Ronda - Dramatic Seascapes - Spanish Coast & Islands
Dramatic coastal photography conditions - powerful waves combined with atmospheric drama and good visibility for seascape shots.
Currently
Real-time conditionsUpcoming Opportunities
When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.
What this forecast looks for
Plain-language explanation from the ruleSpain'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 hourTime Europe/Madrid | Coastal Drama Score ≥ 75.0% | Significant Wave Height ≥ 1.5m | Visibility ≥ 5000.0m | Wind Gusts ≤ 22.0m/s | Precipitation Chance ≤ 30.0% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Feb 21 | |||||
| 20:00 | 68% | 3m | 24135m | 2.2m/s | 0% |
| 21:00 | 24% | 2.9m | 24134m | 2.2m/s | 0% |
| 22:00 | 22% | 2.9m | 24135m | 2.2m/s | 0% |
| 23:00 | 24% | 2.9m | 24135m | 2.3m/s | 0% |
| Sun, Feb 22 | |||||
| 24:00 | 22% | 2.8m | 24135m | 2.3m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 24% | 2.8m | 24135m | 2.2m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 24% | 2.8m | 24135m | 2.2m/s | 0% |
| 03:00 | 24% | 2.9m | 24134m | 2.1m/s | 0% |
| 04:00 | 24% | 3m | 24135m | 2.2m/s | 0% |
| 05:00 | 24% | 3m | 24134m | 2.3m/s | 0% |
| 06:00 | 25% | 3m | 24135m | 2.2m/s | 0% |
| 07:00 | 26% | 3.1m | 24134m | 2.2m/s | 0% |
| 08:00 | 78% | 3.1m | 24134m | 2.2m/s | 0% |
| 09:00 | 72% | 3.1m | 24134m | 2.2m/s | 0% |
| 10:00 | 60% | 3.1m | 24135m | 2.5m/s | 0% |
| 11:00 | 51% | 3m | 24135m | 2.5m/s | 0% |
| 12:00 | 51% | 3m | 24135m | 2.3m/s | 0% |
| 13:00 | 47% | 3m | 24134m | 1.9m/s | 0% |
| 14:00 | 47% | 3m | 24135m | 1.5m/s | 0% |
| 15:00 | 43% | 3m | 24135m | 1.3m/s | 0% |
| 16:00 | 47% | 3m | 24135m | 1.2m/s | 0% |
| 17:00 | 54% | 3m | 24135m | 1m/s | 0% |
| 18:00 | 65% | 3m | 24135m | 1m/s | 0% |
| 19:00 | 83% | 3.1m | 24135m | 0.82m/s | 0% |
| 20:00 | 74% | 3.1m | 24134m | 1.3m/s | 0% |
| 21:00 | 26% | 3.1m | 24134m | 1.4m/s | 0% |
| 22:00 | 26% | 3.2m | 24135m | 1.3m/s | 0% |
| 23:00 | 26% | 3.2m | 24135m | 1.4m/s | 0% |
| Mon, Feb 23 | |||||
| 24:00 | 26% | 3.2m | 24135m | 1.4m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 26% | 3.2m | 24135m | 1.4m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 26% | 3.2m | 24135m | 1.5m/s | 0% |
| 03:00 | 24% | 3.2m | 24135m | 1.5m/s | 0% |
| 04:00 | 26% | 3.2m | 24135m | 1.4m/s | 0% |
| 05:00 | 30% | 3.1m | 24134m | 1.3m/s | 0% |
| 06:00 | 30% | 3.1m | 24135m | 1.3m/s | 0% |
| 07:00 | 28% | 3.1m | 24134m | 1.1m/s | 0% |
| 08:00 | 92% | 3.1m | 24135m | 1.1m/s | 0% |
| 09:00 | 90% | 3m | 24134m | 1.2m/s | 0% |
| 10:00 | 70% | 3m | 24135m | 1.2m/s | 0% |
| 11:00 | 49% | 3m | 24134m | 1.3m/s | 0% |
| 12:00 | 49% | 2.9m | 24134m | 1.2m/s | 0% |
| 13:00 | 48% | 2.9m | 24135m | 1.3m/s | 0% |
| 14:00 | 51% | 2.8m | 24134m | 1.4m/s | 0% |
| 15:00 | 48% | 2.8m | 24135m | 1.4m/s | 0% |
| 16:00 | 54% | 2.8m | 24135m | 1.2m/s | 0% |
| 17:00 | 68% | 2.7m | 24134m | 0.81m/s | 0% |
| 18:00 | 63% | 2.7m | 24134m | 1.3m/s | 0% |
| 19:00 | 84% | 2.6m | 24134m | 0.6m/s | 0% |
| 20:00 | 70% | 2.6m | 24135m | 0.7m/s | 0% |
| 21:00 | 29% | 2.5m | 24135m | 0.91m/s | 0% |
| 22:00 | 22% | 2.5m | 24135m | 0.8m/s | 0% |
| 23:00 | 28% | 2.5m | 24135m | 0.92m/s | 0% |
| Tue, Feb 24 | |||||
| 24:00 | 21% | 2.5m | 24134m | 1m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 24% | 2.5m | 24135m | 1m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 21% | 2.5m | 24134m | 1.1m/s | 0% |
| 03:00 | 17% | 2.6m | 24135m | 1m/s | 0% |
| 04:00 | 16% | 2.6m | 24135m | 0.9m/s | 0% |
| 05:00 | 22% | 2.8m | 24135m | 0.91m/s | 0% |
| 06:00 | 20% | 2.9m | 24135m | 1m/s | 0% |
| 07:00 | 27% | 3m | 24135m | 1.1m/s | 0% |
| 08:00 | 86% | 3.2m | 24134m | 1.1m/s | 0% |
| 09:00 | 79% | 3.5m | 24134m | 1.1m/s | 0% |
| 10:00 | 58% | 3.7m | 24135m | 1.6m/s | 0% |
| 11:00 | 49% | 3.9m | 24135m | 2.3m/s | 0% |
| 12:00 | 56% | 4.1m | 24134m | 2.8m/s | 0% |
| 13:00 | 52% | 4.4m | 24135m | 2.9m/s | 0% |
| 14:00 | 44% | 4.4m | 24134m | 3m/s | 0% |
| 15:00 | 44% | 4.4m | 24135m | 3.3m/s | 0% |
| 16:00 | 36% | 4.3m | 24135m | 3.1m/s | 0% |
| 17:00 | 42% | 4.4m | 24134m | 2.8m/s | 0% |
| 18:00 | 54% | 4.4m | 24135m | 2.1m/s | 0% |
| 19:00 | 58% | 4.4m | 24135m | 1.7m/s | 0% |
| 20:00 | 59% | 4.5m | 24134m | 1.4m/s | 0% |
| 21:00 | 21% | 4.7m | 24134m | 1.6m/s | 0% |
| 22:00 | 23% | 4.9m | 24134m | 1.7m/s | 0% |
| 23:00 | 24% | 5.2m | 24134m | 1.8m/s | 0% |
| Wed, Feb 25 | |||||
| 24:00 | 26% | 5.4m | 24134m | 1.9m/s | 0% |
| 01:00 | 25% | 5.6m | 24135m | 1.8m/s | 0% |
| 02:00 | 25% | 5.7m | 24135m | 1.3m/s | 0% |
| 03:00 | 25% | 5.8m | 24135m | 0.88m/s | 0% |
| 04:00 | 25% | 5.9m | 24135m | 0.4m/s | 0% |
| 05:00 | 27% | 5.9m | 24135m | 1.3m/s | 17% |
| 06:00 | 29% | 5.8m | 24135m | 2.3m/s | 33% |
| 07:00 | 30% | 5.8m | 24135m | 3.2m/s | 50% |
| 08:00 | 94% | 5.7m | 24135m | 3.5m/s | 63% |
| 09:00 | 82% | 5.5m | 24135m | 3.8m/s | 77% |
| 10:00 | 63% | 5.4m | 24135m | 4m/s | 90% |
| 11:00 | 54% | 5.3m | 24135m | 3.2m/s | 65% |
| 12:00 | 57% | 5.2m | 24135m | 2.4m/s | 39% |
| 13:00 | 54% | 5.1m | 24135m | 1.6m/s | 14% |
| 14:00 | 54% | 5m | 24005m | 1.6m/s | 22% |
| 15:00 | 51% | 4.9m | 23875m | 1.6m/s | 31% |
| 16:00 | 54% | 4.8m | 23745m | 1.6m/s | 39% |
| 17:00 | 63% | 4.8m | 23875m | 2m/s | 43% |
| 18:00 | 76% | 4.7m | 24005m | 2.5m/s | 46% |
What does Coastal Drama Score mean?
Inputs that drive the scoreThis 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Feb 22
Sunrise 08:00
Sunset 19:07 | ||||||||||||
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.1m | 284° | 0.003 | -11° | 0% | 117° | 1.5m/s | - | 14s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 2% | 0% | 0% | 3.1m | 284° | 0.003 | -23° | 2% | 116° | 1.5m/s | - | 14s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 5% | 0% | 0% | 3.1m | 285° | 0.003 | -35° | 5% | 121° | 1.5m/s | - | 14s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 5% | 0% | 0% | 3.1m | 285° | 0.003 | -46° | 5% | 125° | 1.6m/s | - | 14s |
| Mon, Feb 23
Sunrise 08:00
Sunset 19:07 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 5% | 0% | 0% | 3.2m | 286° | 0.003 | -56° | 5% | 132° | 1.6m/s | - | 14s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 6% | 0% | 0% | 3.2m | 286° | 0.003 | -62° | 6% | 136° | 1.6m/s | - | 14s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 5% | 0% | 0% | 3.2m | 286° | 0.003 | -63° | 5% | 135° | 1.7m/s | - | 14s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 5% | 0% | 0% | 3.1m | 286° | 0.003 | -57° | 5% | 137° | 1.7m/s | - | 14s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 5% | 0% | 0% | 3.1m | 287° | 0.003 | -47° | 5% | 136° | 1.6m/s | - | 14s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 38% | 0% | 0% | 3.1m | 287° | 0.003 | -36° | 38% | 138° | 1.4m/s | - | 14s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 67% | 0% | 0% | 3.1m | 288° | 0.003 | -25° | 67% | 137° | 1.4m/s | - | 14s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 68% | 0% | 0% | 3.1m | 288° | 0.002 | -13° | 68% | 141° | 1.3m/s | - | 14s |
| 08:00 | 68% | 0% | 0% | 3m | 289° | 0.002 | -0.26° | 68% | 143° | 1.3m/s | - | 14s |
| 09:00 | 53% | 0% | 0% | 3m | 289° | 0.002 | 11° | 53% | 143° | 1.4m/s | - | 14s |
| 10:00 | 52% | 0% | 0% | 3m | 290° | 0.002 | 22° | 52% | 154° | 1.2m/s | - | 14s |
| 11:00 | 82% | 0% | 0% | 2.9m | 291° | 0.002 | 31° | 82% | 165° | 1.2m/s | - | 13s |
| 12:00 | 74% | 0% | 0% | 2.9m | 291° | 0.002 | 39° | 74% | 182° | 1.3m/s | - | 13s |
| 13:00 | 90% | 0% | 0% | 2.9m | 292° | 0.002 | 43° | 90% | 207° | 1.4m/s | 0.6m | 13s |
| 14:00 | 74% | 0% | 0% | 2.8m | 293° | 0.002 | 43° | 74% | 224° | 1.7m/s | 0.6m | 13s |
| 15:00 | 89% | 0% | 0% | 2.8m | 293° | 0.002 | 39° | 89% | 238° | 1.8m/s | 0.61m | 13s |
| 16:00 | 60% | 0% | 0% | 2.7m | 294° | 0.002 | 32° | 60% | 250° | 1.7m/s | 0.61m | 13s |
| 17:00 | 58% | 0% | 0% | 2.6m | 293° | 0.002 | 23° | 58% | 261° | 1.4m/s | 0.68m | 13s |
| 18:00 | 10% | 0% | 0% | 2.6m | 293° | 0.003 | 12° | 10% | 261° | 1.2m/s | 0.75m | 13s |
| 19:00 | 38% | 0% | 2% | 2.6m | 292° | 0.003 | 1.3° | 38% | 275° | 0.48m/s | 0.82m | 13s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 7% | 0% | 5% | 2.5m | 293° | 0.003 | -11° | 7% | 96° | 0.7m/s | 0.81m | 13s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 28% | 0% | 2% | 2.5m | 293° | 0.003 | -23° | 28% | 124° | 0.97m/s | 0.81m | 13s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 5% | 0% | 5% | 2.5m | 294° | 0.002 | -35° | 5% | 148° | 0.84m/s | 0.8m | 13s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 52% | 0% | 26% | 2.4m | 295° | 0.002 | -46° | 52% | 156° | 0.89m/s | 0.87m | 13s |
| Tue, Feb 24
Sunrise 07:59
Sunset 19:08 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 96% | 2.3m | 295° | 0.003 | -55° | 100% | 157° | 0.95m/s | 0.94m | 13s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 57% | 0% | 96% | 2.3m | 296° | 0.003 | -62° | 96% | 162° | 0.97m/s | 1m | 12s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 28% | 0% | 5% | 1.9m | 295° | - | -62° | 28% | 157° | 1.1m/s | 1.4m | 12s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 5% | 0% | 1% | 1.5m | 294° | - | -57° | 5% | 154° | 1m/s | 1.7m | 12s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 5% | 0% | 0% | 1.2m | 293° | - | -47° | 5% | 173° | 0.9m/s | 2m | 12s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 20% | 0% | 0% | 1.5m | 292° | - | -36° | 20% | 162° | 0.84m/s | 2m | 12s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 73% | 0% | 0% | 1.9m | 292° | - | -24° | 73% | 147° | 1m/s | 2m | 12s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 27% | 0% | 0% | 2.3m | 291° | - | -12° | 27% | 159° | 1.1m/s | 1.9m | 12s |
| 08:00 | 61% | 0% | 3% | 2.5m | 289° | - | 0.09° | 61% | 180° | 1.1m/s | 2.1m | 12s |
| 09:00 | 29% | 0% | 0% | 2.6m | 287° | - | 11° | 29% | 196° | 1.1m/s | 2.3m | 12s |
| 10:00 | 92% | 0% | 0% | 2.8m | 285° | - | 22° | 92% | 191° | 1.3m/s | 2.4m | 12s |
| 11:00 | 83% | 0% | 0% | 2.8m | 282° | - | 31° | 83% | 194° | 1.8m/s | 2.6m | 12s |
| 12:00 | 73% | 0% | 3% | 2.7m | 279° | - | 39° | 73% | 227° | 2.3m/s | 2.8m | 12s |
| 13:00 | 10% | 0% | 0% | 2.7m | 276° | - | 43° | 10% | 241° | 2.5m/s | 3m | 12s |
| 14:00 | 5% | 0% | 0% | 1.9m | 274° | - | 44° | 5% | 236° | 2.5m/s | 3.4m | 12s |
| 15:00 | 5% | 0% | 0% | 1.2m | 273° | - | 40° | 5% | 236° | 2.7m/s | 3.9m | 12s |
| 16:00 | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0.4m | 272° | - | 33° | 5% | 238° | 2.8m/s | 4.3m | 12s |
| 17:00 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.59m | 271° | - | 23° | 0% | 243° | 2.5m/s | 4.3m | 12s |
| 18:00 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.78m | 270° | - | 13° | 0% | 238° | 1.9m/s | 4.3m | 12s |
| 19:00 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.97m | 269° | - | 1.5° | 0% | 174° | 1.8m/s | 4.3m | 12s |
| 20:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1.4m | 271° | - | -11° | 0% | 167° | 1.5m/s | 4.3m | 13s |
| 21:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1.9m | 273° | - | -23° | 0% | 161° | 1.7m/s | 4.3m | 14s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 2% | 0% | 0% | 2.3m | 275° | - | -35° | 2% | 171° | 1.8m/s | 4.3m | 14s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3.4m | 276° | - | -46° | 0% | 168° | 1.9m/s | 4.7m | 15s |
| Wed, Feb 25
Sunrise 07:58
Sunset 19:09 | ||||||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 13% | 0% | 0% | 4.5m | 277° | - | -55° | 13% | 165° | 2m/s | 5m | 16s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 100% | 0% | 0% | 5.6m | 278° | - | -61° | 100% | 181° | 1.9m/s | 5.4m | 17s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 95% | 0% | 33% | 5.7m | 277° | - | -62° | 100% | 174° | 1.4m/s | 5.3m | 17s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 89% | 0% | 67% | 5.8m | 276° | - | -56° | 100% | 167° | 0.88m/s | 5.2m | 16s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 84% | 0% | 100% | 5.9m | 275° | - | -47° | 100% | 160° | 0.37m/s | 5.1m | 16s |
| 05:00 ☾ | 68% | 0% | 93% | 5.9m | 275° | - | -36° | 93% | 176° | 1m/s | 5m | 16s |
| 06:00 ☾ | 52% | 0% | 85% | 5.8m | 275° | - | -24° | 85% | 193° | 1.7m/s | 4.9m | 16s |
| 07:00 ☾ | 37% | 0% | 78% | 5.8m | 274° | - | -12° | 78% | 209° | 2.4m/s | 4.8m | 16s |
| 08:00 | 58% | 0% | 85% | 5.7m | 274° | - | 0.3° | 85% | 213° | 2.4m/s | 4.8m | 16s |
| 09:00 | 79% | 0% | 93% | 5.5m | 274° | - | 11° | 93% | 218° | 2.4m/s | 4.7m | 16s |
| 10:00 | 100% | 0% | 100% | 5.4m | 274° | - | 22° | 100% | 223° | 2.4m/s | 4.6m | 16s |
| 11:00 | 67% | 0% | 100% | 5.3m | 274° | - | 32° | 100% | 229° | 2.1m/s | 4.5m | 16s |
| 12:00 | 33% | 0% | 100% | 5.2m | 274° | - | 39° | 100% | 236° | 1.8m/s | 4.4m | 16s |
| 13:00 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 5.1m | 274° | - | 44° | 100% | 243° | 1.5m/s | 4.3m | 15s |
| 14:00 | 33% | 1% | 97% | 5m | 274° | - | 44° | 100% | 266° | 1.6m/s | 4.2m | 15s |
| 15:00 | 67% | 2% | 93% | 4.9m | 274° | - | 40° | 100% | 288° | 1.7m/s | 4.1m | 15s |
| 16:00 | 100% | 4% | 90% | 4.8m | 274° | - | 33° | 100% | 311° | 1.8m/s | 4m | 15s |
| 17:00 | 100% | 3% | 93% | 4.8m | 275° | - | 24° | 100% | 317° | 2.2m/s | 3.9m | 15s |
| 18:00 | 99% | 2% | 97% | 4.7m | 275° | - | 13° | 100% | 324° | 2.6m/s | 3.8m | 15s |
| 19:00 | 99% | 2% | 100% | 4.7m | 275° | - | 1.7° | 100% | 330° | 3m/s | 3.7m | 15s |
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