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Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Donostia / San Sebastián - Dramatic Seascapes - Spanish Coast & Islands

Donostia / San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain

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 100% failing
Precipitation Chance 46% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Wave Height0.5m
Swell Height1.0m
Wind Speed0.8m/s (calm conditions)
Cloud Cover38%

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Europe/Madrid

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

Spain's coastline encompasses extraordinary diversity—from the wild Atlantic Basque coast with its jagged cliffs and powerful swells to the volcanic Canary Islands' otherworldly black sand beaches. Each region offers distinct coastal drama shaped by geology and ocean forces.

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in the Basque Country features a dramatic hermitage perched on a rocky islet connected by a winding stone bridge—a location made famous globally but timelessly photogenic during Atlantic storms. The Canary Islands' volcanic origins create stark black lava formations meeting turquoise waters, particularly spectacular along Lanzarote's Los Hervideros coastline and Tenerife's northern shores.

What makes Spanish coastal drama exceptional:

  • Basque cliff formations - Flysch rock layers create dramatic striped patterns along the coast
  • Volcanic meets ocean - Canary Islands' recent lava flows create stark black formations against Atlantic blue
  • Mediterranean sea caves - Costa Brava hidden coves and Mallorca's cathedral-like caves
  • Tidal range variation - Atlantic coast massive tidal swings reveal hidden rock formations

Best conditions vary by region: Basque coast storms peak October-February with dramatic wave action. Canary Islands offer year-round coastal drama with reliable conditions. Mediterranean coast provides summer clarity but winter storm opportunities. Always check tide times for foreground rock access.

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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/Madrid
Coastal Drama Score
≥ 75.0%
Significant Wave Height
≥ 1.5m
Visibility
≥ 5000.0m
Wind Gusts
≤ 22.0m/s
Precipitation Chance
≤ 30.0%
Wed, Apr 8
03:007.6%0.42m24135m2.8m/s0%
04:006%0.4m24134m2.7m/s0%
05:006%0.37m24135m2.3m/s0%
06:004.1%0.13m24134m2.1m/s0%
07:0010%0.17m24134m2m/s0%
08:0029%0.37m24135m2.1m/s0%
09:0022%0.44m24135m3m/s0%
10:0019%0.52m24134m3m/s0%
11:0011%0.59m24135m2.9m/s0%
12:007.3%0.59m24134m2.9m/s0%
13:006%0.6m24135m3.6m/s0%
14:008.8%0.66m24134m3.4m/s0%
15:005.6%0.69m24135m3.7m/s0%
16:009.8%0.73m24134m2.2m/s0%
17:007%0.76m24135m2.3m/s0%
18:008.2%0.76m24135m2.9m/s0%
19:0011%0.77m24134m2.7m/s0%
20:0011%0.79m24135m0.9m/s0%
21:0019%0.63m24135m1.1m/s0%
22:007.8%0.59m24134m1.2m/s0%
23:005.6%0.54m24134m1.3m/s0%
Thu, Apr 9
24:003.1%0.38m24135m1.6m/s0%
01:005.7%0.67m24135m1.6m/s0%
02:003.5%0.45m24135m1.6m/s0%
03:006%0.47m24134m1m/s0%
04:008.8%0.48m24135m0.7m/s0%
05:008.6%0.5m24135m0.52m/s0%
06:006.4%0.53m24135m0.71m/s0%
07:0017%0.56m24134m1m/s0%
08:0035%0.59m24134m1.1m/s0%
09:0032%0.59m24134m0.9m/s0%
10:0016%0.6m24135m0.9m/s0%
11:0014%0.6m24134m1.4m/s0%
12:0014%0.57m24135m1.6m/s0%
13:0013%0.53m23017m1.4m/s0%
14:0013%0.5m22997m1.7m/s0%
15:0013%0.49m23001m2.4m/s0%
16:0016%0.48m22998m2.4m/s0%
17:0016%0.47m22998m3.2m/s0%
18:0020%0.44m23022m3.9m/s0%
19:0019%0.42m24134m2m/s0%
20:0020%0.39m24135m1m/s0%
21:0027%0.38m24135m0.9m/s0%
22:008.2%0.37m24134m1.3m/s0%
23:007.4%0.36m24134m0.9m/s0%
Fri, Apr 10
24:006.8%0.37m24135m0.81m/s0%
01:007.2%0.37m24134m1.2m/s0%
02:007.2%0.38m24135m0.9m/s0%
03:006.4%0.39m24134m0.4m/s0%
04:005.8%0.39m24134m0.9m/s0%
05:006%0.4m24135m1.1m/s0%
06:006%0.4m24134m1.1m/s0%
07:0017%0.39m24134m0.9m/s0%
08:0020%0.39m24135m1.2m/s0%
09:0017%0.39m24134m1.4m/s0%
10:0024%0.4m24134m1.2m/s0%
11:0015%0.4m24135m1.7m/s0%
12:0017%0.47m24135m2m/s0%
13:009.8%0.54m24134m2.5m/s0%
14:009.8%0.61m24134m1.9m/s0%
15:008%0.66m24134m2.2m/s13%
16:0011%0.7m24134m2.4m/s26%
17:0011%0.75m24134m2.4m/s39%
18:0012%0.75m24134m1.5m/s41%
19:0016%0.75m24135m0.52m/s44%
20:008.2%0.75m24135m1.5m/s46%
21:0014%0.68m24135m2.8m/s43%
22:003.8%0.6m24134m4.5m/s40%
23:005%0.53m24135m7.9m/s38%
Sat, Apr 11
24:004.6%0.48m24134m5.4m/s48%
01:004.6%0.43m24135m4.5m/s58%
02:004.6%0.38m24134m5.2m/s68%
03:005.4%0.35m24134m2.8m/s68%
04:005.8%0.32m20232m5.5m/s68%
05:002.6%0.29m295m7.3m/s69%
06:001.7%0.27m2250m6.5m/s75%
07:0013%0.26m14881m5.2m/s81%
08:0020%0.24m17470m4.8m/s87%
09:0016%0.23m14143m6.2m/s91%
10:0014%0.23m10815m7.7m/s94%
11:0012%0.22m7488m9.1m/s98%
12:0012%0.22m9830m8.8m/s98%
13:009.8%0.21m12171m8.4m/s99%
14:009.8%0.21m14513m8.1m/s99%
15:0010%0.22m12804m6.5m/s97%
16:008.9%0.24m11094m4.8m/s95%
17:007.2%0.25m9385m3.1m/s93%
18:005.7%0.27m14302m3.6m/s93%
19:006.3%0.28m19218m4.1m/s93%
20:008.6%0.3m24135m4.6m/s93%
21:009.4%0.28m24135m4.2m/s82%
22:002.9%0.27m24135m3.9m/s72%
23:002.9%0.25m24135m3.5m/s61%
Sun, Apr 12
24:002.9%0.24m24135m3m/s62%
01:002.9%0.24m24135m2.6m/s63%
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/Madrid
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
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 07:36 Sunset 20:43
04:00
38% 0% 5% 1m 123° 0.003 -33° 38% 167° 0.84m/s 0.1m 4.9s
05:00
52% 0% 3% 1.3m 141° 0.003 -26° 52% 151° 0.45m/s 0.09m 5.5s
06:00
10% 0% 0% 1.2m 120° 0.003 -17° 10% 177° 0.83m/s 0.11m 4.4s
07:00
5% 0% 0% 1.1m 98° 0.003 -7.1° 5% 190° 1.1m/s 0.14m 3.4s
08:00
0% 0% 0% 1.1m 76° 0.003 3.7° 0% 199° 1.2m/s 0.16m 2.3s
09:00
2% 0% 0% 1.1m 79° 0.003 14° 2% 207° 0.82m/s 0.19m 2.5s
10:00
0% 0% 0% 1.1m 82° 0.003 25° 0% 324° 0.96m/s 0.21m 2.7s
11:00
0% 0% 0% 1.1m 85° 0.003 35° 0% 340° 1.6m/s 0.24m 2.9s
12:00
0% 0% 0% 1.1m 109° 0.003 44° 0% 343° 2.1m/s 0.2m 3.5s
13:00
8% 2% 2% 1.1m 133° 0.004 51° 9% 337° 1.9m/s 0.15m 4s
14:00
5% 2% 5% 1.1m 158° 0.006 54° 7% 339° 2.3m/s 0.11m 4.6s
15:00
0% 2% 2% 1.1m 159° 0.007 53° 4% 332° 2.7m/s 0.09m 4.2s
16:00
0% 2% 0% 1.1m 160° 0.008 47° 2% 325° 2.3m/s 0.08m 3.7s
17:00
0% 2% 0% 1.1m 161° 0.009 39° 2% 320° 2.4m/s 0.06m 3.3s
18:00
0% 4% 0% 1.1m 163° 0.009 29° 4% 314° 2.4m/s 0.95m 3.1s
19:00
0% 1% 0% 1m 164° 0.008 18° 1% 253° 0.98m/s 1.8m 3s
20:00
5% 0% 0% 0.98m 166° 0.009 7.2° 5% 190° 1m/s 2.7m 2.9s
21:00
5% 0% 0% 0.97m 171° 0.01 -3.6° 5% 311° 1m/s 2.6m 2.9s
22:00
5% 0% 0% 0.96m 176° 0.009 -14° 5% 299° 1.3m/s 2.4m 2.8s
23:00
5% 0% 0% 0.95m 180° 0.006 -23° 5% 234° 0.92m/s 2.3m 2.8s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 07:36 Sunset 20:43
24:00
5% 0% 0% 0.99m 182° 0.005 -31° 5% 177° 0.84m/s 2.2m 2.8s
01:00
3% 0% 0% 1m 183° 0.005 -36° 3% 172° 1.3m/s 2.1m 2.8s
02:00
0% 0% 0% 1.1m 184° 0.01 -39° 0% 179° 1m/s 2.1m 2.8s
03:00
5% 0% 0% 1.1m 193° 0.02 -38° 5% 213° 0.36m/s 1.4m 2.8s
04:00
4% 0% 0% 1.1m 201° 0.02 -33° 4% 190° 0.98m/s 0.74m 2.8s
05:00
0% 0% 0% 1.1m 209° 0.02 -26° 0% 176° 1.3m/s 0.07m 2.8s
06:00
0% 0% 0% 1.1m 211° 0.01 -17° 0% 172° 1.3m/s 0.06m 2.8s
07:00
3% 0% 0% 1.1m 213° 0.01 -6.8° 3% 173° 1m/s 0.06m 2.8s
08:00
5% 0% 0% 1.1m 215° 0.007 5% 163° 1.4m/s 0.05m 2.8s
09:00
7% 0% 0% 1m 169° 0.007 15° 7% 158° 1.1m/s 0.07m 2.5s
10:00
46% 0% 0% 1m 123° 0.007 26° 46% 89° 0.68m/s 0.09m 2.1s
11:00
71% 0% 0% 0.98m 77° 0.007 36° 71% 52° 1m/s 0.11m 1.8s
12:00
21% 0% 0% 0.93m 77° 0.006 45° 21% 34° 1.6m/s 0.21m 2.4s
13:00
9% 0% 0% 0.89m 77° 0.005 52° 9% 37° 1.4m/s 0.3m 3s
14:00
5% 0% 0% 0.84m 77° 0.004 55° 5% 21° 2m/s 0.4m 3.6s
15:00
0% 0% 0% 0.79m 79° - 53° 0% 30° 1.6m/s 0.47m 3.8s
16:00
0% 0% 0% 0.75m 80° - 47° 0% 30° 1.3m/s 0.53m 4.1s
17:00
0% 0% 0% 0.7m 82° - 39° 0% 18° 1.3m/s 0.6m 4.3s
18:00
0% 1% 1% 0.63m 84° - 29° 1% 353° 1m/s 0.61m 4.4s
19:00
5% 1% 5% 0.55m 85° - 18° 5% 293° 0.33m/s 0.62m 4.5s
20:00
0% 5% 4% 0.48m 87° - 7.4° 5% 147° 1.7m/s 0.63m 4.6s
21:00
0% 33% 69% 0.49m 88° - -3.4° 69% 167° 2.9m/s 0.54m 4.4s
22:00
0% 4% 51% 0.49m 89° - -14° 51% 158° 3.6m/s 0.45m 4.2s
23:00
0% 0% 2% 0.5m 90° - -23° 2% 170° 3.8m/s 0.36m 4s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 07:34 Sunset 20:44
24:00
0% 0% 4% 0.58m 90° - -31° 4% 169° 3.7m/s 0.3m 3.7s
01:00
0% 0% 3% 0.67m 89° - -36° 3% 174° 3.6m/s 0.24m 3.5s
02:00
0% 0% 5% 0.75m 89° - -38° 5% 174° 3.6m/s 0.18m 3.3s
03:00
0% 1% 5% 0.63m 90° - -37° 5% 236° 1m/s 0.14m 3.1s
04:00
4% 40% 100% 0.52m 90° - -33° 100% 315° 2.5m/s 0.11m 3s
05:00
4% 80% 8% 0.4m 91° - -25° 80% 318° 2.9m/s 0.07m 2.9s
06:00
0% 97% 67% 0.49m 107° - -17° 97% 321° 2.4m/s 0.25m 3s
07:00
5% 100% 34% 0.58m 124° - -6.5° 100% 339° 1.4m/s 0.42m 3.2s
08:00
14% 100% 5% 0.67m 140° - 4.3° 100% 329° 1.5m/s 0.6m 3.4s
09:00
42% 100% 37% 0.65m 141° - 15° 100% 329° 4.4m/s 0.42m 3.1s
10:00
71% 100% 68% 0.64m 142° - 26° 100% 330° 7.3m/s 0.25m 2.9s
11:00
99% 100% 100% 0.62m 143° - 36° 100% 330° 10m/s 0.07m 2.6s
12:00
99% 100% 100% 0.6m 144° - 45° 100% 336° 9m/s 0.07m 2.6s
13:00
100% 100% 100% 0.59m 145° - 52° 100% 343° 7.8m/s 0.08m 2.6s
14:00
100% 100% 100% 0.57m 146° - 55° 100% 349° 6.5m/s 0.08m 2.6s
15:00
100% 100% 100% 0.55m 120° - 53° 100% 276° 5.7m/s 0.09m 2.4s
16:00
100% 100% 100% 0.53m 94° - 48° 100% 202° 5m/s 0.11m 2.2s
17:00
100% 100% 100% 0.51m 68° - 39° 100% 129° 4.2m/s 0.12m 2s
18:00
100% 83% 100% 0.49m 72° - 29° 100% 132° 4.5m/s 0.14m 2.2s
19:00
100% 67% 100% 0.48m 77° - 18° 100% 135° 4.9m/s 0.16m 2.4s
20:00
100% 50% 100% 0.46m 82° - 7.6° 100% 138° 5.3m/s 0.18m 2.5s
21:00
100% 58% 100% 0.43m 84° - -3.2° 100% 133° 4.9m/s 0.16m 2.6s
22:00
100% 67% 100% 0.41m 86° - -13° 100% 127° 4.5m/s 0.15m 2.7s
23:00
100% 75% 100% 0.38m 88° - -23° 100% 121° 4.1m/s 0.13m 2.7s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 07:32 Sunset 20:45
24:00
100% 52% 100% 0.32m 83° - -30° 100% 131° 3.6m/s 0.1m 2.6s
01:00
100% 29% 100% 0.26m 79° - -36° 100% 140° 3.1m/s 0.08m 2.4s
02:00
100% 6% 100% 0.2m 74° - -38° 100% 150° 2.6m/s 0.05m 2.2s
03:00
100% 6% 100% 0.35m 63° - -37° 100% 160° 2.2m/s 0.06m 2s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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