Skip to content
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

Get notified
Free alerts · takes 30 seconds
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 Gusts8.2m/s
Precipitation Chance45%
Air Pressure1009.8hPa
CAPE24
Lifted Index3.1°C
Wind Gusts8.2m/s
Precipitation0.1mm

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.

Create your own Storm Chaser alerts

Get notified when these conditions match at your own locations.

Get this template

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
Sat, May 23
23:000%2.1%0J/kg7.4°C24134m8.8m/s
Sun, May 24
24:000%5.1%0J/kg8°C24135m9.6m/s
01:000%2.6%0J/kg8.3°C24134m9.2m/s
02:000%6.9%0J/kg8.5°C24135m8.5m/s
03:000%9.1%0J/kg8.4°C24135m7.7m/s
04:000%7.9%0J/kg8°C24134m7.4m/s
05:000%7.3%0J/kg7.5°C24135m8.8m/s
06:000%11%0J/kg7.2°C24134m7.8m/s
07:000%51%0J/kg6.9°C24135m5.5m/s
08:000%47%0J/kg6.7°C24135m8.7m/s
09:000%49%0J/kg7°C24135m9.1m/s
10:000%51%0J/kg7.7°C24135m7.8m/s
11:000%39%0J/kg6.4°C24134m7.2m/s
12:000%46%0J/kg6.6°C24135m7.2m/s
13:000%48%0J/kg7.4°C24135m4.5m/s
14:000%48%7J/kg7.1°C24134m6.8m/s
15:000%60%24J/kg6.5°C21204m6.3m/s
16:000%62%16J/kg5.5°C23086m7.4m/s
17:000%59%21J/kg6.5°C20223m0.9m/s
18:000%50%5J/kg5.7°C23537m1.3m/s
19:000%0.2%1J/kg4.2°C24134m2.4m/s
20:000%0%31J/kg3.7°C24135m3.6m/s
21:000%0.1%47J/kg3.1°C20531m5.1m/s
22:000%0.2%30J/kg2.8°C23087m6.8m/s
23:000%0.1%24J/kg3.1°C24135m8.2m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%1.7%38J/kg3.2°C23817m7.3m/s
01:000%0%31J/kg2.9°C24134m6.2m/s
02:000%1.1%32J/kg2.9°C21513m5.9m/s
03:000%0.4%20J/kg2.8°C24134m4m/s
04:000%3.1%14J/kg2.8°C24134m2.9m/s
05:000%2.6%22J/kg3.1°C24135m2.2m/s
06:000%2.3%17J/kg3.2°C24134m1.3m/s
07:000%52%26J/kg3.2°C24135m1.9m/s
08:000%59%26J/kg4.2°C24134m1.1m/s
09:000%55%27J/kg4.5°C24135m2m/s
10:000%55%20J/kg4.4°C24135m1.9m/s
11:000%46%61J/kg3.2°C24135m2.1m/s
12:000%44%87J/kg2.4°C24135m2.5m/s
13:000%46%94J/kg2.2°C24135m2.6m/s
14:000%46%66J/kg2.7°C24134m3.2m/s
15:000%55%43J/kg3°C24134m3.8m/s
16:000%58%21J/kg3.1°C24134m4.6m/s
17:000%80%26J/kg3.3°C24135m3.1m/s
18:000%63%23J/kg2.8°C24134m2.9m/s
19:000%0.3%14J/kg2.7°C24135m5.4m/s
20:000%2.2%26J/kg2.7°C24135m8.3m/s
21:000%0.9%27J/kg2.4°C24134m8.8m/s
22:000%1.6%35J/kg1.9°C24135m9.2m/s
23:000%3.7%28J/kg1.7°C24134m10m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%1.4%17J/kg1.1°C23044m10m/s
01:000%0.6%7J/kg1.4°C24134m11m/s
02:000%0%16J/kg1.7°C24134m11m/s
03:000%0%35J/kg1.2°C24135m11m/s
04:000%0.2%46J/kg1.1°C24112m11m/s
05:000%0%47J/kg1.1°C24135m10m/s
06:000%0%34J/kg1.3°C24134m9.3m/s
07:000%50%20J/kg1.2°C24135m9.2m/s
08:000%59%63J/kg0.5°C24134m9.5m/s
09:000%56%9J/kg0.5°C24134m9.4m/s
10:000%56%10J/kg0.1°C24135m9.3m/s
11:000%74%44J/kg-0.1°C24134m9.4m/s
12:000%48%58J/kg-0.3°C24135m8.6m/s
13:000%47%75J/kg0.2°C24134m8.3m/s
14:000%34%90J/kg0.8°C24134m9.2m/s
15:000%40%25J/kg1.6°C24134m10m/s
16:000%57%77J/kg0.8°C24135m11m/s
17:000%62%8J/kg3°C24134m11m/s
18:000%53%5J/kg3.3°C24135m11m/s
19:000%0%8J/kg2.8°C24134m11m/s
20:000%0%9J/kg3°C24135m10m/s
21:000%0%2J/kg2.5°C24134m10m/s
22:000%0%13J/kg2.2°C24134m9.4m/s
23:000%0%4J/kg2.9°C24134m9.3m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%0%83J/kg1°C17932m9.5m/s
01:000%0.1%60J/kg1.4°C23591m9.5m/s
02:000%0%81J/kg0.8°C24134m9.4m/s
03:000%0%103J/kg0.5°C22527m8.3m/s
04:000%0.3%91J/kg0.7°C23946m7.2m/s
05:000%0%69J/kg1.1°C24009m5.5m/s
06:000%0%46J/kg1.5°C24072m3.8m/s
07:000%47%24J/kg1.8°C24135m2.1m/s
08:000%55%36J/kg1.7°C22153m1.9m/s
09:000%51%49J/kg1.7°C20171m1.8m/s
10:000%46%61J/kg1.6°C18189m1.6m/s
11:000%39%46J/kg2.1°C20171m1.3m/s
12:000%36%30J/kg2.7°C22153m0.95m/s
13:000%31%15J/kg3.3°C24135m0.63m/s
14:000%31%11J/kg3.8°C24135m0.8m/s
15:000%36%6.3J/kg4.4°C24135m0.97m/s
16:000%36%2J/kg5°C24135m1.1m/s
17:000%32%2.3J/kg5.1°C24135m0.87m/s
18:000%20%2.7J/kg5.3°C24135m0.6m/s
19:000%0%3J/kg5.4°C24135m0.33m/s
20:000%0%2J/kg5.6°C24135m0.47m/s
21:000%0%1J/kg5.7°C24135m0.62m/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
Sun, May 24 Sunrise 07:30 Sunset 17:18
23:00
1010hPa 24J/kg 100% 3.1°C 100% 100% 45% 0.06mm 98% 0.03mm 9.1dBZ -65° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.8m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 07:30 Sunset 17:18
24:00
1010hPa 38J/kg 100% 3.2°C 100% 100% 34% 0.02mm 99% 0.07mm -0.05dBZ -71° 100% 0.31mm - - 1.5m/s
01:00
1009hPa 31J/kg 100% 2.9°C 100% 100% 22% 0mm 99% 0.02mm -9.2dBZ -71° 100% 0.38mm 7.1m/s 1.6m/s 1.3m/s
02:00
1009hPa 32J/kg 100% 2.9°C 98% 100% 28% 0mm 99% 0.19mm -13dBZ -63° 100% 0.5mm - - 1.2m/s
03:00
1009hPa 20J/kg 14% 2.8°C 42% 98% 33% 0mm 99% 0mm -16dBZ -52° 98% 0.56mm - - 1m/s
04:00
1009hPa 14J/kg 0% 2.8°C 64% 100% 39% 0mm 99% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 100% 0.56mm 9.1m/s 2.2m/s 1.1m/s
05:00
1009hPa 22J/kg 5% 3.1°C 79% 87% 47% 0mm 99% 0mm -15dBZ -29° 89% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
06:00
1009hPa 17J/kg 100% 3.2°C 83% 95% 55% 0mm 99% 0mm -9.5dBZ -18° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
07:00
1010hPa 26J/kg 100% 3.2°C 28% 50% 64% 0mm 99% 0mm -4.4dBZ -6.3° 100% 0mm 8.9m/s 8.3m/s 1.1m/s
08:00
1011hPa 26J/kg 100% 4.2°C 27% 95% 74% 0mm 99% 0mm -9.6dBZ 4.3° 100% 0mm - - 0.99m/s
09:00
1011hPa 27J/kg 100% 4.5°C 37% 70% 84% 0mm 98% 0mm -15dBZ 14° 100% 0mm - - 0.69m/s
10:00
1011hPa 20J/kg 100% 4.4°C 16% 100% 94% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ 22° 100% 0mm 6.1m/s 10m/s 0.78m/s
11:00
1011hPa 61J/kg 100% 3.2°C 15% 100% 80% 0mm 90% 0mm -18dBZ 27° 100% 0mm - - 1m/s
12:00
1010hPa 87J/kg 100% 2.4°C 37% 100% 67% 0mm 83% 0mm -15dBZ 30° 100% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
13:00
1010hPa 94J/kg 100% 2.2°C 100% 100% 53% 0mm 70% 0mm -13dBZ 30° 100% 0mm 3m/s 13m/s 1.3m/s
14:00
1009hPa 66J/kg 98% 2.7°C 84% 100% 57% 0mm 63% 0mm -5.9dBZ 26° 100% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
15:00
1009hPa 43J/kg 100% 3°C 97% 99% 60% 0mm 64% 0mm 0.79dBZ 20° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
16:00
1009hPa 21J/kg 98% 3.1°C 99% 99% 64% 0mm 77% 0.01mm 7.5dBZ 12° 99% 0mm 6.7m/s 16m/s 1.4m/s
17:00
1010hPa 26J/kg 12% 3.3°C 75% 100% 51% 0mm 86% 0mm 1.4dBZ 2.6° 100% 0mm - - 1m/s
18:00
1010hPa 23J/kg 11% 2.8°C 99% 99% 39% 0mm 91% 0mm -4.8dBZ -8.2° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.1m/s
19:00
1010hPa 14J/kg 100% 2.7°C 100% 87% 26% 0mm 90% 0.01mm -11dBZ -20° 100% 0.06mm 4.9m/s 9.3m/s 1.3m/s
20:00
1011hPa 26J/kg 44% 2.7°C 98% 100% 30% 0mm 87% 0.01mm -14dBZ -31° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.6m/s
21:00
1011hPa 27J/kg 0% 2.4°C 98% 96% 33% 0mm 89% 0.01mm -17dBZ -43° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.6m/s
22:00
1011hPa 35J/kg 7% 1.9°C 97% 100% 37% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 100% 0.13mm 6.2m/s 7.2m/s 1.6m/s
23:00
1011hPa 28J/kg 46% 1.7°C 100% 100% 35% 0.01mm 87% 0.04mm -20dBZ -65° 100% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 07:31 Sunset 17:18
24:00
1011hPa 17J/kg 100% 1.1°C 97% 82% 33% 0mm 88% 0.14mm -20dBZ -72° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.1m/s
01:00
1011hPa 7J/kg 100% 1.4°C 63% 100% 32% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -71° 100% 0.06mm 4.9m/s 11m/s 2.1m/s
02:00
1011hPa 16J/kg 100% 1.7°C 85% 100% 34% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.3m/s
03:00
1011hPa 35J/kg 100% 1.2°C 96% 100% 36% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -52° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.4m/s
04:00
1010hPa 46J/kg 100% 1.1°C 80% 100% 38% 0mm 88% 0.03mm -20dBZ -41° 100% 0.06mm 2.4m/s 9.8m/s 2.8m/s
05:00
1010hPa 47J/kg 100% 1.1°C 100% 100% 34% 0mm 84% 0.05mm -18dBZ -29° 100% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
06:00
1011hPa 34J/kg 100% 1.3°C 100% 100% 30% 0.01mm 80% 0mm -16dBZ -18° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.9m/s
07:00
1011hPa 20J/kg 100% 1.2°C 100% 100% 26% 0mm 79% 0mm -14dBZ -6.5° 100% 0.06mm 2.4m/s 11m/s 2.8m/s
08:00
1012hPa 63J/kg 100% 0.5°C 100% 93% 26% 0mm 78% 0mm -16dBZ 4.2° 100% 0.06mm - - 3.1m/s
09:00
1012hPa 9J/kg 100% 0.5°C 100% 100% 26% 0mm 78% 0mm -18dBZ 13° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.7m/s
10:00
1011hPa 10J/kg 100% 0.1°C 100% 95% 26% 0mm 77% 0.01mm -20dBZ 21° 100% 0.06mm 4.9m/s 13m/s 3m/s
11:00
1011hPa 44J/kg 78% -0.1°C 42% 57% 30% 0mm 75% 0.02mm -17dBZ 27° 78% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
12:00
1010hPa 58J/kg 100% -0.3°C 50% 19% 34% 0mm 69% 0.02mm -13dBZ 30° 100% 0.06mm - - 3.5m/s
13:00
1009hPa 75J/kg 100% 0.2°C 65% 39% 39% 0mm 68% 0.02mm -10dBZ 30° 100% 0.06mm 6.6m/s 7.9m/s 3.6m/s
14:00
1009hPa 90J/kg 100% 0.8°C 95% 5% 35% 0mm 70% 0.03mm -12dBZ 26° 100% 0.13mm - - 3.6m/s
15:00
1009hPa 25J/kg 100% 1.6°C 100% 5% 32% 0mm 75% 0mm -13dBZ 20° 100% 0.13mm - - 3.3m/s
16:00
1009hPa 77J/kg 100% 0.8°C 100% 93% 28% 0mm 76% 0.01mm -15dBZ 12° 100% 0.13mm 3.3m/s 4.3m/s 3.3m/s
17:00
1009hPa 8J/kg 100% 3°C 100% 43% 26% 0.01mm 78% 0mm -16dBZ 2.5° 100% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
18:00
1009hPa 5J/kg 100% 3.3°C 100% 100% 23% 0mm 82% 0mm -18dBZ -8.3° 100% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
19:00
1010hPa 8J/kg 100% 2.8°C 100% 89% 21% 0.02mm 85% 0.02mm -19dBZ -20° 100% 0mm 3.1m/s 3.3m/s 3.4m/s
20:00
1009hPa 9J/kg 100% 3°C 100% 26% 28% 0mm 83% 0.01mm -14dBZ -31° 100% 0.06mm - - 3.1m/s
21:00
1009hPa 2J/kg 100% 2.5°C 100% 100% 35% 0.03mm 82% 0mm -9.2dBZ -43° 100% 0.06mm - - 3m/s
22:00
1009hPa 13J/kg 100% 2.2°C 100% 100% 42% 0mm 84% 0.02mm -4.2dBZ -54° 100% 0.13mm 5.3m/s 11m/s 3.1m/s
23:00
1009hPa 4J/kg 100% 2.9°C 100% 78% 49% 0mm 82% 0.01mm 0.04dBZ -65° 100% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 07:32 Sunset 17:17
24:00
1008hPa 83J/kg 100% 1°C 100% 100% 57% 0.25mm 87% 0.06mm 4.3dBZ -72° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.6m/s
01:00
1008hPa 60J/kg 100% 1.4°C 100% 100% 64% 0.15mm 93% 0.04mm 8.5dBZ -71° 100% 0.19mm 1.6m/s 12m/s 2.3m/s
02:00
1008hPa 81J/kg 100% 0.8°C 100% 100% 66% 0.04mm 94% 0.08mm 13dBZ -63° 100% 0.31mm - - 2.3m/s
03:00
1008hPa 103J/kg 100% 0.5°C 100% 100% 69% 0.05mm 96% 0.14mm 17dBZ -53° 100% 0.5mm - - 2.1m/s
04:00
1007hPa 91J/kg 92% 0.7°C 95% 100% 71% 0.1mm 98% 0.1mm 21dBZ -41° 100% 0.88mm 2.7m/s 4.8m/s 1.6m/s
05:00
1007hPa 69J/kg 61% 1.1°C 78% 68% 61% 0.1mm 98% 0.09mm 20dBZ -29° 81% 0.96mm - - 1.3m/s
06:00
1006hPa 46J/kg 31% 1.5°C 61% 37% 52% 0.09mm 98% 0.07mm 20dBZ -18° 63% 1mm - - 1m/s
07:00
1005hPa 24J/kg 0% 1.8°C 44% 5% 42% 0.09mm 98% 0.06mm 20dBZ -6.6° 44% 1.1mm 3.5m/s 8.7m/s 0.78m/s
08:00
1005hPa 36J/kg 0% 1.7°C 46% 4% 49% 0.1mm 96% 0.07mm 22dBZ 46% 1.3mm - - 0.64m/s
09:00
1006hPa 49J/kg 0% 1.7°C 48% 4% 55% 0.12mm 94% 0.08mm 23dBZ 13° 48% 1.5mm - - 0.5m/s
10:00
1006hPa 61J/kg 0% 1.6°C 50% 3% 62% 0.13mm 92% 0.09mm 25dBZ 21° 50% 1.6mm 2.1m/s 3.7m/s 0.36m/s
11:00
1006hPa 46J/kg 0% 2.1°C 57% 2% 51% 0.09mm 94% 0.06mm 13dBZ 27° 57% 1.1mm - - 0.47m/s
12:00
1006hPa 30J/kg 0% 2.7°C 64% 1% 40% 0.04mm 96% 0.03mm 0.05dBZ 30° 64% 0.58mm - - 0.58m/s
13:00
1007hPa 15J/kg 0% 3.3°C 71% 0% 29% 0mm 98% 0mm -13dBZ 30° 71% 0.06mm 6m/s 4.4m/s 0.69m/s
14:00
1007hPa 11J/kg 0% 3.8°C 72% 0% 26% 0mm 97% 0mm -2.5dBZ 26° 72% 0.06mm - - 0.8m/s
15:00
1007hPa 6.3J/kg 0% 4.4°C 73% 0% 24% 0mm 96% 0mm 7.7dBZ 20° 73% 0.06mm - - 0.9m/s
16:00
1007hPa 2J/kg 0% 5°C 74% 0% 21% 0mm 96% 0mm 18dBZ 12° 74% 0.06mm 3.8m/s 4.2m/s 1m/s
17:00
1007hPa 2.3J/kg 0% 5.1°C 81% 0% 36% 0mm 96% 0mm 5.2dBZ 2.4° 81% 0.04mm - - 0.77m/s
18:00
1007hPa 2.7J/kg 0% 5.3°C 88% 0% 50% 0mm 95% 0mm -7.4dBZ -8.4° 88% 0.02mm - - 0.53m/s
19:00
1007hPa 3J/kg 0% 5.4°C 95% 0% 65% 0mm 95% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 95% 0mm 3.9m/s 5m/s 0.29m/s
20:00
1007hPa 2J/kg 0% 5.6°C 74% 0% 49% 0mm 96% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 74% 0mm - - 0.44m/s
21:00
1006hPa 1J/kg 0% 5.7°C 53% 0% 33% 0mm 97% 0mm -20dBZ -43° 53% 0mm - - 0.6m/s
22:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.9°C 32% 0% 17% 0mm 98% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 32% 0mm 4.9m/s 6.2m/s 0.76m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

Get Notified of Opportunities

Create your own custom alerts for this location and more.

Create Free Account