Storm Australian Severe Weather Forum
Severe Weather Discussion => Australian Severe Storms, Weather Events and Storm Chasing => Topic started by: Michael Bath on 16 May 2008, 02:29:01 AM
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GFS is trying to develop a similar setup to 8th July 2007 (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2007/docs/snow_chase_guide.htm) this Sunday, which produced daytime snow across the Northern Tablelands and even thundersnow. EC and GASP are not so favourable at this stage pushing the cold pool through earlier. NSW BoM already mention snow possible for Sunday on the Central and Northern Tablelands.
Apart from the tablelands snow chances, conditions will be quite favourable with widespread showers, rain or thunderstorms across SA, VIC, NSW and S QLD the next couple of days. Hopefully some decent falls will occur where it's needed.
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Just saw that Adelaide is expecting 30-50mm over the weekend. I was there last weekend and it desperately needs it, looking very dry over that way.
I am going (sort of) camping at Cataract Scout Camp this weekend for a radio club thing, I wonder if it will be like a few years ago when a cold change hit Saturday night, the temperature plummeted, and we had ice on the windscreens in the morning. Not much fun when you are staying in a tin hut.
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GFS has -30 C at 500hPa over NE NSW/SE QLD this Sunday evening - temps that low that far north are exceptional.
Need to add this morning's BoM notes for the upcoming event:
"A high in the Tasman Sea will combine with a trough, presently over the Bight region, to generate a band of showers and storms in the west that will drift towards the ranges later tonight. The cloud will then drift out into the Tasman Sea during Friday. The trough will find it difficult to penetrate eastwards because of the strength of the high; it will still be west of Tasmania on Friday by which time it will be reinforced by the next system presently developing south of WA. The second system has all the makings of being an exceptional one. The cold air, already evident on the satellite photo, promises to be unseasonably cold, moving into the west of the state overnight Friday and reaching eastern parts by Sunday morning. There is a strong chance that the coldest air will move over the central and northern parts resulting in some snow about parts of the ranges."
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Mike B,
I think i will keep an eye on this one, coz if it is as you say, then Melbourne will cop the brunt of this front - in my neck of the woods, temps expected to drop below 15c by Sunday, creating an opportunity for low level snow event.
Big Pete
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Pete,
In actual fact, locations further north are probably going to bear the brunt of the coldest air with the upper level cold pool shearing off and heading E/NE'ward across SA, inland NSW towards NE NSW/SE QLD as Michael mentioned. Southern Victoria will see showers in the post-frontal southwesterly winds, but probably nothing too out of the ordinary down there.
Far eastern Victoria may benefit from a potential ECL around Sunday/Monday if it develops far enough south, though. Certainly an interesting few days of weather coming up in southeast Australia.
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That is unusual too! the splitting of a front/trough system normally doesnt occur this time of the year - seems the rain gods have given up on VIC of late. We have endured warm days, cold nights, no rain for the last 4 days. Seems as if our end of the drought is still holding up - and if what is said about this weather system is true, then luck is not on our side again. We despairingly need the rain here, or we'll be faced with even tougher water restrictions in the not too distant future (leading to ponder the real reason why Vic is no longer the garden state, but the drought state).
Big Pete
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well yet again last night (may 15) had offshore storms they looked almost identical to the night before, very orange lightning from a bit of smoke haze.
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/May%2015%202008/IMG_7030.jpg)
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/May%2015%202008/IMG_7028.jpg)
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/May%2015%202008/IMG_7014.jpg)
Its a bugger I missed half of the bolt with this one, great contrast.
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Thunderstorms developed offshore east of my location about 2am today (17th). The first lightning flash I saw was a large clear-air CG then constant in-cloud lightning. Looking at satpics this morning the activity continued and is still going near the QLD/NSW border. GFS has quite a bit of instability over here and SE QLD this afternoon. This is ahead of the cold air which may still produce some snow on the Central and Northern Tablelands though the moisture timing is looking less favourable atm.
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It seems the major cloud band is coming through about sunset for the onset of the snow. And yes the models are holding on that extreme instability - quite incredible really for this time of the year! Anybody got a boat?
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
Posted on: 17 May 2008, 09:46:16 AM
Storms have developed over the Northern Tabelands and headed to the Northern Rivers. It will be interesting when the storms head off the coast.
The cloud mass continues to make its way across NSW and the cold air follows indicated but the blotchy air mass on the satellite imagery.
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
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Definitely and the intensity of current line of storms in Brisbane and surrounding areas reflects this.
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A very nice storm happpening here ppl. Looks very pretty on the radar too. A friend of mine in Casino said they got hail down their way.
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Hi all,
I bet everyone will be wrapping up nice and warm at the moment!
We had a fairly substantial dust storm push through earlier on the front of a 12.4kph SW-SE wind. Looked nicely threatening for a while set against a dark-ish rain band.
We have only had 1.5mm so nothing impressive as was expected for these parts? Had a nice temperature drop from 21ºc at noon, lowering to 14.5ºc now. BRRRRR
Looks like a bit of an early winter blast for parts! Our sky is bathed in a stunning golden-orange glow at the moment thanks to the setting sun.
Cheers guys, cant wait to see and compare the low temperature readings as they are posted! :)
Shauno
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It has been cold - even in Melbourne. The overnight temp actually exceeded the daytime temp by 6c! It only got to max temp of 10c here, and a very healthy 27mm in the gauge at home. Much needed. It was very windy last night, but the wind eased today - and just under 1/2 hr ago a healthy heavy rainfall came in, so the gauge will be a little higher when i check next.
this is definetely a very cold front! Rug up all those north of me!
Big Pete
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Report 17th May 2008.
It has rained pretty much most of the day in Melbourne, and we decided to head on up to Mt Donna Buang in the afternoon and find some snow. Temps were around the 7C - 8C around Melbourne, but began dropping as we headed up the mountain. The rain soon turned to sleet, followed shortly by snow, and it snowed the whole time we were up there. I met up with a couple of other chasers too.
Great afternoon had by all!
(http://www.stormygirl.net/images1/snow5170508.jpg)
(http://www.stormygirl.net/images1/snow6170508.jpg)
(http://www.stormygirl.net/images1/snow7170508.jpg)
(http://www.stormygirl.net/images1/snow10170508.jpg)
(http://www.stormygirl.net/images1/snow14170508.jpg)
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Wasn't really able to chase Saturday afternoon but it ended up becoming quite active to the NW and N of home. This storm passed through with some nice sunset colours. After these shots there were quite a few very close CGs and anvil crawlers though fairly infrequent and there was a blast of fresh northerly winds and light rain which made it almost impossible to continue trying to photograph.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051701.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051701.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051702.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051702.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051703.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051703.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051704.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051704.jpg)
MB
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17th & 18th MAY 2008
Gday Everyone,
Got back from my very first snow chase this arvo. And what an initiation I had!!. First of all I got the call from Rod Wallbridge and Michael Bath to say that we're heading off to Guyra at 7pm 17th May. What ensued was a memorable evening and following morning.
After a rather uneventful trip from Lismore to Glen Innes things began to develop rapidly. We came across some light rain around Glen Innes which eventually got gradually heavier. From GI we came through Glencoe with the rain giving way to sleet. Needless to say we all were getting quite excited as it was almost certain there would be snow falling higher up. (We were at around 1200m with another 200m to climb). After watching the way ahead intently for any evidence of flakes it finally appeared. Firstly sporadically with flurries then magically the whole thing just turned to snow. For a first time snow chaser I was left stunned. What followed then was a slow crawl up to Ben Lomond to witness a 2- 2 1/2 hr snowfall, eventually realising around 5-7cm in depth.
Following are pics from the 17th & 18th May 2008 from around Ben Lomond and Guyra
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1615copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1615copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1698copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1698copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1711copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1711copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1732copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1732copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1738copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1738copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1746copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1746copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1747copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1747copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1590copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1590copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1642copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1642copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1644copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1644copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1653copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1653copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1660copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1660copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1665copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1665copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1750copy-1.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1750copy-1.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1666copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1666copy.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/th_IMG_1677copy.jpg) (http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_1677copy.jpg)
In all a fantastic result for something that did appear marginal at times, the moisture coincided perfectly with the cold parcel to produce a magic result. A big thanks goes to Rod and Michael for if it wasn't for those guys I wouldn't have experienced NT snow or got the pics I got,
Cheers pato (jason)
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Some additional observations and photos following on from Jason's report.
The temperature in Tenterfield was "only" 12 at 9pm though had been 7 on the eastern outskirts of town. We watched as the temp slowly dropped to a consistent 8 around Deepwater. The next 40km to Glen Innes it made a continual drop to below five. Precipitation had commenced too. Just south of Glen Innes there was sleet and as soon as we begun the climb up the Ben Lomond Range south of Glencoe the temp dropped enough for the snow to start. It was now 10.30pm and the snow was intense! What awesome timing. We very slowly drove into Ben Lomond where the heavy snow continued for the next 2 hours.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051705.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051705.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051706.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051706.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051707.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051707.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051708.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051708.jpg)
After much fun photographing the scenes in Ben Lomond - with no-one else around - we moved south to Guyra. The snow had mostly stopped by around midnight but the heavy falls had covered the whole region from below Black Mountain to the Ben Lomond ranges with 5-7cm of dry powder snow. (Guyra Hospital reported a 7cm snow depth in the 9am synoptic report today). Police had closed off the highway diverting traffic via Inverell due to the very poor visibility on the New England Highway during the intense snowfalls.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051801.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051801.jpg)
A partially moonlit scene at the Mother of Ducks Lagoon at Guyra
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051802.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051802.jpg)
Local police getting into the spirit. We had a great chat to the two officers about local snow events.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051803.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051803.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051804.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051804.jpg)
By about 3am we decided to try and get some rest though that was next to impossible. So it was a freezing few hours until sunrise mostly in Rodney's Rav4. Bryan Juni and his friend had booked a motel room at Guyra but were running late so we only briefly caught up with them before they had to crash for some sleep.
After 6am we had a look around the Guyra area. The amount of snow was very impressive - the best cover I've seen over such a wide area of the Northern Tablelands.
Golf anyone ?
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051805.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051805.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051806.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051806.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051807.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051807.jpg)
I guess the sheep are used to this:
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051808.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051808.jpg)
Then back to the Ben Lomond area before we headed home after 10am. Despite no snow between about midnight and 6am, there were fairly constant snow showers for the next four hours - some quite heavy.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051809.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051809.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051810.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051810.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051811.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051811.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008051812.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008051812.jpg)
Very tired and so glad that Rodney, Jason and I had the opportunity to witness this unusual MAY snow event for the Northern Tablelands !!!
Michael
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17/5/08 - Melbourne rainfall.
In the home gauge in Mooroolbark - 48mm 9am 16/5 to 9am 17/5 - since then a further 15mm, making it the wettest month this year at home so far. Good to see excellent snowfalls across the lower peaks. Also temps here didn't climb above 10c all day yesterday (coldest May day for a number of years). Today was a little warmer, and the sun did break through about 3pm.
Been away for some hours, will check my raingauge about 10.30anm tomorrow for official rainfall from home.
Big Pete
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Hi Micheal and Jason :o
Great snowfall. Loved the snow on the Statesman. Rather alot of snow :P I believe GFS was the best model at predicting this event. I only hope to see a fall as good as this later this season.
Why didnt my brothers listen to me :'( I couldve danced in the snow.... oh well ::)
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Some good snowfalls in the Tablelands from the look of it. I was at Cataract Scout Camp about halfway between Wollongong and Campbelltown for the last two nights. Things started chilling down late afternoon and the freezing rain started about 5pm but didn't last that long and we didn't get much. However the temperature had certainly plummeted and I was glad I had brought the gas patio heater to use inside the metal "hall" we were in for our radio listening.
Looking at BoM Campbelltown only got 1.6mm and there was 3mm in the guage here when I got home. So while it got cold and windy for a while it wasn't nearly as bad as some of the early forecasts were indicating for today, I seem to recall GFS suggesting 50mm for the area today which obviously didn't occur.
Reported overnight minimum for Campbelltown was 4, and I guess we could take off a couple of degrees for the extra height and being bush at Cataract.
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Definitely some impressive snowfalls for May and they definitely make some nice scenes captured. I find it intriguiing that the snowfalls did occur to that extent that far north and not in the Tablelands. Obviously I did not check the models for the overnight hours further north. The air was sufficiently cold that whilst you had precipitation there was going to be snow.
Does anyone know if Shooters Hill south of Oberon got any snow?
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
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Hi everyone,
I'm quite new to all this, and I guess you could say I had my first snow chase this morning.
After living in QLD and Northern Territory all my life, (and have therefore never seen snow), I moved to Tamworth last year, and after hearing of the possibility of snow in the Northern Tablelands, I started searching the net to find out more, and ended up here...so in the last 24 hours I have certainly learnt a lot, had a successful trip and seen my first snow! And have definetly caught the bug!
I left Tamworth at 6:40am this morning, heading north on the New England Highway, with the aim of heading towards Guyra. Here in Tamworth it was about 8 degrees according to my car thermometer, and stayed like that till I headed up the Moonbies..
I spotted my first snow about 5 min south of Armidale at 8am. The temp was 3 degrees. There was just a small amount of snow patches on the side of the road,and snow clinging to the grass. Since I haven't seen any snow in my life that was an exciting enough event, and I knew that there should be more as I got closer to Guyra. I'm not exactly sure what Armidale's snowfall had been, but I had heard that there had been some late Sat night, so am not sure if this was still remaining from that, or whether there had been some falls in the morning.
I reached Guyra at about 930 after stopping a few more times for photos on the way. It was good to see other people's photos earlier that morning/the night before to see how much more snow there was before I arrived. When I arrived there were still light snow showers (I apologise if i am using incorrect terminology, I'm still learning). I also headed out to Ben Lomond, and was there till about 1130am, and there was still quite a bit of snow (not that i have much to compare it with). By the time I headed back south on the new england highway, there wasn't much snow left in Guyra (about 1145am).
I'm definetly feeling quite pleased with myself and glad I got up early for the drive. I'll definetly be watching whats happening this winter and hope to have a few more chases!
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Long time, no post. Here is my report of the storms yesterday - 17th May.
Not sure what to say about this one. Fantastic view from Bulwer, Moreton Island thats for sure. However, there was a lack of clear lightning :( .
I watched the storms build all day, at around 830am on the northern side of the island I saw a rainbow and a few cells out to sea.
(http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/163/dscf9420eh4.jpg)
(http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3879/dscf9423db4.jpg)
On the Eastern beach I was watching cells go up all day - confirmed by strikeone radar.
(http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/4695/dscf9430sj1.jpg)
(http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7717/dscf9434sj9.jpg)
When we came back up the inside of the island from Kooringal, I could see a cell over northern Caboolture/Bribie? I am questioning my observation skills as it was moving N-NE but it isn't on radar? The anvil was out to the ESE of the storm though? I'm not sure what the go with that was, so I ASSUMED the movement of any more developing storms would be N-NE.
(http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/3383/dscf9442hu4.jpg)
So at about 5pm I walked down the beach and saw that massive squall line, I could tell it was from Northern NSW to about Caboolture. Now I thought good it should get us because I assumed the movement was NE and it seemed to be from my point of view for atleast an hour. The low level stuff was flowing in heading ESE. I think what stuffed me up was that I hadn't watched much of the line develop.
(http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6977/dscf9472ih3.jpg)
I sat there watching the lightning flicker away, not much visible stuff :( , I had the best spot ever and it wasn't there :( . The first line moved south of Bulwer, through Tangalooma southwards. Reports from Redcliffe were 36mm of rain, hail, plenty of lightning and some gusty winds. It had an impressive guster on it, being lit by the lightning I could see it would have been great to see in the daylight. I knew that line was gone so sat up chatting with some family friends until around 11pm. I thought it was a little too cold for anything else to fire, wrong again. The wind was still blowing a ESE when I went to bed. I woke up at about 1230am to a big flash. Went outside and it was bucketing down, pretty windy too, probably 60-70km/h gusts. That lasted maybe 20minutes before clearing, wasn't any flangs that I saw but some impressive wind nonetheless, there were a few old trees down around the back of Bulwer this morning and plenty of small-medium branches as I woke up to the SWer this morning for the barge ride back to Redcliffe.
Lightning Pictures from first line(5 second exposure)
Night-time mammatus?
(http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4361/dscf9495ag6.jpg)
Best visible lightning shot :(
(http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/3233/dscf9522ol8.jpg)
Pity the strike out of the bottom wasn't bright
(http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/825/dscf9548la4.jpg)
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Gen - welcome to the forums. Glad you were able to have a successful snow dash - post some pics if you want :)
Both the GFS and MLAPS model runs at 2008-05-17 00z (10am Saturday) forecast the Saturday evening moisture levels (@ 700 hPa) very well but GFS also predicted the return of good moisture in the 7am to 10am period on Sunday - MLAPS had the air too dry.
+12 forecast:
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/maps/2008051700_mlaps+12_rh700.png)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/maps/2008051700_gfs+12_rh700.png)
However, both models had the 850 hPa temps way too high in the forecast AND the 2008-05-17 12z analysis - GFS plotting values around 3 C and MLAPS 5 C in the Northern Tablelands around Guyra and Ben Lomond (30 S, 151 40 E) at 12z (10pm) though both had values around 1 to 2 C by 15z (1am Sunday).
(lat/long values for GFS are missing from the maps for some reason, but you can match them off the MLAPS maps)
Analysis:
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/maps/2008051712_mlaps+00_temp850.png)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/maps/2008051712_gfs+00_temp850.png)
850 hPa heights were analysed at 1430 metres for 12z (quite good to allow the cold to impact the higher terrain). The 850 temps forecast and analysed were perhaps inaccurate compared to the real situation, and if they had occurred it would have resulted in a couple of hours of rain instead of heavy snow. Typically you must have 850 temps below 1 C for snow.
The Moree sounding at 12z shows temps of about 1 C around 850 hPa - with significant cooling from the 00z trace. The 12z values are indicative of the airmass that must have been over the Northern Tablelands snowfall areas 150km to the ESE of Moree.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/thumbs/2008051712moree.png) (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/soundings/2008051712moree.png)
Overall it seems temps were a bit too high for so much snow. So what process was at work ?
Michael
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Sydney was pretty uneventful. Apart from some strong wind and a little rain on Saturday afternoon
I did get this nice shot while on my way to work on Sunday morning though
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l313/troyrulz007/DSCF0467copy.jpg
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An interesting rainfall phenomena occurred in Adelaide Saturday (17/5/2008) during this event.
Rainfalls in the western coastal suburbs were around 10 mm to 15 mm.
However, rainfalls in the central suburbs and the city area were between 20 mm and 30 mm.
However suburbs on the Mt Lofty Ranges (Eastern suburbs) scored 30 to 69 mm.
It was clear orographic effects, (lift created by the ranges to the east of the city) had a big impact on rainfall.
Yet, places on the eastern side of the ranges had much lower totals of around 10 mm due to the rain shadow effect.
Harley Pearman
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Hi, here are some of the photos I took on my trip up to Guyra on Sunday 18th May.
The first pic is not very exciting, but it was the first snow I had seen ever so I got a bit excited. It was taken about 5km before the Armidale turn off (Tamworth/Sydney side of NE Highway) at 8am, temp was 3degrees...It may be of interest in regards to Armidale's snowfall, as I'm not sure if it was left over from the night before, or if some more had fallen during the morning. The side of the road was like this for a few km, although there were quite a few spots that had more than shown in my photo.
The next photo is the NE Highway about 15 min out of Guyra (Again, the Sydney/Tamworth side), once I reached the top of the range.
The next are various shots around Guyra and Ben Lomond, taken from about 10am-1130am. The temp in guyra was 2 degrees until about 11am (from memory).
A big thank you to Michael, as it was your webpage with the information about snow chasing, and past snow events in that area that made sure I got to see my first snow. I have joined weatherzone and am now trying to get my head around all the charts/models, I spent a lot of Saturday studying it all, and it is starting to make a lot more sense!
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We got the predicted storms on May 17. Saw some offshore lightning again but was shooting without my memory card! haha, luckily I didn't really get anything anyway. Nice snow coverage in Guyra wished I could of made a trip up to ebor but couldn't make it. Heard of some pea sized hail in Tormina from the storm below.
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/May%2017%202008/IMG_7039.jpg)
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/May%2017%202008/IMG_7144.jpg)
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/May%2017%202008/qwefrwe.jpg)
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/enak12/May%2017%202008/IMG_7193.jpg)
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Gen - thanks for showing those photos. After the snow fell in the Armidale area it was dry, windy and freezing until dawn so it must have allowed the snow that fell around Armidale late evening to remain on the ground long enough for you to photograph it.
Great the snow chase guide (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2007/docs/snow_chase_guide.htm) helped - I will update it with information from this event as it was a different sort of setup to the other case studies.
MB
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I've uploaded all the photos for the weekend storms and Northern Tablelands snow chase.
17th May 2008 Storms and Snow Chase (http://australiasevereweather.com/weather_pictures/main.php?g2_itemId=9023)
18th May 2008 Guyra and Ben Lomond Snow (http://australiasevereweather.com/weather_pictures/main.php?g2_itemId=9230)
Alternative gallery: 17th May 2008 (http://www.australiasevereweather.com.au/photography/photos/2008/mb20080517.html) / 18th May 2008 (http://www.australiasevereweather.com.au/photography/photos/2008/mb20080518.html)
MB
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Gyday all, well after the weekend snow chase with Michael Bath and Jason its certainly one of those setups which wasn't all that easy to follow and forcast the amount of snow that was to occur(7cm at Guyra for May is exceptional).Some events are clear cut Cold fronts with moisture and cold temps at 850hpa.The 17th and 18th May presented a setup which in my eyes,isn't frequent and quite amazing given the GFS data prior to it arriving on the Northern Tablelands of NSW.
Preceding the evening were pre frontal/trough storms which delivered 6mm of rain to Glen innes, which may have prevented the pre frontal winds from drying things out at the surface too much.Then allowing afternoon heating to store more atmosphere moisture preceding the frontal cloud.Orographic effects in the locality of Guyra and Ben Lomond Range are very pronounced on our observations over the years I have been Snow chasing out there.Depending on moisture levels at 850hpa,700hpa may have forced saturation of the above passing cloudband due to up forcing to then commence Precip as snow .Orographic effect could produce turbulant eddies which could have helped bring the cold air lower to the 1300mtrs ASL?
Anyway I've stewed over the event and put forward a few ideas as to why this area gained a good bit of snow. Here are a few of my favourite photos in great company, what a great trip!!
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20080518rwa.jpg)
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20080518rwb.jpg)
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20080518rwc.jpg)
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20080518rwi.jpg)
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20080518rwe.jpg)
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20080518rwf.jpg)
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20080518rwg.jpg)
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20080518rwh.jpg)
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20080518rwj.jpg)
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It is now official - Melb has now exceeded its May average for rainfall - best month of rain for 2008. also had 56mm in Mooroolbark over the weekend. Great for the gardens here - not sure what has transpired over the catchments - but much needed rainfall all the same!
Big Pete
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Everyones photos are great!
Just had to share something funny, while in Guyra on Sunday, I stopped in the Caltex servo to have a nice hot coffee, and I ran into a poor guy that had been driving to Sydney from QLD. He was wearing shorts and thongs.... poor guy! he hadn't been expecting snow!
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Hi all and wonderful photos posted with the storm and snow events. I have been in arctic Brisbane for the last four weeks (and glad to be back in Darwin!) and have some comments on viewing the storms on 17th May that crossed Brisbane onto the coast.
We were approaching Brisbane from the NW and the pilot had advised us all that there were showers at the airport and we had to stay up circulating for about 45 minutes...now, I'm thinking...aircraft don't stay up in the air just for showers - there must be thunderstorms! True to my guess (and a nice bluff by the pilot...) looking out the window i noticed flashes way up in these monstrous towers! Thankfully the aircraft did several figure 8's and the storms were on my side of the aircraft. I viewed a massive wall of TS's lining Moreton Bay and the city. From this height it was just superb to see low based cloud but with this solid wall of storms so high up with star studded blackness as a backdrop and witnessing lightning flashing in the domes & towers at eye level.
As we drew nearer to the airport once the storms moved away we descended on approach and I had an eye level view at the cloud bases with CGs flanging along the coast!!! My camera was up in the overhead locker...dumb idea! But viewing lightning from this height, level with them was just sureal. You could see where the strikes were grounding and the streamer action was just awesome. You all have reported on the storms by the looks of things, so this is just a late addition to them.
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Hi Mike
had a similar experience years ago (1992) when I was flying into Bangkok from Sydney late at night. Absolutely massive storm off to my side of the plane, we were still at 11km up and the top was well over us. And I could see the light from some poor little fishing boat underneath that was about to get hammered. The storm and the lightning was pretty impressive from that viewpoint.
Side issue, flying back from Paris to Singapore 2 years ago we ran into storms between India and Singapore. There was a little bit of lightning up ahead but not much. As soon as we flew into it there was continuous lightning around the plane and sparks appeared on the wings which would sit there for a few seconds before blinking out. Obviously the cloud was very highly charged, and the turbulence the plane caused triggered both the static charges on the wings as well as intra cloud lightning. Interesting experience!