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Rule Storm Chaser

Lorne - Storm Chaser - Australian Coast

Lorne, 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 81% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts12.8m/s
Precipitation Chance77%
Air Pressure990.6hPa
CAPE4
Lifted Index0.8°C
Wind Gusts12.8m/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
Wed, Apr 8
11:000%41%0J/kg12°C24135m2.1m/s
12:000%37%0J/kg11°C24134m2.6m/s
13:0015%31%0J/kg11°C24135m3.5m/s
14:000%47%0J/kg11°C24134m3.3m/s
15:000%74%0J/kg10°C24134m3.6m/s
16:0015%38%0J/kg11°C24135m4.3m/s
17:000%61%0J/kg10°C24135m4.1m/s
18:000%64%0J/kg10°C24134m1.3m/s
19:0013%35%0J/kg10°C24135m3.4m/s
20:000%14%0J/kg11°C24134m3.5m/s
21:000%15%0J/kg6.8°C24135m3m/s
22:0013%14%0J/kg4.1°C24134m6.8m/s
23:000%2.5%0J/kg2.9°C24135m8.7m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%8.9%4J/kg2.1°C24134m12m/s
01:0021%14%1J/kg1.6°C24135m13m/s
02:0011%15%20J/kg1.2°C24135m13m/s
03:0011%15%10J/kg1.6°C24134m13m/s
04:0024%13%25J/kg1.2°C24135m13m/s
05:0012%10%40J/kg0.8°C24135m15m/s
06:0012%64%49J/kg0.2°C24134m16m/s
07:0026%75%134J/kg-0.2°C24134m17m/s
08:0015%76%124J/kg-0.5°C24135m16m/s
09:0014%60%67J/kg-0.3°C24135m15m/s
10:0026%54%1J/kg0.5°C24135m14m/s
11:0011%69%4J/kg0.8°C24134m13m/s
12:000%31%21J/kg0.2°C24135m12m/s
13:0025%35%63J/kg0.1°C24135m12m/s
14:0013%88%84J/kg-0.4°C24135m13m/s
15:0014%90%223J/kg-0.7°C15840m12m/s
16:0038%46%206J/kg-0.6°C10855m12m/s
17:0035%46%219J/kg-0.8°C9131m13m/s
18:0039%52%241J/kg-1°C7709m14m/s
19:0047%62%199J/kg-1°C12841m13m/s
20:0030%0.2%72J/kg0.2°C24135m14m/s
21:0030%11%0J/kg1.6°C24135m15m/s
22:0041%15%0J/kg3.9°C24135m17m/s
23:0016%15%0J/kg4.6°C24135m18m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:0018%15%0J/kg4.1°C24134m20m/s
01:0037%15%1J/kg3.8°C24135m20m/s
02:0020%15%30J/kg4.3°C23543m20m/s
03:000%9.8%31J/kg5.6°C24001m12m/s
04:0027%0.8%2J/kg8.2°C24097m12m/s
05:0013%3%1J/kg10°C24135m14m/s
06:0015%34%0J/kg13°C24134m15m/s
07:0033%35%2J/kg13°C24134m14m/s
08:0015%66%14J/kg13°C24135m15m/s
09:0016%68%39J/kg13°C23756m15m/s
10:0034%60%31J/kg12°C24135m17m/s
11:0016%52%26J/kg12°C24134m18m/s
12:0016%43%49J/kg12°C22608m17m/s
13:0032%43%34J/kg12°C23903m17m/s
14:0016%62%23J/kg12°C23900m16m/s
15:0018%38%47J/kg12°C21875m17m/s
16:0036%64%18J/kg12°C24135m16m/s
17:0016%29%28J/kg12°C23553m14m/s
18:0017%58%15J/kg12°C21424m14m/s
19:0039%48%63J/kg11°C9960m13m/s
20:0025%3.4%45J/kg12°C12843m13m/s
21:0023%6.8%39J/kg13°C22357m13m/s
22:0030%9.4%20J/kg10°C24134m12m/s
23:000%15%15J/kg7.8°C24134m12m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%15%6J/kg6.7°C24134m12m/s
01:0012%14%2J/kg4.9°C24134m12m/s
02:009.8%14%1J/kg4.7°C24134m12m/s
03:0011%15%0J/kg5.4°C24135m13m/s
04:0026%15%0J/kg5.8°C24135m13m/s
05:0013%15%0J/kg5.5°C24135m13m/s
06:0011%67%3J/kg5.3°C24134m14m/s
07:0024%47%1J/kg4.9°C24135m13m/s
08:0011%45%9J/kg4.1°C24134m13m/s
09:0013%45%9J/kg3.7°C24135m13m/s
10:0029%38%2J/kg3.9°C24134m13m/s
11:0015%35%27J/kg3.4°C24134m14m/s
12:0014%49%40J/kg3.8°C22197m14m/s
13:0017%47%70J/kg5.3°C21800m15m/s
14:0026%37%55J/kg7.5°C21535m14m/s
15:0026%37%33J/kg9.2°C24135m14m/s
16:0033%35%21J/kg9.8°C24135m16m/s
17:0026%59%24J/kg10°C24135m15m/s
18:0016%60%27J/kg10°C24135m15m/s
19:0032%28%30J/kg10°C24135m14m/s
20:0016%0%32J/kg10°C24135m14m/s
21:0016%0%33J/kg10°C24135m14m/s
22:0034%0%35J/kg10°C24135m14m/s
23:0014%0%33J/kg10°C22549m14m/s
Sun, Apr 12
24:0014%0%31J/kg9.9°C20962m13m/s
01:0028%0%29J/kg9.8°C19375m13m/s
02:0014%0%32J/kg9.5°C20674m13m/s
03:0013%0%34J/kg9.1°C21973m13m/s
04:0028%0%37J/kg8.7°C23272m13m/s
05:0013%0%36J/kg8.9°C23560m12m/s
06:000%48%36J/kg9.1°C23848m12m/s
07:0018%60%35J/kg9.4°C24135m12m/s
08:000%52%34J/kg10°C24135m12m/s
09:000%35%34J/kg11°C24135m12m/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
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:46 Sunset 18:05
11:00
991hPa 4J/kg 16% 0.8°C 100% 0% 77% 0.03mm 74% 0mm -5.4dBZ 40° 100% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
12:00
990hPa 21J/kg 8% 0.2°C 97% 0% 82% 0.01mm 73% 0.01mm -13dBZ 44° 97% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
13:00
989hPa 63J/kg 6% 0.1°C 89% 2% 88% 0.03mm 71% 0.01mm -20dBZ 43° 89% 0.06mm 18m/s 15m/s 4.9m/s
14:00
988hPa 84J/kg 15% -0.4°C 53% 0% 87% 0mm 68% 0.01mm -6.8dBZ 39° 56% 0.06mm - - 5m/s
15:00
987hPa 223J/kg 21% -0.7°C 70% 6% 87% 0mm 63% 0.3mm 6.5dBZ 32° 77% 0.19mm - - 4.5m/s
16:00
987hPa 206J/kg 100% -0.6°C 100% 9% 86% 0mm 71% 0.73mm 20dBZ 22° 100% 0.56mm 13m/s 20m/s 4.4m/s
17:00
986hPa 219J/kg 100% -0.8°C 92% 0% 85% 0.09mm 82% 1.2mm 18dBZ 12° 100% 1mm - - 5.2m/s
18:00
986hPa 241J/kg 100% -1°C 88% 0% 83% 0mm 84% 1.3mm 17dBZ 0.68° 100% 1.8mm - - 6.1m/s
19:00
986hPa 199J/kg 100% -1°C 68% 87% 82% 0mm 84% 0.52mm 15dBZ -11° 100% 2.4mm 13m/s 20m/s 5.2m/s
20:00
986hPa 72J/kg 100% 0.2°C 28% 99% 87% 0mm 84% 0mm 3.6dBZ -23° 100% 2.6mm - - 6m/s
21:00
986hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.6°C 0% 15% 92% 0mm 80% 0mm -8.2dBZ -35° 100% 2.6mm - - 5.9m/s
22:00
986hPa 0J/kg 84% 3.9°C 0% 0% 97% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -45° 84% 2.6mm 15m/s 20m/s 6.3m/s
23:00
985hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.6°C 0% 0% 83% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 0% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:46 Sunset 18:05
24:00
985hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.1°C 9% 0% 70% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ -59° 9% 0mm - - 8.2m/s
01:00
984hPa 1J/kg 0% 3.8°C 52% 0% 56% 0mm 70% 0.01mm -20dBZ -58° 52% 0mm 15m/s 32m/s 8.3m/s
02:00
985hPa 30J/kg 0% 4.3°C 34% 1% 57% 0.59mm 72% 0.04mm -8.5dBZ -53° 34% 0.13mm - - 9.3m/s
03:00
987hPa 31J/kg 0% 5.6°C 77% 0% 57% 0.07mm 85% 0.03mm 3.1dBZ -44° 77% 0.81mm - - 6.5m/s
04:00
988hPa 2J/kg 0% 8.2°C 100% 0% 57% 0.06mm 83% 0.03mm 15dBZ -33° 100% 1mm 26m/s 48m/s 5.7m/s
05:00
989hPa 1J/kg 0% 10°C 100% 0% 66% 0.01mm 80% 0mm 3.1dBZ -22° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.1m/s
06:00
989hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 7% 0% 74% 0mm 78% 0mm -8.5dBZ -9.8° 7% 0.06mm - - 6.1m/s
07:00
989hPa 2J/kg 0% 13°C 8% 0% 83% 0mm 79% 0.01mm -20dBZ 2.1° 8% 0.06mm 18m/s 39m/s 5.9m/s
08:00
990hPa 14J/kg 0% 13°C 44% 0% 87% 0mm 74% 0.02mm -18dBZ 13° 44% 0.06mm - - 5.8m/s
09:00
990hPa 39J/kg 0% 13°C 62% 0% 92% 0mm 71% 0.16mm -17dBZ 24° 62% 0.19mm - - 6.3m/s
10:00
989hPa 31J/kg 0% 12°C 22% 0% 97% 0mm 64% 0.06mm -15dBZ 33° 22% 0.25mm 10m/s 36m/s 6.4m/s
11:00
989hPa 26J/kg 0% 12°C 27% 0% 92% 0mm 60% 0.07mm -15dBZ 40° 27% 0.06mm - - 7.7m/s
12:00
989hPa 49J/kg 0% 12°C 28% 0% 88% 0mm 64% 0.21mm -15dBZ 43° 28% 0.31mm - - 7.6m/s
13:00
989hPa 34J/kg 0% 12°C 19% 0% 83% 0mm 61% 0.15mm -15dBZ 43° 19% 0.44mm 8.5m/s 33m/s 6.9m/s
14:00
988hPa 23J/kg 0% 12°C 54% 0% 86% 0mm 54% 0.08mm -15dBZ 39° 54% 0.56mm - - 6.6m/s
15:00
989hPa 47J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 0% 90% 0.02mm 61% 0.21mm -15dBZ 31° 100% 0.69mm - - 6.5m/s
16:00
989hPa 18J/kg 0% 12°C 67% 0% 93% 0mm 71% 0mm -15dBZ 22° 67% 0.88mm 10m/s 31m/s 6m/s
17:00
989hPa 28J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 2% 69% 0.06mm 73% 0.14mm -0.35dBZ 11° 100% 0.13mm - - 6m/s
18:00
990hPa 15J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 13% 45% 0.42mm 74% 0.07mm 14dBZ 0.44° 100% 0.5mm - - 6.4m/s
19:00
991hPa 63J/kg 0% 11°C 100% 29% 21% 0.96mm 86% 0.3mm 28dBZ -12° 100% 1.7mm 11m/s 33m/s 5.6m/s
20:00
991hPa 45J/kg 0% 12°C 95% 80% 26% 0.03mm 85% 0.41mm 13dBZ -23° 96% 2.2mm - - 5.6m/s
21:00
992hPa 39J/kg 0% 13°C 72% 54% 32% 0.02mm 83% 0.07mm -2.6dBZ -35° 74% 2.4mm - - 5.6m/s
22:00
992hPa 20J/kg 0% 10°C 93% 100% 37% 0mm 79% 0.07mm -18dBZ -45° 100% 2.4mm 10m/s 28m/s 5.3m/s
23:00
992hPa 15J/kg 0% 7.8°C 6% 5% 32% 0mm 78% 0.03mm -19dBZ -54° 6% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:47 Sunset 18:03
24:00
992hPa 6J/kg 0% 6.7°C 5% 0% 27% 0mm 82% 0mm -19dBZ -59° 5% 0.06mm - - 5.4m/s
01:00
992hPa 2J/kg 0% 4.9°C 5% 0% 22% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -59° 5% 0.06mm 4m/s 14m/s 5.5m/s
02:00
992hPa 1J/kg 0% 4.7°C 8% 0% 36% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -53° 8% 0.06mm - - 5.3m/s
03:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.4°C 5% 0% 50% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -44° 5% 0.06mm - - 5.2m/s
04:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.8°C 8% 0% 64% 0mm 81% 0mm -19dBZ -33° 8% 0.06mm 8.3m/s 22m/s 5.6m/s
05:00
991hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.5°C 60% 0% 73% 0mm 76% 0mm -7.4dBZ -22° 60% 0mm - - 5.6m/s
06:00
991hPa 3J/kg 0% 5.3°C 50% 0% 83% 0mm 72% 0mm 4.7dBZ -10° 50% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
07:00
991hPa 1J/kg 0% 4.9°C 100% 0% 93% 0.01mm 71% 0mm 17dBZ 1.9° 100% 0mm 14m/s 19m/s 5.4m/s
08:00
991hPa 9J/kg 0% 4.1°C 100% 0% 94% 0mm 73% 0.02mm 17dBZ 13° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.3m/s
09:00
991hPa 9J/kg 0% 3.7°C 100% 0% 96% 0.02mm 73% 0.02mm 17dBZ 23° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.7m/s
10:00
991hPa 2J/kg 0% 3.9°C 100% 0% 97% 0.15mm 73% 0mm 18dBZ 32° 100% 0.13mm 11m/s 19m/s 5.9m/s
11:00
991hPa 27J/kg 0% 3.4°C 95% 0% 96% 0mm 75% 0.12mm 11dBZ 39° 95% 0.13mm - - 6m/s
12:00
990hPa 40J/kg 0% 3.8°C 57% 3% 96% 0mm 72% 0.25mm 4dBZ 43° 57% 0.31mm - - 5.9m/s
13:00
989hPa 70J/kg 0% 5.3°C 25% 4% 95% 0.23mm 66% 0.23mm -2.8dBZ 42° 25% 0.63mm 5.6m/s 9.7m/s 6.8m/s
14:00
989hPa 55J/kg 0% 7.5°C 100% 0% 96% 0.12mm 75% 0.27mm -8.5dBZ 38° 100% 1.2mm - - 6.5m/s
15:00
989hPa 33J/kg 0% 9.2°C 14% 0% 97% 0mm 79% 0.06mm -14dBZ 31° 14% 1.6mm - - 6.6m/s
16:00
989hPa 21J/kg 0% 9.8°C 5% 0% 98% 0mm 67% 0.02mm -20dBZ 22° 5% 1.8mm 5.1m/s 21m/s 6.6m/s
17:00
989hPa 24J/kg 0% 10°C 37% 0% 97% 0.007mm 68% 0.05mm -20dBZ 11° 37% 1.3mm - - 6.3m/s
18:00
990hPa 27J/kg 0% 10°C 68% 0% 96% 0.01mm 70% 0.07mm -20dBZ 0.2° 68% 0.88mm - - 5.9m/s
19:00
990hPa 30J/kg 0% 10°C 100% 0% 95% 0.02mm 71% 0.1mm -20dBZ -12° 100% 0.44mm 8.3m/s 26m/s 5.6m/s
20:00
990hPa 32J/kg 0% 10°C 78% 0% 96% 0.04mm 71% 0.09mm -18dBZ -24° 78% 0.65mm - - 5.9m/s
21:00
990hPa 33J/kg 0% 10°C 56% 0% 98% 0.07mm 72% 0.07mm -15dBZ -35° 56% 0.85mm - - 6.2m/s
22:00
990hPa 35J/kg 0% 10°C 34% 0% 99% 0.09mm 72% 0.06mm -13dBZ -46° 34% 1.1mm 9.5m/s 21m/s 6.4m/s
23:00
990hPa 33J/kg 0% 10°C 53% 0% 97% 0.07mm 72% 0.08mm -6dBZ -54° 53% 0.92mm - - 6.2m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 06:48 Sunset 18:02
24:00
991hPa 31J/kg 0% 9.9°C 73% 0% 94% 0.06mm 72% 0.1mm 1.4dBZ -59° 73% 0.77mm - - 6m/s
01:00
991hPa 29J/kg 0% 9.8°C 92% 0% 91% 0.04mm 72% 0.12mm 8.8dBZ -59° 92% 0.63mm 12m/s 19m/s 5.8m/s
02:00
992hPa 32J/kg 0% 9.5°C 94% 0% 93% 0.05mm 69% 0.09mm 0.86dBZ -53° 94% 0.77mm - - 5.9m/s
03:00
992hPa 34J/kg 0% 9.1°C 97% 0% 95% 0.07mm 67% 0.07mm -7.1dBZ -44° 97% 0.92mm - - 6.1m/s
04:00
993hPa 37J/kg 0% 8.7°C 100% 0% 96% 0.08mm 64% 0.04mm -15dBZ -33° 100% 1.1mm 8.7m/s 16m/s 6.3m/s
05:00
993hPa 36J/kg 0% 8.9°C 88% 0% 94% 0.06mm 61% 0.04mm -6.2dBZ -22° 88% 0.81mm - - 6.5m/s
06:00
993hPa 36J/kg 0% 9.1°C 75% 0% 92% 0.04mm 58% 0.04mm 2.6dBZ -10° 75% 0.56mm - - 6.6m/s
07:00
993hPa 35J/kg 0% 9.4°C 62% 0% 90% 0.02mm 55% 0.04mm 11dBZ 1.7° 62% 0.31mm 9.4m/s 19m/s 6.7m/s
08:00
994hPa 34J/kg 0% 10°C 75% 0% 92% 0.02mm 58% 0.03mm 8.8dBZ 13° 75% 0.35mm - - 6.4m/s
09:00
994hPa 34J/kg 0% 11°C 88% 0% 95% 0.03mm 61% 0.02mm 6.2dBZ 23° 88% 0.4mm - - 6.1m/s
10:00
995hPa 33J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 0% 98% 0.03mm 64% 0.01mm 3.6dBZ 32° 100% 0.44mm 7.3m/s 11m/s 5.8m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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