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Rule Cloudscapes

El Chaltén - Cloudscapes - Patagonia

El Chaltén, Santa Cruz, Argentina

Multi-layered dramatic clouds for striking sky photography

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover92%
Wind Gusts5.0m/s
Precipitation Chance78%
Air Pressure879.2hPa

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos
Next opportunity
Dramatic Cloud Drama
El Chaltén
Today · 19:00–20:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
60%
☁️Cloud Drama Score100%
Cloud Cover: 59%
Wind Gusts: 5.1m/s
Precipitation Chance: 80%
Air Pressure: 877.9hPa
overcast weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama
El Chaltén
Fri, Feb 27 · 22:00–23:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:76.8%
Medium
overcast weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama
El Chaltén
Sun, Mar 1 · 19:00–20:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:84.5%
Low
overcast weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunset
El Chaltén
Sun, Mar 1 · 20:00–21:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:86.8%
Medium
overcast weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunset
El Chaltén
Mon, Mar 2 · 19:00–21:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:75.6-100%
Low

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast tracks the dramatic cloud formations that make Patagonia one of Earth's premier cloudscape photography destinations. We monitor wind patterns, mountain wave activity, and atmospheric conditions to predict when lenticular clouds will cap the peaks and windswept formations will create visual drama.

Patagonia sits in the path of the Roaring Forties—relentless westerly winds that sweep across the Southern Ocean. When these winds encounter the Andes, they create spectacular lenticular clouds that hover over peaks like UFO motherships. The region's changeable weather means cloud formations can evolve rapidly, creating ever-changing compositions.

What makes Patagonian cloudscapes exceptional:

  • Lenticular clouds - Lens-shaped clouds form over Torres, Fitzroy, and Cerro Torre when conditions align
  • Wind-driven drama - Horizontal cloud formations streak across the sky, showing wind's incredible force
  • Rapid changes - Weather can shift from clear to overcast to dramatic in hours, creating diverse shooting opportunities
  • Mountain wave clouds - The Andes generate standing wave clouds visible for hundreds of kilometers

Best cloudscapes occur during transitional weather when winds are strong but visibility remains good. Spring (September-November) and autumn (March-May) bring the most varied conditions. The famous "Patagonian flag" clouds—horizontal streamers flowing from peaks—occur during high wind events. Don't dismiss bad weather forecasts entirely; some of Patagonia's most dramatic images happen during marginal conditions.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
1matching hours in the next 95 hoursJump to next match
OR logic: one branch per group is enough
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
America/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos
Cloud Drama Score
≥ 75.0%
Low Clouds
≥ 20.0%
Mid-Level Clouds
OR1·B1
≥ 30.0%
High Clouds
OR1·B2
≥ 40.0%
Visibility
≥ 5000.0m
Sat, Feb 21
16:0050%97%0%48%139m
17:0068%73%0%8.5%140m
18:0067%44%0%5.7%185m
19:0045%99%1.2%5.3%1563m
20:0044%85%2.9%5%238m
21:0052%99%1%83%307m
22:0070%24%0.2%6.7%211m
23:0014%55%0%13%269m
Sun, Feb 22
24:0015%50%0%7.8%995m
01:0015%23%0%5.3%348m
02:0011%24%0%26%323m
03:0013%24%0%5%379m
04:0013%11%0%100%21827m
05:0014%12%0%18%20553m
06:0039%11%0%4.7%20496m
07:0065%24%0%5%20547m
08:0058%19%0%5%24135m
09:0041%13%0%3.8%22060m
10:0033%11%0%0%22166m
11:0046%25%0%0%21968m
12:0043%20%0%5%1896m
13:0072%20%0%47%1698m
14:0073%19%0.2%31%1786m
15:0038%19%5%100%2243m
16:0037%19%5.3%93%2520m
17:0084%19%5%24%3189m
18:0074%19%8.5%62%2459m
19:00100%22%12%59%5050m
20:00100%48%37%49%1885m
21:00100%31%17%1.1%619m
22:0032%10%1.2%0%20537m
23:0015%5%1.2%0%24135m
Mon, Feb 23
24:0015%8.2%1%0%24135m
01:0015%45%1.2%0%4131m
02:0015%72%1.3%0%1816m
03:0015%70%1.3%0%1750m
04:0015%74%1.2%0%3931m
05:0015%80%1.2%0%1782m
06:0038%98%1.1%0%280m
07:0042%99%1.6%0%185m
08:0071%99%21%0%1495m
09:0067%99%28%0%1035m
10:0061%87%72%0%1097m
11:0061%86%30%0%138m
12:0051%99%96%0%113m
13:0053%79%89%0%116m
14:0048%26%100%1.1%1874m
15:0040%25%97%0%1669m
16:0047%22%6.2%0%9159m
17:0041%17%2.5%0%24135m
18:0040%17%0%0%24135m
19:0045%19%0%0%24135m
20:0022%5%0%0%24134m
21:0022%3.7%0%0%24135m
22:0021%1.2%0%0%24134m
23:0015%1.2%0%1%24135m
Tue, Feb 24
24:0015%1.2%0%7.5%24135m
01:0015%1.2%3.9%5%24135m
02:0015%1.2%5%5%24135m
03:0015%1.1%4%33%24135m
04:009.4%1%8.2%100%24134m
05:004%1%27%81%24134m
06:0011%1%68%94%24135m
07:00100%1%47%44%24135m
08:0057%1%92%96%24134m
09:0020%1%5%0%24135m
10:0012%4.7%2.4%0%24134m
11:009.2%4%1.6%0%24135m
12:006.8%0%0.3%0%24135m
13:0014%0%0.3%5%24134m
14:009.8%0%0%4%24135m
15:0014%0%0%5%24135m
16:0015%0.2%0%5%24134m
17:0018%0%0%5%24134m
18:0016%0%0%5%24134m
19:0020%0%0%5%24134m
20:0026%0%0%5%24134m
21:0026%0%1.3%5%24135m
22:0011%0%0.87%4.2%24135m
23:000%0%0.43%3.4%24135m
Wed, Feb 25
24:000%0%0%2.6%24135m
01:000%0%0.6%34%24135m
02:000%0%1.2%65%24135m
03:000%0%1.8%96%24135m
04:000%0%1.2%97%24135m
05:000%0%0.6%99%24135m
06:000%0%0%100%24135m
07:0015%0.9%1.4%100%24135m
08:0015%1.8%2.7%100%24135m
09:0014%2.7%4.1%100%24135m
10:0036%3.1%31%100%24135m
11:0036%3.5%57%100%24135m
12:0030%3.9%84%100%24135m
13:0032%4.3%89%100%24135m
14:0033%4.8%94%100%24135m
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/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos
Air Pressure
hPa
High Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Precipitation Chance
%
Relative Humidity
%
Solar Elevation
°
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Gusts
m/s
Wind Speed
m/s
Sun, Feb 22 Sunrise 07:12 Sunset 20:56
16:00
879hPa 92% 5% 78% 74% 44° 92% 5m/s 4.2m/s
17:00
879hPa 24% 5% 75% 76% 37° 24% 5.2m/s 4.2m/s
18:00
878hPa 62% 8% 71% 78% 28° 62% 6.1m/s 4.9m/s
19:00
878hPa 59% 12% 80% 84% 18° 59% 5.1m/s 4.6m/s
20:00
877hPa 49% 37% 88% 89% 8.4° 52% 5.2m/s 4.6m/s
21:00
877hPa 1% 17% 97% 93% -1° 32% 5.3m/s 4.4m/s
22:00
876hPa 0% 1% 98% 92% -10° 10% 4.9m/s 4.5m/s
23:00
875hPa 0% 1% 99% 87% -18° 5% 4.8m/s 4.7m/s
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 07:13 Sunset 20:54
24:00
875hPa 0% 1% 100% 85% -25° 8% 4.7m/s 4.8m/s
01:00
874hPa 0% 1% 100% 90% -29° 45% 5.1m/s 4.9m/s
02:00
874hPa 0% 1% 100% 93% -31° 72% 5.7m/s 5m/s
03:00
873hPa 0% 1% 100% 93% -30° 70% 6m/s 5.1m/s
04:00
872hPa 0% 1% 100% 94% -26° 74% 6.3m/s 5.6m/s
05:00
871hPa 0% 1% 100% 93% -20° 80% 6m/s 5.5m/s
06:00
870hPa 0% 1% 100% 95% -12° 98% 5.9m/s 5.6m/s
07:00
869hPa 0% 2% 100% 96% -2.8° 99% 7.3m/s 5.6m/s
08:00
868hPa 0% 21% 100% 95% 6.7° 99% 6.5m/s 5m/s
09:00
867hPa 0% 28% 100% 95% 16° 99% 6.1m/s 4.6m/s
10:00
867hPa 0% 72% 97% 94% 26° 87% 6.3m/s 4.5m/s
11:00
866hPa 0% 30% 94% 94% 35° 86% 5.3m/s 4.4m/s
12:00
866hPa 0% 96% 91% 95% 43° 99% 4.7m/s 4.1m/s
13:00
867hPa 0% 89% 91% 94% 48° 90% 3.8m/s 3.5m/s
14:00
867hPa 1% 100% 92% 87% 50° 100% 5.3m/s 4.8m/s
15:00
868hPa 0% 97% 93% 80% 49° 98% 4.9m/s 4.3m/s
16:00
869hPa 0% 6% 62% 77% 44° 24% 5m/s 4.5m/s
17:00
871hPa 0% 2% 32% 73% 36° 18% 5.4m/s 5.1m/s
18:00
872hPa 0% 0% 1% 73% 27° 17% 5.3m/s 4.7m/s
19:00
874hPa 0% 0% 1% 73% 18° 19% 5m/s 4.5m/s
20:00
875hPa 0% 0% 0% 73% 8.1° 5% 4.2m/s 3.8m/s
21:00
877hPa 0% 0% 0% 79% -1.4° 4% 4.1m/s 3.9m/s
22:00
878hPa 0% 0% 0% 78% -11° 1% 3.5m/s 3.6m/s
23:00
879hPa 1% 0% 0% 76% -19° 1% 3.4m/s 3.6m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 07:15 Sunset 20:52
24:00
880hPa 8% 0% 0% 75% -25° 8% 3.4m/s 3.6m/s
01:00
881hPa 5% 4% 0% 74% -29° 5% 3.3m/s 3.5m/s
02:00
881hPa 5% 5% 0% 74% -31° 5% 3.4m/s 3.6m/s
03:00
881hPa 33% 4% 0% 73% -30° 33% 3.5m/s 3.6m/s
04:00
881hPa 100% 8% 0% 73% -26° 100% 3.6m/s 3.8m/s
05:00
881hPa 80% 27% 0% 73% -20° 80% 3.7m/s 3.8m/s
06:00
881hPa 94% 68% 0% 72% -12° 94% 3.8m/s 3.8m/s
07:00
882hPa 44% 46% 0% 71% -3.1° 47% 4m/s 3.9m/s
08:00
882hPa 96% 92% 0% 69% 6.5° 98% 3.7m/s 3.7m/s
09:00
882hPa 0% 5% 0% 61% 16° 5% 3.7m/s 3.8m/s
10:00
882hPa 0% 2% 0% 51% 26° 5% 3.4m/s 3.3m/s
11:00
882hPa 0% 2% 0% 44% 35° 4% 3.3m/s 3.2m/s
12:00
882hPa 0% 0% 0% 42% 42° 0% 3.2m/s 3.2m/s
13:00
882hPa 5% 0% 0% 42% 48° 5% 3.1m/s 3.2m/s
14:00
882hPa 4% 0% 0% 42% 50° 4% 3.3m/s 3.2m/s
15:00
882hPa 5% 0% 0% 42% 48° 5% 3.3m/s 3.3m/s
16:00
882hPa 5% 0% 0% 42% 43° 5% 3.4m/s 3.4m/s
17:00
882hPa 5% 0% 0% 42% 36° 5% 3.4m/s 3.4m/s
18:00
882hPa 5% 0% 0% 43% 27° 5% 3.5m/s 3.5m/s
19:00
882hPa 5% 0% 0% 45% 18° 5% 3.4m/s 3.5m/s
20:00
882hPa 5% 0% 0% 53% 7.8° 5% 3.5m/s 3.5m/s
21:00
882hPa 5% 1% 0% 57% -1.7° 5% 3.4m/s 4m/s
22:00
896hPa 4% 1% 0% 55% -11° 4% 3.5m/s 4.1m/s
23:00
911hPa 3% 0% 0% 52% -19° 3% 3.7m/s 4.3m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 07:17 Sunset 20:50
24:00
925hPa 3% 0% 0% 50% -25° 3% 3.8m/s 4.5m/s
01:00
925hPa 34% 1% 0% 49% -30° 34% 3.3m/s 3.9m/s
02:00
925hPa 65% 1% 0% 49% -32° 65% 2.9m/s 3.4m/s
03:00
925hPa 96% 2% 0% 48% -30° 96% 2.4m/s 2.8m/s
04:00
925hPa 97% 1% 0% 48% -26° 97% 2m/s 2.4m/s
05:00
924hPa 99% 1% 0% 49% -20° 99% 1.6m/s 1.9m/s
06:00
924hPa 100% 0% 0% 49% -12° 100% 1.1m/s 1.4m/s
07:00
923hPa 100% 1% 0% 49% -3.4° 100% 1.5m/s 1.7m/s
08:00
923hPa 100% 3% 0% 49% 6.2° 100% 1.9m/s 2m/s
09:00
922hPa 100% 4% 0% 49% 16° 100% 2.4m/s 2.2m/s
10:00
922hPa 100% 31% 0% 47% 25° 100% 2.8m/s 2.9m/s
11:00
922hPa 100% 57% 0% 45% 34° 100% 3.3m/s 3.5m/s
12:00
921hPa 100% 84% 0% 43% 42° 100% 3.8m/s 4.1m/s
13:00
921hPa 100% 89% 33% 44% 47° 100% 4.4m/s 4.7m/s
14:00
921hPa 100% 94% 67% 45% 50° 100% 5m/s 5.4m/s
15:00
921hPa 100% 99% 100% 46% 48° 100% 5.6m/s 6m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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