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Rule Cloudscapes

Puerto Natales - Cloudscapes - Patagonia

Puerto Natales, Region of Magallanes, Chile

Multi-layered dramatic clouds for striking sky photography

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts1.0m/s
Precipitation Chance42%
Air Pressure996.5hPa

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Punta_Arenas
cloudscapes weather icon
Next opportunity
Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunset
Puerto Natales
Today · 18:00–19:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
63%
☁️Cloud Drama Score97.5%
Cloud Cover: 77%
Wind Gusts: 1.5m/s
Precipitation Chance: 55%
Air Pressure: 997.3hPa
cloudscapes weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama
Puerto Natales
Wed, May 27 · 11:00–12:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:77%
Medium
cloudscapes weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama
Puerto Natales
Thu, May 28 · 11:00–12:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:82.6%
Medium
cloudscapes weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama
Puerto Natales
Thu, May 28 · 13:00–14:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:76.7%
Medium
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunset
Puerto Natales
Thu, May 28 · 17:00–19:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:78.4-85.4%
Low
cloudscapes weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama
Puerto Natales
Fri, May 29 · 11:00–14:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:75.4-81.2%
Low
cloudscapes weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama at Sunset
Puerto Natales
Fri, May 29 · 18:00–19:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:81.2%
Medium
+2 more windows in the next 10 days

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 80 hoursJump to next match
OR logic: one branch per group is enough
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
America/Punta_Arenas
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
Sun, May 24
01:003%5%100%88%24134m
02:003%24%100%100%24135m
03:001.9%4.4%100%100%24134m
04:000.9%0%100%81%24134m
05:002.3%0%100%100%24134m
06:000.7%0%100%100%24134m
07:000.1%0%100%100%24135m
08:002.2%57%100%91%24134m
09:0060%99%100%84%24135m
10:0062%56%100%96%24135m
11:0062%88%100%97%24135m
12:0060%89%100%100%24134m
13:0060%71%100%100%24134m
14:0060%87%100%100%24134m
15:0060%35%100%100%24134m
16:0051%8.4%100%98%24135m
17:0062%63%100%100%24134m
18:0098%23%77%0.5%24135m
19:0056%100%13%0%24134m
20:0013%47%5%0%24135m
21:0015%42%0%0%24135m
22:0015%74%0%0%24135m
23:0014%90%0%0%24135m
Mon, May 25
24:0014%45%5%9.1%24135m
01:0015%51%5%5.6%24134m
02:0015%5%18%50%24134m
03:0012%6.7%100%45%24134m
04:007.3%5%100%93%24135m
05:000.2%5%100%100%24134m
06:000%5%100%100%24135m
07:000%5%100%100%24135m
08:000.4%11%100%100%24134m
09:0046%8.3%100%100%24135m
10:0057%24%100%100%24134m
11:0056%37%100%100%24134m
12:0052%77%100%100%24134m
13:0052%70%100%100%24134m
14:0052%18%100%100%24135m
15:0043%8%100%100%24134m
16:0043%5%100%100%24135m
17:0046%5%99%100%24134m
18:0046%5%100%100%24135m
19:0040%7%100%100%24134m
20:000%8.2%100%100%24134m
21:000%55%100%100%24135m
22:000%38%100%100%24134m
23:000%98%100%100%24135m
Tue, May 26
24:000%69%100%100%24134m
01:000%91%100%100%24134m
02:000%98%100%100%24134m
03:000%100%100%100%24135m
04:000%100%100%100%24134m
05:000%100%100%100%24135m
06:000%100%100%100%24134m
07:000%100%100%100%24135m
08:000%100%100%100%24134m
09:0056%96%100%100%24134m
10:0056%48%100%100%24134m
11:0059%23%100%100%24135m
12:0055%55%100%100%24135m
13:0061%78%100%100%24134m
14:0064%88%100%100%24135m
15:0063%100%100%100%24134m
16:0055%94%68%100%19767m
17:0056%89%37%100%15400m
18:0038%84%4.8%100%11033m
19:0035%73%3.2%89%15400m
20:000%62%1.6%78%19768m
21:000%51%0%67%24135m
22:000%58%23%78%19804m
23:000%64%45%89%15472m
Wed, May 27
24:000%71%68%100%11141m
01:000%81%53%100%15472m
02:000%90%37%100%19803m
03:000%100%22%100%24135m
04:000%100%48%100%24135m
05:000%100%74%100%24135m
06:000%100%100%100%24135m
07:000%97%100%100%19059m
08:000%93%100%100%13984m
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/Punta_Arenas
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, May 24 Sunrise 09:36 Sunset 17:57
10:00
997hPa 96% 100% 42% 80% 2.5° 100% 1m/s 0.97m/s
11:00
997hPa 97% 100% 62% 78% 8.9° 100% 0.81m/s 0.76m/s
12:00
997hPa 100% 100% 82% 77% 14° 100% 0.9m/s 0.78m/s
13:00
997hPa 100% 100% 88% 77% 17° 100% 0.91m/s 0.71m/s
14:00
996hPa 100% 100% 94% 76% 17° 100% 1.2m/s 0.93m/s
15:00
996hPa 100% 100% 100% 76% 16° 100% 0.71m/s 0.62m/s
16:00
996hPa 98% 100% 85% 77% 12° 100% 0.82m/s 0.65m/s
17:00
997hPa 100% 100% 70% 79% 6.2° 100% 1.2m/s 1.1m/s
18:00
997hPa 0% 77% 55% 86% -0.84° 77% 1.5m/s 1.4m/s
19:00
999hPa 0% 13% 64% 94% -9.3° 100% 1.8m/s 1.7m/s
20:00
999hPa 0% 5% 73% 95% -18° 47% 2.1m/s 1.7m/s
21:00
1000hPa 0% 0% 82% 94% -27° 42% 2.2m/s 1.8m/s
22:00
1000hPa 0% 0% 57% 94% -37° 74% 1.9m/s 1.5m/s
23:00
1001hPa 0% 0% 32% 93% -45° 90% 1.6m/s 1.3m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 09:37 Sunset 17:56
24:00
1001hPa 9% 5% 7% 92% -53° 45% 1.5m/s 1.2m/s
01:00
1001hPa 6% 5% 18% 92% -58° 51% 1.5m/s 1.5m/s
02:00
1001hPa 50% 18% 28% 91% -59° 50% 1.4m/s 1.2m/s
03:00
1001hPa 45% 100% 39% 91% -56° 100% 1.6m/s 1.6m/s
04:00
1002hPa 93% 100% 33% 91% -50° 100% 1.1m/s 1m/s
05:00
1002hPa 100% 100% 28% 92% -42° 100% 1.2m/s 1.1m/s
06:00
1002hPa 100% 100% 22% 92% -33° 100% 1.3m/s 1.3m/s
07:00
1003hPa 100% 100% 23% 92% -23° 100% 1.1m/s 1.1m/s
08:00
1003hPa 100% 100% 25% 92% -14° 100% 1.3m/s 1.3m/s
09:00
1004hPa 100% 100% 26% 92% -5.7° 100% 0.6m/s 0.61m/s
10:00
1004hPa 100% 100% 26% 92% 2.3° 100% 1.1m/s 1.1m/s
11:00
1004hPa 100% 100% 25% 90% 8.7° 100% 1.1m/s 1.1m/s
12:00
1004hPa 100% 100% 24% 88% 14° 100% 1.3m/s 1m/s
13:00
1004hPa 100% 100% 29% 86% 17° 100% 1.3m/s 0.89m/s
14:00
1004hPa 100% 100% 33% 84% 17° 100% 1.6m/s 0.83m/s
15:00
1004hPa 100% 100% 38% 84% 16° 100% 1.8m/s 0.86m/s
16:00
1004hPa 100% 100% 36% 86% 12° 100% 0.71m/s 0.69m/s
17:00
1004hPa 100% 99% 35% 88% 100% 0.81m/s 0.83m/s
18:00
1004hPa 100% 100% 33% 90% -1° 100% 1.2m/s 1.2m/s
19:00
1004hPa 100% 100% 37% 90% -9.4° 100% 1.2m/s 1.2m/s
20:00
1005hPa 100% 100% 41% 90% -18° 100% 1.2m/s 1.3m/s
21:00
1005hPa 100% 100% 44% 90% -28° 100% 1.2m/s 1.3m/s
22:00
1005hPa 100% 100% 46% 90% -37° 100% 0.81m/s 0.82m/s
23:00
1005hPa 100% 100% 48% 90% -46° 100% 0.91m/s 0.87m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 09:38 Sunset 17:55
24:00
1005hPa 100% 100% 50% 90% -53° 100% 0.92m/s 0.87m/s
01:00
1005hPa 100% 100% 53% 90% -58° 100% 0.7m/s 0.68m/s
02:00
1005hPa 100% 100% 57% 90% -59° 100% 0.91m/s 0.96m/s
03:00
1006hPa 100% 100% 60% 91% -56° 100% 0.91m/s 0.95m/s
04:00
1006hPa 100% 100% 52% 90% -50° 100% 1.1m/s 1.1m/s
05:00
1006hPa 100% 100% 45% 88% -42° 100% 1.9m/s 1.3m/s
06:00
1006hPa 100% 100% 37% 88% -33° 100% 1.6m/s 1.2m/s
07:00
1007hPa 100% 100% 35% 88% -24° 100% 1.5m/s 1.3m/s
08:00
1007hPa 100% 100% 34% 88% -15° 100% 1.4m/s 1.3m/s
09:00
1007hPa 100% 100% 32% 88% -5.9° 100% 1.1m/s 0.96m/s
10:00
1008hPa 100% 100% 38% 89% 2.2° 100% 0.6m/s 0.49m/s
11:00
1008hPa 100% 100% 44% 88% 8.5° 100% 1m/s 0.88m/s
12:00
1008hPa 100% 100% 50% 87% 13° 100% 0.61m/s 0.45m/s
13:00
1009hPa 100% 100% 50% 85% 16° 100% 0.73m/s 0.52m/s
14:00
1009hPa 100% 100% 50% 85% 17° 100% 1.1m/s 0.83m/s
15:00
1009hPa 100% 100% 50% 86% 15° 100% 1.4m/s 1m/s
16:00
998hPa 100% 68% 33% 89% 12° 100% 2.4m/s 1.3m/s
17:00
988hPa 100% 37% 17% 92% 5.9° 100% 3.4m/s 1.6m/s
18:00
977hPa 100% 5% 0% 95% -1.2° 100% 4.4m/s 2m/s
19:00
977hPa 89% 3% 0% 94% -9.6° 89% 4.2m/s 2m/s
20:00
977hPa 78% 2% 0% 94% -18° 79% 4.1m/s 2.1m/s
21:00
977hPa 67% 0% 0% 93% -28° 68% 3.9m/s 2.1m/s
22:00
976hPa 78% 23% 0% 94% -37° 79% 4m/s 2.2m/s
23:00
976hPa 89% 45% 0% 95% -46° 89% 4.1m/s 2.3m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 09:39 Sunset 17:54
24:00
975hPa 100% 68% 0% 96% -53° 100% 4.1m/s 2.4m/s
01:00
975hPa 100% 53% 0% 95% -58° 100% 4.5m/s 2.3m/s
02:00
975hPa 100% 37% 0% 94% -59° 100% 4.8m/s 2.3m/s
03:00
974hPa 100% 22% 0% 94% -56° 100% 5.1m/s 2.2m/s
04:00
974hPa 100% 48% 3% 94% -50° 100% 5m/s 2.2m/s
05:00
974hPa 100% 74% 7% 94% -42° 100% 4.9m/s 2.2m/s
06:00
974hPa 100% 100% 10% 94% -33° 100% 4.7m/s 2.3m/s
07:00
973hPa 100% 100% 7% 94% -24° 100% 4.1m/s 1.9m/s
08:00
972hPa 100% 100% 3% 94% -15° 100% 3.4m/s 1.6m/s
09:00
972hPa 100% 100% 0% 94% -6° 100% 2.8m/s 1.3m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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