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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 85% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts12.2m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure1010.6hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index2.9°C
Wind Gusts12.2m/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, Apr 21
05:000%9.5%0J/kg7.1°C24135m5.2m/s
06:000%11%0J/kg7.2°C24134m5.3m/s
07:000%38%0J/kg7.1°C24134m5.7m/s
08:000%16%0J/kg7°C24135m6.2m/s
09:000%14%0J/kg7°C24134m5m/s
10:000%15%0J/kg6.8°C24134m4.2m/s
11:000%57%0J/kg6.5°C24135m4.3m/s
12:000%34%0J/kg6.6°C24135m4.5m/s
13:000%15%0J/kg6.6°C24134m4.6m/s
14:000%13%0J/kg6.6°C24135m4.3m/s
15:000%12%0J/kg6.5°C24134m4.2m/s
16:000%10%0J/kg6°C24135m4.3m/s
17:000%2.2%0J/kg5.9°C24134m0.72m/s
18:000%8.1%0J/kg5.7°C24135m1.1m/s
19:000%7.9%0J/kg5.6°C24135m1.5m/s
20:000%13%0J/kg5.9°C24134m4.4m/s
21:000%15%0J/kg6.3°C24135m6.2m/s
22:000%15%0J/kg6.2°C24135m7.5m/s
23:000%15%0J/kg6.1°C24134m8.8m/s
Wed, Apr 22
24:000%15%0J/kg5°C24134m10m/s
01:000%9%0J/kg4.1°C24134m11m/s
02:000%1.5%0J/kg3.5°C24134m11m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg3.6°C24135m12m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg3.4°C24134m12m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg2.9°C24134m12m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg2.9°C24134m12m/s
07:000%56%3J/kg2.7°C24134m13m/s
08:000%56%6J/kg3°C24134m12m/s
09:000%52%12J/kg2.5°C24135m12m/s
10:000%44%1J/kg2.1°C24134m12m/s
11:000%44%0J/kg2.5°C24135m11m/s
12:000%44%0J/kg3.4°C24134m8.5m/s
13:000%44%0J/kg2.7°C24135m8.5m/s
14:000%46%0J/kg2.8°C24134m8.9m/s
15:000%43%0J/kg2.5°C24135m8.1m/s
16:000%26%0J/kg1.5°C24134m1.5m/s
17:000%93%0J/kg2.3°C24134m7m/s
18:000%71%0J/kg1.1°C24134m1m/s
19:000%11%0J/kg0.9°C24135m0.6m/s
20:000%15%4J/kg0.9°C24134m4.1m/s
21:000%14%10J/kg1.2°C24134m5.3m/s
22:000%9.4%0J/kg2.4°C24135m4.6m/s
23:000%10%0J/kg2.9°C24135m1.6m/s
Thu, Apr 23
24:000%10%0J/kg4.1°C3373m0.92m/s
01:0013%12%0J/kg4.5°C933m1.1m/s
02:000%11%0J/kg4.1°C24135m1.6m/s
03:000%11%0J/kg4.2°C24134m1.3m/s
04:000%15%0J/kg4.8°C24134m0.31m/s
05:000%13%0J/kg4.8°C24134m0.4m/s
06:000%14%0J/kg4.7°C24134m1m/s
07:000%94%0J/kg4.7°C24135m1.2m/s
08:000%51%0J/kg5.1°C24135m2.9m/s
09:000%71%0J/kg5°C24135m4.3m/s
10:000%57%0J/kg4.7°C24134m5.1m/s
11:000%29%0J/kg4.7°C24135m4.7m/s
12:000%30%0J/kg4.9°C24135m4.7m/s
13:000%63%0J/kg5.2°C24135m4.9m/s
14:000%60%0J/kg4.7°C24135m5m/s
15:000%27%0J/kg4.3°C24135m4.8m/s
16:000%67%0J/kg3.9°C24135m3.6m/s
17:000%45%0J/kg3.8°C24135m2.7m/s
18:000%58%0J/kg4.4°C24134m1m/s
19:000%12%0J/kg5°C24135m0.91m/s
20:000%14%0J/kg5.8°C24135m1.3m/s
21:000%14%0J/kg5.8°C24135m2.4m/s
22:000%15%0J/kg6°C24134m6.8m/s
23:000%13%0J/kg6°C24135m5.2m/s
Fri, Apr 24
24:000%2.9%0J/kg6.3°C24135m5.3m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg6.4°C24134m10m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg6.5°C24135m11m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg6.6°C24134m10m/s
04:000%0.4%0J/kg6.7°C24134m9.9m/s
05:000%2.7%0J/kg6.8°C24134m9.7m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg7°C24134m9.6m/s
07:000%45%0J/kg6.7°C24134m11m/s
08:000%19%0J/kg6.1°C24135m12m/s
09:000%36%0J/kg5.5°C24135m12m/s
10:000%12%0J/kg5.5°C24135m11m/s
11:000%35%0J/kg5.9°C24135m9.8m/s
12:000%35%0J/kg6.3°C24135m8.6m/s
13:000%35%0J/kg6.7°C24135m7.5m/s
14:000%35%0J/kg6.8°C24135m8.2m/s
15:000%35%0J/kg7°C24135m8.9m/s
16:000%42%0J/kg7.1°C24135m9.5m/s
17:000%45%0J/kg7°C24135m10m/s
18:000%45%0J/kg7°C24135m11m/s
19:000%0%0J/kg6.9°C24135m12m/s
20:000%0%0J/kg7°C24135m12m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg7.1°C24135m13m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg7.2°C24135m13m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg7.1°C24135m14m/s
Sat, Apr 25
24:000%0%0J/kg7.1°C24135m14m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg7°C24135m14m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg7.3°C24135m14m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg7.5°C24135m14m/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
Wed, Apr 22 Sunrise 07:00 Sunset 17:52
05:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.9°C 4% 97% 0% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ -24° 100% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
06:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.9°C 22% 100% 0% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 100% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
07:00
1011hPa 3J/kg 100% 2.7°C 87% 100% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -0.85° 100% 0mm 14m/s 3.2m/s 2.8m/s
08:00
1011hPa 6J/kg 100% 3°C 100% 100% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -16dBZ 10° 100% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
09:00
1012hPa 12J/kg 100% 2.5°C 94% 88% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -12dBZ 20° 100% 0mm - - 3m/s
10:00
1012hPa 1J/kg 100% 2.1°C 90% 89% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -8.2dBZ 29° 100% 0mm 14m/s 3.8m/s 2.8m/s
11:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.5°C 100% 100% 5% 0mm 43% 0mm -7.3dBZ 35° 100% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
12:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.4°C 100% 100% 10% 0mm 42% 0mm -6.4dBZ 39° 100% 0mm - - 2m/s
13:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.7°C 100% 100% 15% 0mm 43% 0mm -5.5dBZ 39° 100% 0mm 8.2m/s 4.4m/s 2m/s
14:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 68% 2.8°C 100% 100% 10% 0mm 42% 0mm 0.46dBZ 35° 100% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
15:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 2% 2.5°C 100% 100% 5% 0mm 41% 0mm 6.5dBZ 28° 100% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
16:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.5°C 6% 100% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm 12dBZ 19° 100% 0mm 4.7m/s 2.7m/s 0.75m/s
17:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.3°C 45% 62% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm 4dBZ 8.7° 69% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
18:00
1012hPa 0J/kg 1% 1.1°C 15% 82% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -4.5dBZ -2.4° 82% 0mm - - 0.98m/s
19:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.9°C 10% 98% 0% 0mm 81% 0.03mm -13dBZ -14° 98% 0mm 6.3m/s 7.9m/s 0.57m/s
20:00
1014hPa 4J/kg 3% 0.9°C 95% 94% 0% 0mm 94% 0mm -15dBZ -26° 96% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
21:00
1014hPa 10J/kg 13% 1.2°C 30% 0% 0% 0mm 97% 0mm -18dBZ -37° 32% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
22:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 5% 2.4°C 41% 0% 0% 0mm 100% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 41% 0mm 11m/s 14m/s 1.1m/s
23:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 78% 2.9°C 42% 0% 0% 0mm 100% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 78% 0mm - - 0.87m/s
Thu, Apr 23 Sunrise 07:01 Sunset 17:50
24:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 63% 4.1°C 67% 0% 0% 0mm 100% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 69% 0mm - - 0.75m/s
01:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.5°C 98% 0% 0% 0mm 100% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 98% 0mm 6.2m/s 14m/s 0.52m/s
02:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 75% 4.1°C 100% 0% 0% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 100% 0mm - - 0.87m/s
03:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 97% 4.2°C 100% 0% 0% 0.02mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -47° 100% 0mm - - 1m/s
04:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.8°C 100% 0% 0% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 100% 0mm 3.4m/s 13m/s 0.24m/s
05:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 57% 4.8°C 82% 0% 0% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 83% 0mm - - 0.34m/s
06:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 87% 4.7°C 58% 0% 0% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 87% 0mm - - 0.74m/s
07:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 49% 4.7°C 11% 0% 0% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -1.1° 49% 0mm 6.1m/s 15m/s 0.98m/s
08:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 67% 5.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ 9.8° 67% 0mm - - 0.94m/s
09:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 37% 5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 37% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
10:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 30% 4.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 30% 0mm 6.5m/s 14m/s 1.7m/s
11:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 10% 4.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 10% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
12:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 6% 4.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 6% 0mm - - 2m/s
13:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 36% 5.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 36% 0mm 3.4m/s 9.7m/s 2.1m/s
14:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 44% 4.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 44% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
15:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 86% 4.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 86% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
16:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 50% 3.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 50% 0mm 3m/s 9.4m/s 1.1m/s
17:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 14% 3.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 8.4° 14% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
18:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 50% 4.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -2.7° 50% 0mm - - 0.95m/s
19:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 24% 5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 24% 0mm 4.8m/s 11m/s 1.1m/s
20:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 7% 5.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -26° 7% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
21:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 53% 5.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ -38° 53% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
22:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 97% 6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 97% 0mm 4.7m/s 11m/s 1.6m/s
23:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -58° 100% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
Fri, Apr 24 Sunrise 07:02 Sunset 17:49
24:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 100% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
01:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 100% 0mm 5.1m/s 7.3m/s 1.7m/s
02:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
03:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -47° 100% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
04:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.7°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 100% 0mm 5m/s 6.8m/s 2m/s
05:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.8°C 0% 62% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 100% 0mm - - 2m/s
06:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 100% 7°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 100% 0mm - - 2m/s
07:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.7°C 0% 34% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -1.3° 100% 0mm 5.5m/s 8.9m/s 2.3m/s
08:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.1°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ 9.6° 100% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
09:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 74% 5.5°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 74% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
10:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.5°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 100% 0mm 8.3m/s 12m/s 3.1m/s
11:00
1017hPa 0J/kg 94% 5.9°C 0% 36% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 100% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
12:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 89% 6.3°C 0% 68% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 99% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
13:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 83% 6.7°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 99% 0mm 9.1m/s 12m/s 1.8m/s
14:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 89% 6.8°C 0% 88% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
15:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 94% 7°C 0% 77% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 27° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
16:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.1°C 0% 66% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 100% 0mm 5.8m/s 12m/s 1.8m/s
17:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 98% 7°C 0% 76% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 8.2° 100% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
18:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 97% 7°C 0% 86% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ -2.9° 100% 0mm - - 2m/s
19:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 95% 6.9°C 0% 96% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 100% 0mm 6.1m/s 9.2m/s 2m/s
20:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 71% 7°C 0% 97% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -26° 100% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
21:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 46% 7.1°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -38° 100% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
22:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 22% 7.2°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ -49° 100% 0mm 6.1m/s 5m/s 2.7m/s
23:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 15% 7.1°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ -58° 99% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
Sat, Apr 25 Sunrise 07:03 Sunset 17:48
24:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 7% 7.1°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 99% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
01:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0% 7°C 0% 98% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 98% 0mm 4.2m/s 6.2m/s 3m/s
02:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.3°C 0% 92% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 92% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
03:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.5°C 0% 85% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ -47° 85% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
04:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.7°C 0% 79% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 79% 0mm 4.1m/s 7.1m/s 3.5m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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