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Rule Storm Chaser

Newcastle - Storm Chaser - Australian Coast

Newcastle, 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
Cloud Drama Score 97% failing
CAPE 85% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts4.3m/s
Precipitation Chance4%
Air Pressure1009.0hPa
CAPE32
Lifted Index1.6°C
Wind Gusts4.3m/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
Sun, Feb 22
12:000%31%165J/kg-1.3°C24135m3.8m/s
13:000%34%151J/kg-1.3°C24134m4.9m/s
14:000%19%131J/kg-1°C24135m5.8m/s
15:000%50%107J/kg-0.9°C24134m6.5m/s
16:0012%49%133J/kg-1°C24135m10m/s
17:0013%56%156J/kg-1.1°C24134m12m/s
18:0013%82%133J/kg-1.2°C24134m13m/s
19:0013%66%224J/kg-3.1°C24134m14m/s
20:0023%56%191J/kg-2.6°C24135m13m/s
21:0012%0.6%211J/kg-2.8°C24135m12m/s
22:000%0%223J/kg-1.4°C24135m4.2m/s
23:000%0.2%179J/kg-0.8°C24134m6.9m/s
Mon, Feb 23
24:000%0%125J/kg-0.5°C24135m3.6m/s
01:000%0.2%103J/kg-0.3°C24135m1.8m/s
02:000%0%132J/kg-0.2°C24135m0.84m/s
03:000%0%178J/kg-0.6°C24135m1.6m/s
04:000%0%223J/kg-1.3°C24135m2m/s
05:000%0%211J/kg-0.4°C24135m2.1m/s
06:000%37%44J/kg0.6°C24135m1.4m/s
07:000%44%36J/kg1.3°C24135m2.9m/s
08:000%40%22J/kg2.3°C24134m2.9m/s
09:000%34%11J/kg2.3°C24134m3.1m/s
10:000%29%19J/kg2°C24135m3.1m/s
11:000%42%43J/kg1.8°C24134m3.3m/s
12:000%21%32J/kg1.6°C24134m4.3m/s
13:000%19%64J/kg1.4°C24135m5.5m/s
14:000%21%345J/kg-2.1°C24134m11m/s
15:000%37%516J/kg-3°C24134m12m/s
16:000%31%808J/kg-4.1°C24134m11m/s
17:000%22%923J/kg-4.4°C24135m7m/s
18:000%26%642J/kg-3.3°C24134m3.8m/s
19:000%26%451J/kg-2.5°C24135m0.71m/s
20:000%47%428J/kg-1.8°C24135m2.1m/s
21:000%13%425J/kg-2°C24135m2.7m/s
22:000%12%460J/kg-2.2°C24135m3.4m/s
23:000%15%342J/kg-1.7°C24135m4.1m/s
Tue, Feb 24
24:000%11%297J/kg-1.2°C24134m6.1m/s
01:000%15%292J/kg-1.2°C24135m5.9m/s
02:000%15%328J/kg-1.5°C24135m3.9m/s
03:000%13%368J/kg-1.8°C24135m2m/s
04:000%13%360J/kg-1.6°C24135m0.6m/s
05:000%13%361J/kg-1.8°C24134m0.41m/s
06:000%19%317J/kg-1.5°C24135m0.54m/s
07:000%17%312J/kg-1.2°C24134m2m/s
08:000%21%260J/kg-0.7°C24134m4m/s
09:000%37%169J/kg-0.2°C24135m4.2m/s
10:000%43%114J/kg0.3°C24135m4.7m/s
11:000%19%96J/kg0.5°C24134m5.5m/s
12:000%3.1%97J/kg0.4°C24135m6.4m/s
13:000%2.8%118J/kg0°C24134m7.5m/s
14:000%11%174J/kg-0.1°C24134m8.8m/s
15:000%18%145J/kg-0.1°C24135m9.8m/s
16:000%14%90J/kg0.1°C24135m11m/s
17:000%15%68J/kg0.2°C24135m12m/s
18:000%13%43J/kg0.2°C24135m13m/s
19:000%8.4%7J/kg0.8°C24135m13m/s
20:0015%7.7%2J/kg1.8°C24135m12m/s
21:000%1.8%8J/kg1.5°C24134m13m/s
22:000%1.9%28J/kg0.8°C24135m13m/s
23:0015%0.8%38J/kg0.9°C24135m12m/s
Wed, Feb 25
24:000%0.7%19J/kg1.7°C24135m10m/s
01:000%0.7%9J/kg1.8°C24135m9.5m/s
02:000%0.7%9J/kg2.4°C24134m8.8m/s
03:000%0.8%7J/kg2.6°C24134m8.3m/s
04:000%1.9%2J/kg2.6°C24134m8.4m/s
05:000%5.7%2J/kg2.6°C24134m7.8m/s
06:000%16%1J/kg2.5°C24135m6.7m/s
07:000%77%2J/kg2.9°C24135m4.3m/s
08:000%37%0J/kg3.8°C24134m4.1m/s
09:000%22%0J/kg3.7°C24134m4.1m/s
10:000%48%0J/kg2.7°C24135m3.7m/s
11:000%11%0J/kg2.3°C24134m2.7m/s
12:000%10%3J/kg0.8°C24135m2.9m/s
13:000%12%94J/kg-1.3°C24135m3.9m/s
14:000%12%179J/kg-2.2°C24134m5.7m/s
15:000%15%187J/kg-2.2°C24135m7.2m/s
16:000%29%206J/kg-2.7°C24134m8.2m/s
17:000%29%162J/kg-1.9°C24135m9.2m/s
18:000%43%113J/kg-1.1°C24135m7.2m/s
19:000%53%63J/kg-0.23°C24135m5.2m/s
20:000%47%14J/kg0.61°C24135m3.1m/s
21:000%0%15J/kg0.45°C24135m2.6m/s
22:000%0%15J/kg0.29°C24135m2.1m/s
23:000%0%16J/kg0.14°C24135m1.5m/s
Thu, Feb 26
24:000%0%26J/kg-0.07°C24135m1.8m/s
01:000%0%35J/kg-0.29°C24135m2m/s
02:000%0%45J/kg-0.5°C24135m2.2m/s
03:000%0%62J/kg-0.37°C24135m2.2m/s
04:000%0%80J/kg-0.25°C24135m2.1m/s
05:000%0%97J/kg-0.13°C24135m2m/s
06:000%17%65J/kg0.16°C24135m2.4m/s
07:000%20%33J/kg0.45°C24135m2.7m/s
08:000%35%1J/kg0.74°C24135m3.1m/s
09:000%67%0.67J/kg1°C24135m4.1m/s
10:000%49%0.33J/kg1.3°C24135m5.2m/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, Feb 23 Sunrise 06:37 Sunset 19:35
12:00
1009hPa 32J/kg 100% 1.6°C 24% 100% 4% 0mm 54% 0mm -19dBZ 62° 100% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
13:00
1009hPa 64J/kg 100% 1.4°C 98% 100% 9% 0mm 64% 0mm -18dBZ 67° 100% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
14:00
1010hPa 345J/kg 100% -2.1°C 93% 100% 13% 0mm 79% 0mm -17dBZ 64° 100% 0mm 11m/s 8.9m/s 5.9m/s
15:00
1010hPa 516J/kg 100% -3°C 36% 100% 15% 0mm 90% 0mm -16dBZ 55° 100% 0mm - - 8.6m/s
16:00
1010hPa 808J/kg 100% -4.1°C 5% 100% 17% 0mm 87% 0mm -15dBZ 44° 100% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
17:00
1011hPa 923J/kg 0% -4.4°C 4% 99% 18% 0mm 88% 0mm -14dBZ 32° 99% 0mm 15m/s 9.8m/s 4.3m/s
18:00
1011hPa 642J/kg 0% -3.3°C 0% 97% 25% 0mm 83% 0mm -2.9dBZ 19° 97% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
19:00
1012hPa 451J/kg 0% -2.5°C 0% 100% 31% 0mm 84% 0mm 8.1dBZ 6.7° 100% 0mm - - 0.64m/s
20:00
1013hPa 428J/kg 0% -1.8°C 0% 82% 38% 0mm 85% 0mm 19dBZ -5.7° 82% 0.06mm 16m/s 13m/s 2.1m/s
21:00
1014hPa 425J/kg 0% -2°C 0% 72% 37% 0mm 85% 0mm 8.8dBZ -18° 72% 0.13mm - - 2.6m/s
22:00
1015hPa 460J/kg 0% -2.2°C 0% 79% 37% 0mm 85% 0mm -1.4dBZ -28° 79% 0.13mm - - 2.9m/s
23:00
1015hPa 342J/kg 0% -1.7°C 0% 74% 37% 0mm 85% 0.12mm -12dBZ -38° 74% 0.13mm 15m/s 15m/s 3.5m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 06:37 Sunset 19:35
24:00
1015hPa 297J/kg 0% -1.2°C 0% 69% 25% 0mm 85% 0.27mm -14dBZ -45° 69% 0.13mm - - 4m/s
01:00
1014hPa 292J/kg 0% -1.2°C 0% 84% 12% 0mm 87% 0mm -17dBZ -47° 84% 0.25mm - - 3.7m/s
02:00
1014hPa 328J/kg 0% -1.5°C 0% 37% 0% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 37% 0.44mm 7.3m/s 11m/s 2.7m/s
03:00
1014hPa 368J/kg 0% -1.8°C 0% 5% 13% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -40° 5% 0.5mm - - 1.6m/s
04:00
1014hPa 360J/kg 0% -1.6°C 4% 5% 26% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 6% 0.5mm - - 0.2m/s
05:00
1014hPa 361J/kg 0% -1.8°C 6% 5% 39% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 7% 0.56mm 5m/s 7.5m/s 0.18m/s
06:00
1014hPa 317J/kg 0% -1.5°C 6% 4% 26% 0mm 91% 0.02mm -20dBZ -8.3° 7% 0.19mm - - 0.21m/s
07:00
1015hPa 312J/kg 0% -1.2°C 5% 5% 13% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ 4.1° 6% 0.19mm - - 0.96m/s
08:00
1016hPa 260J/kg 0% -0.7°C 5% 5% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ 17° 6% 0.19mm 7.8m/s 6.5m/s 1.9m/s
09:00
1016hPa 169J/kg 0% -0.2°C 17% 6% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 17% 0.19mm - - 2.2m/s
10:00
1016hPa 114J/kg 0% 0.3°C 44% 8% 0% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 41° 44% 0.19mm - - 2.9m/s
11:00
1016hPa 96J/kg 0% 0.5°C 12% 4% 0% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 12% 0.19mm 9.2m/s 5.3m/s 4.7m/s
12:00
1015hPa 97J/kg 0% 0.4°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 62° 4% 0mm - - 6.1m/s
13:00
1015hPa 118J/kg 0% 0°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 67° 0% 0mm - - 7m/s
14:00
1014hPa 174J/kg 0% -0.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ 63° 0% 0mm 9.6m/s 6.5m/s 7.5m/s
15:00
1013hPa 145J/kg 0% -0.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 55° 0% 0mm - - 8.4m/s
16:00
1013hPa 90J/kg 0% 0.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 0% 0mm - - 9m/s
17:00
1012hPa 68J/kg 0% 0.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 0% 0mm 10m/s 8m/s 9.3m/s
18:00
1012hPa 43J/kg 0% 0.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 0% 0mm - - 9.5m/s
19:00
1012hPa 7J/kg 0% 0.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ 6.5° 0% 0mm - - 9.5m/s
20:00
1013hPa 2J/kg 0% 1.8°C 0% 2% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -5.9° 2% 0mm 14m/s 13m/s 8.8m/s
21:00
1013hPa 8J/kg 0% 1.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 0% 0mm - - 8.7m/s
22:00
1013hPa 28J/kg 0% 0.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 0% 0mm - - 8m/s
23:00
1013hPa 38J/kg 0% 0.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -38° 0% 0mm 17m/s 14m/s 6.8m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 06:38 Sunset 19:34
24:00
1013hPa 19J/kg 0% 1.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -45° 0% 0mm - - 5.7m/s
01:00
1013hPa 9J/kg 0% 1.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 0% 0mm - - 5.4m/s
02:00
1013hPa 9J/kg 0% 2.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 0% 0mm 17m/s 14m/s 4.4m/s
03:00
1012hPa 7J/kg 0% 2.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -40° 0% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
04:00
1012hPa 2J/kg 0% 2.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 0% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
05:00
1012hPa 2J/kg 0% 2.6°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 1% 0mm 18m/s 12m/s 3.8m/s
06:00
1012hPa 1J/kg 0% 2.5°C 4% 0% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -8.5° 4% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
07:00
1013hPa 2J/kg 40% 2.9°C 7% 0% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ 3.9° 40% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
08:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 84% 3.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 84% 0mm 18m/s 9.8m/s 2.8m/s
09:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.7°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 100% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
10:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 26% 2.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ 41° 26% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
11:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 52° 0% 0mm 14m/s 8.8m/s 2.5m/s
12:00
1013hPa 3J/kg 0% 0.8°C 0% 0% 17% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ 62° 0% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
13:00
1012hPa 94J/kg 0% -1.3°C 0% 0% 33% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 66° 0% 0mm - - 6.3m/s
14:00
1012hPa 179J/kg 0% -2.2°C 0% 0% 50% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ 63° 0% 0mm 8.7m/s 5.5m/s 7.5m/s
15:00
1011hPa 187J/kg 0% -2.2°C 0% 0% 40% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 55° 0% 0mm - - 8.4m/s
16:00
1011hPa 206J/kg 5% -2.7°C 0% 2% 31% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 5% 0mm - - 8.9m/s
17:00
1011hPa 162J/kg 94% -1.9°C 0% 4% 21% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ 31° 94% 0mm 8.2m/s 5.9m/s 9m/s
18:00
1012hPa 113J/kg 96% -1.1°C 10% 35% 30% 0mm 80% 0.01mm -14dBZ 19° 96% 0.02mm - - 7m/s
19:00
1014hPa 63J/kg 98% -0.23°C 20% 65% 39% 0mm 79% 0.03mm -8.2dBZ 6.3° 98% 0.04mm - - 4.9m/s
20:00
1015hPa 14J/kg 100% 0.61°C 29% 96% 49% 0mm 77% 0.04mm -2.2dBZ -6.2° 100% 0.06mm 4.8m/s 9.7m/s 2.9m/s
21:00
1015hPa 15J/kg 70% 0.45°C 53% 97% 52% 0mm 76% 0.03mm -8.2dBZ -18° 100% 0.08mm - - 2.4m/s
22:00
1015hPa 15J/kg 41% 0.29°C 76% 98% 54% 0mm 75% 0.01mm -14dBZ -29° 100% 0.1mm - - 1.9m/s
23:00
1015hPa 16J/kg 11% 0.14°C 99% 99% 57% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -38° 100% 0.13mm 4.8m/s 6m/s 1.4m/s
Thu, Feb 26 Sunrise 06:38 Sunset 19:33
24:00
1015hPa 26J/kg 9% -0.07°C 100% 67% 54% 0.003mm 77% 0mm -19dBZ -45° 100% 0.1mm - - 1.8m/s
01:00
1016hPa 35J/kg 6% -0.29°C 100% 35% 51% 0.007mm 80% 0mm -17dBZ -48° 100% 0.08mm - - 2.3m/s
02:00
1016hPa 45J/kg 4% -0.5°C 100% 3% 47% 0.01mm 84% 0mm -16dBZ -46° 100% 0.06mm 6m/s 14m/s 2.7m/s
03:00
1017hPa 62J/kg 3% -0.37°C 100% 2% 53% 0.007mm 83% 0mm -10dBZ -40° 100% 0.1mm - - 2.4m/s
04:00
1017hPa 80J/kg 1% -0.25°C 100% 1% 60% 0.003mm 82% 0mm -4.8dBZ -31° 100% 0.15mm - - 2.1m/s
05:00
1017hPa 97J/kg 0% -0.13°C 100% 0% 66% 0mm 81% 0mm 0.75dBZ -20° 100% 0.19mm 2.7m/s 7.6m/s 1.8m/s
06:00
1016hPa 65J/kg 0% 0.16°C 93% 0% 58% 0mm 79% 0mm 3.8dBZ -8.7° 93% 0.15mm - - 2.2m/s
07:00
1016hPa 33J/kg 0% 0.45°C 86% 0% 51% 0mm 77% 0mm 6.8dBZ 3.8° 86% 0.1mm - - 2.6m/s
08:00
1016hPa 1J/kg 0% 0.74°C 79% 0% 43% 0mm 75% 0mm 9.8dBZ 16° 79% 0.06mm 4.1m/s 4.5m/s 2.9m/s
09:00
1015hPa 0.67J/kg 26% 1°C 52% 0% 48% 0mm 74% 0mm 5.9dBZ 29° 78% 0.06mm - - 3.8m/s
10:00
1015hPa 0.33J/kg 51% 1.3°C 26% 0% 53% 0mm 72% 0mm 2.1dBZ 41° 78% 0.06mm - - 4.7m/s
11:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 77% 1.6°C 0% 0% 58% 0mm 71% 0mm -1.8dBZ 52° 77% 0.06mm 5.6m/s 4m/s 5.6m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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