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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 72% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover97%
Wind Gusts4.2m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure1020.7hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index7.4°C
Wind Gusts4.2m/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
Tue, Jul 7
23:000%14%0J/kg7°C24135m1.9m/s
Wed, Jul 8
24:000%14%0J/kg7.1°C24135m1.8m/s
01:000%13%0J/kg7°C24135m1.8m/s
02:000%13%0J/kg7.1°C24135m1.9m/s
03:000%11%0J/kg7.5°C24135m1.9m/s
04:000%9.6%0J/kg7.8°C24135m1.9m/s
05:000%11%0J/kg7.9°C24135m1.9m/s
06:000%13%0J/kg8.2°C24134m1.2m/s
07:000%28%0J/kg8.3°C24135m1.2m/s
08:000%54%0J/kg8.4°C24135m1.9m/s
09:000%70%0J/kg8.5°C24135m4.3m/s
10:000%64%0J/kg8.7°C24134m3.7m/s
11:000%56%0J/kg8.8°C24134m4.3m/s
12:000%62%0J/kg8°C24135m3.4m/s
13:000%24%0J/kg7.6°C24135m2.2m/s
14:000%28%0J/kg7.3°C24135m1.6m/s
15:000%64%0J/kg7.3°C24134m1.2m/s
16:000%48%0J/kg7°C24135m1.1m/s
17:000%45%0J/kg6.7°C24134m0.82m/s
18:000%47%0J/kg6.9°C24135m0.9m/s
19:000%7.5%0J/kg7.1°C24134m1m/s
20:000%2.2%0J/kg7.2°C24134m1.2m/s
21:000%4.6%0J/kg7.1°C24134m2.6m/s
22:000%4.6%0J/kg7.3°C24134m3.4m/s
23:000%1.8%0J/kg7.4°C24134m4.2m/s
Thu, Jul 9
24:000%0.4%0J/kg7.4°C24135m4.4m/s
01:000%1.4%0J/kg7.2°C24135m4.4m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg7.1°C24135m3.6m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg7°C24135m3.1m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg7.1°C24134m1.9m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg6.9°C24134m2m/s
06:000%5.9%0J/kg7°C24134m1.2m/s
07:000%100%0J/kg7°C24135m1.1m/s
08:000%100%0J/kg7.1°C24134m1.3m/s
09:000%100%0J/kg7.2°C24134m3.2m/s
10:000%92%0J/kg7.2°C24135m2.7m/s
11:000%58%0J/kg7.1°C24135m2.5m/s
12:000%55%0J/kg6.1°C24135m2m/s
13:000%31%0J/kg5.6°C24134m1.9m/s
14:000%61%0J/kg5.6°C24134m1.8m/s
15:000%64%0J/kg5.6°C24134m1.6m/s
16:000%99%0J/kg5.4°C24135m2.1m/s
17:000%100%0J/kg5.8°C24135m0.91m/s
18:000%70%0J/kg5.9°C24134m0.92m/s
19:000%8.7%0J/kg5.9°C24135m0.9m/s
20:000%13%0J/kg4.7°C24134m1.1m/s
21:000%9.2%0J/kg4.3°C24135m1.3m/s
22:000%8.6%0J/kg4.1°C24135m1.5m/s
23:000%12%0J/kg3.7°C24134m2.3m/s
Fri, Jul 10
24:000%13%0J/kg3.9°C24135m3.4m/s
01:000%12%0J/kg4.1°C24135m3.5m/s
02:000%9.7%0J/kg4.3°C24134m3.4m/s
03:000%13%0J/kg4.5°C24135m3.8m/s
04:000%15%0J/kg4.4°C24135m3.7m/s
05:000%15%0J/kg4.6°C24134m4.4m/s
06:000%14%0J/kg4.8°C24135m3.7m/s
07:000%88%0J/kg4.7°C24135m3.7m/s
08:000%44%0J/kg4.4°C24135m4.4m/s
09:000%16%0J/kg4.5°C24135m5.8m/s
10:000%78%0J/kg4.5°C24135m4.7m/s
11:000%13%0J/kg4.9°C24135m4.8m/s
12:000%14%0J/kg5.1°C24135m4.9m/s
13:000%16%0J/kg4.7°C24134m4.4m/s
14:000%57%6J/kg4.3°C24135m4.8m/s
15:000%56%17J/kg4°C24134m5m/s
16:000%31%10J/kg3.9°C24135m5.1m/s
17:000%63%0J/kg4.2°C24134m7.4m/s
18:000%61%0J/kg4.3°C24134m8.4m/s
19:000%15%0J/kg4.1°C24135m10m/s
20:000%11%0J/kg4°C24134m11m/s
21:000%13%3J/kg4°C24134m11m/s
22:000%13%3J/kg4.4°C24134m12m/s
23:000%15%7J/kg4°C24135m12m/s
Sat, Jul 11
24:000%15%16J/kg3.9°C24134m13m/s
01:0012%9.7%17J/kg3.8°C24134m13m/s
02:0012%1.7%10J/kg3.5°C24135m13m/s
03:0011%0%0J/kg2.8°C24135m13m/s
04:0012%0%0J/kg3°C24135m13m/s
05:0022%0%17J/kg3.2°C17295m14m/s
06:0027%0%35J/kg3.4°C10455m14m/s
07:0043%82%52J/kg3.6°C3614m15m/s
08:0042%81%35J/kg3.8°C10455m13m/s
09:0030%68%19J/kg4°C17295m11m/s
10:0041%57%2J/kg4.2°C24135m9.3m/s
11:0024%51%4J/kg3.3°C24135m11m/s
12:0031%51%6J/kg2.4°C24135m13m/s
13:0031%29%8J/kg1.5°C24135m14m/s
14:0030%29%25J/kg1.3°C20705m15m/s
15:0028%33%43J/kg1°C17276m15m/s
16:0042%35%60J/kg0.79°C13847m16m/s
17:0028%30%50J/kg2.9°C17276m15m/s
18:0029%30%41J/kg5°C20705m14m/s
19:0033%0%31J/kg7.1°C24135m13m/s
20:0029%0%32J/kg6.9°C21772m13m/s
21:0020%0%32J/kg6.7°C19409m12m/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
Convective Precip Fraction
fraction
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
Wed, Jul 8 Sunrise 07:45 Sunset 17:20
23:00
1021hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 74% 7.4°C 12% 97% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 97% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
Thu, Jul 9 Sunrise 07:45 Sunset 17:20
24:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 94% 7.4°C 12% 97% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -72° 97% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
01:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 95% 7.2°C 11% 94% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -73° 97% 0mm 4.6m/s 2.5m/s 1.4m/s
02:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 7.1°C 13% 100% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -65° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
03:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 7°C 12% 100% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -55° 100% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
04:00
1019hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 7.1°C 13% 100% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -43° 100% 0mm 4.3m/s 2.7m/s 1.1m/s
05:00
1019hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 6.9°C 14% 100% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 100% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
06:00
1019hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 7°C 14% 98% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 100% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
07:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 39% 7°C 10% 61% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -8.8° 63% 0mm 4.9m/s 3.3m/s 1.1m/s
08:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 12% 7.1°C 12% 71% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ 71% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
09:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 15% 7.2°C 0% 32% 0% 0mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 33% 0mm - - 0.95m/s
10:00
1020hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 52% 7.2°C 0% 42% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 54% 0mm 4.1m/s 3.7m/s 1.3m/s
11:00
1019hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 27% 7.1°C 0% 85% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 85% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
12:00
1018hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 28% 6.1°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 100% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
13:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 5.6°C 0% 95% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 95% 0mm 4.2m/s 4.8m/s 1.2m/s
14:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 9% 5.6°C 0% 42% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 26° 42% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
15:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 8% 5.6°C 0% 78% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 78% 0mm - - 1m/s
16:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 16% 5.4°C 0% 62% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 12° 62% 0mm 4.7m/s 3.7m/s 0.79m/s
17:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 33% 5.8°C 0% 27% 0% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 34% 0mm - - 0.81m/s
18:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 9% 5.9°C 0% 59% 0% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ -7.6° 59% 0mm - - 0.93m/s
19:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 14% 5.9°C 0% 36% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 36% 0mm 1.6m/s 1m/s 0.95m/s
20:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 12% 4.7°C 0% 52% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 52% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
21:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 4.3°C 0% 30% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 30% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
22:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 4.1°C 2% 53% 0% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 53% 0mm 0.86m/s 0.85m/s 1.3m/s
23:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 3.7°C 5% 74% 0% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 74% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
Fri, Jul 10 Sunrise 07:45 Sunset 17:21
24:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 3% 3.9°C 3% 38% 0% 0mm 96% 0mm -20dBZ -72° 38% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
01:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.1°C 18% 5% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -73° 18% 0mm 1.5m/s 2.6m/s 1.4m/s
02:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.3°C 23% 5% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -65° 23% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
03:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.5°C 26% 15% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -55° 28% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
04:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.4°C 25% 75% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -43° 75% 0mm 1.2m/s 2.8m/s 1.4m/s
05:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.6°C 25% 56% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 56% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
06:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.8°C 46% 64% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 65% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
07:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.7°C 34% 65% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -8.7° 65% 0mm 0.8m/s 2.9m/s 1.4m/s
08:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.4°C 26% 5% 0% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ 26% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
09:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.5°C 6% 5% 0% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 6% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
10:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.5°C 24% 22% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 24% 0mm 2.2m/s 4.3m/s 1.8m/s
11:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 3% 4.9°C 5% 5% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 5% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
12:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 5.1°C 5% 5% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 5% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
13:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 4.7°C 5% 5% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 5% 0mm 3.2m/s 5.4m/s 2.3m/s
14:00
1009hPa 6J/kg 0fraction 5% 4.3°C 47% 5% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ 26° 47% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
15:00
1009hPa 17J/kg 0fraction 5% 4°C 26% 5% 0% 0mm 62% 0.02mm -20dBZ 20° 26% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
16:00
1008hPa 10J/kg 0fraction 5% 3.9°C 5% 5% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 12° 5% 0mm 4.4m/s 6.7m/s 2.2m/s
17:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 86% 4.2°C 5% 30% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ 3.1° 86% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
18:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 78% 4.3°C 5% 98% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -7.5° 98% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
19:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.1°C 5% 13% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -19° 13% 0mm 2.9m/s 7.9m/s 2.3m/s
20:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 4°C 5% 3% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 5% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
21:00
1008hPa 3J/kg 0fraction 0% 4°C 60% 0% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 60% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
22:00
1007hPa 3J/kg 0fraction 5% 4.4°C 61% 5% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -53° 61% 0mm 3.4m/s 9.5m/s 2.8m/s
23:00
1006hPa 7J/kg 0fraction 5% 4°C 6% 4% 7% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 6% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
Sat, Jul 11 Sunrise 07:45 Sunset 17:21
24:00
1005hPa 16J/kg 0fraction 5% 3.9°C 29% 62% 15% 0mm 85% 0.02mm -20dBZ -72° 62% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
01:00
1005hPa 17J/kg 0fraction 100% 3.8°C 52% 70% 22% 0mm 86% 0.02mm -20dBZ -73° 100% 0mm 6.3m/s 9.6m/s 2.9m/s
02:00
1004hPa 10J/kg 0fraction 100% 3.5°C 38% 100% 23% 0mm 84% 0.01mm -20dBZ -65° 100% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
03:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 2.8°C 44% 100% 23% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -55° 100% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
04:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 100% 3°C 60% 100% 24% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -43° 100% 0mm 7.1m/s 8.6m/s 3.7m/s
05:00
999hPa 17J/kg 0fraction 72% 3.2°C 74% 100% 36% 0.57mm 85% 0.73mm -20dBZ -31° 100% 0.77mm - - 4.1m/s
06:00
996hPa 35J/kg 0fraction 44% 3.4°C 87% 100% 49% 1.1mm 90% 1.5mm -20dBZ -20° 100% 1.5mm - - 4.5m/s
07:00
994hPa 52J/kg 0fraction 15% 3.6°C 100% 100% 62% 1.7mm 94% 2.2mm -20dBZ -8.7° 100% 2.3mm 6.6m/s 9.5m/s 5m/s
08:00
994hPa 35J/kg 0fraction 10% 3.8°C 100% 100% 74% 1.1mm 95% 1.5mm -20dBZ 2.1° 100% 5.4mm - - 4.2m/s
09:00
993hPa 19J/kg 0fraction 5% 4°C 100% 100% 86% 0.58mm 95% 0.73mm -20dBZ 11° 100% 8.4mm - - 3.5m/s
10:00
993hPa 2J/kg 0fraction 0% 4.2°C 100% 100% 99% 0.02mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 100% 11mm 8.5m/s 10m/s 2.7m/s
11:00
993hPa 4J/kg 0.19fraction 0% 3.3°C 99% 68% 90% 0.03mm 94% 0.01mm -0.01dBZ 25° 99% 7.8mm - - 3.2m/s
12:00
993hPa 6J/kg 0.37fraction 0% 2.4°C 98% 36% 81% 0.05mm 92% 0.03mm 20dBZ 29° 98% 4.2mm - - 3.6m/s
13:00
993hPa 8J/kg 0.56fraction 0% 1.5°C 97% 4% 72% 0.06mm 91% 0.04mm 40dBZ 29° 97% 0.63mm 6.7m/s 8m/s 4.1m/s
14:00
993hPa 25J/kg 0.37fraction 0% 1.3°C 98% 3% 77% 0.11mm 92% 0.1mm 29dBZ 26° 98% 1.2mm - - 4.7m/s
15:00
994hPa 43J/kg 0.19fraction 0% 1°C 99% 1% 83% 0.15mm 93% 0.17mm 18dBZ 20° 99% 1.8mm - - 5.4m/s
16:00
994hPa 60J/kg 0.002fraction 0% 0.79°C 100% 0% 88% 0.2mm 93% 0.23mm 7.6dBZ 12° 100% 2.4mm 15m/s 23m/s 6.1m/s
17:00
995hPa 50J/kg 0.15fraction 0% 2.9°C 100% 0% 89% 0.17mm 92% 0.17mm 1.3dBZ 3.2° 100% 2.2mm - - 5.9m/s
18:00
996hPa 41J/kg 0.29fraction 0% 5°C 100% 0% 90% 0.15mm 91% 0.12mm -5dBZ -7.4° 100% 1.9mm - - 5.7m/s
19:00
997hPa 31J/kg 0.43fraction 0% 7.1°C 100% 0% 91% 0.12mm 90% 0.06mm -11dBZ -19° 100% 1.6mm 9.5m/s 5.1m/s 5.5m/s
20:00
997hPa 32J/kg 0.46fraction 0% 6.9°C 100% 4% 93% 0.14mm 88% 0.1mm -0.67dBZ -30° 100% 1.8mm - - 5m/s
21:00
997hPa 32J/kg 0.49fraction 0% 6.7°C 100% 8% 95% 0.15mm 86% 0.13mm 9.9dBZ -42° 100% 1.9mm - - 4.5m/s
22:00
998hPa 33J/kg 0.52fraction 0% 6.5°C 100% 11% 97% 0.17mm 84% 0.17mm 20dBZ -53° 100% 2mm 4.7m/s 14m/s 4m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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