Skip to content
✨ New: PhotoWeather is now available on iOS and Android
Rule Storm Chaser

Kansas Flint Hills - Storm Chaser - US Great Plains

Wichita, Kansas, United States

Dramatic storm conditions — from atmospheric builds to active thunderstorms

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover100%
Wind Gusts15.5m/s
Precipitation Chance17%
Air Pressure968.3hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index0.1°C
Wind Gusts15.5m/s
Precipitation0.0mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Chicago
Next opportunity
Moderate Storm
Kansas Flint Hills
Tomorrow · 19:00–20:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
47%
⛈️Storm Intensity56.2%
CAPE: 469
Lifted Index: -3.3°C
Wind Gusts: 7.3m/s
Precipitation: 13.5mm
thunderstorms weather icon
Moderate Storm
Kansas Flint Hills
Mon, Apr 13 · 18:00–21:00
⛈️Storm Intensity:58-68.6%
Low

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.

Create your own Storm Chaser alerts

Get notified when these conditions match at your own locations.

Get this template

72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
1matching hours in the next 74 hoursJump to next match
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, Apr 8
23:0016%14%0J/kg1.2°C24134m15m/s
Thu, Apr 9
24:0016%15%0J/kg1°C24135m16m/s
01:0035%15%0J/kg1°C24134m16m/s
02:0016%15%0J/kg0.9°C24135m16m/s
03:0015%14%0J/kg0.1°C24135m16m/s
04:0031%15%0J/kg0.7°C24134m15m/s
05:0014%15%0J/kg0.7°C24135m15m/s
06:0014%14%0J/kg0.6°C24134m14m/s
07:0028%33%11J/kg0.1°C24134m14m/s
08:0014%79%21J/kg-0.6°C24135m15m/s
09:0016%63%34J/kg-0.6°C24135m14m/s
10:0026%58%51J/kg-1°C24135m13m/s
11:000%48%71J/kg-1°C24134m12m/s
12:000%48%232J/kg-1.7°C24135m11m/s
13:0029%50%458J/kg-2.4°C24135m11m/s
14:0024%70%632J/kg-3.2°C24135m11m/s
15:0024%65%780J/kg-4.1°C24135m11m/s
16:0030%45%814J/kg-3.9°C24134m11m/s
17:0026%58%878J/kg-4.1°C24134m12m/s
18:0026%76%934J/kg-4.3°C24135m13m/s
19:0037%44%892J/kg-4.1°C24134m13m/s
20:0029%68%517J/kg-3°C24135m15m/s
21:0019%1.1%348J/kg-2.3°C24135m15m/s
22:0039%3.4%170J/kg-1.1°C24135m17m/s
23:0020%3.4%153J/kg-1°C24134m16m/s
Fri, Apr 10
24:0020%9.8%204J/kg-1.5°C24135m17m/s
01:0039%15%196J/kg-1.7°C24135m17m/s
02:0016%14%328J/kg-2.2°C24134m17m/s
03:0016%13%322J/kg-2.5°C24134m16m/s
04:0032%11%187J/kg-2.1°C24135m16m/s
05:0040%10%222J/kg-2.2°C4320m8.4m/s
06:0029%8.6%192J/kg-2°C6501m2.3m/s
07:0044%71%234J/kg-1.7°C6105m2.4m/s
08:0023%65%282J/kg-1.9°C5562m4.3m/s
09:0045%71%335J/kg-2.2°C4526m6.6m/s
10:0045%65%334J/kg-2.2°C6581m6.2m/s
11:0033%55%323J/kg-2°C5007m6.4m/s
12:0028%56%352J/kg-2.3°C18870m4m/s
13:0036%74%592J/kg-3.4°C24134m3.3m/s
14:0029%35%743J/kg-4.1°C9692m3.3m/s
15:0035%39%821J/kg-4.3°C8713m4m/s
16:0046%45%739J/kg-4.1°C18609m3.7m/s
17:0053%56%758J/kg-4°C9325m4.3m/s
18:0038%62%779J/kg-4°C24135m6.4m/s
19:0056%63%469J/kg-3.3°C24134m7.3m/s
20:0043%72%330J/kg-2.1°C3390m8.9m/s
21:0044%1.2%329J/kg-2.3°C4097m7.3m/s
22:0047%0%304J/kg-1.9°C2722m4.5m/s
23:0050%0%249J/kg-2°C4385m8m/s
Sat, Apr 11
24:0025%0%227J/kg-1.9°C24135m9.9m/s
01:0040%0%229J/kg-1.9°C24135m12m/s
02:0014%0.2%235J/kg-1.4°C24134m13m/s
03:0014%8.8%153J/kg-1.3°C24134m14m/s
04:0024%6.1%126J/kg-1.2°C24134m15m/s
05:0015%5.4%60J/kg-0.5°C24135m15m/s
06:0014%5.6%60J/kg-0.7°C24135m14m/s
07:0024%64%34J/kg-0.4°C24134m14m/s
08:0018%65%169J/kg-1.2°C20008m14m/s
09:0035%68%304J/kg-2°C15882m13m/s
10:0040%55%439J/kg-2.8°C11757m13m/s
11:0044%47%362J/kg-2.2°C15012m14m/s
12:0034%47%284J/kg-1.7°C18267m15m/s
13:0034%26%207J/kg-1.2°C21522m16m/s
14:0032%26%227J/kg-1.5°C22393m16m/s
15:0032%45%248J/kg-1.9°C23264m17m/s
16:0020%45%268J/kg-2.2°C24135m17m/s
17:0021%55%254J/kg-2.2°C22040m17m/s
18:0021%68%241J/kg-2.1°C19946m17m/s
19:0034%68%227J/kg-2.1°C17851m18m/s
20:0020%73%258J/kg-2.5°C19946m17m/s
21:0020%62%288J/kg-2.8°C22040m17m/s
22:0037%0%319J/kg-3.2°C24135m17m/s
23:0020%0%269J/kg-2.6°C24135m17m/s
Sun, Apr 12
24:0020%0%219J/kg-1.9°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
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 07:02 Sunset 19:58
03:00
968hPa 0J/kg 100% 0.1°C 0% 16% 17% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ -40° 100% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
04:00
968hPa 0J/kg 29% 0.7°C 0% 14% 17% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -33° 39% 0mm 16m/s 24m/s 5.4m/s
05:00
969hPa 0J/kg 5% 0.7°C 0% 84% 16% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 84% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
06:00
969hPa 0J/kg 3% 0.6°C 0% 86% 16% 0mm 67% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 86% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
07:00
969hPa 11J/kg 4% 0.1°C 0% 5% 15% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -1.1° 5% 0mm 13m/s 18m/s 4.7m/s
08:00
970hPa 21J/kg 5% -0.6°C 0% 66% 10% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 66% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
09:00
970hPa 34J/kg 100% -0.6°C 0% 25% 5% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ 22° 100% 0mm - - 5.9m/s
10:00
970hPa 51J/kg 100% -1°C 0% 53% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 100% 0mm 6.9m/s 12m/s 6.5m/s
11:00
970hPa 71J/kg 100% -1°C 0% 97% 7% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 100% 0mm - - 6.9m/s
12:00
969hPa 232J/kg 100% -1.7°C 0% 77% 15% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 54° 100% 0mm - - 7.5m/s
13:00
969hPa 458J/kg 97% -2.4°C 0% 35% 22% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ 59° 97% 0mm 4.8m/s 15m/s 8.1m/s
14:00
968hPa 632J/kg 61% -3.2°C 0% 73% 27% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 59° 73% 0mm - - 8.4m/s
15:00
967hPa 780J/kg 24% -4.1°C 2% 94% 33% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 54° 94% 0mm - - 8.7m/s
16:00
967hPa 814J/kg 82% -3.9°C 3% 100% 38% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 45° 100% 0mm 10m/s 18m/s 9.2m/s
17:00
966hPa 878J/kg 5% -4.1°C 0% 79% 38% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 34° 79% 0mm - - 8.3m/s
18:00
966hPa 934J/kg 4% -4.3°C 0% 53% 39% 0mm 45% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 53% 0mm - - 8.7m/s
19:00
965hPa 892J/kg 5% -4.1°C 0% 5% 39% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ 11° 9% 0mm 17m/s 21m/s 8.5m/s
20:00
967hPa 517J/kg 100% -3°C 1% 17% 51% 0mm 55% 0.09mm -20dBZ -0.54° 100% 0.13mm - - 8.9m/s
21:00
967hPa 348J/kg 100% -2.3°C 0% 100% 62% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -12° 100% 0.19mm - - 8.6m/s
22:00
967hPa 170J/kg 100% -1.1°C 0% 6% 74% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 100% 0.19mm 17m/s 21m/s 9.4m/s
23:00
967hPa 153J/kg 100% -1°C 0% 0% 82% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 100% 0.19mm - - 8.6m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 07:01 Sunset 19:59
24:00
967hPa 204J/kg 100% -1.5°C 0% 0% 91% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ -40° 100% 0.19mm - - 8.6m/s
01:00
968hPa 196J/kg 94% -1.7°C 0% 0% 100% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ -44° 94% 0.19mm 17m/s 21m/s 8.3m/s
02:00
968hPa 328J/kg 5% -2.2°C 0% 0% 98% 0mm 62% 0mm -13dBZ -44° 5% 0mm - - 7.5m/s
03:00
968hPa 322J/kg 38% -2.5°C 0% 2% 97% 0mm 63% 0mm -6.6dBZ -40° 38% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
04:00
968hPa 187J/kg 100% -2.1°C 0% 5% 95% 0mm 66% 0mm 0.11dBZ -33° 100% 0mm 15m/s 16m/s 5.9m/s
05:00
970hPa 222J/kg 100% -2.2°C 2% 98% 95% 0mm 78% 3mm 9.9dBZ -23° 100% 1.4mm - - 2.4m/s
06:00
970hPa 192J/kg 100% -2°C 0% 100% 95% 0mm 86% 4mm 20dBZ -12° 100% 4.4mm - - 1.1m/s
07:00
970hPa 234J/kg 100% -1.7°C 69% 100% 95% 0mm 90% 1.8mm 30dBZ -0.76° 100% 6.6mm 7.3m/s 11m/s 1.4m/s
08:00
971hPa 282J/kg 100% -1.9°C 63% 100% 94% 0.01mm 91% 2mm 29dBZ 11° 100% 2.1mm - - 2.5m/s
09:00
971hPa 335J/kg 100% -2.2°C 33% 100% 93% 0mm 90% 3mm 28dBZ 23° 100% 4.3mm - - 3.6m/s
10:00
971hPa 334J/kg 100% -2.2°C 39% 100% 92% 0.02mm 87% 3mm 27dBZ 34° 100% 7mm 4.6m/s 10m/s 3.9m/s
11:00
972hPa 323J/kg 100% -2°C 56% 100% 94% 0mm 87% 2.2mm 20dBZ 45° 100% 9.8mm - - 3.7m/s
12:00
972hPa 352J/kg 100% -2.3°C 64% 61% 96% 0.04mm 87% 1.3mm 12dBZ 54° 100% 11mm - - 1.9m/s
13:00
971hPa 592J/kg 61% -3.4°C 44% 35% 98% 0mm 80% 0mm 4.5dBZ 60° 62% 12mm 6.3m/s 11m/s 1.1m/s
14:00
971hPa 743J/kg 96% -4.1°C 36% 4% 92% 0mm 70% 1.6mm 17dBZ 60° 96% 0.44mm - - 1.3m/s
15:00
970hPa 821J/kg 100% -4.3°C 0% 40% 85% 0mm 67% 3.1mm 29dBZ 54° 100% 3.1mm - - 2.1m/s
16:00
969hPa 739J/kg 100% -4.1°C 80% 88% 79% 0mm 64% 2.5mm 42dBZ 45° 100% 7.3mm 4.3m/s 7.5m/s 1.8m/s
17:00
969hPa 758J/kg 88% -4°C 100% 30% 81% 0mm 72% 1.3mm 36dBZ 34° 100% 11mm - - 1.8m/s
18:00
969hPa 779J/kg 48% -4°C 100% 6% 83% 0mm 82% 0mm 29dBZ 23° 100% 12mm - - 3.7m/s
19:00
969hPa 469J/kg 100% -3.3°C 86% 83% 85% 0mm 86% 0.76mm 23dBZ 11° 100% 14mm 14m/s 21m/s 4.5m/s
20:00
969hPa 330J/kg 100% -2.1°C 100% 100% 90% 0mm 89% 3.8mm 20dBZ -0.27° 100% 1mm - - 4.3m/s
21:00
970hPa 329J/kg 100% -2.3°C 70% 100% 95% 0.14mm 90% 2.8mm 17dBZ -12° 100% 4.9mm - - 2.6m/s
22:00
971hPa 304J/kg 100% -1.9°C 76% 100% 100% 0.05mm 93% 4.7mm 14dBZ -23° 100% 8.4mm 12m/s 15m/s 1.6m/s
23:00
972hPa 249J/kg 100% -2°C 92% 100% 100% 0.01mm 93% 3mm 10dBZ -32° 100% 12mm - - 2.5m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 07:00 Sunset 20:00
24:00
971hPa 227J/kg 100% -1.9°C 46% 100% 100% 0.76mm 90% 0.07mm 6.8dBZ -39° 100% 14mm - - 3.5m/s
01:00
972hPa 229J/kg 100% -1.9°C 3% 100% 100% 0mm 92% 0.44mm 3.2dBZ -43° 100% 15mm 10m/s 13m/s 3.1m/s
02:00
972hPa 235J/kg 96% -1.4°C 5% 100% 72% 0mm 90% 0mm -4.5dBZ -43° 100% 0.19mm - - 4.1m/s
03:00
971hPa 153J/kg 5% -1.3°C 4% 100% 44% 0mm 89% 0mm -12dBZ -39° 100% 0.19mm - - 4.9m/s
04:00
970hPa 126J/kg 50% -1.2°C 0% 100% 16% 0mm 88% 0mm -20dBZ -32° 100% 0.19mm 9.2m/s 10m/s 5.1m/s
05:00
970hPa 60J/kg 89% -0.5°C 0% 21% 31% 0mm 88% 0mm -10dBZ -23° 89% 0.19mm - - 4.7m/s
06:00
970hPa 60J/kg 93% -0.7°C 0% 77% 46% 0mm 90% 0mm -1dBZ -12° 93% 0.19mm - - 4.5m/s
07:00
970hPa 34J/kg 100% -0.4°C 0% 84% 61% 0mm 90% 0mm 8.5dBZ -0.38° 100% 0.19mm 7.5m/s 11m/s 4.6m/s
08:00
970hPa 169J/kg 100% -1.2°C 26% 89% 71% 0mm 86% 0.28mm -1dBZ 11° 100% 0.73mm - - 5.8m/s
09:00
969hPa 304J/kg 100% -2°C 53% 95% 80% 0mm 82% 0.57mm -10dBZ 23° 100% 1.3mm - - 7.1m/s
10:00
968hPa 439J/kg 100% -2.8°C 79% 100% 90% 0mm 78% 0.85mm -20dBZ 34° 100% 1.8mm 4.6m/s 7.7m/s 8.3m/s
11:00
968hPa 362J/kg 100% -2.2°C 68% 100% 90% 0.14mm 80% 0.6mm -10dBZ 45° 100% 2.4mm - - 8.8m/s
12:00
968hPa 284J/kg 100% -1.7°C 57% 100% 91% 0.29mm 82% 0.36mm -0.34dBZ 54° 100% 3mm - - 9.3m/s
13:00
968hPa 207J/kg 100% -1.2°C 46% 100% 91% 0.43mm 85% 0.11mm 9.5dBZ 60° 100% 3.6mm 5.2m/s 4.7m/s 9.8m/s
14:00
967hPa 227J/kg 100% -1.5°C 47% 100% 77% 0.29mm 86% 0.07mm 14dBZ 60° 100% 2.5mm - - 9.1m/s
15:00
967hPa 248J/kg 100% -1.9°C 48% 100% 63% 0.14mm 88% 0.04mm 18dBZ 55° 100% 1.3mm - - 8.5m/s
16:00
967hPa 268J/kg 100% -2.2°C 49% 100% 49% 0mm 90% 0mm 22dBZ 45° 100% 0.13mm 7.2m/s 9.7m/s 7.9m/s
17:00
967hPa 254J/kg 100% -2.2°C 61% 70% 60% 0mm 90% 0.08mm 23dBZ 35° 100% 0.17mm - - 8.3m/s
18:00
966hPa 241J/kg 100% -2.1°C 73% 40% 71% 0mm 90% 0.16mm 24dBZ 23° 100% 0.21mm - - 8.6m/s
19:00
966hPa 227J/kg 100% -2.1°C 85% 10% 81% 0mm 90% 0.24mm 25dBZ 11° 100% 0.25mm 8.4m/s 15m/s 9m/s
20:00
965hPa 258J/kg 100% -2.5°C 90% 40% 81% 0mm 91% 0.16mm 17dBZ 0.02° 100% 0.27mm - - 8.9m/s
21:00
964hPa 288J/kg 100% -2.8°C 95% 70% 81% 0mm 92% 0.08mm 7.8dBZ -12° 100% 0.29mm - - 8.8m/s
22:00
964hPa 319J/kg 100% -3.2°C 100% 100% 81% 0mm 93% 0mm -0.92dBZ -23° 100% 0.31mm 16m/s 17m/s 8.7m/s
23:00
964hPa 269J/kg 100% -2.6°C 75% 96% 79% 0mm 93% 0mm -1.3dBZ -32° 100% 0.48mm - - 8.7m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 06:58 Sunset 20:01
24:00
964hPa 219J/kg 100% -1.9°C 51% 91% 78% 0mm 92% 0mm -1.7dBZ -39° 100% 0.65mm - - 8.6m/s
01:00
964hPa 169J/kg 100% -1.3°C 26% 87% 76% 0mm 92% 0mm -2dBZ -43° 100% 0.81mm 15m/s 17m/s 8.5m/s
02:00
965hPa 200J/kg 67% -1.5°C 43% 60% 54% 0mm 88% 0mm 2dBZ -43° 92% 0.54mm - - 8.8m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

Get Notified of Opportunities

Create your own custom alerts for this location and more.

Create Free Account