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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 86% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts11.5m/s
Precipitation Chance6%
Air Pressure997.4hPa
CAPE7
Lifted Index2.4°C
Wind Gusts11.5m/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
Wed, Apr 8
11:000%39%0J/kg12°C24135m2.7m/s
12:000%34%0J/kg12°C24134m3.1m/s
13:0013%37%0J/kg11°C24135m3.4m/s
14:000%53%0J/kg11°C24134m3.4m/s
15:000%73%0J/kg11°C24134m3.4m/s
16:0014%59%0J/kg11°C24135m3.7m/s
17:000%25%0J/kg11°C24135m3.8m/s
18:000%95%0J/kg11°C24134m0.9m/s
19:0013%46%0J/kg11°C24135m0.92m/s
20:000%14%0J/kg7.4°C24134m2.1m/s
21:000%15%0J/kg4.7°C24135m2.6m/s
22:0015%15%0J/kg3.3°C24134m8.8m/s
23:000%5.4%22J/kg2.8°C24134m9.2m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%7.3%10J/kg2.3°C24134m11m/s
01:0013%12%31J/kg1.7°C24135m12m/s
02:0011%11%40J/kg1.6°C24135m12m/s
03:0012%9.3%62J/kg1°C24134m13m/s
04:0027%4.5%92J/kg0.6°C21501m15m/s
05:0012%4%106J/kg-0.1°C24135m16m/s
06:0013%50%125J/kg-0.3°C24134m15m/s
07:0023%64%114J/kg0°C24134m14m/s
08:0012%67%9J/kg0.6°C24135m13m/s
09:0012%67%5J/kg1.4°C24135m13m/s
10:0025%55%13J/kg1.8°C24135m12m/s
11:000%33%7J/kg2.4°C24134m12m/s
12:000%17%4J/kg2.4°C24135m12m/s
13:0024%16%1J/kg2.6°C24135m13m/s
14:0011%25%0J/kg2.6°C24135m13m/s
15:0011%24%19J/kg2.7°C24134m13m/s
16:0018%46%29J/kg2.4°C24134m11m/s
17:000%56%11J/kg2.7°C24134m9.3m/s
18:000%67%1J/kg2.2°C24135m7.8m/s
19:0017%52%0J/kg3.6°C24134m8.4m/s
20:0011%6%0J/kg4.9°C24135m14m/s
21:0012%15%0J/kg4.9°C24135m15m/s
22:0028%15%0J/kg4°C24135m15m/s
23:0013%15%4J/kg3°C22717m15m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:0015%13%86J/kg2.9°C11847m14m/s
01:0048%8.7%31J/kg3.2°C2287m12m/s
02:0018%7.3%6J/kg6.1°C23786m11m/s
03:0018%9.2%28J/kg9.8°C10769m10m/s
04:0043%0.3%1J/kg11°C24135m13m/s
05:000%6.6%7J/kg12°C22847m10m/s
06:000%52%16J/kg12°C22900m11m/s
07:0020%59%24J/kg13°C22887m11m/s
08:000%37%41J/kg13°C22219m12m/s
09:0013%61%30J/kg13°C24134m12m/s
10:0033%64%57J/kg12°C21840m15m/s
11:0029%36%75J/kg12°C11347m14m/s
12:0029%51%65J/kg13°C12857m14m/s
13:0038%67%88J/kg12°C12908m15m/s
14:0035%50%85J/kg12°C10271m14m/s
15:0027%29%44J/kg12°C14951m12m/s
16:0044%30%56J/kg12°C11811m13m/s
17:0014%60%68J/kg11°C12354m12m/s
18:0029%62%59J/kg12°C12354m13m/s
19:0040%54%62J/kg12°C11649m12m/s
20:0021%3.1%55J/kg13°C13780m11m/s
21:0024%4.9%60J/kg9.5°C10600m12m/s
22:0034%8.9%52J/kg7.4°C20739m12m/s
23:000%13%32J/kg6.8°C19556m12m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%15%22J/kg4.8°C21284m11m/s
01:0022%15%19J/kg4.3°C17976m10m/s
02:0013%15%23J/kg4.8°C22467m11m/s
03:0013%14%22J/kg5.7°C23984m12m/s
04:0027%15%23J/kg5.5°C22844m12m/s
05:000%14%34J/kg5.2°C21873m11m/s
06:000%41%31J/kg4.5°C22068m11m/s
07:0018%46%29J/kg4.1°C17297m11m/s
08:0015%43%31J/kg3.7°C18003m12m/s
09:0020%43%58J/kg3.5°C10973m11m/s
10:0039%51%57J/kg3.9°C11712m12m/s
11:0031%37%129J/kg3.4°C8152m12m/s
12:0032%67%126J/kg5.9°C8290m13m/s
13:0043%45%90J/kg8.2°C9895m12m/s
14:0026%30%41J/kg9.7°C21289m13m/s
15:0026%32%46J/kg11°C24135m14m/s
16:0033%40%60J/kg9.6°C22377m13m/s
17:0025%33%59J/kg9.7°C22963m13m/s
18:0021%35%59J/kg9.7°C23549m13m/s
19:0023%40%58J/kg9.8°C24135m12m/s
20:0013%0%58J/kg9.7°C23964m12m/s
21:0013%0%57J/kg9.6°C23794m12m/s
22:0024%0%57J/kg9.4°C23624m12m/s
23:0013%0%55J/kg9.5°C23283m12m/s
Sun, Apr 12
24:000%0%52J/kg9.5°C22943m12m/s
01:0015%0%50J/kg9.5°C22603m11m/s
02:0014%0%47J/kg9.5°C20382m11m/s
03:0014%0%45J/kg9.4°C18162m11m/s
04:0024%0%42J/kg9.4°C15942m11m/s
05:0014%0%45J/kg9.7°C18673m11m/s
06:0014%28%47J/kg10°C21404m11m/s
07:0015%29%50J/kg10°C24135m11m/s
08:000%27%44J/kg11°C24135m10m/s
09:000%27%37J/kg12°C24135m10m/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
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:50 Sunset 18:09
11:00
997hPa 7J/kg 100% 2.4°C 34% 6% 6% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 100% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
12:00
997hPa 4J/kg 100% 2.4°C 0% 0% 12% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 100% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
13:00
995hPa 1J/kg 100% 2.6°C 0% 0% 19% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 100% 0mm 18m/s 19m/s 4.3m/s
14:00
994hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.6°C 0% 0% 36% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 100% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
15:00
993hPa 19J/kg 100% 2.7°C 3% 4% 54% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 100% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
16:00
993hPa 29J/kg 100% 2.4°C 84% 2% 72% 0mm 48% 0.08mm -20dBZ 23° 100% 0mm 16m/s 22m/s 3.3m/s
17:00
993hPa 11J/kg 100% 2.7°C 0% 23% 81% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ 12° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
18:00
993hPa 1J/kg 100% 2.2°C 0% 94% 91% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ 1.3° 100% 0mm - - 0.8m/s
19:00
993hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.6°C 0% 100% 100% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ -11° 100% 0mm 15m/s 24m/s 1.4m/s
20:00
993hPa 0J/kg 77% 4.9°C 0% 51% 100% 0mm 52% 0mm -19dBZ -22° 82% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
21:00
993hPa 0J/kg 95% 4.9°C 0% 7% 100% 0mm 57% 0mm -19dBZ -34° 95% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
22:00
993hPa 0J/kg 0% 4°C 9% 0% 100% 0mm 63% 0mm -18dBZ -44° 9% 0mm 12m/s 28m/s 4.1m/s
23:00
993hPa 4J/kg 0% 3°C 95% 80% 88% 0.56mm 67% 0mm -3.1dBZ -53° 95% 0.06mm - - 3.9m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:50 Sunset 18:09
24:00
993hPa 86J/kg 0% 2.9°C 100% 8% 77% 0.03mm 87% 0.5mm 12dBZ -58° 100% 0.44mm - - 3.5m/s
01:00
993hPa 31J/kg 0% 3.2°C 100% 62% 65% 5.1mm 95% 0.5mm 27dBZ -58° 100% 2.1mm 16m/s 42m/s 4.5m/s
02:00
995hPa 6J/kg 0% 6.1°C 100% 0% 74% 0.16mm 92% 0.06mm 25dBZ -53° 100% 4mm - - 4.9m/s
03:00
996hPa 28J/kg 0% 9.8°C 100% 0% 84% 0.68mm 94% 0.1mm 23dBZ -44° 100% 4.8mm - - 4.4m/s
04:00
996hPa 1J/kg 0% 11°C 100% 0% 93% 0.03mm 92% 0mm 21dBZ -34° 100% 5.2mm 18m/s 43m/s 2.4m/s
05:00
996hPa 7J/kg 0% 12°C 42% 0% 94% 0mm 91% 0.14mm 17dBZ -22° 42% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
06:00
996hPa 16J/kg 0% 12°C 74% 0% 95% 0mm 93% 0.14mm 12dBZ -11° 74% 0.13mm - - 3m/s
07:00
996hPa 24J/kg 0% 13°C 81% 0% 96% 0.05mm 91% 0.18mm 7.7dBZ 1.4° 81% 0.31mm 11m/s 44m/s 3.1m/s
08:00
997hPa 41J/kg 0% 13°C 100% 0% 97% 0mm 88% 0.34mm 13dBZ 12° 100% 0.63mm - - 3.4m/s
09:00
997hPa 30J/kg 0% 13°C 76% 3% 98% 0mm 84% 0.06mm 19dBZ 23° 76% 0.81mm - - 3.5m/s
10:00
997hPa 57J/kg 0% 12°C 47% 7% 99% 0.19mm 70% 0.25mm 24dBZ 32° 47% 1.1mm 6.3m/s 36m/s 4.3m/s
11:00
997hPa 75J/kg 0% 12°C 87% 7% 99% 0mm 80% 0.73mm 24dBZ 39° 87% 1.1mm - - 4.9m/s
12:00
997hPa 65J/kg 0% 13°C 66% 10% 99% 0mm 79% 0.57mm 23dBZ 43° 66% 1.6mm - - 4.7m/s
13:00
997hPa 88J/kg 0% 12°C 73% 13% 99% 0.01mm 74% 0.55mm 22dBZ 43° 73% 2.2mm 7.9m/s 33m/s 4.7m/s
14:00
996hPa 85J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 13% 99% 0.07mm 80% 0.68mm 22dBZ 39° 100% 2.8mm - - 4.8m/s
15:00
996hPa 44J/kg 0% 12°C 93% 8% 99% 0.01mm 86% 0.48mm 22dBZ 32° 93% 3.4mm - - 4.1m/s
16:00
996hPa 56J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 10% 99% 0mm 84% 0.55mm 21dBZ 23° 100% 3.8mm 9.9m/s 32m/s 4.4m/s
17:00
997hPa 68J/kg 0% 11°C 100% 64% 91% 0.05mm 87% 0.49mm 23dBZ 12° 100% 0.44mm - - 4.4m/s
18:00
998hPa 59J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 77% 84% 0.21mm 87% 0.53mm 24dBZ 1.1° 100% 1mm - - 4.5m/s
19:00
998hPa 62J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 100% 76% 0.05mm 88% 0.59mm 25dBZ -11° 100% 1.7mm 11m/s 33m/s 4.5m/s
20:00
999hPa 55J/kg 0% 13°C 100% 100% 83% 0.04mm 86% 0.58mm 24dBZ -23° 100% 2.3mm - - 3.9m/s
21:00
999hPa 60J/kg 0% 9.5°C 97% 98% 89% 0mm 85% 0.71mm 23dBZ -34° 98% 2.9mm - - 4m/s
22:00
1000hPa 52J/kg 0% 7.4°C 75% 9% 96% 0mm 87% 0.36mm 23dBZ -45° 75% 3.3mm 9.1m/s 23m/s 3.2m/s
23:00
1000hPa 32J/kg 0% 6.8°C 96% 16% 94% 0mm 84% 0.46mm 20dBZ -53° 96% 0.5mm - - 3.5m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:51 Sunset 18:07
24:00
1000hPa 22J/kg 0% 4.8°C 98% 0% 93% 0mm 85% 0.18mm 18dBZ -59° 98% 0.75mm - - 2.9m/s
01:00
999hPa 19J/kg 0% 4.3°C 96% 0% 92% 0mm 89% 0.29mm 15dBZ -59° 96% 1.1mm 2.6m/s 14m/s 2.5m/s
02:00
999hPa 23J/kg 0% 4.8°C 88% 0% 94% 0mm 90% 0.29mm 16dBZ -53° 88% 1.3mm - - 2.5m/s
03:00
999hPa 22J/kg 0% 5.7°C 100% 0% 96% 0mm 88% 0.08mm 17dBZ -44° 100% 1.4mm - - 2.8m/s
04:00
999hPa 23J/kg 0% 5.5°C 100% 0% 99% 0mm 87% 0.16mm 17dBZ -34° 100% 1.6mm 9.6m/s 22m/s 2.5m/s
05:00
999hPa 34J/kg 0% 5.2°C 98% 0% 98% 0mm 84% 0.4mm 19dBZ -22° 98% 0.19mm - - 3m/s
06:00
998hPa 31J/kg 0% 4.5°C 100% 0% 97% 0mm 81% 0.37mm 20dBZ -11° 100% 0.5mm - - 3.3m/s
07:00
998hPa 29J/kg 0% 4.1°C 100% 0% 96% 0mm 83% 0.4mm 21dBZ 1.2° 100% 0.88mm 8.3m/s 18m/s 3.3m/s
08:00
999hPa 31J/kg 0% 3.7°C 100% 0% 97% 0mm 81% 0.48mm 20dBZ 12° 100% 1.2mm - - 3.6m/s
09:00
999hPa 58J/kg 0% 3.5°C 100% 0% 97% 0mm 86% 0.76mm 19dBZ 23° 100% 1.8mm - - 3.5m/s
10:00
999hPa 57J/kg 0% 3.9°C 84% 0% 98% 0mm 86% 0.71mm 18dBZ 32° 84% 2.6mm 5m/s 18m/s 4.2m/s
11:00
998hPa 129J/kg 0% 3.4°C 88% 2% 98% 0mm 83% 1mm 19dBZ 39° 88% 0.75mm - - 4.9m/s
12:00
998hPa 126J/kg 0% 5.9°C 79% 35% 99% 0.03mm 86% 1.1mm 20dBZ 43° 79% 1.8mm - - 5m/s
13:00
998hPa 90J/kg 0% 8.2°C 100% 12% 100% 0mm 87% 0.8mm 22dBZ 43° 100% 2.7mm 6m/s 18m/s 5m/s
14:00
997hPa 41J/kg 0% 9.7°C 100% 0% 100% 0mm 86% 0.26mm 22dBZ 39° 100% 3.4mm - - 4.9m/s
15:00
997hPa 46J/kg 0% 11°C 97% 0% 100% 0mm 73% 0.09mm 22dBZ 31° 97% 3.7mm - - 4.9m/s
16:00
997hPa 60J/kg 0% 9.6°C 96% 0% 100% 0mm 63% 0.3mm 22dBZ 22° 96% 3.8mm 1.2m/s 22m/s 5m/s
17:00
997hPa 59J/kg 0% 9.7°C 91% 0% 99% 0mm 64% 0.24mm 19dBZ 12° 91% 2.7mm - - 4.9m/s
18:00
998hPa 59J/kg 0% 9.7°C 87% 0% 98% 0mm 66% 0.19mm 16dBZ 0.83° 87% 1.5mm - - 4.9m/s
19:00
998hPa 58J/kg 0% 9.8°C 82% 0% 98% 0mm 67% 0.13mm 13dBZ -11° 82% 0.38mm 5.3m/s 19m/s 4.8m/s
20:00
998hPa 58J/kg 0% 9.7°C 88% 0% 98% 0.02mm 69% 0.14mm 13dBZ -23° 88% 0.58mm - - 4.9m/s
21:00
998hPa 57J/kg 0% 9.6°C 94% 0% 98% 0.05mm 71% 0.16mm 13dBZ -34° 94% 0.79mm - - 5m/s
22:00
998hPa 57J/kg 0% 9.4°C 100% 0% 98% 0.07mm 73% 0.17mm 13dBZ -45° 100% 1mm 4.3m/s 13m/s 5.1m/s
23:00
998hPa 55J/kg 0% 9.5°C 98% 0% 97% 0.05mm 74% 0.23mm 13dBZ -54° 98% 0.94mm - - 4.8m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 06:52 Sunset 18:06
24:00
999hPa 52J/kg 0% 9.5°C 97% 0% 95% 0.02mm 74% 0.28mm 12dBZ -59° 97% 0.88mm - - 4.6m/s
01:00
999hPa 50J/kg 0% 9.5°C 96% 0% 93% 0mm 74% 0.34mm 12dBZ -59° 96% 0.81mm 6.4m/s 13m/s 4.3m/s
02:00
1000hPa 47J/kg 0% 9.5°C 85% 0% 95% 0.05mm 73% 0.28mm 13dBZ -54° 85% 1.1mm - - 4.4m/s
03:00
1001hPa 45J/kg 0% 9.4°C 74% 0% 97% 0.1mm 72% 0.22mm 15dBZ -45° 74% 1.4mm - - 4.5m/s
04:00
1001hPa 42J/kg 0% 9.4°C 63% 0% 99% 0.15mm 72% 0.16mm 16dBZ -34° 63% 1.8mm 6m/s 12m/s 4.6m/s
05:00
1002hPa 45J/kg 0% 9.7°C 75% 0% 96% 0.12mm 69% 0.14mm 16dBZ -23° 75% 1.4mm - - 4.6m/s
06:00
1002hPa 47J/kg 0% 10°C 87% 0% 93% 0.08mm 67% 0.12mm 16dBZ -11° 87% 1mm - - 4.5m/s
07:00
1002hPa 50J/kg 0% 10°C 100% 0% 91% 0.05mm 65% 0.1mm 15dBZ 1.1° 100% 0.69mm 7.7m/s 15m/s 4.5m/s
08:00
1002hPa 44J/kg 0% 11°C 100% 0% 92% 0.05mm 64% 0.07mm 17dBZ 12° 100% 0.81mm - - 4.4m/s
09:00
1003hPa 37J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 0% 94% 0.06mm 63% 0.05mm 18dBZ 22° 100% 0.94mm - - 4.3m/s
10:00
1003hPa 31J/kg 0% 13°C 100% 0% 95% 0.06mm 62% 0.02mm 19dBZ 31° 100% 1.1mm 6.3m/s 14m/s 4.2m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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