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Rule Storm Chaser

Sydney - Storm Chaser - Australian Coast

Sydney, New South Wales, 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
Cloud Drama Score 89% failing
CAPE 79% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts2.8m/s
Precipitation Chance32%
Air Pressure1000.1hPa
CAPE445
Lifted Index-2.3°C
Wind Gusts2.8m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Australia/Sydney

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/Sydney
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
06:000%100%491J/kg-1.8°C24135m0.51m/s
07:000%45%414J/kg-1.9°C24134m1.7m/s
08:000%48%359J/kg-1.7°C24135m3.1m/s
09:000%41%418J/kg-1.9°C24135m3.5m/s
10:000%43%370J/kg-1.8°C24135m4m/s
11:000%39%337J/kg-1.9°C24135m4.1m/s
12:000%32%279J/kg-1.1°C24135m5.1m/s
13:000%35%339J/kg-1.7°C24134m4.9m/s
14:000%37%338J/kg-2.3°C24135m4.6m/s
15:000%65%265J/kg-2.2°C24134m4.9m/s
16:000%88%277J/kg-2.3°C24135m7.8m/s
17:000%61%441J/kg-3.3°C24134m6m/s
18:000%57%163J/kg-1.6°C24134m10m/s
19:0014%67%223J/kg-1.9°C24134m11m/s
20:0024%54%250J/kg-2.1°C24135m3.5m/s
21:0012%0%225J/kg-1.6°C21226m7m/s
22:0013%0%195J/kg-1.4°C24135m7.5m/s
23:0018%0%266J/kg-1.9°C24134m7.2m/s
Mon, Feb 23
24:000%0%290J/kg-1.9°C24135m6.9m/s
01:000%0%550J/kg-2.9°C24135m6m/s
02:0022%0%726J/kg-3.3°C24135m5.8m/s
03:000%0%634J/kg-3.6°C24135m1m/s
04:000%0%571J/kg-3.3°C24135m1.4m/s
05:0017%0.1%524J/kg-2.6°C24135m2.1m/s
06:000%40%445J/kg-2.3°C24134m2.8m/s
07:000%46%364J/kg-2.3°C24134m1.7m/s
08:000%41%331J/kg-2.1°C24135m2.6m/s
09:000%37%357J/kg-2.7°C24135m3.8m/s
10:000%42%308J/kg-2.6°C24135m3.1m/s
11:0011%32%211J/kg-1.4°C24135m3m/s
12:000%17%236J/kg-1.3°C24135m4.8m/s
13:000%18%274J/kg-1.7°C24135m7.6m/s
14:0024%36%198J/kg-1.3°C24135m11m/s
15:0012%64%182J/kg-1.6°C24134m12m/s
16:0013%67%174J/kg-1.5°C24135m12m/s
17:0017%53%215J/kg-1.5°C24134m12m/s
18:000%58%200J/kg-1.5°C24135m12m/s
19:000%67%216J/kg-1.5°C24134m11m/s
20:000%64%378J/kg-2.3°C24135m11m/s
21:000%7.6%546J/kg-2.9°C17760m11m/s
22:000%6.9%546J/kg-2.8°C24134m11m/s
23:000%11%478J/kg-2.8°C24135m10m/s
Tue, Feb 24
24:000%10%433J/kg-2.9°C24134m9.3m/s
01:000%12%347J/kg-2.6°C24135m8.2m/s
02:000%14%268J/kg-2.4°C24135m7.3m/s
03:000%15%172J/kg-1.9°C24134m6.8m/s
04:000%14%127J/kg-1.4°C24134m6.9m/s
05:000%13%151J/kg-1.3°C24134m5.7m/s
06:000%51%193J/kg-1.2°C24135m4.8m/s
07:000%33%151J/kg-0.9°C24135m4.6m/s
08:000%27%161J/kg-0.8°C24135m3.9m/s
09:000%25%148J/kg-0.3°C24135m2.5m/s
10:000%46%71J/kg0.5°C24134m0.91m/s
11:000%12%71J/kg0.4°C24135m1.9m/s
12:000%12%61J/kg0.3°C24134m3.3m/s
13:000%9.1%64J/kg0.1°C24134m4.6m/s
14:000%9.6%102J/kg-0.4°C24135m5.7m/s
15:000%10%252J/kg-1.6°C24135m6.7m/s
16:000%10%346J/kg-2.4°C24135m7.9m/s
17:000%14%301J/kg-2.2°C24135m9.6m/s
18:000%15%302J/kg-1.9°C24134m11m/s
19:000%16%148J/kg-1.2°C24134m12m/s
20:0014%14%0J/kg0.2°C24135m13m/s
21:000%6.6%28J/kg0°C24135m13m/s
22:000%8.8%99J/kg-0.6°C24134m12m/s
23:000%9.9%170J/kg-1.7°C24135m11m/s
Wed, Feb 25
24:000%14%150J/kg-1.6°C24134m9.4m/s
01:000%13%126J/kg-1.2°C24135m7.1m/s
02:000%9.4%98J/kg-0.9°C24135m8.3m/s
03:000%6.3%71J/kg-0.5°C24134m7.4m/s
04:000%8%38J/kg0°C24135m6.3m/s
05:000%4%17J/kg0.6°C24135m5.7m/s
06:000%12%6J/kg0.7°C24134m4.1m/s
07:000%19%4J/kg0.6°C24134m2.3m/s
08:000%60%8J/kg0.5°C24134m3.3m/s
09:000%21%3J/kg0.6°C24134m4.9m/s
10:000%20%0J/kg0.9°C24134m4.8m/s
11:000%20%0J/kg0.4°C24135m3.8m/s
12:000%43%16J/kg0.2°C24135m6.5m/s
13:000%42%33J/kg0.004°C24135m9.3m/s
14:000%26%49J/kg-0.19°C24135m12m/s
15:000%41%44J/kg-0.47°C24135m12m/s
16:000%41%39J/kg-0.76°C24135m11m/s
17:000%53%34J/kg-1°C24135m11m/s
18:000%62%44J/kg-0.85°C24135m11m/s
19:000%67%53J/kg-0.66°C24135m11m/s
20:000%46%63J/kg-0.47°C24135m11m/s
21:000%0%66J/kg-0.47°C24135m12m/s
22:000%0%68J/kg-0.46°C24135m12m/s
23:0011%0%71J/kg-0.46°C24135m12m/s
Thu, Feb 26
24:000%0%88J/kg-0.47°C24135m12m/s
01:000%0%104J/kg-0.48°C24135m12m/s
02:000%0%121J/kg-0.49°C24135m11m/s
03:000%0%157J/kg-0.6°C22121m11m/s
04:000%0%192J/kg-0.71°C20108m11m/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/Sydney
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 06:37 Sunset 19:40
06:00
1000hPa 445J/kg 100% -2.3°C 9% 100% 32% 0mm 91% 0mm -4dBZ -8.3° 100% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
07:00
1001hPa 364J/kg 100% -2.3°C 3% 100% 25% 0mm 88% 0mm -5.2dBZ 100% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
08:00
1002hPa 331J/kg 100% -2.1°C 2% 78% 19% 0mm 82% 0mm -6.5dBZ 16° 100% 0mm 5.8m/s 9.1m/s 1.4m/s
09:00
1003hPa 357J/kg 92% -2.7°C 0% 100% 25% 0mm 69% 0mm -5dBZ 29° 100% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
10:00
1003hPa 308J/kg 51% -2.6°C 0% 100% 31% 0mm 58% 0mm -3.5dBZ 41° 100% 0mm - - 1m/s
11:00
1003hPa 211J/kg 100% -1.4°C 2% 95% 38% 0mm 46% 0mm -2dBZ 52° 100% 0mm 17m/s 10m/s 0.57m/s
12:00
1004hPa 236J/kg 6% -1.3°C 0% 94% 32% 0mm 50% 0mm -8dBZ 61° 94% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
13:00
1004hPa 274J/kg 0% -1.7°C 8% 91% 26% 0mm 66% 0mm -14dBZ 66° 91% 0mm - - 7.8m/s
14:00
1005hPa 198J/kg 0% -1.3°C 45% 84% 21% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ 63° 84% 0mm 19m/s 14m/s 8.8m/s
15:00
1005hPa 182J/kg 0% -1.6°C 43% 66% 22% 0mm 76% 0mm -7.4dBZ 55° 71% 0mm - - 9.8m/s
16:00
1005hPa 174J/kg 0% -1.5°C 45% 36% 24% 0mm 76% 0mm 5.2dBZ 44° 60% 0mm - - 9.1m/s
17:00
1005hPa 215J/kg 0% -1.5°C 72% 73% 26% 0mm 80% 0mm 18dBZ 32° 90% 0mm 18m/s 18m/s 9.2m/s
18:00
1006hPa 200J/kg 0% -1.5°C 100% 84% 50% 0.01mm 82% 0mm 9.8dBZ 20° 100% 0mm - - 8.5m/s
19:00
1007hPa 216J/kg 0% -1.5°C 100% 84% 75% 0.05mm 85% 0mm 1.8dBZ 7.3° 100% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
20:00
1008hPa 378J/kg 0% -2.3°C 100% 100% 100% 0.08mm 87% 0.05mm -6.2dBZ -5° 100% 0.31mm 13m/s 8.7m/s 7.1m/s
21:00
1009hPa 546J/kg 0% -2.9°C 100% 100% 100% 0.03mm 89% 0.97mm -9.9dBZ -17° 100% 0.81mm - - 6.8m/s
22:00
1010hPa 546J/kg 0% -2.8°C 100% 81% 100% 0mm 90% 0mm -14dBZ -28° 100% 1.2mm - - 6.4m/s
23:00
1010hPa 478J/kg 0% -2.8°C 100% 58% 100% 0mm 90% 0mm -17dBZ -37° 100% 1.2mm 11m/s 5.5m/s 6m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 06:38 Sunset 19:38
24:00
1010hPa 433J/kg 0% -2.9°C 99% 52% 67% 0.01mm 89% 0mm -18dBZ -43° 99% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
01:00
1010hPa 347J/kg 0% -2.6°C 84% 13% 33% 0.02mm 87% 0mm -19dBZ -46° 84% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
02:00
1009hPa 268J/kg 0% -2.4°C 68% 3% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -45° 68% 0mm 4.8m/s 5.6m/s 4.7m/s
03:00
1009hPa 172J/kg 0% -1.9°C 48% 2% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 48% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
04:00
1008hPa 127J/kg 0% -1.4°C 16% 1% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 16% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
05:00
1008hPa 151J/kg 0% -1.3°C 18% 3% 0% 0mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 18% 0mm 3.9m/s 3.9m/s 3.5m/s
06:00
1009hPa 193J/kg 0% -1.2°C 62% 5% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -8.5° 62% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
07:00
1010hPa 151J/kg 0% -0.9°C 86% 5% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ 3.8° 86% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
08:00
1010hPa 161J/kg 0% -0.8°C 97% 5% 0% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 97% 0mm 5.1m/s 1.7m/s 2.8m/s
09:00
1010hPa 148J/kg 0% -0.3°C 99% 6% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -18dBZ 28° 99% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
10:00
1010hPa 71J/kg 0% 0.5°C 66% 6% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -17dBZ 41° 66% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
11:00
1010hPa 71J/kg 0% 0.4°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 64% 0mm -15dBZ 52° 5% 0mm 1.4m/s 2.8m/s 0.13m/s
12:00
1010hPa 61J/kg 0% 0.3°C 0% 4% 7% 0mm 58% 0mm -17dBZ 61° 4% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
13:00
1009hPa 64J/kg 0% 0.1°C 2% 4% 15% 0mm 61% 0mm -18dBZ 66° 4% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
14:00
1009hPa 102J/kg 0% -0.4°C 0% 3% 22% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ 63° 3% 0mm 4.1m/s 3m/s 5.6m/s
15:00
1008hPa 252J/kg 0% -1.6°C 0% 4% 31% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ 55° 4% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
16:00
1007hPa 346J/kg 0% -2.4°C 0% 2% 41% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 2% 0mm - - 6.4m/s
17:00
1007hPa 301J/kg 0% -2.2°C 0% 0% 50% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 0% 0mm 9.4m/s 9.4m/s 7m/s
18:00
1007hPa 302J/kg 0% -1.9°C 0% 0% 33% 0mm 76% 0mm -18dBZ 19° 0% 0mm - - 6.7m/s
19:00
1007hPa 148J/kg 0% -1.2°C 0% 0% 17% 0mm 79% 0mm -16dBZ 7.1° 0% 0mm - - 6.5m/s
20:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -13dBZ -5.2° 0% 0mm 12m/s 12m/s 6.4m/s
21:00
1008hPa 28J/kg 0% 0°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -16dBZ -17° 0% 0mm - - 6m/s
22:00
1009hPa 99J/kg 5% -0.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -18dBZ -28° 5% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
23:00
1008hPa 170J/kg 0% -1.7°C 10% 0% 0% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -37° 10% 0mm 12m/s 10m/s 4.8m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 06:39 Sunset 19:37
24:00
1008hPa 150J/kg 0% -1.6°C 18% 0% 5% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -44° 18% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
01:00
1008hPa 126J/kg 0% -1.2°C 18% 0% 10% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -47° 18% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
02:00
1007hPa 98J/kg 0% -0.9°C 8% 0% 15% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -45° 8% 0mm 10m/s 7.4m/s 3.4m/s
03:00
1007hPa 71J/kg 0% -0.5°C 4% 0% 27% 0mm 92% 0mm -16dBZ -39° 4% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
04:00
1007hPa 38J/kg 0% 0°C 2% 0% 38% 0mm 92% 0mm -12dBZ -31° 2% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
05:00
1007hPa 17J/kg 0% 0.6°C 0% 0% 50% 0mm 92% 0mm -8.1dBZ -20° 0% 0mm 8.3m/s 6.3m/s 2.6m/s
06:00
1007hPa 6J/kg 0% 0.7°C 0% 0% 50% 0mm 92% 0mm -12dBZ -8.7° 0% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
07:00
1008hPa 4J/kg 0% 0.6°C 1% 6% 50% 0mm 92% 0mm -16dBZ 3.6° 7% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
08:00
1009hPa 8J/kg 0% 0.5°C 18% 9% 50% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 24% 0mm 7.6m/s 7.7m/s 1.3m/s
09:00
1008hPa 3J/kg 0% 0.6°C 1% 0% 67% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 1% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
10:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.9°C 0% 2% 83% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 2% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
11:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.4°C 0% 1% 100% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 52° 1% 0mm 3.7m/s 4.4m/s 3.5m/s
12:00
1007hPa 16J/kg 19% 0.2°C 10% 34% 79% 0.04mm 70% 0.003mm -20dBZ 61° 34% 0.27mm - - 4.3m/s
13:00
1007hPa 33J/kg 38% 0.004°C 21% 66% 58% 0.09mm 80% 0.007mm -20dBZ 65° 66% 0.54mm - - 5.1m/s
14:00
1007hPa 49J/kg 57% -0.19°C 31% 99% 38% 0.13mm 89% 0.01mm -20dBZ 63° 99% 0.81mm 7.7m/s 8.9m/s 5.9m/s
15:00
1007hPa 44J/kg 71% -0.47°C 48% 99% 48% 0.09mm 89% 0.007mm -6.3dBZ 54° 99% 0.94mm - - 5.6m/s
16:00
1008hPa 39J/kg 86% -0.76°C 65% 99% 59% 0.06mm 88% 0.003mm 7.4dBZ 44° 100% 1.1mm - - 5.3m/s
17:00
1009hPa 34J/kg 100% -1°C 82% 98% 70% 0.02mm 88% 0mm 21dBZ 32° 100% 1.2mm 3.3m/s 2.9m/s 5m/s
18:00
1008hPa 44J/kg 100% -0.85°C 77% 67% 73% 0.01mm 87% 0mm 22dBZ 19° 100% 0.79mm - - 4.7m/s
19:00
1008hPa 53J/kg 100% -0.66°C 73% 35% 75% 0.007mm 86% 0mm 22dBZ 6.8° 100% 0.4mm - - 4.5m/s
20:00
1007hPa 63J/kg 100% -0.47°C 68% 4% 77% 0mm 85% 0mm 23dBZ -5.5° 100% 0mm 7.2m/s 8.8m/s 4.3m/s
21:00
1007hPa 66J/kg 100% -0.47°C 74% 3% 82% 0.01mm 85% 0mm 11dBZ -17° 100% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
22:00
1007hPa 68J/kg 100% -0.46°C 80% 2% 86% 0.03mm 85% 0mm 0.33dBZ -28° 100% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
23:00
1007hPa 71J/kg 100% -0.46°C 86% 1% 91% 0.04mm 85% 0mm -11dBZ -37° 100% 0mm 9.6m/s 10m/s 5m/s
Thu, Feb 26 Sunrise 06:40 Sunset 19:36
24:00
1007hPa 88J/kg 93% -0.47°C 91% 1% 77% 0.03mm 86% 0.05mm -14dBZ -44° 100% 0.13mm - - 5.3m/s
01:00
1008hPa 104J/kg 86% -0.48°C 95% 0% 62% 0.01mm 87% 0.11mm -17dBZ -47° 100% 0.25mm - - 5.5m/s
02:00
1008hPa 121J/kg 79% -0.49°C 100% 0% 48% 0mm 88% 0.16mm -20dBZ -45° 100% 0.38mm 10m/s 6.4m/s 5.8m/s
03:00
1008hPa 157J/kg 53% -0.6°C 97% 0% 53% 0.02mm 86% 0.19mm -20dBZ -40° 97% 0.63mm - - 5.9m/s
04:00
1008hPa 192J/kg 26% -0.71°C 95% 0% 59% 0.04mm 85% 0.22mm -19dBZ -31° 95% 0.88mm - - 6m/s
05:00
1009hPa 228J/kg 0% -0.82°C 92% 0% 64% 0.06mm 84% 0.25mm -19dBZ -20° 92% 1.1mm 14m/s 11m/s 6.1m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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