Storm Australian Severe Weather Forum

Severe Weather Discussion => Australian Severe Storms, Weather Events and Storm Chasing => Topic started by: Jason(pato) on 26 March 2008, 12:44:22 PM

Title: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Jason(pato) on 26 March 2008, 12:44:22 PM
Well after a sustained period of non storm activity it looks like we may get some action. Tomorrow we have a bullseye of 1400 Cape and -4 LI's over us. Shear doesn't look too bad either with 15kts W at 700, 25kts WNW at 500, and 60kts WNW AT 300. Thursday looks like we might see some activity as well with Cape around 1000 and LI's of -4 again with shear much the same as Wedneday but with a 75kt jet at 300. This is from the 00z run so it may change a little between now and tomorrow, but at least it looks promising at this stage.With the lack of anything in these parts lately I'll take anything with a rumble or two.
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Shaun Galman on 27 March 2008, 07:05:41 AM
Hi guys,

Best of luck Jason(pato) with any development that might spark up, also to MB, Rodney and anyone else chasing in the Lismore/Northern Rivers area today!

I noticed (as most of you may have if watching the radars) a terrific looking active HP storm cell yesterday (25th) evening that was cutting a nice path between Walgett and Coonamble, possibly 40-50k's wide. It seemed fairly long lived and well sustained cell with lightning abounds, even reaching "red core status" for a time. I definitely wish I was out on it but the steering winds and subsequent easterly push would have soon destroyed any chance of keeping on it once it moved east, away from the Castlereagh Highway? Would have meant an hour and a half trip for me from here so not much chance of me making it in time or predicting current path directions otherwise I just may have gone? Always next time (or next year if things don't improve out here lol) :)

Cheers guys,
Shauno


 
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Karina Roberts (slavegirl) on 27 March 2008, 10:37:43 AM
It's good to see that this part of SE qld may see some storm activity again its been way to quiet of late up here.
It's been awesome to peruse through the threads and read about storms happening once again!
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Steven on 27 March 2008, 03:26:47 PM
LIs are looking GOOD! for NE NSW, however the further north it weakens dramatically, best of luck MB!
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Steven on 27 March 2008, 06:58:29 PM
Very interesting to see storms persisting well into the night, it's a sign of things to come. Although they are isolated.
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Michael Bath on 28 March 2008, 01:54:24 AM
Quite a few cells around here mainly late evening but nothing very photogenic from my location.

Ballina has copped it this morning from a storm:
10.0mm to 7.00am
22.2mm to 7.09am
42.6mm to 7.16am
75.6mm to 7.30am

Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Shaun Galman on 28 March 2008, 04:50:52 AM
Storm Report 26th March 2008. Upper Western NSW

Hi all,
Last night turned out rather interesting here surprising enough? I had just about given up any hope of encountering anything decent but at 7:20pm I noticed a strong SW wind gust move in, registering 10-15klm. I went out for a look but no real signs of storms at that point, only a few partial cumulus and a lot of stars? At 8:37pm I heard a few rumblings only to go outside and see several large CG firing to our NW on the front line of a large squally storm! In total shock, I grabbed the camera, called Russ / Datazoid (who was in as much disbeliefe at the sight of a storm as myself) and we raced down town for a few shots. It seemed to be very fast moving and slipping by just to our North. Lightning was frequent but crawlers soon became the norm with the sudden temperature drop from 26.2deg. @8pm to 18.4deg @8:45pm. Russ and I, as usual, missed the best CG shots while driving but didn't miss out on seeing them as they were pretty much right in front of us! The active storm front had totally passed us by within 20mins and settled into a decent rain shower, putting 4mm in the gauge over 40mins or so. No real shots to post unfortunately as the lightning had become "rain rapped" fairly quickly and left no time to get a clear photographic position? I don't recall seeing any real structure as I would imagine the mid-high level winds were pretty strong with no real shear, given the storms rapid movement.

It was good to see well... something at least! ;)
Cheers guys.
Shauno
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: James on 28 March 2008, 08:22:45 AM
15mm, 1-2cm Hail and some nice flangs according to my parents up in Bostobrick just before 2pm today.

According to radar the cell wasn't at maximum intensity when it hit them. Be interesting to hear how Dorrigo and the Moombil mountain area are going considering it is now nearly reaching maximum reflectivity's on radar.
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 28 March 2008, 10:38:04 AM
Since your post James, it seems the storm has developed a configuration indigitve of a bow structure. Would be interesting to see if strong winds have occurred in the area.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Richary on 28 March 2008, 01:13:17 PM
Ballina has copped it this morning from a storm:

Has anyone got a radar loop from this? Pretty intense from the sound of it.
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: TroyVR on 28 March 2008, 01:52:54 PM
I got some pictures looking towards south-east Sydney this morning, beautiful cloud bank.

(http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l313/troyrulz007/DSCF0386.jpg)
(http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l313/troyrulz007/DSCF0387.jpg)
(http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l313/troyrulz007/DSCF0388.jpg)
(http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l313/troyrulz007/DSCF0389.jpg)
(http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l313/troyrulz007/DSCF0390.jpg)
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Steven on 28 March 2008, 03:55:55 PM
Ballina has copped it this morning from a storm:

Has anyone got a radar loop from this? Pretty intense from the sound of it.

Here ya go Richary.

---> Grafton radar loop (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20080326/grafton128.htm)
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Steven on 29 March 2008, 03:27:43 AM
Nothing to report except a rather lousy 5.2mm at the rain gauge, didn't even see any lightning. Non event for some, good rain for a few.
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Michael Bath on 29 March 2008, 03:41:51 AM
A couple of pics from the two days of storms around the Lismore area follow. The activity has been pretty ordinary with the better cells peaking on the ranges or just too distant.

Wednesday 26th March 2008

Weakish cell south of Lismore that was high based and low topped:

(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/0326mb01.jpg)

Stronger storms along the border ranges though they very quickly died towards sunset:

(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/0326mb05.jpg)

---> all photos for 26th March (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/mb20080326.html)



Thursday 27th March 2008

The morning storm from McLeans Ridges. Another cell east of here managed to give Ballina its flash flooding rain 7am to 730am:

(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/0327mb02.jpg)

Quite a large shelf cloud on another Border Ranges cell late arvo:

(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/0327mb05.jpg)

And a nice sunset:

(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/0327mb08.jpg)

Tried to catch some lightning with Jason during the evening but it was too distant and infrequent.

---> all photos for 27th March (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/mb20080327.html)

MB
Title: RE: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Michael Bath on 29 March 2008, 09:00:59 AM
Looks like a hailstorm just passed over Nambucca Heads after moving down off the ranges. Quite a intense core has now passed out to sea.

-----

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
for FLASH FLOODING, LARGE HAILSTONES and DAMAGING WIND
For people in the
NORTHERN RIVERS and parts of the
MID NORTH COAST and
NORTHERN TABLELANDS Forecast Districts.


Issued at 2:17 pm Friday, 28 March 2008.


Severe thunderstorms may produce very heavy rainfall, flash flooding, large hailstones and damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Woolgoolga, Sawtell and Dorrigo.


At the time of issue a particularly large thunderstorm cell was located just to the west of Nambucca Heads and moving to the east.


Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Steven on 29 March 2008, 10:23:20 AM
Oh no! what a lumpy rainy mess we're getting at the moment, got distracted by some rolling thunder a bit earlier, of course the -4 LIs are responsible for the more isolated and intense cells down south (where here it's only -1), I am very eager to hear any reports that come in from these areas. The updrafts and structure would of been amazing!
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Richary on 29 March 2008, 01:19:48 PM
Thanks for the radar loop. Quite a widespread system. Thought with those rainfall figures it would have been more intense and localised.

Had a severe storm warning here earlier for a cell near Bargo, but looking at the radar it broke up fairly quickly with the highest fall being 10mm at Mittagong or Moss Vale. Nothing visible from this part of Sydney though. Reports on the radio of hail at Pheasants Nest.
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Dhanishta on 29 March 2008, 01:22:40 PM
Just wanted to report that there has been some moderate rain around the Mt Warning area in the last half hour and that an active storm is moving in now. Dont know if it will be severe or not but will let you know if it is.
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Michael Bath on 29 March 2008, 02:10:44 PM
Just been taking some lightning pics over your area though it has stopped now and was a bit distant from my location.


There have been reports of very heavy rainfall and a lot of hail from the Nambucca Heads storm this afternoon - the radar signature is quite impressive:

---> Grafton radar 28/3 (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20080328/grafton128.htm)


And yesterday's storms (27th March) in the same region made the Prime and NBN news this evening. It was pleasing to hear the event just north of Woolgoolga described as a microburst. Hail was also reported but no size given. The damage shown did agree with that assessment. Note the intense storm on this loop around 0600UTC (5pm local time)


---> Grafton radar 27/3 (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20080327/grafton128.htm)

Michael


Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: enak_12 on 29 March 2008, 02:28:06 PM
Damn 2 big storms in a row near Coffs but I couldn't chase either, I have my P's now but not my own car. I took some photo's of a storm that came directly over Coffs on the 27'th it looked ok on approach but rapidly turned to just a thundery shower by the time it got to me. I couldn't get any structure shots of the Woolgoolga and Nambucca storms was way to much junk cloud in the way.

Storm on the 27'th:

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/March%2027/IMG_6145.jpg)

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/March%2027/IMG_6150.jpg)

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/March%2027/IMG_6163.jpg)

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/March%2027/IMG_6182.jpg)
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Richary on 29 March 2008, 05:53:58 PM
Hadn't heard about the Coffs area storms but just got an email from a friend at Woolgoolga that included this....


I thought I imagined seeing a twister looking thing out west in the sky and the sky went green, deep green before it hit. Pulled all the plugs this time. Mullaway and Corindi got belted. Mullaway looks like a war zone. There is a complete roof in the trees on the western side of the highway that must have blown 200+ metres and stopped short of landin on cars doing 100 ks!  Lucky for me a lady told me to drive on the pavement because there was live a wire hanging on my side of the road, otherwise I wouldn't have known. Some places are stil without power tonight. Woopi was fine though, just heavy rain etc.
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Michael Bath on 31 March 2008, 10:14:53 AM
A newspaper article about events on Thurs 27th March


The Coffs Coast Advocate (http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3767959)

Quote
Storm fury!
March 29, 2008

By KUE DAVIS

MULLAWAY and Arrawarra looked like a scene out of the natural disaster film 'Twister' yesterday morning, after a freak storm hit the area on Thursday evening.

The fury - which has been described by some as a mini tornado - lasted all of about 15 minutes, but in that time ripped roofs from houses, smashed trees into cars, tore gardens from their beds, threw debris across roads and caused widespread power outages.

Dal Phoonie, who resides in Woolgoolga but owns a property on the western side of the highway at Mullaway, lost the roof of his Mullaway property.

"The whole roof was blown off - it landed only 15 or 20 metres from the highway. Luckily the trees were there and stopped it - there would have been a roof in the middle of the highway."

Luckily, the house was unoccupied.

"I got a phone call from the lady next door. We rent the property out - there was no-one there," Mr Phoonie said.
Unfortunately, his story was not unique.

Several residents sustained damage to houses and garages, mainly from trees.

Mr Phoonie was astonished at the strength and speed of the storm.

"Dad left at about 5.15pm, and I was back here at 5.25pm and it had all happened."

The SES were kept bust, with 36 calls before midnight on Thursday, which grew to 50 as daylight showed the extent of the damage.

"Most of the calls were for tress on houses and cars, roofs off houses," Coffs Harbour City SES local controller, Bob White, said.

"On Thursday night we had three crews working; one from Corindi and two from Coffs. Today (yesterday) we'll have four; one from Corindi and Coffs and two from Grafton."

Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Rodney Wallbridge on 31 March 2008, 12:46:24 PM
Gyday all, just a lovely sunset piccy i took on friday.While watching and hoping for a storm to show up.Some random flashes to the north and some out offshore later on.Still waiting for that final Hoorah of the non existant summer storm seasion.
 (http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20080328rw.jpg)
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Richary on 02 April 2008, 02:59:03 PM
I sent that Coffs Coast Advocate link to my friend at Woolgoogla. Got this back....

"The pic you sent in the paper was a very tame one. The damage was much worse in behind that area. roads were covered with trees, completely uprooted, power lines down and some demolished buildings. Strange that the paper only showed that one on line. Across the road from that petrol station is where the roof is hanging in a tree above the highway, hope they've moved it by now."

I will ask her if it was in a narrow band as would be indicated by a possible tornado.
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: enak_12 on 02 April 2008, 04:49:16 PM
I have the paper articles with me still. I will scan all the photos tomorrow if you want to look at them all?
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Richary on 02 April 2008, 05:39:05 PM
I have the paper articles with me still. I will scan all the photos tomorrow if you want to look at them all?
If they show more info that the online link, definitely would be interested.

This sounds like it might have been a quite severe event over a small area. Certainly suggests a microbust or small tornado from what I have heard (rather than seen). The descriptions she posted were even more severe than the newspaper article.

The event got no coverage on the Sydney media that I saw. My friend at Woopi while not a weather buff has an interest in storms (purely from watching and she is in a great spot there to do so). If she says she witnessed something that looked like a twister I would be quite inclined to believe her pending a phone call to try and specify exactly how much rotation etc she saw.

It's the same person I mentioned a while ago who got the gound effect shock from a close lightning strike at home. She is very switched on and wouldn't make things up. Very down to earth grounded person though you wouldn't always believe it when you first meet her.
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Peter J on 02 April 2008, 05:46:32 PM
Still waiting for that final Hoorah of the non existant summer storm season.
Rodney, don't be surprised if it does come on Wed night or Thursday when the vigorous cold front pushes thru Vic and S NSW. There is some instability attached to it, and high winds as well.

Big Pete

Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Michael Bath on 03 April 2008, 01:33:25 AM
Yes - please post the pics Kane.
Richary - where/what is Woopi ?

MB
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: enak_12 on 03 April 2008, 07:45:48 AM
Ok heres all the photos from the paper including the front page. (Michael Woopi is just a nickname for Woolgoolga area)

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/March%2027/CCF29032008_00000.jpg)

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/March%2027/CCF02042008_00001QE.jpg)

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/March%2027/CCF02042008_00000rt45.jpg)

Nambucca Storm:
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/March%2027/CCF02042008_00000sd-1.jpg)
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: enak_12 on 03 April 2008, 11:01:16 AM
Oops forgot this one. Now just filling in the minimum ten word requirement lol.

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/March%2027/CCF02042008_00000.jpg)
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Richary on 03 April 2008, 12:42:52 PM
Thanks for those scans. Certainly looks like it was pretty wild.

Haven't yet heard anything back from my friend as to whether it was a narrow damage trail or more widespread.
Title: Re: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008
Post by: Richary on 03 April 2008, 04:26:45 PM
Spoke to my parents tonight who live just up from the Mullaway (also at Woolgoolga - aka Woopi). They went for a drive around and reckon the damage track was fairly narrow but didn't have take serious observations of the damage path. Dad also saw a waterspout off the coast during this even so that could be linked - maybe a spout came inland and caused the damage? Though he reckons it was a fair way out. We need to know where the roof was blown off from in relation to where it landed as a start point.