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Rule Storm Chaser

Deadvlei - Storm Chaser - Namibia

Sesriem, Hardap Region, Namibia

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 Cover88%
Wind Gusts1.9m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure919.8hPa
CAPE27
Lifted Index0.0°C
Wind Gusts1.9m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Africa/Windhoek

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 predicts rare but spectacular storm conditions across Namibia's desert landscapes, where infrequent weather events create dramatic photography opportunities in one of Earth's most arid environments. We track atmospheric instability, moisture incursion, and electrical activity to identify when thunderstorms and lightning illuminate ancient dunes and vast salt pans.

Namibia averages fewer than 30 rainy days per year, with Sossusvlei receiving only 106mm annually—making successful storm photography a rare achievement. When storms do develop during summer months, they're often spectacular with towering cumulus, dramatic lightning, and intense but brief rainfall. The desert's extreme aridity means storms stand out against typically clear skies.

What makes Namibia storm photography exceptional:

  • Desert lightning - Electrical storms over Sossusvlei's red dunes create vivid orange foreground against lightning-streaked skies
  • Etosha drama - Summer thunderstorms develop over the pan, bringing wildlife to waterholes while lightning illuminates the vast expanse
  • Rarity factor - Storm events are infrequent enough that each occurrence represents significant photographic opportunity
  • Unobstructed views - Minimal vegetation and vast open spaces allow clear sight lines to distant storm cells and lightning

Sossusvlei during rare summer storms provides Namibia's most dramatic storm photography—lightning striking across the dune sea creates compositions found nowhere else. Red dunes appear even more vivid when wet. Etosha Pan becomes particularly photogenic during storms when animals congregate at waterholes—combine wildlife with dramatic skies and distant lightning. Spitzkoppe's granite formations attract lightning—photograph from safe distances to capture bolts hitting ancient rock. Fish River Canyon under storm conditions takes on Grand Canyon-like drama with lightning illuminating the gorge. Storm season runs November through March, with peak activity January-February. Lightning safety is critical—avoid high ground and flash flood risks in canyons.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
0matching hours in the next 75 hours
OR logic: one branch per group is enough
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
Africa/Windhoek
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
Mon, May 18
06:000%14%21J/kg-0.3°C24135m2.3m/s
07:000%51%10J/kg0.1°C24134m1.6m/s
08:000%58%5J/kg0.3°C24135m1.5m/s
09:000%80%14J/kg0°C24135m1.6m/s
10:000%53%27J/kg0°C24135m1.9m/s
11:000%49%58J/kg-0.3°C24135m3.5m/s
12:000%44%83J/kg-0.5°C24134m4.2m/s
13:000%71%112J/kg-0.9°C24135m4.5m/s
14:000%26%91J/kg-0.7°C24134m4.3m/s
15:000%28%63J/kg-0.4°C24134m4.3m/s
16:000%23%42J/kg-0.3°C24134m4.3m/s
17:000%22%22J/kg-0.1°C24134m4.5m/s
18:000%22%7J/kg0.2°C24134m9.1m/s
19:000%16%1J/kg0.4°C24134m6.7m/s
20:000%1.6%0J/kg1.3°C24135m2.4m/s
21:000%1.8%0J/kg1.9°C24135m1.3m/s
22:000%0.9%0J/kg1.9°C24135m1.1m/s
23:000%1%0J/kg1.7°C24135m1m/s
Tue, May 19
24:000%1.6%0J/kg2°C24134m0.7m/s
01:000%6.8%0J/kg1.9°C24134m0.5m/s
02:0013%9.9%0J/kg2.6°C24134m0.71m/s
03:000%7%0J/kg3.1°C24134m0.71m/s
04:000%3.8%0J/kg3.6°C24134m0.6m/s
05:0013%3.7%0J/kg4.1°C24134m0.8m/s
06:000%1.5%0J/kg4.9°C24134m0.92m/s
07:000%7.8%0J/kg5.4°C24134m0.81m/s
08:0015%12%0J/kg5.5°C24134m1.2m/s
09:000%12%0J/kg5.8°C24134m1.6m/s
10:000%12%0J/kg5.9°C24135m3.1m/s
11:0014%17%0J/kg6.1°C24135m3.8m/s
12:000%38%0J/kg6.4°C24135m4.5m/s
13:000%50%0J/kg6°C24134m5.4m/s
14:0014%24%0J/kg6.1°C24134m5.9m/s
15:000%19%0J/kg5.8°C24134m6.4m/s
16:000%19%0J/kg5.8°C24134m6.4m/s
17:000%20%0J/kg5.8°C24134m5.9m/s
18:000%22%0J/kg6.1°C24135m6.4m/s
19:000%19%0J/kg6.2°C24134m4.5m/s
20:0013%5%0J/kg6.6°C24135m2m/s
21:000%12%0J/kg6.9°C24134m1.2m/s
22:000%15%0J/kg7.1°C24134m0.7m/s
23:0014%13%0J/kg7.1°C24135m0.6m/s
Wed, May 20
24:000%15%0J/kg6.9°C24135m0.5m/s
01:000%15%0J/kg7.1°C24134m0.33m/s
02:0014%5.5%0J/kg7.2°C24134m0.3m/s
03:000%0.4%0J/kg7.2°C24135m0.5m/s
04:000%0.9%0J/kg7.2°C24135m0.41m/s
05:0015%3.7%0J/kg7.3°C24135m1m/s
06:000%6.6%0J/kg7.7°C24135m1.2m/s
07:000%12%0J/kg7.9°C24135m1.4m/s
08:0017%7.9%0J/kg7.8°C24134m1.9m/s
09:000%8.4%0J/kg7.6°C24134m2.8m/s
10:000%13%0J/kg7.2°C24134m5.4m/s
11:0018%12%0J/kg6.8°C24135m7.1m/s
12:000%7.4%0J/kg6.6°C24135m8.2m/s
13:000%12%0J/kg5.7°C24135m8.9m/s
14:000%11%0J/kg4.7°C24134m9.1m/s
15:000%13%0J/kg4.4°C24135m9.1m/s
16:000%13%0J/kg4°C24135m8.3m/s
17:000%23%0J/kg3.5°C24134m6.8m/s
18:000%14%0J/kg3.2°C24135m5.8m/s
19:000%6.4%0J/kg3.6°C24135m2.4m/s
20:0015%1.5%0J/kg3.1°C24134m0.81m/s
21:000%0%49J/kg2.2°C24134m0.95m/s
22:000%0%99J/kg1.3°C24135m1.1m/s
23:0015%0%148J/kg0.44°C24135m1.2m/s
Thu, May 21
24:000%0%153J/kg0.45°C24135m1.5m/s
01:000%0%158J/kg0.46°C24135m1.8m/s
02:0015%0%163J/kg0.47°C24135m2m/s
03:000%0%139J/kg0.4°C24135m2.2m/s
04:000%0%116J/kg0.33°C24135m2.4m/s
05:000%0%92J/kg0.26°C24135m2.6m/s
06:000%0%78J/kg0.4°C24135m3.5m/s
07:000%58%64J/kg0.54°C24135m4.4m/s
08:000%25%50J/kg0.69°C24135m5.2m/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
Africa/Windhoek
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, May 18 Sunrise 07:26 Sunset 18:19
10:00
920hPa 27J/kg 88% 0°C 3% 58% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 88% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
11:00
920hPa 58J/kg 100% -0.3°C 5% 100% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 100% 0mm 0.52m/s 3.4m/s 2m/s
12:00
919hPa 83J/kg 86% -0.5°C 0% 94% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -19dBZ 44° 94% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
13:00
919hPa 112J/kg 51% -0.9°C 0% 13% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -17dBZ 46° 51% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
14:00
918hPa 91J/kg 4% -0.7°C 0% 6% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -16dBZ 43° 6% 0mm 2.2m/s 4.3m/s 5.5m/s
15:00
917hPa 63J/kg 2% -0.4°C 0% 6% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -17dBZ 36° 6% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
16:00
917hPa 42J/kg 0% -0.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -19dBZ 27° 0% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
17:00
917hPa 22J/kg 0% -0.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 0% 0mm 3.7m/s 3.4m/s 6.5m/s
18:00
917hPa 7J/kg 0% 0.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ 3.5° 0% 0mm - - 7m/s
19:00
918hPa 1J/kg 0% 0.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ -9.4° 0% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
20:00
918hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 0% 0mm 2.8m/s 5.2m/s 2.3m/s
21:00
918hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 0% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
22:00
919hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 0% 0mm - - 0.8m/s
23:00
918hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 0% 0mm 4.8m/s 7.6m/s 0.66m/s
Tue, May 19 Sunrise 07:26 Sunset 18:19
24:00
918hPa 0J/kg 0% 2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -77° 0% 0mm - - 0.42m/s
01:00
918hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -85° 0% 0mm - - 0.34m/s
02:00
918hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -74° 0% 0mm 7.3m/s 10m/s 0.62m/s
03:00
917hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 0% 0mm - - 0.73m/s
04:00
917hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -47° 0% 0mm - - 0.54m/s
05:00
917hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 0% 0mm 7.2m/s 15m/s 0.69m/s
06:00
917hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 0% 0mm - - 0.89m/s
07:00
918hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -6.6° 0% 0mm - - 0.67m/s
08:00
918hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 6.2° 0% 0mm 6.8m/s 17m/s 1.1m/s
09:00
919hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 0% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
10:00
919hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 0% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
11:00
920hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 0% 0mm 4.5m/s 14m/s 3.3m/s
12:00
919hPa 0J/kg 76% 6.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 76% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
13:00
918hPa 0J/kg 55% 6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 55% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
14:00
917hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 100% 0mm 1.4m/s 12m/s 5.1m/s
15:00
917hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 100% 0mm - - 5.9m/s
16:00
917hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ 27° 100% 0mm - - 6m/s
17:00
917hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ 15° 100% 0mm 2.7m/s 8.9m/s 5.5m/s
18:00
918hPa 0J/kg 98% 6.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 3.5° 98% 0mm - - 5m/s
19:00
918hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -9.5° 100% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
20:00
919hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 100% 0mm 9.8m/s 10m/s 2m/s
21:00
919hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
22:00
919hPa 0J/kg 69% 7.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 69% 0mm - - 0.7m/s
23:00
919hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 100% 0mm 11m/s 11m/s 0.58m/s
Wed, May 20 Sunrise 07:27 Sunset 18:19
24:00
919hPa 0J/kg 78% 6.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ -77° 78% 0mm - - 0.42m/s
01:00
919hPa 0J/kg 5% 7.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -85° 5% 0mm - - 0.24m/s
02:00
919hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -74° 0% 0mm 12m/s 13m/s 0.15m/s
03:00
918hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 0% 0mm - - 0.41m/s
04:00
918hPa 0J/kg 1% 7.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -47° 1% 0mm - - 0.24m/s
05:00
918hPa 0J/kg 3% 7.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 3% 0mm 14m/s 14m/s 1m/s
06:00
918hPa 0J/kg 1% 7.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 1% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
07:00
918hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -6.7° 0% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
08:00
919hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 6.1° 0% 0mm 16m/s 15m/s 1.9m/s
09:00
920hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 0% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
10:00
920hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 0% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
11:00
920hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 0% 0mm 14m/s 11m/s 5.7m/s
12:00
919hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 0% 0mm - - 6.7m/s
13:00
918hPa 0J/kg 3% 5.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 3% 0mm - - 7.1m/s
14:00
918hPa 0J/kg 4% 4.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 15% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 4% 0mm 11m/s 6.6m/s 7.4m/s
15:00
917hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 15% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 5% 0mm - - 7.5m/s
16:00
917hPa 0J/kg 5% 4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 15% 0mm -20dBZ 26° 5% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
17:00
917hPa 0J/kg 5% 3.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 15° 5% 0mm 11m/s 7.1m/s 6.3m/s
18:00
918hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.2°C 0% 0% 2% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 3.4° 0% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
19:00
919hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.6°C 0% 0% 3% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ -9.6° 0% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
20:00
919hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.1°C 0% 0% 5% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 0% 0mm 16m/s 13m/s 0.72m/s
21:00
911hPa 49J/kg 2% 2.2°C 0% 2% 3% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 2% 0mm - - 0.9m/s
22:00
903hPa 99J/kg 3% 1.3°C 1% 3% 2% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 3% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
23:00
895hPa 148J/kg 5% 0.44°C 1% 5% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 5% 0mm 15m/s 13m/s 1.3m/s
Thu, May 21 Sunrise 07:27 Sunset 18:18
24:00
895hPa 153J/kg 4% 0.45°C 1% 3% 7% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ -77° 4% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
01:00
895hPa 158J/kg 2% 0.46°C 2% 2% 15% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ -85° 3% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
02:00
896hPa 163J/kg 0% 0.47°C 2% 0% 22% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ -74° 3% 0mm 14m/s 10m/s 2.1m/s
03:00
896hPa 139J/kg 33% 0.4°C 2% 0% 15% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 34% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
04:00
896hPa 116J/kg 65% 0.33°C 1% 0% 7% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -47° 66% 0mm - - 2m/s
05:00
896hPa 92J/kg 98% 0.26°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 98% 0mm 13m/s 8.5m/s 2m/s
06:00
896hPa 78J/kg 68% 0.4°C 0% 0% 13% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 68% 0mm - - 3m/s
07:00
895hPa 64J/kg 39% 0.54°C 0% 1% 26% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ -6.8° 39% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
08:00
895hPa 50J/kg 10% 0.69°C 0% 1% 39% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ 10% 0mm 13m/s 7.8m/s 5.2m/s
09:00
894hPa 37J/kg 6% 0.63°C 0% 1% 26% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 6% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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