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Rule Storm Chaser

Geelong - Storm Chaser - Australian Coast

Geelong, Victoria, 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 96% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts1.4m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure1013.6hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index5.5°C
Wind Gusts1.4m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Australia/Melbourne

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/Melbourne
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
Tue, Apr 21
05:000%7.7%0J/kg6.5°C24135m0.6m/s
06:000%52%0J/kg6.5°C24134m0.8m/s
07:000%63%0J/kg6.6°C24134m0.8m/s
08:000%54%0J/kg7.1°C24135m1.4m/s
09:000%14%0J/kg7.6°C24134m1.9m/s
10:000%8.9%0J/kg7.7°C24134m2.5m/s
11:000%14%0J/kg7.9°C24135m3.1m/s
12:000%14%0J/kg7.6°C24135m3.4m/s
13:000%14%0J/kg6.9°C24134m3m/s
14:000%17%0J/kg6.3°C24135m2.8m/s
15:000%11%0J/kg6.1°C24134m2.6m/s
16:000%12%0J/kg6.2°C24135m2.9m/s
17:000%14%0J/kg6°C24134m4.2m/s
18:000%2.1%0J/kg6.2°C24135m1.9m/s
19:000%0.4%0J/kg6.2°C24135m1.6m/s
20:000%0.7%0J/kg6°C24134m1.5m/s
21:000%2.6%0J/kg6.3°C24135m1.2m/s
22:000%12%0J/kg6.1°C24135m1.3m/s
23:000%5.3%0J/kg5.8°C24134m1m/s
Wed, Apr 22
24:000%13%0J/kg5.4°C24134m1.2m/s
01:000%15%0J/kg5.5°C24134m1.4m/s
02:000%15%0J/kg5.7°C24134m1.5m/s
03:000%15%0J/kg5.5°C24135m1.3m/s
04:000%7.1%0J/kg5.2°C24134m1.6m/s
05:000%0.9%0J/kg5.5°C24134m1.4m/s
06:000%8.4%0J/kg5.5°C24134m1m/s
07:000%9.8%0J/kg4.8°C24134m1.6m/s
08:000%38%0J/kg4.8°C24134m1m/s
09:000%38%0J/kg4.5°C24135m2.9m/s
10:000%34%0J/kg4.2°C24134m4.6m/s
11:000%34%0J/kg3.7°C24135m5.7m/s
12:000%34%0J/kg3.2°C24134m5.2m/s
13:000%32%0J/kg2.6°C24135m4.5m/s
14:000%40%0J/kg2.5°C24134m4.3m/s
15:000%40%0J/kg2.9°C24135m4.1m/s
16:000%51%0J/kg2.5°C24134m5.1m/s
17:000%53%0J/kg2.2°C24134m6.2m/s
18:000%63%0J/kg2.6°C24134m7.9m/s
19:000%8.8%0J/kg2.5°C24135m6.7m/s
20:000%15%0J/kg2.2°C24134m6m/s
21:000%15%0J/kg2°C24134m1.7m/s
22:000%12%0J/kg2.3°C24135m1.5m/s
23:000%10%0J/kg2°C24135m1.5m/s
Thu, Apr 23
24:000%13%0J/kg2.8°C24135m3.7m/s
01:000%12%0J/kg3.7°C24135m2.2m/s
02:000%15%0J/kg4.5°C24135m3.2m/s
03:000%12%0J/kg4.9°C24134m1.9m/s
04:000%15%0J/kg5.3°C24134m1.7m/s
05:000%15%0J/kg5.6°C24134m1.8m/s
06:000%59%0J/kg5.1°C24134m1.8m/s
07:000%60%0J/kg4.7°C24135m1.5m/s
08:000%55%0J/kg4.4°C24135m2.5m/s
09:000%49%0J/kg4.5°C24135m3m/s
10:000%20%0J/kg4.5°C24134m3.2m/s
11:000%46%0J/kg4.6°C24135m3.2m/s
12:000%44%0J/kg4.7°C24135m3.2m/s
13:000%36%0J/kg4.8°C24135m3.3m/s
14:000%37%0J/kg4.2°C24135m3.1m/s
15:000%26%0J/kg4°C24135m4.5m/s
16:000%29%0J/kg3.6°C24135m3.5m/s
17:000%22%0J/kg3.6°C24135m5m/s
18:000%17%0J/kg3.9°C24134m1.3m/s
19:000%8.3%0J/kg4.1°C24135m0.41m/s
20:000%7.1%0J/kg4.5°C24135m0.51m/s
21:000%8.3%0J/kg4.7°C24135m1.1m/s
22:000%13%0J/kg4.9°C24134m1m/s
23:000%15%0J/kg5.6°C24135m1.3m/s
Fri, Apr 24
24:000%15%0J/kg6.1°C24135m1.4m/s
01:000%15%0J/kg6.3°C24134m1.3m/s
02:000%1.5%0J/kg6.4°C24135m1.2m/s
03:000%6.2%0J/kg6.5°C24134m1.2m/s
04:000%0.5%0J/kg6.6°C24134m1.2m/s
05:000%5.4%0J/kg6.8°C24134m1.2m/s
06:000%19%0J/kg6.7°C24134m1.3m/s
07:000%12%0J/kg6.8°C24134m1.4m/s
08:000%9.8%0J/kg6.8°C24135m2.1m/s
09:000%11%0J/kg6.7°C24135m4.6m/s
10:000%9%0J/kg6.6°C24135m5.5m/s
11:000%33%0J/kg6.9°C24135m5.2m/s
12:000%31%0J/kg7.3°C24135m4.8m/s
13:000%31%0J/kg7.6°C24135m4.5m/s
14:000%31%0J/kg7.6°C24135m4.4m/s
15:000%31%0J/kg7.7°C24135m4.3m/s
16:000%7.8%0J/kg7.7°C24135m4.2m/s
17:000%39%0J/kg8.1°C24135m4.1m/s
18:000%39%0J/kg8.6°C24135m4.1m/s
19:000%0%0J/kg9°C24135m4m/s
20:000%0%0J/kg9.3°C24135m4m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg9.7°C24135m4.1m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg10°C24135m4.1m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg9.4°C24135m5m/s
Sat, Apr 25
24:000%0%0J/kg8.7°C24135m5.9m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg8°C24135m6.7m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg8°C24135m7.8m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg8°C24135m9m/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/Melbourne
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
Wed, Apr 22 Sunrise 06:54 Sunset 17:47
05:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
06:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 100% 0mm - - 1m/s
07:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.8°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ 0.49° 100% 0mm 7.5m/s 1.9m/s 1.6m/s
08:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.8°C 0% 96% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 100% 0mm - - 0.98m/s
09:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.5°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ 21° 100% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
10:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.2°C 5% 100% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 100% 0mm 10m/s 1.4m/s 2.5m/s
11:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.7°C 5% 100% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 100% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
12:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.2°C 5% 97% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 100% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
13:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.6°C 5% 100% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 100% 0mm 10m/s 3.4m/s 3.3m/s
14:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.5°C 10% 100% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 100% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
15:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.9°C 62% 100% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 27° 100% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
16:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.5°C 53% 100% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 100% 0mm 5.7m/s 6.2m/s 2.9m/s
17:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 97% 2.2°C 79% 100% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 7.9° 100% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
18:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.6°C 82% 81% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -3.4° 82% 0mm - - 3m/s
19:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.5°C 100% 100% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 100% 0mm 2m/s 7.8m/s 2.5m/s
20:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.2°C 21% 19% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -27° 21% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
21:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 0% 2°C 15% 45% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ -38° 45% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
22:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.3°C 5% 5% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -49° 5% 0mm 3.1m/s 4.8m/s 1.5m/s
23:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0% 2°C 18% 13% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ -58° 18% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
Thu, Apr 23 Sunrise 06:55 Sunset 17:46
24:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 5% 2.8°C 5% 2% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 5% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
01:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 6% 3.7°C 32% 0% 0% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 32% 0mm 7.6m/s 14m/s 2.2m/s
02:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.5°C 7% 0% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -56° 7% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
03:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.9°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 5% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
04:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 5% 5.3°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -35° 5% 0mm 7.2m/s 14m/s 1.8m/s
05:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.6°C 2% 0% 0% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 100% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
06:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 45% 5.1°C 2% 0% 0% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 45% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
07:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 30% 4.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ 0.35° 30% 0mm 6.6m/s 14m/s 1.6m/s
08:00
1018hPa 0J/kg 56% 4.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 56% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
09:00
1018hPa 0J/kg 68% 4.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ 21° 68% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
10:00
1018hPa 0J/kg 96% 4.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 96% 0mm 4.6m/s 14m/s 2m/s
11:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 16% 4.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 16% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
12:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 65% 4.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 65% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
13:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 78% 4.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 78% 0mm 2.5m/s 11m/s 1.7m/s
14:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 79% 4.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 79% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
15:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 5% 4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 27° 5% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
16:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 6% 3.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 6% 0mm 3.2m/s 9.4m/s 2.9m/s
17:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 5% 3.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ 7.6° 5% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
18:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 5% 3.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -3.6° 5% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
19:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 5% 0mm 5.1m/s 11m/s 0.34m/s
20:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 3% 4.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ -27° 3% 0mm - - 0.54m/s
21:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 5% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
22:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 17% 4.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 17% 0mm 4.7m/s 10m/s 0.97m/s
23:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -59° 100% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
Fri, Apr 24 Sunrise 06:56 Sunset 17:44
24:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
01:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 100% 0mm 3.9m/s 7.2m/s 1.3m/s
02:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -56° 100% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
03:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 100% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
04:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -35° 100% 0mm 3.2m/s 6.7m/s 1.2m/s
05:00
1018hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ -24° 100% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
06:00
1018hPa 0J/kg 95% 6.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 95% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
07:00
1019hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ 0.2° 100% 0mm 3.5m/s 8.6m/s 1.5m/s
08:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.8°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
09:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.7°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ 21° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
10:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.6°C 0% 2% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 100% 0mm 4.4m/s 10m/s 2.7m/s
11:00
1021hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.9°C 0% 35% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 100% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
12:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.3°C 0% 67% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 100% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
13:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.6°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 100% 0mm 2.7m/s 8.8m/s 3.4m/s
14:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 99% 7.6°C 0% 68% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 99% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
15:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 99% 7.7°C 0% 35% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 27° 99% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
16:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 98% 7.7°C 0% 3% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 98% 0mm 4m/s 7.9m/s 3.3m/s
17:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 89% 8.1°C 0% 35% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ 7.4° 99% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
18:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 81% 8.6°C 0% 68% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -3.9° 99% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
19:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 72% 9°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 100% 0mm 3.1m/s 8.6m/s 3.1m/s
20:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 49% 9.3°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -27° 99% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
21:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 25% 9.7°C 0% 98% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 98% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
22:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 2% 10°C 0% 97% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 97% 0mm 3m/s 7.7m/s 3.4m/s
23:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 30% 9.4°C 0% 98% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -59° 98% 0mm - - 3.7m/s
Sat, Apr 25 Sunrise 06:57 Sunset 17:43
24:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 59% 8.7°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 99% 0mm - - 4m/s
01:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 88% 8°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 100% 0mm 3.8m/s 6.8m/s 4.4m/s
02:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 88% 8°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 100% 0mm - - 4.9m/s
03:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 89% 8°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ -47° 99% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
04:00
1023hPa 0J/kg 89% 8°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ -35° 99% 0mm 2.6m/s 8.3m/s 6m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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