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

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts5.6m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure987.1hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index17.3°C
Wind Gusts5.6m/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 95 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
Sat, Feb 21
20:000%2.2%0J/kg10°C24134m5.6m/s
21:0020%1.1%0J/kg11°C24135m8.8m/s
22:000%1%0J/kg12°C24134m11m/s
23:000%1.1%0J/kg13°C24135m12m/s
Sun, Feb 22
24:0020%0.9%0J/kg14°C24134m11m/s
01:000%0.9%0J/kg15°C24134m11m/s
02:000%0.9%0J/kg16°C24134m11m/s
03:0021%0.8%0J/kg15°C24135m11m/s
04:000%0.8%0J/kg16°C24135m11m/s
05:000%0.8%0J/kg16°C24135m12m/s
06:0020%0.8%0J/kg17°C24134m11m/s
07:000%13%0J/kg18°C24135m12m/s
08:0013%13%0J/kg18°C24135m12m/s
09:0022%12%0J/kg18°C24135m12m/s
10:000%9.9%0J/kg17°C24135m11m/s
11:000%9.9%0J/kg18°C24135m8.7m/s
12:0020%4.5%0J/kg19°C24135m7.6m/s
13:000%4.6%0J/kg19°C24135m7.1m/s
14:000%6.4%0J/kg19°C24135m6.9m/s
15:0018%6.6%0J/kg19°C24134m6.9m/s
16:000%7.6%0J/kg19°C24134m6.6m/s
17:000%7.5%0J/kg19°C24135m6.3m/s
18:0018%10%0J/kg18°C24134m6.1m/s
19:000%8.6%0J/kg18°C24134m5.9m/s
20:000%0.4%0J/kg17°C24135m5.6m/s
21:0018%0.6%0J/kg17°C24134m5.7m/s
22:000%0.6%0J/kg17°C24134m6.5m/s
23:000%0.1%0J/kg16°C24134m7m/s
Mon, Feb 23
24:0019%0%0J/kg16°C24135m6.7m/s
01:000%0%0J/kg15°C24134m6.8m/s
02:000%0.5%0J/kg14°C24135m6.5m/s
03:0016%2.2%0J/kg14°C24135m4.7m/s
04:000%3%0J/kg15°C24135m4.1m/s
05:000%5%0J/kg15°C24135m4.2m/s
06:0016%13%0J/kg15°C24135m3.9m/s
07:000%16%0J/kg14°C24134m3.2m/s
08:000%16%0J/kg15°C24135m2.9m/s
09:0016%7.6%0J/kg15°C24135m2.1m/s
10:000%16%0J/kg15°C24135m1.9m/s
11:000%15%0J/kg15°C24135m2.4m/s
12:0016%13%0J/kg15°C24134m3.1m/s
13:000%13%0J/kg15°C24135m4.3m/s
14:000%29%0J/kg14°C24134m5.3m/s
15:0018%29%0J/kg14°C24134m6.3m/s
16:000%32%0J/kg15°C24135m6.9m/s
17:000%51%0J/kg14°C24135m7.5m/s
18:0020%51%0J/kg13°C24134m8.5m/s
19:000%63%0J/kg13°C24135m11m/s
20:0015%13%0J/kg12°C24134m14m/s
21:0033%15%0J/kg11°C24134m16m/s
22:0016%8.8%0J/kg11°C24135m17m/s
23:0016%12%0J/kg11°C24135m18m/s
Tue, Feb 24
24:0035%12%0J/kg11°C24135m18m/s
01:0018%11%0J/kg11°C24135m19m/s
02:0018%6.7%0J/kg10°C24135m19m/s
03:0037%7.8%0J/kg10°C24135m19m/s
04:0018%2.4%0J/kg10°C24134m19m/s
05:0018%7.7%0J/kg11°C24135m18m/s
06:0037%3.7%0J/kg10°C24135m16m/s
07:0016%64%0J/kg10°C24135m16m/s
08:0016%59%0J/kg9.8°C24135m15m/s
09:0034%75%0J/kg9.3°C24134m15m/s
10:0016%43%0J/kg8.9°C24134m14m/s
11:000%41%0J/kg8.6°C24134m11m/s
12:0022%33%0J/kg9.1°C24134m11m/s
13:000%33%0J/kg9.6°C24135m9.7m/s
14:000%41%0J/kg9.6°C24135m9.1m/s
15:0021%39%0J/kg10°C24134m8.8m/s
16:000%46%0J/kg11°C24134m8.8m/s
17:000%46%0J/kg9.9°C24135m8.5m/s
18:0018%19%0J/kg9.8°C24134m4.4m/s
19:000%27%0J/kg9.1°C24135m3.9m/s
20:000%9.7%0J/kg9.3°C24135m5m/s
21:0016%6.5%0J/kg9.5°C24134m2.5m/s
22:000%4.9%0J/kg8.4°C24135m1.5m/s
23:000%9.5%0J/kg7.9°C24134m1.5m/s
Wed, Feb 25
24:0015%13%0J/kg7.7°C24135m1.9m/s
01:000%12%0J/kg7.7°C24135m4.2m/s
02:000%7.4%0J/kg7.6°C24135m6.5m/s
03:0020%7%0J/kg7.6°C24135m8.8m/s
04:000%4.5%0J/kg7°C24135m7.8m/s
05:000%0.6%0J/kg6.4°C24135m6.8m/s
06:0020%0%0J/kg5.8°C24135m5.7m/s
07:000%46%0J/kg5.9°C24135m5.5m/s
08:000%46%0J/kg5.9°C24135m5.3m/s
09:0020%43%0J/kg6°C24135m5m/s
10:000%36%0J/kg5.4°C24135m4.1m/s
11:000%39%0J/kg4.8°C24135m3.2m/s
12:0018%32%0J/kg4.3°C24135m2.3m/s
13:000%42%0J/kg3.8°C24135m2.8m/s
14:000%45%0J/kg3.3°C24135m3.3m/s
15:0018%32%0J/kg2.7°C24135m3.8m/s
16:000%79%0J/kg3.8°C24135m8.1m/s
17:0016%82%0J/kg4.8°C24135m12m/s
18:0037%88%0J/kg5.8°C24135m17m/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
Sun, Feb 22 Sunrise 07:08 Sunset 18:15
20:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 17°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 0% 0mm - - 3.1m/s
21:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 17°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 0% 0mm 12m/s 27m/s 3.1m/s
22:00
988hPa 0J/kg 0% 17°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ -44° 0% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
23:00
988hPa 0J/kg 0% 16°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 38% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 0% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 07:08 Sunset 18:15
24:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 16°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 0% 0mm 14m/s 29m/s 3.5m/s
01:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -62° 0% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
02:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 0% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
03:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 0% 0mm 14m/s 30m/s 2.4m/s
04:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -38° 0% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
05:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -26° 0% 0mm - - 2.5m/s
06:00
986hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 0% 0mm 13m/s 30m/s 2.4m/s
07:00
986hPa 0J/kg 0% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -2.4° 0% 0mm - - 2.1m/s
08:00
986hPa 0J/kg 1% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 1% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
09:00
987hPa 0J/kg 0% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 0% 0mm 12m/s 30m/s 2.1m/s
10:00
986hPa 0J/kg 5% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 5% 0mm - - 2.2m/s
11:00
986hPa 0J/kg 5% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 25% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 5% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
12:00
985hPa 0J/kg 5% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ 42° 5% 0mm 14m/s 29m/s 2.7m/s
13:00
983hPa 0J/kg 5% 15°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 23% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 5% 0mm - - 3.3m/s
14:00
981hPa 0J/kg 5% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 5% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
15:00
980hPa 0J/kg 86% 14°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ 33° 86% 0mm 15m/s 26m/s 4.6m/s
16:00
979hPa 0J/kg 93% 15°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 93% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
17:00
978hPa 0J/kg 75% 14°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 14° 75% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
18:00
977hPa 0J/kg 73% 13°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 2.7° 73% 0mm 20m/s 32m/s 4.4m/s
19:00
976hPa 0J/kg 16% 13°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ -9.2° 16% 0mm - - 4.9m/s
20:00
974hPa 0J/kg 100% 12°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 100% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
21:00
974hPa 0J/kg 98% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 98% 0mm 27m/s 37m/s 6.2m/s
22:00
973hPa 0J/kg 76% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ -44° 76% 0mm - - 6.4m/s
23:00
972hPa 0J/kg 98% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ -54° 98% 0mm - - 6.3m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 07:07 Sunset 18:16
24:00
970hPa 0J/kg 57% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 57% 0mm 24m/s 34m/s 6.5m/s
01:00
969hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 100% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
02:00
968hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -57° 100% 0mm - - 6.7m/s
03:00
967hPa 0J/kg 56% 10°C 0% 4% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 56% 0mm 21m/s 30m/s 6.6m/s
04:00
966hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -37° 100% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
05:00
964hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -26° 100% 0mm - - 6.5m/s
06:00
964hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 100% 0mm 16m/s 29m/s 6.2m/s
07:00
962hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -2.1° 100% 0mm - - 6.1m/s
08:00
962hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.8°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ 9.3° 100% 0mm - - 5.9m/s
09:00
961hPa 0J/kg 79% 9.3°C 0% 15% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 79% 0mm 17m/s 24m/s 6.2m/s
10:00
961hPa 0J/kg 91% 8.9°C 0% 96% 0% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 96% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
11:00
960hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.6°C 0% 57% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 100% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
12:00
959hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.1°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 42° 100% 0mm 13m/s 25m/s 6.8m/s
13:00
957hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.6°C 0% 95% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 100% 0mm - - 6.5m/s
14:00
956hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.6°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 100% 0mm - - 6.2m/s
15:00
956hPa 0J/kg 100% 10°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 33° 100% 0mm 18m/s 27m/s 4.9m/s
16:00
956hPa 0J/kg 100% 11°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 24° 100% 0mm - - 5m/s
17:00
955hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.9°C 0% 80% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 14° 100% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
18:00
956hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.8°C 0% 6% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 2.9° 100% 0mm 13m/s 27m/s 2.9m/s
19:00
956hPa 0J/kg 100% 9.1°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ -9° 100% 0mm - - 3m/s
20:00
956hPa 0J/kg 52% 9.3°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 52% 0mm - - 3.2m/s
21:00
957hPa 0J/kg 87% 9.5°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 48% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 87% 0mm 9.2m/s 27m/s 2.5m/s
22:00
957hPa 0J/kg 88% 8.4°C 0% 20% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ -44° 88% 0mm - - 1.4m/s
23:00
957hPa 0J/kg 77% 7.9°C 0% 11% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ -53° 77% 0mm - - 1.6m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 07:06 Sunset 18:17
24:00
957hPa 0J/kg 5% 7.7°C 0% 7% 0% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ -60° 7% 0mm 9.3m/s 22m/s 1.9m/s
01:00
958hPa 0J/kg 37% 7.7°C 0% 38% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ -61° 38% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
02:00
959hPa 0J/kg 68% 7.6°C 0% 69% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ -56° 69% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
03:00
960hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.6°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ -48° 100% 0mm 12m/s 28m/s 4.5m/s
04:00
960hPa 0J/kg 100% 7°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ -37° 100% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
05:00
959hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.4°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ -26° 100% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
06:00
959hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.8°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 100% 0mm 17m/s 34m/s 4.5m/s
07:00
958hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.9°C 0% 99% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -1.9° 100% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
08:00
957hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.9°C 0% 98% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 9.6° 100% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
09:00
956hPa 0J/kg 100% 6°C 0% 96% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ 20° 100% 0mm 16m/s 30m/s 4.1m/s
10:00
955hPa 0J/kg 88% 5.4°C 0% 93% 0% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 95% 0mm - - 3.5m/s
11:00
955hPa 0J/kg 76% 4.8°C 0% 89% 0% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 91% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
12:00
954hPa 0J/kg 64% 4.3°C 0% 86% 0% 0mm 75% 0mm -20dBZ 42° 86% 0mm 11m/s 27m/s 2.3m/s
13:00
953hPa 0J/kg 45% 3.8°C 0% 90% 20% 0mm 79% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 90% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
14:00
953hPa 0J/kg 26% 3.3°C 0% 95% 40% 0mm 83% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 95% 0mm - - 2.3m/s
15:00
952hPa 0J/kg 7% 2.7°C 0% 100% 60% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ 33° 100% 0mm 17m/s 26m/s 2.3m/s
16:00
954hPa 0J/kg 19% 3.8°C 31% 97% 52% 0.1mm 84% 0.007mm -20dBZ 25° 99% 0.13mm - - 4.9m/s
17:00
956hPa 0J/kg 32% 4.8°C 62% 94% 45% 0.21mm 80% 0.01mm -20dBZ 14° 99% 0.25mm - - 7.6m/s
18:00
957hPa 0J/kg 44% 5.8°C 93% 90% 37% 0.31mm 77% 0.02mm -20dBZ 3.1° 99% 0.38mm 12m/s 24m/s 10m/s
19:00
958hPa 0J/kg 30% 7.2°C 62% 94% 34% 0.21mm 71% 0.01mm -20dBZ -8.8° 99% 0.25mm - - 9.1m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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