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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
CAPE 100% failing
Cloud Drama Score 88% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover96%
Wind Gusts3.6m/s
Precipitation Chance90%
Air Pressure1017.9hPa
CAPE103
Lifted Index1.1°C
Wind Gusts3.6m/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 16
23:000%11%142J/kg-0.6°C24134m8.2m/s
Sun, May 17
24:000%15%162J/kg-0.7°C24134m7.9m/s
01:000%14%87J/kg-0.1°C24134m8.3m/s
02:000%12%66J/kg0.4°C24135m8.1m/s
03:000%14%41J/kg0.8°C24134m7.2m/s
04:000%15%14J/kg1.4°C24134m6.9m/s
05:000%13%8J/kg1°C24135m8.9m/s
06:000%53%23J/kg0.5°C24134m5.8m/s
07:000%19%1J/kg0.5°C24135m4.7m/s
08:000%14%2J/kg0.3°C24135m4.1m/s
09:000%13%0J/kg1°C24134m4.7m/s
10:000%40%4J/kg0.6°C24134m5.2m/s
11:000%40%24J/kg-0.2°C24134m4.5m/s
12:000%40%26J/kg-0.3°C24134m5.8m/s
13:000%37%118J/kg-0.6°C24134m4.1m/s
14:000%37%195J/kg-1.6°C24135m3.1m/s
15:000%44%275J/kg-2.6°C24134m3.7m/s
16:000%44%364J/kg-3.1°C24135m5.9m/s
17:000%51%343J/kg-1.7°C24134m7.2m/s
18:000%5.7%285J/kg-0.8°C24135m6.4m/s
19:000%0.1%203J/kg-0.4°C23862m5.3m/s
20:000%2.4%173J/kg0.2°C24135m5.5m/s
21:000%0.4%151J/kg0.4°C24135m5.6m/s
22:000%3.1%108J/kg0.8°C24135m4.1m/s
23:000%3.9%103J/kg1.1°C24135m3.6m/s
Mon, May 18
24:000%1.3%77J/kg1.4°C24135m2.5m/s
01:000%2.6%70J/kg1.4°C24134m3.4m/s
02:000%2.2%80J/kg1.6°C24134m2.9m/s
03:000%2.2%70J/kg1.6°C24134m2.1m/s
04:000%4.1%63J/kg1.5°C24135m1.7m/s
05:000%0%83J/kg1.6°C23871m2.4m/s
06:000%41%72J/kg1.7°C7803m2.3m/s
07:000%45%55J/kg2.2°C24135m2.5m/s
08:000%44%49J/kg2.8°C21683m1.9m/s
09:000%53%67J/kg3.3°C24134m1.5m/s
10:000%37%44J/kg3.2°C24135m2.5m/s
11:000%45%77J/kg3.3°C24134m1.8m/s
12:000%38%48J/kg3.1°C24135m2m/s
13:000%45%88J/kg2.8°C24135m1m/s
14:000%45%83J/kg2.6°C8549m1.2m/s
15:000%53%79J/kg2.2°C24134m0.6m/s
16:000%53%80J/kg2.2°C24135m1.5m/s
17:0011%57%63J/kg1.9°C9873m1m/s
18:0012%0%57J/kg1.9°C12864m2.7m/s
19:0025%0%56J/kg1.7°C9950m4.7m/s
20:0011%0%43J/kg1.6°C24134m5.8m/s
21:0013%0%65J/kg2°C9802m6.2m/s
22:0028%0%64J/kg2.1°C8798m4m/s
23:000%0%36J/kg2.2°C14631m1.4m/s
Tue, May 19
24:0013%0%29J/kg2.8°C7407m1.7m/s
01:0015%0%32J/kg3°C20123m1.6m/s
02:0014%0%14J/kg3.1°C14278m1.4m/s
03:0013%0%14J/kg3.2°C21114m1.2m/s
04:0022%0%25J/kg3.1°C16384m1m/s
05:000%0%23J/kg3°C12572m1m/s
06:000%51%0J/kg3.1°C22728m3m/s
07:0011%80%12J/kg3.3°C23687m2.3m/s
08:000%74%22J/kg3.9°C23221m3.3m/s
09:000%55%19J/kg2.5°C24135m3.5m/s
10:0015%47%6J/kg2.2°C24134m3.3m/s
11:000%42%4J/kg3°C24135m3.9m/s
12:000%48%0J/kg1.7°C24135m3.5m/s
13:000%77%1J/kg1.4°C24135m4.4m/s
14:000%50%36J/kg-0.2°C24134m6.5m/s
15:000%59%28J/kg-0.2°C24111m7m/s
16:000%69%48J/kg0.1°C14716m7.2m/s
17:000%69%19J/kg1.1°C24134m8.4m/s
18:000%11%20J/kg2°C24134m9.6m/s
19:000%6.9%31J/kg2.1°C24014m10m/s
20:000%11%18J/kg2.5°C15566m12m/s
21:000%11%0J/kg2.8°C11191m12m/s
22:0029%11%2J/kg2.6°C24134m12m/s
23:000%6%4J/kg2.2°C24134m11m/s
Wed, May 20
24:000%3.7%3J/kg2.4°C24134m14m/s
01:0016%0.8%8J/kg2.2°C24135m11m/s
02:000%0%25J/kg1.7°C24135m13m/s
03:0021%2.8%41J/kg1.1°C10457m12m/s
04:0025%0.9%40J/kg1.2°C13467m12m/s
05:0013%0%41J/kg0.74°C17023m12m/s
06:0012%68%43J/kg0.28°C20579m11m/s
07:0020%59%44J/kg-0.18°C24135m11m/s
08:0013%51%32J/kg0.03°C24135m11m/s
09:0013%25%21J/kg0.25°C24135m11m/s
10:0014%19%9J/kg0.46°C24135m11m/s
11:0013%43%7.7J/kg0.55°C24135m11m/s
12:000%46%6.3J/kg0.65°C24135m11m/s
13:000%24%5J/kg0.74°C24135m11m/s
14:000%13%20J/kg0.67°C24135m11m/s
15:000%16%35J/kg0.6°C24135m11m/s
16:000%12%50J/kg0.53°C24135m11m/s
17:000%17%58J/kg0.43°C23165m11m/s
18:000%0%66J/kg0.34°C22196m12m/s
19:000%0%74J/kg0.24°C21226m12m/s
20:0014%0%74J/kg0.42°C16629m12m/s
21:0018%0%73J/kg0.6°C12031m12m/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 17 Sunrise 06:37 Sunset 17:00
23:00
1018hPa 103J/kg 92% 1.1°C 5% 93% 90% 0mm 90% 0mm 12dBZ -73° 96% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
Mon, May 18 Sunrise 06:37 Sunset 17:00
24:00
1017hPa 77J/kg 100% 1.4°C 5% 59% 81% 0mm 90% 0mm -4.1dBZ -76° 100% 0mm - - 2m/s
01:00
1017hPa 70J/kg 99% 1.4°C 26% 98% 72% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -69° 99% 0mm 6.4m/s 7.7m/s 2.8m/s
02:00
1017hPa 80J/kg 100% 1.6°C 16% 79% 76% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -58° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.7m/s
03:00
1017hPa 70J/kg 94% 1.6°C 8% 65% 80% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 94% 0.44mm - - 2m/s
04:00
1017hPa 63J/kg 25% 1.5°C 8% 100% 85% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 100% 0.69mm 5.9m/s 8.5m/s 1.7m/s
05:00
1017hPa 83J/kg 100% 1.6°C 5% 100% 78% 0mm 92% 0.4mm -20dBZ -20° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.3m/s
06:00
1018hPa 72J/kg 100% 1.7°C 4% 100% 71% 0mm 91% 1.9mm -20dBZ -8.3° 100% 0.25mm - - 2.1m/s
07:00
1018hPa 55J/kg 100% 2.2°C 2% 100% 64% 0mm 91% 0.1mm -20dBZ 3.6° 100% 0.69mm 6.5m/s 6.2m/s 2.3m/s
08:00
1019hPa 49J/kg 100% 2.8°C 0% 100% 75% 0mm 89% 0.17mm -20dBZ 14° 100% 1.1mm - - 1.8m/s
09:00
1018hPa 67J/kg 100% 3.3°C 14% 100% 86% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 100% 1.5mm - - 1.3m/s
10:00
1018hPa 44J/kg 78% 3.2°C 5% 100% 96% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ 31° 100% 1.5mm 6.7m/s 8.1m/s 2.1m/s
11:00
1018hPa 77J/kg 100% 3.3°C 92% 100% 97% 0mm 80% 0.01mm -10dBZ 36° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.4m/s
12:00
1017hPa 48J/kg 100% 3.1°C 5% 100% 98% 0mm 77% 0mm -0.13dBZ 38° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.7m/s
13:00
1016hPa 88J/kg 100% 2.8°C 83% 100% 99% 0mm 75% 0mm 9.8dBZ 35° 100% 0.13mm 7.3m/s 8.9m/s 0.77m/s
14:00
1015hPa 83J/kg 100% 2.6°C 100% 100% 99% 0mm 76% 1.4mm 18dBZ 29° 100% 0.19mm - - 1.3m/s
15:00
1015hPa 79J/kg 100% 2.2°C 100% 100% 99% 0.03mm 78% 0mm 26dBZ 21° 100% 0.44mm - - 0.81m/s
16:00
1015hPa 80J/kg 100% 2.2°C 100% 100% 98% 0.02mm 79% 0mm 34dBZ 11° 100% 0.5mm 0.92m/s 4.5m/s 1.5m/s
17:00
1015hPa 63J/kg 100% 1.9°C 100% 100% 98% 0mm 80% 0.72mm 33dBZ -0.32° 100% 0.31mm - - 1m/s
18:00
1016hPa 57J/kg 100% 1.9°C 100% 100% 98% 0.02mm 81% 0.72mm 32dBZ -13° 100% 0.94mm - - 1.7m/s
19:00
1017hPa 56J/kg 100% 1.7°C 100% 100% 97% 0.18mm 87% 0.61mm 31dBZ -25° 100% 1.6mm 6m/s 11m/s 3.4m/s
20:00
1017hPa 43J/kg 100% 1.6°C 100% 100% 98% 0.1mm 90% 0.13mm 31dBZ -38° 100% 2mm - - 3.6m/s
21:00
1017hPa 65J/kg 100% 2°C 100% 100% 99% 0.53mm 93% 0.42mm 31dBZ -50° 100% 2.3mm - - 3.7m/s
22:00
1016hPa 64J/kg 100% 2.1°C 100% 100% 100% 0.44mm 94% 0.62mm 31dBZ -62° 100% 3.4mm 3.6m/s 13m/s 2.6m/s
23:00
1015hPa 36J/kg 100% 2.2°C 100% 100% 99% 0.66mm 93% 0.14mm 32dBZ -73° 100% 0.88mm - - 1.2m/s
Tue, May 19 Sunrise 06:38 Sunset 17:00
24:00
1014hPa 29J/kg 100% 2.8°C 100% 100% 99% 2.1mm 95% 0.02mm 34dBZ -76° 100% 2.3mm - - 1.7m/s
01:00
1013hPa 32J/kg 100% 3°C 100% 100% 98% 0.5mm 93% 0mm 35dBZ -69° 100% 3.1mm 7.4m/s 8m/s 1.6m/s
02:00
1013hPa 14J/kg 100% 3.1°C 100% 100% 99% 0.64mm 93% 0.01mm 34dBZ -58° 100% 3.6mm - - 1.3m/s
03:00
1012hPa 14J/kg 100% 3.2°C 100% 100% 99% 0.45mm 94% 0mm 34dBZ -46° 100% 4.3mm - - 1.3m/s
04:00
1012hPa 25J/kg 97% 3.1°C 100% 100% 100% 0.61mm 93% 0mm 33dBZ -33° 100% 4.6mm 5.2m/s 12m/s 1.1m/s
05:00
1012hPa 23J/kg 100% 3°C 100% 100% 94% 0.75mm 94% 0mm 26dBZ -21° 100% 0.94mm - - 1.2m/s
06:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.1°C 100% 100% 88% 0.24mm 95% 0mm 20dBZ -8.4° 100% 1.9mm - - 3m/s
07:00
1011hPa 12J/kg 35% 3.3°C 100% 74% 82% 0.22mm 93% 0mm 13dBZ 3.5° 100% 1.9mm 5.6m/s 14m/s 2.2m/s
08:00
1011hPa 22J/kg 30% 3.9°C 100% 88% 86% 0.34mm 92% 0.01mm 8.7dBZ 14° 100% 2.3mm - - 3m/s
09:00
1011hPa 19J/kg 99% 2.5°C 100% 100% 91% 0.02mm 92% 0.04mm 4.7dBZ 24° 100% 2.4mm - - 3.3m/s
10:00
1011hPa 6J/kg 78% 2.2°C 100% 83% 95% 0.01mm 91% 0.02mm 0.55dBZ 31° 100% 2.5mm 5.2m/s 18m/s 3.2m/s
11:00
1010hPa 4J/kg 0% 3°C 100% 44% 91% 0.08mm 91% 0mm -5.1dBZ 36° 100% 0.06mm - - 3.1m/s
12:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.7°C 98% 95% 86% 0mm 90% 0mm -11dBZ 37° 99% 0.06mm - - 2.6m/s
13:00
1008hPa 1J/kg 0% 1.4°C 45% 54% 82% 0mm 89% 0mm -16dBZ 35° 57% 0.06mm 11m/s 12m/s 2.6m/s
14:00
1008hPa 36J/kg 0% -0.2°C 100% 19% 84% 0mm 87% 0.01mm -3.7dBZ 29° 100% 0.06mm - - 3.2m/s
15:00
1008hPa 28J/kg 0% -0.2°C 95% 67% 86% 0.04mm 85% 0mm 9.1dBZ 20° 95% 0.13mm - - 3.8m/s
16:00
1008hPa 48J/kg 0% 0.1°C 80% 11% 88% 0.12mm 87% 0.38mm 22dBZ 10° 80% 0.31mm 10m/s 16m/s 4.5m/s
17:00
1009hPa 19J/kg 0% 1.1°C 88% 21% 84% 0mm 84% 0.05mm 20dBZ -0.49° 88% 0.25mm - - 6m/s
18:00
1010hPa 20J/kg 0% 2°C 100% 85% 81% 0.17mm 84% 0.04mm 19dBZ -13° 100% 0.31mm - - 6.4m/s
19:00
1010hPa 31J/kg 0% 2.1°C 96% 5% 77% 0.01mm 83% 0.07mm 17dBZ -25° 96% 0.56mm 16m/s 23m/s 7.1m/s
20:00
1011hPa 18J/kg 0% 2.5°C 100% 0% 78% 0.53mm 87% 0.04mm 20dBZ -38° 100% 0.94mm - - 8.3m/s
21:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.8°C 100% 39% 80% 1.1mm 87% 0.07mm 23dBZ -50° 100% 2mm - - 7.9m/s
22:00
1012hPa 2J/kg 0% 2.6°C 99% 16% 82% 0.14mm 82% 0.01mm 26dBZ -62° 99% 2.4mm 8.5m/s 17m/s 8.6m/s
23:00
1012hPa 4J/kg 0% 2.2°C 100% 60% 74% 0.09mm 82% 0.13mm 26dBZ -73° 100% 0.13mm - - 9.1m/s
Wed, May 20 Sunrise 06:38 Sunset 16:59
24:00
1011hPa 3J/kg 0% 2.4°C 89% 79% 67% 0.08mm 84% 0.17mm 25dBZ -77° 90% 0.31mm - - 9.6m/s
01:00
1012hPa 8J/kg 0% 2.2°C 98% 75% 59% 0.01mm 85% 0.34mm 25dBZ -70° 98% 0.56mm 4.4m/s 12m/s 8.1m/s
02:00
1012hPa 25J/kg 0% 1.7°C 100% 77% 63% 0.02mm 84% 0.2mm 19dBZ -58° 100% 0.75mm - - 8.8m/s
03:00
1012hPa 41J/kg 0% 1.1°C 100% 78% 68% 0.27mm 84% 0.6mm 14dBZ -46° 100% 1.3mm - - 8.8m/s
04:00
1012hPa 40J/kg 0% 1.2°C 100% 78% 72% 0.26mm 82% 0.27mm 7.9dBZ -33° 100% 2mm 5.4m/s 12m/s 8.3m/s
05:00
1014hPa 41J/kg 0% 0.74°C 89% 55% 64% 0.23mm 76% 0.21mm 7dBZ -21° 89% 2mm - - 9m/s
06:00
1015hPa 43J/kg 0% 0.28°C 79% 31% 57% 0.19mm 70% 0.16mm 6.2dBZ -8.5° 79% 2mm - - 9.7m/s
07:00
1017hPa 44J/kg 0% -0.18°C 68% 8% 50% 0.16mm 64% 0.1mm 5.4dBZ 3.3° 68% 1.9mm 2.3m/s 11m/s 10m/s
08:00
1017hPa 32J/kg 0% 0.03°C 79% 7% 50% 0.11mm 63% 0.07mm 13dBZ 14° 79% 2mm - - 11m/s
09:00
1017hPa 21J/kg 0% 0.25°C 89% 6% 51% 0.06mm 62% 0.03mm 21dBZ 23° 89% 2mm - - 11m/s
10:00
1018hPa 9J/kg 0% 0.46°C 100% 5% 51% 0.01mm 61% 0mm 29dBZ 31° 100% 2.1mm 4.4m/s 8.2m/s 11m/s
11:00
1018hPa 7.7J/kg 0% 0.55°C 68% 7% 46% 0.007mm 61% 0mm 23dBZ 36° 70% 1.4mm - - 11m/s
12:00
1019hPa 6.3J/kg 0% 0.65°C 37% 9% 42% 0.003mm 60% 0mm 17dBZ 37° 41% 0.69mm - - 11m/s
13:00
1020hPa 5J/kg 0% 0.74°C 5% 11% 37% 0mm 60% 0mm 11dBZ 35° 11% 0mm 11m/s 9.2m/s 11m/s
14:00
1020hPa 20J/kg 0% 0.67°C 5% 7% 45% 0mm 60% 0.02mm 13dBZ 29° 9% 0.02mm - - 11m/s
15:00
1020hPa 35J/kg 0% 0.6°C 4% 4% 54% 0mm 60% 0.04mm 15dBZ 20° 7% 0.04mm - - 11m/s
16:00
1021hPa 50J/kg 0% 0.53°C 4% 0% 62% 0mm 61% 0.06mm 17dBZ 10° 4% 0.06mm 9.3m/s 7.3m/s 11m/s
17:00
1021hPa 58J/kg 0% 0.43°C 8% 0% 62% 0mm 64% 0.16mm 4.9dBZ -0.65° 8% 0.17mm - - 11m/s
18:00
1021hPa 66J/kg 0% 0.34°C 12% 0% 62% 0mm 67% 0.25mm -7.5dBZ -13° 12% 0.27mm - - 11m/s
19:00
1021hPa 74J/kg 0% 0.24°C 16% 0% 62% 0mm 70% 0.35mm -20dBZ -25° 16% 0.38mm 6.7m/s 8.1m/s 12m/s
20:00
1021hPa 74J/kg 1% 0.42°C 36% 1% 61% 0mm 71% 0.63mm -20dBZ -38° 36% 1.3mm - - 12m/s
21:00
1021hPa 73J/kg 2% 0.6°C 57% 2% 60% 0mm 71% 0.92mm -20dBZ -50° 57% 2.3mm - - 11m/s
22:00
1021hPa 73J/kg 3% 0.78°C 77% 3% 59% 0mm 72% 1.2mm -20dBZ -62° 77% 3.2mm 7.1m/s 8.8m/s 11m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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