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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 88% failing
Cloud Drama Score 78% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts4.8m/s
Precipitation Chance97%
Air Pressure1020.9hPa
CAPE61
Lifted Index4.3°C
Wind Gusts4.8m/s
Precipitation1.0mm

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 23
23:000%2.1%7J/kg9.6°C24134m7m/s
Sun, May 24
24:000%2.1%9J/kg9.7°C24135m6.8m/s
01:000%3.9%10J/kg9.8°C24134m6.5m/s
02:000%8.5%24J/kg9.3°C24135m6.2m/s
03:000%8.7%28J/kg9.1°C24135m5.9m/s
04:000%6.2%37J/kg9°C24134m5.7m/s
05:000%4%40J/kg9°C24135m5.2m/s
06:000%30%35J/kg9.2°C24134m5.4m/s
07:000%37%34J/kg8.9°C24135m5.4m/s
08:000%34%34J/kg8.9°C24135m6m/s
09:000%35%20J/kg8.5°C24135m5.2m/s
10:000%32%22J/kg7.5°C24135m5.2m/s
11:000%30%40J/kg6.1°C11748m4.8m/s
12:000%30%42J/kg5.7°C10908m5m/s
13:000%32%49J/kg5.7°C11872m4.7m/s
14:000%27%45J/kg6°C17916m4.7m/s
15:000%34%44J/kg6.1°C22679m4.6m/s
16:0011%45%32J/kg6.2°C24134m4.9m/s
17:000%48%15J/kg6.4°C24134m6m/s
18:000%0%34J/kg6.1°C22472m5.9m/s
19:000%0%45J/kg5.4°C15542m6m/s
20:000%0%56J/kg5°C10833m5.7m/s
21:000%0%57J/kg3.6°C9284m5.8m/s
22:0020%1.5%65J/kg3.9°C7054m5.4m/s
23:000%6.2%61J/kg4.3°C8992m4.8m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%11%50J/kg3.5°C9567m5.1m/s
01:0011%8.9%35J/kg3.5°C18282m6.1m/s
02:000%7.4%44J/kg3°C14123m6.5m/s
03:000%8.9%47J/kg2.7°C12102m6.4m/s
04:0017%8.2%54J/kg3.1°C11611m4.6m/s
05:000%6%52J/kg3.1°C21595m3.3m/s
06:000%58%48J/kg3°C21423m2.6m/s
07:000%42%46J/kg3°C21659m3.6m/s
08:000%66%45J/kg3°C20678m2.5m/s
09:000%46%36J/kg3.4°C14736m2m/s
10:009.1%43%44J/kg2.9°C24135m1.4m/s
11:000%56%65J/kg2.4°C24135m2.5m/s
12:000%62%64J/kg3°C24135m3.7m/s
13:000%37%56J/kg3.4°C24135m3.6m/s
14:000%78%55J/kg3.2°C24134m3m/s
15:000%51%51J/kg3.1°C24134m3.3m/s
16:000%28%46J/kg2.8°C24134m3.6m/s
17:000%29%42J/kg2.5°C24135m4.4m/s
18:000%14%60J/kg2°C24134m4.1m/s
19:000%9.5%64J/kg2.1°C24135m5m/s
20:000%4%66J/kg2.1°C24135m4.9m/s
21:000%3.2%83J/kg1.7°C24134m4.4m/s
22:000%0%78J/kg1°C24135m4.9m/s
23:000%1.3%106J/kg-0.1°C24134m4.8m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%0.1%83J/kg-0.8°C24134m5.3m/s
01:000%0%128J/kg1.3°C11933m3.9m/s
02:000%0%123J/kg0.5°C24134m4.7m/s
03:000%1.6%115J/kg1°C21629m4.1m/s
04:000%8.2%149J/kg0.9°C21037m4.4m/s
05:000%15%109J/kg1.1°C8653m4.1m/s
06:000%55%52J/kg0.5°C21921m2.4m/s
07:0011%91%30J/kg0.9°C23352m1.5m/s
08:000%50%38J/kg0.4°C24134m1.3m/s
09:000%51%58J/kg0.3°C15735m0.62m/s
10:0014%56%29J/kg0.2°C24135m3.3m/s
11:000%76%92J/kg-1°C24099m5.8m/s
12:000%79%194J/kg-1°C15319m7.9m/s
13:000%26%221J/kg-0.8°C20976m8.4m/s
14:000%51%231J/kg-0.9°C8779m8.3m/s
15:000%76%264J/kg-1.3°C24134m9.2m/s
16:0021%33%352J/kg-2.2°C23906m10m/s
17:000%100%364J/kg-2.5°C11392m10m/s
18:000%6%305J/kg-2.6°C7227m11m/s
19:0038%7.6%266J/kg-1.3°C6411m10m/s
20:000%5.5%187J/kg-1.1°C7458m9.6m/s
21:000%12%150J/kg-0.8°C9224m8.3m/s
22:000%15%113J/kg-0.1°C24134m7.8m/s
23:000%11%112J/kg0.1°C24134m7.4m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%11%118J/kg0.3°C24135m8.6m/s
01:000%10%141J/kg-0.1°C24135m9.3m/s
02:000%8.6%135J/kg0.5°C24134m8.4m/s
03:000%12%128J/kg1.1°C24135m6.4m/s
04:000%12%113J/kg1.5°C24134m4.8m/s
05:000%0%172J/kg0.68°C24134m3.4m/s
06:000%59%230J/kg-0.15°C24135m2.1m/s
07:000%34%289J/kg-0.97°C24135m0.7m/s
08:000%51%288J/kg-0.72°C24135m2.6m/s
09:000%53%286J/kg-0.47°C24135m4.5m/s
10:000%45%285J/kg-0.22°C24135m6.4m/s
11:000%45%374J/kg-0.66°C18694m6.9m/s
12:000%45%464J/kg-1.1°C13253m7.4m/s
13:000%45%553J/kg-1.5°C7812m7.8m/s
14:000%73%549J/kg-1.8°C13253m7.9m/s
15:000%100%544J/kg-2°C18694m7.9m/s
16:0030%22%540J/kg-2.3°C24135m7.9m/s
17:000%70%525J/kg-2.5°C24135m7.7m/s
18:000%0%511J/kg-2.6°C24135m7.5m/s
19:000%0%496J/kg-2.8°C24135m7.2m/s
20:000%0%473J/kg-2.3°C18619m7.3m/s
21:000%0%449J/kg-1.7°C13103m7.5m/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 24 Sunrise 06:42 Sunset 16:56
23:00
1021hPa 61J/kg 100% 4.3°C 98% 100% 97% 0.01mm 86% 0.82mm 18dBZ -74° 100% 1mm - - 3.6m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 06:42 Sunset 16:56
24:00
1021hPa 50J/kg 70% 3.5°C 9% 99% 97% 0mm 87% 0.71mm 16dBZ -78° 99% 1.6mm - - 3.6m/s
01:00
1020hPa 35J/kg 0% 3.5°C 8% 83% 96% 0mm 86% 0.41mm 14dBZ -70° 83% 2mm 3.6m/s 14m/s 3.8m/s
02:00
1020hPa 44J/kg 0% 3°C 34% 81% 96% 0mm 87% 0.4mm 17dBZ -59° 81% 2.3mm - - 4m/s
03:00
1019hPa 47J/kg 5% 2.7°C 30% 95% 96% 0mm 87% 0.61mm 20dBZ -46° 95% 2.8mm - - 3.7m/s
04:00
1019hPa 54J/kg 42% 3.1°C 93% 87% 96% 0mm 88% 0.62mm 24dBZ -34° 95% 3.7mm 6.2m/s 14m/s 2.6m/s
05:00
1020hPa 52J/kg 9% 3.1°C 79% 14% 87% 0mm 88% 0.34mm 23dBZ -21° 79% 0.31mm - - 1.8m/s
06:00
1020hPa 48J/kg 14% 3°C 87% 4% 77% 0.01mm 88% 0.32mm 21dBZ -9.1° 87% 0.69mm - - 1.3m/s
07:00
1020hPa 46J/kg 5% 3°C 100% 5% 68% 0mm 87% 0.27mm 20dBZ 2.7° 100% 0.94mm 5.2m/s 16m/s 1.9m/s
08:00
1021hPa 45J/kg 31% 3°C 99% 1% 69% 0mm 87% 0.28mm 17dBZ 13° 99% 1.3mm - - 1.8m/s
09:00
1021hPa 36J/kg 7% 3.4°C 86% 5% 70% 0mm 87% 0.24mm 14dBZ 23° 86% 1.5mm - - 1.6m/s
10:00
1021hPa 44J/kg 5% 2.9°C 13% 3% 71% 0mm 85% 0mm 10dBZ 30° 13% 1.6mm 4m/s 17m/s 1.2m/s
11:00
1020hPa 65J/kg 56% 2.4°C 5% 4% 52% 0mm 81% 0.1mm 9.5dBZ 35° 56% 0.13mm - - 0.84m/s
12:00
1019hPa 64J/kg 7% 3°C 40% 0% 34% 0mm 76% 0.03mm 8.6dBZ 36° 42% 0.19mm - - 1.9m/s
13:00
1018hPa 56J/kg 96% 3.4°C 39% 0% 15% 0mm 72% 0mm 7.6dBZ 34° 96% 0.25mm 5.1m/s 15m/s 2.1m/s
14:00
1018hPa 55J/kg 14% 3.2°C 54% 0% 17% 0mm 70% 0mm -1.6dBZ 28° 54% 0.25mm - - 2.4m/s
15:00
1018hPa 51J/kg 77% 3.1°C 7% 0% 19% 0mm 71% 0mm -11dBZ 20° 77% 0.25mm - - 3.3m/s
16:00
1018hPa 46J/kg 5% 2.8°C 5% 0% 21% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ 9.7° 5% 0.25mm 6m/s 20m/s 3.3m/s
17:00
1018hPa 42J/kg 93% 2.5°C 2% 0% 29% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ -1.2° 93% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
18:00
1019hPa 60J/kg 100% 2°C 0% 3% 38% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 100% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
19:00
1019hPa 64J/kg 100% 2.1°C 0% 80% 46% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -26° 100% 0mm 6m/s 17m/s 3.7m/s
20:00
1019hPa 66J/kg 100% 2.1°C 0% 91% 56% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -38° 100% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
21:00
1020hPa 83J/kg 100% 1.7°C 0% 96% 67% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -51° 100% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
22:00
1019hPa 78J/kg 100% 1°C 1% 100% 77% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 100% 0mm 4.1m/s 12m/s 3.3m/s
23:00
1019hPa 106J/kg 100% -0.1°C 0% 97% 83% 0mm 81% 0mm -15dBZ -74° 100% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 06:42 Sunset 16:56
24:00
1018hPa 83J/kg 100% -0.8°C 5% 100% 90% 0mm 81% 0mm -11dBZ -78° 100% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
01:00
1018hPa 128J/kg 82% 1.3°C 40% 100% 96% 0mm 82% 0.32mm -6.3dBZ -70° 100% 0.13mm 2.8m/s 11m/s 2.5m/s
02:00
1018hPa 123J/kg 100% 0.5°C 5% 100% 97% 0.01mm 82% 0mm -6.3dBZ -59° 100% 0.31mm - - 3.1m/s
03:00
1017hPa 115J/kg 100% 1°C 5% 100% 98% 0mm 84% 0.2mm -6.2dBZ -46° 100% 0.5mm - - 2.7m/s
04:00
1017hPa 149J/kg 28% 0.9°C 49% 88% 100% 0mm 85% 0.38mm -6.2dBZ -34° 88% 0.81mm 5.4m/s 23m/s 2.9m/s
05:00
1018hPa 109J/kg 0% 1.1°C 16% 92% 99% 0mm 90% 1.2mm 4.6dBZ -21° 92% 1.1mm - - 3.2m/s
06:00
1018hPa 52J/kg 0% 0.5°C 37% 86% 98% 0mm 92% 0.39mm 15dBZ -9.2° 86% 1.9mm - - 2.2m/s
07:00
1019hPa 30J/kg 0% 0.9°C 49% 56% 97% 0mm 90% 0.22mm 26dBZ 2.6° 60% 2.3mm 1m/s 17m/s 1.4m/s
08:00
1019hPa 38J/kg 0% 0.4°C 100% 99% 98% 0.01mm 88% 0.11mm 25dBZ 13° 100% 2.4mm - - 1.1m/s
09:00
1019hPa 58J/kg 0% 0.3°C 100% 62% 99% 0.06mm 89% 0.29mm 25dBZ 23° 100% 2.8mm - - 0.43m/s
10:00
1019hPa 29J/kg 0% 0.2°C 57% 80% 99% 0.01mm 88% 0.15mm 24dBZ 30° 82% 2.9mm 2.2m/s 16m/s 1.9m/s
11:00
1018hPa 92J/kg 0% -1°C 57% 72% 98% 0.05mm 88% 0.2mm 17dBZ 35° 72% 0.19mm - - 3.2m/s
12:00
1017hPa 194J/kg 0% -1°C 19% 33% 97% 0mm 86% 0.28mm 9.2dBZ 36° 35% 0.5mm - - 5.5m/s
13:00
1016hPa 221J/kg 0% -0.8°C 100% 5% 96% 0mm 83% 0.33mm 1.9dBZ 33° 100% 0.94mm 6.2m/s 17m/s 6.5m/s
14:00
1016hPa 231J/kg 0% -0.9°C 98% 61% 97% 0mm 83% 0.86mm 8dBZ 28° 98% 1.7mm - - 6.3m/s
15:00
1015hPa 264J/kg 0% -1.3°C 80% 45% 98% 0mm 84% 0.1mm 14dBZ 19° 80% 2.3mm - - 7m/s
16:00
1015hPa 352J/kg 0% -2.2°C 10% 5% 99% 0mm 84% 0.17mm 20dBZ 9.6° 10% 2.7mm 9.7m/s 22m/s 6.8m/s
17:00
1016hPa 364J/kg 20% -2.5°C 6% 68% 93% 0mm 85% 0.48mm 24dBZ -1.3° 68% 0.56mm - - 6.3m/s
18:00
1016hPa 305J/kg 92% -2.6°C 13% 65% 87% 0mm 86% 1.7mm 27dBZ -13° 92% 1.9mm - - 6m/s
19:00
1017hPa 266J/kg 100% -1.3°C 54% 99% 80% 0mm 88% 1.7mm 30dBZ -26° 100% 3.4mm 6.4m/s 12m/s 5.5m/s
20:00
1017hPa 187J/kg 11% -1.1°C 85% 76% 82% 0mm 89% 1.5mm 14dBZ -38° 85% 5.1mm - - 4.6m/s
21:00
1017hPa 150J/kg 5% -0.8°C 100% 100% 83% 0.02mm 90% 1.2mm -3.2dBZ -51° 100% 6.4mm - - 3.7m/s
22:00
1017hPa 113J/kg 0% -0.1°C 14% 12% 85% 0mm 89% 0.45mm -20dBZ -63° 14% 7.2mm 7m/s 9.7m/s 3.3m/s
23:00
1017hPa 112J/kg 0% 0.1°C 65% 5% 73% 0.01mm 90% 0.3mm -20dBZ -74° 65% 0.25mm - - 3.2m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 06:43 Sunset 16:56
24:00
1017hPa 118J/kg 0% 0.3°C 29% 16% 62% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -78° 29% 0.31mm - - 4.6m/s
01:00
1017hPa 141J/kg 0% -0.1°C 64% 96% 51% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -71° 96% 0.31mm 5.4m/s 8.5m/s 5.2m/s
02:00
1016hPa 135J/kg 0% 0.5°C 77% 60% 57% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -59° 77% 0.31mm - - 4.4m/s
03:00
1016hPa 128J/kg 0% 1.1°C 46% 9% 64% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 46% 0.31mm - - 3.4m/s
04:00
1017hPa 113J/kg 5% 1.5°C 8% 5% 70% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 8% 0.31mm 6.5m/s 8.9m/s 2.9m/s
05:00
1016hPa 172J/kg 36% 0.68°C 35% 4% 69% 0.08mm 92% 0.27mm -20dBZ -21° 38% 1.6mm - - 2.1m/s
06:00
1016hPa 230J/kg 66% -0.15°C 63% 3% 68% 0.16mm 92% 0.53mm -20dBZ -9.3° 67% 2.8mm - - 1.2m/s
07:00
1016hPa 289J/kg 97% -0.97°C 90% 3% 67% 0.24mm 91% 0.8mm -20dBZ 2.5° 97% 4.1mm 7.2m/s 9.4m/s 0.38m/s
08:00
1016hPa 288J/kg 97% -0.72°C 93% 12% 70% 0.24mm 88% 0.55mm -3.8dBZ 13° 98% 4.3mm - - 2.2m/s
09:00
1016hPa 286J/kg 98% -0.47°C 96% 21% 72% 0.25mm 86% 0.3mm 12dBZ 22° 99% 4.6mm - - 4m/s
10:00
1015hPa 285J/kg 99% -0.22°C 99% 30% 75% 0.25mm 83% 0.05mm 29dBZ 30° 100% 4.9mm 1.7m/s 6.2m/s 5.8m/s
11:00
1015hPa 374J/kg 99% -0.66°C 75% 49% 67% 0.2mm 83% 0.34mm 13dBZ 35° 99% 4.4mm - - 6m/s
12:00
1015hPa 464J/kg 98% -1.1°C 51% 68% 60% 0.14mm 84% 0.64mm -3.3dBZ 36° 99% 3.9mm - - 6.2m/s
13:00
1015hPa 553J/kg 98% -1.5°C 28% 87% 53% 0.09mm 84% 0.93mm -19dBZ 33° 98% 3.4mm 5.4m/s 8.4m/s 6.5m/s
14:00
1015hPa 549J/kg 66% -1.8°C 20% 59% 62% 0.1mm 84% 0.62mm -10dBZ 28° 67% 4mm - - 6.5m/s
15:00
1015hPa 544J/kg 35% -2°C 12% 31% 71% 0.1mm 84% 0.32mm -1.5dBZ 19° 36% 4.7mm - - 6.6m/s
16:00
1015hPa 540J/kg 3% -2.3°C 5% 3% 80% 0.11mm 83% 0.01mm 7.4dBZ 9.5° 5% 5.3mm 3.7m/s 12m/s 6.7m/s
17:00
1014hPa 525J/kg 35% -2.5°C 3% 4% 86% 0.07mm 83% 0.007mm 14dBZ -1.4° 37% 3.9mm - - 6.4m/s
18:00
1013hPa 511J/kg 68% -2.6°C 2% 4% 91% 0.04mm 83% 0.003mm 20dBZ -13° 68% 2.4mm - - 6.2m/s
19:00
1013hPa 496J/kg 100% -2.8°C 0% 5% 97% 0mm 83% 0mm 26dBZ -26° 100% 1mm 7.5m/s 13m/s 5.9m/s
20:00
1012hPa 473J/kg 100% -2.3°C 0% 36% 98% 0.05mm 83% 0.2mm 11dBZ -38° 100% 1.6mm - - 6m/s
21:00
1012hPa 449J/kg 100% -1.7°C 0% 67% 99% 0.09mm 84% 0.4mm -4.7dBZ -51° 100% 2.2mm - - 6.1m/s
22:00
1011hPa 426J/kg 100% -1.2°C 0% 98% 100% 0.14mm 84% 0.6mm -20dBZ -63° 100% 2.8mm 3.1m/s 10m/s 6.3m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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