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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 99% failing
CAPE 96% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts4.1m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure1015.4hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index2.9°C
Wind Gusts4.1m/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
11:000%5.2%0J/kg4.6°C24135m3.4m/s
12:000%17%0J/kg3.9°C24134m4.3m/s
13:000%46%4J/kg3.2°C24135m4.7m/s
14:000%39%5J/kg3.1°C24134m4.2m/s
15:000%23%1J/kg2.9°C24134m3.5m/s
16:000%20%0J/kg2.8°C24135m2.9m/s
17:000%25%0J/kg3.5°C24135m2.1m/s
18:000%23%0J/kg3.7°C24134m1.5m/s
19:000%15%0J/kg3.3°C24135m1.5m/s
20:000%15%0J/kg3.1°C24134m2.1m/s
21:000%8.9%0J/kg3.1°C24135m2.9m/s
22:000%15%0J/kg3.1°C24134m2.6m/s
23:000%15%2J/kg0°C24134m3.5m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%15%0J/kg0.5°C24134m3.4m/s
01:000%15%0J/kg1.3°C24135m3.3m/s
02:000%15%0J/kg1.6°C24135m3.2m/s
03:000%15%0J/kg1.9°C24134m3.5m/s
04:000%15%0J/kg1.8°C24135m4.1m/s
05:000%15%0J/kg2.3°C24134m4.2m/s
06:000%63%0J/kg3.2°C24134m3.5m/s
07:000%40%0J/kg3.2°C24134m4.1m/s
08:000%48%0J/kg2.5°C24135m3.8m/s
09:000%5.6%0J/kg2.4°C24135m3.6m/s
10:000%0.8%0J/kg2.7°C24135m3.1m/s
11:000%0.1%0J/kg2.9°C24134m4.1m/s
12:000%3.7%0J/kg2.7°C24135m7.3m/s
13:0013%6.8%0J/kg1.6°C24135m9.5m/s
14:000%30%3J/kg1.2°C24135m11m/s
15:000%34%30J/kg0.9°C24134m12m/s
16:0015%30%113J/kg0.3°C24134m12m/s
17:000%61%252J/kg-0.5°C24134m11m/s
18:000%28%367J/kg-1.1°C24135m10m/s
19:000%8.1%470J/kg-2°C24134m9.5m/s
20:000%14%441J/kg-2°C24135m9.9m/s
21:000%15%310J/kg-1.8°C24135m8.8m/s
22:000%14%289J/kg-1.6°C24135m8.6m/s
23:000%13%272J/kg-1.6°C24135m8m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:000%15%171J/kg-1.2°C24134m7.2m/s
01:000%14%112J/kg-0.5°C24135m6.5m/s
02:000%11%58J/kg-0.3°C24134m5.9m/s
03:000%7.6%18J/kg-0.2°C24134m6.8m/s
04:000%0.3%0J/kg0.5°C24135m6.6m/s
05:000%0.1%21J/kg-0.7°C24135m4.9m/s
06:000%43%18J/kg-0.2°C24131m4.4m/s
07:000%43%1J/kg0.8°C24134m5m/s
08:000%38%0J/kg0.2°C24135m1.2m/s
09:000%39%0J/kg0.1°C24134m2.8m/s
10:000%41%0J/kg1.2°C24135m6.1m/s
11:000%42%0J/kg0.8°C24134m7.2m/s
12:000%33%12J/kg0.8°C24134m9.4m/s
13:000%45%98J/kg0.2°C24135m10m/s
14:000%47%296J/kg-1.2°C24134m8m/s
15:000%17%425J/kg-1.7°C24134m6.9m/s
16:000%17%456J/kg-2.1°C24135m6.7m/s
17:000%16%392J/kg-1.7°C24134m4m/s
18:000%24%176J/kg-1.1°C24134m4.1m/s
19:000%10%148J/kg-1.1°C24135m3.7m/s
20:000%11%188J/kg-1.2°C24135m6.5m/s
21:000%5.2%241J/kg-1.2°C24134m4m/s
22:000%7.3%176J/kg-0.8°C24134m5.7m/s
23:000%12%138J/kg-0.8°C24134m8.6m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%15%180J/kg-1.2°C24134m11m/s
01:000%15%48J/kg-0.1°C24134m12m/s
02:000%15%0J/kg0.8°C24134m14m/s
03:000%13%0J/kg1.6°C24135m14m/s
04:0016%8.8%0J/kg6.6°C24135m13m/s
05:000%7.9%0J/kg9.8°C24135m12m/s
06:000%20%0J/kg10°C24134m11m/s
07:000%17%0J/kg11°C24135m11m/s
08:000%14%0J/kg11°C24134m11m/s
09:000%15%0J/kg12°C24135m10m/s
10:000%14%0J/kg11°C24134m9.7m/s
11:000%11%0J/kg11°C24134m9.1m/s
12:000%10%0J/kg10°C24134m9m/s
13:000%8.1%0J/kg9.4°C24135m9.3m/s
14:000%6.6%0J/kg8.1°C24135m9.6m/s
15:000%6.6%0J/kg7.6°C24135m10m/s
16:0013%7.1%0J/kg7.7°C24135m11m/s
17:000%9.8%0J/kg8.4°C24135m12m/s
18:000%9.8%0J/kg9.1°C24135m13m/s
19:0013%0%0J/kg9.9°C24135m14m/s
20:000%0%0J/kg9.6°C24135m14m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg9.4°C24135m14m/s
22:0014%0%0J/kg9.1°C24135m14m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg9.2°C24135m14m/s
Sun, Apr 12
24:000%0%0J/kg9.3°C24135m14m/s
01:0017%0%0J/kg9.3°C24135m14m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg9.4°C24135m14m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg9.4°C24135m13m/s
04:0015%0%0J/kg9.5°C24135m13m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg8.9°C24135m13m/s
06:000%11%0J/kg8.4°C24135m13m/s
07:0012%11%0J/kg7.9°C24135m13m/s
08:000%10%0J/kg7.8°C24135m13m/s
09:000%8.8%0J/kg7.7°C24135m13m/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 06:15 Sunset 17:40
11:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 0% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
12:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 0% 0mm - - 7.5m/s
13:00
1013hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 0% 0mm 9.4m/s 12m/s 9.8m/s
14:00
1012hPa 3J/kg 5% 1.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 5% 0mm - - 11m/s
15:00
1012hPa 30J/kg 8% 0.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 8% 0mm - - 11m/s
16:00
1012hPa 113J/kg 100% 0.3°C 0% 3% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 100% 0mm 11m/s 15m/s 11m/s
17:00
1012hPa 252J/kg 86% -0.5°C 8% 50% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ 7.6° 86% 0mm - - 9.4m/s
18:00
1013hPa 367J/kg 5% -1.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -4.6° 5% 0mm - - 8.2m/s
19:00
1013hPa 470J/kg 4% -2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -17° 4% 0mm 6.9m/s 11m/s 7.3m/s
20:00
1013hPa 441J/kg 5% -2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 5% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
21:00
1013hPa 310J/kg 98% -1.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 98% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
22:00
1013hPa 289J/kg 100% -1.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -52° 100% 0mm 12m/s 16m/s 5.7m/s
23:00
1013hPa 272J/kg 5% -1.6°C 0% 0% 23% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 5% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:15 Sunset 17:40
24:00
1011hPa 171J/kg 70% -1.2°C 0% 0% 46% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 70% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
01:00
1011hPa 112J/kg 90% -0.5°C 4% 4% 69% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 90% 0mm 15m/s 18m/s 4.8m/s
02:00
1010hPa 58J/kg 100% -0.3°C 3% 100% 74% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -51° 100% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
03:00
1009hPa 18J/kg 100% -0.2°C 5% 100% 79% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ -40° 100% 0mm - - 5m/s
04:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.5°C 81% 94% 84% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 100% 0mm 6.7m/s 8m/s 5.2m/s
05:00
1009hPa 21J/kg 100% -0.7°C 5% 5% 56% 0mm 70% 0.01mm -11dBZ -16° 100% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
06:00
1010hPa 18J/kg 100% -0.2°C 5% 100% 28% 0mm 71% 0.03mm -1.8dBZ -3.9° 100% 0.06mm - - 4m/s
07:00
1011hPa 1J/kg 100% 0.8°C 5% 44% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm 7.2dBZ 8.3° 100% 0.19mm 15m/s 14m/s 3.8m/s
08:00
1011hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.2°C 5% 100% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -1.8dBZ 20° 100% 0.19mm - - 0.86m/s
09:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.1°C 5% 78% 0% 0mm 64% 0mm -11dBZ 30° 100% 0.19mm - - 2.9m/s
10:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.2°C 0% 49% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 100% 0.19mm 16m/s 14m/s 5.8m/s
11:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.8°C 0% 67% 0% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 100% 0mm - - 6.2m/s
12:00
1007hPa 12J/kg 100% 0.8°C 1% 11% 0% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 100% 0mm - - 8.4m/s
13:00
1005hPa 98J/kg 100% 0.2°C 97% 100% 0% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 100% 0mm 17m/s 18m/s 7.9m/s
14:00
1005hPa 296J/kg 100% -1.2°C 54% 95% 13% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 100% 0mm - - 6.5m/s
15:00
1004hPa 425J/kg 100% -1.7°C 0% 3% 26% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 100% 0mm - - 6m/s
16:00
1004hPa 456J/kg 100% -2.1°C 2% 5% 39% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 100% 0mm 8.3m/s 9.5m/s 5.9m/s
17:00
1004hPa 392J/kg 100% -1.7°C 1% 1% 39% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ 7.3° 100% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
18:00
1004hPa 176J/kg 100% -1.1°C 0% 0% 39% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -4.9° 100% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
19:00
1005hPa 148J/kg 100% -1.1°C 0% 0% 39% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ -17° 100% 0mm 11m/s 11m/s 3.6m/s
20:00
1006hPa 188J/kg 100% -1.2°C 3% 3% 45% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 100% 0mm - - 5m/s
21:00
1006hPa 241J/kg 100% -1.2°C 1% 6% 50% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 100% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
22:00
1007hPa 176J/kg 100% -0.8°C 56% 86% 56% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -52° 100% 0mm 11m/s 13m/s 4.2m/s
23:00
1007hPa 138J/kg 100% -0.8°C 3% 0% 37% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 100% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:16 Sunset 17:39
24:00
1007hPa 180J/kg 100% -1.2°C 0% 4% 19% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 100% 0mm - - 6.3m/s
01:00
1007hPa 48J/kg 100% -0.1°C 18% 17% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 100% 0mm 13m/s 12m/s 6.5m/s
02:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -52° 0% 0mm - - 8.8m/s
03:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 0% 0mm - - 9.3m/s
04:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 0% 0mm 16m/s 15m/s 8.5m/s
05:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 0% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
06:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ -4° 0% 0mm - - 6.7m/s
07:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ 8.1° 0% 0mm 22m/s 22m/s 6.3m/s
08:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 0% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
09:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 0% 0mm - - 7.9m/s
10:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 0% 0mm 20m/s 24m/s 7.6m/s
11:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 0% 0mm - - 6.4m/s
12:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 47° 0% 0mm - - 5.9m/s
13:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 0% 0mm 14m/s 23m/s 7m/s
14:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 0% 0mm - - 7.6m/s
15:00
1005hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.6°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 4% 0mm - - 8.4m/s
16:00
1006hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 0% 0mm 4.5m/s 17m/s 9.4m/s
17:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 0% 0mm - - 9.6m/s
18:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -5.2° 0% 0mm - - 9.8m/s
19:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 0% 0mm 2.1m/s 13m/s 10m/s
20:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 0% 0mm - - 9.9m/s
21:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 0% 0mm - - 9.7m/s
22:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ -53° 0% 0mm 8.9m/s 14m/s 9.6m/s
23:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.2°C 0% 0% 2% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 0% 0mm - - 9.9m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 06:17 Sunset 17:38
24:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.3°C 0% 0% 3% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 0% 0mm - - 10m/s
01:00
1010hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.3°C 0% 0% 5% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 0% 0mm 14m/s 16m/s 11m/s
02:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.4°C 0% 0% 3% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -52° 0% 0mm - - 10m/s
03:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.4°C 0% 0% 2% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ -41° 0% 0mm - - 10m/s
04:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 0% 0mm 11m/s 16m/s 10m/s
05:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.9°C 1% 0% 1% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -17° 1% 0mm - - 11m/s
06:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.4°C 2% 0% 2% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ -4.2° 2% 0mm - - 11m/s
07:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.9°C 2% 0% 3% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 7.9° 2% 0mm 2.5m/s 15m/s 11m/s
08:00
1007hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.8°C 2% 0% 2% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 2% 0mm - - 12m/s
09:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.7°C 1% 0% 1% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 1% 0mm - - 12m/s
10:00
1008hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 0% 0mm 4m/s 6.8m/s 12m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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