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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)
Storm Intensity 100% failing
CAPE 100% failing
Cloud Drama Score 83% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts0.8m/s
Precipitation Chance99%
Air Pressure997.4hPa
CAPE2
Lifted Index3.5°C
Wind Gusts0.8m/s
Precipitation0.1mm

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
Sun, May 17
18:000%0%208J/kg0.4°C24135m2m/s
19:009.8%0%156J/kg1.7°C24134m1.7m/s
20:000%0.3%150J/kg1.6°C24135m1.7m/s
21:000%0%106J/kg1.4°C24135m0.9m/s
22:000%3.1%97J/kg1.7°C24135m1.5m/s
23:000%8.5%37J/kg2.6°C24134m1.5m/s
Mon, May 18
24:000%5.6%16J/kg2.7°C24135m1.5m/s
01:000%0.4%19J/kg2.6°C24135m1.5m/s
02:000%4%38J/kg2.7°C24134m1.4m/s
03:000%0.2%61J/kg2.9°C24134m1.7m/s
04:0013%5.1%50J/kg3.5°C24134m2.3m/s
05:000%0.1%15J/kg3.9°C24134m3m/s
06:000%49%10J/kg3.8°C24135m2.2m/s
07:0014%58%6J/kg4.7°C24134m2.2m/s
08:000%50%13J/kg4.2°C24135m1.6m/s
09:000%72%12J/kg4.4°C24135m1m/s
10:0012%46%14J/kg4.3°C24134m1.3m/s
11:000%48%14J/kg4.6°C24134m0.72m/s
12:000%51%14J/kg4.7°C24135m1.4m/s
13:0013%51%0J/kg5.2°C24134m1.2m/s
14:000%51%0J/kg4.6°C24135m0.5m/s
15:000%60%2J/kg4.2°C24134m0.7m/s
16:0015%60%5J/kg3.7°C24135m1.4m/s
17:000%64%7J/kg3.7°C24135m0.8m/s
18:000%0%4J/kg3.5°C24134m0.61m/s
19:0013%0%2J/kg3.7°C24135m0.62m/s
20:000%0%3J/kg3.8°C20723m0.7m/s
21:000%0%2J/kg3.6°C24007m0.7m/s
22:0014%0%4J/kg3.4°C24116m0.71m/s
23:000%0%13J/kg3.3°C17996m0.6m/s
Tue, May 19
24:000%0%12J/kg3°C11576m0.5m/s
01:0019%0%15J/kg3.2°C18333m0.8m/s
02:009.8%0%13J/kg3.8°C22622m0.41m/s
03:009.8%0%7J/kg3.6°C24134m1.1m/s
04:0018%0.4%4J/kg3.4°C24134m1.3m/s
05:000%0%8J/kg3.2°C24135m1.1m/s
06:000%71%2J/kg3.3°C24134m1.1m/s
07:0011%62%2J/kg2.7°C24134m1.7m/s
08:000%77%5J/kg2.6°C17863m1.7m/s
09:000%60%5J/kg2.4°C16971m3.2m/s
10:0023%51%2J/kg2.4°C6381m3.7m/s
11:000%47%5J/kg2.5°C7269m4.2m/s
12:000%50%9J/kg2.4°C24134m4.8m/s
13:0023%54%22J/kg1.8°C19555m6m/s
14:0013%59%8J/kg1.9°C20132m8.9m/s
15:0013%67%0J/kg2.7°C24135m8.7m/s
16:0023%61%4J/kg2.6°C24135m9m/s
17:000%100%12J/kg1.8°C24134m9.2m/s
18:000%5.2%14J/kg1.9°C23502m9.5m/s
19:0017%7.5%20J/kg1.6°C23489m9.6m/s
20:000%5.9%32J/kg1.5°C21233m9.5m/s
21:000%9.1%29J/kg1.2°C23775m9.5m/s
22:0026%10%33J/kg0.8°C19191m9.7m/s
23:000%14%26J/kg0.9°C24134m7.4m/s
Wed, May 20
24:000%15%9J/kg1.1°C24134m5.4m/s
01:0011%14%3J/kg1.2°C22414m4.5m/s
02:000%15%4J/kg1.4°C22298m4.4m/s
03:000%15%2J/kg1.6°C22274m2.9m/s
04:0011%15%1J/kg2.1°C22267m2.5m/s
05:000%14%4J/kg2.3°C22261m2.9m/s
06:000%54%10J/kg2.4°C22260m4.2m/s
07:000%63%10J/kg2.7°C22264m5.4m/s
08:000%62%9J/kg2.8°C22266m8.5m/s
09:000%57%4J/kg2.3°C24134m7.9m/s
10:000%28%2J/kg1.7°C24135m8m/s
11:000%40%0J/kg2.3°C24134m7m/s
12:000%54%1J/kg2.9°C24134m6.8m/s
13:000%46%1J/kg2.8°C24135m7.1m/s
14:000%43%6J/kg1.8°C24134m7.6m/s
15:000%24%7J/kg1.3°C24135m7.9m/s
16:0011%29%15J/kg1.4°C24134m7.6m/s
17:000%22%17J/kg1.6°C24134m9.5m/s
18:000%11%4J/kg1.9°C24134m9.4m/s
19:000%14%4J/kg1.9°C24135m6.1m/s
20:000%15%0J/kg2.3°C24135m6.1m/s
21:000%15%0J/kg2.5°C24135m6.7m/s
22:000%15%1J/kg3.6°C24135m7.5m/s
23:000%15%3J/kg4°C24135m9.5m/s
Thu, May 21
24:000%15%5J/kg4.5°C24135m11m/s
01:000%15%7J/kg4.9°C24135m13m/s
02:000%15%5J/kg4.9°C24135m13m/s
03:000%15%3J/kg5°C24135m13m/s
04:000%15%1J/kg5°C24135m13m/s
05:000%0%1J/kg5.4°C24135m12m/s
06:000%44%1J/kg5.8°C24135m12m/s
07:000%25%1J/kg6.2°C24135m11m/s
08:000%39%1.7J/kg6.4°C24135m11m/s
09:000%46%2.3J/kg6.6°C24135m12m/s
10:000%39%3J/kg6.8°C24135m12m/s
11:000%41%16J/kg6.4°C21689m12m/s
12:000%30%28J/kg5.9°C19243m12m/s
13:000%18%41J/kg5.4°C16797m12m/s
14:009.8%21%43J/kg5.5°C16672m12m/s
15:009.8%22%44J/kg5.6°C16548m12m/s
16:0011%24%46J/kg5.7°C16423m13m/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
Mon, May 18 Sunrise 06:45 Sunset 17:00
18:00
997hPa 2J/kg 100% 3.5°C 100% 100% 99% 0.05mm 85% 0mm 26dBZ -12° 100% 0.13mm - - 0.68m/s
19:00
998hPa 8J/kg 100% 3.5°C 100% 100% 98% 0.34mm 90% 0mm 28dBZ -24° 100% 0.38mm 9.4m/s 16m/s 0.75m/s
20:00
998hPa 14J/kg 90% 3.8°C 100% 100% 98% 0.39mm 94% 0mm 27dBZ -37° 100% 0.88mm - - 1m/s
21:00
998hPa 9J/kg 100% 3.6°C 100% 100% 98% 0.12mm 94% 0mm 26dBZ -49° 100% 1.1mm - - 0.86m/s
22:00
997hPa 11J/kg 100% 3.5°C 100% 100% 98% 0.22mm 95% 0mm 25dBZ -61° 100% 1.3mm 11m/s 15m/s 0.77m/s
23:00
996hPa 13J/kg 63% 3.3°C 100% 100% 96% 0.26mm 97% 0mm 25dBZ -71° 100% 0.38mm - - 0.28m/s
Tue, May 19 Sunrise 06:45 Sunset 17:00
24:00
996hPa 25J/kg 83% 3.5°C 100% 98% 94% 0.07mm 97% 0mm 25dBZ -75° 100% 0.56mm - - 0.45m/s
01:00
995hPa 25J/kg 100% 3.4°C 100% 100% 92% 0.44mm 98% 0.04mm 25dBZ -69° 100% 0.88mm 7.8m/s 13m/s 0.33m/s
02:00
994hPa 22J/kg 67% 3.4°C 100% 100% 94% 0.01mm 98% 0mm 19dBZ -58° 100% 1mm - - 0.84m/s
03:00
993hPa 16J/kg 0% 2.9°C 100% 79% 97% 0.09mm 98% 0mm 13dBZ -46° 100% 1.1mm - - 1.2m/s
04:00
993hPa 18J/kg 0% 2.7°C 100% 100% 99% 0.01mm 98% 0mm 6.7dBZ -34° 100% 1.2mm 5.9m/s 15m/s 1.2m/s
05:00
993hPa 31J/kg 100% 2.4°C 100% 100% 96% 0.09mm 97% 0.05mm 8.7dBZ -22° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.2m/s
06:00
993hPa 16J/kg 58% 2.9°C 100% 100% 93% 0.27mm 97% 0.02mm 11dBZ -9.6° 100% 0.38mm - - 1.4m/s
07:00
993hPa 8J/kg 99% 3.3°C 100% 100% 90% 0.39mm 98% 0mm 12dBZ 2.1° 100% 0.88mm 5.7m/s 15m/s 1.6m/s
08:00
993hPa 3J/kg 100% 3.3°C 100% 100% 93% 0.28mm 98% 0mm 17dBZ 13° 100% 1.3mm - - 1.8m/s
09:00
993hPa 16J/kg 0% 2.6°C 100% 100% 96% 0.5mm 97% 0mm 22dBZ 22° 100% 1.4mm - - 1.8m/s
10:00
993hPa 5J/kg 0% 2.7°C 100% 100% 98% 0.95mm 97% 0mm 26dBZ 29° 100% 2.3mm 6.7m/s 14m/s 1.7m/s
11:00
993hPa 11J/kg 0% 2.3°C 100% 100% 93% 0.34mm 97% 0mm 24dBZ 34° 100% 0.63mm - - 2.2m/s
12:00
992hPa 6J/kg 0% 2.8°C 100% 100% 88% 0.07mm 96% 0mm 21dBZ 36° 100% 0.81mm - - 2.4m/s
13:00
991hPa 12J/kg 0% 1.9°C 100% 100% 83% 0.02mm 94% 0.01mm 19dBZ 33° 100% 0.88mm 12m/s 13m/s 2.3m/s
14:00
991hPa 5J/kg 0% 2.3°C 100% 7% 87% 0.01mm 92% 0.03mm 15dBZ 28° 100% 1mm - - 3.2m/s
15:00
992hPa 6J/kg 0% 2.6°C 100% 5% 90% 0.03mm 92% 0.02mm 11dBZ 20° 100% 1mm - - 3.5m/s
16:00
992hPa 4J/kg 0% 2.8°C 98% 7% 93% 0.02mm 92% 0.02mm 6.8dBZ 10° 98% 1.1mm 8.8m/s 20m/s 3.6m/s
17:00
993hPa 6J/kg 0% 2.8°C 70% 11% 70% 0.01mm 91% 0.02mm 7.4dBZ -0.47° 70% 0.06mm - - 3.2m/s
18:00
994hPa 12J/kg 0% 2.4°C 100% 53% 46% 0mm 90% 0.02mm 7.9dBZ -12° 100% 0.06mm - - 3.1m/s
19:00
995hPa 17J/kg 0% 2.3°C 95% 20% 23% 0mm 89% 0.01mm 8.4dBZ -25° 95% 0.13mm 8.4m/s 21m/s 3m/s
20:00
995hPa 29J/kg 4% 2°C 82% 6% 28% 0mm 87% 0.02mm 11dBZ -37° 82% 0.13mm - - 3.1m/s
21:00
996hPa 28J/kg 21% 1.8°C 60% 4% 33% 0mm 87% 0.03mm 14dBZ -49° 63% 0.13mm - - 2.8m/s
22:00
996hPa 31J/kg 9% 1.6°C 40% 4% 38% 0mm 89% 0.07mm 17dBZ -61° 41% 0.19mm 8.3m/s 17m/s 2.4m/s
23:00
996hPa 21J/kg 16% 1.8°C 8% 1% 42% 0mm 92% 0.01mm 4.5dBZ -71° 16% 0.06mm - - 1.9m/s
Wed, May 20 Sunrise 06:46 Sunset 16:59
24:00
996hPa 13J/kg 22% 2.3°C 6% 5% 46% 0.01mm 93% 0mm -7.8dBZ -75° 22% 0.06mm - - 1.6m/s
01:00
996hPa 9J/kg 28% 2.2°C 6% 15% 50% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -69° 38% 0.13mm 8m/s 11m/s 1.7m/s
02:00
996hPa 1J/kg 4% 2.2°C 8% 28% 42% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ -58° 28% 0.13mm - - 1.7m/s
03:00
996hPa 1J/kg 0% 2.2°C 8% 5% 34% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 8% 0.13mm - - 1.7m/s
04:00
997hPa 3J/kg 0% 2.3°C 7% 2% 26% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 7% 0.13mm 7.4m/s 12m/s 1.7m/s
05:00
997hPa 5J/kg 0% 1.7°C 6% 0% 17% 0mm 95% 0mm -15dBZ -22° 6% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
06:00
998hPa 29J/kg 0% 1.9°C 10% 0% 9% 0mm 96% 0mm -11dBZ -9.8° 10% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
07:00
999hPa 22J/kg 0% 2.1°C 24% 0% 0% 0mm 96% 0.02mm -6.1dBZ 24% 0mm 5.8m/s 8.4m/s 2m/s
08:00
1000hPa 12J/kg 0% 2.2°C 36% 0% 0% 0mm 94% 0mm -11dBZ 12° 36% 0.06mm - - 1.9m/s
09:00
1001hPa 21J/kg 0% 1.8°C 20% 0% 0% 0mm 85% 0.06mm -15dBZ 22° 20% 0.06mm - - 2m/s
10:00
1001hPa 11J/kg 0% 2.2°C 12% 0% 0% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 12% 0.06mm 3.3m/s 4.3m/s 2.5m/s
11:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.7°C 8% 0% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 8% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
12:00
1001hPa 1J/kg 0% 3.2°C 6% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 6% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
13:00
1000hPa 6J/kg 0% 2.7°C 44% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 33° 44% 0mm 3.5m/s 7.1m/s 4.2m/s
14:00
1000hPa 4J/kg 0% 2.5°C 47% 5% 13% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 48% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
15:00
1001hPa 10J/kg 0% 1.6°C 44% 42% 26% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 50% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
16:00
1001hPa 5J/kg 0% 1.7°C 36% 5% 39% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ 10° 36% 0mm 4.7m/s 11m/s 3.7m/s
17:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.5°C 10% 0% 39% 0mm 62% 0mm -11dBZ -0.63° 10% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
18:00
1003hPa 16J/kg 0% 2.7°C 10% 0% 39% 0mm 68% 0.01mm -1.9dBZ -13° 10% 0mm - - 2m/s
19:00
1004hPa 28J/kg 0% 3°C 20% 0% 39% 0mm 72% 0.03mm 7.1dBZ -25° 20% 0mm 4.5m/s 7.2m/s 2.3m/s
20:00
1005hPa 22J/kg 0% 3.6°C 4% 0% 45% 0mm 76% 0.01mm 2.6dBZ -37° 4% 0.06mm - - 2.3m/s
21:00
1005hPa 4J/kg 0% 4.5°C 3% 0% 50% 0mm 78% 0mm -1.8dBZ -49° 3% 0.06mm - - 2.4m/s
22:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.9°C 18% 0% 56% 0mm 78% 0mm -6.3dBZ -61° 18% 0.06mm 7.7m/s 4.7m/s 2.8m/s
23:00
1005hPa 2J/kg 0% 4.4°C 90% 0% 46% 0mm 76% 0mm -2.6dBZ -71° 90% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
Thu, May 21 Sunrise 06:46 Sunset 16:59
24:00
1005hPa 8J/kg 0% 5.3°C 98% 0% 37% 0mm 67% 0mm 1.2dBZ -75° 98% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
01:00
1005hPa 6J/kg 0% 5.8°C 41% 0% 27% 0mm 67% 0mm 4.9dBZ -69° 41% 0mm 9.6m/s 6.6m/s 2.8m/s
02:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.3°C 20% 0% 34% 0mm 74% 0mm 6.9dBZ -58° 20% 0mm - - 3m/s
03:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.2°C 53% 0% 42% 0mm 78% 0mm 8.9dBZ -46° 53% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
04:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.1°C 95% 0% 49% 0mm 79% 0mm 11dBZ -34° 95% 0mm 7.8m/s 6.2m/s 3.1m/s
05:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.2°C 75% 0% 45% 0.003mm 73% 0mm 7.6dBZ -22° 75% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
06:00
1018hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.3°C 54% 0% 42% 0.007mm 68% 0mm 4.2dBZ -9.9° 54% 0mm - - 7.6m/s
07:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.3°C 33% 0% 39% 0.01mm 63% 0mm 0.86dBZ 1.8° 33% 0mm 7.5m/s 0.56m/s 9.9m/s
08:00
1024hPa 7.3J/kg 0% 6°C 51% 0% 38% 0.007mm 65% 0.11mm -3.1dBZ 12° 51% 0.1mm - - 10m/s
09:00
1024hPa 15J/kg 0% 5.8°C 70% 0% 38% 0.003mm 66% 0.23mm -7.1dBZ 22° 70% 0.21mm - - 11m/s
10:00
1024hPa 22J/kg 0% 5.5°C 88% 0% 38% 0mm 68% 0.34mm -11dBZ 29° 88% 0.31mm 4.5m/s 2.3m/s 11m/s
11:00
1025hPa 28J/kg 0% 5.4°C 89% 0% 38% 0.03mm 70% 0.25mm -14dBZ 34° 89% 0.56mm - - 11m/s
12:00
1025hPa 34J/kg 0% 5.4°C 91% 0% 38% 0.07mm 72% 0.16mm -17dBZ 35° 91% 0.81mm - - 11m/s
13:00
1025hPa 40J/kg 0% 5.4°C 92% 0% 39% 0.1mm 73% 0.07mm -20dBZ 33° 92% 1.1mm 4.1m/s 8.1m/s 10m/s
14:00
1025hPa 40J/kg 0% 5.4°C 95% 0% 41% 0.12mm 73% 0.11mm -20dBZ 27° 95% 1.3mm - - 10m/s
15:00
1025hPa 39J/kg 0% 5.4°C 97% 0% 44% 0.13mm 72% 0.14mm -20dBZ 20° 97% 1.5mm - - 9.8m/s
16:00
1025hPa 39J/kg 0% 5.5°C 100% 0% 46% 0.15mm 71% 0.18mm -19dBZ 9.9° 100% 1.8mm 3.4m/s 9.2m/s 9.6m/s
17:00
1025hPa 34J/kg 0% 6.1°C 100% 0% 49% 0.11mm 69% 0.13mm -6.5dBZ -0.78° 100% 1.3mm - - 9.4m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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