Storm Australian Severe Weather Forum

Severe Weather Discussion => Australian Severe Storms, Weather Events and Storm Chasing => Topic started by: Colin Maitland on 16 February 2010, 02:18:54 PM

Title: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Colin Maitland on 16 February 2010, 02:18:54 PM
Some severe storms approaching the SEQ after a very hot and humid day. Warnings have been issued for the storms in QLD and severe weather system for NSW.

SEQ is expecting some medium to heavy falls tomorrow.

Warning for NSW

Issued at 7:10 pm on Monday 15 February 2010

Synoptic Situation: 6:00 pm EDT Monday
The Low currently situated off the NSW South Coast has begun to move slowly away to the southeast and will continue this path overnight tonight and into Tuesday.

Very heavy rainfall has eased across the South Coast over the past one to two hours. Although steady rainfall continues across the area the risk of significant flash flooding has lessened. Conditions will continue to improve throughout the evening and overnight. Since 9am this morning rainfall totals in excess of 200mm have been recorded between Moruya and Bega.

Damaging surf conditions, with waves exceeding 5 metres in the surf zone, may produce significant beach erosion between Ulladulla and Gabo Island for the remainder of today before easing on Tuesday.

Flood Warnings are current for the Bega and Moruya Rivers.
Emergency services advise do not enter flood water. Stay well clear of creeks, storm drains and causeways.

Emergency services advise you check your property regularly for erosion or inundation by sea water, and if necessary, raise goods and electrical items.

Surf Life Saving Australia recommends that you stay out of the water and stay well away from surf-exposed areas.


For SEQ

For people in the BRISBANE CITY, GOLD COAST CITY, LOGAN CITY, IPSWICH CITY, SCENIC RIM, REDLAND and parts of the LOCKYER VALLEY, MORETON BAY and SOMERSET Council Areas.

Issued at 7:11 pm Monday, 15 February 2010.

The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 7:05 pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Boonah. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. They are forecast to affect Ipswich and Beaudesert by 7:35 pm and Logan City and Highvale by 8:05 pm.

Very heavy rainfall and localised flash flooding are likely.

Approximately 60mm of rainfall has been recorded within 1 hour at Tarome and Kalbar Weir.
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Antonio (stormboy) on 17 February 2010, 04:32:32 AM
Well a bit disappointing with the storms that developed yesterday. The 2 pictures below show 2 cumulonimbus developing just above us and the 3rd picture is the radar frame that best represents that development that you see that in the 2nd image developed into a storm.

storm boy
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Colin Maitland on 17 February 2010, 07:46:29 AM
Storm warnings have once again been issued this afternoon for the SEQ for severe storms and flash flooding. It is expected to last over the next few hours.
Last night we received some large downpours in various areas from the storms that swept across the south east.

Some of the higher totals were

Around the Ipswich area west of Brisbane

Churchill AL *   99mm
Amberley        116mm
Brassall        103mm 
One Mile Bridge 101mm

Kalbar       132mm
   
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Richary on 17 February 2010, 01:36:35 PM
Brisbane City 80mm in an hour around lunchtime today, that must have been some storm as well as being quite localised.
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Richary on 17 February 2010, 04:55:32 PM
Today's radar archive from Brisbane is quite interesting (and maybe unusual). The storms came up out of very little very quickly, and the existing weather pattern was flowing in a NW-SE pattern. Suddenly along this line everything developed at once along that line and obviously dumped a huge amount of rain very quickly. Anyone in Brisbane able to give us any observations from this event?

Radar loop from 10am-2pm local

http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR664-brisbane/2010-02-16-00/2010-02-16-04 (http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR664-brisbane/2010-02-16-00/2010-02-16-04)
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Colin Maitland on 18 February 2010, 03:17:01 AM
Some pretty heavy falls yesterday in Brisbane  as Richary has already posted. There was major flash flooding through out areas of Brisbane causing property damage and many cars to be swept away or inundated with water. An insurance companies nightmare.

WZ news reported: South-east Queensland residents are mopping up after storms caused flash flooding across the region on Tuesday.

In the heaviest rain in more than eight years, hundreds of millimetres fell in less than two hours in some areas, causing widespread damage to homes and cars.

At the height of the storms, more than 60,000 homes were without power and there were hundreds of calls to the State Emergency Service (SES) for help.

The Queensland State Emergency Service evacuated people from two streets in Brisbane's north.



Some of the totals received since 9 am yesterday.

Brisbane          121.4mm   
Beerburrum        158  mm 
Nambour            93.8mm
Peachester          76 mm
Archerfield         75 mm
Upper Kedron        74 mm
Dayboro            106 mm
Lawnton             94 mm
Mt Mee             135 mm
Wamuran            149 mm
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Michael Bath on 18 February 2010, 06:04:17 AM
Not much south of the border yesterday (16th) - just some rain patches downwind of the storm cells in SE QLD.   The evening before (Mon 15th Feb) produced a very active lightning show for a couple of hours during the evening. It followed some earlier weak storms which moved across from the WNW.  During the evening show, one cell appeared to peak right out the front of home (McLeans Ridges, NE NSW) with a number of very close CGs including one that appeared to hit a neighbour's house or tree about 10pm. The crackling/ripping sound was amazing. I'd guess the bolt hit about 50 metres away.   Photography was next to impossible with rain. Given how much lightning was occurring it was very frustrating to see so few bolts.

and this just in

Quote
Tornado tears through crops
Kristy Sexton-McGrath, Wednesday February 17, 2010 - 10:42 EDT
A tornado has ripped through far north Queensland, amazing onlookers.

Residents say the tornado travelled through an area just south of Atherton yesterday afternoon, damaging crops.

Atherton resident Chris told ABC Local Radio, the tornado was strong enough to throw a pile of tractor tyres 100 metres into the air.

"I just couldn't believe my eyes. To the left of me, off the road there, a tornado, a funnel actually dropped," he said.

"The funnel was clear as. It went right up into the sky and you could see it dropping and as it was moving you could actually see it spinning the dust and the corn and it was all coming up to there."

Weather forecaster Bill O'Connor says the tornado was caused by a passing storm.

"In the past, we've seen damage that's obviously from a tornado. Any thunderstorm has the potential of producing one," he said.

- ABC

Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: James on 18 February 2010, 06:25:15 AM
And a picture courtesy of ABC online

(http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201002/r515852_2822340.jpg) (http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201002/r515852_2822340.jpg)
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Colin Maitland on 18 February 2010, 06:50:36 AM
This is the youtube footage that has just been posted for the tornado.


Malanda Twister.mp4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7CjzdmumKo#normal)

Another link  http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=43835 (http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=43835)
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Paul D on 18 February 2010, 07:54:02 AM
Plenty of thunder yesterday afternoon with storms moving over app 3pm:-
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae277/DavJR17/Storms%202010-02-16/Pan1-1sml.jpg)
missed a few absolute ripper deafening multiple bolts around 4pm
grab off video(has been modified to try and overcome rolling shutter effects)
(http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae277/DavJR17/Storms%202010-02-16/Movie_0001_f00009sml.jpg)

cheers
PD
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Michael Bath on 18 February 2010, 08:28:13 AM
Nice lightning capture there Paul

That tornado is very impressive - radar at the time is available from the link below. It would suggest it occurred around 0620UTC with a converging precipitation area over Malanda (SE of Atherton)

128km Radar Loop for Cairns, 04:00 16/02/2010 to 10:00 16/02/2010 UTC
(http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-thumb/IDR193/2010-02-16-04/2010-02-16-10/300.s.png) (http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR193-cairns/2010-02-16-04/2010-02-16-10)
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Colin Maitland on 18 February 2010, 02:55:52 PM
It is pretty amazing watching the footage of the tornado.

The BOM is now warning residence along the East Central coast of QLD to prepare for flash flooding and heavy rains that is expected to fall over the next 24 hours. Areas around Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Yeppoon will probably feel the brunt of it on Thursday.

Today Castlehope west of Gladstone received 115mm since 9am today.

It has been very hot and humid in Brisbane for the last 2 weeks and we were all looking forward to a reprieve after this last rain event. Even BOM thought this may happen, but it now looks like the humid hot weather is going to stick around for a least another week.

Insurance companies were busy today amidst all the claims that have been lodged after this weeks events.

Cheers
Col
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 18 February 2010, 04:32:44 PM
Hi,

All I can say is WOW! Incredible tornado exhibiting full condensation to the ground and excellent upmotion. Interesting that the videographer turned the video camera sideways to fit it in!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Colin Maitland on 19 February 2010, 03:36:28 AM
This link will take you to an absolute brilliant footage of the Atherton Tableland Tornado. Just follow the link to the video footage.

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/02/18/94305_local-news.html (http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/02/18/94305_local-news.html)

Trying to find this one on you tube for a permanent link.

Enjoy
Col  
Title: RE: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Michael Bath on 19 February 2010, 04:13:34 AM
Wow - that's great footage. It sure seems to change direction and speed up once it hits and smashes the "pivot" structure. And nice rope out. 
Title: Re: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Macca on 19 February 2010, 04:45:58 AM
Wow!  That is AWESOME!  Its amazing that (at least) two people were able to video this! 

It looks pretty intense as it hits that structure/tyres.  Some of that debris is moving dangerously fast.  Only a guess but looks to have winds of 150km/h or thereabouts.

Macca
Title: Re: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: nmoir on 19 February 2010, 07:13:33 AM
fantastic , looked interesting on radar too as the precip suddenly rotated , sitting on a boundary you would think . great sound too , you can hear the inflow whining on the house
Title: Re: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 19 February 2010, 10:29:00 AM
Yes that latest footage is awesome. Look at the debri cloud at the base - probably in the order of EF1 damage by the looks - hard to tell though without a close examination. Nice rope out as stated!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Paul D on 19 February 2010, 10:47:46 AM
Reckon the family in the second video should buy a lotto ticket not just for being able to take such a wicked video but also for having it rope out when it did!

Cheers
Paul
Title: Re: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Richary on 19 February 2010, 01:14:40 PM
That 2nd video made 9 news in Sydney tonight, and they just interviewed the couple on "The 7pm Project" on 10. Lucky it broke apart when it did for them!
Title: Re: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Colin Maitland on 21 February 2010, 03:34:09 AM
The system that dropped all the rain on the South East of QLD has progressively made its way up north. The areas around Bowen have received more than 250mm of rain in the last few days.

As reported by the news, the Bruce Highway was cut due to the flooding stranding many people.

Its of interest to note that there is a slight chance of a tropical low forming although BOM has shown no interest in it at this stage. At this stage it would be a "very low" chance but still, worth keeping an eye on it. The main worry is, not the forming of a cyclone but with possibility of more rain to come, it would exasperate the problem of flooding throughout the coastal communities of Northern QLD.

JTWC are monitoring it, tech reports read,  (remember it is still very poor and the main area of concern is for more rain)

      (1) THE AREA OF CONVECTION PREVIOUSLY LOCATED NEAR 17.5S 147.9E
IS NOW LOCATED NEAR 17.5S 148.3E, APPROXIMATELY 150 NM EAST-SOUTHEAST
OF CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA. ANIMATED MULTISPECTRAL SATELLITE IMAGERY
DEPICTS DISORGANIZED, PERSISTENT DEEP CONVECTION FLARING NEAR A
BROAD MID-LEVEL CIRCULATION. RADAR IMAGERY FROM CAIRNS AND A 190336Z
AMSU IMAGE HINT AT BROAD, LOW-LEVEL CYCLONIC TURNING WITH THE
MAJORITY OF DEEP CONVECTION DISPLACED NORTH. A 182358Z ASCAT IMAGE
DEPICTS CONVERGENT FLOW ALONG THE SOUTHERN FLANK OF A WEAK MONSOON
TROUGH POSITIONED ALONG 15S. SURFACE OBSERVATIONS THROUGHOUT THIS
AREA DO NOT INDICATE A LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER (LLCC) BUT SHOW
15-20 KNOT CONVERGENT EASTERLIES WITH SLP VALUES 1008 TO 1010 MB AND
SLIGHT 24-HOUR SLP RISES. UPPER-LEVEL ANALYSIS INDICATES A GENERALLY
FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT WITH WEAK VERTICAL WIND SHEAR AND FAIR POLEWARD
OUTFLOW. HOWEVER, THE 850 MB VORTICITY SIGNATURE REMAINS WEAK AND
ELONGATED. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED SURFACE WINDS ARE ESTIMATED AT 15 TO 20
KNOTS. MINIMUM SEA LEVEL PRESSURE IS ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR 1008 MB.
BASED ON THE LACK OF A LLCC AND CLIMATOLOGICALLY HIGH SLP, THE
POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL CYCLONE
WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS REMAINS POOR.


Col   
Title: Re: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Mathew Townsend on 21 February 2010, 05:37:43 AM
That tornado would be strong F0 or weak F1 rating?
Title: Re: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Brad Hannon on 21 February 2010, 04:16:10 PM
Just watched the 2nd video!  "its coming through to me bloomin corrrrn"  ;D hahaha

His commentary is priceless!

and of course there's the magic media description below the still image "mini-tornado" grrr.
Title: Re: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Richary on 21 February 2010, 04:41:03 PM
and of course there's the magic media description below the still image "mini-tornado" grrr.

I was pleasantly surprised when 10 showed it again on their late night news that night, and stated that there were an average of 3 tornadoes a year in Quensland, with others probably not seen due to the remote areas. No mention of the dreaded mini word. Commented to my girlfriend that I was amazed they had got it right for once.
Title: Re: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010
Post by: Michael Bath on 26 February 2010, 02:21:28 AM
A few pics from 15th February taken at McLeans Ridges, NSW

As mentioned earlier in this thread, some weak activity spread across during the afternoon. The outflow kicked up an interesting line of congestus.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2010/0215mb12.jpg)

(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2010/0215mb15.jpg)

(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2010/0215mb17.jpg)


Later on a powerful lightning show occurred for about 2 hours - however the rain proved to be a menace.

(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2010/0215mb19.jpg)

(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2010/0215mb20.jpg)



More here: http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2010/mb20100215.html (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2010/mb20100215.html)