Storm Australian Severe Weather Forum

Severe Weather Discussion => Australian Severe Storms, Weather Events and Storm Chasing => Topic started by: Michael Bath on 15 December 2006, 02:33:59 PM

Title: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: Michael Bath on 15 December 2006, 02:33:59 PM
Wasn't able to head out until 3pm, so only had time to go a spot just east of Coraki to watch the very strong storm heading NNE from an area already north of Grafton.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121401.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121401.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121402.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121402.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121403.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121403.jpg

I moved to McKees Hill SW of Lismore by 4.20 and watched the very impressive action head straight at me (storm heading north). Rotation of the base was quite apparent. CGs were quite frequent from the wall cloud and either side of it.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121404.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121404.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121405.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121405.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121406.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121406.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121407.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121407.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121408.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121408.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121409.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121409.jpg

The cell died off from about 5pm but not before blasting out a barrage of pulsating CGs towards Lismore.

I moved under the base but there was only torrential rain left and some strong winds.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121410.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121410.jpg

Regards, Michael

Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-15 Dec 2006
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 15 December 2006, 03:18:13 PM
Hi Michael,

Very impressive severe storm structure! If you are able to time permitting, feel free to post a windows media file of the timelapse.

Were the winds moving in east to northeast?

Where did the storm initiate? Dorrigo yet again?

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-15 Dec 2006
Post by: Steven on 15 December 2006, 03:44:52 PM
Yes I heard on the news weather segment, so what's our chances for tomorrow.  It doesn't feel right for me for stormy weather, however with humidity increasing there's bound to be something.

Cheers
Steven
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-15 Dec 2006
Post by: Michael Bath on 16 December 2006, 09:53:05 AM
Storm kicked off just south of Nymboida - will add a radar sequence soon. Winds were fresh N-NE the whole time I was watching this storm.   Hail 'large enought to break windows' was reported in Grafton, and hail the size of golf balls at Lawrence too.
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-15 Dec 2006
Post by: Michael Bath on 17 December 2006, 03:00:34 AM
Friday 15th December was a very oppressive day in the Northern Rivers.  DPs mainly around the 20 degree mark, temp 30-32, light winds and fairly cloudy with patches of thick altocumulus with convective tops. Some scattered showers resulted during the day keeping the air very sticky. Conditions were very unstable with CAPE over 2000 and LIs about -6. Shear profile was suitable for strong organised storms including supercells.

By late afternoon some thunderstorms had developed between about Armidale and Inverell where skies were sunnier. The BoM didn't issue the first thunderstorm warning until 4.05pm but it included the whole of NE NSW.

My daughter Katrina was home from school so I checked to see if she was interested in her first storm chase - sure enough - yes !   Dave Ellem came over and we left about 5pm as some cells on the Northern Tablelands looked like they would track towards the Casino area by 7pm-ish.

By the time we got out there those storms had collapsed to not much and the only activity of any strength was south near Woolgoolga, and north into SE QLD.

We took the usual Maccas break then headed to the clear area just NW of Casino.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121501.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121501.jpg

Already fresh convection had initiated in the Upper Clarence Valley to our west. Contrast was at first poor, but gradually improved as the sun got lower and thunderstorm activity increased. We could hear thunder and soon spotted lightning from the dominating storm now moving onto the Richmond Range.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121502.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121502.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121503.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121503.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121504.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121504.jpg

Another cell south of this one produced a very interesting LP type base on and off with regular CGs, though its updraft was obscured or looked weak when we were able to glimpse it.

Beck Armytage met us about 6.30pm

The main event was certainly unfolding to the west though, this continue to grow - shooting out pulsating CGs from under and near multiple updraft areas - and also the anvil region which was spreading off to the northeast.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121505.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121505.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121506.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121506.jpg

The southern flank of this complex developed the more interesting features - about the same time as much of the core took on the green tinge. Lightning was now getting quite close but still a safe distance.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121507.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121507.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121508.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121508.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121509.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121509.jpg

A massive multi-tiered gustfront feature formed and started to spread ESE. The storm was huge!  It spread right across from SW to NW and was now rapidly advancing eastwards - not a common movement direction in this part of the world for severe storms. The sunset colours to the storm's SW topped off the scene.

We made a move a minute or two after the first drops of rain hit. Just as well - powerful pulsating CGs started to hit just ahead of us towards the east !

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121510.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121510.jpg

We drove back into Casino and then took off down the Coraki road when heads generally SE. The storm structure was quite incredible by the time we got to Casino - massive boiling gust front features with constant pulsating CGs - which had now spread well eastwards on along the track the storm would take to Lismore and Ballina. However, the best storm features were definitely on its SE flank.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121511.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121511.jpg

We were able to stop briefly a few ks SE of Casino to capture the scene. I shouted it was time to go just as a huge CG hit 200 metres down the road - GEEEEEZ - did Dave jump into the car quickly ! 

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121512.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121512.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121513.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121513.jpg

Rain was soon to envelope the whole area - this storm was very very large. The constant barrage of CGs was phenomenal, hitting all around us, off into the distance - everywhere. The drive from just NW of Coraki and back home - which took about 45 minutes was now torrential rain with blinding lightning.  Katrina was filming the show as we tried to escape it.

The CGS were hitting right around home when we got there. Torrential rain was falling so it was difficult to capture any lightning but it didn't matter after watching the whole storm develop and intensify into the beast !!!   What an afternoon / evening - and Katrina's first storm chase too  - needless to say she was rather impressed !

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121514.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121514.jpg

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2006121515.jpg)
Larger view: http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2006121515.jpg

We heard some reports on UHF radio of trees and powerlines down in the North Casino area. Some areas were blacked out including parts of Ballina and Lismore.
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-15 Dec 2006
Post by: David C on 17 December 2006, 03:54:46 AM
Excellent stuff Michael! That third last image from the 14th, in particular looks very nice with inflow stingers -  Was there any rotation discernible in there?
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-15 Dec 2006
Post by: Michael Bath on 17 December 2006, 04:11:45 AM
Hi David - yes - quite apparent at that stage to the eye. Have not had time to review the video but I suspect timelapse will be quite impressive.

Have since had a look at the radar from yesterday afternoon and the smaller storm you see on the left in photo #09 was moving NE while the main one was heading just slightly S of east. They collided right on Casino. Energex tracker went ballistic at this point with 800+ strikes per 5 mins from this storm complex !

Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-15 Dec 2006
Post by: Michael Bath on 18 December 2006, 06:11:18 AM
Thursday 14th December

Grafton 128km scale radar loop 11.30am to 7pm local:

http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2006/radar/200612140800.gif

500m MODIS Satpic at 2.20pm local as the storm was approaching Grafton and had become I believe a supercell:

(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2006/satpics/200612140320.jpg)


Friday 15th December

Grafton 128km scale radar loop 3.30pm - 9.30pm local

http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2006/radar/200612151030.gif

Grafton 256km scale radar loop noon to 10pm local

http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2006/radar/200612151100.gif

1km VIS image at 7pm local showing the large storm in NE NSW.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2006/satpics/2006121508.jpg)

Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-15 Dec 2006
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 18 December 2006, 06:52:55 AM
Michael, Rodney and Katrina,

The chase and season has been very impressive. What makes this season unique are the impressive clean structures coming from NE NSW. Can't wait for the video.

By the way, great maiden chase for Katrina! I think it is time to make her a member of this forum so she can respond on her own experiences of chases.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-15 Dec 2006
Post by: Jeff Brislane on 18 December 2006, 05:13:58 PM
What awesome storms MB. You guys are definately in the thick of it this year.
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-15 Dec 2006
Post by: Julie on 19 December 2006, 04:54:16 PM
The 16th was quite an afternoon up here in the Wide Bay.
Arrived home to a ‘very stormy’ feel in the air & thankfully the storms came to Biggenden as being slightly incapacitated I was unable to chase any further than my verandah. 
(http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/normal_RAW_3145_16_12_06.jpg) (http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/RAW_3145_16_12_06.jpg)

Copped quite an outflow here from a cell heading towards Childers, some small hail (small marble to pingpong ball size reported), severe wind & rain. Quite a few small branches & major leaf/twig flying about here from the outflow. The last wind reading recorded here was 80km/hr before a large airborne branch took out the pole. Fortunately we didn’t cop the full brunt of that storm as it headed towards Childers & only 27mm made it into the gauge; we were without power for just over 4 hours. Coringa, N of me received 60mm.
Temp dropped from 37.1° to 26.2° in 10 minutes.
The cell moved onto Childers area where Horton/Redridge just east of Childers copped the full brunt.  Sheds with walls blown out, roofs torn off & windows smashed.
Headed east onto Goodwood road towards the industrial area & found 2 sheds with their doors blown out & some iron blown up to 100m into cane fields. The pine furniture manufacturing shed owner parked a small pantec in front of the main doors trying to stop some of the rain blowing in. Interesting to see several of the street light poles bent in this area, one business owner there stated “they weren’t like that yesterday morning!”
(http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/thumb_IMG_3257.jpg) (http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/IMG_3257.jpg)

We proceeded further down the road about 150 metres to Old Doolbi Station house where they’d lost half of their roof, some shed damage & major tree damage. A horse in a small paddock beside the old house was still very flighty & had suffered some small injuries from flying debris. Half of the Childers/Isis Golf course backs onto Old Doolbi Station House & I could see major tree damage in a path approx 150m wide heading NE. The damage path crossed Goodwood Rd towards the golf clubhouse & in the direction of Horton.
(http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/thumb_IMG_3210.jpg) (http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/IMG_3210.jpg)

The Golf Course & Horton seemed to sustain the worst of large tree damage & a couple of houses losing their roofs & a several sheds also blown apart. A new cyclone rated shed housing 2 new Massey Ferguson tractors was blown apart, funny to see no damage to the old original shed right beside it.
(http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/normal_RAW_3215.jpg) (http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/RAW_3215.jpg)

A house on Goodwood Rd at Redridge had all the windows blown out on the windward side.  We headed down Redridge Rd & found 2 houses with their roofs gone, all the windows broken on the windward side & major hail damage to young cane plants.
(http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/thumb_IMG_3239.jpg) (http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/IMG_3239.jpg)

More photos & radar images can be found HERE (http://www.justphotographics.com/thumbnails.php?album=55)
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-15 Dec 2006
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 19 December 2006, 05:05:38 PM
Hi Jules,

Thanks for posting the report. There has been extensive activity in SE Qld this year and of course NE NSW. This last event was particularly associated with wind damage from your and other reports.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: Julie on 20 December 2006, 05:50:58 AM
I think the farming community there could have done without the hail damage, it's enormous!  One farmer has 90h of lychee trees & 65h of mango trees that are bare of bark & limbs.  They'd only just started to pick the fruit from them for the Christmas sales.  It was an eerie sight to see  :(  It'll take him about 4 years to recover from this storm.  I'd like to have posted some photos of his damage but he declined me permission to take any photos.  He averaged the hail size to be between "large chook egg & duck egg size pounded down for a good 10 minutes then the rain followed".
You can see the marks on the trunk of this tree from the hail that hit Horton, where they averaged it to be about 2-3cm.  They said they probably could have coped with that size hail no problem but it was the amount of it that fell & with the winds behind it that did the damage to crops.  I've never seen so many dead birds from a storm before :(
(http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/thumb_RAW_3233.jpg) (http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/RAW_3233.jpg)
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: Beck on 20 December 2006, 06:34:29 AM
Here are some of my pics from the 15th Dec 06 Storm chase with Michael, Dave and Katrina.

All links to larger photos.

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/Stormchasr/PC154037-signedSmallCustom.jpg)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/Stormchasr/PC154037-signedSmall-2.jpg

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/Stormchasr/PC154051-signedSmallCustom.jpg)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/Stormchasr/PC154051-signedSmall-1.jpg

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/Stormchasr/PC154073-signeddarkCustom.jpg)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/Stormchasr/PC154073-signeddark.jpg

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/Stormchasr/PC154074-signedSmallCustom.jpg)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d158/Stormchasr/PC154074-signedSmall-1.jpg

Beck  ;D
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: David C on 20 December 2006, 06:51:57 AM
Nice reports and photos! Yes, definitely, wind-driven hail makes things extra nasty. Pity the poor farmers  :(
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: Julie on 22 December 2006, 11:16:23 AM
An interesting story in todays Central North Burnett Times regarding a storm at O'Bil Bil, near Mundubbera on Saturday.  I've had a look at the radar archives & I don't see anything to support a possible tornado BUT, in saying that, Kanigan radar does badly underestimate out that far.  Looking at the Gladstone radar & taking both into account it does support the severity at the time.
I had a chat with Troy Voss about the possible tornado & I'm tending to agree that it was.  The damage at the Augustines property happened about the time of his sighting & it was heading towards their property.

(http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/thumb_CNBT_scan_re_16-12-06.jpg) (http://www.justphotographics.com/albums/userpics/CNBT_scan_re_16-12-06.jpg)
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: David C on 22 December 2006, 11:24:19 AM
The storm in the pics above looks like a big HP (if we're talking about the same storm that is!). The chances of a storm like this producing a tornado more intense than the straight-line wind damage it would have produced would be remote, in my oppinion  :). Of course, storms do evolve over time and perhaps the tornado happened earlier on than when the pics above were taken. As I said, this (ie photo) stage or later..... almost no chance of a significant tornado.
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: Julie on 22 December 2006, 11:28:52 AM
David, the storm in the pic was one I took here in Biggenden the same afternoon, totally different storm altogether. :)

I'm yet to find anyone with photos of that storm. 
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: David C on 22 December 2006, 11:29:07 AM
Thanks Julie. After reading the newspaper article, I realised we are talking about two different events so disregard my comments above  ;D  In that case, and based on the eyewitness account, it does sound like a tornado. Any radar frames from the times in question?
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: Julie on 22 December 2006, 11:33:33 AM
I'm putting them together (in between some urgent work) but hopefully have a link up tonight.
He did describe the funnel as being "a dirty greyish colour, like it had smoke & dirt mixed in".
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: David C on 22 December 2006, 11:56:13 AM
MB Edit:  Gympie radar loop 0130z to 0900z:

http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2006/radar/200612160900.gif

For people like me who are unfamiliar with the local area here (attached) is a map - O'Bil Bil Is just to the NNW of Mundubbera.
[edit: opps, map is protected, just go here and zoom out a tad http://www.zoomin.com.au/australia/qld/o%27bil+bil/ ]
Definitely a cell moves over the area around 6:00pm but does not look impressive compared to the big cells further east ie tornado unlikely to have been mesocyclonic in origin. Could have been a landspout or even a microburst kicking up dust. Whatever it was, it certainly did a bit of damage by the sounds of it.
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: Julie on 22 December 2006, 12:18:57 PM
By Troys directions & a look at my local map, he's further southeast more east of Riversleigh.  It's quite frustrating going by the Kanigan & Gladstone radars, they're just not accurate enough IMO.  As Troy said, he's looked at the radar on occasions when it's been pelting down & it only shows up as mostly white or light blue on the radar.
Yes, could well have been a landspout :)
Thanks for that David :)

MB edit - Gladstone radar 0330z to 1000z
http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2006/radar/200612161000.gif
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: Julie on 22 December 2006, 02:46:09 PM
I just had a conversation with a gentlement who saw my post on WZ about this & was a witness to what Troy saw but more defined.  This man saw the Bucca tornado first hand & suffered extensive damage to his property.  Following that experience he's done extensive research of tornados even to the extent of spending several seasons in tornado alley.  He confirms a definite tornado touched down & does have photographs of it plus photos of the corkscrewing of trees & metal.  He is sending what evidence he has to the Bureau.  I've also sent him a link to this forum & hope that he posts here although he does have some issues with 'Aussie storm chasers' in general & particularly the younger ones on WZ which has discouraged him from posting there.  Jimmy, I've given him your email address & asked him to contact you as I'm sure you would be interested in it, you're a more seasoned (not saying you're old ;) ) chaser & he maybe more comfortable sharing his information with you.
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: David C on 22 December 2006, 04:16:53 PM
That's excellent Julie!

If this fella had the inclination to post on TWZ then please encourage him to post here if he has time -- if he has been to Tornado Alley, well, there are close to a dozen on here who have too, so we look forward to his input on this event!

Not really familiar with Gympie radar but based on what you say the callibration is off and our intepretation of things based on those scan will off the mark too. There was no other convection in the way and proximity to the radar was such that attenuation should not have been an issue.

Thanks for putting the animation together Michael!
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: australiasevereweather on 22 December 2006, 04:49:53 PM
Hi Jules,

Firstly thanks for your good intentions of following this observation and for the discussion in progress. Your help in providing connections with the contacts and links to extremely important information makes it all worthwhile!

The contact details are on our main part of the website.

Quote
not saying you're old


I am old no worries about that! 38 year old chaser!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: Julie on 22 December 2006, 05:44:20 PM
No worries, I've enjoyed the discussions & to be honest I was writing it off as a possible microburst until my mobile rang  :)

The ball is in his court now & my posting any further info would only be secondhand & I wouldn't like to misquote him in anyway.

38!!!!!!  Goodness me, you're only a whipper snapper!!   :D  ;D
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: zacaroo on 05 January 2007, 06:30:11 PM
My input.

15 December Thunderstorms
Nice storms around today but unfortunately we were missed by them.


Line 1 moved north of us through the Morayfield/Caboolture area I am guessing. We rode to McDonnell Road and watched some infrequent CG's, we realized it was trcking north so we found a new position out the front of Kippa Ring School where we saw some stunning CG displays. I got a few videos and got some AWESOME stills out of the videos. We went home and my dad drove us to Scarborough to watch the lightning as the storm moved out into the bay, but when we arrived the storm had collapsed and there was no lightning. We got back at about 6.20pm and saw that a second cell had formed and was coming this way. 
We checked the warning and the radar and decided to ride up to McDonnell Road, we got there and saw it was a really CG active cell. There was a massive guster, it was really, really big. By this time we noticed the storm was moving to the NW so we went back down to Kippa Ring School where we viewed some CG's and there was also possibly a lowering from the guster that looked like the start of a tornado, it was visible when lightning lit the sky up, it was the for around 1 minute before it wasn't there the next flash. We stayed for another couple of minutes until we headed to Corey's house to get shots from his westward facing verandah. We checked the radar and the severe thunderstorm warning and it was predicted the storm would pass to our NW. We went outside and started filming some beautiful anvil crawlers I got some good videos and even better video stills out of it. We filmed for a good hour at least. We went and checked the radar again to see it had all passed and we saw another cell had formed and was coming this way. When it got here it had collapsed into some moderate rainfall and some infrequent CC's which were accompanied by some really loud, long rumbles of thunder.

In my rain gauge we had 6.5mm of rain from this day. It was a good day to start the holidays.

(http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/Qld_Storm_Chaser/15%20December%202006%20Storms/cg1_0001.jpg)

(http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/Qld_Storm_Chaser/15%20December%202006%20Storms/cg1_0002.jpg)

(http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/Qld_Storm_Chaser/15%20December%202006%20Storms/DSCF0971.jpg)

(http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/Qld_Storm_Chaser/15%20December%202006%20Storms/goodcrawler1_0001.jpg)

(http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/Qld_Storm_Chaser/15%20December%202006%20Storms/nightimecg_0001.jpg)


16 December Thunderstorms
The day started off early with storm cells firing up around Warwick and Toowoomba and moving to the North-North East. I keenly eyed the radar for a few hours and knew we were not going to get a direct hit. The storms went through Gympie, Rainbow Beach and surrounding areas. Double Island Point - approximately 4km east of the Rainbow Beach Township, recorded wind gusts of 196km/h as the storm went through the area. This may be a malfunction of the equipment but I haven't heard anything officially. The also received 30mm of rain in 30 minutes. Here we received 2mm from a weak cell that passed through and gave us some decent rumbles and crawlers. At around 11pm a line of convergence hit here and we got another 7mm out of it overnight

Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: Michael Bath on 06 January 2007, 01:08:16 AM
You would have seen this on the WZ forums perhaps - but if not:

Jeff Callaghan from Severe Weather at the BoM QLD says the techs have checked the Double Island Point AWS and everything was fine so the observation stands - it is an Australian record for a thunderstorm: 196km/h (106kn)

Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: zacaroo on 06 January 2007, 07:13:51 AM
No I had not Michael. Thanks for that, I can't believe it happened and wasn't a malfunction.
Title: Re: NE NSW / SE QLD Storms 14-16 Dec 2006
Post by: zacaroo on 28 January 2007, 08:06:21 PM


photos i took one month after the storm outside of cooroy

Can you please post the pictures in this forum please