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Rule Cloudscapes

Mu Cang Chai - Cloudscapes - Vietnam

Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái Province, Vietnam

Multi-layered dramatic clouds for striking sky photography

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts0.5m/s
Precipitation Chance72%
Air Pressure872.3hPa

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Asia/Bangkok
cloudscapes weather icon
Next opportunity
Dramatic Cloud Drama
Mu Cang Chai
Tomorrow · 15:00–16:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
60%
☁️Cloud Drama Score100%
Cloud Cover: 76%
Wind Gusts: 2.0m/s
Precipitation Chance: 58%
Air Pressure: 870.8hPa
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama
Mu Cang Chai
Tomorrow · 17:00–18:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:100%
Medium
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunset
Mu Cang Chai
Tomorrow · 19:00–20:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:100%
Medium
cloudscapes weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama at Sunrise
Mu Cang Chai
Sun, Jul 12 · 05:00–06:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:80.6%
Medium
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama at Sunrise
Mu Cang Chai
Tue, Jul 14 · 06:00–07:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:88.4%
Low
cloudscapes weather icon
Dramatic Cloud Drama
Mu Cang Chai
Tue, Jul 14 · 07:00–08:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:100%
Medium
cloudscapes weather icon
Striking Cloud Drama at Sunrise
Mu Cang Chai
Thu, Jul 16 · 06:00–07:00
☁️Cloud Drama Score:80.6%
Low
+1 more windows in the next 10 days

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast tracks dramatic cloud conditions across Vietnam's varied landscapes, from monsoon systems moving over coastal areas to orographic clouds forming around mountain peaks. We analyze cloud types, coverage patterns, weather system movement, and seasonal monsoon patterns to predict when sky drama combines with Vietnam's distinctive natural and cultural features.

Vietnam's location in Southeast Asia's monsoon region and its dramatic topography—mountains exceeding 10,000 feet alongside extensive coastline—create dynamic cloud conditions. The wet season (May through September in the north) brings towering cumulus and cumulonimbus formations, while the dry season offers clearer skies with occasional dramatic frontal systems. Mountains around Sapa and Da Lat generate orographic clouds year-round.

What makes Vietnam cloudscape photography special:

  • Limestone karst drama - Ha Long Bay's thousands of islands provide epic foreground elements under monsoon cloudscapes and clearing storms
  • Mountain cloud formations - Sapa and Mu Cang Chai valleys fill with clouds that interact with rice terraces and mountain peaks
  • Coastal weather systems - Da Nang's coastline and Marble Mountains create dramatic compositions as weather systems approach from the South China Sea
  • Cave country atmospherics - Phong Nha's jungle-clad limestone mountains under turbulent tropical skies create moody, atmospheric conditions

Ha Long Bay offers Vietnam's most dramatic cloudscape potential—thousands of limestone karsts provide endless compositional possibilities under monsoon clouds. Late afternoon during wet season (June-September) brings towering cumulus, while shoulder seasons offer the most dynamic conditions. Sapa's high elevation means clouds often form below the town, creating opportunities to photograph valleys filled with clouds while peaks pierce through. Da Nang's Dragon Bridge and Marble Mountains work exceptionally well under dramatic skies. The Hai Van Pass between Da Nang and Hue frequently experiences dramatic cloud conditions where mountains meet the sea. Wet season delivers the most dramatic cloudscapes but requires rain protection.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
3matching hours in the next 80 hoursJump to next match
OR logic: one branch per group is enough
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
Asia/Bangkok
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
Wed, Jul 8
11:0034%58%6.1%89%2005m
12:0043%60%17%96%5802m
13:0043%32%80%100%15298m
14:0040%43%25%100%14014m
15:0051%30%49%100%16790m
16:0051%19%91%100%14851m
17:0058%13%100%100%5443m
18:0049%9.9%100%100%7556m
19:0062%14%97%100%24134m
20:001%7.6%83%100%24134m
21:002.3%6.3%61%100%24135m
22:008%8.3%66%17%24135m
23:004.8%26%71%40%24135m
Thu, Jul 9
24:003.1%29%89%26%18236m
01:003.2%34%97%55%17220m
02:002.9%34%75%76%11714m
03:006.8%40%71%13%7388m
04:007.8%47%52%57%2498m
05:0068%62%42%86%635m
06:0083%70%85%13%373m
07:0075%54%83%4.5%330m
08:0060%46%96%1.6%21623m
09:0072%44%81%0.7%20632m
10:0051%49%8.2%4.1%14170m
11:0069%47%21%1.6%14663m
12:0054%43%7.4%1.2%7216m
13:0074%54%12%5.1%5978m
14:0073%53%63%5.7%7037m
15:00100%31%76%21%7336m
16:0060%28%88%68%8574m
17:00100%25%42%9.1%16908m
18:00100%18%21%20%11261m
19:00100%22%11%40%15924m
20:0012%18%16%54%24134m
21:009.8%25%32%17%21978m
22:009.5%38%34%57%22544m
23:007.5%48%18%57%23010m
Fri, Jul 10
24:001.4%56%29%94%24135m
01:000.2%70%21%100%11653m
02:000.2%84%13%100%1822m
03:000.8%86%33%97%653m
04:003.2%90%48%100%358m
05:0059%73%56%100%392m
06:0060%77%91%99%403m
07:0063%92%77%95%362m
08:0056%96%12%79%489m
09:0057%97%38%93%357m
10:0042%98%42%69%514m
11:0061%95%35%29%1124m
12:0044%90%12%9.2%1291m
13:0051%80%5%29%5311m
14:0030%70%9.1%99%787m
15:0055%78%51%98%951m
16:0051%87%82%98%1475m
17:0059%83%92%100%2196m
18:0056%69%74%100%2186m
19:0055%54%13%100%2656m
20:000%35%6.7%100%3522m
21:000.6%35%23%100%1655m
22:002.8%40%19%84%1141m
23:007%46%5%100%1324m
Sat, Jul 11
24:004.1%56%5%100%3137m
01:000.4%76%39%100%4393m
02:000%81%28%67%3013m
03:000%87%16%34%1633m
04:000%92%5%0.3%253m
05:0044%79%5%0.33%6966m
06:0053%66%5%0.37%13679m
07:0053%53%5%0.4%20392m
08:0049%49%4.4%1.7%21639m
09:0049%45%3.8%3%22887m
10:0037%42%3.2%4.3%24135m
11:0058%31%4.7%11%24135m
12:0058%20%6.1%17%24135m
13:0046%8.9%7.6%23%24135m
14:0058%11%9.5%49%24135m
15:0076%13%11%74%24135m
16:0051%15%13%100%24135m
17:0057%31%27%96%22918m
18:0060%47%40%92%21701m
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
Asia/Bangkok
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 05:26 Sunset 18:50
21:00
872hPa 100% 61% 72% 98% -26° 100% 0.52m/s 0.51m/s
22:00
873hPa 17% 66% 73% 98% -36° 66% 0.51m/s 0.29m/s
23:00
873hPa 40% 71% 71% 98% -43° 71% 0.4m/s 0.32m/s
Thu, Jul 9 Sunrise 05:26 Sunset 18:50
24:00
873hPa 26% 89% 70% 99% -46° 89% 0.5m/s 0.48m/s
01:00
872hPa 55% 97% 68% 99% -44° 97% 0.41m/s 0.14m/s
02:00
871hPa 76% 75% 73% 99% -38° 86% 0.4m/s 0.17m/s
03:00
871hPa 12% 71% 79% 99% -29° 71% 0.53m/s 0.12m/s
04:00
871hPa 57% 52% 84% 99% -18° 60% 0.61m/s 0.25m/s
05:00
871hPa 86% 42% 89% 100% -6.4° 86% 0.61m/s 0.09m/s
06:00
872hPa 12% 85% 94% 99% 6.4° 91% 0.81m/s 0.06m/s
07:00
872hPa 4% 83% 100% 98% 19° 84% 0.61m/s 0.38m/s
08:00
873hPa 2% 96% 99% 98% 33° 96% 1.2m/s 0.91m/s
09:00
873hPa 1% 81% 98% 97% 46° 81% 1.4m/s 1.1m/s
10:00
873hPa 4% 8% 96% 92% 60° 49% 1.5m/s 1.5m/s
11:00
873hPa 2% 21% 97% 83% 74° 47% 1.9m/s 2m/s
12:00
872hPa 1% 7% 98% 88% 88° 43% 2.2m/s 1.8m/s
13:00
872hPa 5% 12% 99% 92% 78° 54% 2m/s 1.6m/s
14:00
871hPa 6% 63% 78% 94% 64° 75% 2m/s 1.6m/s
15:00
871hPa 21% 76% 58% 97% 51° 76% 2m/s 1.4m/s
16:00
871hPa 68% 88% 38% 97% 37° 88% 1.7m/s 1.1m/s
17:00
871hPa 9% 42% 40% 96% 23° 42% 1.6m/s 1m/s
18:00
871hPa 20% 21% 42% 98% 10° 26% 1.5m/s 0.92m/s
19:00
871hPa 40% 10% 44% 99% -2.7° 40% 0.91m/s 0.68m/s
20:00
872hPa 54% 16% 42% 99% -15° 54% 0.82m/s 0.5m/s
21:00
872hPa 17% 32% 40% 99% -26° 38% 0.82m/s 0.47m/s
22:00
873hPa 57% 34% 39% 99% -36° 63% 0.82m/s 0.41m/s
23:00
873hPa 57% 18% 40% 99% -43° 58% 0.7m/s 0.45m/s
Fri, Jul 10 Sunrise 05:27 Sunset 18:50
24:00
872hPa 94% 29% 42% 99% -46° 94% 0.61m/s 0.36m/s
01:00
872hPa 100% 21% 44% 99% -44° 100% 0.5m/s 0.14m/s
02:00
871hPa 100% 13% 42% 99% -38° 100% 0.72m/s 0.41m/s
03:00
871hPa 97% 33% 40% 100% -29° 97% 0.81m/s 0.26m/s
04:00
871hPa 100% 48% 39% 100% -18° 100% 0.9m/s 0.38m/s
05:00
871hPa 100% 56% 54% 100% -6.5° 100% 1.2m/s 0.54m/s
06:00
871hPa 99% 91% 69% 100% 6.3° 99% 1m/s 0.54m/s
07:00
871hPa 95% 77% 84% 99% 19° 95% 1.3m/s 0.76m/s
08:00
872hPa 79% 12% 77% 99% 33° 96% 1.8m/s 1.2m/s
09:00
872hPa 93% 38% 71% 99% 46° 99% 1.7m/s 1.1m/s
10:00
872hPa 69% 42% 64% 98% 60° 98% 1.5m/s 1m/s
11:00
872hPa 28% 35% 66% 98% 74° 95% 1.5m/s 0.98m/s
12:00
871hPa 9% 12% 68% 93% 88° 90% 1.8m/s 1.4m/s
13:00
871hPa 29% 5% 70% 91% 78° 80% 1.9m/s 1.5m/s
14:00
870hPa 99% 9% 63% 91% 64° 99% 2m/s 1.4m/s
15:00
870hPa 98% 51% 57% 87% 51° 98% 2.4m/s 1.8m/s
16:00
870hPa 98% 82% 50% 90% 37° 98% 2.3m/s 1.7m/s
17:00
870hPa 100% 92% 42% 95% 23° 100% 2.1m/s 1.3m/s
18:00
870hPa 100% 74% 34% 97% 10° 100% 1.5m/s 0.86m/s
19:00
870hPa 100% 13% 26% 98% -2.7° 100% 0.72m/s 0.24m/s
20:00
871hPa 100% 7% 30% 98% -15° 100% 0.64m/s 0.31m/s
21:00
871hPa 100% 23% 34% 99% -26° 100% 0.71m/s 0.27m/s
22:00
872hPa 84% 19% 39% 99% -36° 84% 0.71m/s 0.07m/s
23:00
871hPa 100% 5% 35% 99% -43° 100% 0.6m/s 0.22m/s
Sat, Jul 11 Sunrise 05:27 Sunset 18:50
24:00
871hPa 100% 5% 31% 99% -46° 100% 0.73m/s 0.14m/s
01:00
870hPa 100% 39% 27% 98% -44° 100% 0.61m/s 0.19m/s
02:00
870hPa 67% 28% 25% 96% -38° 97% 1.2m/s 0.72m/s
03:00
869hPa 34% 16% 23% 94% -29° 95% 1.7m/s 1.2m/s
04:00
868hPa 0% 5% 21% 92% -19° 92% 2.3m/s 1.8m/s
05:00
868hPa 0% 5% 36% 88% -6.6° 79% 2.4m/s 2m/s
06:00
867hPa 0% 5% 50% 84% 6.2° 66% 2.5m/s 2.2m/s
07:00
867hPa 0% 5% 65% 80% 19° 53% 2.6m/s 2.4m/s
08:00
866hPa 2% 4% 73% 78% 33° 49% 2.7m/s 2.4m/s
09:00
866hPa 3% 4% 82% 76% 46° 45% 2.7m/s 2.4m/s
10:00
865hPa 4% 3% 90% 75% 60° 42% 2.7m/s 2.4m/s
11:00
866hPa 11% 5% 92% 82% 74° 35% 2.4m/s 2m/s
12:00
866hPa 17% 6% 93% 88% 88° 29% 2.1m/s 1.7m/s
13:00
866hPa 23% 8% 95% 95% 78° 23% 1.7m/s 1.4m/s
14:00
867hPa 49% 10% 79% 96% 64° 49% 1.6m/s 1.2m/s
15:00
867hPa 74% 11% 64% 96% 51° 74% 1.5m/s 1.1m/s
16:00
868hPa 100% 13% 48% 97% 37° 100% 1.4m/s 0.92m/s
17:00
867hPa 96% 27% 49% 97% 23° 96% 1.5m/s 1m/s
18:00
867hPa 92% 40% 49% 97% 10° 93% 1.6m/s 1.1m/s
19:00
866hPa 88% 54% 50% 97% -2.7° 89% 1.6m/s 1.2m/s
20:00
866hPa 69% 54% 48% 97% -15° 84% 1.8m/s 1.3m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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