What conditions does Cloudscapes look for?

Cloud Drama Score: ≥ 75.0%. Low Clouds: ≥ 20.0%. Mid-Level Clouds: ≥ 30.0%. High Clouds: ≥ 40.0%. Visibility: ≥ 5000.0m

How often do conditions match?

There are 2 upcoming opportunity windows in the next 10 days.

More Cloudscapes in Snowdonia (Eryri)

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Rule Cloudscapes

Llyn Padarn - Cloudscapes - Snowdonia (Eryri)

Llanberis, Wales, United Kingdom

Multi-layered dramatic clouds for striking sky photography

Currently

Real-time conditions

Cloud Drama Score

Cloud Cover5%

Wind Gusts2.3m/s

Precipitation Chance0%

Air Pressure1001.5hPa

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Europe/London

Next opportunity

Dramatic Cloud Drama

Llyn Padarn

Sun, Jul 12 · 03:00–04:00 · 1h window

Medium confidence

43%

☁️Cloud Drama Score91%

Cloud Cover: 79%

Wind Gusts: 4.5m/s

Precipitation Chance: 0%

Air Pressure: 989.6hPa

Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunrise

Llyn Padarn

Sun, Jul 12 · 04:00–06:00

☁️Cloud Drama Score:80.6-94.9%

Low

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast identifies when dramatic cloud formations combine with mountain topography to create powerful sky-dominated compositions in Snowdonia. We track cloud types, movement patterns, and weather system dynamics to predict optimal cloudscape photography conditions.

Snowdonia's high peaks intercept Atlantic weather systems, creating dramatic cloud interactions as moisture-laden air is forced upward over mountain barriers. The result is constantly changing cloudscapes—from cloud waterfalls pouring over passes to lenticular formations stacking over summits, and dramatic storm systems sweeping through valleys. The region's notorious weather variability means cloud drama is a near-constant feature of the mountain landscape.

What makes Snowdonia cloudscape photography distinctive:

Orographic effects - Mountains force air upward, creating dramatic cloud formations at summits and passes
Tryfan drama - The iconic north face often has cloud streaming across its buttresses and ridges
Valley systems - Llanberis Pass and Ogwen Valley channel weather, creating dynamic cloud movement
Rapid changes - Atlantic weather systems bring quickly evolving conditions with dramatic light breaks

The most dramatic cloudscapes occur during and immediately after frontal passage—when weather systems move through and clearing begins. Ogwen Valley is particularly productive for cloudscape photography—position yourself at Llyn Ogwen or the Pont Pen-y-benglog bridge to capture cloud drama over Tryfan and the Glyderau range. The confined valley channels weather systems, creating spectacular cloud movement. Llanberis Pass shows dramatic cloud interactions with steep valley walls—clouds pour over Snowdon's eastern slopes or stream through the pass itself. Capel Curig sits at a junction of valleys, creating varied cloudscape compositions with Snowdon, Moel Siabod, and the Carneddau all visible under different sky conditions. For elevated cloudscape photography, the ridge of Pen yr Ole Wen provides dramatic perspectives with cloud systems moving through the valley below. Autumn and winter (October-March) deliver the most dramatic cloudscape conditions as Atlantic storm systems are more frequent and vigorous. Our forecast identifies conditions when cloud formations are photogenic rather than simply overcast—tracking when broken skies create light and shadow play across mountain faces.

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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 Europe/London	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
Tue, Jul 7
14:00	62%	0%	0%	25%	24135m
15:00	31%	0%	0%	7.6%	24135m
16:00	28%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
17:00	25%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
18:00	23%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
19:00	23%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
20:00	17%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
21:00	15%	0%	0%	5%	24134m
22:00	15%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
23:00	15%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
Wed, Jul 8
24:00	1%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
01:00	1.2%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
02:00	0.8%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
03:00	4.6%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
04:00	4.8%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
05:00	5.7%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
06:00	5.1%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
07:00	5%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
08:00	5%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
09:00	14%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
10:00	9.6%	0%	0%	4%	24134m
11:00	5.2%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
12:00	11%	0%	5%	1.4%	24134m
13:00	56%	0%	23%	5%	24134m
14:00	22%	0%	5%	2.1%	24134m
15:00	15%	0%	5%	0%	24135m
16:00	14%	0%	5%	0%	24135m
17:00	13%	0%	5%	0%	24135m
18:00	12%	0%	5%	0%	24135m
19:00	14%	0%	5%	0%	24134m
20:00	16%	0%	5%	0%	24134m
21:00	16%	0%	4.4%	0%	24134m
22:00	7.9%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
23:00	9%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
Thu, Jul 9
24:00	0.5%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
01:00	0%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
02:00	0.4%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
03:00	3.9%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
04:00	3.9%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
05:00	3.9%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
06:00	3.9%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
07:00	3.9%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
08:00	3.9%	0%	0%	0%	24135m
09:00	4%	0%	0%	0%	24134m
10:00	5.9%	0.6%	0%	0%	24135m
11:00	8.9%	3.9%	0%	0%	24134m
12:00	17%	6.3%	0%	0%	11087m
13:00	62%	9.8%	27%	1.4%	3558m
14:00	63%	9.2%	94%	46%	3147m
15:00	20%	9.2%	5%	0%	4113m
16:00	68%	7.3%	5%	21%	8558m
17:00	94%	0.7%	15%	38%	24134m
18:00	33%	0%	5%	7.4%	24135m
19:00	32%	0%	4%	90%	24135m
20:00	32%	0%	0%	5%	24134m
21:00	32%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
22:00	26%	0%	0%	3.5%	24135m
23:00	26%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
Fri, Jul 10
24:00	5.7%	0%	0%	4.2%	24135m
01:00	6.7%	0%	0%	4.6%	24135m
02:00	14%	0%	0%	0.4%	24135m
03:00	36%	0%	0%	9.7%	24135m
04:00	32%	0%	0%	94%	24134m
05:00	29%	0%	0%	100%	24135m
06:00	71%	0%	0%	47%	24134m
07:00	52%	0%	0%	68%	24135m
08:00	74%	0%	0%	39%	24134m
09:00	33%	0%	0%	5.4%	24134m
10:00	29%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
11:00	24%	0%	0%	5%	24134m
12:00	25%	0%	0%	5%	24134m
13:00	25%	0%	0%	5%	24134m
14:00	27%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
15:00	49%	0%	0%	62%	24134m
16:00	62%	0%	0%	28%	24134m
17:00	57%	0%	0%	19%	24135m
18:00	33%	0%	0%	5%	24135m
19:00	31%	0%	0%	4.6%	24135m
20:00	52%	0%	0.43%	15%	24135m
21:00	59%	0%	0.87%	26%	24135m
22:00	65%	0%	1.3%	36%	24135m
23:00	56%	0%	2.5%	57%	24135m
Sat, Jul 11
24:00	0%	0%	3.8%	78%	24135m
01:00	0%	0%	5%	99%	24135m
02:00	0%	0%	23%	99%	24135m
03:00	43%	0%	41%	99%	24135m
04:00	43%	0%	60%	99%	24135m
05:00	43%	2.2%	68%	92%	24135m
06:00	46%	4.4%	77%	85%	24135m
07:00	46%	6.6%	85%	79%	24135m
08:00	82%	4.9%	71%	54%	24135m
09:00	84%	3.1%	57%	30%	24135m
10:00	58%	1.4%	43%	5.2%	24135m
11:00	79%	1.7%	50%	14%	24135m
12:00	84%	2.1%	58%	23%	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 Europe/London	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
Wed, Jul 8 Sunrise 05:00 Sunset 21:41
15:00	1002hPa	0%	5%	0%	68%	54°	5%	2.3m/s	2m/s
16:00	1002hPa	0%	5%	0%	69%	47°	5%	2.2m/s	2m/s
17:00	1001hPa	0%	5%	0%	71%	39°	5%	2.3m/s	2.1m/s
18:00	1001hPa	0%	5%	0%	74%	30°	5%	2.4m/s	2.1m/s
19:00	1001hPa	0%	5%	0%	78%	21°	5%	2.5m/s	2.3m/s
20:00	1001hPa	0%	5%	0%	85%	12°	5%	2.5m/s	2.1m/s
21:00	1001hPa	0%	4%	0%	87%	4.4°	4%	1.9m/s	2.1m/s
22:00 ☾	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	88%	-2.7°	0%	1.8m/s	1.8m/s
23:00 ☾	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	88%	-8.4°	0%	1.7m/s	1.8m/s
Thu, Jul 9 Sunrise 05:00 Sunset 21:41
24:00 ☾	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	88%	-12°	0%	1.6m/s	1.6m/s
01:00 ☾	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	89%	-14°	0%	1.6m/s	1.7m/s
02:00 ☾	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	88%	-14°	0%	1.3m/s	1.4m/s
03:00 ☾	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	88%	-12°	0%	0.7m/s	0.77m/s
04:00 ☾	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	88%	-7°	0%	0.5m/s	0.55m/s
05:00 ☾	1000hPa	0%	0%	0%	88%	-0.68°	0%	0.52m/s	0.52m/s
06:00	1000hPa	0%	0%	0%	88%	6.5°	0%	0.5m/s	0.56m/s
07:00	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	87%	15°	0%	1.1m/s	1m/s
08:00	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	85%	23°	0%	1.1m/s	1.2m/s
09:00	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	82%	32°	0%	1.4m/s	1.5m/s
10:00	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	81%	41°	1%	2.2m/s	2.3m/s
11:00	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	79%	49°	4%	2.5m/s	2.3m/s
12:00	1001hPa	0%	0%	0%	75%	56°	6%	2.4m/s	2.3m/s
13:00	1001hPa	1%	27%	0%	74%	59°	27%	2.7m/s	2.7m/s
14:00	1000hPa	46%	94%	0%	72%	58°	96%	2.8m/s	2.6m/s
15:00	1000hPa	0%	5%	0%	72%	54°	11%	3.1m/s	2.8m/s
16:00	1000hPa	21%	5%	0%	71%	47°	21%	3.3m/s	2.7m/s
17:00	1000hPa	38%	15%	0%	71%	39°	38%	3.6m/s	2.7m/s
18:00	1000hPa	7%	5%	0%	71%	30°	9%	4.1m/s	3m/s
19:00	999hPa	90%	4%	0%	76%	21°	90%	4.4m/s	2.7m/s
20:00	1000hPa	5%	0%	0%	82%	12°	5%	4m/s	3.1m/s
21:00	1000hPa	5%	0%	0%	86%	4.3°	5%	3.3m/s	3.3m/s
22:00 ☾	1000hPa	4%	0%	0%	86%	-2.8°	4%	2.8m/s	3.1m/s
23:00 ☾	1000hPa	5%	0%	0%	82%	-8.5°	5%	2.9m/s	3.1m/s
Fri, Jul 10 Sunrise 05:01 Sunset 21:41
24:00 ☾	999hPa	4%	0%	0%	79%	-13°	4%	2.8m/s	3.1m/s
01:00 ☾	999hPa	5%	0%	0%	77%	-14°	5%	2.6m/s	2.9m/s
02:00 ☾	999hPa	0%	0%	0%	76%	-14°	0%	2.3m/s	2.6m/s
03:00 ☾	999hPa	10%	0%	0%	75%	-12°	10%	2m/s	2.3m/s
04:00 ☾	999hPa	94%	0%	0%	74%	-7.2°	94%	2m/s	2.3m/s
05:00 ☾	999hPa	100%	0%	0%	74%	-0.84°	100%	1.8m/s	2m/s
06:00	999hPa	47%	0%	0%	74%	6.4°	47%	1.7m/s	2m/s
07:00	999hPa	68%	0%	0%	75%	15°	68%	1.6m/s	1.8m/s
08:00	999hPa	39%	0%	0%	70%	23°	39%	1.7m/s	1.6m/s
09:00	999hPa	5%	0%	0%	65%	32°	5%	2m/s	1.7m/s
10:00	999hPa	5%	0%	0%	62%	41°	5%	1.7m/s	1.4m/s
11:00	999hPa	5%	0%	0%	58%	49°	5%	0.9m/s	0.61m/s
12:00	999hPa	5%	0%	0%	57%	55°	5%	0.8m/s	0.89m/s
13:00	999hPa	5%	0%	0%	57%	59°	5%	1.2m/s	1.3m/s
14:00	999hPa	5%	0%	7%	57%	58°	5%	1.7m/s	1.9m/s
15:00	999hPa	62%	0%	15%	58%	54°	62%	2.1m/s	2.4m/s
16:00	999hPa	28%	0%	22%	62%	47°	28%	2.3m/s	2.9m/s
17:00	999hPa	19%	0%	31%	66%	39°	19%	2.9m/s	3.1m/s
18:00	999hPa	5%	0%	41%	73%	30°	5%	4.1m/s	3.6m/s
19:00	1000hPa	5%	0%	50%	78%	21°	5%	4.4m/s	3.5m/s
20:00	994hPa	15%	0%	50%	83%	12°	15%	3.7m/s	3.3m/s
21:00	989hPa	26%	1%	50%	87%	4.3°	26%	3.1m/s	3m/s
22:00 ☾	984hPa	36%	1%	50%	92%	-2.9°	36%	2.4m/s	2.7m/s
23:00 ☾	984hPa	57%	3%	43%	91%	-8.7°	57%	2.4m/s	2.6m/s
Sat, Jul 11 Sunrise 05:02 Sunset 21:40
24:00 ☾	984hPa	78%	4%	36%	90%	-13°	78%	2.4m/s	2.4m/s
01:00 ☾	985hPa	99%	5%	28%	90%	-15°	99%	2.3m/s	2.3m/s
02:00 ☾	985hPa	99%	23%	19%	85%	-14°	99%	2.4m/s	2.2m/s
03:00 ☾	985hPa	99%	41%	9%	80%	-12°	99%	2.5m/s	2.2m/s
04:00 ☾	986hPa	99%	60%	0%	75%	-7.3°	99%	2.6m/s	2.1m/s
05:00 ☾	986hPa	92%	68%	0%	70%	-0.99°	95%	3.1m/s	2.5m/s
06:00	986hPa	85%	77%	0%	66%	6.2°	91%	3.6m/s	2.8m/s
07:00	986hPa	78%	85%	0%	62%	14°	87%	4.1m/s	3.2m/s
08:00	986hPa	54%	71%	6%	61%	23°	73%	4.3m/s	3.3m/s
09:00	986hPa	30%	57%	11%	61%	32°	58%	4.4m/s	3.5m/s
10:00	986hPa	5%	43%	17%	61%	41°	44%	4.5m/s	3.6m/s
11:00	986hPa	14%	50%	17%	69%	49°	51%	5.1m/s	3.9m/s
12:00	986hPa	23%	58%	18%	77%	55°	58%	5.6m/s	4.3m/s
13:00	986hPa	32%	65%	18%	85%	59°	65%	6.1m/s	4.6m/s
14:00	987hPa	32%	62%	29%	87%	58°	62%	6m/s	4.3m/s

How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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