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Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Tavira - Dramatic Seascapes - Algarve, Portugal

Tavira, Faro, Portugal

Dramatic coastal photography conditions - powerful waves combined with atmospheric drama and good visibility for seascape shots.

No opportunities right now
Here’s what usually blocks matches

No Dramatic Seascapes opportunities in the next 14 days

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Rule requirements (key thresholds)
Coastal Drama Score · ≥ 75.0% Significant Wave Height · ≥ 1.5m Visibility · ≥ 5000.0m Wind Gusts · ≤ 22.0m/s

Tip: Scroll down to the 72-hour table to see exactly which condition fails hour by hour.

Most common blockers (next 72 hours)
Coastal Drama Score 100% failing
Significant Wave Height 60% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Wave Height1.9m
Swell Height0.9m
Wind Speed0.9m/s (calm conditions)
Cloud Cover81%

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Europe/Lisbon

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

The Algarve coastline combines powerful Atlantic wave action with soft limestone geology, creating one of Europe's most dramatic coastal landscapes. Centuries of erosion have carved spectacular sea caves, towering stacks, and natural arches that demand careful timing for optimal conditions.

Benagil's famous sea cave—with its collapsed roof creating a natural skylight—becomes most dramatic when Atlantic swells surge through the entrance, creating dynamic foreground motion. Ponta da Piedade near Lagos features a maze of golden limestone pillars, sea arches, and hidden grottos best captured during stormy conditions when waves crash against the formations.

What makes Algarve coastal drama exceptional:

  • Benagil Cathedral Cave - Iconic dome skylight with beach interior, best photographed by kayak or paddleboard
  • Ponta da Piedade stacks - Dozens of formations creating intricate composition opportunities
  • Sagres fortress cliffs - Europe's southwestern corner where Atlantic meets Mediterranean influence
  • Erosion patterns - Honeycomb weathering and tafoni creating unique cliff textures

Winter months (November-February) bring the most powerful Atlantic storms and dramatic wave action. Sunrise often provides calmer conditions for sea cave access, while afternoon westerly winds create more dramatic spray and wave patterns. Always respect safety—these cliffs are actively eroding.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
0matching hours in the next 95 hours
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
Europe/Lisbon
Coastal Drama Score
≥ 75.0%
Significant Wave Height
≥ 1.5m
Visibility
≥ 5000.0m
Wind Gusts
≤ 22.0m/s
Precipitation Chance
≤ 30.0%
Sun, May 17
15:006%0.4m24135m4.5m/s0%
16:008.9%0.37m24135m4.4m/s0%
17:009.8%0.38m24134m4.2m/s0%
18:0013%0.39m24134m4.5m/s0%
19:0021%1.2m24134m6.1m/s0%
20:0029%1.2m24135m9.7m/s0%
21:0025%1.2m24135m12m/s0%
22:009.2%1.2m24134m13m/s0%
23:009.2%1.2m24135m13m/s0%
Mon, May 18
24:009.1%1.2m24135m13m/s0%
01:0019%2.4m24134m12m/s0%
02:0019%2.3m24134m11m/s0%
03:0019%2.2m24135m11m/s0%
04:0014%2.2m24134m11m/s0%
05:0014%2.3m24135m11m/s0%
06:0042%1.8m24134m10m/s0%
07:0044%1.8m24135m9.6m/s0%
08:0044%1.8m24135m8m/s0%
09:0043%1.9m24135m5.3m/s0%
10:0034%1.9m24135m3.2m/s0%
11:0024%1.9m24134m2.5m/s0%
12:0023%1.8m24135m2.5m/s0%
13:0022%2m24134m2.4m/s0%
14:0024%1.9m24134m2.7m/s0%
15:0026%1.9m24134m3.2m/s0%
16:0025%1.8m24134m3.6m/s0%
17:0031%1.8m24134m3.8m/s0%
18:0031%1.7m24134m3.8m/s0%
19:0029%1.6m24135m4.9m/s0%
20:0036%1.5m24135m9m/s0%
21:0022%1.5m24135m11m/s0%
22:007.8%1.4m24135m11m/s0%
23:0012%1.4m24134m12m/s0%
Tue, May 19
24:0012%1.4m24134m12m/s0%
01:0012%1.3m24134m11m/s0%
02:0012%1.3m24134m11m/s0%
03:0012%1.3m24134m10m/s0%
04:007.9%1.3m24134m9.8m/s0%
05:007.8%1.3m24134m10m/s0%
06:0023%1.3m24134m10m/s0%
07:0024%1.3m24134m9m/s0%
08:0019%1.4m24134m7.4m/s0%
09:0016%1.4m24135m5.8m/s0%
10:0020%1.5m24135m4.8m/s0%
11:0017%1.5m24135m4m/s0%
12:0026%1.5m24134m3.6m/s0%
13:0018%1.6m24134m3.6m/s0%
14:0016%1.6m24134m3.6m/s0%
15:0016%1.6m24134m3.6m/s0%
16:0016%1.6m24134m3.8m/s0%
17:0018%1.6m24135m3.6m/s0%
18:0021%1.7m24134m3.3m/s0%
19:0032%1.7m24135m3.4m/s0%
20:0040%1.7m24134m2.9m/s0%
21:0032%1.7m24134m4.9m/s0%
22:0013%1.7m24135m8.6m/s0%
23:0013%1.7m24135m10m/s0%
Wed, May 20
24:0013%1.6m24134m10m/s0%
01:0012%1.6m24134m5.8m/s0%
02:0012%1.6m24135m3.9m/s0%
03:0012%1.6m24135m2.3m/s0%
04:0012%1.6m24135m2m/s0%
05:0012%1.6m24135m1.9m/s0%
06:0035%1.6m24135m1.7m/s0%
07:0036%1.5m24134m1.7m/s0%
08:0027%1.5m24134m3.3m/s0%
09:0020%1.5m24134m4.6m/s0%
10:0020%1.5m24135m5.2m/s0%
11:0016%1.4m24135m5.3m/s0%
12:0010%1.4m24135m5.3m/s0%
13:0010%1.3m24134m5m/s0%
14:009.3%1.3m24135m5m/s0%
15:009.3%1.3m24135m5m/s0%
16:009.3%1.2m24134m4.8m/s0%
17:0011%1.2m24135m5m/s0%
18:0013%1.1m24135m4.7m/s0%
19:0015%1.1m24134m3.9m/s0%
20:0018%1.1m24134m4.6m/s0%
21:0016%1.1m24135m5.3m/s0%
22:006.3%1m24135m5.9m/s0%
23:006.3%1m24135m6.3m/s0%
Thu, May 21
24:005.5%1m24135m6.6m/s0%
01:005.3%0.98m24135m6.9m/s0%
02:004.9%0.96m24135m6.6m/s0%
03:004.9%0.94m24135m6.3m/s0%
04:004.9%0.92m24135m6m/s0%
05:004.9%0.91m24135m5.5m/s0%
06:0016%0.9m24135m5m/s0%
07:0016%0.89m24135m4.4m/s0%
08:0013%0.88m24135m4.3m/s0%
09:0011%0.87m24135m4.2m/s0%
10:0011%0.86m24135m4.1m/s0%
11:009.9%0.86m24135m7.9m/s0%
12:0011%0.85m24135m12m/s0%
13:0011%0.85m24135m16m/s0%
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Coastal 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
Europe/Lisbon
High Clouds
%
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Primary Swell Height
m
Primary Wave Direction
°
Sea Salt AOD (550nm)
Solar Elevation
°
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Direction
°
Wind Speed
m/s
Wind Wave Height
m
Wind Wave Period
s
Mon, May 18 Sunrise 06:20 Sunset 20:34
15:00
81% 0% 5% 0.92m 98° 0.02 63° 81% 292° 0.94m/s 1.5m 7.7s
16:00
77% 0% 0% 0.96m 103° 0.02 52° 77% 231° 0.63m/s 1.4m 7.8s
17:00
93% 0% 5% 0.97m 105° 0.03 41° 93% 295° 0.14m/s 1.3m 7.7s
18:00
97% 0% 5% 0.97m 108° 0.03 29° 97% 344° 1.3m/s 1.1m 7.7s
19:00
100% 0% 94% 0.98m 110° 0.03 17° 100% 340° 4m/s 1m 7.7s
20:00
100% 0% 5% 0.97m 109° 0.03 5.6° 100% 328° 5.8m/s 0.93m 7.7s
21:00
100% 0% 5% 0.97m 109° 0.03 -5.3° 100% 325° 5.9m/s 0.85m 7.6s
22:00
100% 0% 42% 0.96m 108° 0.03 -15° 100% 322° 5.9m/s 0.78m 7.5s
23:00
100% 0% 88% 1m 109° 0.03 -23° 100% 326° 6m/s 0.79m 7.5s
Tue, May 19 Sunrise 06:20 Sunset 20:34
24:00
100% 0% 31% 1.1m 110° 0.02 -30° 100% 332° 6m/s 0.81m 7.4s
01:00
100% 0% 6% 1.1m 110° 0.02 -33° 100% 338° 5.1m/s 0.82m 7.4s
02:00
100% 0% 32% 1.1m 111° 0.02 -33° 100% 340° 4.7m/s 0.58m 7.3s
03:00
100% 0% 1% 1m 112° 0.02 -29° 100% 342° 4.3m/s 0.33m 7.3s
04:00
100% 0% 13% 0.97m 113° 0.02 -23° 100% 343° 3.6m/s 0.09m 7.3s
05:00
100% 0% 56% 0.96m 115° 0.02 -14° 100% 340° 3.6m/s 0.13m 7.3s
06:00
100% 0% 30% 0.96m 116° 0.02 -4.2° 100% 346° 3.6m/s 0.17m 7.3s
07:00
100% 0% 43% 0.95m 117° 0.02 6.8° 100% 344° 3m/s 0.21m 7.3s
08:00
100% 0% 100% 0.95m 118° 0.01 18° 100% 355° 3.2m/s 0.24m 7.4s
09:00
96% 0% 100% 0.95m 119° 0.01 30° 100% 356° 3.4m/s 0.26m 7.4s
10:00
57% 0% 5% 0.95m 120° 0.01 42° 57% 3.7m/s 0.29m 7.4s
11:00
96% 0% 0% 0.98m 129° 0.009 54° 96% 12° 3.9m/s 0.29m 7.8s
12:00
58% 0% 0% 1m 137° 0.008 64° 58% 23° 3.4m/s 0.28m 8.3s
13:00
5% 0% 0% 1m 146° 0.007 72° 5% 31° 3.1m/s 0.28m 8.7s
14:00
3% 0% 0% 1.2m 147° - 71° 3% 47° 2.7m/s 0.28m 8.9s
15:00
2% 0% 0% 1.3m 149° - 63° 2% 64° 2.2m/s 0.27m 9s
16:00
1% 0% 0% 1.4m 150° - 53° 1% 103° 1.9m/s 0.27m 9.1s
17:00
5% 0% 0% 1.4m 149° - 41° 5% 148° 2.2m/s 0.27m 9.2s
18:00
5% 0% 0% 1.4m 148° - 29° 5% 168° 1.7m/s 0.26m 9.2s
19:00
37% 0% 0% 1.5m 147° - 17° 37% 176° 1.6m/s 0.26m 9.3s
20:00
27% 0% 0% 1.4m 149° - 5.8° 27% 197° 2m/s 0.22m 9.3s
21:00
13% 0% 0% 1.4m 150° - -5.1° 13% 273° 3.1m/s 0.18m 9.4s
22:00
5% 0% 0% 1.4m 152° - -15° 5% 316° 3.4m/s 0.14m 9.6s
23:00
5% 0% 0% 1.4m 162° - -23° 5% 325° 3.4m/s 0.16m 10s
Wed, May 20 Sunrise 06:19 Sunset 20:35
24:00
5% 0% 0% 1.4m 172° - -29° 5% 334° 3.5m/s 0.17m 11s
01:00
5% 0% 0% 1.4m 182° - -33° 5% 349° 3.3m/s 0.19m 12s
02:00
5% 0% 0% 1.3m 180° - -32° 5% 346° 2.8m/s 0.25m 11s
03:00
5% 0% 0% 1.3m 178° - -29° 5% 344° 2.5m/s 0.3m 11s
04:00
5% 0% 0% 1.3m 176° - -22° 5% 344° 2.3m/s 0.36m 11s
05:00
5% 0% 0% 1.3m 177° - -14° 5% 348° 2.1m/s 0.45m 11s
06:00
5% 0% 0% 1.2m 179° - -4° 5% 1.9m/s 0.55m 11s
07:00
5% 0% 0% 1.1m 181° - 6.9° 5% 21° 1.8m/s 0.64m 11s
08:00
0% 0% 0% 1.1m 178° - 18° 0% 54° 1.9m/s 0.65m 11s
09:00
0% 0% 0% 1.1m 176° - 30° 0% 89° 2.4m/s 0.65m 10s
10:00
4% 0% 0% 1m 173° - 42° 4% 107° 3.2m/s 0.66m 10s
11:00
2% 0% 0% 1m 170° - 54° 2% 115° 4.1m/s 0.65m 10s
12:00
0% 0% 0% 0.97m 166° - 64° 0% 121° 4.6m/s 0.63m 10s
13:00
0% 0% 0% 0.93m 163° - 72° 0% 132° 4.5m/s 0.62m 9.8s
14:00
5% 0% 0% 0.9m 158° - 71° 5% 143° 4.5m/s 0.61m 9.6s
15:00
5% 0% 0% 0.88m 152° - 64° 5% 149° 4.4m/s 0.59m 9.4s
16:00
5% 0% 0% 0.85m 147° - 53° 5% 145° 4.1m/s 0.58m 9.2s
17:00
5% 0% 0% 0.83m 158° - 41° 5% 140° 4.3m/s 0.56m 9.6s
18:00
5% 0% 0% 0.8m 170° - 29° 5% 143° 3.7m/s 0.53m 9.9s
19:00
5% 0% 0% 0.78m 182° - 17° 5% 143° 2.6m/s 0.51m 10s
20:00
3% 0% 0% 0.77m 182° - 5.9° 3% 111° 3.3m/s 0.49m 10s
21:00
2% 0% 0% 0.76m 181° - -5° 2% 79° 4m/s 0.47m 10s
22:00
0% 0% 0% 0.75m 181° - -15° 0% 46° 4.7m/s 0.45m 10s
23:00
2% 0% 0% 0.73m 175° - -23° 2% 50° 4.8m/s 0.43m 9.9s
Thu, May 21 Sunrise 06:18 Sunset 20:35
24:00
3% 0% 0% 0.72m 169° - -29° 3% 54° 4.9m/s 0.42m 9.8s
01:00
5% 0% 0% 0.7m 163° - -32° 5% 58° 4.9m/s 0.4m 9.6s
02:00
5% 0% 0% 0.69m 157° - -32° 5% 58° 5.1m/s 0.39m 9.4s
03:00
5% 0% 0% 0.68m 151° - -29° 5% 59° 5.2m/s 0.37m 9.3s
04:00
5% 0% 0% 0.67m 144° - -22° 5% 59° 5.4m/s 0.36m 9.1s
05:00
5% 0% 0% 0.66m 142° - -14° 5% 60° 5m/s 0.41m 9s
06:00
5% 0% 0% 0.65m 140° - -3.9° 5% 62° 4.7m/s 0.46m 8.9s
07:00
5% 0% 0% 0.64m 138° - 5% 64° 4.3m/s 0.51m 8.7s
08:00
5% 0% 0% 0.63m 137° - 18° 5% 73° 4.2m/s 0.52m 8.7s
09:00
5% 0% 0% 0.61m 135° - 30° 5% 82° 4m/s 0.53m 8.6s
10:00
5% 0% 0% 0.6m 134° - 42° 5% 91° 3.9m/s 0.54m 8.5s
11:00
8% 0% 0% 0.58m 134° - 54° 8% 103° 5m/s 0.56m 8.4s
12:00
10% 0% 0% 0.57m 134° - 65° 10% 115° 6.1m/s 0.59m 8.4s
13:00
13% 0% 0% 0.55m 135° - 72° 13% 127° 7.2m/s 0.61m 8.3s
14:00
42% 0% 0% 0.56m 135° - 72° 42% 127° 7.7m/s 0.67m 8.3s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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