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Rule Storm Chaser

Fish River Canyon - Storm Chaser - Namibia

Keetmanshoop, Karas 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
Cloud Drama Score 100% failing
CAPE 100% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover3%
Wind Gusts10.8m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure890.2hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index8.8°C
Wind Gusts10.8m/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 95 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
Fri, Apr 17
21:0016%9.4%0J/kg8.8°C24135m10m/s
22:0016%4.3%0J/kg8.4°C24135m10m/s
23:0032%5.6%0J/kg8.4°C24134m9.4m/s
Sat, Apr 18
24:000%7.8%0J/kg8.7°C24134m8.7m/s
01:000%14%0J/kg8.8°C24134m7.3m/s
02:0018%15%0J/kg8.8°C24134m5.6m/s
03:000%15%0J/kg8.7°C24134m3.8m/s
04:000%15%0J/kg8.8°C24134m3.5m/s
05:0017%15%0J/kg9°C24135m2.8m/s
06:000%13%0J/kg9°C24135m2.1m/s
07:000%26%0J/kg9.3°C24134m2.3m/s
08:0016%24%0J/kg9.8°C24135m3.5m/s
09:000%14%0J/kg11°C24134m4.1m/s
10:000%17%0J/kg11°C24134m4.7m/s
11:0018%41%0J/kg10°C24135m5.5m/s
12:000%53%0J/kg9.8°C24134m6.4m/s
13:000%25%0J/kg8.8°C24135m7m/s
14:0020%49%0J/kg8°C24134m7.2m/s
15:000%49%0J/kg7.5°C24134m7.6m/s
16:000%26%0J/kg7.3°C24135m7.8m/s
17:0022%24%0J/kg7.9°C24134m10m/s
18:000%24%0J/kg8°C24135m7.6m/s
19:000%17%0J/kg8.1°C24135m5.5m/s
20:0018%2.3%0J/kg8°C24134m3.3m/s
21:000%1.1%0J/kg8.8°C24135m11m/s
22:000%1.1%0J/kg9.6°C24134m10m/s
23:0021%0.9%0J/kg9.1°C24135m8.8m/s
Sun, Apr 19
24:000%12%0J/kg9.1°C24135m7.6m/s
01:000%6.7%0J/kg9.6°C24134m6.8m/s
02:0020%2.6%0J/kg9.7°C24135m6.1m/s
03:000%0.9%0J/kg9.8°C24135m5.9m/s
04:000%0.4%0J/kg9.6°C24134m4.4m/s
05:0020%0%0J/kg10°C24134m4.9m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg10°C24135m5.3m/s
07:000%9.8%0J/kg10°C24134m6m/s
08:0018%9.1%0J/kg10°C24135m7m/s
09:000%6.5%0J/kg10°C24135m7.1m/s
10:000%7.7%0J/kg11°C24135m7.1m/s
11:0020%6.3%0J/kg11°C24134m7.7m/s
12:000%6.3%0J/kg11°C24134m8.2m/s
13:000%6.3%0J/kg11°C24135m8.4m/s
14:0021%6.3%0J/kg12°C24135m8.3m/s
15:000%6.3%0J/kg12°C24135m8.7m/s
16:000%7.7%0J/kg12°C24134m8.4m/s
17:0020%9.1%0J/kg12°C24134m8m/s
18:0016%9.8%0J/kg11°C24135m8.2m/s
19:0016%8.4%0J/kg10°C24134m9.9m/s
20:0022%0%0J/kg10°C24135m10m/s
21:000%0.6%0J/kg10°C24134m9.8m/s
22:000%0.8%0J/kg9.8°C24135m8.9m/s
23:0022%0.9%0J/kg9.3°C24135m8.5m/s
Mon, Apr 20
24:000%3.3%0J/kg9.2°C24134m8.1m/s
01:000%4%0J/kg9.7°C24134m7.6m/s
02:0020%1.3%0J/kg9.7°C24135m6.4m/s
03:000%1%0J/kg9.9°C24134m5.2m/s
04:000%2.1%0J/kg10°C24135m4.3m/s
05:0019%7.1%0J/kg11°C24135m4.2m/s
06:000%5.6%0J/kg11°C24135m4.1m/s
07:000%20%0J/kg12°C24134m3.9m/s
08:0016%16%0J/kg12°C24134m4.1m/s
09:000%18%0J/kg12°C24135m3.7m/s
10:000%14%0J/kg11°C24135m2.1m/s
11:0016%12%0J/kg11°C24134m2.7m/s
12:000%27%0J/kg11°C24135m3.5m/s
13:000%23%0J/kg9.7°C24134m4.1m/s
14:0018%14%0J/kg9°C24135m4.1m/s
15:000%14%0J/kg8.7°C24134m4m/s
16:000%36%0J/kg8.3°C24135m3.9m/s
17:0018%43%0J/kg8.1°C24135m3.9m/s
18:000%46%0J/kg8°C24135m4m/s
19:000%14%0J/kg7.9°C24135m3.2m/s
20:0018%3.2%0J/kg7.7°C24134m3.5m/s
21:000%4.6%0J/kg7.8°C24134m5.5m/s
22:000%6.9%0J/kg8°C24134m7m/s
23:0021%14%0J/kg7.9°C24134m8.2m/s
Tue, Apr 21
24:000%14%0J/kg8°C24135m8.8m/s
01:000%15%0J/kg8.1°C24134m9m/s
02:0021%15%0J/kg8°C24135m8.1m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg7.8°C24135m6.6m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg7.7°C24135m5.1m/s
05:0018%0%0J/kg7.5°C24135m3.5m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg7.2°C24135m3.2m/s
07:000%7%0J/kg6.9°C24135m2.9m/s
08:0018%6.5%0J/kg6.6°C24135m2.5m/s
09:000%6.5%0J/kg6.5°C24135m2.1m/s
10:000%5.5%0J/kg6.5°C24135m1.6m/s
11:0016%4.5%0J/kg6.4°C24135m1.1m/s
12:000%4.5%0J/kg6.7°C24135m3.7m/s
13:000%4.5%0J/kg6.9°C24135m6.2m/s
14:0018%6.3%0J/kg7.2°C24135m8.7m/s
15:000%7.7%0J/kg7°C24135m8.5m/s
16:000%7.7%0J/kg6.8°C24135m8.2m/s
17:0017%9.1%0J/kg6.6°C24135m7.9m/s
18:000%9.8%0J/kg6.6°C24135m6m/s
19:000%6%0J/kg6.6°C24135m4.2m/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
Sat, Apr 18 Sunrise 07:05 Sunset 18:28
21:00
890hPa 0J/kg 3% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ -35° 3% 0mm - - 6.5m/s
22:00
891hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 0% 0mm - - 6.5m/s
23:00
891hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 0% 0mm 19m/s 24m/s 5m/s
Sun, Apr 19 Sunrise 07:05 Sunset 18:28
24:00
891hPa 0J/kg 1% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ -71° 1% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
01:00
890hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -74° 5% 0mm - - 4m/s
02:00
890hPa 0J/kg 4% 9.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ -67° 4% 0mm 18m/s 22m/s 3.6m/s
03:00
890hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ -55° 0% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
04:00
890hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 0% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
05:00
890hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 0% 0mm 17m/s 22m/s 3.2m/s
06:00
890hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 0% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
07:00
891hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -1.9° 0% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
08:00
892hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 0% 0mm 14m/s 19m/s 4.3m/s
09:00
892hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 0% 0mm - - 5.9m/s
10:00
893hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 0% 0mm - - 6.5m/s
11:00
893hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 0% 0mm 11m/s 18m/s 7.1m/s
12:00
892hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 51° 0% 0mm - - 7.4m/s
13:00
892hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ 52° 0% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
14:00
891hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 0% 0mm 12m/s 20m/s 6.4m/s
15:00
891hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 14% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 0% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
16:00
891hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 13% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 0% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
17:00
892hPa 0J/kg 0% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 14% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 0% 0mm 8.9m/s 23m/s 7.2m/s
18:00
892hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 5.3° 0% 0mm - - 8.4m/s
19:00
893hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ -8° 0% 0mm - - 8.3m/s
20:00
894hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 0% 0mm 18m/s 26m/s 7.9m/s
21:00
895hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ -35° 0% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
22:00
895hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 0% 0mm - - 7.8m/s
23:00
895hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 0% 0mm 17m/s 26m/s 6.9m/s
Mon, Apr 20 Sunrise 07:05 Sunset 18:27
24:00
895hPa 0J/kg 3% 9.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ -71° 3% 0mm - - 6.5m/s
01:00
895hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ -75° 0% 0mm - - 5.9m/s
02:00
895hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -67° 0% 0mm 12m/s 25m/s 5m/s
03:00
895hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -55° 5% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
04:00
895hPa 0J/kg 5% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 5% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
05:00
895hPa 0J/kg 4% 11°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 4% 0mm 10m/s 24m/s 3.2m/s
06:00
896hPa 0J/kg 5% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 5% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
07:00
897hPa 0J/kg 5% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ -2° 5% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
08:00
898hPa 0J/kg 1% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 1% 0mm 8.7m/s 23m/s 2.6m/s
09:00
898hPa 0J/kg 5% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 5% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
10:00
898hPa 0J/kg 5% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 5% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
11:00
898hPa 0J/kg 5% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 5% 0mm 9.3m/s 22m/s 2.2m/s
12:00
897hPa 0J/kg 10% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 50° 10% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
13:00
896hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 52° 100% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
14:00
895hPa 0J/kg 100% 9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 100% 0mm 8.7m/s 22m/s 4m/s
15:00
895hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.7°C 0% 2% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 100% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
16:00
895hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.3°C 0% 40% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 100% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
17:00
895hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.1°C 0% 82% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 100% 0mm 7m/s 20m/s 3.6m/s
18:00
895hPa 0J/kg 100% 8°C 0% 51% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 5.1° 100% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
19:00
895hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.9°C 0% 8% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ -8.2° 100% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
20:00
895hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.7°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 100% 0mm 15m/s 21m/s 2.8m/s
21:00
895hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.8°C 0% 72% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ -35° 100% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
22:00
894hPa 0J/kg 100% 8°C 0% 85% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 100% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
23:00
894hPa 0J/kg 92% 7.9°C 0% 51% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 92% 0mm 21m/s 24m/s 5m/s
Tue, Apr 21 Sunrise 07:06 Sunset 18:26
24:00
894hPa 0J/kg 18% 8°C 0% 24% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ -72° 25% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
01:00
894hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.1°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -75° 5% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
02:00
894hPa 0J/kg 0% 8°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -67° 5% 0mm 18m/s 23m/s 4.5m/s
03:00
896hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.8°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ -55° 4% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
04:00
898hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.7°C 0% 3% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 3% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
05:00
900hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.5°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 1% 0mm 14m/s 22m/s 2.7m/s
06:00
899hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.2°C 0% 3% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -15° 3% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
07:00
898hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.9°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ -2.1° 4% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
08:00
898hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.6°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 5% 0mm 11m/s 22m/s 1.8m/s
09:00
897hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.5°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 4% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
10:00
897hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.5°C 0% 3% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 3% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
11:00
897hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.4°C 0% 2% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 2% 0mm 9.5m/s 22m/s 1.7m/s
12:00
898hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.7°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 50° 1% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
13:00
898hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.9°C 0% 1% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ 51° 1% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
14:00
899hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 0% 0mm 9.4m/s 20m/s 5.9m/s
15:00
899hPa 0J/kg 0% 7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 0% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
16:00
899hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 0% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
17:00
899hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 17° 0% 0mm 4.2m/s 18m/s 4.2m/s
18:00
899hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 4.9° 0% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
19:00
899hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ -8.4° 0% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
20:00
899hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 0% 0mm 12m/s 21m/s 1.6m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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