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Rule Storm Chaser

Sossusvlei - 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 89% failing
Cloud Drama Score 74% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover5%
Wind Gusts3.2m/s
Precipitation Chance29%
Air Pressure918.3hPa
CAPE170
Lifted Index-2.2°C
Wind Gusts3.2m/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
Wed, Apr 8
03:000%14%41J/kg-1.3°C24135m8.1m/s
04:000%14%42J/kg-1.1°C24134m8.4m/s
05:0016%15%54J/kg-1.4°C20397m5.2m/s
06:000%13%48J/kg-0.7°C23776m2.2m/s
07:000%92%62J/kg-0.5°C18841m5.6m/s
08:000%65%109J/kg-1.2°C24135m9.8m/s
09:000%59%224J/kg-2.3°C24135m9.2m/s
10:000%63%277J/kg-2.4°C24134m7.8m/s
11:0019%46%345J/kg-2.8°C24135m8.5m/s
12:000%39%394J/kg-2.9°C24134m6.7m/s
13:000%32%350J/kg-2.9°C24135m6.7m/s
14:0016%69%207J/kg-2.3°C24134m6.5m/s
15:0016%41%212J/kg-2.2°C24135m8.2m/s
16:000%24%505J/kg-2.7°C24134m3.5m/s
17:0013%23%412J/kg-2.5°C24135m2m/s
18:000%93%314J/kg-2.1°C24135m2.6m/s
19:000%100%326J/kg-1.8°C24134m9.5m/s
20:0014%15%314J/kg-1.8°C24135m5.1m/s
21:000%15%133J/kg-1.3°C19995m8.3m/s
22:000%15%228J/kg-2.5°C24134m6.2m/s
23:0015%15%242J/kg-2.6°C24134m4.2m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%15%211J/kg-1.5°C24135m2.8m/s
01:000%15%244J/kg-1.8°C24135m2.8m/s
02:0016%15%239J/kg-2.4°C24135m2.9m/s
03:000%15%170J/kg-2.2°C24134m3.2m/s
04:000%15%115J/kg-1.9°C24135m2.2m/s
05:0015%15%82J/kg-1.3°C20031m1.9m/s
06:000%15%28J/kg-0.7°C22887m2.8m/s
07:0019%98%71J/kg-0.9°C12880m3.1m/s
08:0015%63%90J/kg-1.4°C24134m3.7m/s
09:000%50%84J/kg-1.4°C24134m3.4m/s
10:000%20%94J/kg-1.2°C24135m3m/s
11:0013%14%133J/kg-1.4°C24134m3.1m/s
12:000%12%87J/kg-0.8°C24135m3.4m/s
13:000%31%63J/kg-0.1°C24135m3.8m/s
14:0014%70%72J/kg-0.3°C24135m4m/s
15:000%67%72J/kg-0.5°C24135m4.2m/s
16:000%82%103J/kg-0.9°C24134m4.3m/s
17:0013%94%127J/kg-1°C24135m3.1m/s
18:000%100%107J/kg-0.8°C24134m3.1m/s
19:000%79%66J/kg-0.6°C24134m2.7m/s
20:000%15%42J/kg-0.8°C24135m4.8m/s
21:000%13%47J/kg-1.4°C24135m5.5m/s
22:000%14%75J/kg-1.5°C24134m5.3m/s
23:0013%15%40J/kg-1°C24134m3m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:000%15%41J/kg-0.7°C24135m1.1m/s
01:000%9.7%38J/kg-0.8°C24134m1.2m/s
02:0013%11%20J/kg-0.5°C24135m1.5m/s
03:000%13%24J/kg-0.6°C24134m2.1m/s
04:000%15%16J/kg-0.3°C24134m1.9m/s
05:0015%15%28J/kg-0.1°C24135m2.3m/s
06:000%14%33J/kg-0.5°C24134m2.2m/s
07:000%28%21J/kg-0.8°C24134m2.1m/s
08:0015%68%14J/kg-0.5°C18485m2.9m/s
09:000%75%13J/kg-0.2°C24134m3.7m/s
10:000%52%13J/kg-0.7°C24134m4m/s
11:000%44%20J/kg-0.6°C24135m2.5m/s
12:000%36%22J/kg0.4°C24135m4.6m/s
13:000%38%24J/kg0.3°C24134m5.4m/s
14:000%54%25J/kg0.3°C24134m6m/s
15:000%72%30J/kg-0.2°C24134m6.6m/s
16:000%83%15J/kg-0.1°C24134m6.5m/s
17:000%92%2J/kg-0.1°C24134m6.3m/s
18:000%79%3J/kg0.4°C24134m5.8m/s
19:000%55%8J/kg-0.5°C24135m5.4m/s
20:0016%10%10J/kg-0.7°C24135m5.4m/s
21:000%6.5%15J/kg-0.4°C24135m5.8m/s
22:000%8.9%31J/kg-0.4°C24134m4.5m/s
23:0015%15%33J/kg-0.8°C24135m4.2m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%15%67J/kg-1°C21793m2.8m/s
01:000%13%92J/kg-0.9°C24135m2.4m/s
02:0016%12%96J/kg-1°C24134m2.1m/s
03:000%13%97J/kg-1.2°C24134m1.7m/s
04:000%12%54J/kg-1.3°C20104m1.6m/s
05:0014%10%36J/kg-1°C24135m3.4m/s
06:000%12%27J/kg-1.1°C21000m3.3m/s
07:000%64%43J/kg-1.1°C24135m2m/s
08:0015%69%73J/kg-1.4°C22894m2.1m/s
09:0015%60%62J/kg-1.3°C19920m2.5m/s
10:0018%48%52J/kg-1.2°C16946m3m/s
11:0040%38%41J/kg-1°C13972m3.4m/s
12:0022%56%82J/kg-1.2°C17360m2.5m/s
13:0022%69%124J/kg-1.4°C20747m1.5m/s
14:0040%12%165J/kg-1.6°C24135m0.61m/s
15:0027%18%217J/kg-1.9°C24135m0.75m/s
16:0023%22%269J/kg-2.3°C24135m0.9m/s
17:0027%26%321J/kg-2.7°C24135m1m/s
18:000%18%308J/kg-2.5°C24135m1.2m/s
19:000%18%294J/kg-2.4°C24135m1.3m/s
20:0018%0%281J/kg-2.3°C24135m1.5m/s
21:000%0%255J/kg-2°C24135m1.7m/s
22:000%0%230J/kg-1.7°C24135m1.9m/s
23:0016%0%204J/kg-1.4°C24135m2m/s
Sun, Apr 12
24:000%0%194J/kg-1.2°C24135m2.1m/s
01:000%0%185J/kg-0.96°C24135m2.2m/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
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 07:08 Sunset 18:47
03:00
918hPa 170J/kg 0% -2.2°C 0% 5% 29% 0mm 50% 0mm 5.1dBZ -56° 5% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
04:00
918hPa 115J/kg 0% -1.9°C 0% 5% 15% 0mm 51% 0mm -7.5dBZ -43° 5% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
05:00
918hPa 82J/kg 0% -1.3°C 7% 10% 0% 0mm 51% 0.24mm -20dBZ -30° 12% 0mm 8.4m/s 12m/s 1.9m/s
06:00
919hPa 28J/kg 0% -0.7°C 11% 32% 0% 0mm 55% 0.05mm -14dBZ -16° 32% 0.31mm - - 2.6m/s
07:00
919hPa 71J/kg 0% -0.9°C 33% 59% 0% 0mm 56% 0.77mm -9dBZ -2.7° 59% 0.69mm - - 2.6m/s
08:00
920hPa 90J/kg 0% -1.4°C 3% 38% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -3.4dBZ 11° 38% 0.81mm 7.5m/s 13m/s 2.5m/s
09:00
920hPa 84J/kg 0% -1.4°C 3% 19% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -9dBZ 24° 19% 0.06mm - - 2.6m/s
10:00
920hPa 94J/kg 0% -1.2°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -14dBZ 36° 5% 0.06mm - - 2.6m/s
11:00
920hPa 133J/kg 0% -1.4°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 47° 5% 0.06mm 7.3m/s 13m/s 2.2m/s
12:00
919hPa 87J/kg 0% -0.8°C 0% 5% 13% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 55° 5% 0.06mm - - 1.5m/s
13:00
918hPa 63J/kg 0% -0.1°C 12% 5% 26% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ 58° 12% 0.06mm - - 2.4m/s
14:00
917hPa 72J/kg 0% -0.3°C 54% 46% 39% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 54° 56% 0.06mm 1.3m/s 13m/s 3.1m/s
15:00
917hPa 72J/kg 0% -0.5°C 12% 41% 33% 0mm 25% 0mm -11dBZ 46° 41% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
16:00
916hPa 103J/kg 0% -0.9°C 27% 45% 28% 0mm 24% 0mm -1dBZ 35° 45% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
17:00
916hPa 127J/kg 0% -1°C 53% 61% 22% 0mm 26% 0mm 8.4dBZ 23° 61% 0mm 2.8m/s 12m/s 2.6m/s
18:00
917hPa 107J/kg 0% -0.8°C 53% 65% 22% 0mm 29% 0mm 1.2dBZ 9.9° 65% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
19:00
918hPa 66J/kg 0% -0.6°C 72% 84% 22% 0mm 33% 0mm -6dBZ -3.5° 84% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
20:00
918hPa 42J/kg 0% -0.8°C 16% 66% 22% 0mm 35% 0mm -13dBZ -17° 66% 0mm 7.1m/s 7.6m/s 4.3m/s
21:00
919hPa 47J/kg 0% -1.4°C 0% 3% 15% 0mm 37% 0mm -16dBZ -31° 3% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
22:00
919hPa 75J/kg 0% -1.5°C 0% 5% 7% 0mm 40% 0mm -18dBZ -44° 5% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
23:00
919hPa 40J/kg 0% -1°C 1% 4% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 4% 0mm 3.8m/s 12m/s 1.7m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 07:08 Sunset 18:47
24:00
919hPa 41J/kg 0% -0.7°C 0% 65% 17% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -68° 65% 0mm - - 0.81m/s
01:00
918hPa 38J/kg 0% -0.8°C 0% 92% 33% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ -73° 92% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
02:00
918hPa 20J/kg 0% -0.5°C 0% 35% 50% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -68° 35% 0mm 8.3m/s 13m/s 1.5m/s
03:00
917hPa 24J/kg 0% -0.6°C 0% 17% 33% 0mm 43% 0mm -17dBZ -57° 17% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
04:00
917hPa 16J/kg 0% -0.3°C 0% 6% 17% 0mm 45% 0mm -14dBZ -44° 6% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
05:00
917hPa 28J/kg 0% -0.1°C 5% 86% 0% 0mm 46% 0.02mm -10dBZ -30° 86% 0mm 10m/s 13m/s 2.3m/s
06:00
917hPa 33J/kg 0% -0.5°C 4% 92% 17% 0mm 46% 0mm -14dBZ -16° 92% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
07:00
918hPa 21J/kg 0% -0.8°C 3% 5% 33% 0mm 47% 0mm -17dBZ -2.8° 6% 0mm - - 2m/s
08:00
918hPa 14J/kg 0% -0.5°C 4% 32% 50% 0mm 47% 0.19mm -20dBZ 11° 32% 0.06mm 8.4m/s 14m/s 2.2m/s
09:00
919hPa 13J/kg 0% -0.2°C 79% 78% 33% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 82% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
10:00
919hPa 13J/kg 0% -0.7°C 76% 99% 17% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 99% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
11:00
919hPa 20J/kg 0% -0.6°C 25% 100% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 47° 100% 0.06mm 3m/s 6.9m/s 1.3m/s
12:00
919hPa 22J/kg 0% 0.4°C 12% 98% 7% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 55° 98% 0.06mm - - 3.3m/s
13:00
918hPa 24J/kg 0% 0.3°C 18% 99% 15% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 57° 99% 0.06mm - - 3.8m/s
14:00
917hPa 25J/kg 0% 0.3°C 9% 63% 22% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ 54° 63% 0.06mm 3.5m/s 0.62m/s 4.4m/s
15:00
917hPa 30J/kg 0% -0.2°C 55% 67% 31% 0mm 26% 0mm -15dBZ 46° 67% 0mm - - 6m/s
16:00
916hPa 15J/kg 0% -0.1°C 42% 38% 41% 0mm 29% 0mm -9.5dBZ 35° 44% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
17:00
917hPa 2J/kg 0% -0.1°C 62% 72% 50% 0mm 37% 0mm -4.2dBZ 23° 73% 0mm 12m/s 9.4m/s 7.6m/s
18:00
917hPa 3J/kg 0% 0.4°C 0% 41% 43% 0mm 40% 0mm -7.2dBZ 9.7° 41% 0mm - - 6.3m/s
19:00
918hPa 8J/kg 0% -0.5°C 3% 76% 36% 0mm 42% 0mm -10dBZ -3.7° 76% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
20:00
918hPa 10J/kg 1% -0.7°C 0% 66% 28% 0mm 42% 0mm -13dBZ -17° 66% 0mm 11m/s 12m/s 4.1m/s
21:00
918hPa 15J/kg 0% -0.4°C 0% 81% 35% 0mm 44% 0mm -15dBZ -31° 81% 0mm - - 4m/s
22:00
919hPa 31J/kg 0% -0.4°C 1% 100% 43% 0mm 46% 0.02mm -18dBZ -45° 100% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
23:00
919hPa 33J/kg 0% -0.8°C 0% 77% 50% 0mm 50% 0.02mm -20dBZ -57° 77% 0.06mm 11m/s 14m/s 2.3m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 07:09 Sunset 18:46
24:00
918hPa 67J/kg 0% -1°C 0% 48% 54% 0mm 56% 0.19mm -16dBZ -69° 48% 0.31mm - - 1.8m/s
01:00
918hPa 92J/kg 2% -0.9°C 0% 40% 59% 0mm 54% 0mm -11dBZ -74° 40% 0.38mm - - 1.8m/s
02:00
918hPa 96J/kg 6% -1°C 0% 62% 63% 0mm 55% 0mm -7dBZ -68° 62% 0.44mm 11m/s 13m/s 2m/s
03:00
918hPa 97J/kg 2% -1.2°C 0% 27% 69% 0mm 57% 0mm -6.5dBZ -57° 27% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
04:00
918hPa 54J/kg 0% -1.3°C 28% 5% 75% 0mm 60% 0.22mm -5.9dBZ -44° 28% 0.06mm - - 1.6m/s
05:00
918hPa 36J/kg 49% -1°C 43% 84% 81% 0mm 64% 0.13mm -5.4dBZ -30° 84% 0.25mm 5.9m/s 13m/s 2.2m/s
06:00
919hPa 27J/kg 100% -1.1°C 42% 43% 85% 0mm 68% 0.26mm 1.7dBZ -17° 100% 0.44mm - - 1.8m/s
07:00
919hPa 43J/kg 100% -1.1°C 7% 60% 89% 0mm 68% 0.04mm 8.7dBZ -2.9° 100% 0.56mm - - 1.4m/s
08:00
920hPa 73J/kg 100% -1.4°C 56% 100% 93% 0mm 68% 0.16mm 16dBZ 11° 100% 0.75mm 5.1m/s 12m/s 1.6m/s
09:00
911hPa 62J/kg 100% -1.3°C 42% 100% 75% 0.3mm 71% 0.11mm 18dBZ 23° 100% 2.4mm - - 1.9m/s
10:00
902hPa 52J/kg 99% -1.2°C 28% 100% 57% 0.6mm 74% 0.06mm 19dBZ 36° 100% 4mm - - 2.1m/s
11:00
894hPa 41J/kg 99% -1°C 14% 100% 39% 0.9mm 77% 0.01mm 21dBZ 46° 100% 5.7mm 11m/s 16m/s 2.4m/s
12:00
894hPa 82J/kg 68% -1.2°C 9% 67% 46% 0.6mm 76% 0.007mm 25dBZ 54° 68% 6mm - - 1.7m/s
13:00
893hPa 124J/kg 36% -1.4°C 5% 35% 54% 0.3mm 74% 0.003mm 28dBZ 57° 37% 6.4mm - - 1.1m/s
14:00
893hPa 165J/kg 5% -1.6°C 0% 2% 61% 0mm 73% 0mm 32dBZ 54° 5% 6.8mm 13m/s 20m/s 0.41m/s
15:00
893hPa 217J/kg 5% -1.9°C 0% 2% 63% 0mm 73% 0mm 32dBZ 46° 5% 4.5mm - - 0.61m/s
16:00
894hPa 269J/kg 6% -2.3°C 0% 1% 65% 0mm 73% 0mm 33dBZ 35° 6% 2.3mm - - 0.81m/s
17:00
894hPa 321J/kg 6% -2.7°C 0% 0% 67% 0mm 73% 0mm 34dBZ 22° 6% 0mm 14m/s 19m/s 1m/s
18:00
894hPa 308J/kg 4% -2.5°C 0% 0% 68% 0mm 74% 0.1mm 16dBZ 9.5° 4% 0.29mm - - 1.2m/s
19:00
893hPa 294J/kg 2% -2.4°C 0% 0% 70% 0mm 75% 0.21mm -2.2dBZ -3.9° 2% 0.58mm - - 1.4m/s
20:00
893hPa 281J/kg 0% -2.3°C 0% 0% 71% 0mm 75% 0.31mm -20dBZ -18° 0% 0.88mm 11m/s 16m/s 1.6m/s
21:00
893hPa 255J/kg 0% -2°C 0% 0% 58% 0mm 75% 0.21mm -20dBZ -31° 0% 0.81mm - - 1.8m/s
22:00
893hPa 230J/kg 0% -1.7°C 0% 0% 46% 0mm 74% 0.1mm -20dBZ -45° 0% 0.75mm - - 2m/s
23:00
892hPa 204J/kg 0% -1.4°C 0% 0% 34% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -58° 0% 0.69mm 7.9m/s 18m/s 2.2m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 07:09 Sunset 18:45
24:00
892hPa 194J/kg 0% -1.2°C 0% 0% 38% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -69° 0% 0.75mm - - 2.2m/s
01:00
893hPa 185J/kg 0% -0.96°C 0% 0% 43% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -74° 0% 0.81mm - - 2.1m/s
02:00
893hPa 175J/kg 0% -0.72°C 0% 0% 48% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ -68° 0% 0.88mm 7.5m/s 16m/s 2.1m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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