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Rule Storm Chaser

Byron Bay - Storm Chaser - Australian Coast

Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia

Dramatic storm conditions — from atmospheric builds to active thunderstorms

No opportunities right now
Here’s what usually blocks matches

No Storm Chaser opportunities in the next 14 days

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Rule requirements (key thresholds)
Storm Intensity · ≥ 55.0% Cloud Drama Score · ≥ 55.0% CAPE · ≥ 1200.0J/kg Lifted Index · ≤ -2.0°C

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

Most common blockers (next 72 hours)
Storm Intensity 100% failing
CAPE 100% failing
Cloud Drama Score 76% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts2.1m/s
Precipitation Chance100%
Air Pressure1011.7hPa
CAPE63
Lifted Index4.5°C
Wind Gusts2.1m/s
Precipitation0.6mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Australia/Sydney

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

This forecast tracks the dramatic storm systems that bring lightning, massive swells, and atmospheric drama to Australia's eastern coastline. We monitor low-pressure systems, lightning activity, and wave heights to predict when Southern Ocean storms will create spectacular—but safe—photography conditions.

Australia's east coast faces the Tasman Sea and Southern Ocean, which generate powerful weather systems year-round. These storms bring towering seas that crash against coastal cliffs, creating explosions of spray. Lightning storms, particularly during summer, offer opportunities for long-exposure captures over harbors and beaches. Winter storms bring the largest swells and most dramatic cloud formations.

What makes Australian coastal storms exceptional:

  • Southern Ocean swells - Winter low-pressure systems generate massive groundswells that pound Victoria and southern NSW
  • Wollongong sea cliffs - Dramatic headlands where storm waves explode against cliffs in spectacular displays
  • Byron Bay lightning - Subtropical storms bring frequent lightning over the iconic lighthouse and beaches
  • Sydney storm drama - The harbour becomes wild during southerly busters and east coast lows

Best storm photography occurs during winter (June-August) when Southern Ocean low-pressure systems bring large swells and dramatic skies. Summer thunderstorms (November-February) offer lightning opportunities over coastal icons. East coast lows—intense low-pressure systems—create the most extreme conditions but pose significant safety risks. Our forecast helps identify approaching storms so you can position safely with proper conditions. Never stand on exposed rocks during large swells.

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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
Australia/Sydney
Storm Intensity
≥ 55.0%
Cloud Drama Score
≥ 55.0%
CAPE
OR1·B1
≥ 1200.0J/kg
Lifted Index
OR1·B2
≤ -2.0°C
Visibility
≥ 2500.0m
Wind Gusts
≤ 22.0m/s
Sat, May 23
23:000%15%46J/kg8.5°C24134m9.7m/s
Sun, May 24
24:000%15%60J/kg8.4°C19874m9.7m/s
01:000%15%52J/kg8.6°C21740m10m/s
02:000%14%43J/kg8.7°C15139m9.4m/s
03:000%14%41J/kg8.4°C17046m9.8m/s
04:0014%9.3%41J/kg8.1°C16542m10m/s
05:000%15%47J/kg7.7°C12431m8.9m/s
06:000%58%48J/kg7.6°C13642m7.1m/s
07:000%75%48J/kg7.3°C24135m7.8m/s
08:000%100%43J/kg7.2°C11029m9.1m/s
09:000%64%49J/kg6.9°C10376m8.6m/s
10:000%57%62J/kg6°C10049m8m/s
11:000%70%55J/kg5.7°C10701m8.4m/s
12:000%35%62J/kg5.5°C11139m7.8m/s
13:000%90%51J/kg5°C22973m8.5m/s
14:000%91%59J/kg5°C12965m7.4m/s
15:000%50%63J/kg5.5°C14233m7.8m/s
16:0018%45%62J/kg5.5°C22535m8.4m/s
17:000%45%65J/kg5.9°C23166m7.8m/s
18:000%0%66J/kg5.7°C9909m6.5m/s
19:0017%2.7%63J/kg5.2°C8744m4.9m/s
20:000%0.8%71J/kg5°C7227m3.6m/s
21:0019%1%62J/kg4.9°C2721m3.8m/s
22:0033%0%60J/kg4.6°C2230m2.9m/s
23:0014%0%63J/kg4.5°C1955m2.1m/s
Mon, May 25
24:0015%1.6%57J/kg4.4°C2514m1.7m/s
01:0026%0.2%69J/kg4.2°C2300m2.1m/s
02:0020%5.4%66J/kg4.3°C2034m2.1m/s
03:0019%2.3%68J/kg4.1°C2181m1.3m/s
04:0024%0.5%56J/kg4°C2347m1.2m/s
05:0012%1.8%62J/kg4.5°C2124m1.6m/s
06:0012%55%58J/kg4.5°C2084m1.5m/s
07:0025%100%53J/kg4.1°C2425m1.4m/s
08:0020%96%65J/kg4°C4138m2.9m/s
09:000%69%74J/kg3.6°C9405m4.5m/s
10:0019%74%59J/kg3.6°C10534m5.5m/s
11:000%61%66J/kg3.5°C10741m5.2m/s
12:000%47%64J/kg3.5°C8665m5.5m/s
13:0016%61%73J/kg3.4°C11472m5.4m/s
14:000%57%77J/kg3.4°C12035m5.3m/s
15:000%67%70J/kg3.5°C9142m5.4m/s
16:0022%67%70J/kg3.5°C9893m5.5m/s
17:000%69%64J/kg3.5°C22512m4.3m/s
18:000%2.6%79J/kg3°C21459m3m/s
19:009.8%0.5%90J/kg3°C24135m1.9m/s
20:000%0.4%57J/kg3.1°C15929m2.6m/s
21:000%0%48J/kg3.3°C24134m2.2m/s
22:0012%0%45J/kg3.1°C24135m2.3m/s
23:000%1.2%34J/kg2.8°C15308m1.5m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%0%33J/kg2.1°C24134m0.93m/s
01:000%0%41J/kg2°C24134m0.51m/s
02:000%0.2%39J/kg2.7°C24134m0.81m/s
03:000%0%40J/kg2.4°C24101m1m/s
04:0012%1.2%54J/kg2.3°C17939m1.4m/s
05:000%0.4%47J/kg2°C16171m2.8m/s
06:000%72%30J/kg2°C5337m3.7m/s
07:0015%64%34J/kg2.1°C1294m4.1m/s
08:0015%42%40J/kg2.4°C3115m4.2m/s
09:0011%54%27J/kg2.1°C3144m3.6m/s
10:0021%50%14J/kg2.4°C4187m2.8m/s
11:000%53%67J/kg0.8°C23909m1.6m/s
12:000%53%58J/kg0.2°C24071m1m/s
13:000%49%63J/kg0.2°C12962m1.1m/s
14:000%63%59J/kg0.1°C22504m1.3m/s
15:000%31%34J/kg0.2°C24134m2.2m/s
16:0013%63%5J/kg0°C24135m3.3m/s
17:000%64%18J/kg1.2°C24134m0.6m/s
18:000%13%27J/kg1.6°C24135m0.42m/s
19:000%7.9%39J/kg1.7°C24134m0.6m/s
20:000%0.4%46J/kg1.7°C24036m0.62m/s
21:000%1%48J/kg1.8°C22925m0.5m/s
22:0011%2.5%46J/kg1.9°C13381m0.52m/s
23:000%0%42J/kg1.8°C16718m0.9m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%0%34J/kg1.9°C13992m0.73m/s
01:000%4.9%38J/kg2°C24135m1m/s
02:000%0.8%28J/kg1.7°C5482m1.6m/s
03:0011%1.2%38J/kg1.6°C2262m2.2m/s
04:0023%6%30J/kg1.4°C1031m2.5m/s
05:0011%0%167J/kg0.74°C4138m2.3m/s
06:000%80%305J/kg0.09°C7244m2m/s
07:0014%42%442J/kg-0.57°C10351m1.8m/s
08:0011%33%431J/kg-0.68°C14369m2.1m/s
09:009.8%30%419J/kg-0.8°C18387m2.4m/s
10:0024%22%408J/kg-0.92°C22405m2.7m/s
11:009.8%37%321J/kg-0.92°C22982m2m/s
12:000%53%235J/kg-0.93°C23558m1.3m/s
13:0011%70%148J/kg-0.94°C24135m0.53m/s
14:000%53%119J/kg-1.1°C24135m0.6m/s
15:000%51%89J/kg-1.2°C24135m0.67m/s
16:0012%48%60J/kg-1.3°C24135m0.74m/s
17:000%52%42J/kg-0.5°C24135m0.8m/s
18:000%0%23J/kg0.3°C24135m0.86m/s
19:009.1%0%5J/kg1.1°C24135m0.93m/s
20:000%0%15J/kg1.1°C24135m0.81m/s
21:000%0%26J/kg1°C24135m0.69m/s
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
Australia/Sydney
Air Pressure
hPa
CAPE
J/kg
High Clouds
%
Lifted Index
°C
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Precipitation Chance
%
Rainfall
mm
Relative Humidity
%
Showers
mm
Simulated Reflectivity
dBZ
Solar Elevation
°
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Total Precipitation
mm
Wind Shear 0-3 km
m/s
Wind Shear 0-6 km
m/s
Wind Speed
m/s
Sun, May 24 Sunrise 06:26 Sunset 16:58
23:00
1012hPa 63J/kg 100% 4.5°C 100% 21% 100% 0mm 98% 0.67mm 23dBZ -78° 100% 0.56mm - - 0.94m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 06:26 Sunset 16:58
24:00
1011hPa 57J/kg 100% 4.4°C 99% 22% 100% 0mm 97% 0.51mm 23dBZ -81° 100% 1mm - - 0.96m/s
01:00
1011hPa 69J/kg 100% 4.2°C 97% 72% 100% 0mm 97% 1mm 23dBZ -71° 100% 1.6mm 3.2m/s 13m/s 1.1m/s
02:00
1011hPa 66J/kg 100% 4.3°C 99% 6% 100% 0.01mm 98% 1.4mm 23dBZ -58° 100% 2.6mm - - 1.1m/s
03:00
1011hPa 68J/kg 100% 4.1°C 89% 12% 100% 0mm 98% 0.94mm 23dBZ -45° 100% 3.4mm - - 0.78m/s
04:00
1010hPa 56J/kg 98% 4°C 62% 65% 100% 0mm 98% 0.49mm 23dBZ -32° 98% 4.1mm 2m/s 12m/s 0.61m/s
05:00
1011hPa 62J/kg 100% 4.5°C 82% 95% 99% 0mm 98% 0.51mm 24dBZ -19° 100% 0.63mm - - 0.95m/s
06:00
1011hPa 58J/kg 100% 4.5°C 86% 65% 99% 0.02mm 98% 0.41mm 26dBZ -6.2° 100% 1.4mm - - 0.92m/s
07:00
1012hPa 53J/kg 36% 4.1°C 52% 48% 98% 0mm 98% 0.82mm 27dBZ 5.9° 52% 2mm 3.3m/s 11m/s 0.82m/s
08:00
1012hPa 65J/kg 6% 4°C 75% 44% 99% 0mm 95% 0.88mm 24dBZ 17° 75% 2.7mm - - 1.1m/s
09:00
1012hPa 74J/kg 12% 3.6°C 98% 97% 99% 0mm 93% 0.9mm 21dBZ 27° 99% 3.6mm - - 1.6m/s
10:00
1012hPa 59J/kg 34% 3.6°C 99% 65% 99% 0mm 94% 0.81mm 17dBZ 35° 99% 4.4mm 2.9m/s 11m/s 2m/s
11:00
1012hPa 66J/kg 88% 3.5°C 100% 74% 88% 0.01mm 94% 0.88mm 19dBZ 39° 100% 0.75mm - - 2m/s
12:00
1011hPa 64J/kg 5% 3.5°C 100% 94% 76% 0mm 94% 0.91mm 21dBZ 40° 100% 1.5mm - - 2.1m/s
13:00
1010hPa 73J/kg 8% 3.4°C 66% 87% 65% 0mm 94% 0.6mm 23dBZ 37° 88% 2.1mm 4.3m/s 11m/s 1.9m/s
14:00
1010hPa 77J/kg 90% 3.4°C 72% 61% 68% 0mm 93% 0.53mm 22dBZ 30° 90% 2.6mm - - 2.2m/s
15:00
1010hPa 70J/kg 95% 3.5°C 86% 59% 70% 0mm 94% 0.64mm 21dBZ 21° 96% 3.3mm - - 2m/s
16:00
1010hPa 70J/kg 80% 3.5°C 23% 84% 73% 0mm 95% 0.61mm 20dBZ 11° 86% 3.8mm 4.3m/s 12m/s 1.9m/s
17:00
1010hPa 64J/kg 100% 3.5°C 13% 92% 76% 0mm 97% 0.28mm 6.8dBZ -0.89° 100% 0.5mm - - 1.4m/s
18:00
1011hPa 79J/kg 100% 3°C 41% 99% 79% 0mm 98% 0.38mm -6.6dBZ -14° 100% 0.94mm - - 1.4m/s
19:00
1011hPa 90J/kg 100% 3°C 41% 93% 83% 0mm 98% 0.19mm -20dBZ -26° 100% 1.3mm 3.5m/s 13m/s 1.2m/s
20:00
1012hPa 57J/kg 99% 3.1°C 73% 95% 87% 0mm 99% 0.42mm -20dBZ -39° 100% 1.6mm - - 1.3m/s
21:00
1012hPa 48J/kg 100% 3.3°C 81% 100% 92% 0mm 99% 0.33mm -20dBZ -53° 100% 2mm - - 1.1m/s
22:00
1012hPa 45J/kg 95% 3.1°C 42% 100% 97% 0mm 99% 0.32mm -20dBZ -66° 100% 2.4mm 6.3m/s 17m/s 1.2m/s
23:00
1011hPa 34J/kg 100% 2.8°C 25% 100% 97% 0mm 99% 0.37mm -14dBZ -78° 100% 0.19mm - - 1.1m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 06:26 Sunset 16:58
24:00
1011hPa 33J/kg 100% 2.1°C 24% 100% 97% 0mm 99% 0.16mm -8.5dBZ -81° 100% 0.44mm - - 0.91m/s
01:00
1011hPa 41J/kg 93% 2°C 32% 100% 98% 0mm 99% 0.22mm -2.8dBZ -71° 100% 0.69mm 7m/s 21m/s 0.58m/s
02:00
1010hPa 39J/kg 98% 2.7°C 43% 98% 98% 0mm 99% 0.05mm 0.75dBZ -58° 98% 1mm - - 0.92m/s
03:00
1009hPa 40J/kg 100% 2.4°C 82% 59% 99% 0mm 98% 0.05mm 4.3dBZ -45° 100% 1.2mm - - 0.98m/s
04:00
1010hPa 54J/kg 100% 2.3°C 80% 100% 100% 0mm 99% 0.23mm 7.8dBZ -32° 100% 1.5mm 4.5m/s 23m/s 0.93m/s
05:00
1010hPa 47J/kg 92% 2°C 60% 99% 98% 0.01mm 99% 0.35mm -1.4dBZ -19° 100% 0.38mm - - 1.3m/s
06:00
1011hPa 30J/kg 38% 2°C 56% 98% 97% 0.01mm 100% 0.2mm -11dBZ -6.3° 98% 0.69mm - - 1.6m/s
07:00
1011hPa 34J/kg 100% 2.1°C 81% 48% 96% 0.03mm 100% 0.29mm -20dBZ 5.8° 100% 0.94mm 4.4m/s 21m/s 1.6m/s
08:00
1012hPa 40J/kg 72% 2.4°C 96% 5% 96% 0.02mm 99% 0.55mm -11dBZ 17° 98% 1.3mm - - 1.6m/s
09:00
1012hPa 27J/kg 100% 2.1°C 83% 26% 97% 0.02mm 98% 0.12mm -1.1dBZ 27° 100% 1.5mm - - 1.5m/s
10:00
1012hPa 14J/kg 100% 2.4°C 67% 96% 97% 0mm 96% 0.12mm 8.4dBZ 34° 100% 1.6mm 3.3m/s 20m/s 1.5m/s
11:00
1011hPa 67J/kg 100% 0.8°C 52% 53% 89% 0.01mm 90% 0.21mm 13dBZ 39° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.4m/s
12:00
1010hPa 58J/kg 80% 0.2°C 36% 62% 80% 0.01mm 83% 0.09mm 18dBZ 40° 81% 0.38mm - - 0.87m/s
13:00
1009hPa 63J/kg 100% 0.2°C 27% 78% 72% 0mm 79% 0.47mm 23dBZ 37° 100% 0.69mm 3.5m/s 21m/s 0.81m/s
14:00
1009hPa 59J/kg 78% 0.1°C 18% 5% 76% 0mm 78% 0.14mm 18dBZ 30° 78% 0.94mm - - 0.74m/s
15:00
1009hPa 34J/kg 100% 0.2°C 6% 5% 81% 0mm 79% 0mm 12dBZ 21° 100% 1.1mm - - 1.2m/s
16:00
1008hPa 5J/kg 100% 0°C 0% 37% 86% 0mm 86% 0.01mm 7.2dBZ 11° 100% 1.1mm 1.7m/s 22m/s 1.3m/s
17:00
1009hPa 18J/kg 100% 1.2°C 5% 30% 82% 0mm 94% 0.03mm -1.9dBZ -0.98° 100% 0mm - - 0.58m/s
18:00
1010hPa 27J/kg 99% 1.6°C 16% 5% 79% 0mm 96% 0.16mm -11dBZ -14° 99% 0.13mm - - 0.48m/s
19:00
1010hPa 39J/kg 100% 1.7°C 24% 4% 76% 0mm 98% 0.34mm -20dBZ -26° 100% 0.31mm 1.1m/s 22m/s 0.57m/s
20:00
1011hPa 46J/kg 100% 1.7°C 18% 2% 79% 0mm 98% 0.4mm -20dBZ -39° 100% 0.5mm - - 0.7m/s
21:00
1011hPa 48J/kg 100% 1.8°C 25% 0% 81% 0.01mm 98% 0.32mm -20dBZ -53° 100% 0.75mm - - 0.55m/s
22:00
1011hPa 46J/kg 100% 1.9°C 29% 0% 84% 0mm 99% 0.48mm -20dBZ -66° 100% 1.1mm 0.4m/s 19m/s 0.53m/s
23:00
1011hPa 42J/kg 100% 1.8°C 29% 0% 78% 0mm 99% 0.42mm -9.5dBZ -78° 100% 0.25mm - - 0.97m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 06:27 Sunset 16:57
24:00
1011hPa 34J/kg 100% 1.9°C 34% 0% 71% 0mm 99% 0.4mm 0.99dBZ -82° 100% 0.5mm - - 0.92m/s
01:00
1011hPa 38J/kg 100% 2°C 59% 0% 65% 0mm 99% 0.44mm 11dBZ -71° 100% 0.75mm 1.3m/s 18m/s 1.2m/s
02:00
1010hPa 28J/kg 100% 1.7°C 58% 2% 63% 0.02mm 100% 0.16mm 9.3dBZ -58° 100% 1mm - - 1.2m/s
03:00
1010hPa 38J/kg 100% 1.6°C 91% 1% 61% 0mm 100% 0.16mm 7.1dBZ -45° 100% 1.1mm - - 1.2m/s
04:00
1010hPa 30J/kg 46% 1.4°C 76% 0% 59% 0mm 99% 0.05mm 4.9dBZ -32° 77% 1.2mm 3m/s 18m/s 1.2m/s
05:00
1008hPa 167J/kg 30% 0.74°C 58% 0% 61% 0mm 96% 0.26mm -3.4dBZ -19° 59% 1.3mm - - 1.2m/s
06:00
1007hPa 305J/kg 15% 0.09°C 40% 1% 63% 0mm 93% 0.47mm -12dBZ -6.4° 41% 1.3mm - - 1.1m/s
07:00
1005hPa 442J/kg 0% -0.57°C 22% 1% 64% 0mm 90% 0.68mm -20dBZ 5.7° 22% 1.4mm 3.7m/s 19m/s 1m/s
08:00
1005hPa 431J/kg 0% -0.68°C 19% 1% 68% 0.05mm 92% 0.47mm -8dBZ 17° 19% 1.9mm - - 1m/s
09:00
1004hPa 419J/kg 0% -0.8°C 15% 1% 71% 0.1mm 94% 0.25mm 4dBZ 27° 15% 2.4mm - - 1.1m/s
10:00
1004hPa 408J/kg 0% -0.92°C 12% 2% 74% 0.15mm 96% 0.04mm 16dBZ 34° 12% 2.9mm 4.7m/s 18m/s 1.1m/s
11:00
1004hPa 321J/kg 4% -0.92°C 22% 1% 68% 0.1mm 97% 0.03mm 18dBZ 39° 22% 1.9mm - - 0.87m/s
12:00
1004hPa 235J/kg 7% -0.93°C 33% 1% 61% 0.06mm 97% 0.02mm 21dBZ 40° 33% 1mm - - 0.66m/s
13:00
1004hPa 148J/kg 11% -0.94°C 44% 0% 55% 0.01mm 98% 0.01mm 23dBZ 37° 44% 0.06mm 5.3m/s 18m/s 0.44m/s
14:00
1004hPa 119J/kg 7% -1.1°C 42% 0% 62% 0.01mm 98% 0.007mm 20dBZ 30° 42% 0.08mm - - 0.54m/s
15:00
1004hPa 89J/kg 4% -1.2°C 41% 1% 70% 0.01mm 99% 0.003mm 16dBZ 21° 41% 0.1mm - - 0.64m/s
16:00
1004hPa 60J/kg 0% -1.3°C 39% 2% 78% 0.01mm 99% 0mm 12dBZ 10° 39% 0.13mm 6.7m/s 19m/s 0.74m/s
17:00
1004hPa 42J/kg 0% -0.5°C 44% 1% 76% 0.01mm 99% 0mm 2.4dBZ -1.1° 44% 0.08mm - - 0.79m/s
18:00
1003hPa 23J/kg 0% 0.3°C 48% 0% 74% 0.01mm 98% 0mm -7.6dBZ -14° 48% 0.04mm - - 0.84m/s
19:00
1002hPa 5J/kg 0% 1.1°C 52% 0% 72% 0.01mm 98% 0mm -18dBZ -26° 52% 0mm 5.6m/s 18m/s 0.89m/s
20:00
1002hPa 15J/kg 0% 1.1°C 68% 0% 78% 0.007mm 98% 0.02mm -18dBZ -39° 68% 0.02mm - - 0.78m/s
21:00
1001hPa 26J/kg 0% 1°C 83% 0% 85% 0.003mm 98% 0.03mm -19dBZ -53° 83% 0.04mm - - 0.67m/s
22:00
1001hPa 36J/kg 0% 0.99°C 98% 0% 91% 0mm 98% 0.05mm -20dBZ -66° 98% 0.06mm 7m/s 18m/s 0.56m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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