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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 97% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts1.5m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure969.3hPa
CAPE16
Lifted Index0.8°C
Wind Gusts1.5m/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 79 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
Sun, May 24
24:000%7.5%56J/kg-0.4°C24135m4.3m/s
01:0017%6.1%87J/kg-0.5°C24134m5.4m/s
02:000%7.6%0J/kg1.3°C24134m2.7m/s
03:000%0.6%9J/kg1.5°C24134m2m/s
04:0015%1.5%0J/kg1.2°C24134m2.7m/s
05:000%4.7%5J/kg1.1°C24135m4m/s
06:000%63%11J/kg1°C24134m2.7m/s
07:0013%14%5J/kg1°C24135m1.8m/s
08:000%6.8%16J/kg0.8°C24135m1.5m/s
09:000%5.5%16J/kg0.6°C24135m0.81m/s
10:0013%4.5%8J/kg1°C24134m1.8m/s
11:000%4.8%3J/kg0.8°C24134m2.3m/s
12:000%2.5%44J/kg0.1°C24134m2.7m/s
13:0014%2.5%153J/kg-0.8°C24134m3m/s
14:000%3.5%240J/kg-1.5°C24135m3.4m/s
15:000%4.6%226J/kg-1.7°C24134m3.9m/s
16:0015%11%190J/kg-1.4°C24135m4.5m/s
17:000%14%191J/kg-1°C24134m5m/s
18:000%19%217J/kg-1°C24135m5.7m/s
19:0021%15%413J/kg-1.4°C24135m7.4m/s
20:000%30%535J/kg-1.9°C24135m9.6m/s
21:000%27%391J/kg-1.5°C24135m10m/s
22:0019%15%221J/kg-1°C24135m11m/s
23:000%14%183J/kg-1.4°C24134m9.9m/s
Mon, May 25
24:000%15%46J/kg-0.3°C24134m9.6m/s
01:0019%15%16J/kg0°C24134m11m/s
02:000%12%9J/kg0.4°C24135m9.8m/s
03:000%11%5J/kg0.5°C24134m9.8m/s
04:0017%8.9%0J/kg1.6°C24135m7.5m/s
05:000%2%0J/kg1.8°C24135m6.3m/s
06:000%14%0J/kg1.9°C24134m6.6m/s
07:0014%13%0J/kg2°C24135m7.4m/s
08:000%13%0J/kg2°C24134m6.7m/s
09:000%13%0J/kg1.4°C24134m6.6m/s
10:000%19%0J/kg0.5°C24134m6.2m/s
11:000%21%0J/kg0.8°C24134m5.3m/s
12:000%16%0J/kg1.2°C24135m4.7m/s
13:000%18%0J/kg1.4°C24134m4.7m/s
14:000%15%0J/kg1.7°C24135m4.7m/s
15:000%15%0J/kg1.5°C24134m4.7m/s
16:000%23%3J/kg1.1°C24135m4.8m/s
17:000%24%19J/kg0.5°C24134m5.2m/s
18:000%13%68J/kg0.1°C24134m6.1m/s
19:0016%9.7%198J/kg-0.2°C24135m7.6m/s
20:000%19%285J/kg-0.8°C24134m9.3m/s
21:000%22%323J/kg-1.1°C24135m9.7m/s
22:000%15%120J/kg-0.5°C24134m10m/s
23:000%15%0J/kg0.3°C24134m9.9m/s
Tue, May 26
24:000%15%0J/kg1.3°C24134m10m/s
01:0018%15%0J/kg1.5°C24135m9m/s
02:000%15%0J/kg1.2°C24134m6.6m/s
03:000%15%2J/kg0.4°C24135m5.1m/s
04:000%15%37J/kg-0.4°C24134m5.5m/s
05:000%15%38J/kg-0.5°C24135m3m/s
06:000%33%4J/kg-0.1°C24134m2.4m/s
07:000%44%0J/kg0.4°C24134m3.8m/s
08:000%71%0J/kg0.9°C24134m3.9m/s
09:000%25%3J/kg0.7°C24135m4.3m/s
10:000%19%216J/kg-0.3°C24135m4.9m/s
11:000%13%325J/kg-0.9°C24134m5.1m/s
12:000%12%472J/kg-1.4°C24135m5.2m/s
13:000%17%447J/kg-1.6°C24134m5.1m/s
14:000%6.5%417J/kg-1.5°C24134m6.9m/s
15:000%5.5%388J/kg-1.4°C24135m8.7m/s
16:000%8.1%358J/kg-1.4°C24135m11m/s
17:000%12%391J/kg-1.5°C24135m9.4m/s
18:000%12%425J/kg-1.5°C24135m8.3m/s
19:000%17%458J/kg-1.6°C24135m7.2m/s
20:000%18%381J/kg-1.3°C24135m6.2m/s
21:000%15%305J/kg-0.9°C24135m5.2m/s
22:000%0%228J/kg-0.54°C24135m4.2m/s
23:000%0%205J/kg-0.83°C24135m4.8m/s
Wed, May 27
24:000%0%181J/kg-1.1°C24135m5.3m/s
01:000%0%158J/kg-1.4°C24135m5.8m/s
02:000%0%203J/kg-1.3°C24135m5.9m/s
03:000%0%248J/kg-1.2°C24135m6m/s
04:000%0%293J/kg-1.1°C24135m6m/s
05:000%0%317J/kg-1.4°C24135m5.3m/s
06:000%97%340J/kg-1.7°C24135m4.7m/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, May 24 Sunrise 06:13 Sunset 20:39
08:00
969hPa 16J/kg 0% 0.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 81% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 0% 0mm - - 1m/s
09:00
970hPa 16J/kg 0% 0.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 69% 0mm -20dBZ 31° 0% 0mm - - 0.81m/s
10:00
970hPa 8J/kg 0% 1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 0% 0mm 6.2m/s 11m/s 2.1m/s
11:00
970hPa 3J/kg 0% 0.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ 54° 0% 0mm - - 2.6m/s
12:00
969hPa 44J/kg 0% 0.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 50% 0mm -20dBZ 65° 0% 0mm - - 3m/s
13:00
969hPa 153J/kg 0% -0.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm -20dBZ 72° 0% 0mm 6.6m/s 11m/s 3.3m/s
14:00
968hPa 240J/kg 0% -1.5°C 0% 0% 33% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 72° 0% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
15:00
968hPa 226J/kg 0% -1.7°C 0% 0% 67% 0mm 42% 0mm -20dBZ 64° 0% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
16:00
967hPa 190J/kg 0% -1.4°C 0% 0% 100% 0mm 40% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 0% 0mm 9.9m/s 16m/s 4.9m/s
17:00
967hPa 191J/kg 0% -1°C 0% 0% 76% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 41° 0% 0mm - - 5.2m/s
18:00
967hPa 217J/kg 0% -1°C 0% 0% 52% 0mm 43% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 0% 0mm - - 5.6m/s
19:00
966hPa 413J/kg 0% -1.4°C 0% 0% 28% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 0% 0mm 15m/s 21m/s 6m/s
20:00
966hPa 535J/kg 0% -1.9°C 0% 0% 40% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 6.4° 0% 0mm - - 5.8m/s
21:00
967hPa 391J/kg 0% -1.5°C 0% 0% 53% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ -4.3° 0% 0mm - - 4.5m/s
22:00
967hPa 221J/kg 0% -1°C 0% 0% 65% 0mm 72% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 0% 0mm 14m/s 17m/s 5.1m/s
23:00
968hPa 183J/kg 0% -1.4°C 1% 32% 77% 0mm 74% 0mm -16dBZ -22° 32% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 06:12 Sunset 20:40
24:00
968hPa 46J/kg 75% -0.3°C 1% 35% 88% 0mm 76% 0mm -12dBZ -28° 75% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
01:00
968hPa 16J/kg 95% 0°C 0% 90% 100% 0mm 77% 0mm -7.8dBZ -31° 95% 0mm 14m/s 16m/s 4.4m/s
02:00
968hPa 9J/kg 0% 0.4°C 0% 72% 80% 0mm 79% 0mm -12dBZ -31° 72% 0mm - - 3.7m/s
03:00
968hPa 5J/kg 0% 0.5°C 0% 22% 59% 0mm 77% 0mm -16dBZ -27° 22% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
04:00
968hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.6°C 0% 5% 39% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 5% 0mm 9.4m/s 15m/s 3.2m/s
05:00
968hPa 0J/kg 1% 1.8°C 0% 3% 39% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 3% 0mm - - 2.9m/s
06:00
968hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.9°C 0% 2% 39% 0mm 86% 0mm -20dBZ -2.9° 2% 0mm - - 3m/s
07:00
968hPa 0J/kg 0% 2°C 0% 2% 39% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ 7.8° 2% 0mm 8.6m/s 12m/s 2.8m/s
08:00
968hPa 0J/kg 0% 2°C 0% 3% 26% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 3% 0mm - - 3.7m/s
09:00
968hPa 0J/kg 0% 1.4°C 0% 2% 13% 0mm 64% 0mm -20dBZ 31° 2% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
10:00
968hPa 0J/kg 5% 0.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 5% 0mm 7.6m/s 9.4m/s 4.3m/s
11:00
968hPa 0J/kg 5% 0.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 54° 5% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
12:00
967hPa 0J/kg 5% 1.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 65° 5% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
13:00
967hPa 0J/kg 5% 1.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 72° 5% 0mm 6.2m/s 9m/s 4.3m/s
14:00
966hPa 0J/kg 1% 1.7°C 0% 0% 2% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ 72° 1% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
15:00
965hPa 0J/kg 5% 1.5°C 0% 0% 3% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ 64° 5% 0mm - - 4.9m/s
16:00
965hPa 3J/kg 9% 1.1°C 0% 0% 5% 0mm 30% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 9% 0mm 6.1m/s 9.1m/s 5.3m/s
17:00
964hPa 19J/kg 8% 0.5°C 0% 0% 3% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 41° 8% 0mm - - 5.6m/s
18:00
964hPa 68J/kg 2% 0.1°C 0% 0% 2% 0mm 37% 0mm -20dBZ 29° 2% 0mm - - 6m/s
19:00
963hPa 198J/kg 0% -0.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 0% 0mm 7.9m/s 10m/s 6.1m/s
20:00
963hPa 285J/kg 0% -0.8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ 6.6° 0% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
21:00
965hPa 323J/kg 0% -1.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 65% 0mm -20dBZ -4.1° 0% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
22:00
965hPa 120J/kg 2% -0.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 2% 0mm 7.5m/s 9.4m/s 4.5m/s
23:00
966hPa 0J/kg 90% 0.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 90% 0mm - - 3.9m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 06:12 Sunset 20:41
24:00
966hPa 0J/kg 100% 1.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -28° 100% 0mm - - 4m/s
01:00
965hPa 0J/kg 87% 1.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 70% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 87% 0mm 10m/s 10m/s 3.5m/s
02:00
965hPa 0J/kg 87% 1.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 74% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 87% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
03:00
965hPa 2J/kg 98% 0.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 76% 0mm -20dBZ -27° 98% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
04:00
964hPa 37J/kg 87% -0.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 78% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 87% 0mm 9.5m/s 8.2m/s 2.6m/s
05:00
965hPa 38J/kg 73% -0.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 73% 0mm - - 2m/s
06:00
965hPa 4J/kg 88% -0.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 85% 0mm -20dBZ -2.8° 88% 0mm - - 1.8m/s
07:00
965hPa 0J/kg 85% 0.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ 7.9° 85% 0mm 8.3m/s 5m/s 2.2m/s
08:00
966hPa 0J/kg 46% 0.9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 77% 0mm -20dBZ 19° 46% 0mm - - 2.4m/s
09:00
966hPa 3J/kg 2% 0.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ 31° 2% 0mm - - 3m/s
10:00
965hPa 216J/kg 0% -0.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ 43° 0% 0mm 4.4m/s 3.3m/s 3.8m/s
11:00
965hPa 325J/kg 0% -0.9°C 0% 0% 17% 0mm 53% 0mm -20dBZ 54° 0% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
12:00
965hPa 472J/kg 0% -1.4°C 3% 0% 33% 0mm 49% 0.01mm -20dBZ 65° 3% 0mm - - 4.3m/s
13:00
965hPa 447J/kg 0% -1.6°C 2% 0% 50% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 73° 2% 0mm 3.9m/s 2.1m/s 4.4m/s
14:00
965hPa 417J/kg 0% -1.5°C 1% 0% 33% 0mm 56% 0mm -20dBZ 72° 1% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
15:00
965hPa 388J/kg 0% -1.4°C 1% 0% 17% 0mm 68% 0mm -20dBZ 64° 1% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
16:00
965hPa 358J/kg 0% -1.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 80% 0mm -20dBZ 53° 0% 0mm 5.5m/s 5.8m/s 4.9m/s
17:00
965hPa 391J/kg 1% -1.5°C 0% 0% 7% 0.01mm 84% 0mm -20dBZ 41° 1% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
18:00
965hPa 425J/kg 3% -1.5°C 1% 0% 15% 0.03mm 89% 0mm -20dBZ 30° 3% 0mm - - 3.6m/s
19:00
966hPa 458J/kg 4% -1.6°C 1% 0% 22% 0.04mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 4% 0mm 10m/s 8.2m/s 2.9m/s
20:00
965hPa 381J/kg 3% -1.3°C 1% 0% 20% 0.03mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ 6.7° 3% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
21:00
965hPa 305J/kg 2% -0.9°C 0% 0% 19% 0.01mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -4° 2% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
22:00
965hPa 228J/kg 0% -0.54°C 0% 0% 17% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -14° 0% 0mm 8.1m/s 5.8m/s 2.6m/s
23:00
965hPa 205J/kg 14% -0.83°C 0% 0% 24% 0mm 94% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 14% 0mm - - 2.7m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 06:11 Sunset 20:41
24:00
966hPa 181J/kg 27% -1.1°C 0% 0% 31% 0mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ -28° 27% 0mm - - 2.8m/s
01:00
966hPa 158J/kg 41% -1.4°C 0% 0% 39% 0mm 93% 0mm -20dBZ -31° 41% 0mm 9m/s 3.4m/s 2.9m/s
02:00
966hPa 203J/kg 38% -1.3°C 19% 0% 36% 0mm 82% 0mm -20dBZ -30° 51% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
03:00
967hPa 248J/kg 34% -1.2°C 39% 0% 33% 0mm 71% 0mm -20dBZ -27° 61% 0mm - - 3.8m/s
04:00
967hPa 293J/kg 31% -1.1°C 58% 0% 30% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -21° 71% 0mm 3m/s 2.5m/s 4.3m/s
05:00
967hPa 317J/kg 25% -1.4°C 58% 1% 41% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ -13° 67% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
06:00
966hPa 340J/kg 19% -1.7°C 58% 1% 51% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ -2.7° 62% 0mm - - 4m/s
07:00
966hPa 364J/kg 13% -2°C 58% 2% 61% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ 58% 0mm 8.7m/s 4.3m/s 3.9m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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