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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 94% failing
Cloud Drama Score 81% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover96%
Wind Gusts6.6m/s
Precipitation Chance100%
Air Pressure1010.2hPa
CAPE38
Lifted Index4.9°C
Wind Gusts6.6m/s
Precipitation0.2mm

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
Sat, May 23
23:000%9.3%17J/kg11°C24134m10m/s
Sun, May 24
24:000%12%10J/kg11°C24135m9.9m/s
01:000%11%5J/kg11°C24134m10m/s
02:000%15%1J/kg9.7°C24135m11m/s
03:000%15%3J/kg9.6°C24135m9.6m/s
04:000%15%2J/kg9.1°C24134m9.7m/s
05:000%14%1J/kg8.6°C24134m9.6m/s
06:000%80%3J/kg8.1°C24134m11m/s
07:000%79%4J/kg7.8°C24135m11m/s
08:000%50%7J/kg7.2°C24135m11m/s
09:000%66%10J/kg6.6°C24135m10m/s
10:000%55%14J/kg6.5°C24135m10m/s
11:000%50%34J/kg6.2°C24135m9.7m/s
12:000%35%43J/kg5.9°C19663m8.9m/s
13:000%35%45J/kg6.2°C22348m8.7m/s
14:000%35%49J/kg6.2°C24134m8.4m/s
15:000%78%51J/kg6.1°C24135m8.4m/s
16:000%52%50J/kg6°C24134m9m/s
17:000%28%42J/kg6.1°C24134m9.4m/s
18:000%6.5%27J/kg6.1°C24134m7.2m/s
19:000%5.7%17J/kg5.8°C24134m7.6m/s
20:000%0.4%24J/kg5.4°C23097m6.9m/s
21:000%3.1%31J/kg5.1°C24134m7.6m/s
22:000%5.8%35J/kg5°C24135m8.8m/s
23:000%3.9%38J/kg4.9°C24135m6.6m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%6.3%38J/kg5°C24135m5.9m/s
01:000%8.3%50J/kg4.8°C18694m4m/s
02:000%9.3%42J/kg4.7°C24134m5m/s
03:000%11%49J/kg4.6°C24134m4.7m/s
04:0014%12%40J/kg4.4°C24134m5.7m/s
05:000%14%29J/kg4.5°C24135m4.1m/s
06:000%72%44J/kg4.4°C24134m4.6m/s
07:000%100%52J/kg4.2°C24135m3.7m/s
08:000%100%53J/kg3.8°C18219m6m/s
09:000%71%62J/kg3.2°C14873m6.5m/s
10:0016%78%68J/kg2.9°C12259m6.4m/s
11:000%55%71J/kg2.9°C9263m6.2m/s
12:000%71%76J/kg2.6°C17587m5.6m/s
13:0011%100%73J/kg2.3°C14370m5.4m/s
14:000%100%75J/kg2.5°C15854m5.3m/s
15:000%87%73J/kg2.6°C21827m5.4m/s
16:0016%100%71J/kg2.7°C16878m5.4m/s
17:000%73%68J/kg3.1°C23033m5.4m/s
18:000%10%58J/kg3.2°C21902m4.2m/s
19:000%11%54J/kg2.9°C24135m2.9m/s
20:000%6.7%43J/kg2.7°C24135m3m/s
21:000%11%38J/kg3°C24134m2.6m/s
22:000%6.2%17J/kg3°C24135m4.2m/s
23:000%1.2%26J/kg3°C24134m2.8m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%5.4%28J/kg2.9°C24134m3.4m/s
01:000%4.3%22J/kg2.5°C24134m5.3m/s
02:000%0.2%48J/kg2°C18398m1.4m/s
03:000%0%43J/kg2.5°C21959m2.4m/s
04:000%1.2%49J/kg2.5°C24134m1.7m/s
05:000%4.6%54J/kg2.8°C24135m1.5m/s
06:000%65%60J/kg2.5°C24134m1.3m/s
07:000%63%53J/kg2.3°C24135m1.9m/s
08:000%38%46J/kg2.3°C23342m3.6m/s
09:000%34%58J/kg2.1°C16815m3.5m/s
10:000%16%71J/kg1.4°C18598m3.5m/s
11:000%26%61J/kg1.3°C24134m3m/s
12:000%25%33J/kg1.4°C24135m2.8m/s
13:000%28%14J/kg1.4°C24134m2.5m/s
14:000%30%8J/kg1.2°C24134m2.7m/s
15:000%46%2J/kg0.9°C24134m3.4m/s
16:000%27%5J/kg1.5°C24135m4m/s
17:000%24%3J/kg2°C24134m2.4m/s
18:000%0%2J/kg2.3°C24135m1.9m/s
19:000%0%6J/kg2.3°C24134m1.8m/s
20:000%0%13J/kg2.1°C24135m1.5m/s
21:000%0%14J/kg2.1°C24134m1.4m/s
22:000%0%13J/kg2.1°C24134m0.92m/s
23:000%0%16J/kg1.9°C24134m0.9m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%0%15J/kg2.1°C17393m1.4m/s
01:000%0%16J/kg1.8°C17321m1m/s
02:000%0.4%28J/kg1.6°C24134m1.3m/s
03:000%3.8%35J/kg1.4°C24135m1.1m/s
04:000%3.3%44J/kg1.3°C24134m1.2m/s
05:000%0%184J/kg0.34°C20654m1.7m/s
06:000%83%323J/kg-0.61°C17174m2.2m/s
07:000%42%463J/kg-1.6°C13694m2.7m/s
08:000%33%457J/kg-1.7°C16154m3.1m/s
09:000%11%452J/kg-1.9°C18614m3.6m/s
10:0013%9.9%446J/kg-2°C21074m4m/s
11:000%16%417J/kg-2°C22094m3m/s
12:000%27%389J/kg-2°C23115m2m/s
13:000%39%360J/kg-2°C24135m0.93m/s
14:000%39%321J/kg-1.7°C24135m0.97m/s
15:000%39%282J/kg-1.3°C24135m1m/s
16:000%39%243J/kg-0.9°C24135m1m/s
17:000%55%230J/kg-0.7°C22055m1m/s
18:000%0%218J/kg-0.5°C19975m0.96m/s
19:0013%0%205J/kg-0.3°C17895m0.93m/s
20:000%0%182J/kg-0.27°C19975m1.1m/s
21:000%0%158J/kg-0.24°C22055m1.3m/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
Sun, May 24 Sunrise 06:23 Sunset 17:04
23:00
1010hPa 38J/kg 96% 4.9°C 68% 68% 100% 0mm 94% 0.13mm 8.6dBZ -78° 96% 0.19mm - - 2m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 06:23 Sunset 17:04
24:00
1010hPa 38J/kg 94% 5°C 55% 97% 99% 0mm 96% 0.11mm 3.6dBZ -83° 97% 0.38mm - - 1.8m/s
01:00
1010hPa 50J/kg 77% 4.8°C 81% 6% 99% 0.01mm 98% 0.3mm -1.3dBZ -72° 89% 0.5mm 7.3m/s 17m/s 1.5m/s
02:00
1009hPa 42J/kg 76% 4.7°C 60% 78% 99% 0mm 97% 0.15mm 2.9dBZ -59° 96% 0.75mm - - 1.5m/s
03:00
1009hPa 49J/kg 96% 4.6°C 77% 9% 100% 0mm 98% 0.17mm 7.1dBZ -45° 96% 0.94mm - - 1.5m/s
04:00
1009hPa 40J/kg 100% 4.4°C 74% 12% 100% 0mm 97% 0.1mm 11dBZ -32° 100% 1.1mm 7.5m/s 16m/s 1.6m/s
05:00
1009hPa 29J/kg 100% 4.5°C 77% 5% 99% 0mm 97% 0.09mm 14dBZ -19° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.3m/s
06:00
1009hPa 44J/kg 78% 4.4°C 73% 5% 98% 0mm 97% 0.16mm 17dBZ -5.8° 80% 0.25mm - - 1.5m/s
07:00
1010hPa 52J/kg 22% 4.2°C 66% 4% 97% 0mm 97% 0.12mm 20dBZ 6.6° 66% 0.5mm 6.8m/s 14m/s 1.2m/s
08:00
1010hPa 53J/kg 21% 3.8°C 61% 3% 96% 0mm 95% 0.32mm 18dBZ 18° 61% 0.69mm - - 1.7m/s
09:00
1010hPa 62J/kg 74% 3.2°C 50% 5% 95% 0mm 92% 0.44mm 15dBZ 28° 79% 1.1mm - - 2.3m/s
10:00
1010hPa 68J/kg 48% 2.9°C 91% 58% 94% 0mm 91% 0.51mm 13dBZ 36° 91% 1.7mm 7.5m/s 15m/s 2.7m/s
11:00
1010hPa 71J/kg 100% 2.9°C 43% 93% 75% 0mm 92% 1.1mm 13dBZ 41° 100% 0.56mm - - 2.3m/s
12:00
1009hPa 76J/kg 62% 2.6°C 13% 46% 55% 0mm 88% 0.34mm 13dBZ 43° 62% 0.94mm - - 2.4m/s
13:00
1008hPa 73J/kg 11% 2.3°C 22% 38% 36% 0mm 85% 0.4mm 13dBZ 39° 38% 1.4mm 4.8m/s 14m/s 2.5m/s
14:00
1008hPa 75J/kg 33% 2.5°C 51% 77% 45% 0mm 86% 0.36mm 13dBZ 32° 77% 1.9mm - - 2.5m/s
15:00
1008hPa 73J/kg 54% 2.6°C 16% 81% 55% 0mm 88% 0.35mm 14dBZ 23° 82% 2.2mm - - 2.2m/s
16:00
1008hPa 71J/kg 40% 2.7°C 34% 70% 64% 0mm 92% 0.31mm 14dBZ 12° 71% 2.8mm 5.3m/s 18m/s 2m/s
17:00
1009hPa 68J/kg 76% 3.1°C 12% 92% 61% 0mm 96% 0.21mm 8.2dBZ 0.61° 92% 0.31mm - - 1.7m/s
18:00
1009hPa 58J/kg 97% 3.2°C 10% 81% 59% 0mm 98% 0.26mm 2.4dBZ -12° 97% 0.5mm - - 1.4m/s
19:00
1010hPa 54J/kg 83% 2.9°C 12% 98% 56% 0mm 98% 0.08mm -3.3dBZ -25° 99% 0.69mm 6.3m/s 19m/s 1.3m/s
20:00
1010hPa 43J/kg 100% 2.7°C 16% 82% 69% 0mm 98% 0.04mm -8.9dBZ -39° 100% 0.69mm - - 1.4m/s
21:00
1010hPa 38J/kg 57% 3°C 18% 98% 83% 0mm 98% 0.03mm -14dBZ -52° 98% 0.81mm - - 1.4m/s
22:00
1010hPa 17J/kg 100% 3°C 25% 80% 96% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -66° 100% 0.81mm 9.9m/s 25m/s 1.4m/s
23:00
1010hPa 26J/kg 100% 3°C 43% 56% 96% 0mm 98% 0.01mm -17dBZ -78° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 06:24 Sunset 17:04
24:00
1009hPa 28J/kg 100% 2.9°C 57% 92% 95% 0.01mm 98% 0.04mm -13dBZ -84° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.4m/s
01:00
1009hPa 22J/kg 100% 2.5°C 49% 99% 95% 0mm 98% 0.03mm -9.7dBZ -72° 100% 0.06mm 14m/s 26m/s 1.4m/s
02:00
1009hPa 48J/kg 100% 2°C 65% 86% 96% 0mm 98% 0.27mm -8dBZ -59° 100% 0.19mm - - 0.74m/s
03:00
1008hPa 43J/kg 100% 2.5°C 45% 73% 97% 0mm 98% 0.16mm -6.2dBZ -45° 100% 0.31mm - - 1m/s
04:00
1008hPa 49J/kg 92% 2.5°C 17% 93% 99% 0mm 98% 0.15mm -4.5dBZ -32° 94% 0.56mm 7.4m/s 26m/s 1m/s
05:00
1009hPa 54J/kg 43% 2.8°C 30% 80% 97% 0mm 97% 0.06mm -2.4dBZ -19° 80% 0.13mm - - 1.1m/s
06:00
1009hPa 60J/kg 100% 2.5°C 53% 63% 95% 0mm 98% 0.11mm -0.3dBZ -5.9° 100% 0.31mm - - 1.2m/s
07:00
1010hPa 53J/kg 100% 2.3°C 36% 99% 93% 0mm 98% 0.03mm 1.8dBZ 6.5° 100% 0.38mm 6.2m/s 23m/s 1.2m/s
08:00
1010hPa 46J/kg 100% 2.3°C 21% 2% 92% 0mm 96% 0.2mm 2.2dBZ 18° 100% 0.5mm - - 1.2m/s
09:00
1011hPa 58J/kg 100% 2.1°C 12% 0% 91% 0mm 93% 0.38mm 2.6dBZ 28° 100% 0.75mm - - 1.6m/s
10:00
1010hPa 71J/kg 100% 1.4°C 9% 0% 90% 0mm 87% 0.16mm 3.1dBZ 36° 100% 0.88mm 6.9m/s 24m/s 1.9m/s
11:00
1010hPa 61J/kg 100% 1.3°C 13% 0% 72% 0mm 76% 0.05mm 1.2dBZ 41° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.8m/s
12:00
1009hPa 33J/kg 100% 1.4°C 14% 0% 55% 0mm 65% 0.02mm -0.7dBZ 42° 100% 0.13mm - - 2.2m/s
13:00
1008hPa 14J/kg 100% 1.4°C 26% 5% 38% 0mm 62% 0.01mm -2.6dBZ 39° 100% 0.13mm 4.8m/s 24m/s 2.3m/s
14:00
1007hPa 8J/kg 100% 1.2°C 19% 2% 48% 0mm 64% 0mm -8.4dBZ 32° 100% 0.19mm - - 2.5m/s
15:00
1007hPa 2J/kg 100% 0.9°C 0% 23% 58% 0mm 73% 0mm -14dBZ 23° 100% 0.19mm - - 2.3m/s
16:00
1008hPa 5J/kg 100% 1.5°C 0% 9% 68% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ 12° 100% 0.19mm 4.2m/s 24m/s 1.6m/s
17:00
1008hPa 3J/kg 100% 2°C 0% 1% 73% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ 0.56° 100% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
18:00
1008hPa 2J/kg 100% 2.3°C 1% 4% 78% 0mm 96% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
19:00
1009hPa 6J/kg 100% 2.3°C 11% 0% 83% 0mm 96% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 100% 0mm 6.3m/s 23m/s 1.2m/s
20:00
1010hPa 13J/kg 100% 2.1°C 17% 52% 85% 0mm 97% 0.01mm -20dBZ -39° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
21:00
1010hPa 14J/kg 100% 2.1°C 17% 100% 88% 0mm 98% 0.01mm -19dBZ -52° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
22:00
1010hPa 13J/kg 100% 2.1°C 24% 31% 90% 0mm 98% 0.01mm -19dBZ -66° 100% 0mm 6m/s 22m/s 0.88m/s
23:00
1010hPa 16J/kg 100% 1.9°C 31% 100% 88% 0mm 99% 0.01mm -18dBZ -79° 100% 0mm - - 0.91m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 06:24 Sunset 17:04
24:00
1009hPa 15J/kg 100% 2.1°C 36% 100% 85% 0mm 99% 0mm -17dBZ -84° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
01:00
1009hPa 16J/kg 100% 1.8°C 30% 100% 83% 0mm 99% 0mm -17dBZ -72° 100% 0mm 5.6m/s 21m/s 0.98m/s
02:00
1009hPa 28J/kg 100% 1.6°C 18% 100% 84% 0mm 98% 0mm -14dBZ -59° 100% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
03:00
1009hPa 35J/kg 100% 1.4°C 13% 41% 85% 0mm 98% 0mm -11dBZ -45° 100% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
04:00
1009hPa 44J/kg 100% 1.3°C 14% 0% 86% 0mm 98% 0mm -8.4dBZ -32° 100% 0mm 4.9m/s 20m/s 1.1m/s
05:00
1008hPa 184J/kg 67% 0.34°C 16% 0% 80% 0.01mm 90% 0.05mm -12dBZ -19° 74% 0.25mm - - 1.4m/s
06:00
1007hPa 323J/kg 33% -0.61°C 19% 0% 75% 0.03mm 83% 0.1mm -16dBZ -6° 47% 0.5mm - - 1.6m/s
07:00
1007hPa 463J/kg 0% -1.6°C 21% 0% 69% 0.04mm 75% 0.15mm -20dBZ 6.3° 21% 0.75mm 6.2m/s 22m/s 1.9m/s
08:00
1006hPa 457J/kg 0% -1.7°C 15% 0% 69% 0.07mm 78% 0.12mm -20dBZ 18° 15% 1.1mm - - 1.8m/s
09:00
1006hPa 452J/kg 0% -1.9°C 9% 0% 68% 0.09mm 81% 0.08mm -20dBZ 28° 9% 1.4mm - - 1.7m/s
10:00
1006hPa 446J/kg 0% -2°C 3% 0% 68% 0.12mm 84% 0.05mm -20dBZ 36° 3% 1.8mm 6.2m/s 21m/s 1.6m/s
11:00
1006hPa 417J/kg 0% -2°C 13% 0% 59% 0.08mm 89% 0.1mm -7.6dBZ 41° 13% 1.3mm - - 1.2m/s
12:00
1006hPa 389J/kg 0% -2°C 23% 0% 50% 0.04mm 93% 0.15mm 4.8dBZ 42° 23% 0.79mm - - 0.86m/s
13:00
1006hPa 360J/kg 0% -2°C 32% 0% 41% 0mm 98% 0.2mm 17dBZ 39° 32% 0.31mm 5m/s 18m/s 0.47m/s
14:00
1006hPa 321J/kg 0% -1.7°C 31% 0% 43% 0.03mm 98% 0.18mm 10dBZ 32° 31% 0.54mm - - 0.55m/s
15:00
1006hPa 282J/kg 0% -1.3°C 29% 0% 45% 0.05mm 99% 0.16mm 2.8dBZ 23° 29% 0.77mm - - 0.63m/s
16:00
1006hPa 243J/kg 0% -0.9°C 28% 0% 48% 0.08mm 99% 0.14mm -4.4dBZ 12° 28% 1mm 6.5m/s 24m/s 0.71m/s
17:00
1006hPa 230J/kg 1% -0.7°C 32% 0% 46% 0.06mm 99% 0.09mm -9.6dBZ 0.51° 32% 0.79mm - - 0.78m/s
18:00
1005hPa 218J/kg 3% -0.5°C 36% 0% 44% 0.04mm 99% 0.05mm -15dBZ -13° 36% 0.58mm - - 0.85m/s
19:00
1005hPa 205J/kg 4% -0.3°C 41% 0% 42% 0.02mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 41% 0.38mm 8.4m/s 25m/s 0.92m/s
20:00
1004hPa 182J/kg 7% -0.27°C 40% 0% 50% 0.02mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 40% 0.4mm - - 1m/s
21:00
1004hPa 158J/kg 9% -0.24°C 39% 0% 58% 0.01mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -52° 39% 0.42mm - - 1.1m/s
22:00
1003hPa 135J/kg 11% -0.21°C 38% 0% 66% 0.01mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -66° 38% 0.44mm 8.9m/s 17m/s 1.2m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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