Skip to content
Rule Storm Chaser

Snoqualmie - Storm Chaser - Pacific Northwest

Snoqualmie, 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

Get notified
Free alerts · takes 30 seconds
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 79% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover99%
Wind Gusts1.4m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure959.6hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index8.0°C
Wind Gusts1.4m/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.

Create your own Storm Chaser alerts

Get notified when these conditions match at your own locations.

Get this template

72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
0matching hours in the next 80 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
21:000%55%0J/kg6.4°C24135m0.9m/s
22:000%57%0J/kg7°C24134m0.7m/s
23:0015%15%0J/kg7.7°C24135m0.71m/s
Wed, Jul 8
24:000%15%0J/kg8°C24134m0.82m/s
01:000%15%0J/kg7.9°C24135m0.8m/s
02:0015%9.5%0J/kg8°C24134m0.91m/s
03:000%13%0J/kg7.4°C24134m0.8m/s
04:000%97%0J/kg7.3°C24134m0.93m/s
05:0013%45%0J/kg7.1°C24134m0.6m/s
06:000%47%0J/kg7.1°C22717m1.1m/s
07:000%46%0J/kg8°C22702m1.4m/s
08:0023%44%0J/kg8.2°C2487m1.1m/s
09:0014%42%0J/kg8.1°C1545m1m/s
10:000%43%0J/kg7.7°C22651m1m/s
11:0013%47%0J/kg7.6°C22682m1.2m/s
12:000%34%0J/kg7.4°C24134m1.6m/s
13:000%37%0J/kg6.7°C24134m1.6m/s
14:0014%45%0J/kg7.2°C24135m1.5m/s
15:000%43%0J/kg7.7°C24134m1.7m/s
16:000%39%0J/kg8.4°C24134m1.6m/s
17:0014%65%0J/kg8.8°C24135m1.1m/s
18:000%61%2J/kg9.2°C24135m1m/s
19:000%97%0J/kg9.5°C24135m1.2m/s
20:0014%99%0J/kg9.6°C24134m1.3m/s
21:000%90%0J/kg9.7°C24134m0.62m/s
22:000%47%0J/kg9.8°C24134m0.5m/s
23:0015%14%0J/kg9.8°C24135m0.51m/s
Thu, Jul 9
24:000%11%0J/kg9.8°C24135m1.1m/s
01:000%12%0J/kg9.7°C24134m2m/s
02:0015%9.4%0J/kg9.8°C22728m1.6m/s
03:000%14%0J/kg9.8°C22658m1.2m/s
04:000%75%0J/kg10°C22645m1.2m/s
05:0015%63%0J/kg11°C22652m1.1m/s
06:000%68%0J/kg12°C22663m1.1m/s
07:000%36%0J/kg12°C22655m0.92m/s
08:0015%29%0J/kg13°C24135m0.82m/s
09:000%29%0J/kg12°C24134m1.2m/s
10:000%40%0J/kg12°C24135m1.5m/s
11:0013%67%0J/kg11°C24135m1.8m/s
12:000%26%0J/kg11°C24134m2m/s
13:000%56%0J/kg11°C24135m2.4m/s
14:0013%22%0J/kg9.8°C24135m2.6m/s
15:000%25%0J/kg9.3°C24135m2.5m/s
16:000%56%0J/kg9.2°C24135m2.9m/s
17:0013%79%0J/kg8.9°C24135m2.8m/s
18:000%56%0J/kg8.6°C24135m3m/s
19:000%57%2J/kg8.2°C24135m2.6m/s
20:0014%50%2J/kg8.1°C24134m1.1m/s
21:000%50%0J/kg8.6°C24135m0.8m/s
22:000%51%0J/kg8.6°C24134m0.93m/s
23:0011%14%0J/kg8.4°C24135m0.73m/s
Fri, Jul 10
24:000%13%0J/kg8.1°C24134m0.33m/s
01:000%13%0J/kg8°C24134m0.71m/s
02:0014%12%0J/kg8.2°C24135m1m/s
03:000%14%0J/kg8.1°C24134m1.1m/s
04:000%57%0J/kg7.7°C24134m1.2m/s
05:0013%36%0J/kg7°C24134m0.92m/s
06:000%34%0J/kg7°C24135m0.74m/s
07:000%33%1J/kg6.8°C24088m1m/s
08:0012%33%2J/kg6.4°C22418m1.1m/s
09:000%33%2J/kg6.6°C21914m1.1m/s
10:000%33%1J/kg6.2°C22603m1m/s
11:0013%35%0J/kg6.3°C22663m1.2m/s
12:000%20%0.33J/kg6.1°C23154m1.1m/s
13:0015%18%0.67J/kg5.9°C23644m1m/s
14:0015%16%1J/kg5.7°C24135m0.91m/s
15:0014%22%2.3J/kg5.5°C24135m0.88m/s
16:000%22%3.7J/kg5.4°C24135m0.86m/s
17:0013%22%5J/kg5.3°C24135m0.84m/s
18:000%20%3.7J/kg5.4°C24135m1.2m/s
19:000%22%2.3J/kg5.6°C24135m1.6m/s
20:0014%17%1J/kg5.8°C24135m2m/s
21:000%22%4.3J/kg5.6°C24135m1.9m/s
22:000%22%7.7J/kg5.4°C24135m1.8m/s
23:0014%0%11J/kg5.2°C24135m1.6m/s
Sat, Jul 11
24:000%0%12J/kg5.5°C24135m2.5m/s
01:000%0%14J/kg5.8°C24135m3.3m/s
02:0014%0%15J/kg6.1°C24135m4.1m/s
03:000%0%14J/kg6.3°C24135m3.8m/s
04:000%17%13J/kg6.5°C24135m3.4m/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 05:19 Sunset 21:05
07:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 79% 8°C 99% 0% 0% 0.04mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ 14° 99% 0mm - - 1m/s
08:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 8.2°C 100% 0% 0% 0mm 93% 0.01mm -20dBZ 24° 100% 0mm 9.9m/s 14m/s 1m/s
09:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 71% 8.1°C 100% 5% 0% 0mm 91% 0.01mm -14dBZ 34° 100% 0.06mm - - 0.88m/s
10:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 7.7°C 100% 5% 0% 0mm 86% 0.01mm -7.8dBZ 44° 100% 0.06mm - - 1m/s
11:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 7.6°C 85% 78% 0% 0mm 79% 0.01mm -1.7dBZ 54° 100% 0.06mm 7.4m/s 13m/s 1.3m/s
12:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 7.4°C 82% 100% 0% 0mm 71% 0.01mm -3.7dBZ 61° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
13:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 6.7°C 86% 100% 0% 0mm 71% 0.02mm -5.7dBZ 65° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
14:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 7.2°C 90% 13% 0% 0mm 67% 0.02mm -7.8dBZ 63° 100% 0.06mm 7.7m/s 17m/s 1.9m/s
15:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0.06fraction 98% 7.7°C 95% 0% 0% 0mm 67% 0.02mm -7.3dBZ 57° 98% 0.06mm - - 2.3m/s
16:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0.13fraction 5% 8.4°C 99% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0.01mm -6.9dBZ 48° 99% 0.06mm - - 2.2m/s
17:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0.19fraction 8% 8.8°C 63% 0% 0% 0mm 74% 0.01mm -6.5dBZ 38° 63% 0.13mm 7.3m/s 15m/s 1.8m/s
18:00
959hPa 2J/kg 0.13fraction 5% 9.2°C 54% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0.01mm -11dBZ 28° 54% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
19:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0.06fraction 23% 9.5°C 64% 5% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -15dBZ 18° 64% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
20:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 20% 9.6°C 50% 5% 0% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 8.9° 51% 0mm 9.4m/s 16m/s 1.1m/s
21:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 59% 9.7°C 35% 5% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -11dBZ 0.4° 59% 0mm - - 0.6m/s
22:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 9.8°C 17% 5% 0% 0mm 91% 0mm -1.9dBZ -7.8° 100% 0mm - - 0.59m/s
23:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 91% 9.8°C 70% 77% 0% 0mm 95% 0mm 7.2dBZ -14° 91% 0mm 11m/s 15m/s 0.53m/s
Thu, Jul 9 Sunrise 05:20 Sunset 21:04
24:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 78% 9.8°C 100% 100% 0% 0mm 93% 0mm -1.9dBZ -18° 100% 0mm - - 0.94m/s
01:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 45% 9.7°C 100% 42% 0% 0.01mm 90% 0mm -11dBZ -20° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
02:00
958hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 24% 9.8°C 98% 100% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 100% 0mm 12m/s 17m/s 1.3m/s
03:00
958hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 13% 9.8°C 85% 100% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 100% 0mm - - 0.93m/s
04:00
958hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 10°C 70% 6% 0% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -11° 70% 0mm - - 0.95m/s
05:00
958hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 4% 11°C 50% 5% 0% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -3.4° 50% 0mm 11m/s 17m/s 0.9m/s
06:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 12°C 32% 5% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 5.1° 32% 0mm - - 0.9m/s
07:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 12°C 9% 5% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 14° 9% 0mm - - 0.92m/s
08:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 13°C 8% 1% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 100% 0mm 11m/s 17m/s 1.1m/s
09:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 90% 12°C 5% 4% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 90% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
10:00
958hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 12°C 18% 2% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 100% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
11:00
958hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 71% 11°C 18% 0% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 71% 0mm 8.9m/s 13m/s 2.2m/s
12:00
958hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 88% 11°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ 61° 88% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
13:00
958hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 29% 11°C 10% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 65° 29% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
14:00
958hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 2% 9.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 63° 2% 0mm 8.8m/s 11m/s 2.6m/s
15:00
957hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 4% 9.3°C 1% 0% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 57° 4% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
16:00
956hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 63% 9.2°C 9% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 63% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
17:00
956hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 57% 8.9°C 26% 0% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 57% 0mm 6.6m/s 15m/s 2m/s
18:00
955hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.6°C 49% 0% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 49% 0mm - - 2m/s
19:00
955hPa 2J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.2°C 49% 0% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 49% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
20:00
955hPa 2J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.1°C 24% 0% 0% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ 8.8° 24% 0mm 6.2m/s 17m/s 1.2m/s
21:00
955hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.6°C 22% 0% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 0.34° 22% 0mm - - 0.85m/s
22:00
955hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.6°C 25% 0% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -7.9° 25% 0mm - - 0.95m/s
23:00
955hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.4°C 23% 0% 0% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 23% 0mm 5.5m/s 14m/s 0.71m/s
Fri, Jul 10 Sunrise 05:21 Sunset 21:03
24:00
955hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.1°C 4% 0% 0% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 4% 0mm - - 0.37m/s
01:00
955hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8°C 1% 0% 0% 0mm 96% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 1% 0mm - - 0.77m/s
02:00
955hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.2°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 3% 0mm 8m/s 16m/s 1.1m/s
03:00
954hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 8.1°C 20% 0% 7% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 20% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
04:00
954hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 7.7°C 61% 0% 15% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -11° 61% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
05:00
954hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 7°C 90% 0% 22% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -3.6° 90% 0mm 9.3m/s 16m/s 0.99m/s
06:00
954hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 7°C 99% 0% 28% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ 99% 0mm - - 0.51m/s
07:00
954hPa 1J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.8°C 100% 0% 33% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ 14° 100% 0mm - - 0.63m/s
08:00
954hPa 2J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.4°C 100% 0% 39% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 100% 0mm 6.9m/s 14m/s 0.8m/s
09:00
955hPa 2J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.6°C 100% 0% 45% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 100% 0mm - - 0.85m/s
10:00
955hPa 1J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.2°C 100% 0% 50% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 100% 0mm - - 0.79m/s
11:00
955hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.3°C 91% 5% 56% 0mm 80% 0.01mm -20dBZ 53° 91% 0mm 5.7m/s 18m/s 1m/s
12:00
965hPa 0.33J/kg 0.33fraction 0% 6.1°C 94% 5% 50% 0mm 76% 0.007mm -11dBZ 61° 94% 0mm - - 1m/s
13:00
976hPa 0.67J/kg 0.67fraction 0% 5.9°C 97% 5% 45% 0mm 71% 0.003mm -1.3dBZ 64° 97% 0mm - - 0.98m/s
14:00
986hPa 1J/kg 1fraction 0% 5.7°C 100% 5% 39% 0mm 66% 0mm 8dBZ 63° 100% 0mm 5.5m/s 20m/s 0.95m/s
15:00
987hPa 2.3J/kg 0.69fraction 2% 5.5°C 100% 3% 33% 0mm 70% 0mm -1.3dBZ 57° 100% 0mm - - 0.9m/s
16:00
987hPa 3.7J/kg 0.38fraction 3% 5.4°C 100% 2% 28% 0mm 74% 0mm -11dBZ 48° 100% 0mm - - 0.85m/s
17:00
987hPa 5J/kg 0.07fraction 5% 5.3°C 100% 0% 22% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 100% 0mm 6m/s 22m/s 0.8m/s
18:00
987hPa 3.7J/kg 0.05fraction 3% 5.4°C 100% 0% 15% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 100% 0mm - - 1m/s
19:00
987hPa 2.3J/kg 0.02fraction 2% 5.6°C 99% 0% 7% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 99% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
20:00
988hPa 1J/kg 0fraction 0% 5.8°C 99% 0% 0% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ 8.7° 99% 0mm 8.8m/s 25m/s 1.5m/s
21:00
988hPa 4.3J/kg 0fraction 0% 5.6°C 99% 2% 0% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ 0.26° 99% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
22:00
988hPa 7.7J/kg 0fraction 0% 5.4°C 100% 3% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -8° 100% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
23:00
988hPa 11J/kg 0fraction 0% 5.2°C 100% 5% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 100% 0mm 9.2m/s 21m/s 1.2m/s
Sat, Jul 11 Sunrise 05:22 Sunset 21:03
24:00
989hPa 12J/kg 0fraction 0% 5.5°C 100% 5% 0% 0.01mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
01:00
989hPa 14J/kg 0fraction 0% 5.8°C 100% 5% 0% 0.03mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 100% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
02:00
990hPa 15J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.1°C 100% 5% 0% 0.04mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 100% 0mm 9.5m/s 23m/s 1.9m/s
03:00
990hPa 14J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.3°C 100% 4% 0% 0.03mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 100% 0.02mm - - 1.9m/s
04:00
990hPa 13J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.5°C 100% 2% 0% 0.02mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -11° 100% 0.04mm - - 1.9m/s
05:00
991hPa 12J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.6°C 99% 0% 0% 0.01mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -3.7° 99% 0.06mm 9.9m/s 26m/s 1.9m/s
06:00
991hPa 11J/kg 0fraction 0% 6.7°C 72% 0% 0% 0.01mm 74% 0mm -9.6dBZ 4.8° 72% 0.06mm - - 1.9m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

Get Notified of Opportunities

Create your own custom alerts for this location and more.

Create Free Account