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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 100% failing
Cloud Drama Score 67% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover62%
Wind Gusts6.6m/s
Precipitation Chance96%
Air Pressure1023.3hPa
CAPE22
Lifted Index5.5°C
Wind Gusts6.6m/s
Precipitation0.1mm

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 79 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, Jul 8
15:0016%19%30J/kg4.5°C22517m7.5m/s
16:0015%24%16J/kg5.2°C24135m7.9m/s
17:0011%25%16J/kg5.3°C24134m8.3m/s
18:0011%15%25J/kg5.4°C24135m7.9m/s
19:0016%15%29J/kg5.3°C24134m8.4m/s
20:0015%15%33J/kg5.1°C24134m7.9m/s
21:0015%15%36J/kg5.2°C18210m7.4m/s
22:0022%15%36J/kg5.2°C24134m6.9m/s
23:0019%15%22J/kg5.5°C16441m6.6m/s
Thu, Jul 9
24:0019%15%15J/kg5.4°C24135m6.9m/s
01:0022%15%21J/kg5.1°C15833m7.2m/s
02:0023%15%25J/kg4.7°C13460m7.5m/s
03:0027%15%33J/kg4.3°C13017m7.1m/s
04:0017%14%44J/kg4.4°C12176m5.4m/s
05:0015%13%32J/kg4.4°C11396m4.6m/s
06:0016%8%23J/kg5.1°C24134m4.6m/s
07:0013%28%22J/kg5.4°C18005m4.5m/s
08:0016%42%27J/kg5.5°C21151m4.1m/s
09:0017%49%23J/kg5.7°C20018m3.7m/s
10:0019%94%17J/kg6°C19627m2.9m/s
11:0013%56%20J/kg5.9°C21793m3.8m/s
12:0012%53%32J/kg5.4°C21306m3.9m/s
13:0010%80%25J/kg5.5°C23266m4.2m/s
14:0010%69%24J/kg5.4°C24134m4.3m/s
15:009%90%18J/kg5.1°C24134m4.2m/s
16:0010%100%19J/kg4.9°C24135m4.6m/s
17:000%62%15J/kg4.7°C24135m3.9m/s
18:000%7.1%20J/kg4.7°C24134m3.6m/s
19:000%2.6%14J/kg4.6°C24135m3.6m/s
20:000%3.3%12J/kg4.7°C24134m3.2m/s
21:006%3.5%10J/kg4.4°C24135m2.8m/s
22:0012%5.8%19J/kg4.1°C20688m2.7m/s
23:009%4.8%19J/kg3.9°C20670m2.9m/s
Fri, Jul 10
24:008%3.2%22J/kg3.6°C24135m3m/s
01:008%0.5%18J/kg3.8°C24135m2.9m/s
02:009%1.3%4J/kg3.9°C24134m3.2m/s
03:009%2.6%1J/kg4°C24135m3.2m/s
04:0012%8.3%0J/kg3.6°C24135m3.1m/s
05:0010%12%3J/kg3.9°C24134m3.2m/s
06:009%15%4J/kg3.9°C24135m3.7m/s
07:0011%85%7J/kg4°C24135m4.4m/s
08:0013%64%5J/kg3.5°C24135m4m/s
09:0013%67%15J/kg3.2°C24135m4.5m/s
10:0016%61%27J/kg3°C14539m4.8m/s
11:0017%87%40J/kg2.8°C12426m4.6m/s
12:0017%85%61J/kg2.8°C10705m4.6m/s
13:0016%82%51J/kg2.8°C17030m4.6m/s
14:0014%56%59J/kg2.9°C24135m4.4m/s
15:000%57%37J/kg2.6°C17952m3.9m/s
16:000%53%41J/kg2.3°C19798m3.4m/s
17:000%58%45J/kg2.8°C19412m2m/s
18:000%8.1%29J/kg2.7°C24134m1.9m/s
19:000%5.7%27J/kg2.5°C24135m2.1m/s
20:000%2.8%43J/kg2.2°C18729m1.6m/s
21:000%1.7%43J/kg2°C18950m0.9m/s
22:000%1.8%44J/kg1.9°C24134m1.8m/s
23:000%3.3%26J/kg2.2°C24135m3.4m/s
Sat, Jul 11
24:000%7.6%13J/kg2.7°C24134m3.9m/s
01:000%6.5%0J/kg3.1°C24134m4.2m/s
02:000%8%0J/kg3.6°C24135m4.1m/s
03:000%13%0J/kg3.8°C24135m3m/s
04:000%13%0J/kg3.8°C24135m2.9m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg3.6°C24135m3.1m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg3.4°C24135m3.4m/s
07:000%3.9%0J/kg3.3°C24135m3.6m/s
08:000%39%3.3J/kg3.2°C24135m3.3m/s
09:000%46%6.7J/kg3.2°C24135m3m/s
10:000%39%10J/kg3.2°C24135m2.6m/s
11:000%60%6.7J/kg3.3°C24135m5.1m/s
12:000%64%3.3J/kg3.4°C24135m7.5m/s
13:000%62%0J/kg3.5°C24135m9.9m/s
14:000%79%0J/kg3.3°C24135m9.7m/s
15:000%98%0J/kg3.2°C24135m9.4m/s
16:000%69%0J/kg3°C24135m9.1m/s
17:000%66%0J/kg2.8°C24135m9.3m/s
18:000%49%0J/kg2.6°C24135m9.5m/s
19:000%0%0J/kg2.4°C24135m9.6m/s
20:000%0%1J/kg2.6°C24135m9.8m/s
21:000%0%2J/kg2.8°C24135m10m/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
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 07:00 Sunset 17:00
23:00
1023hPa 22J/kg 1fraction 0% 5.5°C 62% 5% 96% 0mm 84% 0.11mm -20dBZ -73° 62% 0.13mm - - 3.5m/s
Thu, Jul 9 Sunrise 07:00 Sunset 17:00
24:00
1023hPa 15J/kg 1fraction 0% 5.4°C 57% 5% 93% 0mm 86% 0.2mm -20dBZ -79° 57% 0.31mm - - 3.7m/s
01:00
1023hPa 21J/kg 1fraction 0% 5.1°C 66% 5% 91% 0mm 88% 0.43mm -20dBZ -73° 66% 0.56mm 3.3m/s 11m/s 4.1m/s
02:00
1022hPa 25J/kg 1fraction 0% 4.7°C 96% 5% 92% 0.28mm 88% 0.38mm -15dBZ -61° 96% 1mm - - 3.9m/s
03:00
1022hPa 33J/kg 1fraction 0% 4.3°C 100% 5% 94% 0.17mm 87% 0.63mm -11dBZ -49° 100% 1.7mm - - 3.2m/s
04:00
1022hPa 44J/kg 1fraction 0% 4.4°C 95% 5% 96% 0.07mm 87% 0.58mm -6.2dBZ -37° 95% 2.3mm 4.3m/s 10m/s 2.6m/s
05:00
1022hPa 32J/kg 0.78fraction 0% 4.4°C 100% 5% 96% 0.26mm 88% 0.42mm -7.6dBZ -24° 100% 0.69mm - - 2.3m/s
06:00
1022hPa 23J/kg 0.55fraction 0% 5.1°C 100% 5% 95% 0.04mm 86% 0.06mm -9dBZ -12° 100% 1.1mm - - 2.3m/s
07:00
1023hPa 22J/kg 0.33fraction 0% 5.4°C 98% 2% 95% 0mm 86% 0.25mm -10dBZ -0.45° 98% 1.2mm 7.2m/s 10m/s 1.8m/s
08:00
1023hPa 27J/kg 0.51fraction 0% 5.5°C 84% 2% 95% 0mm 85% 0.13mm -5.8dBZ 9.9° 84% 1.3mm - - 1.7m/s
09:00
1023hPa 23J/kg 0.68fraction 2% 5.7°C 78% 4% 94% 0mm 82% 0.18mm -1.2dBZ 19° 78% 1.4mm - - 1.8m/s
10:00
1024hPa 17J/kg 0.86fraction 46% 6°C 74% 55% 93% 0mm 80% 0.17mm 3.5dBZ 27° 77% 1.6mm 4.4m/s 9.6m/s 2.2m/s
11:00
1023hPa 20J/kg 0.83fraction 100% 5.9°C 68% 100% 78% 0mm 76% 0.14mm 7.5dBZ 32° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.5m/s
12:00
1022hPa 32J/kg 0.8fraction 100% 5.4°C 76% 82% 64% 0mm 69% 0.19mm 12dBZ 34° 100% 0.19mm - - 2.2m/s
13:00
1021hPa 25J/kg 0.76fraction 68% 5.5°C 64% 64% 49% 0mm 65% 0.14mm 16dBZ 32° 76% 0.44mm 4.8m/s 9.8m/s 2.8m/s
14:00
1021hPa 24J/kg 0.67fraction 75% 5.4°C 54% 70% 52% 0mm 62% 0.06mm 3.8dBZ 27° 81% 0.56mm - - 3.1m/s
15:00
1020hPa 18J/kg 0.57fraction 79% 5.1°C 34% 36% 55% 0mm 61% 0.03mm -8.1dBZ 19° 79% 0.56mm - - 3.1m/s
16:00
1020hPa 19J/kg 0.48fraction 55% 4.9°C 34% 38% 57% 0mm 64% 0.03mm -20dBZ 10° 58% 0.63mm 3.5m/s 12m/s 2.9m/s
17:00
1020hPa 15J/kg 0.32fraction 100% 4.7°C 27% 100% 57% 0mm 68% 0.01mm -20dBZ -0.18° 100% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
18:00
1021hPa 20J/kg 0.16fraction 99% 4.7°C 47% 97% 57% 0mm 70% 0.01mm -20dBZ -12° 99% 0.06mm - - 2.4m/s
19:00
1021hPa 14J/kg 0fraction 100% 4.6°C 45% 100% 56% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ -24° 100% 0.06mm 4.1m/s 10m/s 2.5m/s
20:00
1021hPa 12J/kg 0.33fraction 76% 4.7°C 41% 99% 58% 0mm 69% 0.01mm -20dBZ -36° 99% 0.06mm - - 2.1m/s
21:00
1021hPa 10J/kg 0.67fraction 70% 4.4°C 23% 81% 60% 0mm 70% 0.03mm -20dBZ -49° 89% 0.06mm - - 1.9m/s
22:00
1021hPa 19J/kg 1fraction 59% 4.1°C 42% 90% 61% 0mm 74% 0.16mm -20dBZ -61° 90% 0.13mm 3.7m/s 8.4m/s 1.8m/s
23:00
1021hPa 19J/kg 0.86fraction 95% 3.9°C 51% 97% 56% 0mm 78% 0.2mm -20dBZ -72° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.8m/s
Fri, Jul 10 Sunrise 07:00 Sunset 17:00
24:00
1020hPa 22J/kg 0.72fraction 50% 3.6°C 27% 80% 51% 0mm 80% 0.08mm -20dBZ -78° 80% 0.31mm - - 1.8m/s
01:00
1020hPa 18J/kg 0.57fraction 60% 3.8°C 62% 100% 46% 0mm 82% 0.08mm -20dBZ -73° 100% 0.5mm 6m/s 7.2m/s 1.8m/s
02:00
1020hPa 4J/kg 0.57fraction 100% 3.9°C 55% 100% 52% 0mm 81% 0.08mm -20dBZ -61° 100% 0.56mm - - 2.2m/s
03:00
1019hPa 1J/kg 0.57fraction 100% 4°C 46% 100% 58% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -49° 100% 0.56mm - - 2m/s
04:00
1019hPa 0J/kg 0.57fraction 78% 3.6°C 6% 100% 64% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -37° 100% 0.56mm 5.9m/s 7.3m/s 1.8m/s
05:00
1019hPa 3J/kg 0.71fraction 14% 3.9°C 40% 100% 62% 0mm 79% 0.03mm -20dBZ -24° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
06:00
1019hPa 4J/kg 0.86fraction 18% 3.9°C 58% 87% 59% 0mm 81% 0.05mm -20dBZ -12° 87% 0.06mm - - 2m/s
07:00
1020hPa 7J/kg 1fraction 0% 4°C 72% 12% 56% 0mm 82% 0.07mm -20dBZ -0.39° 72% 0.06mm 6.2m/s 8.4m/s 2.1m/s
08:00
1020hPa 5J/kg 0.92fraction 3% 3.5°C 45% 5% 60% 0mm 80% 0.03mm -20dBZ 10° 45% 0.13mm - - 2m/s
09:00
1019hPa 15J/kg 0.85fraction 5% 3.2°C 48% 4% 64% 0mm 75% 0.08mm -20dBZ 19° 48% 0.19mm - - 2.7m/s
10:00
1019hPa 27J/kg 0.77fraction 5% 3°C 62% 2% 68% 0mm 71% 0.47mm -20dBZ 27° 62% 0.31mm 6m/s 7.7m/s 3.4m/s
11:00
1018hPa 40J/kg 0.85fraction 5% 2.8°C 61% 10% 59% 0mm 71% 0.75mm -13dBZ 32° 61% 0.31mm - - 3.5m/s
12:00
1017hPa 61J/kg 0.92fraction 5% 2.8°C 73% 20% 49% 0mm 72% 0.64mm -5.8dBZ 34° 73% 0.75mm - - 3.9m/s
13:00
1017hPa 51J/kg 1fraction 6% 2.8°C 43% 42% 39% 0mm 75% 0.28mm 1.4dBZ 32° 52% 1.1mm 4m/s 6.3m/s 3.6m/s
14:00
1016hPa 59J/kg 0.67fraction 94% 2.9°C 43% 86% 38% 0mm 73% 0.07mm -5.8dBZ 27° 94% 1.3mm - - 3.6m/s
15:00
1015hPa 37J/kg 0.35fraction 100% 2.6°C 26% 100% 38% 0mm 75% 0.21mm -13dBZ 20° 100% 1.4mm - - 3m/s
16:00
1015hPa 41J/kg 0.02fraction 6% 2.3°C 12% 100% 37% 0mm 81% 0.2mm -20dBZ 10° 100% 1.7mm 4.6m/s 8m/s 2.2m/s
17:00
1015hPa 45J/kg 0.02fraction 65% 2.8°C 23% 88% 41% 0mm 84% 0.16mm -20dBZ 0.002° 88% 0.19mm - - 1.5m/s
18:00
1016hPa 29J/kg 0.01fraction 71% 2.7°C 5% 100% 46% 0mm 84% 0.01mm -20dBZ -12° 100% 0.25mm - - 1.2m/s
19:00
1016hPa 27J/kg 0fraction 13% 2.5°C 5% 100% 50% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -24° 100% 0.25mm 4m/s 9.1m/s 1.2m/s
20:00
1016hPa 43J/kg 0fraction 8% 2.2°C 13% 91% 46% 0mm 82% 0.17mm -20dBZ -36° 91% 0.31mm - - 0.58m/s
21:00
1016hPa 43J/kg 0fraction 11% 2°C 10% 100% 42% 0mm 83% 0.22mm -20dBZ -49° 100% 0.38mm - - 0.55m/s
22:00
1016hPa 44J/kg 0fraction 5% 1.9°C 21% 88% 39% 0mm 86% 0.08mm -20dBZ -61° 88% 0.5mm 2.3m/s 7.9m/s 1.7m/s
23:00
1015hPa 26J/kg 0fraction 5% 2.2°C 6% 98% 26% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -72° 98% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
Sat, Jul 11 Sunrise 07:00 Sunset 17:01
24:00
1015hPa 13J/kg 0fraction 5% 2.7°C 6% 30% 13% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ -78° 30% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
01:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 3.1°C 6% 90% 0% 0mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ -72° 90% 0mm 1.2m/s 7.1m/s 2.6m/s
02:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 3.6°C 4% 98% 0% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 98% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
03:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 3.8°C 3% 84% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -49° 84% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
04:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 5% 3.8°C 5% 34% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ -37° 34% 0mm 2.2m/s 8.7m/s 2.2m/s
05:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 3% 3.6°C 4% 22% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -24° 23% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
06:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 2% 3.4°C 3% 11% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 13% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
07:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 3.3°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -0.31° 3% 0mm 2.6m/s 9.1m/s 2.1m/s
08:00
1005hPa 3.3J/kg 0fraction 2% 3.2°C 27% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 10° 27% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
09:00
1004hPa 6.7J/kg 0fraction 3% 3.2°C 51% 0% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 51% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
10:00
1003hPa 10J/kg 0fraction 5% 3.2°C 76% 0% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 27° 76% 0mm 1.5m/s 7.1m/s 1.6m/s
11:00
1003hPa 6.7J/kg 0fraction 9% 3.3°C 53% 33% 17% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 84% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
12:00
1004hPa 3.3J/kg 0fraction 13% 3.4°C 31% 67% 33% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 92% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
13:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 17% 3.5°C 8% 100% 50% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 100% 0mm 4.7m/s 7.9m/s 3.3m/s
14:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 14% 3.3°C 7% 73% 50% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ 27° 74% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
15:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 11% 3.2°C 6% 46% 50% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 49% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
16:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 8% 3°C 5% 19% 50% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ 10° 23% 0mm 5.5m/s 6.9m/s 3.3m/s
17:00
1003hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 6% 2.8°C 5% 24% 33% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ 0.09° 26% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
18:00
1002hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 3% 2.6°C 5% 28% 17% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 29% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
19:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 0fraction 0% 2.4°C 5% 32% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ -24° 32% 0mm 0.08m/s 4.4m/s 3.5m/s
20:00
1001hPa 1J/kg 0fraction 0% 2.6°C 31% 22% 17% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 49% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
21:00
1001hPa 2J/kg 0fraction 0% 2.8°C 57% 11% 33% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ -49° 66% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
22:00
1001hPa 3J/kg 0fraction 0% 2.9°C 83% 1% 50% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 83% 0mm 2.8m/s 7.1m/s 3.1m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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