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Rule Storm Chaser

Melbourne - Storm Chaser - Australian Coast

Melbourne, 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 85% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts10.5m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure1017.2hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index6.0°C
Wind Gusts10.5m/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 81 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
Mon, Jun 8
14:000%50%0J/kg4.5°C24134m5.8m/s
15:000%76%0J/kg4.4°C24135m5.8m/s
16:000%51%0J/kg4.4°C24134m6.3m/s
17:000%56%0J/kg4.7°C24134m7.7m/s
18:000%75%0J/kg5.9°C24135m8.8m/s
19:000%13%0J/kg7°C24135m9.7m/s
20:000%5.3%0J/kg7.5°C24135m10m/s
21:000%0.2%0J/kg7.7°C24134m11m/s
22:000%0.5%0J/kg7.6°C24135m12m/s
23:000%0.8%0J/kg6.7°C24134m11m/s
Tue, Jun 9
24:000%0.9%0J/kg6°C24134m11m/s
01:000%6.1%0J/kg5.5°C24134m11m/s
02:000%9.1%0J/kg4.9°C24135m13m/s
03:000%9.7%0J/kg4.1°C24135m14m/s
04:000%15%0J/kg3°C24134m14m/s
05:000%15%0J/kg2.3°C24134m13m/s
06:000%15%0J/kg2.2°C24134m13m/s
07:000%61%0J/kg1.7°C24135m15m/s
08:000%68%1J/kg0.8°C24134m16m/s
09:000%62%0J/kg0.9°C24135m15m/s
10:000%24%14J/kg0.7°C24135m15m/s
11:000%46%13J/kg0.9°C24135m14m/s
12:000%14%11J/kg0.4°C24135m14m/s
13:000%20%31J/kg-0.6°C24135m15m/s
14:000%19%69J/kg-1.2°C24134m15m/s
15:000%75%73J/kg-1.2°C24135m14m/s
16:0015%63%68J/kg-1.3°C24135m15m/s
17:000%40%30J/kg-0.3°C24135m15m/s
18:000%25%15J/kg0°C24134m15m/s
19:0015%13%0J/kg0.2°C24135m15m/s
20:000%3.4%3J/kg0.8°C24135m15m/s
21:000%10%6J/kg1.3°C24134m16m/s
22:0015%15%7J/kg2.2°C24134m16m/s
23:000%15%0J/kg3.2°C24134m16m/s
Wed, Jun 10
24:000%13%0J/kg3.5°C24135m16m/s
01:0016%15%0J/kg3°C24134m16m/s
02:000%14%1J/kg2.8°C24135m17m/s
03:000%4.5%1J/kg2.7°C24135m17m/s
04:0015%0.9%1J/kg2.7°C24134m17m/s
05:000%1%0J/kg2.1°C24135m17m/s
06:000%0.1%0J/kg3.1°C24134m16m/s
07:0017%56%29J/kg2.4°C24134m16m/s
08:000%67%8J/kg2.5°C24134m15m/s
09:000%62%17J/kg3.6°C24134m13m/s
10:0016%81%10J/kg3.6°C24135m13m/s
11:000%49%0J/kg3.4°C24134m14m/s
12:000%26%4J/kg2.6°C24134m12m/s
13:000%44%7J/kg2.4°C24134m9.6m/s
14:000%55%0J/kg2.7°C24134m9.1m/s
15:000%53%3J/kg2.4°C24134m9.1m/s
16:000%30%3J/kg2.6°C24134m8.1m/s
17:000%29%25J/kg2.5°C24134m7m/s
18:000%30%42J/kg2.7°C21720m7.1m/s
19:000%3.4%40J/kg3.1°C23865m6.6m/s
20:000%3.2%55J/kg3.6°C23893m5.7m/s
21:000%3.2%54J/kg3.8°C15128m3.4m/s
22:0013%5.1%32J/kg4.2°C24135m2.2m/s
23:000%4.4%24J/kg4.4°C24134m0.9m/s
Thu, Jun 11
24:000%9%25J/kg4.3°C24134m0.3m/s
01:000%14%12J/kg4.3°C24135m0.41m/s
02:000%14%28J/kg4.3°C24134m0.61m/s
03:000%11%37J/kg4.3°C24135m1.1m/s
04:000%14%37J/kg4.6°C24134m2m/s
05:000%14%31J/kg5.2°C24135m1.1m/s
06:000%15%23J/kg5.3°C24134m1.7m/s
07:000%18%22J/kg5.7°C24135m1m/s
08:000%54%5J/kg5.9°C24135m1m/s
09:000%14%4J/kg6°C24134m1.5m/s
10:000%13%2J/kg6°C24134m1.2m/s
11:000%77%13J/kg5.3°C24134m3.6m/s
12:000%63%25J/kg4.6°C24135m5.9m/s
13:000%35%36J/kg3.8°C24135m8.3m/s
14:000%42%32J/kg3.9°C24135m8.2m/s
15:000%42%28J/kg4°C24135m8.1m/s
16:000%13%24J/kg4°C24135m8m/s
17:000%32%20J/kg3.9°C24135m8.8m/s
18:000%50%15J/kg3.8°C24135m9.6m/s
19:000%0%11J/kg3.7°C24135m10m/s
20:000%0%7.3J/kg4.2°C24135m12m/s
21:000%0%3.7J/kg4.7°C24135m14m/s
22:009.8%0%0J/kg5.2°C24135m15m/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
Tue, Jun 9 Sunrise 07:30 Sunset 17:07
24:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 0% 6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ -75° 0% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
01:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ -73° 0% 0mm 6.8m/s 3.6m/s 2.7m/s
02:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.9°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 1% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
03:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.1°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ -53° 4% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
04:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0% 3°C 0% 28% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 28% 0mm 9.1m/s 5.2m/s 3.9m/s
05:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.3°C 0% 25% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 25% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
06:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.2°C 0% 18% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -17° 18% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
07:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.7°C 0% 42% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -6.3° 42% 0mm 7.9m/s 5.4m/s 4m/s
08:00
1016hPa 1J/kg 0% 0.8°C 0% 32% 0% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 4.2° 32% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
09:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.9°C 0% 42% 0% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 42% 0mm - - 5m/s
10:00
1015hPa 14J/kg 0% 0.7°C 7% 5% 0% 0mm 63% 0.01mm -20dBZ 21° 7% 0mm 7.8m/s 5.8m/s 5.3m/s
11:00
1015hPa 13J/kg 0% 0.9°C 74% 0% 0% 0mm 62% 0.03mm -20dBZ 27° 74% 0mm - - 5.7m/s
12:00
1013hPa 11J/kg 0% 0.4°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 5% 0mm - - 5.7m/s
13:00
1012hPa 31J/kg 0% -0.6°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 5% 0mm 11m/s 9.8m/s 6.3m/s
14:00
1011hPa 69J/kg 0% -1.2°C 1% 0% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 1% 0mm - - 6.7m/s
15:00
1011hPa 73J/kg 37% -1.2°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 37% 0mm - - 6.6m/s
16:00
1011hPa 68J/kg 18% -1.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 10° 18% 0mm 12m/s 12m/s 6.3m/s
17:00
1011hPa 30J/kg 5% -0.3°C 3% 2% 0% 0.08mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ 0.88° 7% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
18:00
1011hPa 15J/kg 100% 0°C 1% 1% 0% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ -10° 100% 0.06mm - - 6.7m/s
19:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 10% 0.2°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 10% 0.06mm 15m/s 10m/s 7.1m/s
20:00
1011hPa 3J/kg 70% 0.8°C 0% 54% 0% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 83% 0.06mm - - 6.5m/s
21:00
1011hPa 6J/kg 100% 1.3°C 1% 59% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -45° 100% 0.06mm - - 6.7m/s
22:00
1011hPa 7J/kg 8% 2.2°C 0% 9% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 10% 0.06mm 11m/s 12m/s 6.8m/s
23:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.2°C 0% 47% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -67° 100% 0mm - - 6.6m/s
Wed, Jun 10 Sunrise 07:31 Sunset 17:07
24:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 4% 3.5°C 10% 73% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ -75° 73% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
01:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 9% 3°C 75% 51% 0% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -73° 79% 0mm 12m/s 15m/s 6.9m/s
02:00
1009hPa 1J/kg 24% 2.8°C 100% 43% 13% 0mm 78% 0mm -15dBZ -64° 100% 0mm - - 7.1m/s
03:00
1009hPa 1J/kg 94% 2.7°C 100% 75% 26% 0mm 82% 0mm -9.9dBZ -53° 100% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
04:00
1009hPa 1J/kg 100% 2.7°C 100% 100% 39% 0mm 83% 0mm -4.8dBZ -41° 100% 0mm 11m/s 15m/s 7.1m/s
05:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.1°C 97% 100% 39% 0mm 79% 0mm 2.7dBZ -29° 100% 0mm - - 7.6m/s
06:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 97% 3.1°C 100% 95% 39% 0mm 79% 0mm 10dBZ -18° 100% 0mm - - 7.1m/s
07:00
1009hPa 29J/kg 100% 2.4°C 100% 100% 39% 0.02mm 79% 0mm 18dBZ -6.4° 100% 0mm 11m/s 17m/s 6.8m/s
08:00
1010hPa 8J/kg 100% 2.5°C 100% 100% 49% 0.01mm 83% 0.02mm 6.1dBZ 4.2° 100% 0.06mm - - 6.1m/s
09:00
1011hPa 17J/kg 72% 3.6°C 98% 100% 60% 0mm 76% 0.04mm -5.6dBZ 13° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.6m/s
10:00
1011hPa 10J/kg 14% 3.6°C 83% 100% 71% 0mm 72% 0.02mm -17dBZ 21° 100% 0.13mm 10m/s 15m/s 5.8m/s
11:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.4°C 98% 40% 72% 0mm 68% 0mm -9.2dBZ 26° 98% 0mm - - 5.6m/s
12:00
1011hPa 4J/kg 0% 2.6°C 100% 5% 72% 0.03mm 67% 0mm -1.2dBZ 29° 100% 0mm - - 5.7m/s
13:00
1011hPa 7J/kg 0% 2.4°C 98% 24% 73% 0mm 70% 0mm 6.9dBZ 28° 98% 0mm 7.1m/s 8.5m/s 5m/s
14:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.7°C 100% 96% 73% 0.02mm 69% 0mm 0.54dBZ 25° 100% 0mm - - 4.9m/s
15:00
1012hPa 3J/kg 0% 2.4°C 96% 12% 74% 0mm 72% 0mm -5.8dBZ 18° 96% 0.06mm - - 4.4m/s
16:00
1013hPa 3J/kg 0% 2.6°C 100% 0% 74% 0mm 71% 0mm -12dBZ 10° 100% 0.06mm 6.8m/s 10m/s 3.6m/s
17:00
1013hPa 25J/kg 0% 2.5°C 94% 0% 55% 0mm 73% 0.03mm -0.08dBZ 0.87° 94% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
18:00
1014hPa 42J/kg 0% 2.7°C 84% 0% 36% 0mm 81% 0.21mm 12dBZ -10° 84% 0.25mm - - 2.6m/s
19:00
1015hPa 40J/kg 0% 3.1°C 100% 0% 17% 0mm 83% 0.18mm 24dBZ -22° 100% 0.38mm 9.1m/s 11m/s 2.4m/s
20:00
1016hPa 55J/kg 0% 3.6°C 100% 0% 24% 0mm 83% 0.08mm 19dBZ -33° 100% 0.5mm - - 2m/s
21:00
1017hPa 54J/kg 0% 3.8°C 95% 0% 31% 0mm 85% 0.38mm 15dBZ -45° 95% 0.75mm - - 1.6m/s
22:00
1017hPa 32J/kg 0% 4.2°C 99% 0% 38% 0mm 86% 0.01mm 10dBZ -57° 99% 1.1mm 11m/s 15m/s 1.2m/s
23:00
1018hPa 24J/kg 0% 4.4°C 100% 0% 30% 0mm 86% 0.03mm 1.5dBZ -67° 100% 0.06mm - - 0.77m/s
Thu, Jun 11 Sunrise 07:31 Sunset 17:07
24:00
1018hPa 25J/kg 0% 4.3°C 98% 0% 23% 0mm 87% 0mm -7dBZ -75° 98% 0.06mm - - 0.14m/s
01:00
1018hPa 12J/kg 0% 4.3°C 100% 0% 15% 0mm 88% 0mm -16dBZ -73° 100% 0.06mm 15m/s 18m/s 0.47m/s
02:00
1019hPa 28J/kg 0% 4.3°C 43% 0% 10% 0mm 89% 0mm -17dBZ -64° 43% 0.06mm - - 0.59m/s
03:00
1019hPa 37J/kg 0% 4.3°C 100% 0% 5% 0mm 92% 0mm -19dBZ -53° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.1m/s
04:00
1019hPa 37J/kg 0% 4.6°C 15% 0% 0% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 15% 0.06mm 13m/s 15m/s 1.4m/s
05:00
1019hPa 31J/kg 0% 5.2°C 54% 0% 0% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 54% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
06:00
1020hPa 23J/kg 0% 5.3°C 96% 0% 0% 0mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 96% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
07:00
1021hPa 22J/kg 0% 5.7°C 9% 0% 0% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -6.4° 9% 0mm 12m/s 13m/s 1m/s
08:00
1021hPa 5J/kg 0% 5.9°C 36% 0% 13% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ 4.1° 36% 0mm - - 1m/s
09:00
1021hPa 4J/kg 0% 6°C 5% 0% 26% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 5% 0mm - - 0.82m/s
10:00
1021hPa 2J/kg 0% 6°C 4% 0% 39% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 21° 4% 0mm 9.4m/s 10m/s 0.59m/s
11:00
1024hPa 13J/kg 33% 5.3°C 3% 31% 39% 0mm 79% 0.01mm -20dBZ 26° 36% 0.02mm - - 2m/s
12:00
1026hPa 25J/kg 67% 4.6°C 1% 62% 39% 0mm 78% 0.02mm -20dBZ 29° 68% 0.04mm - - 3.3m/s
13:00
1028hPa 36J/kg 100% 3.8°C 0% 92% 39% 0mm 77% 0.03mm -20dBZ 28° 100% 0.06mm 8.2m/s 8.3m/s 4.7m/s
14:00
1028hPa 32J/kg 100% 3.9°C 0% 63% 33% 0.003mm 79% 0.02mm -20dBZ 25° 100% 0.08mm - - 4.5m/s
15:00
1028hPa 28J/kg 100% 4°C 0% 34% 28% 0.007mm 82% 0.01mm -20dBZ 18° 100% 0.1mm - - 4.3m/s
16:00
1028hPa 24J/kg 100% 4°C 0% 5% 22% 0.01mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ 10° 100% 0.13mm 8m/s 12m/s 4.1m/s
17:00
1028hPa 20J/kg 74% 3.9°C 0% 5% 15% 0.007mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ 0.85° 74% 0.08mm - - 4.3m/s
18:00
1028hPa 15J/kg 48% 3.8°C 0% 5% 7% 0.003mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -10° 48% 0.04mm - - 4.5m/s
19:00
1027hPa 11J/kg 22% 3.7°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 22% 0mm 7.9m/s 10m/s 4.7m/s
20:00
1027hPa 7.3J/kg 48% 4.2°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 48% 0mm - - 5.6m/s
21:00
1027hPa 3.7J/kg 74% 4.7°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -45° 74% 0mm - - 6.5m/s
22:00
1026hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.2°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 100% 0mm 7m/s 12m/s 7.3m/s
23:00
1026hPa 0J/kg 69% 5°C 0% 32% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -67° 95% 0mm - - 7.8m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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