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Rule Storm Chaser

Port Campbell - Storm Chaser - Australian Coast

Port Campbell, Victoria, 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 96% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts0.5m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure1001.4hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index17.2°C
Wind Gusts0.5m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Australia/Melbourne

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/Melbourne
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
06:0011%1.1%0J/kg2.8°C24135m12m/s
07:000%76%0J/kg0.8°C21027m10m/s
08:0013%68%8J/kg0.8°C24135m12m/s
09:000%66%11J/kg1.6°C24135m9.8m/s
10:000%55%21J/kg1.5°C24135m12m/s
11:0019%45%2J/kg2.3°C24135m13m/s
12:000%45%0J/kg2.6°C24135m11m/s
13:000%25%0J/kg1.9°C24134m12m/s
14:0026%25%14J/kg1.9°C23865m11m/s
15:000%45%31J/kg1.8°C24134m11m/s
16:0014%45%29J/kg1.8°C11027m8.2m/s
17:0045%48%18J/kg2°C670m8.7m/s
18:0015%55%1J/kg3.7°C10160m8.7m/s
19:0013%83%1J/kg4.9°C17382m8.4m/s
20:0029%39%0J/kg5.1°C24135m8.6m/s
21:0012%59%2J/kg13°C24135m9.2m/s
22:0012%14%2J/kg14°C24135m9.1m/s
23:0026%12%1J/kg15°C24134m4.4m/s
Mon, Feb 23
24:000%0.3%0J/kg15°C24135m1.7m/s
01:000%0.2%0J/kg15°C24135m0.82m/s
02:0013%1.5%2J/kg15°C24135m0.54m/s
03:000%0.8%3J/kg15°C24135m0.31m/s
04:000%3.1%3J/kg16°C24135m0.41m/s
05:0013%4.7%0J/kg17°C24135m0.42m/s
06:000%3.4%0J/kg17°C24134m0.51m/s
07:000%5.2%0J/kg17°C24134m0.41m/s
08:0011%7%0J/kg18°C24135m0.52m/s
09:000%6.7%0J/kg18°C24135m1.5m/s
10:000%7.5%0J/kg17°C24135m2.3m/s
11:0012%6.6%0J/kg17°C24135m1.8m/s
12:000%4%0J/kg16°C24135m1.7m/s
13:000%2.7%0J/kg15°C24135m1.7m/s
14:0012%1.5%0J/kg15°C24135m2.3m/s
15:000%2.7%0J/kg14°C24134m3.3m/s
16:000%2.7%0J/kg14°C24135m3.4m/s
17:0013%3.3%0J/kg13°C24134m2.9m/s
18:000%3.3%0J/kg13°C24135m4.2m/s
19:000%6.5%0J/kg13°C24134m5.6m/s
20:0014%9.8%0J/kg13°C24135m7.7m/s
21:000%6%0J/kg13°C24134m5.4m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg14°C24134m1.7m/s
23:0013%0%0J/kg14°C24135m6.3m/s
Tue, Feb 24
24:000%0%0J/kg13°C24134m6m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg12°C24135m6.1m/s
02:0012%0.2%0J/kg11°C24135m5.3m/s
03:000%0.2%0J/kg9.2°C24134m3.1m/s
04:000%3%0J/kg5.4°C24134m1.7m/s
05:0011%13%0J/kg3.5°C24134m1.6m/s
06:000%14%0J/kg2.1°C24135m1.7m/s
07:000%20%0J/kg1.5°C24135m2m/s
08:0012%61%0J/kg2.6°C24135m4.7m/s
09:000%34%0J/kg2.6°C24135m1.9m/s
10:000%50%1J/kg1.8°C24134m0.91m/s
11:0011%44%0J/kg4.1°C24135m2.7m/s
12:000%39%0J/kg3.5°C24134m3.2m/s
13:000%24%0J/kg2.4°C24135m3.3m/s
14:0014%23%0J/kg5°C24135m3.4m/s
15:000%47%0J/kg3.9°C24135m4.6m/s
16:000%42%0J/kg4.8°C24135m3.8m/s
17:0015%53%0J/kg4.6°C24135m4.4m/s
18:000%30%0J/kg3.2°C24134m5.3m/s
19:000%49%0J/kg2.5°C24134m6.7m/s
20:0016%56%0J/kg3.3°C24135m7.1m/s
21:000%51%0J/kg4.3°C24135m7.1m/s
22:000%15%0J/kg4.5°C24134m2m/s
23:000%10%0J/kg5.9°C24135m1.2m/s
Wed, Feb 25
24:000%6.7%0J/kg9.7°C24134m2.6m/s
01:000%5.6%0J/kg12°C24135m1.7m/s
02:000%2.9%0J/kg13°C24135m1m/s
03:000%0.1%0J/kg13°C24134m0.82m/s
04:000%3.3%0J/kg13°C24135m0.91m/s
05:000%11%0J/kg13°C24135m1.4m/s
06:000%13%0J/kg12°C24134m1.4m/s
07:000%44%3J/kg11°C24134m1.4m/s
08:000%61%11J/kg10°C24134m3.7m/s
09:000%32%20J/kg10°C24134m6.9m/s
10:000%26%20J/kg11°C24134m6.7m/s
11:000%21%9J/kg12°C24135m6.7m/s
12:000%28%6J/kg13°C24135m7.2m/s
13:000%28%3J/kg14°C24135m7.6m/s
14:000%2.5%0J/kg15°C24135m8.1m/s
15:000%4.5%0J/kg15°C24135m8.1m/s
16:000%4.5%0J/kg15°C24135m8.2m/s
17:000%5.5%0J/kg15°C24135m8.2m/s
18:000%3.3%0J/kg14°C24135m5.8m/s
19:000%3.9%0J/kg14°C24135m3.4m/s
20:000%1.4%0J/kg13°C24135m1m/s
21:000%3.6%0J/kg12°C24135m1.1m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg12°C24135m1.2m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg11°C24135m1.3m/s
Thu, Feb 26
24:000%0%0.33J/kg10°C24135m2.2m/s
01:000%0%0.67J/kg8.9°C24135m3.1m/s
02:000%0%1J/kg7.8°C24135m4m/s
03:000%0%3J/kg7.5°C24135m4.1m/s
04:000%0%5J/kg7.3°C24135m4.2m/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/Melbourne
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 07:05 Sunset 20:18
06:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 17°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 0% 0mm - - 0.36m/s
07:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 17°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -1.6° 0% 0mm - - 0.43m/s
08:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 18°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ 9.9° 0% 0mm 10m/s 19m/s 0.57m/s
09:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 18°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 22° 0% 0mm - - 0.57m/s
10:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 17°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ 33° 0% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
11:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 17°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 0% 0mm 12m/s 20m/s 1.4m/s
12:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 16°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 0% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
13:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 60° 0% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
14:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ 61° 0% 0mm 12m/s 15m/s 2.9m/s
15:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 56° 0% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
16:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 0% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
17:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 0% 0mm 13m/s 15m/s 3.5m/s
18:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 26° 0% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
19:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ 14° 0% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
20:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 2.7° 0% 0mm 11m/s 16m/s 2.4m/s
21:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ -8.8° 0% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
22:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 0% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
23:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 0% 0mm 10m/s 18m/s 1.5m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 07:06 Sunset 20:17
24:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 0% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
01:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 0% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
02:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 0% 0mm 9.7m/s 18m/s 1.4m/s
03:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.2°C 0% 0% 17% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ -38° 0% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
04:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.4°C 0% 0% 33% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 0% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
05:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.5°C 0% 0% 50% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 0% 0mm 12m/s 14m/s 1.1m/s
06:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.1°C 1% 0% 39% 0mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 1% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
07:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.5°C 1% 0% 27% 0mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ -1.8° 1% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
08:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.6°C 59% 0% 16% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ 9.7° 59% 0mm 15m/s 11m/s 1.2m/s
09:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.6°C 90% 2% 21% 0mm 68% 0mm -19dBZ 21° 90% 0mm - - 0.72m/s
10:00
1001hPa 1J/kg 0% 1.8°C 58% 1% 25% 0mm 68% 0mm -17dBZ 33° 58% 0mm - - 0.3m/s
11:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.1°C 57% 0% 30% 0mm 45% 0mm -16dBZ 44° 57% 0mm 16m/s 14m/s 1.6m/s
12:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.5°C 20% 0% 37% 0mm 36% 0mm -17dBZ 53° 20% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
13:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.4°C 10% 0% 43% 0mm 36% 0mm -19dBZ 59° 10% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
14:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 5°C 100% 0% 50% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 61° 100% 0mm 19m/s 18m/s 3.2m/s
15:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.9°C 43% 0% 50% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ 56° 43% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
16:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.8°C 76% 0% 50% 0mm 49% 0.06mm -20dBZ 47° 76% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
17:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.6°C 69% 0% 50% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 69% 0mm 20m/s 25m/s 3.5m/s
18:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.2°C 13% 0% 33% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ 26° 13% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
19:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.5°C 27% 0% 17% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 14° 27% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
20:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.3°C 34% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 2.5° 34% 0mm 19m/s 27m/s 2.5m/s
21:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.3°C 21% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -9.1° 21% 0mm - - 2m/s
22:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.5°C 1% 0% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 1% 0mm - - 0.95m/s
23:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 0% 0mm 19m/s 30m/s 0.7m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 07:07 Sunset 20:15
24:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.7°C 0% 0% 8% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -37° 0% 0mm - - 1m/s
01:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 0% 0% 16% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 0% 0mm - - 0.97m/s
02:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 0% 24% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 0% 0mm 16m/s 26m/s 0.61m/s
03:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 0% 29% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 0% 0mm - - 0.61m/s
04:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 0% 34% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 0% 0mm - - 0.6m/s
05:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 0% 39% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 0% 0mm 14m/s 22m/s 0.82m/s
06:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 3% 0% 26% 0mm 97% 0mm -12dBZ -13° 3% 0mm - - 0.68m/s
07:00
1009hPa 3J/kg 0% 11°C 16% 0% 13% 0mm 98% 0mm -3.6dBZ -2° 16% 0mm - - 0.67m/s
08:00
1009hPa 11J/kg 0% 10°C 36% 0% 0% 0mm 95% 0.04mm 4.6dBZ 9.5° 36% 0mm 14m/s 24m/s 0.43m/s
09:00
1010hPa 20J/kg 0% 10°C 93% 0% 0% 0.01mm 84% 0.11mm -3.6dBZ 21° 93% 0.13mm - - 2.6m/s
10:00
1011hPa 20J/kg 0% 11°C 100% 0% 0% 0.01mm 83% 0.09mm -12dBZ 33° 100% 0.19mm - - 3.1m/s
11:00
1011hPa 9J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 0% 0% 0.01mm 78% 0.05mm -20dBZ 43° 100% 0.31mm 13m/s 24m/s 3.1m/s
12:00
1011hPa 6J/kg 0% 13°C 68% 0% 0% 0.007mm 76% 0.03mm -20dBZ 53° 68% 0.21mm - - 3m/s
13:00
1011hPa 3J/kg 0% 14°C 35% 0% 0% 0.003mm 73% 0.02mm -20dBZ 59° 35% 0.1mm - - 2.9m/s
14:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ 60° 3% 0mm 12m/s 23m/s 2.8m/s
15:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 2% 0% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ 56° 2% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
16:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 1% 0% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 47° 1% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
17:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 0% 0mm 12m/s 23m/s 1.9m/s
18:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 0% 14°C 1% 0% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 1% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
19:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 14°C 1% 0% 0% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ 14° 1% 0mm - - 0.99m/s
20:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 2% 0% 0% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ 2.2° 2% 0mm 13m/s 20m/s 0.56m/s
21:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -9.3° 3% 0mm - - 0.59m/s
22:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 96% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 5% 0mm - - 0.62m/s
23:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 6% 0% 0% 0mm 96% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 6% 0mm 13m/s 19m/s 0.65m/s
Thu, Feb 26 Sunrise 07:08 Sunset 20:14
24:00
1009hPa 0.33J/kg 0% 10°C 33% 0% 0% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ -37° 33% 0mm - - 0.73m/s
01:00
1009hPa 0.67J/kg 0% 8.9°C 60% 0% 0% 0mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 60% 0mm - - 0.82m/s
02:00
1009hPa 1J/kg 0% 7.8°C 88% 0% 0% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 88% 0mm 12m/s 18m/s 0.9m/s
03:00
1009hPa 3J/kg 0% 7.5°C 87% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 87% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
04:00
1009hPa 5J/kg 0% 7.3°C 86% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 86% 0mm - - 2m/s
05:00
1009hPa 7J/kg 0% 7°C 86% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -24° 86% 0mm 12m/s 20m/s 2.5m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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