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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
CAPE 99% failing
Cloud Drama Score 94% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover4%
Wind Gusts9.3m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure1006.1hPa
CAPE311
Lifted Index-1.6°C
Wind Gusts9.3m/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
Wed, Apr 8
17:000%72%0J/kg1.6°C24135m5m/s
18:000%100%0J/kg1.3°C24134m4.4m/s
19:000%15%0J/kg0.9°C24135m3.4m/s
20:000%15%0J/kg0.5°C24134m2.1m/s
21:000%1.9%0J/kg0.6°C24135m0.8m/s
22:000%7.7%0J/kg0.9°C24134m0.92m/s
23:000%15%0J/kg0.8°C24135m1.3m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%15%96J/kg-1.1°C24134m1.4m/s
01:000%14%88J/kg-1.2°C24135m1.5m/s
02:000%15%66J/kg-0.9°C24135m1.5m/s
03:000%9.9%46J/kg-0.5°C24134m1.6m/s
04:000%13%38J/kg-0.3°C24135m1.8m/s
05:000%15%0J/kg1.2°C24135m1.9m/s
06:000%27%0J/kg2.1°C24134m2.4m/s
07:000%85%0J/kg3°C24134m3.4m/s
08:000%54%0J/kg2.5°C24135m2.9m/s
09:000%42%0J/kg1.8°C24135m3.2m/s
10:000%5.8%0J/kg1.7°C24135m3.4m/s
11:000%3.6%0J/kg2°C24134m3.3m/s
12:000%4.8%0J/kg2.3°C24134m3.3m/s
13:000%8.9%0J/kg1.4°C24135m2.9m/s
14:000%17%41J/kg0.7°C24134m3.4m/s
15:000%41%97J/kg-0.2°C24135m4.6m/s
16:000%31%180J/kg-1.1°C24134m7.7m/s
17:000%24%311J/kg-1.6°C24135m9.3m/s
18:000%23%376J/kg-1.6°C24135m10m/s
19:000%2.3%449J/kg-1.6°C24134m11m/s
20:000%3.7%456J/kg-1.9°C24135m9.6m/s
21:000%0.4%375J/kg-1.9°C24134m8.2m/s
22:000%6.3%208J/kg-1.3°C24134m8.2m/s
23:000%15%57J/kg-0.4°C24135m5.4m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:000%15%7J/kg-0.2°C24135m4m/s
01:000%12%0J/kg0.4°C24135m3.7m/s
02:000%12%0J/kg0.9°C24134m2.2m/s
03:000%12%0J/kg1.9°C24135m1.8m/s
04:0011%9.5%0J/kg2.1°C24135m2.1m/s
05:000%2.5%0J/kg1.6°C24135m4.4m/s
06:000%52%0J/kg0.6°C24135m4.6m/s
07:000%56%0J/kg0.6°C24134m3.6m/s
08:000%55%4J/kg0.2°C21404m2m/s
09:000%42%5J/kg1.2°C24135m3.3m/s
10:000%89%1J/kg0.6°C24134m2.4m/s
11:000%30%0J/kg0.4°C24135m3.7m/s
12:000%34%0J/kg0.9°C24135m7.2m/s
13:0011%38%32J/kg0.9°C24135m8.9m/s
14:000%45%66J/kg0.2°C24134m7.3m/s
15:000%50%46J/kg0.3°C24135m7.9m/s
16:000%61%229J/kg-1.4°C24135m6m/s
17:000%59%443J/kg-2.5°C24134m3.7m/s
18:000%51%246J/kg-1.8°C24134m2.3m/s
19:000%2.4%66J/kg-0.8°C24135m5.4m/s
20:000%12%101J/kg-0.4°C24135m9.9m/s
21:000%12%53J/kg-0.5°C24135m9.7m/s
22:0014%15%29J/kg0.3°C24135m9.2m/s
23:000%8%68J/kg-0.7°C21708m2.6m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%0%71J/kg-0.9°C24134m3.8m/s
01:0014%9.9%40J/kg-0.3°C24135m4.2m/s
02:000%15%52J/kg-0.2°C24134m2.3m/s
03:000%15%0J/kg0.7°C24135m3.1m/s
04:0015%14%0J/kg0.9°C24134m1.8m/s
05:000%10%0J/kg0.9°C24135m2.7m/s
06:000%14%0J/kg3.8°C24135m3.5m/s
07:0016%22%0J/kg5.5°C24134m5.4m/s
08:000%19%0J/kg7°C24135m5.3m/s
09:000%12%0J/kg8.7°C24135m5.4m/s
10:0015%10%0J/kg9.3°C24134m5.1m/s
11:000%3.1%0J/kg8.8°C24135m5.4m/s
12:000%4.7%0J/kg8.3°C24134m5.7m/s
13:0015%6.3%0J/kg7.9°C24135m6.3m/s
14:000%7.7%0J/kg7.5°C24134m6.2m/s
15:000%7.7%0J/kg7.5°C24135m5.9m/s
16:0012%6.5%0J/kg7.5°C24135m6m/s
17:000%9.8%0J/kg8.4°C24134m8.7m/s
18:000%7%0J/kg9°C24134m10m/s
19:0015%0%0J/kg9°C24134m11m/s
20:000%0.6%0J/kg9.7°C24135m12m/s
21:0012%0.9%0J/kg11°C24135m12m/s
22:0015%0.4%0J/kg11°C24134m12m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg11°C24134m11m/s
Sun, Apr 12
24:000%0%0J/kg11°C24135m10m/s
01:0011%0%0J/kg11°C24135m9.2m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg10°C24135m9.8m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg9.8°C24135m10m/s
04:0015%0%0J/kg9.1°C24135m11m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg8.7°C24135m11m/s
06:000%17%0J/kg8.2°C24135m10m/s
07:0014%13%0J/kg7.8°C24135m9.7m/s
08:000%12%0J/kg7.7°C24135m10m/s
09:000%9.9%0J/kg7.5°C24135m10m/s
10:000%7.7%0J/kg7.4°C24135m11m/s
11:000%6.3%0J/kg8.4°C24135m11m/s
12:0012%8.1%0J/kg9.4°C24135m12m/s
13:0013%6.3%0J/kg10°C24135m13m/s
14:0013%7.7%0J/kg11°C24135m13m/s
15:009.8%7.7%0J/kg12°C24135m12m/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
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:13 Sunset 17:40
17:00
1006hPa 311J/kg 4% -1.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 7.5° 4% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
18:00
1007hPa 376J/kg 5% -1.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -4.8° 5% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
19:00
1007hPa 449J/kg 5% -1.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -17° 5% 0mm 8.7m/s 16m/s 4.5m/s
20:00
1007hPa 456J/kg 5% -1.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 5% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
21:00
1008hPa 375J/kg 5% -1.9°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 5% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
22:00
1007hPa 208J/kg 12% -1.3°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -52° 12% 0mm 8.9m/s 15m/s 3.3m/s
23:00
1007hPa 57J/kg 59% -0.4°C 0% 0% 7% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 59% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:13 Sunset 17:40
24:00
1006hPa 7J/kg 92% -0.2°C 0% 3% 15% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 92% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
01:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.4°C 0% 13% 22% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 100% 0mm 12m/s 15m/s 2.4m/s
02:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 88% 0.9°C 0% 7% 31% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -51° 88% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
03:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.9°C 1% 47% 40% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ -40° 100% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
04:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 88% 2.1°C 0% 64% 49% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -28° 88% 0mm 11m/s 11m/s 1.9m/s
05:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 98% 1.6°C 42% 99% 33% 0mm 69% 0mm -10dBZ -16° 100% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
06:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.6°C 7% 100% 16% 0mm 63% 0mm -0.51dBZ -3.6° 100% 0mm - - 2m/s
07:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.6°C 61% 98% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm 9.2dBZ 8.7° 100% 0mm 6.8m/s 5.7m/s 2m/s
08:00
1005hPa 4J/kg 100% 0.2°C 84% 100% 0% 0mm 56% 0.11mm -0.51dBZ 20° 100% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
09:00
1006hPa 5J/kg 88% 1.2°C 3% 75% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -10dBZ 31° 90% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
10:00
1006hPa 1J/kg 28% 0.6°C 8% 48% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 56% 0mm 15m/s 14m/s 1.3m/s
11:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.4°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 100% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
12:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.9°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 100% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
13:00
1001hPa 32J/kg 100% 0.9°C 68% 99% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 100% 0mm 5.3m/s 12m/s 2.9m/s
14:00
1000hPa 66J/kg 99% 0.2°C 100% 100% 13% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 100% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
15:00
1000hPa 46J/kg 100% 0.3°C 53% 68% 26% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 100% 0mm - - 4m/s
16:00
999hPa 229J/kg 100% -1.4°C 23% 27% 39% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 100% 0mm 8.2m/s 5.2m/s 3.3m/s
17:00
999hPa 443J/kg 100% -2.5°C 29% 40% 39% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ 7.2° 100% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
18:00
999hPa 246J/kg 100% -1.8°C 2% 21% 39% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ -5.1° 100% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
19:00
1000hPa 66J/kg 100% -0.8°C 3% 59% 39% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 100% 0mm 12m/s 9.5m/s 2.9m/s
20:00
1000hPa 101J/kg 100% -0.4°C 98% 100% 39% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 100% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
21:00
1000hPa 53J/kg 100% -0.5°C 4% 100% 39% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 100% 0.06mm - - 4.3m/s
22:00
1001hPa 29J/kg 100% 0.3°C 3% 73% 39% 0mm 46% 0.01mm -20dBZ -53° 100% 0.06mm 11m/s 11m/s 3.2m/s
23:00
1000hPa 68J/kg 47% -0.7°C 4% 81% 26% 0mm 58% 0.12mm -20dBZ -61° 89% 0.19mm - - 2.4m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:14 Sunset 17:38
24:00
1000hPa 71J/kg 100% -0.9°C 0% 42% 13% 0mm 58% 0.03mm -20dBZ -64° 100% 0.25mm - - 2.2m/s
01:00
1000hPa 40J/kg 100% -0.3°C 0% 2% 0% 0mm 62% 0.02mm -20dBZ -60° 100% 0.25mm 17m/s 20m/s 2.5m/s
02:00
1000hPa 52J/kg 100% -0.2°C 39% 85% 0% 0mm 62% 0.01mm -20dBZ -52° 100% 0.25mm - - 2m/s
03:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 30% 0.7°C 0% 10% 0% 0mm 61% 0.06mm -20dBZ -41° 30% 0.31mm - - 2.4m/s
04:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.9°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 5% 0.38mm 21m/s 24m/s 1.6m/s
05:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 0% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
06:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ -3.7° 0% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
07:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.5°C 0% 3% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 8.5° 3% 0mm 23m/s 25m/s 3.3m/s
08:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 0% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
09:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 31° 0% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
10:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 0% 0mm 22m/s 25m/s 4.3m/s
11:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 0% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
12:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 0% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
13:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 0% 0mm 18m/s 23m/s 2.9m/s
14:00
999hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 0% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
15:00
999hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 0% 0mm - - 3m/s
16:00
999hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 0% 0mm 9.4m/s 19m/s 4.2m/s
17:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 6.9° 0% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
18:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ -5.4° 0% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
19:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 0% 0mm 7.8m/s 16m/s 6.2m/s
20:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 0% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
21:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 2% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 2% 0mm - - 7.1m/s
22:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ -53° 0% 0mm 6.8m/s 14m/s 6.5m/s
23:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 1% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 06:15 Sunset 17:37
24:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ -65° 1% 0mm - - 4m/s
01:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 2% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 2% 0mm 8.1m/s 14m/s 2.7m/s
02:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 11% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ -52° 11% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
03:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.8°C 0% 19% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 19% 0mm - - 5.7m/s
04:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.1°C 0% 28% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 28% 0mm 7.2m/s 17m/s 7.2m/s
05:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.7°C 2% 19% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 20% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
06:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.2°C 3% 9% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ -3.9° 12% 0mm - - 6.7m/s
07:00
999hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.8°C 4% 0% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ 8.3° 4% 0mm 6.2m/s 14m/s 6.4m/s
08:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.7°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 3% 0mm - - 6.6m/s
09:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.5°C 2% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 2% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
10:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 0% 0mm 6.5m/s 9.7m/s 6.9m/s
11:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 0% 0mm - - 6.5m/s
12:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ 47° 0% 0mm - - 6.2m/s
13:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 0% 0mm 3.4m/s 9m/s 5.8m/s
14:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 0% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
15:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 0% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
16:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 0% 0mm 1m/s 8.6m/s 5m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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