Australian Severe Weather Forum

Great to finally see some unstable weather heading our way, considering how stable (and boring) it has been lately.

The models don't indicate anything crash hot (especially CAPE and shear) and activity seems likely early and around the border, I don't expect much out of this system personally.

The upper level trough should also bring showers later in the week.

Nice to see another potential storm day so soon after the one I missed last Friday. Not bad for August. Last night's Brisbane sounding shows -16 at 500 hPa and GFS forecasts about -19 C for this arvo so some destabilisation expected. Shear is quite good and DPs are improving. A SE change may stuff things up for here but we'll see.

Storm have fired in the area of marginal to moderate instability across northern NSW.
A warning (well more accurately an 'advice' or 'watch') for large hail and damaging winds was issued at 12:45pm .

For people in the
NORTHERN RIVERS and parts of the
MID NORTH COAST and
NORTHERN TABLELANDS Forecast Districts.

Issued at 12:45 pm Wednesday, 27 August 2008.

Hi guys,
This is the weather I have been waiting (as I'm sure we all have) for all year! We came so close to receiving storms last night (the 26th) but it wasn't to be? My mum informed me that she could see active storms to the West but some distance from the Grawin opal fields (Grawin is 50k's West of Lightning Ridge) at around 9pm. I stood outside and watched for a bit as it was overcast but I couldn't see anything at all? The smell of rain was very strong so I would imagine the DP, humidity must have been up there? No rain fell here in town though. The temps got to 26ºc yesterday, nice and balmy after being in the teen temps for 2 months lol.

Warm again today, pushing 27ºc currently, little if no cloud visible. Feels like low humidity also which isn't ideal. The winds possibly pushed the moisture away from us and more E-NE last night. See what eventuates tonight anyway? Worst comes to worst, I'd still be happy to see a few cells on the horizon at least lol.

Take care,
Shauno

Michael, the webcam at the moment is providing an interesting picture. How's the conditions there atm?

Got 11mm of torrential rain and a few mins of hail to 1cm in that - very nice !   Quite a few close CGs before the rain hit.

Hi all,

Michael: Did you manage any pics? I noticed the radar and lightning tracker are going nuts over your way!

We have only just missed out here with the storm front starting near Moree.

May be in with a chance Saturday night or Sunday fingers crossed :D

Regards,
Shauno

Yep

The hailstorm passed over my place at 4.30pm





About to unleash. Rain rate got to 146mm/hr with 11mm in total.



Lots of hail but mostly less than 1cm



Flanking line when cell was approaching Byron Bay.



MB

Nice RFB structure Michael! You can see a nice hint of green in the second shot! No wonder the rain deluge was pretty significant.

Looks like it's finally time to dust off the ol' chase equipment lol.

Hopefully this the start to an unforgettably >lightning severe< storm season!

The bureau has forecast a more "normal" storm season, coinciding with a lift in sunspot activity. Apparently it has something to do with it affecting the barometric pressure? I heard this while watching Landline on ABC last week.

Regards,
Shauno

Really nice photos there Michael! Northern Rivers has started well this season, hopefully a sign of things to come after a poor last season.

Some photos of the storms across NE NSW this afternoon. First pics taken around 1430 west of Grafton with the rest east of Guyra/Armidale shortly after. All shots taken at around 36,000 feet.

   

   

   

This was the last storm on the southern edge to the ESE of Armidale. Nice structure!

   

The photo below is the monster storm 300kms off the coast of Port Macquarie. Very nice overshoot!

   

Great to see the action from the air too - thanks for putting those up James.

Light rain and a bit of thunder is persisting in the area this evening. Good to get the tanks topped up after nearly a month of no rain.

MB

Gyday here are two pics i snapped looking south and then east on my way home from work after 4pm. Some very heavy rain could be seen blanking out everything  about 1km away. Some scud like guster thing? sweeping along the NW flank to the rear of the cell which was almost at Michael's at this time.

Glad you are all getting some action!  Off-shore to Sydney it's going nuts at the moment 1:05am with the WZ lightning tracker showing plenty happening (got the pics guys?)  Noticed Halls Creek also in WA getting smashed with a nice front moving through also.

Loved the shots from the aircraft, the second to last one in the series shows some hefty convection going on and just brilliant.  Thanks James for the photos, nice to see the other end of the storms for a change.

Hi all

Went for a drive around yesterday after my keen eyed partner spotted a rather odd cloud formation. Armed with the camera (after we went back and got it) we cruised around and took some shots



Near Boat Harbour



Looking over Goonellabah



Bexhill looking toward Lismore



Another shot from Bexhill


We wondered if Mike was going to be out and about. I can see by the above posts you were!

Ah! Those were the days of yonder I recall (flangs, small hail and torrential rain), we might get a few this year!

Nice shots everyone, not at all bad for August! Very noice.