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Rule Storm Chaser

Windhoek - Storm Chaser - Namibia

Windhoek, Khomas 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 94% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts4.7m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure829.9hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index8.3°C
Wind Gusts4.7m/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
Sun, Apr 19
10:000%7.7%0J/kg9.2°C24134m8.3m/s
11:0018%8.3%0J/kg9.2°C24134m9.7m/s
12:0016%13%0J/kg9.3°C24135m10m/s
13:0016%8.6%0J/kg9.2°C24134m11m/s
14:0026%8.6%0J/kg9°C24135m11m/s
15:0016%8.1%0J/kg8.9°C24135m12m/s
16:0016%10%0J/kg8.5°C24134m11m/s
17:0029%22%0J/kg8.2°C24134m10m/s
18:000%33%0J/kg8°C24134m8.7m/s
19:000%33%0J/kg8.5°C24135m7.1m/s
20:0019%6.5%0J/kg8.7°C24135m4.5m/s
21:000%0%0J/kg8.4°C24135m2.7m/s
22:000%0%0J/kg8°C24135m1.6m/s
23:0018%0%0J/kg7.6°C24135m1.3m/s
Mon, Apr 20
24:000%0%0J/kg7.6°C24135m1.1m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg7.4°C24135m1m/s
02:0017%0%0J/kg7.4°C24134m0.8m/s
03:000%0.5%0J/kg7.6°C24135m1.3m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg7.9°C24135m1.1m/s
05:0018%0%0J/kg8.1°C24134m1.1m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg8.2°C24135m1m/s
07:000%7%0J/kg8.3°C24135m1m/s
08:0018%6.9%0J/kg8.4°C24134m1.2m/s
09:000%13%0J/kg8.4°C24135m2.1m/s
10:000%6.2%0J/kg8.3°C24134m4.7m/s
11:0018%7.2%0J/kg8.5°C24135m7.4m/s
12:000%9%0J/kg8.5°C24135m10m/s
13:000%9%0J/kg8.5°C24134m11m/s
14:0028%9.2%0J/kg9.1°C24135m13m/s
15:0018%9.9%0J/kg8.8°C24134m13m/s
16:0016%14%0J/kg8.6°C24135m13m/s
17:0026%13%0J/kg8.2°C24134m11m/s
18:000%13%0J/kg8.3°C24134m10m/s
19:000%6.6%0J/kg7.7°C24135m6.4m/s
20:0018%0.7%0J/kg6.4°C24134m5.3m/s
21:000%7.7%0J/kg5.1°C24135m4.5m/s
22:000%3.5%0J/kg4.8°C24134m3.1m/s
23:0018%1.2%0J/kg4.3°C24135m2.2m/s
Tue, Apr 21
24:000%5.8%0J/kg4.2°C24135m1.2m/s
01:000%6.7%0J/kg4°C24134m0.4m/s
02:0017%1.1%0J/kg3.9°C24134m0.71m/s
03:000%1%0J/kg4.1°C24135m0.91m/s
04:000%0.8%0J/kg4°C24134m1m/s
05:0017%0.8%0J/kg3.7°C24135m1m/s
06:000%0.5%0J/kg3.5°C24135m0.9m/s
07:000%7%0J/kg3.5°C24134m1.5m/s
08:0018%6.5%0J/kg3.8°C24134m1.4m/s
09:000%6.5%0J/kg5.2°C24135m3.4m/s
10:000%7.7%0J/kg7°C24134m7.2m/s
11:0020%8.1%0J/kg7.8°C24135m8.8m/s
12:000%8.2%0J/kg7.8°C24134m11m/s
13:000%9%0J/kg7.8°C24134m11m/s
14:0030%9%0J/kg8.3°C24134m12m/s
15:0018%8.7%0J/kg8.2°C24134m12m/s
16:0016%11%0J/kg7.4°C24135m11m/s
17:0018%13%0J/kg6.7°C24134m9.6m/s
18:000%11%0J/kg6.1°C24134m7.5m/s
19:000%6.7%0J/kg6.1°C24134m5m/s
20:0019%0.9%0J/kg6.3°C24134m3.8m/s
21:000%1%0J/kg6.7°C24134m3.6m/s
22:000%3%0J/kg6.8°C24135m3.6m/s
23:0020%14%0J/kg6.9°C24135m3.5m/s
Wed, Apr 22
24:000%15%0J/kg5.6°C24135m3.3m/s
01:000%15%0J/kg4.6°C24134m2.8m/s
02:0018%15%0J/kg3.8°C24135m2.1m/s
03:000%13%0J/kg3°C24135m1.3m/s
04:000%13%0J/kg2.7°C24135m2.6m/s
05:0018%3.1%0J/kg3.6°C24134m2.6m/s
06:000%0.2%0J/kg2.9°C24135m2.4m/s
07:000%7%0J/kg2.4°C24135m2.3m/s
08:0018%6.5%0J/kg2.1°C24134m2.2m/s
09:000%6.5%0J/kg1.9°C24135m2.9m/s
10:000%5.8%0J/kg2°C24134m3.2m/s
11:0016%4.6%0J/kg2.3°C24135m4.2m/s
12:000%6.3%0J/kg2.4°C24135m6.8m/s
13:000%8.6%0J/kg2.9°C24134m8.7m/s
14:000%10%0J/kg2.8°C24135m8.3m/s
15:000%8.2%0J/kg2.6°C24135m6.6m/s
16:000%13%0J/kg2.4°C24135m4.9m/s
17:000%19%0J/kg2.2°C24135m3.1m/s
18:000%24%0J/kg2.4°C24135m4.1m/s
19:000%25%0J/kg2.7°C24135m5.1m/s
20:0015%9.2%0J/kg3°C24135m6m/s
21:000%0%73J/kg1.7°C24135m4.9m/s
22:000%0%146J/kg0.4°C24135m3.7m/s
23:0015%0%219J/kg-0.91°C24135m2.5m/s
Thu, Apr 23
24:000%0%262J/kg-1.2°C24135m2.4m/s
01:000%0%304J/kg-1.5°C24135m2.3m/s
02:0016%0%347J/kg-1.7°C24135m2.1m/s
03:000%0%531J/kg-2.2°C24135m4m/s
04:000%0%716J/kg-2.7°C24135m5.9m/s
05:0030%0%900J/kg-3.2°C24135m7.8m/s
06:000%0%669J/kg-2.5°C24135m7.9m/s
07:000%9.8%437J/kg-1.8°C24135m8m/s
08:0018%9.1%206J/kg-1°C24135m8.1m/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
Mon, Apr 20 Sunrise 07:06 Sunset 18:34
10:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 15% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 0% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
11:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 12% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 0% 0mm 11m/s 19m/s 4.6m/s
12:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 12% 0mm -20dBZ 54° 0% 0mm - - 7m/s
13:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 12% 0mm -20dBZ 56° 0% 0mm - - 7.3m/s
14:00
827hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 10% 0mm -20dBZ 52° 0% 0mm 5.5m/s 12m/s 8.7m/s
15:00
827hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 10% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 0% 0mm - - 9.8m/s
16:00
827hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 11% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 0% 0mm - - 10m/s
17:00
827hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 12% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 0% 0mm 5.3m/s 10m/s 9.2m/s
18:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 15% 0mm -20dBZ 0% 0mm - - 7m/s
19:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ -6.6° 0% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
20:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 0% 0mm 16m/s 19m/s 4m/s
21:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 19% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 0% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
22:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 0% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
23:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ -62° 0% 0mm 18m/s 21m/s 2.3m/s
Tue, Apr 21 Sunrise 07:06 Sunset 18:34
24:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 4.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ -74° 0% 0mm - - 1.2m/s
01:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -79° 0% 0mm - - 0.37m/s
02:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -70° 0% 0mm 13m/s 20m/s 0.69m/s
03:00
828hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 5% 0mm - - 0.86m/s
04:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -44° 0% 0mm - - 1m/s
05:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 0% 0mm 14m/s 22m/s 0.98m/s
06:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 0% 0mm - - 0.89m/s
07:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -2.2° 0% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
08:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 0% 0mm 15m/s 23m/s 1.4m/s
09:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 0% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
10:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 0% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
11:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 0% 0mm 11m/s 18m/s 6m/s
12:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 0% 0mm - - 6.7m/s
13:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 55° 0% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
14:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 12% 0mm -20dBZ 52° 0% 0mm 4.4m/s 16m/s 8.1m/s
15:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 11% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 0% 0mm - - 8.8m/s
16:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 12% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 0% 0mm - - 8.7m/s
17:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 12% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 0% 0mm 5.6m/s 16m/s 7.6m/s
18:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 6.8° 0% 0mm - - 5.4m/s
19:00
828hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ -6.7° 0% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
20:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ -20° 0% 0mm 14m/s 22m/s 3.3m/s
21:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 0% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
22:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 0% 0mm - - 3.7m/s
23:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ -62° 0% 0mm 19m/s 25m/s 3.6m/s
Wed, Apr 22 Sunrise 07:06 Sunset 18:33
24:00
829hPa 0J/kg 5% 5.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ -74° 5% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
01:00
829hPa 0J/kg 1% 4.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ -79° 1% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
02:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ -70° 0% 0mm 14m/s 23m/s 2.1m/s
03:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 0% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
04:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ -44° 0% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
05:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 3.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 0% 0mm 14m/s 22m/s 2.8m/s
06:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 0% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
07:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ -2.3° 0% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
08:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 0% 0mm 14m/s 21m/s 2.4m/s
09:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 0% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
10:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 0% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
11:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 0% 0mm 11m/s 18m/s 2.9m/s
12:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.4°C 0% 0% 17% 0mm 17% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 0% 0mm - - 4m/s
13:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.9°C 0% 0% 33% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 55° 0% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
14:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.8°C 0% 0% 50% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ 51° 0% 0mm 1.8m/s 9.2m/s 5.9m/s
15:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.6°C 0% 2% 67% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 2% 0mm - - 5m/s
16:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.4°C 0% 4% 83% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 32° 4% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
17:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.2°C 0% 5% 100% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 5% 0mm 1.5m/s 8.2m/s 3.2m/s
18:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.4°C 0% 5% 100% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 6.7° 5% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
19:00
830hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.7°C 0% 5% 100% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ -6.9° 5% 0mm - - 3.7m/s
20:00
829hPa 0J/kg 0% 3°C 0% 5% 100% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 5% 0mm 4m/s 17m/s 3.9m/s
21:00
829hPa 73J/kg 0% 1.7°C 0% 3% 67% 0.003mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ -35° 3% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
22:00
829hPa 146J/kg 0% 0.4°C 0% 2% 33% 0.007mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 2% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
23:00
829hPa 219J/kg 0% -0.91°C 0% 0% 0% 0.01mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -62° 0% 0mm 8m/s 20m/s 2.2m/s
Thu, Apr 23 Sunrise 07:07 Sunset 18:32
24:00
830hPa 262J/kg 0% -1.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0.007mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ -74° 0% 0mm - - 2m/s
01:00
830hPa 304J/kg 0% -1.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0.003mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ -80° 0% 0mm - - 1.7m/s
02:00
831hPa 347J/kg 0% -1.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ -71° 0% 0mm 6.5m/s 23m/s 1.5m/s
03:00
831hPa 531J/kg 0% -2.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ -58° 0% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
04:00
831hPa 716J/kg 0% -2.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ -44° 0% 0mm - - 5m/s
05:00
831hPa 900J/kg 0% -3.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 0% 0mm 6.3m/s 21m/s 6.7m/s
06:00
831hPa 669J/kg 0% -2.5°C 0% 2% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 2% 0mm - - 6.7m/s
07:00
830hPa 437J/kg 0% -1.8°C 0% 3% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -2.4° 3% 0mm - - 6.7m/s
08:00
829hPa 206J/kg 0% -1°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 5% 0mm 7.8m/s 17m/s 6.7m/s
09:00
829hPa 169J/kg 0% -0.97°C 0% 13% 20% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 13% 0mm - - 6.7m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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