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Rule Storm Chaser

Wollongong - Storm Chaser - Australian Coast

Wollongong, 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 92% failing
CAPE 89% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts1.8m/s
Precipitation Chance42%
Air Pressure1006.2hPa
CAPE484
Lifted Index-3.0°C
Wind Gusts1.8m/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%23%176J/kg-0.6°C24135m2.1m/s
07:000%45%126J/kg-0.6°C24134m2.7m/s
08:000%27%106J/kg-0.4°C24135m3.3m/s
09:000%21%101J/kg-0.6°C24135m3.8m/s
10:000%21%150J/kg-1.1°C24135m4.8m/s
11:000%24%280J/kg-1.5°C24135m6.2m/s
12:000%29%283J/kg-1.3°C24135m8.4m/s
13:000%40%328J/kg-1.7°C24134m11m/s
14:0012%27%373J/kg-2°C24135m13m/s
15:0013%51%459J/kg-2.7°C24092m12m/s
16:0014%49%317J/kg-3.1°C17588m7.7m/s
17:0028%53%168J/kg-1.3°C17914m2.3m/s
18:0027%57%232J/kg-1.7°C3897m5.6m/s
19:0031%61%33J/kg0.5°C3319m4.2m/s
20:0036%56%36J/kg0.1°C14108m3.7m/s
21:0018%0%69J/kg-0.4°C24135m5.4m/s
22:0018%0%149J/kg-1°C24052m5.6m/s
23:0033%0%178J/kg-0.7°C24080m2.9m/s
Mon, Feb 23
24:000%0.1%286J/kg-1.6°C24121m5.1m/s
01:000%0%326J/kg-1.6°C24135m5.3m/s
02:000%0%384J/kg-1.7°C24135m6m/s
03:000%0%623J/kg-2.8°C24135m8.1m/s
04:000%0%721J/kg-3.6°C24135m6.4m/s
05:000%0.1%594J/kg-3.6°C24135m2.9m/s
06:000%50%484J/kg-3°C24134m1.8m/s
07:000%46%388J/kg-2.6°C24134m1.6m/s
08:000%52%317J/kg-2.3°C24135m2m/s
09:000%47%278J/kg-1.8°C24135m3.7m/s
10:000%42%224J/kg-1.1°C24135m5.3m/s
11:000%37%159J/kg-0.9°C24135m12m/s
12:000%27%132J/kg-0.9°C24135m15m/s
13:000%28%69J/kg-0.6°C24135m15m/s
14:0017%29%67J/kg-0.6°C17142m13m/s
15:000%42%216J/kg-1.5°C24134m12m/s
16:000%42%117J/kg-1.1°C17076m12m/s
17:0018%51%75J/kg-0.1°C24134m11m/s
18:000%57%39J/kg-0.3°C24135m11m/s
19:000%56%13J/kg0.3°C24134m11m/s
20:000%46%29J/kg0.1°C24135m10m/s
21:000%7.3%34J/kg0.2°C24134m9.3m/s
22:000%7.6%56J/kg0.1°C24134m8.4m/s
23:000%9.4%208J/kg-1°C24135m8.2m/s
Tue, Feb 24
24:000%9.8%294J/kg-1.5°C24134m8.1m/s
01:000%13%388J/kg-1.9°C24135m7.9m/s
02:000%12%299J/kg-1.8°C24135m7.5m/s
03:000%12%281J/kg-1.8°C24134m6.4m/s
04:000%12%244J/kg-1.5°C24134m5.4m/s
05:000%13%156J/kg-1°C24134m4.4m/s
06:000%24%73J/kg-0.5°C24135m3.9m/s
07:000%26%49J/kg0.1°C24135m3.2m/s
08:000%38%83J/kg-0.2°C24135m2.1m/s
09:000%46%153J/kg-0.3°C24135m1.1m/s
10:000%24%144J/kg0.1°C24134m1.2m/s
11:000%23%113J/kg0.3°C24135m2.5m/s
12:000%15%143J/kg0°C24099m4.9m/s
13:000%28%135J/kg-0.1°C1523m5.7m/s
14:000%27%120J/kg-0.3°C14306m7.1m/s
15:000%36%70J/kg-0.2°C7301m10m/s
16:000%17%129J/kg-1.2°C24135m13m/s
17:000%22%390J/kg-2.5°C24135m13m/s
18:000%22%487J/kg-2.5°C24134m13m/s
19:000%22%495J/kg-2.5°C24134m13m/s
20:0016%22%391J/kg-2.1°C24135m12m/s
21:000%14%167J/kg-1.3°C24135m11m/s
22:000%15%18J/kg0.3°C24134m11m/s
23:000%15%19J/kg0.3°C24135m11m/s
Wed, Feb 25
24:000%15%54J/kg-0.1°C24134m10m/s
01:000%15%106J/kg-0.8°C24135m9.8m/s
02:000%15%121J/kg-1.4°C24135m9.8m/s
03:000%14%144J/kg-1.9°C24134m9.4m/s
04:000%13%166J/kg-1.9°C24135m8.9m/s
05:000%11%117J/kg-1.3°C24135m7.4m/s
06:000%16%59J/kg-0.4°C24134m4.8m/s
07:000%18%34J/kg-0.1°C24134m5m/s
08:000%18%19J/kg-0.4°C24134m5.5m/s
09:000%54%18J/kg-0.8°C24134m4.1m/s
10:000%55%13J/kg-0.6°C24134m2.7m/s
11:000%48%20J/kg-0.4°C17880m2.5m/s
12:000%40%26J/kg-0.6°C14744m5.3m/s
13:000%26%31J/kg-0.8°C11608m8m/s
14:0018%21%37J/kg-0.99°C8473m11m/s
15:0015%37%34J/kg-0.57°C12838m11m/s
16:0015%41%32J/kg-0.16°C17204m12m/s
17:0020%53%29J/kg0.26°C21569m13m/s
18:0016%62%31J/kg0.09°C22425m14m/s
19:0015%84%34J/kg-0.09°C23280m14m/s
20:0015%67%36J/kg-0.27°C24135m15m/s
21:000%0%46J/kg-0.23°C20867m15m/s
22:0015%0%55J/kg-0.19°C17599m14m/s
23:0018%0%65J/kg-0.16°C14331m14m/s
Thu, Feb 26
24:0013%0%61J/kg0.06°C13239m13m/s
01:0013%0%57J/kg0.29°C12147m13m/s
02:0015%0%53J/kg0.51°C11055m13m/s
03:0013%0%73J/kg0.36°C11140m12m/s
04:0013%0%94J/kg0.22°C11225m12m/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 06:38 Sunset 19:41
06:00
1006hPa 484J/kg 100% -3°C 39% 100% 42% 0mm 88% 0mm 22dBZ -8.3° 100% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
07:00
1007hPa 388J/kg 100% -2.6°C 0% 86% 37% 0mm 87% 0mm 19dBZ 3.8° 100% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
08:00
1008hPa 317J/kg 100% -2.3°C 23% 100% 33% 0mm 85% 0mm 17dBZ 16° 100% 0mm 11m/s 5.6m/s 2m/s
09:00
1009hPa 278J/kg 100% -1.8°C 100% 100% 43% 0mm 84% 0mm 16dBZ 28° 100% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
10:00
1010hPa 224J/kg 100% -1.1°C 88% 100% 52% 0mm 85% 0mm 14dBZ 40° 100% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
11:00
1011hPa 159J/kg 0% -0.9°C 56% 100% 61% 0mm 85% 0mm 13dBZ 52° 100% 0mm 20m/s 9m/s 9.6m/s
12:00
1011hPa 132J/kg 0% -0.9°C 81% 100% 46% 0.01mm 92% 0mm 15dBZ 61° 100% 0mm - - 14m/s
13:00
1012hPa 69J/kg 0% -0.6°C 100% 93% 32% 0.07mm 91% 0.01mm 17dBZ 65° 100% 0.06mm - - 13m/s
14:00
1013hPa 67J/kg 0% -0.6°C 100% 100% 17% 0.16mm 88% 0.48mm 19dBZ 63° 100% 0.69mm 18m/s 13m/s 11m/s
15:00
1013hPa 216J/kg 0% -1.5°C 99% 100% 19% 0.05mm 86% 0.02mm 20dBZ 55° 100% 0.88mm - - 11m/s
16:00
1013hPa 117J/kg 0% -1.1°C 100% 95% 21% 0.03mm 85% 0.2mm 20dBZ 44° 100% 1mm - - 11m/s
17:00
1013hPa 75J/kg 0% -0.1°C 100% 100% 24% 0.04mm 84% 0.02mm 21dBZ 32° 100% 1.1mm 11m/s 7.8m/s 11m/s
18:00
1014hPa 39J/kg 0% -0.3°C 100% 50% 20% 0.02mm 83% 0.01mm 18dBZ 20° 100% 0mm - - 10m/s
19:00
1015hPa 13J/kg 0% 0.3°C 100% 96% 17% 0mm 81% 0mm 14dBZ 7.6° 100% 0.06mm - - 10m/s
20:00
1015hPa 29J/kg 0% 0.1°C 100% 100% 14% 0mm 81% 0mm 11dBZ -4.6° 100% 0.06mm 12m/s 1.2m/s 9.7m/s
21:00
1016hPa 34J/kg 0% 0.2°C 100% 100% 26% 0.03mm 82% 0.01mm 6dBZ -16° 100% 0.06mm - - 8.8m/s
22:00
1017hPa 56J/kg 0% 0.1°C 100% 100% 38% 0.02mm 81% 0mm 0.93dBZ -27° 100% 0.13mm - - 7.7m/s
23:00
1017hPa 208J/kg 0% -1°C 100% 100% 50% 0.02mm 80% 0mm -4.2dBZ -36° 100% 0.13mm 9.4m/s 3.9m/s 7.3m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 06:39 Sunset 19:40
24:00
1016hPa 294J/kg 0% -1.5°C 100% 44% 33% 0mm 79% 0mm -9.4dBZ -43° 100% 0mm - - 7m/s
01:00
1016hPa 388J/kg 0% -1.9°C 98% 25% 17% 0mm 79% 0mm -15dBZ -46° 98% 0.06mm - - 6.7m/s
02:00
1015hPa 299J/kg 0% -1.8°C 100% 1% 0% 0.01mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -44° 100% 0.06mm 7.1m/s 3.1m/s 6.4m/s
03:00
1015hPa 281J/kg 0% -1.8°C 100% 3% 0% 0.03mm 80% 0mm -14dBZ -39° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.8m/s
04:00
1015hPa 244J/kg 0% -1.5°C 100% 3% 0% 0.02mm 80% 0mm -8.1dBZ -30° 100% 0.13mm - - 5.1m/s
05:00
1015hPa 156J/kg 0% -1°C 100% 5% 0% 0.02mm 80% 0mm -2.2dBZ -20° 100% 0.13mm 4.8m/s 3.9m/s 4.3m/s
06:00
1015hPa 73J/kg 0% -0.5°C 98% 3% 0% 0.01mm 81% 0mm -8.1dBZ -8.5° 98% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
07:00
1016hPa 49J/kg 0% 0.1°C 95% 3% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -14dBZ 3.6° 95% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
08:00
1016hPa 83J/kg 0% -0.2°C 83% 3% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 83% 0mm 5.6m/s 2.2m/s 2.3m/s
09:00
1017hPa 153J/kg 0% -0.3°C 55% 2% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 55% 0mm - - 0.64m/s
10:00
1017hPa 144J/kg 0% 0.1°C 86% 5% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 86% 0mm - - 0.49m/s
11:00
1016hPa 113J/kg 0% 0.3°C 11% 5% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ 51° 11% 0mm 5.4m/s 3.3m/s 2.4m/s
12:00
1016hPa 143J/kg 0% 0°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ 60° 5% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
13:00
1015hPa 135J/kg 0% -0.1°C 38% 5% 0% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ 65° 38% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
14:00
1014hPa 120J/kg 0% -0.3°C 33% 5% 0% 0mm 90% 0mm -20dBZ 63° 34% 0mm 4.5m/s 1.4m/s 6.5m/s
15:00
1014hPa 70J/kg 0% -0.2°C 26% 5% 7% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ 55° 27% 0mm - - 9.2m/s
16:00
1013hPa 129J/kg 0% -1.2°C 0% 1% 15% 0mm 92% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 1% 0mm - - 12m/s
17:00
1013hPa 390J/kg 0% -2.5°C 0% 3% 22% 0mm 91% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 3% 0mm 10m/s 8.4m/s 12m/s
18:00
1013hPa 487J/kg 0% -2.5°C 0% 5% 15% 0mm 90% 0mm -8.8dBZ 20° 5% 0mm - - 11m/s
19:00
1013hPa 495J/kg 0% -2.5°C 0% 5% 7% 0mm 87% 0mm 2.4dBZ 7.4° 5% 0mm - - 9.6m/s
20:00
1014hPa 391J/kg 0% -2.1°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm 14dBZ -4.8° 5% 0mm 12m/s 11m/s 8.6m/s
21:00
1014hPa 167J/kg 0% -1.3°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm 2.4dBZ -17° 5% 0mm - - 7.9m/s
22:00
1015hPa 18J/kg 3% 0.3°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -8.8dBZ -27° 5% 0mm - - 7.5m/s
23:00
1014hPa 19J/kg 0% 0.3°C 0% 30% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -37° 30% 0mm 18m/s 12m/s 6.5m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 06:40 Sunset 19:39
24:00
1014hPa 54J/kg 0% -0.1°C 0% 73% 10% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -43° 73% 0mm - - 6m/s
01:00
1014hPa 106J/kg 0% -0.8°C 0% 44% 20% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 44% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
02:00
1013hPa 121J/kg 0% -1.4°C 0% 35% 30% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -45° 35% 0mm 14m/s 11m/s 5.5m/s
03:00
1013hPa 144J/kg 0% -1.9°C 0% 67% 26% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 67% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
04:00
1013hPa 166J/kg 0% -1.9°C 20% 78% 21% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 78% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
05:00
1013hPa 117J/kg 0% -1.3°C 12% 12% 17% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 14% 0mm 11m/s 10m/s 4.8m/s
06:00
1013hPa 59J/kg 0% -0.4°C 6% 6% 20% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -8.7° 8% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
07:00
1014hPa 34J/kg 0% -0.1°C 0% 5% 23% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ 3.5° 5% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
08:00
1014hPa 19J/kg 0% -0.4°C 0% 5% 26% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 5% 0mm 5.7m/s 10m/s 4.1m/s
09:00
1014hPa 18J/kg 0% -0.8°C 0% 49% 33% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 49% 0mm - - 3m/s
10:00
1015hPa 13J/kg 0% -0.6°C 0% 30% 41% 0mm 81% 0.03mm -20dBZ 40° 30% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
11:00
1015hPa 20J/kg 0% -0.4°C 2% 44% 48% 0mm 84% 0.33mm -20dBZ 51° 44% 0.13mm 3.5m/s 5.1m/s 2.2m/s
12:00
1015hPa 26J/kg 33% -0.6°C 35% 63% 54% 0.29mm 87% 0.23mm -20dBZ 60° 63% 1.6mm - - 4.6m/s
13:00
1015hPa 31J/kg 67% -0.8°C 67% 81% 60% 0.59mm 89% 0.12mm -20dBZ 65° 81% 3mm - - 7m/s
14:00
1015hPa 37J/kg 100% -0.99°C 100% 100% 66% 0.88mm 92% 0.02mm -20dBZ 62° 100% 4.4mm 6.7m/s 6.8m/s 9.4m/s
15:00
1016hPa 34J/kg 100% -0.57°C 100% 100% 69% 0.68mm 91% 0.02mm -5.6dBZ 54° 100% 4.7mm - - 9.7m/s
16:00
1017hPa 32J/kg 100% -0.16°C 100% 100% 72% 0.49mm 90% 0.01mm 8.7dBZ 44° 100% 5mm - - 10m/s
17:00
1017hPa 29J/kg 100% 0.26°C 100% 100% 75% 0.29mm 90% 0.01mm 23dBZ 32° 100% 5.3mm 4.9m/s 5.2m/s 10m/s
18:00
1017hPa 31J/kg 75% 0.09°C 98% 68% 73% 0.21mm 90% 0.01mm 26dBZ 19° 98% 3.7mm - - 11m/s
19:00
1017hPa 34J/kg 50% -0.09°C 95% 36% 71% 0.13mm 90% 0.01mm 30dBZ 7.2° 95% 2.1mm - - 11m/s
20:00
1016hPa 36J/kg 25% -0.27°C 93% 3% 69% 0.05mm 90% 0.01mm 33dBZ -5.1° 93% 0.56mm 3.8m/s 7m/s 11m/s
21:00
1016hPa 46J/kg 49% -0.23°C 95% 4% 76% 0.12mm 90% 0.12mm 28dBZ -17° 95% 0.83mm - - 11m/s
22:00
1016hPa 55J/kg 73% -0.19°C 98% 4% 82% 0.18mm 91% 0.23mm 23dBZ -28° 98% 1.1mm - - 11m/s
23:00
1016hPa 65J/kg 97% -0.16°C 100% 4% 89% 0.25mm 91% 0.34mm 18dBZ -37° 100% 1.4mm 12m/s 8.9m/s 10m/s
Thu, Feb 26 Sunrise 06:40 Sunset 19:38
24:00
1016hPa 61J/kg 65% 0.06°C 100% 4% 83% 0.22mm 90% 0.3mm 6.7dBZ -44° 100% 1.4mm - - 11m/s
01:00
1017hPa 57J/kg 32% 0.29°C 100% 4% 77% 0.2mm 88% 0.26mm -4.4dBZ -47° 100% 1.4mm - - 11m/s
02:00
1017hPa 53J/kg 0% 0.51°C 100% 3% 71% 0.17mm 86% 0.22mm -16dBZ -45° 100% 1.4mm 13m/s 8.5m/s 11m/s
03:00
1017hPa 73J/kg 0% 0.36°C 100% 2% 73% 0.2mm 86% 0.18mm -3.2dBZ -39° 100% 1.9mm - - 12m/s
04:00
1017hPa 94J/kg 0% 0.22°C 100% 1% 75% 0.22mm 86% 0.14mm 9.1dBZ -31° 100% 2.4mm - - 12m/s
05:00
1018hPa 114J/kg 0% 0.08°C 100% 0% 77% 0.25mm 86% 0.1mm 21dBZ -20° 100% 2.8mm 16m/s 12m/s 12m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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