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Rule Storm Chaser

Noosa - Storm Chaser - Australian Coast

Noosa, Queensland, 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 94% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts4.4m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure1008.1hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index3.7°C
Wind Gusts4.4m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Australia/Brisbane

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/Brisbane
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
17:000%7.6%0J/kg2.6°C24135m4.9m/s
18:000%4.2%0J/kg3.4°C24134m2m/s
19:000%0%0J/kg3.6°C24135m2.7m/s
20:000%1%0J/kg3.9°C24134m3.1m/s
21:000%0.6%0J/kg3.4°C24135m2.8m/s
22:000%3.6%0J/kg3.6°C24134m2m/s
23:000%2.2%0J/kg3.7°C24135m1.5m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%2.5%0J/kg3.3°C24134m1.5m/s
01:000%2.9%0J/kg3.6°C24135m1m/s
02:000%5.3%2J/kg3.5°C24135m0.91m/s
03:000%3.2%4J/kg3.5°C24134m0.91m/s
04:000%7.3%10J/kg3.6°C24135m0.8m/s
05:000%1.7%6J/kg3.2°C24135m0.8m/s
06:000%2.9%8J/kg3.5°C24134m0.72m/s
07:000%2.1%6J/kg3.6°C24134m0.71m/s
08:000%7.5%2J/kg3.8°C24135m0.8m/s
09:000%6.4%6J/kg3.3°C24135m1.8m/s
10:000%42%0J/kg3.6°C24135m2.3m/s
11:000%6.3%0J/kg3.5°C24134m2.3m/s
12:000%3.4%0J/kg3.9°C24134m2.4m/s
13:000%3.3%0J/kg4°C24135m2.5m/s
14:000%2.9%0J/kg3.9°C24134m2.5m/s
15:000%3.7%0J/kg3.8°C24135m2.7m/s
16:000%5%0J/kg3.3°C24134m3.2m/s
17:000%8.7%0J/kg3.7°C24135m4.4m/s
18:000%4.6%0J/kg4°C24135m2.5m/s
19:000%0.4%0J/kg4.1°C24134m1.7m/s
20:000%2.4%0J/kg3.9°C24135m1.5m/s
21:000%3.2%1J/kg3.9°C24134m1m/s
22:000%4.8%3J/kg4.1°C24134m1m/s
23:000%5.1%5J/kg4.2°C24135m1m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:000%7.2%8J/kg4.4°C24135m1.1m/s
01:000%12%9J/kg4.7°C24135m1m/s
02:000%13%4J/kg5.2°C24134m1m/s
03:000%9.4%2J/kg5.6°C24135m0.9m/s
04:000%7.1%1J/kg5.7°C24135m0.8m/s
05:000%7.3%2J/kg6.1°C24135m1m/s
06:000%26%2J/kg6.5°C24135m0.8m/s
07:000%28%2J/kg7°C24134m1m/s
08:000%40%5J/kg6.9°C24134m1.8m/s
09:000%49%3J/kg7°C24135m2.5m/s
10:000%20%1J/kg6.9°C24134m2.4m/s
11:000%18%0J/kg7.1°C24135m2.1m/s
12:000%18%0J/kg7.1°C24135m1.9m/s
13:000%18%0J/kg7°C24135m1.8m/s
14:000%18%0J/kg6.9°C24134m1.9m/s
15:000%18%0J/kg7°C24135m1.9m/s
16:000%12%0J/kg7.2°C24135m3m/s
17:000%7.2%0J/kg7°C24134m4.7m/s
18:000%4.4%0J/kg6.8°C24134m1.5m/s
19:000%0.2%0J/kg7°C24135m1.4m/s
20:000%0%0J/kg7.1°C24135m1.6m/s
21:000%0.5%0J/kg7.3°C24135m1.6m/s
22:000%2.1%0J/kg7.6°C24135m2.1m/s
23:000%7.6%0J/kg8°C24135m2.1m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%9.2%0J/kg8°C24134m1.6m/s
01:000%12%0J/kg7.8°C24135m1.6m/s
02:000%12%0J/kg7.6°C24134m1.7m/s
03:000%14%0J/kg6.9°C24135m1.8m/s
04:009.1%13%0J/kg6.7°C24134m1.8m/s
05:000%14%0J/kg6.5°C24135m1.9m/s
06:000%77%0J/kg6.5°C24135m2.3m/s
07:000%23%0J/kg6.6°C24134m2.9m/s
08:000%20%0J/kg6.4°C24135m3.9m/s
09:000%4.8%0J/kg6.2°C24135m3.6m/s
10:009.1%3.7%0J/kg6°C24134m3.2m/s
11:000%2.8%0J/kg5°C24135m2.9m/s
12:000%3.3%27J/kg4°C24134m2.8m/s
13:009.1%3.3%60J/kg3.3°C24135m3.2m/s
14:000%3.1%65J/kg2.5°C24134m3.5m/s
15:000%6.7%63J/kg2.1°C24135m4m/s
16:0012%17%78J/kg2.2°C24135m5.5m/s
17:000%23%81J/kg2.1°C24134m7.3m/s
18:000%14%85J/kg1.9°C24134m5.6m/s
19:000%3.3%56J/kg1.5°C24134m5.4m/s
20:000%7.5%44J/kg1.9°C24135m5.3m/s
21:000%9.6%49J/kg2.2°C24135m5.5m/s
22:0013%7.4%42J/kg2.1°C24134m7.2m/s
23:000%0%28J/kg3°C24134m5.3m/s
Sun, Apr 12
24:000%0%14J/kg3.9°C24135m3.3m/s
01:009.1%0%0J/kg4.7°C24135m1.3m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg5.3°C24135m2m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg5.9°C24135m2.6m/s
04:009.8%0%0J/kg6.4°C24135m3.2m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg7.1°C24135m3.8m/s
06:000%57%0J/kg7.9°C24135m4.4m/s
07:0012%60%0J/kg8.6°C24135m4.9m/s
08:000%60%0J/kg9.1°C24135m5.1m/s
09:000%45%0J/kg9.6°C24135m5.3m/s
10:0012%39%0J/kg10°C24135m5.5m/s
11:000%37%0J/kg11°C24135m4.3m/s
12:000%31%0J/kg12°C24135m3.1m/s
13:0011%22%0J/kg13°C24135m1.9m/s
14:000%41%0J/kg14°C24135m5.1m/s
15:000%36%0J/kg15°C24135m8.2m/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/Brisbane
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 06:01 Sunset 17:37
17:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 7.6° 0% 0mm - - 2m/s
18:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ -5.7° 0% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
19:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 0% 0mm 8.8m/s 11m/s 0.67m/s
20:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.9°C 2% 0% 0% 0mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 2% 0mm - - 0.38m/s
21:00
1010hPa 1J/kg 0% 3.9°C 17% 0% 0% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 17% 0mm - - 0.2m/s
22:00
1010hPa 3J/kg 0% 4.1°C 33% 0% 0% 0mm 96% 0mm -20dBZ -58° 33% 0mm 13m/s 11m/s 0.31m/s
23:00
1010hPa 5J/kg 0% 4.2°C 28% 0% 0% 0mm 96% 0mm -19dBZ -68° 28% 0mm - - 0.42m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:01 Sunset 17:37
24:00
1010hPa 8J/kg 0% 4.4°C 35% 0% 0% 0mm 96% 0mm -18dBZ -71° 35% 0mm - - 0.72m/s
01:00
1009hPa 9J/kg 0% 4.7°C 51% 0% 0% 0mm 97% 0mm -17dBZ -65° 51% 0mm 13m/s 10m/s 0.8m/s
02:00
1009hPa 4J/kg 0% 5.2°C 91% 0% 0% 0mm 96% 0mm -15dBZ -54° 91% 0mm - - 0.93m/s
03:00
1008hPa 2J/kg 0% 5.6°C 97% 0% 0% 0mm 92% 0mm -13dBZ -41° 97% 0mm - - 0.71m/s
04:00
1009hPa 1J/kg 0% 5.7°C 99% 0% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -12dBZ -28° 99% 0mm 9.7m/s 8.8m/s 0.78m/s
05:00
1009hPa 2J/kg 0% 6.1°C 92% 0% 0% 0mm 89% 0mm -12dBZ -14° 92% 0mm - - 0.85m/s
06:00
1009hPa 2J/kg 0% 6.5°C 91% 0% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -12dBZ -0.73° 91% 0mm - - 0.61m/s
07:00
1010hPa 2J/kg 0% 7°C 88% 0% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -12dBZ 12° 88% 0mm 7.3m/s 9.2m/s 0.56m/s
08:00
1010hPa 5J/kg 0% 6.9°C 85% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0mm -14dBZ 25° 85% 0mm - - 0.7m/s
09:00
1010hPa 3J/kg 0% 7°C 30% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -17dBZ 37° 30% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
10:00
1009hPa 1J/kg 0% 6.9°C 7% 0% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ 47° 7% 0mm 3.8m/s 11m/s 2m/s
11:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.1°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ 54° 3% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
12:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.1°C 1% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 56° 1% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
13:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ 52° 0% 0mm 3.7m/s 11m/s 2.9m/s
14:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 0% 0mm - - 3m/s
15:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 0% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
16:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 0% 0mm 6.1m/s 11m/s 2.7m/s
17:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ 7.4° 0% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
18:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -5.9° 0% 0mm - - 1m/s
19:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 0% 0mm 8.3m/s 12m/s 0.8m/s
20:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 0% 0mm - - 1m/s
21:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 0% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
22:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -58° 0% 0mm 12m/s 13m/s 1.3m/s
23:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 5% 8°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ -68° 6% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:01 Sunset 17:36
24:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 5% 8°C 14% 0% 0% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -72° 16% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
01:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 5% 7.8°C 22% 0% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -65° 23% 0mm 11m/s 12m/s 1.3m/s
02:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 4% 7.6°C 20% 0% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 20% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
03:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.9°C 15% 0% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 15% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
04:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 98% 6.7°C 10% 0% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -28° 98% 0mm 9.6m/s 11m/s 1.3m/s
05:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 79% 6.5°C 12% 0% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 79% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
06:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 79% 6.5°C 16% 0% 0% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -0.87° 79% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
07:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ 12° 5% 0mm 6.5m/s 12m/s 1.2m/s
08:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 5% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
09:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 0% 0mm - - 2m/s
10:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 0% 0mm 6.4m/s 11m/s 2.2m/s
11:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 0% 0mm - - 2m/s
12:00
1002hPa 27J/kg 0% 4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 55° 0% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
13:00
1001hPa 60J/kg 0% 3.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 51° 0% 0mm 6.8m/s 12m/s 2m/s
14:00
1000hPa 65J/kg 0% 2.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 0% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
15:00
1000hPa 63J/kg 0% 2.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 0% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
16:00
1000hPa 78J/kg 5% 2.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 5% 0mm 12m/s 13m/s 3.3m/s
17:00
1000hPa 81J/kg 5% 2.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 7.2° 5% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
18:00
1000hPa 85J/kg 1% 1.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -6.2° 1% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
19:00
1000hPa 56J/kg 4% 1.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 4% 0mm 17m/s 9.6m/s 1.9m/s
20:00
1001hPa 44J/kg 0% 1.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 0% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
21:00
1001hPa 49J/kg 0% 2.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 0% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
22:00
1001hPa 42J/kg 6% 2.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -59° 6% 0mm 11m/s 11m/s 2m/s
23:00
1001hPa 28J/kg 4% 3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -69° 4% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 06:02 Sunset 17:35
24:00
1002hPa 14J/kg 2% 3.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ -72° 2% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
01:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -65° 0% 0mm 6m/s 12m/s 1.2m/s
02:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 2% 5.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 2% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
03:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 3% 5.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 3% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
04:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -28° 5% 0mm 4.9m/s 19m/s 1.5m/s
05:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 15% 7.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 15% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
06:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 25% 7.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ -1° 25% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
07:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 36% 8.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ 12° 36% 0mm 7.5m/s 17m/s 1.7m/s
08:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 32% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 32% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
09:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 29% 9.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 29% 0mm - - 2m/s
10:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 25% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 25% 0mm 8.2m/s 16m/s 2.2m/s
11:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 20% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 20% 0mm - - 2m/s
12:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 15% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 55° 15% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
13:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 10% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 51° 10% 0mm 9m/s 16m/s 1.6m/s
14:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 35% 14°C 0% 0% 2% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 35% 0mm - - 2m/s
15:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 61% 15°C 0% 0% 3% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 61% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
16:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 86% 17°C 0% 0% 5% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 86% 0mm 9.2m/s 16m/s 2.8m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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