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Rule Storm Chaser

Kansas Flint Hills - Storm Chaser - US Great Plains

Wichita, Kansas, United States

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)
CAPE 100% failing
Storm Intensity 99% failing
Cloud Drama Score 90% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts19.3m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure963.4hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index10.0°C
Wind Gusts19.3m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Chicago

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 tracks the dramatic storm conditions that make the Great Plains the world's premier storm photography destination. We combine severe weather outlooks with visibility, wind, and cloud structure data to predict when supercells and dramatic skies will form.

Tornado Alley stretches across the central United States, where warm Gulf moisture collides with cold Canadian air and dry Rocky Mountain downdrafts. This unique geography creates the most powerful and photogenic storms on Earth.

What makes the Great Plains special for storm photography:

  • Supercell paradise - More structured supercells form here than anywhere else on Earth
  • Big sky country - Flat terrain provides unobstructed views of storm structure
  • Road network - Dense highway system allows positioning and repositioning
  • Predictability - Modern forecasting makes chasing more accessible than ever

Storm season runs from late March through June, with peak activity in May. Late afternoon storms often produce the most dramatic light. The Flint Hills offer particularly striking compositions with rolling tallgrass prairie beneath towering cumulonimbus. Safety is paramount—never position yourself in a storm's path.

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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
America/Chicago
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, Mar 11
23:000%0%0J/kg19°C24134m4.2m/s
Thu, Mar 12
24:000%0%0J/kg18°C24135m1.8m/s
01:0016%0%0J/kg17°C24135m0.9m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg18°C24134m3m/s
03:000%0%0J/kg18°C24134m4.7m/s
04:0018%0%0J/kg18°C24134m6.2m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg18°C24134m7.5m/s
06:000%0%0J/kg18°C24134m9.6m/s
07:0020%11%0J/kg18°C24135m11m/s
08:000%13%0J/kg17°C24135m11m/s
09:0013%12%0J/kg17°C24134m12m/s
10:0032%13%0J/kg16°C24135m12m/s
11:0014%12%0J/kg16°C24134m13m/s
12:0015%8.1%0J/kg15°C24135m13m/s
13:0034%9.2%0J/kg14°C24134m15m/s
14:0016%11%0J/kg14°C24134m15m/s
15:0018%16%0J/kg13°C24135m16m/s
16:0037%17%0J/kg13°C24135m16m/s
17:0018%18%0J/kg12°C24134m17m/s
18:0018%30%0J/kg10°C24135m17m/s
19:0038%32%0J/kg9.8°C24135m18m/s
20:0018%16%0J/kg9.8°C24135m19m/s
21:0020%2.5%0J/kg10°C24135m19m/s
22:0040%7.1%0J/kg9°C24134m20m/s
23:0020%8.4%0J/kg7°C24135m21m/s
Fri, Mar 13
24:0020%8.6%0J/kg7.3°C24135m21m/s
01:0039%13%0J/kg7.6°C24134m20m/s
02:0018%15%0J/kg7.8°C24135m18m/s
03:0018%12%0J/kg8.2°C24134m16m/s
04:0017%14%0J/kg8.1°C24134m14m/s
05:000%15%0J/kg7.6°C24135m6.2m/s
06:000%15%0J/kg7.5°C24135m6.5m/s
07:0032%32%0J/kg7.4°C24135m13m/s
08:000%39%0J/kg6.7°C24134m12m/s
09:000%36%0J/kg6.6°C24135m12m/s
10:0021%31%0J/kg6.2°C24134m8.5m/s
11:000%49%0J/kg6.6°C24134m7m/s
12:000%22%0J/kg7.6°C24135m5.5m/s
13:0020%43%0J/kg7.7°C24135m4.4m/s
14:000%40%0J/kg7.9°C24135m3.5m/s
15:000%45%0J/kg8.2°C24135m2.9m/s
16:0015%54%0J/kg9.4°C24134m2.2m/s
17:000%25%0J/kg9.5°C24134m2.3m/s
18:000%20%0J/kg9.2°C24134m3.3m/s
19:0018%26%0J/kg8.8°C24135m4.3m/s
20:000%36%0J/kg7.7°C24135m6.4m/s
21:000%11%0J/kg8.2°C24135m6.4m/s
22:0021%11%0J/kg8.1°C24135m7.3m/s
23:000%15%0J/kg7.7°C24134m11m/s
Sat, Mar 14
24:0013%15%0J/kg6.6°C24134m12m/s
01:0022%13%0J/kg6°C24135m12m/s
02:0014%0.9%0J/kg5.7°C24134m12m/s
03:0014%1.5%0J/kg6.1°C24135m12m/s
04:0020%1.1%0J/kg6°C24135m9.3m/s
05:000%3.1%0J/kg5.2°C24134m8.7m/s
06:000%4.8%0J/kg5.1°C24135m1.8m/s
07:0015%21%0J/kg4.8°C24134m4.6m/s
08:000%33%0J/kg4.4°C24135m6.6m/s
09:000%24%0J/kg4.3°C24135m6.6m/s
10:0015%29%0J/kg4.3°C24135m5.6m/s
11:000%61%0J/kg4.8°C24134m5.4m/s
12:000%76%0J/kg5.2°C24135m4.9m/s
13:0015%24%0J/kg4.6°C24134m4.7m/s
14:000%17%0J/kg3.3°C24134m4.8m/s
15:000%13%0J/kg2.1°C24135m5.4m/s
16:0017%22%0J/kg1°C24135m6m/s
17:000%23%0J/kg0.3°C24134m6.6m/s
18:000%56%11J/kg-0.5°C24135m7.3m/s
19:0020%30%13J/kg-0.5°C24134m10m/s
20:0013%33%0J/kg0.6°C24135m12m/s
21:0016%4.6%0J/kg1.3°C24135m14m/s
22:0034%15%0J/kg0.1°C24135m16m/s
23:0018%15%1J/kg-0.1°C24134m17m/s
Sun, Mar 15
24:0018%4.5%113J/kg-1.2°C24135m19m/s
01:0038%0%301J/kg-1.9°C24135m19m/s
02:0019%0%201J/kg-0.41°C24135m17m/s
03:0018%0%100J/kg1.1°C24135m15m/s
04:0036%0%0J/kg2.6°C24135m13m/s
05:0018%0%0J/kg3.3°C24135m15m/s
06:0018%0%0J/kg4.1°C24135m17m/s
07:0034%59%0J/kg4.8°C24135m18m/s
08:0020%88%0J/kg6.9°C17766m19m/s
09:0033%86%0J/kg9°C11396m19m/s
10:0047%50%0J/kg11°C5027m19m/s
11:0042%50%10J/kg12°C3538m20m/s
12:0042%42%20J/kg12°C2049m21m/s
13:0058%42%30J/kg13°C561m22m/s
14:0040%42%20J/kg13°C8419m23m/s
15:0036%42%10J/kg13°C16277m24m/s
16:0046%52%0J/kg13°C24135m25m/s
17:0035%54%0J/kg13°C24135m23m/s
18:0031%87%0J/kg13°C24135m20m/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
America/Chicago
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, Mar 12 Sunrise 07:43 Sunset 19:33
21:00
963hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 0% 0mm - - 8.8m/s
22:00
963hPa 0J/kg 0% 9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 0% 0mm 25m/s 33m/s 8.8m/s
23:00
963hPa 0J/kg 4% 7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ -40° 4% 0mm - - 9.3m/s
Fri, Mar 13 Sunrise 07:43 Sunset 19:33
24:00
962hPa 0J/kg 5% 7.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ -49° 5% 0mm - - 8.8m/s
01:00
962hPa 0J/kg 4% 7.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 4% 0mm 28m/s 24m/s 8.3m/s
02:00
962hPa 0J/kg 7% 7.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ -55° 7% 0mm - - 7m/s
03:00
962hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -51° 5% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
04:00
962hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 5% 0mm 14m/s 8.5m/s 5.2m/s
05:00
962hPa 0J/kg 29% 7.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 29% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
06:00
964hPa 0J/kg 5% 7.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 5% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
07:00
964hPa 0J/kg 5% 7.4°C 0% 3% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -9.4° 5% 0mm 25m/s 32m/s 4.4m/s
08:00
965hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.7°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 2.7° 5% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
09:00
966hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.6°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 14° 5% 0mm - - 4.9m/s
10:00
966hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.2°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 25° 5% 0mm 21m/s 32m/s 5.2m/s
11:00
967hPa 0J/kg 69% 6.6°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 69% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
12:00
967hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.6°C 0% 10% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 100% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
13:00
967hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.7°C 0% 96% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 49° 100% 0mm 15m/s 26m/s 4.1m/s
14:00
967hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.9°C 0% 92% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 49° 100% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
15:00
966hPa 0J/kg 99% 8.2°C 0% 82% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 99% 0mm - - 3m/s
16:00
966hPa 0J/kg 91% 9.4°C 0% 62% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 91% 0mm 11m/s 20m/s 2.6m/s
17:00
965hPa 0J/kg 4% 9.5°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 5% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
18:00
965hPa 0J/kg 3% 9.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 3% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
19:00
965hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 6.2° 5% 0mm 14m/s 23m/s 3.2m/s
20:00
965hPa 0J/kg 5% 7.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ -5.8° 5% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
21:00
966hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -18° 100% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
22:00
965hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 100% 0mm 16m/s 27m/s 3.3m/s
23:00
964hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 100% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
Sat, Mar 14 Sunrise 07:41 Sunset 19:34
24:00
964hPa 0J/kg 88% 6.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 88% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
01:00
963hPa 0J/kg 11% 6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 11% 0mm 22m/s 25m/s 4.4m/s
02:00
963hPa 0J/kg 5% 5.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 5% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
03:00
962hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 5% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
04:00
962hPa 0J/kg 4% 6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 4% 0mm 19m/s 20m/s 3.4m/s
05:00
961hPa 0J/kg 0% 5.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 0% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
06:00
961hPa 0J/kg 1% 5.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 1% 0mm - - 1.3m/s
07:00
961hPa 0J/kg 4% 4.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 73% 0mm -20dBZ -9.1° 4% 0mm 11m/s 18m/s 2.5m/s
08:00
961hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ 5% 0mm - - 3m/s
09:00
961hPa 0J/kg 3% 4.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ 15° 3% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
10:00
961hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.3°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ 26° 5% 0mm 7.6m/s 17m/s 3.6m/s
11:00
961hPa 0J/kg 40% 4.8°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ 36° 40% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
12:00
960hPa 0J/kg 48% 5.2°C 0% 30% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ 44° 48% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
13:00
959hPa 0J/kg 5% 4.6°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 49° 5% 0mm 8.4m/s 17m/s 3.6m/s
14:00
958hPa 0J/kg 5% 3.3°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 50° 5% 0mm - - 4m/s
15:00
957hPa 0J/kg 5% 2.1°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 46° 5% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
16:00
956hPa 0J/kg 5% 1°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 5% 0mm 10m/s 18m/s 5.1m/s
17:00
956hPa 0J/kg 5% 0.3°C 0% 3% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 5% 0mm - - 5.4m/s
18:00
955hPa 11J/kg 18% -0.5°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 18% 0mm - - 5.4m/s
19:00
955hPa 13J/kg 2% -0.5°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 6.3° 5% 0mm 11m/s 22m/s 5.4m/s
20:00
955hPa 0J/kg 5% 0.6°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -5.6° 5% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
21:00
954hPa 0J/kg 1% 1.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ -17° 1% 0mm - - 5.6m/s
22:00
953hPa 0J/kg 5% 0.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ -29° 5% 0mm 18m/s 25m/s 7.3m/s
23:00
952hPa 1J/kg 76% -0.1°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 76% 0mm - - 8.4m/s
Sun, Mar 15 Sunrise 07:40 Sunset 19:35
24:00
951hPa 113J/kg 100% -1.2°C 0% 15% 0% 0mm 66% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 100% 0mm - - 8.9m/s
01:00
949hPa 301J/kg 100% -1.9°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -53° 100% 0mm 22m/s 24m/s 9.1m/s
02:00
948hPa 201J/kg 67% -0.41°C 0% 68% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 68% 0mm - - 9.2m/s
03:00
948hPa 100J/kg 33% 1.1°C 0% 36% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 37% 0mm - - 9.2m/s
04:00
947hPa 0J/kg 0% 2.6°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ -42° 5% 0mm 21m/s 22m/s 9.3m/s
05:00
950hPa 0J/kg 20% 3.3°C 33% 37% 9% 0.01mm 46% 0mm -15dBZ -32° 37% 0mm - - 11m/s
06:00
952hPa 0J/kg 41% 4.1°C 67% 68% 17% 0.02mm 50% 0mm -10dBZ -20° 68% 0mm - - 12m/s
07:00
955hPa 0J/kg 61% 4.8°C 100% 100% 26% 0.03mm 53% 0mm -5.3dBZ -8.8° 100% 0mm 10m/s 23m/s 14m/s
08:00
956hPa 0J/kg 41% 6.9°C 100% 100% 27% 0.15mm 63% 0.01mm -10dBZ 3.3° 100% 0.71mm - - 14m/s
09:00
958hPa 0J/kg 20% 9°C 99% 100% 28% 0.26mm 72% 0.02mm -15dBZ 15° 100% 1.4mm - - 13m/s
10:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0% 11°C 99% 100% 29% 0.38mm 82% 0.03mm -20dBZ 26° 100% 2.1mm 21m/s 37m/s 13m/s
11:00
962hPa 10J/kg 0% 12°C 99% 100% 37% 0.51mm 84% 0.04mm -16dBZ 36° 100% 2.5mm - - 13m/s
12:00
964hPa 20J/kg 0% 12°C 100% 100% 46% 0.64mm 87% 0.06mm -13dBZ 44° 100% 2.9mm - - 13m/s
13:00
966hPa 30J/kg 0% 13°C 100% 100% 54% 0.77mm 89% 0.07mm -9.1dBZ 49° 100% 3.3mm 26m/s 45m/s 13m/s
14:00
968hPa 20J/kg 0% 13°C 97% 100% 44% 0.52mm 84% 0.05mm 0.7dBZ 50° 100% 2.6mm - - 13m/s
15:00
970hPa 10J/kg 0% 13°C 94% 100% 34% 0.27mm 79% 0.02mm 10dBZ 46° 100% 1.9mm - - 13m/s
16:00
972hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 92% 100% 24% 0.02mm 74% 0mm 20dBZ 39° 100% 1.1mm 14m/s 37m/s 13m/s
17:00
973hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 61% 88% 23% 0.01mm 71% 0mm 20dBZ 29° 88% 1.1mm - - 12m/s
18:00
974hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 31% 76% 23% 0.007mm 67% 0mm 20dBZ 18° 76% 1.2mm - - 11m/s
19:00
975hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 65% 22% 0mm 63% 0mm 20dBZ 6.5° 65% 1.2mm 8.1m/s 18m/s 10m/s
20:00
975hPa 0J/kg 0% 13°C 0% 43% 15% 0mm 64% 0mm 12dBZ -5.4° 43% 0.79mm - - 9.5m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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