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Rule Storm Chaser

Kolmanskop - Storm Chaser - Namibia

Luderitzort, 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
CAPE 100% failing
Cloud Drama Score 94% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover87%
Wind Gusts1.6m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure998.6hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index13.7°C
Wind Gusts1.6m/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
Sat, May 23
15:000%6.5%0J/kg14°C24134m2.2m/s
16:000%6.5%0J/kg13°C24135m3m/s
17:000%7.6%0J/kg13°C24134m4.4m/s
18:000%8.1%0J/kg14°C24135m4.6m/s
19:000%6.8%0J/kg13°C24135m4.9m/s
20:000%0%0J/kg13°C24134m2.7m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg14°C24135m1.6m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg14°C24134m1.3m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg14°C24135m1.2m/s
Sun, May 24
24:000%0%0J/kg14°C24135m1.3m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg14°C24135m1.3m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg14°C24135m0.9m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg14°C24134m1.5m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg14°C24135m1.9m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg14°C24135m1.8m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg15°C24134m1.2m/s
07:000%6.7%0J/kg15°C24135m1.6m/s
08:000%21%0J/kg14°C24134m2.2m/s
09:000%22%0J/kg15°C24134m1.2m/s
10:000%26%0J/kg15°C24134m1.2m/s
11:000%14%0J/kg15°C24134m0.91m/s
12:000%19%0J/kg15°C24135m1m/s
13:000%33%0J/kg14°C24134m1.5m/s
14:000%24%0J/kg14°C24135m0.92m/s
15:000%29%0J/kg14°C24135m1.6m/s
16:000%42%0J/kg13°C24135m2m/s
17:000%28%0J/kg13°C24134m1.9m/s
18:000%29%0J/kg13°C24134m1.3m/s
19:000%44%0J/kg14°C24134m2.3m/s
20:000%14%0J/kg14°C24134m2.6m/s
21:000%15%0J/kg14°C24135m1.4m/s
22:000%9.6%0J/kg14°C24134m0.82m/s
23:000%4.8%0J/kg14°C24135m1m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%3%0J/kg14°C24134m0.4m/s
01:000%15%0J/kg14°C24135m1.2m/s
02:000%14%0J/kg13°C24135m1.8m/s
03:000%13%0J/kg14°C24135m1.7m/s
04:000%11%0J/kg14°C24135m2.1m/s
05:009.1%13%0J/kg14°C24135m2.3m/s
06:000%12%0J/kg15°C24134m1.6m/s
07:000%25%0J/kg15°C24134m1.6m/s
08:009.1%54%0J/kg15°C24134m1.4m/s
09:000%57%0J/kg15°C24135m1.3m/s
10:000%60%0J/kg14°C24134m1.7m/s
11:009.1%39%0J/kg14°C24135m1m/s
12:000%50%0J/kg14°C24135m1.7m/s
13:000%23%0J/kg14°C24134m3.5m/s
14:000%60%0J/kg14°C24135m4.5m/s
15:000%41%0J/kg13°C24134m4.2m/s
16:000%22%0J/kg13°C24134m3.9m/s
17:000%24%0J/kg13°C24134m4m/s
18:000%29%0J/kg13°C24134m4.6m/s
19:000%37%0J/kg13°C24135m4.8m/s
20:000%11%0J/kg13°C24134m4.2m/s
21:000%4.4%0J/kg13°C24135m3.8m/s
22:000%6.9%0J/kg13°C24134m2.8m/s
23:009.1%0%0J/kg14°C24135m2.4m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%0.2%0J/kg13°C24134m3m/s
01:000%12%0J/kg13°C24134m2.6m/s
02:009.1%15%0J/kg13°C24135m2.6m/s
03:000%14%0J/kg13°C24134m2.9m/s
04:000%8.4%0J/kg13°C24135m2.9m/s
05:009.1%6.8%0J/kg13°C24134m2.9m/s
06:000%8.3%0J/kg13°C24134m2.9m/s
07:000%28%0J/kg13°C24134m2.9m/s
08:009.1%25%0J/kg13°C24135m2.9m/s
09:000%27%0J/kg13°C24134m3m/s
10:000%30%0J/kg13°C24135m2.6m/s
11:0011%24%0J/kg13°C24134m3.1m/s
12:000%28%0J/kg13°C24135m3.6m/s
13:000%50%0J/kg13°C24134m3.4m/s
14:0011%24%0J/kg12°C24134m3.3m/s
15:000%34%0J/kg12°C24134m4.8m/s
16:000%25%0J/kg12°C24135m7.7m/s
17:0013%29%0J/kg12°C24135m9.9m/s
18:000%40%0J/kg13°C24134m9.9m/s
19:000%66%0J/kg13°C24135m7.4m/s
20:0012%12%0J/kg12°C24134m4.1m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg12°C24134m5.5m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg13°C24135m6.8m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg13°C24135m8.2m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%0%0J/kg13°C24135m7.9m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg13°C24135m7.5m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg13°C24135m7.2m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg13°C24135m8.4m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg13°C24135m9.6m/s
05:0013%0%0J/kg13°C24135m11m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg13°C24135m11m/s
07:000%24%0J/kg13°C24135m10m/s
08:000%15%0J/kg13°C24135m10m/s
09:000%14%0J/kg13°C24135m11m/s
10:000%12%0J/kg12°C24135m12m/s
11:0015%12%0J/kg12°C24135m13m/s
12:000%9%0J/kg12°C24135m13m/s
13:000%9%0J/kg12°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
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
Sun, May 24 Sunrise 07:36 Sunset 18:16
15:00
999hPa 0J/kg 87% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 87% 0mm - - 3m/s
16:00
999hPa 0J/kg 82% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 82% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
17:00
999hPa 0J/kg 95% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ 14° 95% 0mm 2m/s 2.6m/s 2.1m/s
18:00
999hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 2.7° 100% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
19:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 72% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -9.9° 72% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
20:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 5% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 5% 0mm 2.8m/s 3.7m/s 2.2m/s
21:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 100% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -16dBZ -36° 100% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
22:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 100% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -12dBZ -49° 100% 0mm - - 0.71m/s
23:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 100% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -8.5dBZ -63° 100% 0mm 3.8m/s 8.6m/s 0.89m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 07:36 Sunset 18:16
24:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 96% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -12dBZ -76° 96% 0mm - - 0.25m/s
01:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 46% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -16dBZ -84° 46% 0mm - - 1m/s
02:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 8% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ -74° 8% 0mm 6m/s 10m/s 1.7m/s
03:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 5% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 5% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
04:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 6% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 6% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
05:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 18% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 18% 0mm 7.4m/s 11m/s 2.3m/s
06:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 6% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 6% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
07:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 5% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ -8.4° 5% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
08:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 67% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ 4.1° 67% 0mm 9.7m/s 13m/s 1.3m/s
09:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 15% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 15% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
10:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 35% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ 26° 35% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
11:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 10% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 10% 0mm 9.5m/s 13m/s 1m/s
12:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 25% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 25% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
13:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 5% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 42° 5% 0mm - - 4.9m/s
14:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 44% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 44% 0mm 6.1m/s 8.8m/s 4.7m/s
15:00
999hPa 0J/kg 75% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -15dBZ 34° 75% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
16:00
999hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -9.8dBZ 25° 100% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
17:00
999hPa 0J/kg 92% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -4.8dBZ 14° 92% 0mm 5.3m/s 8m/s 4.1m/s
18:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -9.8dBZ 2.7° 100% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
19:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 81% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 65% 0mm -15dBZ -10° 81% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
20:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 100% 0mm 7.2m/s 8.8m/s 3.1m/s
21:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 100% 0mm - - 3m/s
22:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ -49° 100% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
23:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 100% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 100% 0mm 9m/s 11m/s 2.3m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 07:36 Sunset 18:15
24:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -76° 100% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
01:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 96% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -84° 96% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
02:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 48% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ -74° 48% 0mm 9m/s 12m/s 2.6m/s
03:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 6% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 6% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
04:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 5% 0mm - - 3m/s
05:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 6% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ -35° 6% 0mm 8.5m/s 12m/s 2.9m/s
06:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 7% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 7% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
07:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 85% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -8.5° 85% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
08:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 99% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 99% 0mm 9.1m/s 13m/s 2.9m/s
09:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 100% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 15° 100% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
10:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ 26° 5% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
11:00
1001hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 5% 0mm 9.3m/s 14m/s 3.4m/s
12:00
1000hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 5% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
13:00
999hPa 0J/kg 42% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 42° 42% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
14:00
998hPa 0J/kg 93% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 93% 0mm 7.6m/s 13m/s 4.6m/s
15:00
998hPa 0J/kg 81% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 81% 0mm - - 5.7m/s
16:00
997hPa 0J/kg 100% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 100% 0mm - - 6.7m/s
17:00
998hPa 0J/kg 95% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 14° 95% 0mm 6.6m/s 15m/s 7.8m/s
18:00
998hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ 2.6° 5% 0mm - - 6m/s
19:00
999hPa 0J/kg 44% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ -10° 44% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
20:00
999hPa 0J/kg 5% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 5% 0mm 7.7m/s 18m/s 3.5m/s
21:00
1004hPa 0J/kg 5% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 5% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
22:00
1009hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 5% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
23:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 5% 0mm 8.9m/s 20m/s 6.1m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 07:37 Sunset 18:15
24:00
1014hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -76° 5% 0mm - - 5.9m/s
01:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -85° 5% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
02:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 5% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -75° 5% 0mm 7.4m/s 19m/s 5.6m/s
03:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 22% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 22% 0mm - - 6.4m/s
04:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 40% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 40% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
05:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 57% 13°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ -35° 57% 0mm 8.8m/s 17m/s 8.1m/s
06:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 70% 13°C 2% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 70% 0mm - - 7.7m/s
07:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 84% 13°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ -8.6° 84% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
08:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 98% 13°C 5% 0% 0% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ 3.9° 98% 0mm 9.7m/s 16m/s 6.9m/s
09:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 99% 13°C 3% 0% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ 15° 99% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
10:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 99% 12°C 2% 0% 0% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ 26° 99% 0mm - - 7.7m/s
11:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 100% 0mm 9m/s 15m/s 8.1m/s
12:00
1015hPa 0J/kg 100% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 100% 0mm - - 8.2m/s
13:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 100% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ 42° 100% 0mm - - 8.3m/s
14:00
1016hPa 0J/kg 100% 12°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 87% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 100% 0mm 8.3m/s 14m/s 8.3m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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