Australian Severe Weather Forum

Hi Coltan and Mike,

I read your sentiments and feel the anguish as well. Many years ago, I had the same concept in my mind to try ensuring that I can make the difference to policy so to speak. However, my energies now are more to educate the public using this forum rather than trying to make a difference in policy through this forum. I will support the former - not the latter.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

I agree fully Jimmy.  You get to a point where the bricks don't break against one's head anymore, so it's time to about face and go pro-active.  I've already found that educating through a forum works, I think that was on the day I myself became a member.

But it still has to be voiced to the latter because credibility through a forum with commonsense discussion also has it's merits to those that may have some influence with the powers that be.  You may not get what you ask for, but forums get noticed that contain intelligent input.

Mike,

I am speaking from experience in the past in regards trying to get messages across about severe warnings and tornado warnings with the authorities and mini-tornado debate with the media as a foregone conclusion. It lingers on and on. What I am saying is that I now find it a rather boring and overused topic and I personally don't want it on this forum. Reasons, well until you get multiple casualties, you will not get action. The same debate occurred apparently in the 1960's when a string of tornadoes caused hundreds of casualties. That is what got the US into action. There was a 'need' to spend millions or billions of dollars on upgrading a warning network. I guess expanding cities and the reality threat that exists there far supercedes what exists here. Why is it that we are so 'lucky' to have very few casualties here? I am pretty sure that the authorities will react to the needs due to media and 'major' public pressure.

Furthermore, we do not even have the right to issue 'advice' on what to do in regards to storm safety. We can link to authorities and let them deal with it. There are legal implications when trying to go beyond this point.

I agree that forums are being read by the authorities. And we already have had silent influence. No longer can professional meteorologists stand alone as authorities in forecasting - this has now been matched by some professional amateurs in storm chasing and the results prove it.  This is despite the fact that storm chaisng is not condoned by the Commonwealth authorities! One example of a 'breakthrough' so to speak is the discovery and documentation of the Low Precipitation Supercell in Australia. I challenge any authority to come forward and produce a document about the LP supercell. Suffice to say - let the evidence to the talking.

Education is another matter. Just report the storms accurately and report specific events as we see them with evidence - be it photographic and video or simply descriptive. Let the authorities take care of their job. We want this forum to remain an educational tool in the public eye - this is why I want the forum to concentrate on the former not the latter. If people read and get educated about severe storms, they may take precautions next time they see a storm. When Michael Bath and I as well as others for that matter appear in the media, we try to be very careful as to what we say for the same reason.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

I will learn from this forum and support you in the venture to educate the public. A picture paints a thousand words.

I understand, I have the same situation within the building industry, even though you have support, you cannot rock the boat with the higher sources. You are banging your head against a brick wall.

People are gobsmacked when you present the facts of severe weather in QLD alone. I point them to different sites and material to search for themselves, they come back astounded.

So you are right, maybe this can and will flow through, and people can make an educated decision on there own.

I will take your approach. A point well taken.

Cheers.

This has been a truly great read guys. Nice to see that we feel the same way in regards to this subject that we are all pretty passionate about.

As for that photo of the "tornado producing" storm, I totally agree that there aren't really any visual signs of it being supercellular, other than it looking large? Certainly no signs of a single powerful updraft or a decent shearing anvil? There are the obvious exceptions but obs. (when accessible) will usually give a decent indication as we all pretty well know. How I wish for a decent doppler install sometime in the near future also. Some of the supercells that have been sighted of late would no doubt have spectacular radar/doppler imagery to study, not to mention the aid of soon debunking any non supercellular storms such as the current one here which may gain the limelight for a particular reason.

I guess we can easily get caught up in the moment from time to time but sharing the resulting pictures/video of anything suspicious and asking a LOT of questions will soon get to the bottom of it and the answers that are needed :D

Kindest regards and take care,
Shauno

I don't agree entirely with this last report.I have seen many or cloce to many tornadoes pictures on the commp,and they are NOT repeat not rare events in any form of the word,however there have been many here in SE queenland and Northern rivers.I believe the weather derives also from the jetsream which is not given much tallk on,if the jet stream is overhead,you can be sure WE are in for severe weather of all kinds,AND faverable for TORNADOES also RE peter fergusson.

Peter,

The origin of this topic from memory cetred around a report of a funnel cloud/tornado which may have been a false report. It is not about a history of violent storms in SE Qld and NE NSW that could indicate potential tornadic events. Yes I agree there is a jet in the mid-latitudes and I believe SE Qld and NE NSW is on the wrong side of the jet and tends to favour high precipitation supercell events. Yes violent storms and if you are lucky hidden tornadoes. But history has it that most tornadoes form in favourable environments with classic supercells and often in the presence of well aligned boundaries. Just because you have violent supercells and with powerful outflow winds and incredible structures does not constitute potential tornadic events.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

Thanks for the info Jimmmy.thought this page was just a one off,due to what i read the first time,and then to my surprise you could imagine that,when i noticed my post,then thought opps what have i done or said ha ha.Do appreciate any comment made,respect them for that,up here on the Sunshine Coast,can get some weird weather here in storm season,good photography which is what like too.