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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 90% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover38%
Wind Gusts3.7m/s
Precipitation Chance59%
Air Pressure1004.6hPa
CAPE24
Lifted Index3.7°C
Wind Gusts3.7m/s
Precipitation0.1mm

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
Sun, Feb 22
11:000%22%19J/kg4.2°C24135m4.4m/s
12:000%32%13J/kg4.6°C24134m4.5m/s
13:000%15%9J/kg4.9°C24135m4.5m/s
14:000%14%7J/kg5.1°C24134m4.4m/s
15:000%21%10J/kg4.6°C24135m4.2m/s
16:000%45%13J/kg4.5°C24134m4.2m/s
17:000%59%3J/kg5°C24134m4.1m/s
18:000%32%1J/kg5.1°C24134m5m/s
19:008.4%18%0J/kg5.1°C24135m2.1m/s
20:000%4.5%0J/kg4.8°C24135m1.6m/s
21:000%7.7%3J/kg4.7°C24135m1.1m/s
22:007.7%8.2%11J/kg4.1°C24134m0.8m/s
23:000%8.4%10J/kg3.7°C24135m0.8m/s
Mon, Feb 23
24:000%8%12J/kg3.6°C24135m0.82m/s
01:007.7%8.7%26J/kg3.3°C24135m0.94m/s
02:000%12%31J/kg3.4°C24135m1.2m/s
03:000%15%20J/kg4°C24135m1.1m/s
04:009.8%15%13J/kg4.2°C24135m0.72m/s
05:000%66%11J/kg4.8°C24135m0.92m/s
06:000%87%12J/kg4.4°C24135m0.81m/s
07:007.7%77%25J/kg4.3°C24134m1.1m/s
08:000%80%30J/kg4°C23445m2.4m/s
09:000%48%47J/kg3.3°C21731m3.9m/s
10:000%49%38J/kg3.2°C23050m3.9m/s
11:000%39%24J/kg3.7°C24134m3.7m/s
12:000%32%18J/kg3.8°C24135m3.8m/s
13:000%29%36J/kg3.9°C24134m3.9m/s
14:000%29%32J/kg2.7°C24134m4.5m/s
15:000%38%20J/kg2.4°C24134m4.8m/s
16:000%56%21J/kg2.9°C24135m4.9m/s
17:000%55%17J/kg3°C24134m4.6m/s
18:000%71%17J/kg3°C24135m6.2m/s
19:000%30%18J/kg3.2°C24135m4.6m/s
20:000%15%14J/kg3.5°C24135m4.5m/s
21:000%13%9J/kg4.1°C24135m4.9m/s
22:000%11%9J/kg5°C24135m3.8m/s
23:000%6.7%8J/kg5°C24134m4.9m/s
Tue, Feb 24
24:000%7.4%12J/kg4.8°C24135m3.2m/s
01:000%7.5%11J/kg4.3°C24135m2.6m/s
02:000%9%54J/kg3.4°C22841m2.9m/s
03:000%2.3%59J/kg3.1°C12152m2.4m/s
04:000%0%51J/kg2.9°C21860m3.6m/s
05:000%23%17J/kg4°C24135m6.9m/s
06:000%24%8J/kg4.7°C24134m3.7m/s
07:000%25%12J/kg4.3°C24134m7.5m/s
08:000%44%19J/kg4°C24135m5.2m/s
09:000%16%11J/kg4.5°C24135m5.6m/s
10:000%16%14J/kg4°C24134m6.1m/s
11:000%23%22J/kg2.9°C24135m5.9m/s
12:000%24%52J/kg1.4°C24134m5.4m/s
13:000%25%72J/kg1.6°C24134m5.2m/s
14:000%83%68J/kg1.3°C12533m5.1m/s
15:000%52%92J/kg0.8°C16097m5.2m/s
16:000%85%91J/kg0.4°C9540m6.2m/s
17:000%19%108J/kg0.3°C20133m6.8m/s
18:000%18%104J/kg0.5°C23083m6.7m/s
19:0011%17%95J/kg0.4°C19766m5m/s
20:000%6.7%91J/kg0.3°C19357m5m/s
21:000%11%101J/kg0.3°C19938m4.9m/s
22:000%11%62J/kg0.2°C23464m5.3m/s
23:000%11%28J/kg0.8°C24135m5.5m/s
Wed, Feb 25
24:000%9.9%17J/kg1.1°C24135m3.7m/s
01:000%9.5%18J/kg1.6°C24134m3.6m/s
02:000%12%9J/kg2.6°C24134m5.2m/s
03:000%13%10J/kg2.7°C24134m5.5m/s
04:000%15%9J/kg2.9°C24134m5.1m/s
05:000%59%9J/kg3.5°C24135m6.9m/s
06:000%53%8J/kg3.3°C24135m5.1m/s
07:000%61%8J/kg3.6°C24134m6.4m/s
08:000%48%12J/kg3.6°C24134m6.2m/s
09:000%38%9J/kg4.1°C24135m5.9m/s
10:000%21%9J/kg4.4°C24134m5.9m/s
11:000%18%5J/kg4.1°C24135m6m/s
12:000%14%4J/kg4.4°C24135m6.1m/s
13:000%11%2J/kg4.6°C24134m6.3m/s
14:000%11%0J/kg4.3°C24135m6.3m/s
15:000%12%2J/kg4.4°C24134m6.4m/s
16:000%16%3J/kg4°C24135m6.3m/s
17:000%51%4J/kg4.4°C24135m6m/s
18:000%52%5J/kg4.8°C24135m5.7m/s
19:000%20%6J/kg5.2°C24135m5.3m/s
20:000%0%9.7J/kg5.1°C24135m6.9m/s
21:000%0%13J/kg5°C24135m8.4m/s
22:000%0%17J/kg4.8°C24135m9.9m/s
23:000%0%17J/kg4.4°C24135m10m/s
Thu, Feb 26
24:000%0%16J/kg3.9°C24135m11m/s
01:000%0%16J/kg3.4°C24135m11m/s
02:000%0%16J/kg3.2°C24135m10m/s
03:000%0%17J/kg3°C24135m9.5m/s
04:000%0%17J/kg2.9°C24135m8.8m/s
05:000%47%14J/kg2.3°C24122m9.6m/s
06:000%48%10J/kg1.7°C24109m10m/s
07:000%27%7J/kg1.1°C24096m11m/s
08:000%23%6.3J/kg0.83°C23456m12m/s
09:0013%19%5.7J/kg0.53°C22817m12m/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
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 05:38 Sunset 18:24
11:00
1005hPa 24J/kg 7% 3.7°C 38% 0% 59% 0mm 57% 0.03mm -7.8dBZ 68° 38% 0.06mm - - 2.6m/s
12:00
1004hPa 18J/kg 5% 3.8°C 23% 0% 49% 0mm 52% 0.01mm -14dBZ 73° 26% 0.13mm - - 3.2m/s
13:00
1004hPa 36J/kg 5% 3.9°C 19% 0% 39% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ 68° 20% 0.13mm 1.8m/s 6.7m/s 3.3m/s
14:00
1003hPa 32J/kg 5% 2.7°C 2% 0% 53% 0mm 56% 0.01mm -20dBZ 57° 5% 0.13mm - - 3.8m/s
15:00
1003hPa 20J/kg 5% 2.4°C 12% 5% 67% 0mm 61% 0.01mm -20dBZ 45° 12% 0.13mm - - 3.7m/s
16:00
1003hPa 21J/kg 5% 2.9°C 27% 2% 82% 0mm 63% 0.01mm -20dBZ 31° 27% 0.19mm 3.6m/s 4.9m/s 3.4m/s
17:00
1004hPa 17J/kg 87% 3°C 48% 0% 73% 0mm 67% 0.03mm -10dBZ 18° 87% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
18:00
1005hPa 17J/kg 69% 3°C 7% 5% 65% 0mm 76% 0.04mm -0.22dBZ 4.7° 69% 0.06mm - - 2.4m/s
19:00
1006hPa 18J/kg 2% 3.2°C 1% 5% 56% 0mm 86% 0.03mm 9.7dBZ -8.6° 5% 0.06mm 4.5m/s 5m/s 1.7m/s
20:00
1006hPa 14J/kg 100% 3.5°C 0% 1% 68% 0mm 90% 0.02mm 8.7dBZ -21° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.6m/s
21:00
1007hPa 9J/kg 5% 4.1°C 0% 2% 79% 0mm 90% 0mm 7.8dBZ -33° 5% 0.13mm - - 1.6m/s
22:00
1007hPa 9J/kg 100% 5°C 6% 2% 91% 0mm 87% 0.01mm 6.8dBZ -43° 100% 0.13mm 4.8m/s 4.4m/s 1.5m/s
23:00
1007hPa 8J/kg 72% 5°C 0% 2% 79% 0mm 82% 0mm 3.9dBZ -51° 72% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 05:38 Sunset 18:24
24:00
1006hPa 12J/kg 95% 4.8°C 0% 52% 68% 0mm 86% 0.01mm 0.89dBZ -54° 95% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
01:00
1006hPa 11J/kg 99% 4.3°C 0% 5% 56% 0mm 87% 0mm -2.1dBZ -51° 99% 0mm 5.3m/s 7.2m/s 1.2m/s
02:00
1005hPa 54J/kg 82% 3.4°C 52% 4% 68% 0mm 92% 0.15mm 4.4dBZ -44° 82% 0.06mm - - 1.4m/s
03:00
1005hPa 59J/kg 100% 3.1°C 46% 4% 80% 0mm 95% 0.57mm 11dBZ -34° 100% 0.44mm - - 1m/s
04:00
1005hPa 51J/kg 100% 2.9°C 83% 5% 92% 0mm 96% 0.15mm 17dBZ -22° 100% 0.75mm 2.8m/s 9.6m/s 1.2m/s
05:00
1006hPa 17J/kg 100% 4°C 7% 5% 91% 0mm 93% 0.02mm 13dBZ -9° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.6m/s
06:00
1006hPa 8J/kg 100% 4.7°C 0% 2% 91% 0mm 92% 0mm 8.1dBZ 4.2° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.4m/s
07:00
1007hPa 12J/kg 100% 4.3°C 0% 5% 91% 0mm 87% 0.01mm 3.5dBZ 17° 100% 0.06mm 2.2m/s 7.4m/s 1.7m/s
08:00
1007hPa 19J/kg 100% 4°C 0% 40% 93% 0mm 70% 0.01mm 3.4dBZ 31° 100% 0.13mm - - 2.3m/s
09:00
1007hPa 11J/kg 100% 4.5°C 0% 5% 96% 0mm 55% 0mm 3.3dBZ 44° 100% 0.13mm - - 3.1m/s
10:00
1007hPa 14J/kg 100% 4°C 0% 5% 98% 0mm 52% 0mm 3.2dBZ 57° 100% 0.13mm 3.6m/s 6.2m/s 3.3m/s
11:00
1007hPa 22J/kg 100% 2.9°C 15% 42% 93% 0mm 53% 0mm 4.5dBZ 68° 100% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
12:00
1006hPa 52J/kg 100% 1.4°C 26% 26% 87% 0mm 57% 0.02mm 5.8dBZ 73° 100% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
13:00
1006hPa 72J/kg 100% 1.6°C 23% 76% 82% 0mm 61% 0.14mm 7dBZ 68° 100% 0.13mm 4.4m/s 5.9m/s 3.5m/s
14:00
1006hPa 68J/kg 36% 1.3°C 37% 77% 82% 0mm 64% 0.77mm 11dBZ 57° 79% 0.38mm - - 3.2m/s
15:00
1005hPa 92J/kg 0% 0.8°C 33% 90% 83% 0mm 74% 0.51mm 15dBZ 44° 90% 1mm - - 3m/s
16:00
1005hPa 91J/kg 0% 0.4°C 18% 56% 83% 0.01mm 86% 1mm 20dBZ 31° 60% 1.8mm 1.7m/s 8.1m/s 2.7m/s
17:00
1005hPa 108J/kg 0% 0.3°C 0% 5% 68% 0mm 91% 0.2mm 16dBZ 18° 5% 0.69mm - - 2.5m/s
18:00
1006hPa 104J/kg 0% 0.5°C 0% 5% 53% 0mm 94% 0.2mm 13dBZ 4.5° 5% 1.2mm - - 2m/s
19:00
1006hPa 95J/kg 0% 0.4°C 0% 5% 39% 0mm 96% 0.3mm 9.1dBZ -8.8° 5% 1.5mm 4.1m/s 10m/s 1.5m/s
20:00
1007hPa 91J/kg 0% 0.3°C 0% 5% 45% 0mm 96% 0.43mm 3.1dBZ -21° 5% 1.9mm - - 1.6m/s
21:00
1007hPa 101J/kg 0% 0.3°C 2% 5% 50% 0mm 97% 0.25mm -3dBZ -33° 5% 2.2mm - - 1.4m/s
22:00
1007hPa 62J/kg 0% 0.2°C 1% 5% 56% 0mm 97% 0.16mm -9dBZ -44° 5% 2.4mm 1.8m/s 6.9m/s 1.5m/s
23:00
1007hPa 28J/kg 0% 0.8°C 0% 5% 50% 0mm 96% 0.04mm -13dBZ -51° 5% 0.06mm - - 1.7m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 05:38 Sunset 18:23
24:00
1006hPa 17J/kg 0% 1.1°C 0% 5% 45% 0mm 96% 0.01mm -16dBZ -54° 5% 0.06mm - - 1.5m/s
01:00
1006hPa 18J/kg 0% 1.6°C 40% 5% 39% 0mm 95% 0.03mm -20dBZ -52° 40% 0.13mm 3.2m/s 7.7m/s 1.4m/s
02:00
1005hPa 9J/kg 0% 2.6°C 85% 2% 45% 0mm 93% 0.01mm -19dBZ -44° 85% 0.13mm - - 1.7m/s
03:00
1005hPa 10J/kg 0% 2.7°C 86% 0% 50% 0mm 90% 0.01mm -18dBZ -34° 86% 0.13mm - - 1.9m/s
04:00
1005hPa 9J/kg 0% 2.9°C 99% 0% 56% 0mm 86% 0.01mm -16dBZ -22° 99% 0.19mm 1.8m/s 7.8m/s 2m/s
05:00
1006hPa 9J/kg 0% 3.5°C 64% 0% 51% 0mm 80% 0mm -16dBZ -9.2° 64% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
06:00
1006hPa 8J/kg 0% 3.3°C 18% 0% 45% 0mm 83% 0mm -15dBZ 4.1° 18% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
07:00
1007hPa 8J/kg 0% 3.6°C 35% 0% 39% 0mm 74% 0mm -14dBZ 17° 35% 0mm 1.4m/s 7.2m/s 2.2m/s
08:00
1007hPa 12J/kg 0% 3.6°C 24% 0% 39% 0mm 62% 0mm -16dBZ 31° 24% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
09:00
1007hPa 9J/kg 0% 4.1°C 15% 0% 39% 0mm 56% 0mm -18dBZ 44° 15% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
10:00
1006hPa 9J/kg 0% 4.4°C 2% 0% 39% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ 57° 2% 0mm 1.6m/s 4.5m/s 3.5m/s
11:00
1006hPa 5J/kg 0% 4.1°C 0% 0% 43% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 68° 0% 0mm - - 3.7m/s
12:00
1006hPa 4J/kg 0% 4.4°C 0% 0% 46% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 73° 0% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
13:00
1005hPa 2J/kg 0% 4.6°C 0% 0% 50% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 68° 0% 0mm 1.9m/s 4.3m/s 4.1m/s
14:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.3°C 0% 0% 67% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 57° 0% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
15:00
1004hPa 2J/kg 0% 4.4°C 0% 0% 83% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 0% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
16:00
1004hPa 3J/kg 0% 4°C 0% 0% 100% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ 31° 0% 0mm 1.8m/s 3.4m/s 3.9m/s
17:00
1004hPa 4J/kg 0% 4.4°C 30% 0% 75% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 30% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
18:00
1004hPa 5J/kg 0% 4.8°C 61% 0% 51% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 4.3° 61% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
19:00
1004hPa 6J/kg 0% 5.2°C 91% 0% 26% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -9° 91% 0mm 1.3m/s 3.6m/s 1.7m/s
20:00
1003hPa 9.7J/kg 0% 5.1°C 69% 0% 32% 0mm 86% 0.03mm -20dBZ -22° 69% 0.04mm - - 2m/s
21:00
1003hPa 13J/kg 0% 5°C 46% 0% 39% 0mm 84% 0.05mm -20dBZ -34° 46% 0.08mm - - 2.3m/s
22:00
1002hPa 17J/kg 0% 4.8°C 24% 0% 45% 0mm 82% 0.08mm -20dBZ -44° 24% 0.13mm 2.2m/s 3.6m/s 2.6m/s
23:00
1003hPa 17J/kg 2% 4.4°C 49% 0% 52% 0mm 82% 0.08mm -20dBZ -52° 49% 0.17mm - - 2.8m/s
Thu, Feb 26 Sunrise 05:39 Sunset 18:22
24:00
1003hPa 16J/kg 3% 3.9°C 75% 0% 59% 0mm 82% 0.09mm -20dBZ -55° 75% 0.21mm - - 3m/s
01:00
1004hPa 16J/kg 5% 3.4°C 100% 0% 66% 0mm 82% 0.09mm -20dBZ -52° 100% 0.25mm 1m/s 4.2m/s 3.1m/s
02:00
1003hPa 16J/kg 3% 3.2°C 79% 0% 71% 0.003mm 75% 0.06mm -14dBZ -44° 79% 0.31mm - - 3.9m/s
03:00
1003hPa 17J/kg 2% 3°C 58% 0% 76% 0.007mm 67% 0.03mm -7.9dBZ -34° 58% 0.38mm - - 4.6m/s
04:00
1003hPa 17J/kg 0% 2.9°C 36% 0% 81% 0.01mm 59% 0mm -1.9dBZ -22° 36% 0.44mm 6.4m/s 5.1m/s 5.4m/s
05:00
1003hPa 14J/kg 0% 2.3°C 58% 0% 78% 0.007mm 63% 0.05mm -2dBZ -9.3° 58% 0.4mm - - 5.4m/s
06:00
1002hPa 10J/kg 0% 1.7°C 79% 0% 74% 0.003mm 66% 0.1mm -2.1dBZ 79% 0.35mm - - 5.5m/s
07:00
1002hPa 7J/kg 0% 1.1°C 100% 0% 71% 0mm 70% 0.15mm -2.2dBZ 17° 100% 0.31mm 12m/s 9.8m/s 5.6m/s
08:00
1002hPa 6.3J/kg 0% 0.83°C 100% 3% 76% 0.02mm 76% 0.18mm -4.7dBZ 31° 100% 0.46mm - - 5.6m/s
09:00
1001hPa 5.7J/kg 0% 0.53°C 100% 6% 80% 0.03mm 81% 0.21mm -7.2dBZ 44° 100% 0.6mm - - 5.6m/s
10:00
1001hPa 5J/kg 0% 0.22°C 100% 8% 85% 0.05mm 87% 0.24mm -9.7dBZ 56° 100% 0.75mm 11m/s 15m/s 5.6m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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