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Rule Storm Chaser

Kiama - Storm Chaser - Australian Coast

Kiama, 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)
CAPE 100% failing
Storm Intensity 92% failing
Cloud Drama Score 79% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts1.3m/s
Precipitation Chance94%
Air Pressure1004.3hPa
CAPE3
Lifted Index4.5°C
Wind Gusts1.3m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

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%3.3%35J/kg6.5°C11710m1.7m/s
Sun, May 24
24:000%1.2%40J/kg6.6°C23461m2.2m/s
01:0011%1.2%40J/kg6.9°C15737m2.3m/s
02:000%4.3%29J/kg7.1°C24135m2.7m/s
03:000%4.3%24J/kg8.3°C24135m2.4m/s
04:000%9.8%19J/kg8.7°C24134m2.2m/s
05:000%7.5%23J/kg8.1°C24135m1.3m/s
06:000%73%21J/kg8.3°C24134m0.9m/s
07:000%79%22J/kg8°C24135m1.2m/s
08:000%55%31J/kg7.5°C23487m1.5m/s
09:000%100%36J/kg7.5°C21913m2.2m/s
10:000%33%44J/kg7.2°C24047m4.2m/s
11:000%35%31J/kg8°C24134m3.4m/s
12:000%35%27J/kg8.4°C24135m3.3m/s
13:000%33%28J/kg8.6°C24135m2.5m/s
14:000%36%11J/kg8.8°C24134m2.5m/s
15:000%39%2J/kg8.3°C24135m2.2m/s
16:0011%63%0J/kg7.9°C24134m3.3m/s
17:000%62%0J/kg7.3°C24134m2.2m/s
18:000%1.9%9J/kg6.6°C24134m2.5m/s
19:009.8%1.3%10J/kg5.4°C24134m3.5m/s
20:000%4.8%23J/kg4.7°C24135m2.1m/s
21:000%1.4%28J/kg4.9°C24134m1.3m/s
22:007.7%4.3%6J/kg4.8°C24135m1.1m/s
23:000%1.5%3J/kg4.5°C24135m1.3m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%0.3%8J/kg4.8°C24135m1.5m/s
01:008.4%3.6%15J/kg3.8°C24134m1.5m/s
02:000%8.5%12J/kg3°C24134m1.9m/s
03:000%14%2J/kg3.2°C24134m1.5m/s
04:009.8%6.5%17J/kg3.1°C24134m1.4m/s
05:000%9.2%17J/kg2.4°C24135m1m/s
06:000%59%34J/kg2.1°C24134m1.1m/s
07:009.1%64%27J/kg1.4°C24135m0.71m/s
08:000%100%26J/kg1.2°C24134m0.8m/s
09:000%74%25J/kg1.5°C24135m0.91m/s
10:009.8%36%16J/kg2.9°C24135m1.6m/s
11:000%33%32J/kg3.3°C24135m2.5m/s
12:000%38%44J/kg3.1°C17310m2.3m/s
13:000%53%73J/kg2.8°C17869m2.5m/s
14:000%80%93J/kg2.7°C24134m2.4m/s
15:000%40%104J/kg3°C22907m2.7m/s
16:0021%47%100J/kg3°C21834m3.2m/s
17:000%28%71J/kg3.6°C24135m2.4m/s
18:000%14%53J/kg3.6°C24134m2.3m/s
19:009.8%15%53J/kg3.3°C24135m2.1m/s
20:000%15%57J/kg2.8°C23200m1.9m/s
21:009.8%15%51J/kg3.1°C23255m1.6m/s
22:0021%15%62J/kg3°C21324m1.6m/s
23:000%14%31J/kg2.7°C24134m1.7m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%6.6%8J/kg2.2°C24134m2m/s
01:009.8%3.9%12J/kg1.9°C22354m2.1m/s
02:000%1.6%32J/kg1.7°C11988m2.4m/s
03:000%0.5%50J/kg1°C22281m2.8m/s
04:0011%3%79J/kg1.7°C22388m1.8m/s
05:000%5.4%83J/kg2°C24135m2.1m/s
06:000%80%74J/kg1.7°C24134m1.9m/s
07:009.8%55%34J/kg2.3°C24135m1.7m/s
08:000%51%11J/kg1.8°C19380m1.8m/s
09:000%51%9J/kg1.1°C22405m2.9m/s
10:0015%42%49J/kg0.2°C23850m2.5m/s
11:0024%43%36J/kg0.5°C1668m2.5m/s
12:0033%50%83J/kg-0.6°C1058m3.3m/s
13:0038%51%78J/kg-0.7°C3155m5.3m/s
14:0046%55%57J/kg1.3°C844m8.8m/s
15:0057%63%241J/kg-1.3°C2908m9.3m/s
16:0065%90%135J/kg-0.5°C772m8.4m/s
17:0041%68%141J/kg-1°C1044m4.5m/s
18:0056%1.4%138J/kg-0.6°C2397m6.4m/s
19:0056%2.3%117J/kg-0.9°C906m4.4m/s
20:0059%3.3%157J/kg-0.9°C385m2.8m/s
21:0058%3.5%142J/kg-0.4°C479m3.8m/s
22:0053%5.9%144J/kg-0.2°C4097m4.1m/s
23:000%9.5%127J/kg0°C11736m2m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%8.4%166J/kg-0.7°C12789m1.8m/s
01:0011%13%158J/kg-0.1°C10302m1.6m/s
02:0011%13%129J/kg-0.5°C11942m1.4m/s
03:009.8%13%97J/kg0.1°C17120m1.1m/s
04:0023%13%75J/kg0.8°C10271m1m/s
05:000%0%50J/kg0.64°C14892m1.3m/s
06:000%74%25J/kg0.49°C19514m1.7m/s
07:000%45%0J/kg0.33°C24135m2m/s
08:000%44%12J/kg0.45°C24135m2.1m/s
09:000%90%23J/kg0.57°C24135m2.1m/s
10:000%51%35J/kg0.68°C24135m2.2m/s
11:000%86%77J/kg0.21°C24130m2m/s
12:000%47%118J/kg-0.27°C24126m1.8m/s
13:000%45%160J/kg-0.74°C24121m1.6m/s
14:000%45%172J/kg-0.66°C20889m1.5m/s
15:000%53%183J/kg-0.58°C17656m1.4m/s
16:0012%57%195J/kg-0.5°C14424m1.3m/s
17:000%60%189J/kg-0.5°C12046m2.1m/s
18:000%0%184J/kg-0.5°C9668m2.9m/s
19:0017%0%178J/kg-0.5°C7290m3.6m/s
20:000%0%139J/kg-0.3°C12877m4.4m/s
21:000%0%99J/kg-0.11°C18463m5.3m/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 06:49 Sunset 16:56
23:00
1004hPa 3J/kg 100% 4.5°C 9% 57% 94% 0mm 89% 0mm -10dBZ -72° 100% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 06:49 Sunset 16:56
24:00
1004hPa 8J/kg 100% 4.8°C 52% 92% 88% 0mm 93% 0mm -15dBZ -76° 100% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
01:00
1004hPa 15J/kg 100% 3.8°C 64% 98% 82% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -70° 100% 0mm 4.8m/s 14m/s 1.4m/s
02:00
1003hPa 12J/kg 100% 3°C 36% 100% 81% 0mm 88% 0mm -19dBZ -59° 100% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
03:00
1003hPa 2J/kg 75% 3.2°C 42% 9% 79% 0mm 90% 0mm -18dBZ -47° 75% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
04:00
1003hPa 17J/kg 98% 3.1°C 95% 0% 78% 0mm 92% 0mm -17dBZ -35° 98% 0mm 3.1m/s 18m/s 1.4m/s
05:00
1002hPa 17J/kg 94% 2.4°C 99% 30% 74% 0mm 87% 0mm -18dBZ -22° 99% 0mm - - 0.93m/s
06:00
1003hPa 34J/kg 99% 2.1°C 71% 62% 70% 0mm 86% 0mm -19dBZ -10° 99% 0mm - - 1m/s
07:00
1003hPa 27J/kg 96% 1.4°C 88% 42% 66% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ 1.3° 96% 0mm 4m/s 18m/s 0.59m/s
08:00
1004hPa 26J/kg 7% 1.2°C 58% 15% 68% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ 12° 59% 0mm - - 0.5m/s
09:00
1004hPa 25J/kg 71% 1.5°C 16% 1% 69% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 21° 74% 0mm - - 0.33m/s
10:00
1003hPa 16J/kg 99% 2.9°C 21% 0% 70% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 99% 0mm 2.6m/s 15m/s 1m/s
11:00
1003hPa 32J/kg 100% 3.3°C 62% 0% 65% 0mm 67% 0.04mm -6.7dBZ 33° 100% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
12:00
1002hPa 44J/kg 100% 3.1°C 60% 0% 60% 0mm 70% 0.22mm 6.6dBZ 34° 100% 0.13mm - - 2m/s
13:00
1001hPa 73J/kg 80% 2.8°C 22% 1% 55% 0mm 76% 0.24mm 20dBZ 32° 80% 0.31mm 1.3m/s 9.4m/s 1.9m/s
14:00
1001hPa 93J/kg 60% 2.7°C 21% 0% 60% 0mm 76% 0.08mm 6.6dBZ 27° 60% 0.56mm - - 1.6m/s
15:00
1001hPa 104J/kg 82% 3°C 7% 0% 66% 0mm 76% 0.25mm -6.6dBZ 19° 82% 0.94mm - - 1.8m/s
16:00
1001hPa 100J/kg 100% 3°C 2% 12% 71% 0mm 85% 0.71mm -20dBZ 9.4° 100% 1.5mm 1.1m/s 12m/s 2.1m/s
17:00
1001hPa 71J/kg 100% 3.6°C 2% 1% 72% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -1.3° 100% 0.63mm - - 1.9m/s
18:00
1002hPa 53J/kg 100% 3.6°C 8% 0% 73% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 100% 0.75mm - - 1.9m/s
19:00
1002hPa 53J/kg 100% 3.3°C 10% 0% 74% 0mm 96% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 100% 0.81mm 0.77m/s 12m/s 1.8m/s
20:00
1003hPa 57J/kg 88% 2.8°C 12% 0% 78% 0mm 96% 0.24mm -5.2dBZ -37° 88% 0.94mm - - 1.7m/s
21:00
1003hPa 51J/kg 93% 3.1°C 9% 0% 82% 0mm 97% 0.18mm 9.5dBZ -50° 93% 1.1mm - - 1.5m/s
22:00
1003hPa 62J/kg 9% 3°C 23% 3% 86% 0mm 97% 0.46mm 24dBZ -62° 24% 1.6mm 0.76m/s 16m/s 1.5m/s
23:00
1003hPa 31J/kg 60% 2.7°C 35% 65% 72% 0mm 98% 0mm 17dBZ -72° 67% 0.13mm - - 1.5m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 06:50 Sunset 16:56
24:00
1002hPa 8J/kg 98% 2.2°C 26% 50% 59% 0mm 98% 0mm 9.6dBZ -76° 98% 0.13mm - - 1.6m/s
01:00
1002hPa 12J/kg 100% 1.9°C 33% 81% 45% 0mm 97% 0mm 2.3dBZ -70° 100% 0.13mm 1.9m/s 13m/s 1.8m/s
02:00
1002hPa 32J/kg 100% 1.7°C 72% 100% 55% 0mm 98% 0.04mm 6dBZ -59° 100% 0.19mm - - 1.7m/s
03:00
1002hPa 50J/kg 100% 1°C 97% 100% 65% 0mm 98% 0mm 9.7dBZ -47° 100% 0.25mm - - 1.8m/s
04:00
1002hPa 79J/kg 5% 1.7°C 87% 100% 75% 0.01mm 97% 0mm 13dBZ -35° 100% 0.31mm 4.6m/s 14m/s 1.2m/s
05:00
1002hPa 83J/kg 3% 2°C 53% 100% 83% 0mm 97% 0mm 2.3dBZ -22° 100% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
06:00
1003hPa 74J/kg 0% 1.7°C 40% 69% 91% 0mm 97% 0mm -8.9dBZ -11° 69% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
07:00
1003hPa 34J/kg 0% 2.3°C 97% 90% 99% 0mm 97% 0.01mm -20dBZ 1.2° 98% 0mm 2.1m/s 18m/s 1.4m/s
08:00
1003hPa 11J/kg 0% 1.8°C 100% 98% 99% 0mm 97% 0.14mm -15dBZ 11° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.4m/s
09:00
1003hPa 9J/kg 0% 1.1°C 100% 100% 99% 0mm 97% 0.01mm -11dBZ 21° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.5m/s
10:00
1003hPa 49J/kg 0% 0.2°C 100% 95% 99% 0.02mm 95% 0.08mm -5.9dBZ 28° 100% 0.13mm 13m/s 20m/s 1.3m/s
11:00
1002hPa 36J/kg 0% 0.5°C 100% 100% 99% 2.9mm 98% 0.3mm -0.77dBZ 33° 100% 2.1mm - - 0.96m/s
12:00
1001hPa 83J/kg 76% -0.6°C 100% 99% 99% 2.4mm 98% 0.51mm 4.3dBZ 34° 100% 4.6mm - - 1.4m/s
13:00
1000hPa 78J/kg 98% -0.7°C 100% 94% 99% 2.2mm 98% 0.62mm 9.4dBZ 32° 100% 8.2mm 7.6m/s 9.5m/s 2.4m/s
14:00
997hPa 57J/kg 100% 1.3°C 100% 100% 99% 22mm 98% 0.5mm 14dBZ 27° 100% 17mm - - 3.6m/s
15:00
999hPa 241J/kg 72% -1.3°C 100% 94% 99% 3.1mm 97% 1mm 20dBZ 19° 100% 31mm - - 4.3m/s
16:00
999hPa 135J/kg 43% -0.5°C 100% 100% 99% 7.4mm 98% 1.3mm 25dBZ 9.3° 100% 38mm 5.4m/s 9.2m/s 3.3m/s
17:00
999hPa 141J/kg 73% -1°C 100% 95% 93% 6.8mm 98% 0.68mm 27dBZ -1.4° 100% 5.4mm - - 2.3m/s
18:00
1000hPa 138J/kg 65% -0.6°C 89% 42% 86% 4.7mm 98% 1.3mm 30dBZ -13° 89% 16mm - - 3.2m/s
19:00
1000hPa 117J/kg 50% -0.9°C 100% 100% 79% 4.6mm 98% 1.9mm 33dBZ -25° 100% 21mm 3.3m/s 2.4m/s 2.5m/s
20:00
1000hPa 157J/kg 94% -0.9°C 100% 55% 83% 6.3mm 99% 1.2mm 25dBZ -37° 100% 28mm - - 1.1m/s
21:00
1001hPa 142J/kg 77% -0.4°C 99% 7% 86% 0.13mm 99% 0.62mm 16dBZ -50° 99% 33mm - - 2.4m/s
22:00
1001hPa 144J/kg 32% -0.2°C 90% 59% 89% 0.02mm 97% 1.1mm 7.4dBZ -62° 90% 33mm 7.1m/s 7.8m/s 1.5m/s
23:00
1000hPa 127J/kg 0% 0°C 48% 39% 81% 0mm 97% 0.1mm -1.8dBZ -72° 50% 0.5mm - - 0.96m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 06:51 Sunset 16:55
24:00
1000hPa 166J/kg 0% -0.7°C 84% 53% 73% 0mm 97% 0.07mm -11dBZ -76° 84% 0.56mm - - 0.79m/s
01:00
1000hPa 158J/kg 0% -0.1°C 100% 5% 64% 0mm 98% 0.17mm -20dBZ -70° 100% 0.94mm 8.7m/s 15m/s 0.85m/s
02:00
1000hPa 129J/kg 0% -0.5°C 45% 0% 64% 0mm 98% 0.36mm -20dBZ -59° 45% 1.5mm - - 1m/s
03:00
1000hPa 97J/kg 5% 0.1°C 30% 0% 65% 0.01mm 98% 0.11mm -20dBZ -47° 30% 1.6mm - - 1m/s
04:00
1000hPa 75J/kg 5% 0.8°C 28% 3% 65% 0mm 98% 0.07mm -20dBZ -35° 28% 1.6mm 11m/s 16m/s 1m/s
05:00
1005hPa 50J/kg 37% 0.64°C 20% 25% 63% 0mm 90% 0.05mm -20dBZ -23° 52% 1.1mm - - 1.4m/s
06:00
1011hPa 25J/kg 68% 0.49°C 11% 46% 61% 0mm 83% 0.02mm -20dBZ -11° 76% 0.54mm - - 1.7m/s
07:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.33°C 3% 67% 59% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 1.1° 100% 0mm 9.7m/s 14m/s 2.1m/s
08:00
1016hPa 12J/kg 68% 0.45°C 3% 64% 64% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 86% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
09:00
1016hPa 23J/kg 37% 0.57°C 3% 61% 68% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 21° 72% 0mm - - 2m/s
10:00
1016hPa 35J/kg 5% 0.68°C 3% 58% 73% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 58% 0mm 6.5m/s 13m/s 2m/s
11:00
1016hPa 77J/kg 37% 0.21°C 35% 58% 77% 0mm 77% 0.1mm -20dBZ 33° 72% 0.13mm - - 1.7m/s
12:00
1016hPa 118J/kg 68% -0.27°C 67% 58% 81% 0mm 79% 0.21mm -20dBZ 34° 86% 0.25mm - - 1.5m/s
13:00
1016hPa 160J/kg 100% -0.74°C 99% 58% 85% 0mm 80% 0.31mm -20dBZ 32° 100% 0.38mm 4.9m/s 8.6m/s 1.2m/s
14:00
1016hPa 172J/kg 100% -0.66°C 98% 72% 88% 0.1mm 83% 0.3mm -20dBZ 27° 100% 1.2mm - - 1.1m/s
15:00
1016hPa 183J/kg 100% -0.58°C 97% 86% 91% 0.19mm 85% 0.28mm -20dBZ 19° 100% 2.1mm - - 0.92m/s
16:00
1016hPa 195J/kg 100% -0.5°C 96% 100% 94% 0.29mm 87% 0.27mm -20dBZ 9.2° 100% 2.9mm 6.1m/s 13m/s 0.76m/s
17:00
1015hPa 189J/kg 68% -0.5°C 84% 85% 94% 0.19mm 87% 0.65mm -20dBZ -1.4° 88% 2.6mm - - 1.7m/s
18:00
1015hPa 184J/kg 36% -0.5°C 72% 70% 94% 0.1mm 87% 1mm -20dBZ -13° 76% 2.2mm - - 2.7m/s
19:00
1014hPa 178J/kg 4% -0.5°C 60% 55% 94% 0mm 88% 1.4mm -20dBZ -25° 64% 1.8mm 6.8m/s 12m/s 3.7m/s
20:00
1014hPa 139J/kg 36% -0.3°C 74% 39% 96% 0.1mm 88% 1mm -9.8dBZ -37° 76% 2.5mm - - 4.5m/s
21:00
1013hPa 99J/kg 68% -0.11°C 87% 22% 97% 0.21mm 88% 0.62mm -0.1dBZ -50° 88% 3.1mm - - 5.2m/s
22:00
1012hPa 60J/kg 100% 0.09°C 100% 5% 98% 0.31mm 88% 0.22mm 9.6dBZ -62° 100% 3.8mm 2.8m/s 4.4m/s 6m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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