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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 96% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Cloud Cover0%
Wind Gusts9.5m/s
Precipitation Chance0%
Air Pressure967.1hPa
CAPE0
Lifted Index8.4°C
Wind Gusts9.5m/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 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 14
19:000%26%0J/kg2.5°C24135m10m/s
20:0015%11%0J/kg4.3°C24135m12m/s
21:0028%7.4%0J/kg5.1°C24135m13m/s
22:0015%7.9%0J/kg5.7°C24135m13m/s
23:000%9.6%0J/kg7.5°C24135m12m/s
Sun, Feb 15
24:000%11%0J/kg7.5°C24134m11m/s
01:000%14%0J/kg7.5°C24134m12m/s
02:000%15%0J/kg7.8°C24134m11m/s
03:0015%15%0J/kg8.7°C24134m11m/s
04:000%9.1%0J/kg10°C24134m11m/s
05:000%5.7%0J/kg11°C24134m11m/s
06:0018%2.9%0J/kg11°C24134m9.6m/s
07:000%9.8%0J/kg10°C24135m7.2m/s
08:000%9.8%0J/kg9.9°C24135m6.4m/s
09:0014%6.5%0J/kg9.8°C24135m4.7m/s
10:000%5.5%0J/kg9.3°C24134m3.4m/s
11:000%5.5%0J/kg8.2°C24134m2.2m/s
12:0015%6%0J/kg7.7°C24134m1m/s
13:000%13%0J/kg8.1°C24134m0.73m/s
14:000%27%0J/kg8.2°C24134m0.81m/s
15:0015%24%0J/kg8.5°C24135m2.1m/s
16:000%18%0J/kg8.7°C24134m3.2m/s
17:000%13%0J/kg8.5°C24135m4.4m/s
18:0019%11%0J/kg8.1°C24134m6.7m/s
19:000%9.5%0J/kg8.2°C24134m8.2m/s
20:000%6.5%0J/kg8.4°C24135m9.5m/s
21:0022%14%0J/kg8.7°C24135m11m/s
22:000%15%0J/kg9.1°C24135m11m/s
23:0014%15%0J/kg9.4°C24135m12m/s
Mon, Feb 16
24:0035%15%0J/kg8.6°C24135m14m/s
01:0016%14%0J/kg7.1°C24135m15m/s
02:0016%10%0J/kg6.3°C24135m15m/s
03:0035%11%0J/kg6.2°C24134m17m/s
04:0018%5%0J/kg6.6°C24135m17m/s
05:0018%7.6%0J/kg6.9°C24134m18m/s
06:0036%14%0J/kg6.3°C24135m19m/s
07:0018%90%0J/kg7.4°C24134m19m/s
08:0018%100%0J/kg7.6°C24134m18m/s
09:0035%29%0J/kg7.7°C24135m18m/s
10:0016%31%0J/kg8.3°C24135m17m/s
11:0015%34%0J/kg8.6°C24135m14m/s
12:0020%48%0J/kg8.3°C24135m12m/s
13:000%29%0J/kg8.2°C24134m11m/s
14:000%30%0J/kg7.4°C24135m10m/s
15:0020%32%0J/kg6.7°C24135m9.5m/s
16:000%38%0J/kg6.3°C24135m9.3m/s
17:000%28%0J/kg6.1°C24135m9.9m/s
18:0021%79%0J/kg6.1°C24135m11m/s
19:0014%21%0J/kg6.1°C24134m13m/s
20:0016%3.4%0J/kg6.4°C24134m15m/s
21:0036%5.4%0J/kg6.2°C24135m16m/s
22:0018%11%0J/kg6°C24134m17m/s
23:0018%5.3%0J/kg5.5°C24134m17m/s
Tue, Feb 17
24:0036%0%0J/kg5.1°C24134m18m/s
01:0018%0%0J/kg4°C24135m18m/s
02:0018%0%0J/kg4.7°C24134m18m/s
03:0033%0%0J/kg5°C24135m18m/s
04:0018%0%0J/kg3.9°C24135m18m/s
05:0016%0%0J/kg4.9°C24134m17m/s
06:0035%0%0J/kg5°C24135m17m/s
07:0016%55%0J/kg6.2°C24134m17m/s
08:0016%55%0J/kg3.8°C24135m17m/s
09:0035%51%0J/kg4°C24135m17m/s
10:0018%43%0J/kg2.5°C24135m18m/s
11:0018%43%0J/kg3.6°C24135m18m/s
12:0038%43%0J/kg3.7°C24135m18m/s
13:0019%35%0J/kg4.7°C24134m17m/s
14:0019%43%0J/kg5.7°C24135m16m/s
15:0039%43%0J/kg4.6°C24135m17m/s
16:0019%51%0J/kg3.5°C24135m17m/s
17:0020%51%0J/kg2.5°C24134m17m/s
18:0040%55%0J/kg2.4°C24134m17m/s
19:0019%51%0J/kg2.9°C24135m16m/s
20:0017%6.6%8J/kg0.7°C24135m17m/s
21:0038%15%5J/kg1.9°C24134m17m/s
22:0020%15%0J/kg7.7°C24134m21m/s
23:0018%15%0J/kg9.2°C24134m18m/s
Wed, Feb 18
24:0033%12%0J/kg10°C24134m18m/s
01:0015%0%0J/kg9.6°C24134m13m/s
02:000%0%0J/kg9°C24135m8.3m/s
03:0015%0%0J/kg8.4°C24135m3.6m/s
04:000%0%0J/kg8.3°C24135m4.7m/s
05:000%0%0J/kg8.1°C24135m5.7m/s
06:0018%0%0J/kg8°C24135m6.7m/s
07:000%18%0J/kg7.3°C24135m8.4m/s
08:000%18%0J/kg6.6°C24135m10m/s
09:0035%17%0J/kg6°C24135m12m/s
10:000%14%0J/kg6.2°C24135m11m/s
11:000%12%0J/kg6.5°C24135m10m/s
12:0021%9.9%0J/kg6.7°C24135m9.7m/s
13:000%8.1%0J/kg6.5°C24135m10m/s
14:000%9.9%0J/kg6.2°C24135m11m/s
15:0021%9.9%0J/kg6°C24135m11m/s
16:000%12%0J/kg6.1°C24135m11m/s
17:0014%12%0J/kg6.3°C24135m12m/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 15 Sunrise 07:17 Sunset 18:08
20:00
967hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -23° 0% 0mm - - 4.1m/s
21:00
967hPa 0J/kg 5% 8.7°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 5% 0mm 15m/s 26m/s 4.3m/s
22:00
967hPa 0J/kg 14% 9.1°C 0% 15% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -46° 15% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
23:00
967hPa 0J/kg 87% 9.4°C 0% 52% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -56° 87% 0mm - - 5.1m/s
Mon, Feb 16 Sunrise 07:17 Sunset 18:08
24:00
966hPa 0J/kg 96% 8.6°C 0% 79% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 96% 0mm 21m/s 25m/s 5.8m/s
01:00
965hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.1°C 0% 97% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 100% 0mm - - 6.1m/s
02:00
965hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.3°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -59° 100% 0mm - - 6.2m/s
03:00
964hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.2°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 100% 0mm 21m/s 25m/s 6.8m/s
04:00
963hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.6°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 100% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
05:00
963hPa 0J/kg 55% 6.9°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -28° 100% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
06:00
963hPa 0J/kg 84% 6.3°C 0% 88% 0% 0mm 61% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 90% 0mm 19m/s 24m/s 7.2m/s
07:00
963hPa 0J/kg 16% 7.4°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 62% 0mm -20dBZ -4.1° 100% 0mm - - 7m/s
08:00
963hPa 0J/kg 38% 7.6°C 0% 83% 0% 0mm 63% 0mm -20dBZ 7.3° 83% 0mm - - 6.4m/s
09:00
964hPa 0J/kg 100% 7.7°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 100% 0mm 14m/s 24m/s 6.5m/s
10:00
963hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.3°C 0% 2% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ 27° 100% 0mm - - 7.4m/s
11:00
963hPa 0J/kg 98% 8.6°C 0% 2% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 98% 0mm - - 7.6m/s
12:00
963hPa 0J/kg 75% 8.3°C 0% 3% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm -20dBZ 39° 75% 0mm 9.1m/s 20m/s 7.7m/s
13:00
962hPa 0J/kg 100% 8.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 39% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 100% 0mm - - 7.6m/s
14:00
961hPa 0J/kg 5% 7.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 37° 5% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
15:00
961hPa 0J/kg 5% 6.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 31° 5% 0mm 12m/s 22m/s 6.7m/s
16:00
960hPa 0J/kg 6% 6.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 22° 6% 0mm - - 5.7m/s
17:00
960hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 12° 100% 0mm - - 5.4m/s
18:00
960hPa 0J/kg 42% 6.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm -20dBZ 1.4° 42% 0mm 15m/s 28m/s 5.3m/s
19:00
961hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 46% 0mm -20dBZ -11° 100% 0mm - - 5.3m/s
20:00
961hPa 0J/kg 92% 6.4°C 0% 5% 0% 0mm 49% 0mm -20dBZ -22° 92% 0mm - - 5.7m/s
21:00
961hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.2°C 0% 39% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 100% 0mm 15m/s 26m/s 6.2m/s
22:00
960hPa 0J/kg 44% 6°C 0% 15% 0% 0mm 52% 0mm -20dBZ -45° 44% 0mm - - 6.3m/s
23:00
960hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.5°C 0% 78% 0% 0mm 55% 0mm -20dBZ -55° 100% 0mm - - 6.5m/s
Tue, Feb 17 Sunrise 07:16 Sunset 18:09
24:00
960hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.1°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -20dBZ -63° 100% 0mm 15m/s 21m/s 6.9m/s
01:00
959hPa 0J/kg 100% 4°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 100% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
02:00
958hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.7°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 58% 0mm -20dBZ -59° 100% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
03:00
957hPa 0J/kg 100% 5°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 100% 0mm 15m/s 20m/s 7.2m/s
04:00
957hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.9°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 100% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
05:00
956hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.9°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 60% 0mm -20dBZ -28° 100% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
06:00
956hPa 0J/kg 100% 5°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 100% 0mm 16m/s 26m/s 7.1m/s
07:00
955hPa 0J/kg 100% 6.2°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 59% 0mm -10dBZ -3.9° 100% 0mm - - 7.5m/s
08:00
955hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.8°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 57% 0mm -0.73dBZ 7.5° 100% 0mm - - 7.5m/s
09:00
955hPa 0J/kg 100% 4°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 54% 0mm 8.9dBZ 18° 100% 0mm 18m/s 25m/s 7.5m/s
10:00
955hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.5°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 51% 0mm 8.9dBZ 27° 100% 0mm - - 8.1m/s
11:00
954hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.6°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 47% 0mm 8.9dBZ 35° 100% 0mm - - 8m/s
12:00
954hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.7°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 44% 0mm 9dBZ 40° 100% 0mm 20m/s 27m/s 8.5m/s
13:00
952hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.7°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm 11dBZ 40° 100% 0mm - - 8.5m/s
14:00
951hPa 0J/kg 100% 5.7°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 41% 0mm 13dBZ 37° 100% 0mm - - 8.2m/s
15:00
951hPa 0J/kg 100% 4.6°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 43% 0mm 15dBZ 31° 100% 0mm 24m/s 34m/s 8.8m/s
16:00
950hPa 0J/kg 100% 3.5°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 42% 0mm 14dBZ 23° 100% 0mm - - 8.5m/s
17:00
950hPa 0J/kg 98% 2.5°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 37% 0mm 13dBZ 12° 100% 0mm - - 8.4m/s
18:00
949hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.4°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm 12dBZ 1.6° 100% 0mm 18m/s 42m/s 8.9m/s
19:00
949hPa 0J/kg 100% 2.9°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm 1.6dBZ -10° 100% 0mm - - 8.2m/s
20:00
949hPa 8J/kg 100% 0.7°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 27% 0mm -9.2dBZ -22° 100% 0mm - - 7.9m/s
21:00
950hPa 5J/kg 100% 1.9°C 0% 100% 0% 0mm 18% 0mm -20dBZ -34° 100% 0mm 17m/s 30m/s 9.1m/s
22:00
951hPa 0J/kg 58% 7.7°C 0% 57% 0% 0mm 15% 0mm -20dBZ -45° 58% 0mm - - 9.9m/s
23:00
952hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 15% 0mm -20dBZ -55° 0% 0mm - - 10m/s
Wed, Feb 18 Sunrise 07:15 Sunset 18:10
24:00
953hPa 0J/kg 0% 10°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 16% 0mm -20dBZ -62° 0% 0mm 2.6m/s 20m/s 9.5m/s
01:00
955hPa 0J/kg 0% 9.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ -64° 0% 0mm - - 7.2m/s
02:00
958hPa 0J/kg 0% 9°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -59° 0% 0mm - - 4.8m/s
03:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.4°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 31% 0mm -20dBZ -50° 0% 0mm 2.9m/s 21m/s 2.5m/s
04:00
960hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 29% 0mm -20dBZ -39° 0% 0mm - - 3.4m/s
05:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0% 8.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 26% 0mm -20dBZ -27° 0% 0mm - - 4.2m/s
06:00
959hPa 0J/kg 0% 8°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ -16° 0% 0mm 8.9m/s 30m/s 5.1m/s
07:00
957hPa 0J/kg 2% 7.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 22% 0mm -20dBZ -3.7° 2% 0mm - - 6.1m/s
08:00
956hPa 0J/kg 3% 6.6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 21% 0mm -20dBZ 7.8° 3% 0mm - - 7.1m/s
09:00
955hPa 0J/kg 4% 6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 20% 0mm -20dBZ 18° 4% 0mm 13m/s 31m/s 8.1m/s
10:00
954hPa 0J/kg 3% 6.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 24% 0mm -20dBZ 28° 3% 0mm - - 6.8m/s
11:00
954hPa 0J/kg 2% 6.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 28% 0mm -20dBZ 35° 2% 0mm - - 5.5m/s
12:00
953hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.7°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 32% 0mm -20dBZ 40° 0% 0mm 11m/s 30m/s 4.2m/s
13:00
953hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 41° 0% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
14:00
954hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.2°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 33% 0mm -20dBZ 38° 0% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
15:00
954hPa 0J/kg 0% 6°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 34% 0mm -20dBZ 31° 0% 0mm 12m/s 31m/s 4.8m/s
16:00
954hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 23° 0% 0mm - - 4.7m/s
17:00
953hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.3°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 13° 0% 0mm - - 4.6m/s
18:00
953hPa 0J/kg 0% 6.5°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 35% 0mm -20dBZ 1.8° 0% 0mm 18m/s 36m/s 4.5m/s
19:00
953hPa 0J/kg 0% 7.1°C 0% 0% 0% 0mm 36% 0mm -20dBZ -10° 0% 0mm - - 4.4m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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