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Rule Storm Chaser

Spitzkoppe - Storm Chaser - Namibia

Usakos, Erongo 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 85% failing
Cloud Drama Score 81% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover88%
Wind Gusts3.2m/s
Precipitation Chance37%
Air Pressure901.0hPa
CAPE3
Lifted Index0.1°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 92 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
06:000%13%55J/kg-0.3°C24134m9.8m/s
07:000%72%84J/kg-0.7°C24134m6.6m/s
08:0015%42%231J/kg-0.9°C24135m7.6m/s
09:000%64%183J/kg-1°C24135m8.2m/s
10:000%61%211J/kg-1.5°C24134m7.7m/s
11:0016%54%260J/kg-1.6°C24135m8.7m/s
12:000%53%243J/kg-1.7°C24134m7.9m/s
13:000%34%218J/kg-1.5°C24135m6.8m/s
14:0029%49%192J/kg-2°C24134m7.8m/s
15:000%47%133J/kg-2.6°C24134m8.3m/s
16:000%52%88J/kg-1°C24134m8.5m/s
17:0018%58%145J/kg-1.2°C24135m8m/s
18:000%61%183J/kg-2.3°C24135m6.2m/s
19:0017%60%173J/kg-2.6°C20409m7.1m/s
20:0027%12%149J/kg-1.5°C24135m7.2m/s
21:000%7.6%29J/kg-0.2°C24135m6.7m/s
22:000%8.9%2J/kg0.3°C24134m6.5m/s
23:0013%10%24J/kg0°C24134m5.2m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:000%13%18J/kg0.9°C24135m2.5m/s
01:000%13%3J/kg0.9°C24135m2.1m/s
02:0013%9.5%2J/kg0.7°C24135m3.3m/s
03:000%13%3J/kg0.1°C24134m3.2m/s
04:000%15%2J/kg0.2°C24135m4.2m/s
05:0013%15%6J/kg0.5°C24135m3.9m/s
06:000%12%9J/kg0.6°C24135m8.9m/s
07:000%39%10J/kg0.7°C24134m11m/s
08:000%39%13J/kg0.3°C24134m10m/s
09:000%56%5J/kg0.8°C24134m8.1m/s
10:000%46%4J/kg0.7°C24135m7.1m/s
11:0015%38%1J/kg0.3°C24134m7.8m/s
12:000%26%2J/kg0.5°C24135m7.8m/s
13:000%21%4J/kg0.3°C24135m7.5m/s
14:000%40%3J/kg0.2°C24135m6.9m/s
15:000%48%2J/kg0.4°C24135m6.2m/s
16:000%35%2J/kg0.1°C24134m5.5m/s
17:000%35%12J/kg-0.2°C24135m3.4m/s
18:000%49%22J/kg-0.3°C24134m1.5m/s
19:000%37%29J/kg-0.4°C24134m5.1m/s
20:0022%3.6%39J/kg-0.8°C19899m8.3m/s
21:000%6.6%28J/kg-0.2°C24135m3.8m/s
22:000%11%29J/kg-0.5°C24134m1.4m/s
23:0015%13%32J/kg-0.2°C24134m3.5m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:000%15%30J/kg0°C24135m2.4m/s
01:000%15%6J/kg0°C24134m2.7m/s
02:000%15%6J/kg0.3°C24135m3.3m/s
03:000%15%0J/kg0.8°C24134m4.9m/s
04:000%13%0J/kg0.4°C24134m5.8m/s
05:000%12%0J/kg0.6°C24135m4.6m/s
06:000%15%3J/kg0.8°C24134m4.6m/s
07:000%98%1J/kg0.9°C24134m4m/s
08:000%53%0J/kg1.2°C24135m4.9m/s
09:000%21%0J/kg1.6°C24134m6.1m/s
10:000%21%0J/kg1.7°C24134m7.1m/s
11:000%15%0J/kg1.9°C24135m7.8m/s
12:000%10%0J/kg1.3°C24135m6.5m/s
13:000%19%1J/kg0.8°C24134m5.6m/s
14:000%71%15J/kg0.5°C24134m4.7m/s
15:000%48%30J/kg0.3°C24134m3.9m/s
16:000%71%26J/kg-0.1°C24134m3.3m/s
17:000%65%22J/kg-0.1°C24134m3.1m/s
18:000%39%56J/kg-0.4°C24134m4.4m/s
19:000%100%62J/kg-0.8°C24135m7.7m/s
20:000%13%41J/kg-0.8°C24135m5.9m/s
21:000%12%21J/kg-0.2°C24135m6m/s
22:000%13%28J/kg0.1°C24134m2m/s
23:000%14%31J/kg-0.3°C24135m1.1m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:000%15%41J/kg-0.4°C24134m1m/s
01:000%15%39J/kg-0.6°C24135m0.91m/s
02:000%11%50J/kg-0.4°C24134m1.1m/s
03:000%14%42J/kg-0.4°C24134m1m/s
04:000%14%34J/kg-0.3°C24134m1.5m/s
05:000%14%24J/kg-0.3°C24135m4.5m/s
06:000%15%18J/kg-0.5°C24135m5m/s
07:000%71%7J/kg-0.2°C24135m3.6m/s
08:0013%58%9J/kg-0.1°C24135m1.9m/s
09:000%83%191J/kg-1°C24135m2.9m/s
10:000%76%374J/kg-1.9°C24135m3.9m/s
11:0028%58%556J/kg-2.8°C24135m4.9m/s
12:000%63%577J/kg-3.1°C24135m4.9m/s
13:0024%60%597J/kg-3.3°C24135m4.9m/s
14:0028%63%618J/kg-3.6°C24135m4.9m/s
15:0024%33%576J/kg-3.5°C20626m5.4m/s
16:0024%22%533J/kg-3.4°C17117m5.8m/s
17:0036%16%491J/kg-3.4°C13607m6.2m/s
18:0015%21%496J/kg-3°C17117m4.5m/s
19:0022%18%502J/kg-2.7°C20626m2.8m/s
20:0026%0%507J/kg-2.4°C24135m1.1m/s
21:0014%0%477J/kg-2.2°C24135m1.2m/s
22:000%0%447J/kg-2°C24135m1.3m/s
23:0013%0%417J/kg-1.7°C24135m1.3m/s
Sun, Apr 12
24:000%0%395J/kg-1.3°C24135m2.4m/s
01:000%0%374J/kg-0.8°C24135m3.4m/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
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 18:49
03:00
901hPa 3J/kg 0% 0.1°C 0% 88% 37% 0mm 53% 0mm -19dBZ -58° 88% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
04:00
901hPa 2J/kg 0% 0.2°C 0% 67% 24% 0mm 53% 0mm -19dBZ -44° 67% 0mm - - 3m/s
05:00
900hPa 6J/kg 0% 0.5°C 11% 99% 12% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 99% 0mm 6.7m/s 14m/s 2.8m/s
06:00
900hPa 9J/kg 0% 0.6°C 29% 100% 15% 0mm 48% 0mm -16dBZ -17° 100% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
07:00
901hPa 10J/kg 0% 0.7°C 5% 100% 19% 0mm 45% 0mm -12dBZ -2.5° 100% 0mm - - 6.1m/s
08:00
902hPa 13J/kg 0% 0.3°C 4% 98% 22% 0mm 45% 0mm -7.5dBZ 11° 98% 0mm 6.8m/s 9.9m/s 5.8m/s
09:00
902hPa 5J/kg 0% 0.8°C 30% 100% 15% 0mm 46% 0mm -12dBZ 24° 100% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
10:00
902hPa 4J/kg 0% 0.7°C 21% 100% 7% 0mm 45% 0mm -16dBZ 37° 100% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
11:00
902hPa 1J/kg 0% 0.3°C 15% 90% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 90% 0mm 2m/s 11m/s 4.5m/s
12:00
902hPa 2J/kg 0% 0.5°C 3% 100% 13% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 57° 100% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
13:00
901hPa 4J/kg 0% 0.3°C 2% 100% 26% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 60° 100% 0mm - - 6.3m/s
14:00
900hPa 3J/kg 0% 0.2°C 0% 81% 39% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ 57° 81% 0mm 4.6m/s 6.4m/s 6.1m/s
15:00
899hPa 2J/kg 0% 0.4°C 2% 62% 42% 0mm 28% 0mm -19dBZ 48° 62% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
16:00
899hPa 2J/kg 0% 0.1°C 5% 100% 46% 0mm 28% 0mm -18dBZ 37° 100% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
17:00
899hPa 12J/kg 0% -0.2°C 5% 100% 49% 0mm 29% 0mm -16dBZ 24° 100% 0mm 7.1m/s 4.8m/s 2.2m/s
18:00
899hPa 22J/kg 0% -0.3°C 11% 98% 45% 0mm 34% 0mm -2.1dBZ 11° 98% 0.13mm - - 1.2m/s
19:00
900hPa 29J/kg 0% -0.4°C 7% 100% 41% 0mm 38% 0mm 12dBZ -3° 100% 0.25mm - - 3m/s
20:00
900hPa 39J/kg 0% -0.8°C 10% 100% 38% 0mm 45% 0.53mm 26dBZ -17° 100% 0.5mm 8.1m/s 8.7m/s 4.6m/s
21:00
901hPa 28J/kg 0% -0.2°C 50% 100% 25% 0.01mm 44% 0.02mm 15dBZ -31° 100% 0.13mm - - 1.5m/s
22:00
901hPa 29J/kg 0% -0.5°C 47% 100% 13% 0mm 45% 0.03mm 2.8dBZ -45° 100% 0.19mm - - 1.3m/s
23:00
901hPa 32J/kg 0% -0.2°C 68% 100% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -8.9dBZ -58° 100% 0.25mm 7.9m/s 10m/s 2.6m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 07:08 Sunset 18:49
24:00
901hPa 30J/kg 0% 0°C 35% 40% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -9.7dBZ -70° 40% 0.25mm - - 2m/s
01:00
900hPa 6J/kg 0% 0°C 4% 87% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -11dBZ -76° 87% 0.25mm - - 2.5m/s
02:00
900hPa 6J/kg 0% 0.3°C 2% 95% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -11dBZ -70° 95% 0.25mm 6.3m/s 5.7m/s 2.7m/s
03:00
900hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.8°C 28% 20% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -14dBZ -58° 35% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
04:00
900hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.4°C 2% 5% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -17dBZ -44° 6% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
05:00
900hPa 0J/kg 0% 0.6°C 18% 23% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 23% 0mm 5.2m/s 8.6m/s 3.4m/s
06:00
900hPa 3J/kg 0% 0.8°C 37% 50% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ -17° 50% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
07:00
901hPa 1J/kg 0% 0.9°C 27% 47% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ -2.6° 47% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
08:00
902hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.2°C 4% 16% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 16% 0mm 3.8m/s 6.9m/s 2.9m/s
09:00
902hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.6°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 5% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
10:00
902hPa 0J/kg 1% 1.7°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 5% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
11:00
902hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.9°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 5% 0mm 2.2m/s 5.3m/s 6m/s
12:00
901hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.3°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ 57° 5% 0mm - - 6.1m/s
13:00
900hPa 1J/kg 5% 0.8°C 7% 5% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 60° 8% 0mm - - 5m/s
14:00
899hPa 15J/kg 5% 0.5°C 35% 49% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ 56° 49% 0mm 2.7m/s 2.4m/s 3.7m/s
15:00
898hPa 30J/kg 5% 0.3°C 38% 88% 7% 0mm 24% 0mm -18dBZ 48° 88% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
16:00
898hPa 26J/kg 24% -0.1°C 37% 100% 15% 0mm 24% 0mm -17dBZ 36° 100% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
17:00
898hPa 22J/kg 5% -0.1°C 13% 100% 22% 0mm 25% 0mm -15dBZ 24° 100% 0mm 4.6m/s 6.8m/s 2.2m/s
18:00
898hPa 56J/kg 0% -0.4°C 0% 100% 31% 0mm 32% 0mm -12dBZ 10° 100% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
19:00
899hPa 62J/kg 5% -0.8°C 15% 69% 41% 0mm 44% 0mm -9dBZ -3.2° 69% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
20:00
900hPa 41J/kg 5% -0.8°C 49% 100% 50% 0mm 45% 0mm -6dBZ -17° 100% 0mm 10m/s 9.3m/s 4.9m/s
21:00
900hPa 21J/kg 5% -0.2°C 25% 100% 39% 0mm 46% 0mm -9.5dBZ -31° 100% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
22:00
901hPa 28J/kg 12% 0.1°C 61% 100% 28% 0mm 44% 0mm -13dBZ -45° 100% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
23:00
901hPa 31J/kg 3% -0.3°C 39% 70% 17% 0mm 44% 0mm -17dBZ -58° 70% 0mm 7.5m/s 8.8m/s 0.73m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 07:08 Sunset 18:49
24:00
901hPa 41J/kg 5% -0.4°C 10% 14% 45% 0mm 46% 0mm -17dBZ -70° 16% 0mm - - 0.71m/s
01:00
901hPa 39J/kg 1% -0.6°C 0% 6% 72% 0mm 49% 0mm -17dBZ -76° 6% 0mm - - 0.92m/s
02:00
900hPa 50J/kg 4% -0.4°C 0% 22% 100% 0mm 50% 0mm -18dBZ -70° 22% 0mm 9.6m/s 9.8m/s 1.1m/s
03:00
900hPa 42J/kg 20% -0.4°C 3% 54% 100% 0mm 51% 0mm -17dBZ -58° 54% 0mm - - 0.94m/s
04:00
900hPa 34J/kg 7% -0.3°C 16% 40% 100% 0mm 50% 0mm -16dBZ -44° 40% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
05:00
900hPa 24J/kg 5% -0.3°C 28% 20% 100% 0mm 53% 0mm -14dBZ -31° 31% 0mm 8.5m/s 10m/s 3.6m/s
06:00
901hPa 18J/kg 3% -0.5°C 12% 70% 73% 0mm 60% 0mm -16dBZ -17° 70% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
07:00
901hPa 7J/kg 4% -0.2°C 13% 92% 46% 0mm 61% 0mm -18dBZ -2.7° 92% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
08:00
902hPa 9J/kg 5% -0.1°C 12% 100% 18% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 100% 0mm 8.8m/s 11m/s 1.6m/s
09:00
901hPa 191J/kg 3% -1°C 16% 74% 46% 0.003mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 76% 0.04mm - - 3.2m/s
10:00
899hPa 374J/kg 2% -1.9°C 20% 47% 73% 0.007mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 53% 0.08mm - - 4.8m/s
11:00
898hPa 556J/kg 0% -2.8°C 24% 20% 100% 0.01mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 48° 29% 0.13mm 8.1m/s 11m/s 6.4m/s
12:00
899hPa 577J/kg 5% -3.1°C 17% 17% 81% 0.03mm 44% 0.003mm -20dBZ 56° 27% 0.63mm - - 5.6m/s
13:00
899hPa 597J/kg 10% -3.3°C 9% 14% 61% 0.05mm 48% 0.007mm -20dBZ 60° 25% 1.1mm - - 4.8m/s
14:00
899hPa 618J/kg 16% -3.6°C 1% 11% 42% 0.07mm 51% 0.01mm -20dBZ 56° 24% 1.6mm 7.2m/s 11m/s 4.1m/s
15:00
900hPa 576J/kg 10% -3.5°C 1% 10% 45% 0.05mm 56% 0.23mm -20dBZ 47° 18% 1.4mm - - 4.3m/s
16:00
900hPa 533J/kg 5% -3.4°C 0% 9% 48% 0.02mm 61% 0.45mm -20dBZ 36° 13% 1.1mm - - 4.4m/s
17:00
900hPa 491J/kg 0% -3.4°C 0% 8% 51% 0mm 66% 0.67mm -20dBZ 24° 8% 0.88mm 13m/s 14m/s 4.6m/s
18:00
900hPa 496J/kg 1% -3°C 0% 6% 53% 0.02mm 67% 0.45mm -16dBZ 10° 6% 1.4mm - - 3.4m/s
19:00
900hPa 502J/kg 1% -2.7°C 0% 5% 56% 0.04mm 68% 0.23mm -13dBZ -3.4° 5% 1.9mm - - 2.2m/s
20:00
899hPa 507J/kg 2% -2.4°C 0% 3% 58% 0.06mm 69% 0.01mm -9.2dBZ -17° 3% 2.4mm 8.3m/s 13m/s 1m/s
21:00
899hPa 477J/kg 1% -2.2°C 1% 8% 49% 0.04mm 71% 0.007mm -3.7dBZ -31° 8% 1.6mm - - 1.1m/s
22:00
899hPa 447J/kg 1% -2°C 3% 13% 39% 0.02mm 72% 0.003mm 1.9dBZ -45° 14% 0.85mm - - 1.2m/s
23:00
899hPa 417J/kg 0% -1.7°C 4% 19% 30% 0mm 73% 0mm 7.4dBZ -58° 19% 0.06mm 9.1m/s 12m/s 1.2m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 07:08 Sunset 18:48
24:00
899hPa 395J/kg 0% -1.3°C 3% 12% 28% 0mm 73% 0mm -1.7dBZ -71° 12% 0.08mm - - 2m/s
01:00
899hPa 374J/kg 0% -0.8°C 1% 6% 27% 0mm 73% 0mm -11dBZ -77° 6% 0.1mm - - 2.7m/s
02:00
900hPa 352J/kg 0% -0.32°C 0% 0% 26% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -70° 0% 0.13mm 7.5m/s 13m/s 3.4m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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