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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
CAPE 100% failing
Cloud Drama Score 96% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts9.3m/s
Precipitation Chance49%
Air Pressure1023.6hPa
CAPE7
Lifted Index4.2°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
Sun, Apr 19
18:000%26%0J/kg5.7°C24134m9m/s
19:000%15%0J/kg5.1°C24134m8.8m/s
20:000%15%1J/kg4.8°C24135m8.3m/s
21:000%13%2J/kg4.5°C24134m7.4m/s
22:000%15%4J/kg4.5°C24135m6.4m/s
23:000%15%4J/kg4.2°C24135m6.6m/s
Mon, Apr 20
24:000%15%4J/kg4.3°C24134m6.1m/s
01:000%15%4J/kg4.4°C24134m5.8m/s
02:000%15%4J/kg4.3°C24134m5.9m/s
03:000%15%4J/kg4.3°C24135m6.4m/s
04:000%15%3J/kg4.1°C24135m6.6m/s
05:000%15%6J/kg4.3°C24135m6.2m/s
06:000%21%1J/kg4.7°C24135m6.1m/s
07:000%57%3J/kg4.6°C24135m6.7m/s
08:000%31%3J/kg4.7°C24135m7.3m/s
09:000%35%3J/kg4.7°C24135m7.9m/s
10:000%33%11J/kg4.2°C24134m8.2m/s
11:000%53%14J/kg4°C24135m8.5m/s
12:000%26%17J/kg3.4°C24135m8.2m/s
13:000%20%18J/kg3.5°C24134m8.5m/s
14:000%21%17J/kg3.4°C24135m8.8m/s
15:000%19%18J/kg3.2°C24135m9m/s
16:000%19%11J/kg3.8°C24134m9m/s
17:000%22%10J/kg4.2°C24135m9.5m/s
18:000%15%7J/kg4.2°C24134m9.3m/s
19:000%7.8%7J/kg4.7°C24135m9.3m/s
20:000%6%10J/kg4.9°C24135m9.2m/s
21:000%7.8%14J/kg5.1°C24134m9m/s
22:000%15%14J/kg5.2°C24135m8.9m/s
23:000%15%15J/kg5.5°C24134m8.5m/s
Tue, Apr 21
24:000%15%13J/kg5.8°C24135m8.2m/s
01:000%15%12J/kg6°C24134m7.7m/s
02:000%12%7J/kg6.1°C24134m7.7m/s
03:000%9.8%7J/kg6.2°C24135m7.6m/s
04:000%10%12J/kg6.1°C24134m8.1m/s
05:000%11%15J/kg6°C24135m7.8m/s
06:000%33%18J/kg5.7°C24134m8m/s
07:000%33%22J/kg5.3°C24135m7.9m/s
08:000%33%27J/kg5.3°C24135m8m/s
09:000%31%18J/kg5.8°C24134m8m/s
10:000%33%29J/kg5.6°C24134m8.2m/s
11:000%47%45J/kg5°C23633m8.2m/s
12:000%46%36J/kg5.5°C24134m8.7m/s
13:000%23%27J/kg6.1°C24135m8.3m/s
14:000%46%19J/kg6.5°C24135m8.4m/s
15:000%33%22J/kg6.3°C24134m8.3m/s
16:000%28%19J/kg6.7°C24134m8m/s
17:000%40%13J/kg6.9°C24135m7.8m/s
18:000%34%11J/kg6.7°C24134m7.4m/s
19:000%15%9J/kg7°C24135m7.3m/s
20:000%15%15J/kg6.5°C24134m7m/s
21:000%15%21J/kg6.2°C24134m6.5m/s
22:000%15%33J/kg5.9°C24134m6.5m/s
23:000%15%37J/kg5.6°C24134m6.3m/s
Wed, Apr 22
24:000%13%36J/kg5.8°C24135m6m/s
01:000%10%35J/kg5.9°C24134m5.7m/s
02:000%7.7%30J/kg6.2°C24134m5.8m/s
03:000%7.4%28J/kg6.3°C24134m5.9m/s
04:000%6.8%31J/kg6.1°C24134m6m/s
05:000%9.1%41J/kg5.6°C23336m5.7m/s
06:000%27%41J/kg5.5°C24135m5.3m/s
07:000%29%42J/kg5.5°C24135m4.8m/s
08:000%36%42J/kg5.3°C24133m4.4m/s
09:000%36%42J/kg5°C24128m4.2m/s
10:000%58%34J/kg5.1°C24130m3.8m/s
11:000%22%20J/kg5.6°C24135m3.4m/s
12:000%23%5J/kg6.3°C24135m3.2m/s
13:000%21%0J/kg6.4°C24134m2.9m/s
14:000%55%0J/kg6.1°C24135m2.8m/s
15:000%55%0J/kg5.6°C24135m3.1m/s
16:000%11%0J/kg5°C24134m2.9m/s
17:000%8.8%0J/kg4.7°C24135m3m/s
18:000%8.3%0J/kg4.4°C24135m2.4m/s
19:000%0%0J/kg4.2°C24135m2.1m/s
20:000%0%0J/kg4.2°C24135m1.6m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg4.4°C24134m1.6m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg4.3°C24135m1.3m/s
23:000%0%2.3J/kg4.2°C24135m1.6m/s
Thu, Apr 23
24:000%0%4.7J/kg4.1°C24135m1.9m/s
01:000%0%7J/kg4°C24135m2.2m/s
02:000%0%8J/kg3.8°C24135m1.6m/s
03:000%0%9J/kg3.6°C24135m1m/s
04:000%0%10J/kg3.4°C24135m0.42m/s
05:000%0%6.7J/kg3.4°C24135m1.3m/s
06:000%49%3.3J/kg3.5°C24135m2.2m/s
07:000%39%0J/kg3.5°C24135m3.1m/s
08:000%36%0J/kg3.3°C24135m3.6m/s
09:000%31%0J/kg3.1°C24135m4.1m/s
10:000%31%0J/kg2.9°C24135m4.5m/s
11:000%25%0J/kg2.8°C24135m4.6m/s
12:000%25%0J/kg2.8°C24135m4.6m/s
13:000%25%0J/kg2.8°C24135m4.7m/s
14:000%58%0J/kg2.8°C24135m4.6m/s
15:000%75%0J/kg2.9°C24135m4.5m/s
16:000%10%0J/kg3°C24135m4.4m/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, Apr 20 Sunrise 06:23 Sunset 17:27
18:00
1024hPa 7J/kg 0% 4.2°C 0% 0% 49% 0mm 62% 0mm -16dBZ -7.4° 0% 0mm - - 8.4m/s
19:00
1024hPa 7J/kg 0% 4.7°C 0% 0% 54% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 0% 0mm 2.9m/s 4.5m/s 8.4m/s
20:00
1025hPa 10J/kg 0% 4.9°C 0% 0% 63% 0mm 62% 0mm -11dBZ -32° 0% 0mm - - 8.1m/s
21:00
1025hPa 14J/kg 0% 5.1°C 2% 0% 73% 0mm 64% 0.01mm -1.9dBZ -44° 2% 0mm - - 7.4m/s
22:00
1025hPa 14J/kg 0% 5.2°C 53% 0% 82% 0mm 66% 0.02mm 7.1dBZ -55° 53% 0mm 2.6m/s 4.6m/s 7.1m/s
23:00
1025hPa 15J/kg 0% 5.5°C 48% 0% 82% 0mm 68% 0.02mm 10dBZ -64° 48% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
Tue, Apr 21 Sunrise 06:23 Sunset 17:27
24:00
1025hPa 13J/kg 0% 5.8°C 71% 0% 82% 0mm 70% 0.01mm 14dBZ -67° 71% 0.06mm - - 6.9m/s
01:00
1025hPa 12J/kg 0% 6°C 99% 0% 82% 0mm 71% 0.01mm 17dBZ -63° 99% 0.06mm 2m/s 3.1m/s 6.6m/s
02:00
1025hPa 7J/kg 0% 6.1°C 100% 0% 85% 0.01mm 71% 0mm 16dBZ -54° 100% 0.06mm - - 6.2m/s
03:00
1025hPa 7J/kg 0% 6.2°C 100% 0% 88% 0.01mm 66% 0.01mm 15dBZ -42° 100% 0.06mm - - 5.7m/s
04:00
1025hPa 12J/kg 0% 6.1°C 100% 0% 92% 0.03mm 65% 0.03mm 14dBZ -30° 100% 0.13mm 1.5m/s 1.9m/s 6.6m/s
05:00
1025hPa 15J/kg 0% 6°C 99% 0% 88% 0.01mm 67% 0.05mm 14dBZ -18° 99% 0.06mm - - 6.3m/s
06:00
1026hPa 18J/kg 0% 5.7°C 99% 0% 85% 0.01mm 68% 0.07mm 15dBZ -5.6° 99% 0.13mm - - 6.6m/s
07:00
1026hPa 22J/kg 0% 5.3°C 99% 0% 82% 0.02mm 69% 0.07mm 15dBZ 6.4° 99% 0.19mm 1.2m/s 3.7m/s 6.5m/s
08:00
1027hPa 27J/kg 0% 5.3°C 99% 0% 83% 0.01mm 69% 0.07mm 15dBZ 18° 99% 0.31mm - - 6.6m/s
09:00
1027hPa 18J/kg 0% 5.8°C 99% 0% 83% 0.01mm 69% 0.03mm 15dBZ 28° 99% 0.38mm - - 6.8m/s
10:00
1027hPa 29J/kg 0% 5.6°C 98% 0% 84% 0mm 70% 0.12mm 16dBZ 36° 98% 0.44mm 1.7m/s 3.3m/s 7m/s
11:00
1027hPa 45J/kg 0% 5°C 66% 0% 74% 0mm 70% 0.19mm 15dBZ 42° 66% 0.13mm - - 7.6m/s
12:00
1027hPa 36J/kg 0% 5.5°C 53% 0% 65% 0mm 68% 0.15mm 14dBZ 44° 53% 0.31mm - - 8.3m/s
13:00
1026hPa 27J/kg 0% 6.1°C 9% 0% 56% 0mm 66% 0.09mm 13dBZ 41° 9% 0.44mm 1.3m/s 6.3m/s 8m/s
14:00
1025hPa 19J/kg 0% 6.5°C 26% 0% 65% 0mm 65% 0.04mm 10dBZ 35° 26% 0.5mm - - 7.9m/s
15:00
1025hPa 22J/kg 0% 6.3°C 89% 0% 74% 0mm 65% 0.04mm 6.9dBZ 26° 89% 0.56mm - - 7.9m/s
16:00
1025hPa 19J/kg 0% 6.7°C 8% 0% 83% 0mm 63% 0.03mm 3.8dBZ 16° 8% 0.63mm 0.65m/s 6.5m/s 7.6m/s
17:00
1025hPa 13J/kg 0% 6.9°C 94% 0% 83% 0mm 63% 0.03mm 7.2dBZ 4.5° 94% 0mm - - 7.5m/s
18:00
1026hPa 11J/kg 0% 6.7°C 100% 0% 82% 0.01mm 64% 0.02mm 11dBZ -7.6° 100% 0.06mm - - 6.8m/s
19:00
1026hPa 9J/kg 0% 7°C 100% 0% 82% 0mm 62% 0.03mm 14dBZ -20° 100% 0.06mm 1.8m/s 7.3m/s 6.8m/s
20:00
1026hPa 15J/kg 0% 6.5°C 100% 0% 84% 0mm 64% 0.05mm 15dBZ -32° 100% 0.13mm - - 6.7m/s
21:00
1026hPa 21J/kg 0% 6.2°C 99% 0% 86% 0mm 67% 0.09mm 15dBZ -44° 99% 0.19mm - - 6.3m/s
22:00
1027hPa 33J/kg 0% 5.9°C 100% 0% 89% 0.01mm 69% 0.1mm 16dBZ -56° 100% 0.31mm 2m/s 7.2m/s 6.2m/s
23:00
1026hPa 37J/kg 0% 5.6°C 99% 0% 88% 0mm 69% 0.12mm 15dBZ -64° 99% 0.13mm - - 6.1m/s
Wed, Apr 22 Sunrise 06:24 Sunset 17:25
24:00
1026hPa 36J/kg 0% 5.8°C 99% 0% 87% 0mm 69% 0.1mm 14dBZ -68° 99% 0.25mm - - 5.8m/s
01:00
1025hPa 35J/kg 0% 5.9°C 99% 0% 85% 0mm 68% 0.11mm 13dBZ -63° 99% 0.31mm 2.5m/s 7.1m/s 5.4m/s
02:00
1025hPa 30J/kg 0% 6.2°C 99% 0% 88% 0mm 66% 0.09mm 14dBZ -54° 99% 0.44mm - - 5.5m/s
03:00
1025hPa 28J/kg 0% 6.3°C 99% 0% 90% 0mm 66% 0.1mm 15dBZ -43° 99% 0.56mm - - 5.8m/s
04:00
1025hPa 31J/kg 0% 6.1°C 99% 0% 93% 0mm 67% 0.1mm 15dBZ -30° 99% 0.63mm 3.4m/s 5.8m/s 5.8m/s
05:00
1025hPa 41J/kg 0% 5.6°C 100% 0% 89% 0.01mm 71% 0.13mm 12dBZ -18° 100% 0.13mm - - 5.6m/s
06:00
1026hPa 41J/kg 0% 5.5°C 100% 0% 86% 0mm 76% 0.11mm 9.1dBZ -5.7° 100% 0.19mm - - 5.3m/s
07:00
1026hPa 42J/kg 0% 5.5°C 99% 0% 82% 0mm 77% 0.01mm 5.9dBZ 6.3° 99% 0.31mm 2.7m/s 5.4m/s 4.5m/s
08:00
1026hPa 42J/kg 2% 5.3°C 99% 0% 73% 0mm 76% 0.04mm 7.4dBZ 17° 99% 0.31mm - - 3.8m/s
09:00
1026hPa 42J/kg 6% 5°C 99% 0% 65% 0mm 72% 0.07mm 8.8dBZ 28° 99% 0.38mm - - 3.6m/s
10:00
1026hPa 34J/kg 8% 5.1°C 78% 0% 56% 0mm 67% 0.08mm 10dBZ 36° 78% 0.5mm 6.1m/s 5.3m/s 3.3m/s
11:00
1025hPa 20J/kg 5% 5.6°C 2% 0% 38% 0mm 62% 0.02mm 7.3dBZ 42° 5% 0.06mm - - 3.2m/s
12:00
1025hPa 5J/kg 5% 6.3°C 0% 0% 21% 0mm 57% 0mm 4.4dBZ 43° 5% 0.06mm - - 3.3m/s
13:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.4°C 1% 0% 3% 0mm 55% 0mm 1.5dBZ 41° 5% 0.06mm 4.3m/s 4.9m/s 3.4m/s
14:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.1°C 36% 0% 2% 0mm 55% 0mm -5.7dBZ 35° 36% 0.06mm - - 3.4m/s
15:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 24% 5.6°C 1% 0% 1% 0mm 57% 0mm -13dBZ 26° 24% 0.06mm - - 3.5m/s
16:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 100% 5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 100% 0.06mm 1.4m/s 5.4m/s 3m/s
17:00
1024hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ 4.3° 100% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
18:00
1025hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -7.9° 100% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
19:00
1025hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.2°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 100% 0mm 3.1m/s 4.9m/s 2.3m/s
20:00
1025hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.2°C 0% 70% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 100% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
21:00
1026hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.4°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -45° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
22:00
1026hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.3°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -56° 100% 0mm 2m/s 4.2m/s 0.87m/s
23:00
1026hPa 2.3J/kg 100% 4.2°C 28% 100% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ -65° 100% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
Thu, Apr 23 Sunrise 06:24 Sunset 17:24
24:00
1026hPa 4.7J/kg 100% 4.1°C 55% 100% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ -68° 100% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
01:00
1027hPa 7J/kg 100% 4°C 83% 100% 0% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 100% 0mm 2.5m/s 4.3m/s 2.9m/s
02:00
1027hPa 8J/kg 100% 3.8°C 85% 100% 13% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 100% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
03:00
1027hPa 9J/kg 100% 3.6°C 88% 100% 26% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ -43° 100% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
04:00
1028hPa 10J/kg 100% 3.4°C 90% 100% 39% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 100% 0mm 1.4m/s 2.8m/s 1.1m/s
05:00
1027hPa 6.7J/kg 100% 3.4°C 60% 100% 26% 0mm 65% 0mm -16dBZ -18° 100% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
06:00
1027hPa 3.3J/kg 100% 3.5°C 30% 100% 13% 0mm 63% 0mm -13dBZ -5.9° 100% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
07:00
1026hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.5°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -9.3dBZ 6.1° 100% 0mm 1.6m/s 2.2m/s 2.8m/s
08:00
1026hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.3°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -7.7dBZ 17° 100% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
09:00
1026hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.1°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -6.2dBZ 27° 100% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
10:00
1026hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.9°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -4.7dBZ 36° 100% 0mm 0.18m/s 1.8m/s 4.9m/s
11:00
1026hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.8°C 0% 98% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -9.8dBZ 41° 100% 0mm - - 4.9m/s
12:00
1027hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.8°C 0% 96% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -15dBZ 43° 100% 0mm - - 5m/s
13:00
1027hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.8°C 0% 94% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ 41° 100% 0mm 1.2m/s 1.2m/s 5m/s
14:00
1027hPa 0J/kg 68% 2.8°C 0% 64% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 68% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
15:00
1028hPa 0J/kg 37% 2.9°C 0% 35% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 26° 37% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
16:00
1028hPa 0J/kg 5% 3°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ 15° 5% 0mm 1.4m/s 4.1m/s 3.9m/s
17:00
1028hPa 0.33J/kg 3% 3.1°C 0% 5% 5% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 4.1° 5% 0mm - - 4m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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