Skip to content
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

Get notified
Free alerts · takes 30 seconds
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 82% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover98%
Wind Gusts1.4m/s
Precipitation Chance94%
Air Pressure1022.1hPa
CAPE7
Lifted Index4.3°C
Wind Gusts1.4m/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.

Create your own Storm Chaser alerts

Get notified when these conditions match at your own locations.

Get this template

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
Sat, May 23
23:000%2.1%46J/kg6.3°C19086m6.8m/s
Sun, May 24
24:000%1.2%52J/kg6.3°C10881m7.2m/s
01:0020%1.2%35J/kg7.3°C23598m8.1m/s
02:000%7.1%12J/kg8.2°C24135m7m/s
03:000%9%9J/kg9.1°C24135m5.8m/s
04:000%9.3%5J/kg9.8°C24134m5.3m/s
05:000%5.4%9J/kg9°C24135m4.8m/s
06:000%53%15J/kg8.6°C24134m4.9m/s
07:000%71%26J/kg8.1°C24135m5.2m/s
08:000%52%27J/kg8.1°C24135m5.5m/s
09:000%35%28J/kg8.3°C24135m5m/s
10:000%30%27J/kg8.1°C24135m4.1m/s
11:000%48%27J/kg8.1°C24134m4m/s
12:000%30%27J/kg8.5°C24135m2.2m/s
13:000%32%8J/kg8.7°C24135m1m/s
14:000%32%1J/kg9.1°C24134m2.1m/s
15:000%35%0J/kg9.1°C24135m2.9m/s
16:000%37%0J/kg8.1°C24134m4m/s
17:000%37%21J/kg6.4°C24134m3.6m/s
18:000%0.3%26J/kg5.8°C24134m3.4m/s
19:000%6.9%42J/kg5.6°C24102m1.7m/s
20:000%2.1%43J/kg4.6°C24100m0.82m/s
21:000%0.6%34J/kg4.7°C14415m1.4m/s
22:000%1.9%26J/kg4.8°C24135m1.4m/s
23:000%1.8%7J/kg4.3°C24135m1.4m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%7.4%12J/kg4.3°C24135m1.6m/s
01:000%2.8%16J/kg2.6°C24134m2.5m/s
02:000%8.8%2J/kg2.3°C24134m2.8m/s
03:000%14%16J/kg3.2°C24134m3.1m/s
04:000%9.9%25J/kg2.6°C24134m1.6m/s
05:000%8.5%25J/kg2.3°C24135m1.1m/s
06:000%35%32J/kg1.8°C17003m1m/s
07:000%81%38J/kg1.5°C16185m1m/s
08:000%43%41J/kg1.2°C24134m0.9m/s
09:000%43%33J/kg2.2°C17588m0.81m/s
10:007.7%34%24J/kg3.1°C24135m0.6m/s
11:000%29%16J/kg3.2°C24135m1m/s
12:000%32%22J/kg3.1°C24135m1.8m/s
13:000%75%43J/kg3.1°C24105m2.8m/s
14:000%35%55J/kg2.9°C17198m3.5m/s
15:000%60%73J/kg3.3°C8246m5.1m/s
16:009.8%39%84J/kg3.1°C24134m5.4m/s
17:000%28%91J/kg2.9°C24135m5.4m/s
18:000%14%87J/kg2.6°C24134m5m/s
19:000%15%99J/kg2.3°C24135m5.1m/s
20:000%15%90J/kg2.3°C24135m4.3m/s
21:000%15%90J/kg2.6°C16342m3.7m/s
22:000%15%78J/kg1.8°C24135m2.9m/s
23:000%5.7%80J/kg1.6°C24134m1.9m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%1.2%68J/kg1.7°C24134m2m/s
01:000%1.6%74J/kg1.1°C24125m2.6m/s
02:000%0.5%64J/kg1.7°C24098m2.1m/s
03:000%1.1%78J/kg1.8°C24055m3.8m/s
04:0011%2.4%57J/kg2.3°C24107m4.8m/s
05:000%4.3%83J/kg2.6°C24135m4.3m/s
06:000%47%77J/kg1.2°C24134m4.8m/s
07:000%50%48J/kg1.5°C24135m5.7m/s
08:000%49%18J/kg1.2°C24134m6m/s
09:000%48%50J/kg0.7°C16660m6.7m/s
10:0040%43%85J/kg-0.1°C2836m5.7m/s
11:0026%48%124J/kg-0.6°C3530m9.1m/s
12:0024%60%155J/kg-0.9°C15265m12m/s
13:0028%64%244J/kg-1.4°C6337m13m/s
14:0031%51%286J/kg-1.2°C5874m12m/s
15:0052%56%203J/kg-1.1°C3743m11m/s
16:0054%75%271J/kg-0.6°C4266m10m/s
17:0042%85%338J/kg-0.3°C2761m11m/s
18:0044%1.6%181J/kg-1°C4685m9.4m/s
19:0046%1.7%365J/kg-2.3°C2484m9m/s
20:000%4%161J/kg-0.3°C7174m8.5m/s
21:0034%2.2%187J/kg-1°C8591m9.6m/s
22:000%6%243J/kg-0.9°C6223m8.7m/s
23:000%9.9%259J/kg-0.7°C11132m9.1m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%11%346J/kg-1°C14467m7.5m/s
01:0022%14%258J/kg-0.9°C6782m7.3m/s
02:000%13%203J/kg-0.8°C15165m4.9m/s
03:000%13%168J/kg0°C24135m2.6m/s
04:0015%14%154J/kg0.5°C24134m1.7m/s
05:000%0%103J/kg0.44°C24134m1.8m/s
06:000%68%51J/kg0.39°C24135m1.9m/s
07:000%45%0J/kg0.33°C24135m2m/s
08:000%44%12J/kg0.45°C24135m2.1m/s
09:000%90%23J/kg0.57°C24135m2.1m/s
10:000%51%35J/kg0.68°C24135m2.2m/s
11:000%86%77J/kg0.21°C24130m2m/s
12:000%47%118J/kg-0.27°C24126m1.8m/s
13:000%45%160J/kg-0.74°C24121m1.6m/s
14:000%45%172J/kg-0.66°C20889m1.5m/s
15:000%53%183J/kg-0.58°C17656m1.4m/s
16:0012%57%195J/kg-0.5°C14424m1.3m/s
17:000%60%189J/kg-0.5°C12046m2.1m/s
18:000%0%184J/kg-0.5°C9668m2.9m/s
19:0017%0%178J/kg-0.5°C7290m3.6m/s
20:000%0%139J/kg-0.3°C12877m4.4m/s
21:000%0%99J/kg-0.11°C18463m5.3m/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
Sun, May 24 Sunrise 06:49 Sunset 16:57
23:00
1022hPa 7J/kg 64% 4.3°C 12% 98% 94% 0mm 81% 0.01mm -10dBZ -72° 98% 0mm - - 2m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 06:49 Sunset 16:57
24:00
1022hPa 12J/kg 100% 4.3°C 36% 74% 88% 0mm 81% 0.01mm -15dBZ -76° 100% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
01:00
1021hPa 16J/kg 69% 2.6°C 47% 32% 82% 0mm 82% 0.04mm -20dBZ -70° 69% 0.06mm 4.8m/s 14m/s 3.3m/s
02:00
1021hPa 2J/kg 100% 2.3°C 11% 100% 81% 0mm 81% 0.02mm -19dBZ -59° 100% 0.13mm - - 3.3m/s
03:00
1021hPa 16J/kg 100% 3.2°C 99% 49% 79% 0mm 80% 0.04mm -18dBZ -47° 100% 0.13mm - - 3.1m/s
04:00
1020hPa 25J/kg 80% 2.6°C 100% 51% 78% 0.03mm 76% 0.05mm -17dBZ -35° 100% 0.19mm 3.1m/s 18m/s 1.3m/s
05:00
1020hPa 25J/kg 98% 2.3°C 62% 2% 74% 0.05mm 76% 0.06mm -18dBZ -22° 98% 0.13mm - - 0.98m/s
06:00
1021hPa 32J/kg 100% 1.8°C 100% 4% 70% 0.16mm 79% 0.23mm -19dBZ -10° 100% 0.31mm - - 0.5m/s
07:00
1021hPa 38J/kg 38% 1.5°C 100% 14% 66% 0.18mm 82% 0.21mm -20dBZ 1.5° 100% 0.69mm 4m/s 18m/s 0.86m/s
08:00
1021hPa 41J/kg 5% 1.2°C 93% 1% 68% 0.03mm 82% 0.05mm -20dBZ 12° 93% 0.88mm - - 1.1m/s
09:00
1021hPa 33J/kg 72% 2.2°C 63% 0% 69% 0.06mm 81% 0.17mm -20dBZ 21° 95% 1.1mm - - 0.96m/s
10:00
1021hPa 24J/kg 100% 3.1°C 66% 0% 70% 0.08mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 100% 1.2mm 2.6m/s 15m/s 0.58m/s
11:00
1021hPa 16J/kg 100% 3.2°C 14% 0% 65% 0.03mm 80% 0.01mm -6.7dBZ 33° 100% 0.06mm - - 1.1m/s
12:00
1020hPa 22J/kg 100% 3.1°C 12% 0% 60% 0mm 82% 0.03mm 6.6dBZ 35° 100% 0.19mm - - 1.9m/s
13:00
1019hPa 43J/kg 56% 3.1°C 48% 0% 55% 0mm 81% 0.17mm 20dBZ 32° 56% 0.38mm 1.3m/s 9.4m/s 2.3m/s
14:00
1019hPa 55J/kg 100% 2.9°C 49% 1% 60% 0mm 80% 0.33mm 6.6dBZ 27° 100% 0.94mm - - 3.2m/s
15:00
1019hPa 73J/kg 100% 3.3°C 34% 71% 66% 0mm 80% 0.7mm -6.6dBZ 19° 100% 1.7mm - - 4.8m/s
16:00
1019hPa 84J/kg 100% 3.1°C 46% 4% 71% 0mm 80% 0.03mm -20dBZ 9.5° 100% 2.1mm 1.1m/s 12m/s 4.9m/s
17:00
1019hPa 91J/kg 100% 2.9°C 2% 0% 72% 0mm 79% 0.01mm -20dBZ -1.2° 100% 0.06mm - - 4.8m/s
18:00
1019hPa 87J/kg 100% 2.6°C 3% 0% 73% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 100% 0.06mm - - 4.3m/s
19:00
1020hPa 99J/kg 54% 2.3°C 3% 0% 74% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ -25° 54% 0.06mm 0.77m/s 12m/s 4.2m/s
20:00
1021hPa 90J/kg 5% 2.3°C 6% 0% 78% 0mm 79% 0mm -5.2dBZ -37° 6% 0.06mm - - 3.5m/s
21:00
1021hPa 90J/kg 9% 2.6°C 5% 0% 82% 0mm 80% 0.28mm 9.5dBZ -50° 9% 0.19mm - - 3m/s
22:00
1021hPa 78J/kg 0% 1.8°C 4% 0% 86% 0mm 80% 0mm 24dBZ -62° 4% 0.56mm 0.76m/s 16m/s 2.2m/s
23:00
1021hPa 80J/kg 100% 1.6°C 6% 5% 72% 0mm 82% 0.07mm 17dBZ -72° 100% 0.06mm - - 2.1m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 06:49 Sunset 16:56
24:00
1020hPa 68J/kg 100% 1.7°C 30% 86% 59% 0mm 83% 0.1mm 9.6dBZ -77° 100% 0.25mm - - 2.7m/s
01:00
1020hPa 74J/kg 48% 1.1°C 91% 100% 45% 0mm 87% 0.16mm 2.3dBZ -70° 100% 0.44mm 1.9m/s 13m/s 3.1m/s
02:00
1020hPa 64J/kg 100% 1.7°C 85% 100% 55% 0mm 86% 0.36mm 6dBZ -59° 100% 1mm - - 2.6m/s
03:00
1020hPa 78J/kg 100% 1.8°C 52% 100% 65% 0mm 87% 0.06mm 9.7dBZ -47° 100% 1.1mm - - 4.3m/s
04:00
1020hPa 57J/kg 52% 2.3°C 42% 100% 75% 0mm 86% 0mm 13dBZ -35° 100% 1.2mm 4.6m/s 14m/s 5m/s
05:00
1020hPa 83J/kg 24% 2.6°C 55% 51% 83% 0mm 85% 0mm 2.3dBZ -22° 62% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
06:00
1020hPa 77J/kg 0% 1.2°C 100% 89% 91% 0mm 85% 0mm -8.9dBZ -10° 100% 0mm - - 4.9m/s
07:00
1020hPa 48J/kg 0% 1.5°C 100% 100% 99% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ 1.4° 100% 0.06mm 2.1m/s 18m/s 5.4m/s
08:00
1021hPa 18J/kg 0% 1.2°C 100% 100% 99% 0mm 87% 0.04mm -15dBZ 12° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.5m/s
09:00
1021hPa 50J/kg 0% 0.7°C 75% 99% 99% 0.1mm 86% 0.4mm -11dBZ 21° 99% 0.19mm - - 5.6m/s
10:00
1020hPa 85J/kg 0% -0.1°C 100% 100% 99% 6.2mm 91% 0.78mm -5.9dBZ 28° 100% 2.9mm 13m/s 20m/s 3.5m/s
11:00
1020hPa 124J/kg 0% -0.6°C 100% 100% 99% 2.8mm 92% 0.93mm -0.77dBZ 33° 100% 4.8mm - - 7.1m/s
12:00
1019hPa 155J/kg 51% -0.9°C 100% 79% 99% 0.99mm 88% 0.56mm 4.3dBZ 34° 100% 7.5mm - - 11m/s
13:00
1017hPa 244J/kg 15% -1.4°C 100% 100% 99% 3mm 87% 0.53mm 9.4dBZ 32° 100% 9.7mm 7.6m/s 9.5m/s 11m/s
14:00
1017hPa 286J/kg 72% -1.2°C 100% 72% 99% 0.87mm 84% 1.3mm 14dBZ 27° 100% 14mm - - 11m/s
15:00
1017hPa 203J/kg 2% -1.1°C 100% 100% 99% 4mm 90% 0.8mm 20dBZ 19° 100% 16mm - - 9.4m/s
16:00
1017hPa 271J/kg 53% -0.6°C 100% 99% 99% 1.2mm 90% 1.9mm 25dBZ 9.4° 100% 21mm 5.4m/s 9.2m/s 8.7m/s
17:00
1017hPa 338J/kg 12% -0.3°C 94% 84% 93% 5.4mm 91% 2.1mm 27dBZ -1.3° 94% 5.9mm - - 10m/s
18:00
1018hPa 181J/kg 93% -1°C 100% 79% 86% 2.1mm 87% 0.89mm 30dBZ -13° 100% 8.6mm - - 8.4m/s
19:00
1018hPa 365J/kg 93% -2.3°C 100% 100% 79% 5mm 92% 1.9mm 33dBZ -25° 100% 12mm 3.3m/s 2.4m/s 7.8m/s
20:00
1019hPa 161J/kg 100% -0.3°C 75% 15% 83% 0.71mm 87% 1.3mm 25dBZ -37° 100% 19mm - - 6.7m/s
21:00
1018hPa 187J/kg 34% -1°C 62% 56% 86% 0.04mm 82% 1.1mm 16dBZ -50° 79% 20mm - - 8.7m/s
22:00
1018hPa 243J/kg 4% -0.9°C 38% 31% 89% 0.03mm 86% 1.3mm 7.4dBZ -62° 38% 21mm 7.1m/s 7.8m/s 7.4m/s
23:00
1018hPa 259J/kg 0% -0.7°C 13% 5% 81% 0mm 83% 0.42mm -1.8dBZ -72° 13% 0.81mm - - 7.9m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 06:50 Sunset 16:56
24:00
1018hPa 346J/kg 0% -1°C 74% 5% 73% 0mm 86% 1.1mm -11dBZ -77° 74% 0.94mm - - 6.9m/s
01:00
1018hPa 258J/kg 0% -0.9°C 67% 4% 64% 0mm 87% 1.4mm -20dBZ -70° 67% 2.5mm 8.7m/s 15m/s 6.5m/s
02:00
1018hPa 203J/kg 0% -0.8°C 5% 5% 64% 0mm 85% 0.92mm -20dBZ -59° 5% 3.6mm - - 3.9m/s
03:00
1017hPa 168J/kg 5% 0°C 5% 5% 65% 0mm 83% 0.17mm -20dBZ -47° 5% 4.4mm - - 2m/s
04:00
1017hPa 154J/kg 5% 0.5°C 5% 5% 65% 0mm 82% 0.12mm -20dBZ -35° 5% 4.7mm 11m/s 16m/s 1.5m/s
05:00
1017hPa 103J/kg 37% 0.44°C 4% 26% 63% 0mm 80% 0.08mm -20dBZ -22° 37% 3.1mm - - 1.7m/s
06:00
1017hPa 51J/kg 68% 0.39°C 4% 46% 61% 0mm 78% 0.04mm -20dBZ -11° 68% 1.6mm - - 1.9m/s
07:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.33°C 3% 67% 59% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 1.2° 100% 0mm 9.7m/s 14m/s 2.1m/s
08:00
1016hPa 12J/kg 68% 0.45°C 3% 64% 64% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 12° 86% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
09:00
1016hPa 23J/kg 37% 0.57°C 3% 61% 68% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 21° 72% 0mm - - 2m/s
10:00
1016hPa 35J/kg 5% 0.68°C 3% 58% 73% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 58% 0mm 6.5m/s 13m/s 2m/s
11:00
1016hPa 77J/kg 37% 0.21°C 35% 58% 77% 0mm 77% 0.1mm -20dBZ 33° 72% 0.13mm - - 1.7m/s
12:00
1016hPa 118J/kg 68% -0.27°C 67% 58% 81% 0mm 79% 0.21mm -20dBZ 34° 86% 0.25mm - - 1.5m/s
13:00
1016hPa 160J/kg 100% -0.74°C 99% 58% 85% 0mm 80% 0.31mm -20dBZ 32° 100% 0.38mm 4.9m/s 8.6m/s 1.2m/s
14:00
1016hPa 172J/kg 100% -0.66°C 98% 72% 88% 0.1mm 83% 0.3mm -20dBZ 27° 100% 1.2mm - - 1.1m/s
15:00
1016hPa 183J/kg 100% -0.58°C 97% 86% 91% 0.19mm 85% 0.28mm -20dBZ 19° 100% 2.1mm - - 0.92m/s
16:00
1016hPa 195J/kg 100% -0.5°C 96% 100% 94% 0.29mm 87% 0.27mm -20dBZ 9.3° 100% 2.9mm 6.1m/s 13m/s 0.76m/s
17:00
1015hPa 189J/kg 68% -0.5°C 84% 85% 94% 0.19mm 87% 0.65mm -20dBZ -1.4° 88% 2.6mm - - 1.7m/s
18:00
1015hPa 184J/kg 36% -0.5°C 72% 70% 94% 0.1mm 87% 1mm -20dBZ -13° 76% 2.2mm - - 2.7m/s
19:00
1014hPa 178J/kg 4% -0.5°C 60% 55% 94% 0mm 88% 1.4mm -20dBZ -25° 64% 1.8mm 6.8m/s 12m/s 3.7m/s
20:00
1014hPa 139J/kg 36% -0.3°C 74% 39% 96% 0.1mm 88% 1mm -9.8dBZ -37° 76% 2.5mm - - 4.5m/s
21:00
1013hPa 99J/kg 68% -0.11°C 87% 22% 97% 0.21mm 88% 0.62mm -0.1dBZ -50° 88% 3.1mm - - 5.2m/s
22:00
1012hPa 60J/kg 100% 0.09°C 100% 5% 98% 0.31mm 88% 0.22mm 9.6dBZ -62° 100% 3.8mm 2.8m/s 4.4m/s 6m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

Get Notified of Opportunities

Create your own custom alerts for this location and more.

Create Free Account