100% 1mm 91% 0.04mm 31dBZ -47° 100% 2.9mm - - 6.9m/s
02:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 100% 1.8mm 90% 0.04mm 34dBZ -47° 100% 4.5mm 20m/s 30m/s 7.2m/s
03:00
1017hPa 24J/kg 100% 14°C 100% 100% 100% 1.6mm 89% 0.13mm 32dBZ -42° 100% 6.1mm - - 7.1m/s
04:00
1018hPa 5J/kg 100% 15°C 100% 100% 100% 0.75mm 86% 0.12mm 31dBZ -36° 100% 7.4mm - - 6.8m/s
05:00
1018hPa 3J/kg 100% 15°C 100% 100% 100% 0.86mm 84% 0.08mm 29dBZ -27° 100% 8.3mm 23m/s 35m/s 6.4m/s
06:00
1019hPa 18J/kg 100% 16°C 100% 100% 100% 1.1mm 86% 0.12mm 30dBZ -17° 100% 1.3mm - - 5.7m/s
07:00
1019hPa 22J/kg 100% 16°C 100% 100% 100% 0.8mm 86% 0.15mm 31dBZ -6.6° 100% 2.4mm - - 5.2m/s
08:00
1020hPa 22J/kg 100% 17°C 100% 100% 100% 1.2mm 88% 0.18mm 31dBZ 3.9° 100% 3.6mm 27m/s 34m/s 5.3m/s
09:00
1020hPa 28J/kg 100% 18°C 100% 100% 100% 1.4mm 90% 0.23mm 31dBZ 14° 100% 5mm - - 5.3m/s
10:00
1021hPa 28J/kg 100% 18°C 100% 100% 100% 1.7mm 90% 0.24mm 31dBZ 23° 100% 6.8mm - - 5.1m/s
11:00
1021hPa 21J/kg 100% 18°C 100% 100% 100% 1.3mm 90% 0.16mm 30dBZ 31° 100% 8.4mm 26m/s 35m/s 4.9m/s
12:00
1021hPa 6J/kg 100% 18°C 100% 100% 100% 0.98mm 90% 0.11mm 31dBZ 37° 100% 1.1mm - - 4.1m/s
13:00
1020hPa 2J/kg 100% 18°C 100% 100% 100% 1.3mm 91% 0.08mm 32dBZ 41° 100% 2.4mm - - 3.2m/s
14:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 100% 18°C 100% 100% 100% 1.9mm 92% 0.07mm 33dBZ 40° 100% 4mm 28m/s 34m/s 2.4m/s
15:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 100% 17°C 100% 100% 100% 1.7mm 92% 0.04mm 32dBZ 37° 100% 5.9mm - - 1.4m/s
16:00
1019hPa 0J/kg 100% 15°C 100% 100% 100% 1.9mm 93% 0.03mm 31dBZ 30° 100% 7.7mm - - 0.91m/s
17:00
1018hPa 0J/kg 100% 14°C 100% 100% 100% 1.2mm 94% 0.02mm 30dBZ 22° 100% 9.4mm 31m/s 37m/s 1.2m/s
18:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 100% 100% 100% 0.54mm 94% 0.01mm 28dBZ 12° 100% 1mm - - 1.7m/s
19:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 98% 13°C 100% 100% 99% 0.54mm 93% 0mm 26dBZ 2.5° 100% 1.4mm - - 2m/s
20:00
1017hPa 5J/kg 100% 12°C 100% 100% 99% 0.61mm 93% 0mm 24dBZ -8.1° 100% 2.2mm 29m/s 34m/s 2.5m/s
21:00
1016hPa 4J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 99% 0.93mm 93% 0mm 24dBZ -18° 100% 2.9mm - - 2.9m/s
22:00
1016hPa 4J/kg 100% 10°C 100% 100% 100% 1.4mm 94% 0mm 23dBZ -28° 100% 4mm - - 3.2m/s
23:00
1015hPa 3J/kg 100% 7.7°C 100% 100% 100% 0.71mm 93% 0mm 23dBZ -37° 100% 4.8mm 26m/s 36m/s 3.4m/s
Fri, Mar 13 Sunrise 07:31 Sunset 19:17
24:00
1014hPa 1J/kg 100% 7.5°C 100% 100% 100% 0.4mm 92% 0mm 24dBZ -43° 100% 0.44mm - - 3.4m/s
01:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.6°C 100% 100% 100% 0.77mm 93% 0mm 26dBZ -46° 100% 1.2mm - - 3.7m/s
02:00
1012hPa 1J/kg 100% 7.5°C 100% 100% 100% 0.85mm 92% 0mm 27dBZ -46° 100% 2.1mm 22m/s 30m/s 2.9m/s
03:00
1012hPa 1J/kg 100% 7.4°C 100% 100% 100% 1.5mm 94% 0mm 26dBZ -42° 100% 3.8mm - - 1.8m/s
04:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.6°C 100% 100% 100% 1.8mm 96% 0mm 26dBZ -35° 100% 5.4mm - - 3.5m/s
05:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 100% 6.6°C 100% 100% 100% 1.6mm 96% 0mm 26dBZ -26° 100% 7.2mm 21m/s 35m/s 4.4m/s
06:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 100% 6°C 100% 100% 100% 1.4mm 96% 0mm 27dBZ -17° 100% 1.8mm - - 4.2m/s
07:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 71% 6.3°C 100% 100% 99% 1.2mm 95% 0mm 29dBZ -6.3° 100% 2.9mm - - 4.1m/s
08:00
1010hPa 1J/kg 98% 6.9°C 100% 100% 99% 1.9mm 95% 0mm 30dBZ 4.2° 100% 4.8mm 25m/s 31m/s 3m/s
09:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 100% 8.1°C 100% 100% 99% 1.7mm 95% 0mm 30dBZ 14° 100% 6.6mm - - 3.2m/s
10:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 100% 8.9°C 100% 100% 100% 1.5mm 94% 0mm 29dBZ 24° 100% 8.3mm - - 3.5m/s
11:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 97% 9.6°C 100% 100% 100% 1.2mm 94% 0mm 29dBZ 32° 100% 9.4mm 26m/s 32m/s 3.6m/s
12:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 100% 1.6mm 94% 0mm 27dBZ 38° 100% 1.5mm - - 4m/s
13:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 100% 0.81mm 93% 0mm 25dBZ 41° 100% 2.6mm - - 3.6m/s
14:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 100% 10°C 100% 100% 100% 0.62mm 93% 0mm 23dBZ 41° 100% 3.2mm 24m/s 35m/s 3.5m/s
15:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 100% 9.5°C 100% 100% 100% 0.25mm 92% 0mm 25dBZ 37° 100% 3.6mm - - 3.3m/s
16:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 100% 10°C 100% 100% 100% 0.32mm 92% 0mm 27dBZ 31° 100% 3.8mm - - 3.5m/s
17:00
1010hPa 1J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 100% 1mm 93% 0mm 29dBZ 22° 100% 4.5mm 22m/s 33m/s 4m/s
18:00
1010hPa 1J/kg 100% 11°C 100% 100% 79% 0.89mm 92% 0mm 23dBZ 13° 100% 0.94mm - - 4m/s
19:00
1010hPa 1J/kg 100% 12°C 100% 100% 59% 0.87mm 91% 0.01mm 16dBZ 2.7° 100% 1.8mm - - 4.3m/s
20:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 100% 12°C 100% 100% 38% 0.11mm 88% 0.01mm 10dBZ -7.9° 100% 2.2mm 22m/s 36m/s 4.1m/s
21:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 14°C 100% 100% 42% 0.07mm 84% 0.01mm 8.8dBZ -18° 100% 2.3mm - - 3.9m/s
22:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 75% 15°C 82% 100% 45% 0.02mm 80% 0.02mm 7.2dBZ -28° 100% 2.4mm - - 4.2m/s
23:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 100% 16°C 86% 100% 48% 0mm 76% 0.01mm 5.6dBZ -36° 100% 2.4mm 21m/s 37m/s 4.4m/s
Sat, Mar 14 Sunrise 07:30 Sunset 19:18
24:00
1012hPa 1J/kg 100% 17°C 92% 100% 43% 0mm 72% 0mm 3.7dBZ -43° 100% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
01:00
1012hPa 5J/kg 100% 19°C 48% 39% 38% 0mm 70% 0.01mm 1.7dBZ -46° 100% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
02:00
1013hPa 7J/kg 4% 18°C 66% 0% 33% 0mm 67% 0.01mm -0.28dBZ -46° 66% 0mm 19m/s 33m/s 5.4m/s
03:00
1014hPa 8J/kg 0% 16°C 82% 0% 35% 0mm 64% 0.01mm 2.2dBZ -42° 82% 0mm - - 6.2m/s
04:00
1014hPa 10J/kg 0% 16°C 71% 0% 37% 0mm 62% 0.01mm 4.7dBZ -35° 71% 0.06mm - - 5.8m/s
05:00
1015hPa 20J/kg 0% 16°C 100% 0% 39% 0mm 67% 0.08mm 7.1dBZ -26° 100% 0.06mm 22m/s 34m/s 6.4m/s
06:00
1016hPa 33J/kg 0% 15°C 99% 0% 30% 0.01mm 69% 0.11mm 6.6dBZ -16° 99% 0.13mm - - 8m/s
07:00
1016hPa 12J/kg 0% 17°C 69% 0% 21% 0mm 58% 0.01mm 6dBZ -6° 69% 0.19mm - - 8.1m/s
08:00
1017hPa 15J/kg 0% 17°C 96% 0% 12% 0mm 60% 0.04mm 5.4dBZ 4.6° 96% 0.19mm 17m/s 36m/s 6.3m/s
09:00
1018hPa 15J/kg 6% 17°C 71% 0% 8% 0mm 57% 0.03mm -2dBZ 15° 71% 0.25mm - - 7.8m/s
10:00
1019hPa 13J/kg 33% 17°C 65% 0% 4% 0mm 52% 0.01mm -9.4dBZ 24° 65% 0.25mm - - 7.4m/s
11:00
1019hPa 14J/kg 5% 18°C 91% 0% 0% 0mm 51% 0.01mm -17dBZ 32° 91% 0.25mm 15m/s 39m/s 6.9m/s
12:00
1020hPa 15J/kg 37% 18°C 88% 0% 0% 0mm 51% 0.01mm -18dBZ 38° 94% 0.19mm - - 6.9m/s
13:00
1020hPa 15J/kg 68% 19°C 86% 0% 1% 0mm 52% 0.01mm -19dBZ 41° 97% 0.13mm - - 6.9m/s
14:00
1021hPa 16J/kg 100% 19°C 83% 0% 1% 0mm 52% 0.01mm -20dBZ 41° 100% 0.06mm 14m/s 39m/s 6.9m/s
15:00
1021hPa 13J/kg 100% 20°C 70% 0% 1% 0mm 53% 0.007mm -19dBZ 37° 100% 0.08mm - - 6.6m/s
16:00
1022hPa 11J/kg 100% 20°C 58% 0% 0% 0mm 53% 0.003mm -18dBZ 31° 100% 0.1mm - - 6.2m/s
17:00
1022hPa 8J/kg 100% 21°C 45% 0% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -17dBZ 22° 100% 0.13mm 15m/s 38m/s 5.9m/s
18:00
1022hPa 5.7J/kg 99% 21°C 32% 2% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -18dBZ 13° 99% 0.08mm - - 5.5m/s
19:00
1023hPa 3.3J/kg 99% 21°C 19% 3% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -19dBZ 2.9° 99% 0.04mm - - 5.1m/s
20:00
1023hPa 1J/kg 98% 21°C 6% 5% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -7.7° 98% 0mm 15m/s 35m/s 4.8m/s
21:00
1023hPa 0.67J/kg 99% 21°C 5% 5% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 99% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
22:00
1023hPa 0.33J/kg 99% 22°C 5% 5% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -28° 99% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
23:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 100% 22°C 5% 5% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 100% 0mm 14m/s 37m/s 2.8m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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