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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
Cloud Drama Score 100% failing
CAPE 100% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts2.0m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure901.9hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index7.4°C
Wind Gusts2.0m/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 80 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
Sun, May 24
06:000%0%0J/kg9°C24134m3.1m/s
07:000%6%0J/kg8.9°C24135m3m/s
08:000%7%0J/kg8.6°C24134m3m/s
09:000%6.5%0J/kg8.8°C24134m3.8m/s
10:000%5.5%0J/kg8.8°C24134m4.3m/s
11:000%5.5%0J/kg8.7°C24134m3.4m/s
12:000%4.5%0J/kg8.3°C24135m2.6m/s
13:000%4.5%0J/kg7.9°C24134m2.2m/s
14:000%4.5%0J/kg7.7°C24135m2.2m/s
15:000%5.5%0J/kg7.4°C24135m2m/s
16:000%5.5%0J/kg7.6°C24135m2.1m/s
17:000%6.5%0J/kg8.1°C24134m2.1m/s
18:000%7%0J/kg8.3°C24134m2.6m/s
19:000%6%0J/kg8.4°C24134m4m/s
20:000%0%0J/kg8.3°C24134m7.6m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg8.5°C24135m3.3m/s
22:000%0.1%0J/kg8.4°C24134m1.4m/s
23:000%0.4%0J/kg8.2°C24135m0.81m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%0%0J/kg8.4°C24134m1.2m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg8.6°C24135m1.8m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg8.7°C24135m2m/s
03:000%0.3%0J/kg8.9°C24135m1.5m/s
04:000%0.6%0J/kg8.9°C24135m2m/s
05:000%6.8%0J/kg8.8°C24135m3.2m/s
06:000%3%0J/kg9.1°C24134m3.4m/s
07:000%33%0J/kg9.4°C24134m3.1m/s
08:000%16%0J/kg9.2°C24134m3m/s
09:000%22%0J/kg9.2°C24135m3.9m/s
10:000%18%0J/kg9.4°C24134m4.1m/s
11:000%11%0J/kg9.3°C24135m4.4m/s
12:000%12%0J/kg9°C24135m3.2m/s
13:000%5.3%0J/kg8.8°C24134m1.7m/s
14:000%5.1%0J/kg9°C24135m1.1m/s
15:000%6%0J/kg9.1°C24134m1.5m/s
16:000%6.1%0J/kg9°C24134m1.9m/s
17:000%7.4%0J/kg8.9°C24134m2.2m/s
18:000%19%0J/kg9°C24134m3.1m/s
19:000%16%0J/kg9.1°C24135m3.2m/s
20:000%0.6%0J/kg9°C24134m8m/s
21:000%0.9%0J/kg9.1°C24135m5m/s
22:000%1.1%0J/kg9.2°C24134m0.71m/s
23:000%1.1%0J/kg9.3°C24135m1.5m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%0.7%0J/kg9.1°C24134m1.6m/s
01:000%0.9%0J/kg8.9°C24134m1.5m/s
02:000%0.6%0J/kg8.7°C24135m1.8m/s
03:000%0.6%0J/kg8.6°C24134m2.2m/s
04:000%0.6%0J/kg8.8°C24135m2.8m/s
05:000%0.8%0J/kg8.9°C24134m3.3m/s
06:000%0.9%0J/kg8.8°C24134m3.2m/s
07:000%6.6%0J/kg8.8°C24134m3.5m/s
08:000%7.7%0J/kg8.8°C24135m3.6m/s
09:000%7.4%0J/kg9.1°C24134m4.7m/s
10:000%6.5%0J/kg9.3°C24135m4.8m/s
11:000%6.4%0J/kg9.2°C24134m4.9m/s
12:000%5.3%0J/kg9.2°C24135m4.4m/s
13:000%4.5%0J/kg8.8°C24134m3.3m/s
14:000%5%0J/kg8.8°C24134m2.8m/s
15:000%5.9%0J/kg8.8°C24134m2.5m/s
16:000%5.9%0J/kg8.7°C24135m2.4m/s
17:000%7%0J/kg8.7°C24135m2.7m/s
18:000%7.9%0J/kg8.7°C24134m2.5m/s
19:000%17%0J/kg8.7°C24135m2.8m/s
20:000%4.5%0J/kg8.7°C24134m3.1m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg8.6°C24134m3m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg8.5°C24135m2.8m/s
23:000%0%0J/kg8.3°C24135m2.7m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%0%0J/kg8.3°C24135m2.9m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg8.4°C24135m3m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg8.4°C24135m3.2m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg8.5°C24135m3.6m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg8.6°C24135m4m/s
05:0014%0%0J/kg8.7°C24135m4.4m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg8.4°C24135m3.6m/s
07:000%52%0J/kg8.2°C24135m2.8m/s
08:0013%43%0J/kg7.9°C24135m1.9m/s
09:000%51%0J/kg7.8°C24135m1.8m/s
10:000%47%0J/kg7.7°C24135m1.7m/s
11:0013%45%0J/kg7.6°C24135m1.6m/s
12:000%41%0J/kg7.6°C24135m2.8m/s
13:000%41%0J/kg7.7°C24135m4m/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 07:26 Sunset 18:22
15:00
902hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 0% 0mm - - 2m/s
16:00
902hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 0% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
17:00
902hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 0% 0mm 2.5m/s 3.7m/s 2.3m/s
18:00
902hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ 4.3° 0% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
19:00
903hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ -8.8° 0% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
20:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 0% 0mm 7.9m/s 3.2m/s 4.7m/s
21:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 0% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
22:00
905hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 0% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
23:00
905hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 0% 0mm 7.8m/s 1.2m/s 0.75m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 07:26 Sunset 18:22
24:00
905hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ -77° 0% 0mm - - 1.1m/s
01:00
905hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ -88° 0% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
02:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -75° 0% 0mm 6.1m/s 3.8m/s 2m/s
03:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 0% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
04:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -47° 0% 0mm - - 2m/s
05:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 0% 0mm 5.1m/s 6m/s 3.2m/s
06:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 0% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
07:00
904hPa 0J/kg 14% 9.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ -6.5° 14% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
08:00
904hPa 0J/kg 2% 9.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 6.4° 2% 0mm 4m/s 4.8m/s 3.1m/s
09:00
905hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 5% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
10:00
905hPa 0J/kg 4% 9.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 4% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
11:00
905hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 0% 0mm 3.5m/s 4.8m/s 3.5m/s
12:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 0% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
13:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 47° 0% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
14:00
903hPa 0J/kg 0% 9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 0% 0mm 2m/s 3.2m/s 0.23m/s
15:00
902hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 0% 0mm - - 1m/s
16:00
902hPa 0J/kg 0% 9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 0% 0mm - - 1.9m/s
17:00
902hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 0% 0mm 4.3m/s 1.8m/s 2.4m/s
18:00
902hPa 0J/kg 5% 9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ 4.2° 5% 0mm - - 3m/s
19:00
902hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ -8.9° 5% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
20:00
903hPa 0J/kg 5% 9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 5% 0mm 11m/s 3.1m/s 5.3m/s
21:00
904hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 5% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
22:00
904hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 5% 0mm - - 0.39m/s
23:00
904hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 5% 0mm 2.9m/s 3.8m/s 1.4m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 07:26 Sunset 18:22
24:00
904hPa 0J/kg 5% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ -77° 5% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
01:00
904hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -88° 5% 0mm - - 1.5m/s
02:00
903hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -75° 5% 0mm 3.4m/s 5m/s 1.8m/s
03:00
903hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 5% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
04:00
903hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ -47° 5% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
05:00
903hPa 0J/kg 2% 8.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 2% 0mm 4.5m/s 7.1m/s 3.3m/s
06:00
903hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 0% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
07:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ -6.6° 0% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
08:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 6.3° 0% 0mm 4.4m/s 6.5m/s 3.5m/s
09:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 0% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
10:00
905hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 0% 0mm - - 4m/s
11:00
905hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 0% 0mm 2.5m/s 6.7m/s 3.9m/s
12:00
904hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 0% 0mm - - 4m/s
13:00
903hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ 47° 0% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
14:00
902hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 0% 0mm 1.4m/s 5.9m/s 2.2m/s
15:00
901hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 0% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
16:00
900hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 0% 0mm - - 0.73m/s
17:00
900hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 16° 0% 0mm 5.3m/s 6.7m/s 0.97m/s
18:00
901hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ 4.1° 0% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
19:00
901hPa 0J/kg 4% 8.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ -8.9° 4% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
20:00
902hPa 0J/kg 18% 8.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 18% 0mm 7.8m/s 7m/s 3m/s
21:00
902hPa 0J/kg 19% 8.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -36° 19% 0mm - - 3m/s
22:00
902hPa 0J/kg 20% 8.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 20% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
23:00
902hPa 0J/kg 21% 8.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 21% 0mm 6m/s 7.6m/s 2.8m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 07:26 Sunset 18:22
24:00
902hPa 0J/kg 16% 8.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -77° 16% 0mm - - 3m/s
01:00
902hPa 0J/kg 10% 8.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ -89° 10% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
02:00
903hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ -75° 5% 0mm 3.6m/s 9.8m/s 3.3m/s
03:00
903hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 5% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
04:00
903hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ -47° 5% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
05:00
904hPa 0J/kg 4% 8.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 4% 0mm 3.6m/s 11m/s 3.8m/s
06:00
903hPa 0J/kg 26% 8.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 26% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
07:00
902hPa 0J/kg 48% 8.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ -6.6° 48% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
08:00
901hPa 0J/kg 69% 7.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 6.2° 69% 0mm 4.2m/s 11m/s 1.2m/s
09:00
901hPa 0J/kg 56% 7.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 56% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
10:00
901hPa 0J/kg 42% 7.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 42% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
11:00
900hPa 0J/kg 29% 7.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 29% 0mm 3.6m/s 11m/s 1.3m/s
12:00
901hPa 0J/kg 32% 7.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 32% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
13:00
901hPa 0J/kg 35% 7.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 47° 35% 0mm - - 3m/s
14:00
902hPa 0J/kg 38% 7.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 38% 0mm 2.5m/s 8.3m/s 3.9m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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