Storm Australian Severe Weather Forum

Severe Weather Discussion => Tropical Cyclones, Typhoons and Hurricanes Worldwide => Topic started by: Adrian on 16 September 2008, 03:00:45 PM

Title: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 16 September 2008, 03:00:45 PM
15 Sept 08

Well .... it appears the Darwin Storm Season is upon us. 

Small electrical storm, South of the city was visible tonight (from the city), watched it for about an hour from 19:20 onwards. Plenty of CC, and the odd CG and crawler.  Sorry no Pics :( will hopefully have the camera back tomorrow.

cheers,
.adrian

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 17 September 2008, 07:01:13 AM
Yes indeedy.  I was out at the Convention Centre on my lonesome having some dinner during work and swore I saw something flash way out sou'west and yep, there they were CC flashes pretty regular.  There was a nice sized line of storms moving NW from Adelaide River around 7:30 onwards and was collectively lining up.  It stalled as it neared the 60km mark near Darwin as the sea breeze kept it at bay.  Most of the storms were concentrated in an area southwest of Adelaide River as a trough was moving through during the day.  There's a similar set up on Wednesday but don't know if it will produce anything similar....but Pine Creek further down from Adelaide River (which is about 100km from Darwin) got smashed by a large cell on Sunday arvo.  Inland storms associated with a convergence line is the culprit.

It was quite exciting to see some distant lightning at least so early on in the piece.  Don't think I've seen a storm this early in the season since I've been here, but the wet officially starts on Oct1, so not too long to wait now.

Here's the radar loop of our little teaser.

http://radar.strikeone.net.au/?fuseaction=loops.main&radar=632&numberofImages=40&dateStart=1221462000&dateFinish=1221487200
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 20 September 2008, 06:40:55 AM
Darwin 18 Sept

Activity from a trough moving through the mid section of the NT created some convection yesterday.  Fairly large dumping in 10 mins from a large cell in the rural area to the west of Darwin.  Smaller falls around my home and made things quite sticky.  Storms fired up again at Pine Creek for the fourth day running.  I think a trip to that locale is on the cards tomorrow arvo.  WZ models show a hefty precip area expected to the west again today and hopefully tomorrow.  A large cell moved through the early hours Thursday morning at that location and split into two - both lightning active but given its location at least 1:30mins drive it was pointless going after it after the fact!

Hector rose yesterday over the Tiwi Islands with lightning recorded.  A bit ragged in structure but tall and not the 'supercell' type shape he normally displays.  Hector is early this season also, he normally does not appear till mid October so perhaps that's an indicator of an early storm season.

We've had NW/NE wind flow which is good also. The NE sea breeze is still keeping things at bay but it's early days and the wet does not officially start until October 1.  From the satpics yesterday there was a line of something (similar to the roll cloud imagery on another thread) moving through the Gulf of Carpentaria - was interesting to see that.  Here's the loop for you.

http://realtime2.bsch.au.com/vis_sat.html?region=nt&loop=yes&images=&allday=&start=200809180033&stop=200809182333

Will keep you all posted when things get 'flangy'
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 05 October 2008, 03:45:35 PM
5 October 2008

Surface level moisture has increased dramatically of late.  The past week has seen hot days with a dry surge again but this is expected to weaken over next week's forecast period.  A very long trough which extends from WA to NSW (where you guys are getting all the action!) has its tip just west of the Top End and this is helping things fire up.  Western Victoria River Downs and Labelle areas are getting regular arvo storm cells and lines forming - one today this morning swept offshore on the west coast and would have made for an impressive sight!

Our are in my arera of Durack and rural areas received some welcome shower activity, albeit brief.  Without rain for over 5 months it was nice to see and hear.  CU's have been forming well without too much trouble.  The soundings of late have shown a dry inversion but moisture down low as I mentioned is strengthening.  There was a storm in the rural area during the week which produced some lightning and thunder and close enough to see from the city.

BoM have forecast storms for next week daily and from the obs it all looks healthy.  On average our 'build-up' season storms are severe once they are organized so this year i have my fingers crossed.  They mentioned this season's cyclone activity could be good - at least three they say to make landfall in the NT this time around given the early indications.

The Storm Spotters newsletter I received Friday had some interesting stats on what type of storms we received last year.  A large amount of multicell systems i was glad to see and most of which I intercepted around 2-3am in the morning on some occasions - my Noonamah strike was one which came from a multicell squall line.

Here's some photos of Hector rising last Thursday arvo.  Great to see three towers and a classic MCS character he often displays.  No apologies for the haze - the thing is 80km away!  Photo three shows the three stages of development.  Spent tower to anvil, tower with Pileus prior to anviling out and the third is a weak tower which did not make it!

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 09 October 2008, 04:16:19 AM
Storm chase day 7 October 2008

And not before time.

The previous days had been showing decent sfc moisture and temps.  Cape is never an issue here this time of year but there was an annoying NW sea breeze that literally pushed all the CU fields back inland and kept them away from Darwin for any storm development.  Viewing the satpics on the 6th you can visually see it in the hourly loops - just insane!

Yesterday was probably a lot better for storms as the tip of a trough and a low pressure area on the WA/NT border was having a nice effect on things.  Plotting the sounding during the day showed an increase in cape and Li numbers and the capping layer was being broken - something had to give.  These two cells formed around 4pm - just massive and a few positive strikes from the anvil heads.

I returned home from snapping these two cells to keep an eye on the satpics and radar.  Labelle is around 150km from us inland through the national park area and always produces big storms.  whatever cap broke last night it created a monster storm there and other convection to the SE was growing and forming a thick sausage shaped line of storms.  I packed the gear and headed down to Adelaide River about 90 odd km from home.  I timed it pretty well as i parked in between a set of three storms connected (the SE corner of that line).  The storms were going nuts with intra-cloud lightning and had to wait for any CGs.  Plenty of positive strikes and really it depended on where you were as a lot was flanging from the other side of the towers.

After about an hour it had died down and so back into Darwin there were storms pushing through Darwin!  Second chance to get some shots again.  Located at the back of Darwin Airport where it's open and got a couple of nice shots, the storms were heading offshore and the same scenario - intra-cloud with the odd CG or positive flang.

All in all a good night.  I'm a bit frustrated in not getting closer to the bolts but a tree lined highway is something we all find annoying and perhaps a different locale next time. 

enjoy!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Carlos E on 09 October 2008, 04:50:05 AM
Great pics Mike.

I saw a whole line of storms develop over the NT/WA border, along with Darwin (or near at least) and figured you'd be out after them. Hopefully the season keeps delivering.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Shaun Galman on 09 October 2008, 11:22:09 AM
G'day Mike,
Hey that's a cool little updraft/anvil on that cell! I bet it was racing upwards to the troposphere fairly fast!

Man I hate it when trees obscure your view of a storm, particularly when the CG seem to hide behind a single tree in your line of sight :/

Might pay to keep a chainsaw handy lol ;)

I always look forward to seeing the posts in this Darwin thread! Helps ease the SDS when we aren't so lucky weather wise :D

Take care,
Shauno
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 16 October 2008, 09:06:26 AM
Chase report 15 October 08

Hi all.  After a stinking hot day with a few brief showers, things were hotting up inland!  we received a nice storm off the coast close enough to get some decent pics - but I could only view it from work :(.  But around midnight an extremely large squall line formed way inland to the SE and quickly gathered momentum by midnight.  We finished work right at that time and I headed home to quickly check the position and steering of the most active cells before heading out.

Radar loops look very impressive as far as the distance these things covered and how they progressed->

---> Darwin radar loop (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20081014/berrimah128.htm)

Just about all the line was lightning active - which is a terrible thing in this case as 90% of it was sheet or intra-cloud rubbish.   Temps were around 28C and DP's around 23 so there was no shortage of moisture!  I headed out to the coastal areas to wait for the line to arrive.  Plenty of CGs but were obscured by a preceding curtain of wind and rain.  I moved locations a few times to try and position myself in the best spot for shots.  I took a few long exposures to locate cloud structures and any hidden towers as the moonlight was being blanketed by cloud.  I decided to stick with my current location and wait.  Within 15 minutes I was smashed with very strong gusts and torrential rain!  Add to that constant sheet lightning and the odd CG banging all over the place, it was near impossible to get any photos at all of substance.

I was out until 3:30am desperately moving around to get behind the storms - but they were so widespread it was impossible to do anything about it.  Most roads were flooded, leaf debris and small branches abound.  BoM had not severe warned this storm, which I think they should have given the gusts I encountered - they were very strong.  I decided to call it quits and head home when another cell matured fairly close to my home.  I decided to quickly duck home to grab a drink (the storm was only a minute away in view) and in a period of no more than 5 minutes it spat out 3 large CGs close by (the kind when you see nice, crisp white light from the strikes and booming thunder!)  and by the time i got back around the corner it had died a quick but effective death.  I was spewing as i had been chasing for over 2 hours trying to get a photo and my best opportunity came when I got home!  I hate that!  This happened last year when I chased a similar squall line and got 4 big Cgs in the exact same spot near home!

I'm now changing my tactics when it comes to chasing squall lines at night.  Pick the least precip area of the line with a def CG pumping CB there!  Overall it was a great night for experience and education on my part. 

There's a similar set up for tonight also.  Very humid and hot outside, we still have left over anvil wash from this morning.  Sounding is good albeit a dry slot near the lowers, but heating from the east should dry the cap up a little more.   I'd be confident of another repeat later tonight so I'm prepared once again.

Here's shots of an avro storm we had the other day.  The rainbow eventually fully formed for over 20 minutes and the latter photo is the two cells forming in the rural area at the same time. 
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 16 October 2008, 08:59:45 PM
Super structure Oct 16.

I was viewing some astounding CB formation as one massive storm was literally boiling in front of my eyes from work.  The updrafts were so fast that the rising cumulous was streaking as it went up!  Two storms converged entering the harbour. 

The storm was so photogenic because it was entering clear blue sky as it approached the city.  A funnel lowering was seen in the middle portion of the two storms during convergence of the two.

Was the largest storm I've ever seen entering Darwin in six years living here and being at work really peeved me off no end.  I managed photos just at the pre shelf stage with the rising convection.  It was rising that fast that Pileus was blown outward to mist as soon as it formed! 

In the photo with the rainbow the funnel formed just to the left of that soon after.  I'll try and get some mature shelf photos and post them - was an amazing sight.  Gusts were up to 55.

I've got two days off work now so today the same set up is on the cards.  I aint stay'n home you can bank on that!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 18 October 2008, 03:49:26 AM
Very late storm Oct 17

Pine Creek some 100 odd K's down the track got smashed last night with a whopping cell, but I was unable to get down there.  BoM forecast a late storm and they got that right - 1:30am!  I had been viewing the satpics and radar all night as I knew there was a convergence line smack bang over the top of the little town.  Sure enough it went off.  Anyway, back here in Darwin I decided to take advantage of the full moon and check out the thickening of clouds moving in onshore.  I was observing one cell in particular as it showed a pronounced dome. It took about 20 minutes to form but it felt right so I set up the camera just around the corner from my house - so not really a chase - more of a photo op.

It was flickering lightning up top (which seems to be a dead give-away I've noticed) and it shot out about 8 or 9 CGs.  I was going to get a little closer to it but given its smallish structure i knew it would not last too long so I stayed put.  The anvil blew right over the top of me - which is not my preferred location - but it did not send out crawlers hence my not worrying too much.

Forecast is the same for tonight - but I'm going to ring BoM today and confirm that down the track is the preferred locale again.  No convergence on the streamline GIF yet, but the low and the trough is still there.

Here's some so-so images after realizing the angle was a bit too high!  Got the strikes though so not a complete waste.  Comments welcome!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: nmoir on 18 October 2008, 11:22:50 AM
love to see the funnels big fella, you need a remote control car with a hd webcam and nextg card so you can chase from work!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Harley Pearman on 18 October 2008, 12:28:45 PM
Mike, they are spectacular photos of cloud formations over and around Darwin and brings back memories of my time up there in 1995 / 1996 and again in 1999 when I attempted some further storm chasing and photography.

I have just read that Darwin is enjoying its wettest October in 12 years and around 120 mm of rain has fallen this month at the airport. These are the best rains in 7 months.

I like the single cloud towers the best and they are similar to my still photos.

I took allot of my photos of storms and Hector from the beaches, Leanyer Swamp, Darwin Harbour and the roof of the car park near the Darwin Mall.

In 1999 a friend and myself did some minor storm chasing out near Kakadu and Pine Creek (January 1999) and managed to get some interesting storm formations occurring inland. Kakadu offers many great lookouts and opportunities to see storms form away from the sea breeze. While they cannot all be chased, this area offers a unique opportunity to see storms in their grandeur.

I note you had a problem of trees on one recent chase. If heading towards Kakadu, I remember visiting one lookout near the Adelaide River Crossing that has a sealed road going to the top called "Windows on the Wetlands Lookout". This offers a 360 degree view of the floodplain and perfect for filming Hector and build ups away from trees.

One way to view a storm is on Darwin Harbour. I did this when I was there in 1999 although the cruise had to be terminated when the storm actually hit and several bolts of lightning struck the water in front of the cruise terminal adjacent to Cullen Bay.

Waterspouts and or funnels do and can occur although I do not know how common they are.

I read your storeys and look at the cloud formations with particular interest as I have seen it and found the build up fascinating. Thanks for posting these so we can all enjoy the Hector build up around Darwin.

Harley Pearman
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 18 October 2008, 01:15:20 PM
rubbish, rubbish, rubbish!

http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR632.loop.shtml

edited my post : nice colors on radar.  sporadic lightning - heavy rain - boring.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Richary on 19 October 2008, 05:11:16 PM
Drat. The line looked good on radar, was hoping to seem some good photos.

Now I have just bought a decent camera there are no storms forecast here for the next week. How can I try the bastard out?

Last time I went to Darwin was late September I think, the humidity was just starting to rise before the wet. Got enough frequent flier points, what would be the best time to visit for some serious storm watching?
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 19 October 2008, 09:01:55 PM
I should charge people for every time I get asked that!  In a nutshell....any time from November to March but not on any specific day!  Nick Moir when he was here asked me the same thing and came up with the same answer:  'How the hell do you chase these things, it's hard enough pinpointing where they'll start!'

In the eastern states you have specific set ups in which you know things will be good, especially when troughs sweep through.  We get CAPE between 1800-3800 and higher and index numbers always between -4 to -7 but no storms - not logical!

I could tell you to come during a certain month sure, but ask me any specific 'week' or time, then no, I cannot answer that at all.  Some weeks you chase every day. Some weeks we get nothing when you think we should and on those days that look great things just don't fire!

Having said all that - November through February have proven the best months.  Localised tropical depressions and monsoon troughs in the area always help kick things along - but monsoon itself without depressions in them - rain, rain and rain.

Because our storms form at all hours of the day or night it's frustrating to nowcast and often they form during late arvo to 8pmish and those sneaky severe storms early in the morning.  You're sure to see plenty of storms during any of the months coming up, but stay a bit longer than a week just in case...keep an eye on the forecasts for Darwin when they regularly predict storms each day.

Hope this helps...of sorts.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Michael Bath on 20 October 2008, 03:49:27 AM
The NT BoM issued a STW for the storms last night at 8.30pm. It looks like it was cancelled 30 mins later.


SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
for Damaging Winds
For people in some areas within 60 km of Darwin.
Issued at 8:24 pm on Saturday 18 October 2008

At 08:20 pm, thunderstorms with the potential for damaging winds were observed on radar between Manton Dam and Middle Point moving towards the northwest.

The following areas may experience damaging wind gusts between 08:30 pm and 09:30 pm:

Manton Dam,
Acacia Hills,
Noonamah,
Fogg Dam,
Humpty Doo.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 20 October 2008, 08:01:36 AM
Indeed?  :)  I saw the line of storms in the distance but honestly, I thought it was going to die a quick death once it hit the inner rural areas given the conditions, which it did eventually do.  I was watching the radar before i went to dinner break which showed a strong stumpy line and visually could only see the odd flash.  After an hour I returned to work to check the radar and it had dissipated quite badly.  It was holding a line up even just past Annaboroo.  Guess the SWW okay for the odd rural folk way out there - but it's not that populated !

There were quite heavy falls on the southern and western sides of Darwin in inland areas with those cells.  A very weak shelf appeared but I was out at the wharf taking photos of a visiting oil rig lit up - so that gives some indication of how lightning active/severe it was! 

I only knew of the SWW this morning after my daughter told me about it and then seeing it here.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Harley Pearman on 20 October 2008, 09:14:45 AM
Richary

I will add to Mikes comments here on storms. I lived in Darwin 1995 / 1996 and was up there again January 1999. The thunderstorms while impressive are very hard to predict. This time of year it is common to see a cumulus tower rise to great heights then drop a shower of rain and produce a few lightning flashes and the storm cell simply collapses. Then it is gone. I am still unsure as to how you chase these storms due to their short life span.

I simply went to a lookout somewhere and watched them and got many photographs that way.

I saw an entire wet season only because I lived there but Mike is right, there is no particular time when storms are most common.

As a rule of thumb and looking at the storm maps of Australia it is true that Darwin region averages some 80 to 90 thunderstorm days a year which is the highest in the country however there are some buts to this:-

a) There may be a storm in the proximity of Darwin on any day but it might not hit the city. It may remain in rural areas that you cannot get to it.

b) The storm may not move when it forms and so its life span can be very short.

Thus the number of thunderstorm hits on Darwin city is lower than what the thunderstorms maps actually show.

That is what I found when I was there.

December:

November and December seems to be the month of highest thunderstorm activity. Although December seems to show the spike in lightning activity. Peter Jarver in the 1980s found some statistics of lightning activity in Darwin (I assume from BOM) but Mike may be able to correct me if I am wrong here or if anything has changed:-

- 10,000 to 20,000 lightning flashes within an 80 km radius of Darwin during the month of December.
- 40,000 lightning flashes on average in the same area for a typical wet season.
- A thunderstorm can be in the vicinity of Darwin on any day during December.

With the average thunderstorm swelling to encompass 7,000 cubic km of sky.

That is not an enormous area if a storm cell towers 20 km.

December seems to be the best time for lightning just before the onset of the main wet season.

Then again. I was there in January 1999 and there were some terrific thunderstorms because there was a good break between monsoon bursts.

February and March is another good time. Called the build down. Mike could elaborate more on this.

There is a period called the build down. The "Knock em down" storms. Occurs after the main monsoon season has finished. There is an increase in thunderstorm activity again through March and into April. It is a time when storms knock down the "Speer grass". These storms can be gusty ones and the name implies the grass gets knocked down by the rain and wind.

Come April, the seasons revert over to the dry.

Thus Richary the best times would be late November to well into December and February / March but it can vary and surprises can and do occur as I saw in January 1999. Hope this helps.

Harley Pearman
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Richary on 20 October 2008, 11:36:16 AM
Thanks guys. I doubt the budget will let me do it this season but useful to know for future planning. The frustration is arriving from having just bought the new camera and having no storms predicted to hit Sydney for the next week! Though it wasn't forecast we did just have a cell form and move west-north of my location but despite a few rumbles being heard there was nothing to see.

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 20 October 2008, 09:41:51 PM
Harley is pretty well spot on with the exception of a couple of things.  Back in the 80's the storms were referred to as 'knock-off' storms as they ALWAYS came at 4:30pm.  Even Peter during the late 1990's noticed a marked decrease in the number of storms daily as he had chased in the early days.  I lived here back in 1985 for two years and the storms were just nuts each day.

Since being here 7 years now, it has changed dramatically with the impact of global warming or climate change or whatever they seem to call it.   Some years have been better than others, much like most places around the world.  Whilst the storms are single pulse types - they can be frequent in several areas and over time I've gotten a handle on which ones to go for simply through experience and observation and many busts!

October is atrociously haphazard for storms and is not renowned for many days, but BoM have confirmed that we have had 6.5 storm days which is over October's average and rainfall is over 40% the norm.  The squall lines that have come through have been the main rain producing systems.  Once they hit Darwin they stall somewhat and just dump everything over a wide area. The sea breeze flows inland at least 40km so it creates a blocking effect.

The annual thunderstorm days are taken over several years' averages - given the proximity and number of storms in any given area it's pretty accurate - Darwin 'city' may not get 90 thunderstorm days - but 'Darwin' as a generic term certainly does if it includes outer Darwin areas and rural.

The build up period we currently have is well documented for severe storms simply due to the sudden rate of instability induced into the region.  The build down - as Harley puts it ! - is in March to April - but we had Cyclone Monica CAT5 in April remember!  Every season is different. 

The best times are as Harley mentioned.  Look for monsoon troughs close to us near the coast but NOT on us - too much monsoonal rain comes with it.  Ocean borne tropical lows and heat lows with associated troughs from the Kimberley area are great storm producers for us.

I have a full list of what type of storms we had last year including dates, locations, severity and storm type which I will post. It's very in depth and will give everyone an overview of what we had, got and when!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 09 November 2008, 01:41:59 PM
Darwin storms Nov 8 update ...

Jeepers, lightning going nuts all over the NT but nothing here in Darwin!

Had a work mate who goes shooting out bush regularly and he was going down the track to Pine Creek, he rang me to ask if there was any chance of storms out there as he did not want to get caught in them...I was thinking, 'Mike don't give him uneducated nowcasts!'  I told him that you'll get storms but not till around 3pm so stay close to the main highway if you need an escape route.

Looking at the radar now it's safe to say my nowcast was pretty right after viewing the obs this morning...big numbers but a strongish cap which would burn off quickly given the extreme temps inland.  Some really lovely big fat towers with anvils over Labelle to the west again, it's the largest storm on the radar apart from Hector.  It's not close enough to get any decent nighttime lightning, but I reckon it will make an outstanding sunset storm photo, so I'm going down the road on the coast to get some nice pics.

 Hector is amazing today...3 big towers.  Started with the latter two dissipating quickly and the third really showing strength and outflow convection ahead produced some nice towers also.  Two big anvils formed on the front edge of the leading towers and were just wonderfully crisp.  I was going to take photos but thought not as I was heading back home in the opposite direction and running quickly out of open areas to get him in full view.

Several cells are popping up in inland areas to the E and SE now, which is textbook for their steering predicted tracks, so the forecast for late gusty storm may prove a safe bet.  It will take them about an hour or so to get here and depending on how the sea breeze interacts then it's a waiting game, but from what I can observe there's no shortage of large, fat storms in the outer inland areas.  Might have to go hunting wa-a-a-abbits....err....updrafts!

Darwin radar loop as at 6:03pm NT time  http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR632.loop.shtml

Will post something more significant and detailed as the night progresses.



 

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 10 November 2008, 10:55:40 AM
Chase overview Sat 8 Nov

Viewing the sounding in the morning and plotting the obs during the day the bureau's predicted gusty storms were def on the cards.  The afternoon came along and there were several large cells developing to the SW of Darwin in Labelle, which is on the outskirts of Litchfield Nat park.  This is prime storm ground but a little too far out unless you're certain storms will head in that area.  I decided that the inland rural areas were the go for my chasing.  I headed down to a close location first up to get some arvo photos of a large cell during sunset.  I managed 3 nice lightning shots but the images had something on the lens so I have no posted them.  Hector over the Tiwi Islands was superb.  Just an immense beast and I have posted a nice sunset lit photo of the large anvil.

I headed out around 6:30 to the rural areas as there was considerable lightning and towers being illuminated.  The storms were forming a line which typified their organization through the wetlands zones but were frustratingly slow moving.  I got caught in four separate downpours after retreating from what would have been a 360 degree view of the open landscape, the rain just wrecked it.  Gusts were probably about 40-50kts given the amount of leaf and small branch debris scattered everywhere.

I got home around 10:30pm and did a quick check of the radar.  Unusually the front had weakened, but had looped anticlockwise around the eastern parts of Darwin and the storms reformed along the coast.  The skies had become clear and no wind or rain to be had - it was like a huge dry slot had pushed everything east!  These are the storms I like as there was calm conditions and you could see where they were due to moonlight.

Missed a couple of pulsing bolts, but am sort of satisfied with the pics I have posted.  Taken from around my area and rural, with sunset lit Hector.

...oh...there was a massive severe pulse which looked like an atomic explosion with a smooth hard anvil. I saw it but did not photograph it - I should have, as you don't see too many all alone in the rural area - it was unreal!.


---> Darwin radar loop (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20081108/berrimah128.htm)



photos from last night..
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Michael Bath on 10 November 2008, 11:48:37 AM
Thanks Mike - great reports of what has been going on. Nice to read as nothing happening over here !
You need to check your radar loop link.

MB
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Peter J on 10 November 2008, 02:52:52 PM
Mike - these are great lightning pics!
In your opinion, when do you think the first NT cyclone might form this season?

Big Pete
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 11 November 2008, 12:44:55 AM
Thanks MB.  Have fixed it - funny looking radar :P

Pete, I have no idea. When the monsoon trough appears it may give some indication but anytime from now till April.!  BoM were hinting before xmas, but it may be enforcing public awareness in case one comes.  Knowing where they form is just as difficult.  Once a low forms it's sort of easy to track its path to some degree.  But I'm as confident as the next person in reality and don't like forecasting cyclones in advance!

Have another chase report which I'll do today.  I've only just got home from 4 hours chasing widespread clean air storms.  So much to show and tell.  An outstanding night out.  It's now 5am and I really should get some sleep.  The photos were just brilliant - my photos have been disasters of late, but I've gone back to basics, used what I know and it paid off.

More soon.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Carlos E on 11 November 2008, 01:47:26 AM
I notice Darwin had some good activity on the radar when I woke up.

Great pictures earlier in the topic as well.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 11 November 2008, 06:36:29 AM
Storm photo op 10 November 2008

Not much had been happening during the day except for the usual larger storms well inland.  There was nothing during the night and I thought it was going to be another 'late storm' scenario.  We had finished work earlier than expected at midnight and checking the radar did not show anything at all.

Taking a work colleague home we were about 10 mins out of Darwin and I noticed a flicker of light from a cloud right next to us.  The moonlight helped the observations for this old bloke and yep, there was a skinny tower - yet tall - and it was firing up.  It must have been forming during my peak at the radar who knows!  It continued flickering which was great as I had about 10 minutes to drop my baggage off and then go after it.  I won't call it chasing simply because this thing was no less than 6km from my home,so to be fair it was a perfect photo opportunity.

I decided not to go into town because it was firing rapidly and did not want to waste time driving unnecessarily.  I located just around the corner to my home which offers excellent open views.  The storm had grown considerably and looking at the radar loop this morning it showed storms moving in from the coast and also toward the coast!

---> Darwin radar loop (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20081109/berrimah128.htm)

I decided to go back to basics with my camera and shooting as I've been in a glut with getting decent shots.  I'm pretty pleased with finding my mojo again as far as that is concerned.

Here's some of the shots taken.  Settings: F9-10, ISO 100-200.  Exposure times all under 25 seconds.  Nabbed about 30 keepers but these are some of the prime ones. 


Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: vrondes on 11 November 2008, 07:25:13 AM
Some classic bolts from the blue there Mike, certainly looks like some severe current in those clear air voltages from the anvil, especially the last frame , well done,
Cheers, Con.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 11 November 2008, 09:22:50 AM
Today is looking outstanding.  Text book instability with full CU's building, rumbles and well just everything.  Batteries are charged again!  The presence of that low inland and the trough sitting just below us sure makes for a complete mirror image of build-up storm scenarios.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 11 November 2008, 09:55:23 PM
Great pics, Mike, as always :)    And I like your report.

I must confess, I'm jealous!!!!  And I hope I will get some good ones too.
Just five days left!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 12 November 2008, 05:31:15 AM
Yes, the enthusiastic Cloudfairy returns to Darwin!  I'm sure we'll be able to get some chasing or 'photo opportunities' in whilst you're back.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Michael Bath on 12 November 2008, 12:53:37 PM
STW for Darwin area - cell has looked quite nice on radar and tracker over the past hour or so


SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
for Damaging Winds
For people in some areas within 60 km of Darwin.
Issued at 5:10 pm on Tuesday 11 November 2008

At 5:00 pm, thunderstorms with the potential for damaging winds were observed on radar near Humpty Doo and Berry Springs moving towards the west.

The following areas may experience damaging wind gusts between 5:10 pm and 6:10 pm:

Howard Springs,
Palmerston,
Darwin,
Cox Peninsula.

Damaging wind gusts have already been reported at Noonamah.

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 12 November 2008, 09:14:55 PM
Yep just a bit more on that storm.  I left for work around 4pm and could hear some booms from the SE.  It was exactly the same type of storm that came in Monday arvo.  I've got photos of both that day's storm and yesterday arvo's monster.  Both single severe pulse.  Huge wide towers with bubbling convection surrounding the towers face, smooth crisp anvil and low cloud base.

The one yesterday I got some nice pics from the wharf before work and as you can see it's a monster!  i did not know it was severe warned, but given its structure and new updrafts to the right and left flanks it was no surprise...this thing was emitting plenty of lightning from its base and inflow winds could be felt from the wharf.

First two photos of the severe storm for yesterday Tuesday 11th.  One during updraft stage and the other during continual growth moving west when it was then SSWarned.

Other two photos show same storms but different angles - ironically this was the only storm in the whole rural and Darwin area.  Given the break up of the trough of late, this fella took advantage of all the cape and moisture going.  It's great to see these powerful towers shadowing the city.

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Michael Bath on 13 November 2008, 02:34:37 AM
Thanks for posting these Mike - love to see the powerful updraft type shots.
Here's the vis from 0530z to 0830z

(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/satpics/200811110530.jpg)(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/satpics/200811110630.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/satpics/200811110730.jpg)(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/satpics/200811110830.jpg)

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 13 November 2008, 05:56:33 AM
Early morning line of storms along the coast moved in today (Nov 12) - no way I was going to go after them due to catching up on lost sleep, but perhaps I should have as the storm produced a fairly long lived water spout visible from the city!  I knew that storms were going to brew along the coast as I had seen things start to gather around 2am but sleep deprivation prevailed.

Oh well, there's always another day.  Would have made for some special photos.

..oh, just as an aside re severe storms in Alice Springs over the weekend - one storm produced 2.5cm hail.  I've seen the photos in the paper here albeit a small filler type pic.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Aesacus on 17 November 2008, 09:19:36 AM
Hi everyone,

I'm thinking of coming to Darwin (from Canberra) for week but can't decide when would be best for storm watching. There are some cheap flights in the first 10 days of December, but then not again until around mid to late January. If anyone could give me some pointers to help me decide, that would be great.

Cheers,
David.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 17 November 2008, 08:43:05 PM
Hi David (Welcome and congrats on your first post!)

Guess I could help since I live here!

From what I've seen of the models of late things should start to flare up again soon.  We've had this wretched dry influx of strong easterlies which have been wrecking any storms in Darwin itself - but tonight there was a wonderful 20 minute storm only 15km from the harbour which produced some spectacular clean air strikes.  I was at work viewing it and envious.

anyway...if you plan to come up during the first two weeks of Dec that would be cool. I've got two weeks off work at the same time so if you do come up then we can go chase some beasties in the rural areas or if in town I'll take you to my favorite haunts to get photos.  December is pretty good for storms and as I mentioned, the models look better as this month goes on. (BoM still say we'll get a cyclone by xmas, but that remains to be seen!)

In essence storms can flare up anywhere at anytime of day or night here so it's difficult to give you an 'exact' time to come.  Some days you get nothing, then other days there's plenty.  But all I can suggest is perhaps book a ticket and I'm confident of something around - even if it means traveling inland to get them, you'll find big storms out there.  But no guarantees up here, our weather is atrociously frustrating for storms  where you want them - but they are around every day now.

If you want more details as per my phone number etc just PM me.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Peter J on 18 November 2008, 06:20:42 AM
Mike,

I saw an article on foxtel's TWC, that had one of your lightning pics on it as part of a competition.
Hope you win

Big Pete
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 18 November 2008, 08:30:11 AM
Really?  i did receive an email saying that they posted a pic during one of the segments - I've yet to see one when I'm viewing it - hope I win!  I'll have to post more!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Peter J on 18 November 2008, 08:04:09 PM
The photo was the best one in the group they showed BY FAR!!!! Anyone who could get a lightning strike to fill (in a crawler type way) the full frame like that has to be a shoe in!

Anyway, are you getting much rain up there at the moment? Has the monsoon part of the wet season arrived yet?

Big Pete
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 19 November 2008, 08:54:33 AM
This just in...

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
for Damaging Winds, Large Hailstones and Very Heavy Rainfall
For people in Alice Springs
Issued at 11:58 am on Tuesday 18 November 2008

Thunderstorms with the potential for damaging winds, large hailstones and very heavy rainfall have been observed on radar and are expected to affect Alice Springs between 1215 pm and 0215 pm CST.

The Northern Territory Emergency Service advises that people should secure loose outside objects, move cars under cover and seek shelter. Driving conditions may be hazardous - avoid flooded roads and watercourses.

In Darwin we are experience widespread storms and showers at the moment. The monsoon is not here yet, but conditions are very akin to it. So no, Pete no monsoon just yet.   Nothing worth chasing as all the thunderstorms are imbedded above a blanket of low cloud.  The radar loop for Darwin is impressive but messy.   All I've heard all day thus far is rolling thunder and the odd heavy shower.  No need to worry about the obs - just go outside and see it!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 19 November 2008, 10:33:44 AM
Something of interest as a developing low is to our west and witht he associated trough through the NT, is our current storm activity and convergence to a boundary.  Storms to our north over the Islands are actually reforming back towards the convergence line to the mainland and it's quite interesting to see the graphic and radar in comparison.

  Thought I'd share it with you between severe weather in other states!

There's been widespread storms and showers about the place due to a developing low in the western portions of the Northern Territory/ Western Australian border and with an associated ridge of low pressure combined with a trough - yeah it's all happening. Smile

The graphic below shows you the streamline surface winds which are currently happening. You'll see the convergence of winds to the N/NE/NW of Darwin (if the map is small just click on it to enlarge) and a developing low to the west. The winds were not this way this morning, but have organized themselves rapidly.

http://australianweathernews.com/charts/DARMET-0.GIF

Now the current radar loop below confirms and shows storms developing along the boundary to our northern parts from the Tiwi Islands about 78km away. You can see them forming in front of the main storm area and stretching towards the low.

http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR633.loop.shtml

Something that I was fascinated by viewing both things at least.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 19 November 2008, 01:12:16 PM
Mike,

Alice seems to be the place to be at the moment in the NT for wild weather !

Was in a meeting all afternoon so will have to do a surf to see if the STW eventuated into anything.

p.s. nice showing on Sat night, sorry I couldn't stick about to chat;

Could be an excuse to have a few xmas beers!!! with a few of the others cloudfairy ??

Cheers,
.adrian

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 19 November 2008, 01:32:15 PM
BOM - Calender

Nice CG shot (over Darwin) for April in the 2009 Calender.

http://www.bom.gov.au/calendar/

Cheers,
.adrian
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 19 November 2008, 02:53:18 PM
yep, I'm with you for a christmas beer. Will be my first xmas without family, so maybe I'll need a bit of support ;)

btt: I don't get the actuall situation in Darwin. The dry air seem to disapear, sounding this morning was saying it is getting unstable, then suddenly a storm out of a heavy shower over Darwin and the Airport, I guess. (It was dry, well, without rain, in Casuarina the hole day, or I've missed something)
Hey, the only reason I choose Darwin and not Melburne for my studies were the storms.....so where are you???????
And, yes, I still have this stupid jetlag and feel confused.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 19 November 2008, 04:01:44 PM
Not a darwin event but close enough

IDD20430
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Northern Territory

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
for Damaging Winds, Large Hailstones and Very Heavy Rainfall
For people in Alice Springs
Issued at 7:46 pm on Tuesday 18 November 2008

Thunderstorms with potential for damaging winds, large hailstones and very heavy rainfall have been observed on radar and are expected to affect Alice Springs between 2040 pm and 2240 pm CST.

The Northern Territory Emergency Service advises that people should secure loose outside objects, move cars under cover and seek shelter. Driving conditions may be hazardous - avoid flooded roads and watercourses.
Issued at 7:46 pm on Tuesday 18 November 2008

Cloudfairy will PM to discuss xmas beers!

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Richary on 19 November 2008, 05:45:31 PM
C'mon Mike & Cloudfairy - get down to Michael's BBQ on the 13th. Only a short flight to Brisbane from there! Pretty much confirmed now I can be there with time off confirmed pending disasters at work.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 19 November 2008, 09:01:52 PM
Are you sending the ticket Richary?!  It costs a fortune!

Reckon we should have a xmas drink barring any storms eh Renate, Adrian?  Might as well welcome that pre-xmas cyclone promised!  BoM actually do suggest on their climate page that the likelihood of a cyclone in our area is above average. SST's will be hot, hot, hot and activity along the monsoonal areas from Indonesia show good potential.  I asked the Met officer at the exhibit about that and he did not shirt away from the fact that yeah, it is a probability given the long range models.  Interesting thing to ponder!

Renate...sounding showed plenty of moisture in the lowers and dry air in the mids to uppers, but it was not enough to completely dry them up - storms do like a bit of drier air - I have not viewed it properly but there must have been some strong steer as Hector convection actually moved into the convergence line off the coast - something which was quite good to see!  You should be picking the Met officers brains at the bureau since you're there - then you can explain to us what's going on!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Michael Bath on 20 November 2008, 01:42:11 AM
Hi all - please use the main severe storms section of the forum when reporting on thunderstorm events around Alice Springs and the rest of southern NT etc - as it is not tropical related.

I have started a thread for the storms there yesterday - it was a very impressive setup.

regards, Michael
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 21 November 2008, 03:34:41 PM
Thursday 20 Nov 2008

Storm rolled into Darwin this arvo ...... have been a bit out of practice with the kit so missed a few good shots while I mucked about to work out my usual daylight settings from a quick bit of trial and error.

cheers,
.adrian
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 21 November 2008, 07:42:53 PM
nice....at that time I was still at the bus to get to the Wharf :(

I got just this as I arrived there.

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 21 November 2008, 08:24:43 PM
Nice photos guys.  Adrian, I know how you captured that CG fella - your secret safe with me for now!

The storm was severe warned around 5pm as I recall.  I was at the wharf before work photographing it.  Did not worry too much about the CG's as i don't have the patience to rattle off 4 frames per second in the hope of getting one - (Adrian smirks....)  was some great structure for the half hour I was there.  I've got some pics which I'll post today.

Apparently a strike knocked out the power in the rural area and around 1000 homes were left without aircon - man, that would really annoy us humidity sweltering locals!  From what I observed there were at least 4 decent towers embedded in that line. I had watched it come from the rural area an hour earlier and it formed a line extending from the NE to the SW and then more NW.  I got some wonderful wide angle shots of a massive crisp anvil outflow with dark grey convective towers going up.  Witnessed a few CGs and a real pearler of one pulsing 5 times over the rural area - was pink in colour and really looked strong.

Anyway photos later guys.

MB: - sorry about the Alice warning posted - it's a Territory thing which clouds our enthusiasm :)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 22 November 2008, 05:49:32 AM
Last night, better this morning at 4.50 am I was kicked off my bed of a really loud thunder (and I wear earplugs at night). So I went outside and could feel the electricity around. Heavy rain, so I didn't make any photos.
Now at the Bureau they said 40mm, and the radar shows it just developed over northern suburbs, formed a line and went sideways off to the sea and died.
I liked it, I like this really loud thunder, felt like Thors hammer was bouncing down. :D

And as I woke ab this morning I heard some rumbling again. That was the storm from offshore, that just hit us 10 minutes ago and still does. Lightening over the sea.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 22 November 2008, 02:14:34 PM
Mike,

Thanks for keeping the dream alive !!! noticed that someone else had one the other day...... so the secret has got out ;)

Cloudfairy - managed to get out and have a look first thing this morning when it kicked off @ about 0415 I think..

It seemed like quite a bit of IC lightning as I went down stairs and watched it for a little while but no visible CG, so went back to bed.

Did anyone get any good structure or lightning shots from the storm that fired up at smoko??? as I had too much work to do, so couldn't get out of the office.

Cheers,
.adrian
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: RainBird on 23 November 2008, 05:53:40 AM
Hi everyone  :)
I'm a newbie to the forums, I've lived in the Top End most of my life and I love it here, especially the storms! 
There are some great photos in here! Here's my first contribution to the Darwin storms thread, hope you like :)

(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s317/Jazza_666/th_CSC_1317.png) (http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s317/Jazza_666/?action=view&current=CSC_1317.png)


Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 23 November 2008, 10:13:34 AM
Welcome to the forums Rainbird!

Thanks for the photo it's a cracker .... as are some of the other photos on the photobucket website.

Look forward to seeing some more of your photos of the season.

p.s. what day did you catch the shot ?

Cheers,
.adrian
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: RainBird on 23 November 2008, 10:52:05 AM
Thanks Adrian :)

I caught the shot about 4am in the morning after being woken up by a loud flang on the 11th November 2008, some nice lightning active maritime pulse storms exploded over the Northern Suburbs.  I quickly woke up proberly, ran down the road on to a nearby footy oval with the camera and tripod to try my luck. :)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 23 November 2008, 08:33:14 PM
@rainbird: don't you mean 21st November? Great Picture!!!!! Wish I would've been so lucky
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: RainBird on 23 November 2008, 09:40:21 PM
That storm on the 21st was almost impossible to photograph.. to much rain and mist by the time I woke up to it, no luck that time around :(
I did get a nice 58mm from it though!
The photo is definately from the morning of the 11th :)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 24 November 2008, 08:03:55 AM
ok, sorry  :-[

Just wondered, because of how you described it......sounds similar to the one on 21st....
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 25 November 2008, 10:07:06 AM
A few storms fired up on the coastal fringes early this morning.  There was some active storms in the rural areas which did not make it to Darwin during the night,but by 1am there was some ferocious convection speed wise along the coast.  I had watched cells from my home gathering so much oomph that I decided to dash into town to try and get some images.  A lot of intra-cloud stuff but a few CGs - did not manage to get any as my enthusiasm was waining quickly once the crawlers came out to play.

Today's instability is through the roof with sfc LI's in the high single digit field.  Koolpinya has just fired up with a massive storm with fast updrafts.  I've included a couple of pics of the storm as it happens.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 25 November 2008, 03:17:45 PM
24 November 2008

After a lot of driving the night before and getting bugger all for it, I was rewarded with a few early morning shots at about half 3.  This cell died pretty quick with one on the coast starting up, went for a drive to Nightcliffe but the storm was quite a bit off the coast.  Anyway please enjoy!

Cheers,
.adrian
..
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 25 November 2008, 08:26:52 PM
Yeah, the storms were active but intra cloud stuff was the main menu that morning.  At least you got something for the effort which is all one can ask for really!  At least we were out there eh pal?!!!!  Renate will have to give us some clues as to where the storms are going to fire up at night as she's in the thick of things at the BoM - so how about it Renate? :)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 26 November 2008, 08:04:40 AM
Renate will have to give us some clues as to where the storms are going to fire up at night as she's in the thick of things at the BoM - so how about it Renate? :)

I will check on them this afternoon and give you all the details I can get. The same for the rest of the week.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 26 November 2008, 09:06:22 AM
Koolpinya storm has risen again earlier than yesterday and is fairly large again.  I may get some pics on the way out as I'm required at work earlier today :( -    These storms really do show nice thick structure and love em!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 26 November 2008, 09:15:07 AM
Oh yeah, thats a nice one.... and I won't be there :( ....... again.....
it is so mean, to see them on the radar all the time and not be able to get out there.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 26 November 2008, 12:39:55 PM
Soooo, that's what I could get for now.

We do have fresh westerlies and northeasterly steering. and with respect to the seabreeze, storms are most likely to occur in the East of Darwin (in a line 40km from the coast maybe) and moving southwards. Probably the same the next days.
Thats the best I could get.

Will be updated over the next days.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 26 November 2008, 01:22:22 PM
there is great squall line forming, as it seems. from Dorisvale to Cooinda.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 26 November 2008, 01:27:24 PM
Thanks cloudfairy - any info that can be given will be repaid in full !!! with Beer or other refreshments !

cheers,
.adrian
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 26 November 2008, 08:35:36 PM
Need more of this :)  No point attempting to 'chase' around town - that's just really photographic opportunities. 
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 27 November 2008, 06:24:16 PM
I was at the Wharf for dinner with some friends....and caught a nice view of a far away storm. and a rainbow-cloud (don't know how to say that in english, but you see it below)
It's really nothing special, but the first storm I could catch since nearly two weeks, so I'm less frustrated ......at last quiet happy with it for a start......as a warm up for saturday ;)
but don't be too critical.

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 27 November 2008, 10:00:09 PM
You should not be too hard on yourself.  Coming from the other side of the planet to do research and at least seeing some storms in the rural area is at least a taste!.  Nice pic of the cloud - looks like luminescence you've got and well done!

I made a terrible mistake after work and did not go with my gut instinct to stay in town after seeing convection form along the coast at Nightcliff at 11:30pm- which for other members is only about 10mins drive from Darwin - I headed to Nightcliff but it did not produce anything and without any aids to visually guide me I decided to go home...but a storm brewed to the west so I headed near my home and set up - the storm was very hard to pick even with city lights illuminating the cloud base.  It was active, but only every 3 minutes.  I managed 3 CG shots but they were rubbish so I deleted them, but another set of storms formed adjacent Darwin and I flew into town to get some shots - you guessed it - viewed massive CG's - some triple strikes under the cloud base and by the time I got back to town it was moving out to sea quickly.

I really messed up big time with decision making and it cost me what I know would have been incredible CG shots over the coast - they were very close to shore and running through the towers to the sea from what I viewed driving in....I'm pretty annoyed people as you'd expect given I should never, ever do that again!  I hate missing night time lightning - it's what I stay up late for!

But in a positive way it's taught me another thing about chasing - well, 'chasing' as in a photographic opportunity per se and one should always go with what one knows, not with what one 'thinks' is the best option.

The radar loop is here - I'm located 21km south of all of it and burning rubber to get back into town!

---> Berrimah radar loop (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20081126/berrimah128.htm)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 28 November 2008, 04:28:38 AM
Oh, that again was a storm developing over the northern suburbs. It suddenly started to rain heavily over Casuarina Campus, but I couldn't see any lightning. So I thought it would be just heavy rain. But even when....from my location there I hardly be able to make any good shots.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 28 November 2008, 05:21:58 AM
So, guys, I guess I can bring good news to you.

Today and tomorrow, we still get "just" inland storms, but the northwest steering has weakened (?) so, they can't tell for Saturday atm, but on Sunday there will be storms in Darwin and on the coast. For Saturday they say that if the storms won't get into Darwin, they will be close to Darwin.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 28 November 2008, 10:53:44 AM
Have confirmed from the bureau that there's no monsoonal flow or anything whatsoever affecting Darwin or the Top End at this time and is simply a broad area of low pressure stretching through the interior.  Easterlies, whilst they won't be dramatic are returning so that will make for some decent steering winds once more.  CAPE values have been regularly 5000'j/kg inland and the weekend is set to be the same with LI's at the sfc at -4, -5!  Storms today inland have been monsters - really well structured, strong and tall.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 01 December 2008, 10:09:44 AM
Storm chase report 29 Nov 08

Renate (cloudfairy), myself, Jacci and Thomas (also from Germany) went chasing some inland storms this day as the GFS showed real promise.  LI's were predicated to be -7 and CAPE values were 3400 combined with a weak cap things were going to be extreme.  How extreme we had no idea as I had just viewed the radar to see what was firing at 2pm and it was the beginning of something special.

After collecting everyone I decided to head to Humpty Doo given there were two large storms firing.  The original plan was to chase the closer rural areas and then head to Adelaide River to where the GFS showed more intense storms to form later.  Our timing and position was perfect.  A large storm was in motion so I pulled off the highway down another road with a clear view of the storm and we photographed great structure and constant close CGs.  We were all pleased with the start of the chase day!  The lightning was getting a little too close for us so I decided that we head a little further inland as two more big storms were up.  A lot of CG action but the structure of these storms was beautiful against the backdrop of the wetland areas.  We hung around the area for about half an hour and I really wanted to get to our main location as soon as possible by dark.

We were all buzzing from what we had photographed thus far and the locations chosen were great - out of the rain and clean air between us and the storms.  Approaching Adelaide River we saw yet another huge storm over the township so we pulled up and took some shots of the massive rain shaft and brooding mass.  Moving through the township there was some rain so we waited and grabbed something to eat and drink and then head out of the township to the south.  A large storm was to the NW of the town and close, so I pulled over and the CGs were intense right beside us.  I recommended that we take shots from within the car and most of us got some ripper dusk CGs!  Thomas stated the ball rolling as we fumbled with our settings.  Once that action had died down I drove only about another 10kms out of the township down the Stuart Highway and found this great open area - and yep the storms were going nuts on the left of us.  We all set up our cameras once it ws dark and really the rest is history!  A full two hours of lightning right in front of us, above and surrounding us.

Unbeknown to us there was a massive squall line headed for Darwin and this was the reason for all the storms and lightning.  Probably by timing and luck we had caught all the initial bigger storms as they formed prior to the squall line reaching us.  After another hour of shots we decided it was time to head home as it was getting very ugly rain wise.  The drive home was an experience - with an open speed limit of 130km/h I could only drive at 50-70km/h for 100km!  We had inadvertently caught the core of two major cells and literally core punching them - nowhere to go as they followed the highway home.  Torrential rain and constant flashes of lightning and several very close bolts hit along side the road as we drove home - it was far safer to drive sensibly rather than sit and wait given the lack of areas to pull over.

The radar loop shows the initial large storms we encountered during the afternoon and then a monstrous squall line with the rain that soaked the Top End well after midnight.  It was the best chase ever for me and everyone agreed the same - we got everything except hail and tornadoes!  All the locations were perfect, the timing was perfect and the everything was just as textbook as you could ask for.

---> Berrimah radar loop (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20081129/berrimah128.htm)

Here's some snaps of our chase time.  It was insane! :)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 01 December 2008, 07:00:34 PM
Hi,
here are some of mine..... :)

And Mike, I loved it!! Thanks!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Michael Bath on 02 December 2008, 01:36:47 AM
Terrific report Mike and great images by you and cloudfairy  - you guys sure had a great chase day :)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Jimmy Deguara on 02 December 2008, 02:08:07 AM
Mike,

The updraft strcuture in one of the shots seem to indicate some crispness and thence perhaps drier air aloft. Was this the case? Was severe weather reported?

Good to see the storm phase of the wet season in full swing!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 02 December 2008, 06:27:16 AM
Yes Jimmy and MB - the closer rural storms def had drier air to move around in up top.  I have some other structure shots which I'll post and these storms appeared to stall somewhat and remained long lived. 

*I have a photo which shows something and at first glance I thought it could be a spout ? - you can see the CG to the right but to the left near some smoke from a fire there seems to be a shaft of some kind - I don't know whether it is a trick of the light but it extends from the base of the cloud to the ground.  Your thoughts on that photo much appreciated.

There were storms packing 100km/h winds at the wharf here from what I heard from the conversation from Jacci to her friend back in Darwin.  The winds we encountered were def 45kts plus on the drive home, leaf debris, small branches broken and sideways rain.  If they were severe warned i did not check BoM when I got home.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 02 December 2008, 05:24:23 PM
1 Dec 2008

Had a good run today - apart from the wallaby that walked out in front of the car :(

First cell went through Darwin at about 4pm, couldn't chase as I was at work but lots of solid lightning and thunder .... and then rain.  Managed to catch a few structure photo's after work, two storm fronts one to the south and one to the south east. 

Decided to go for a bit of a drive and chase the storm to the south .... Finished up at about half 9 when the rain kicked in.

Cheers,
.adrian
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 02 December 2008, 06:29:03 PM
adrian, yours are great!!!!!!!

Mine are nothing compared to your......however, I like to show them....
I was at Casurarina Beach and then back at Uni Campus.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 02 December 2008, 08:42:25 PM
Beaut photos guys.  The structure of that storm near Darwin in the late arvo was mind boggling - so huge I could not fit it all in my wide angle!  Will post some of my shots from  tea break during work - the lightning was incredible!   Adrian - splendid lightning shot from the bridge - a few  volts in that one! Renate - that last lightning photo looked very close!?
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 03 December 2008, 03:59:57 AM
A northward moving trough around the Top End is creating deep instability and storms hugging the coastal regions and moving toward the city during the late afternoon.  The structure of the storms is quite impressive and I counted no less than 3 shelf structures as they moved in around 6pm.  The size of these storms is quite surreal as their width and anvil spread covers the entire city skyline.  Last night as Adrian and Renate posted the storms were so active that I've never seen so many multiple CG strikes bombarding one singular region in a long time.  During tea break i went straight to the wharf area and witnessed just about every strike pulsing 4-5 times - incredible to see such power.

There were two major storms, one east of the city and one hugging to the west - but this one in particular was discharged huge strikes and with the people eating at the wharf in the open I was wondering if that was a safe thing to do considering the dangerous lightning.

I've included a series of photos taken from different aspects to show members the breadth of lightning on show.  The second shot is actuallyt eh same shot that Adrian took except from a different locale.

The monsoon is forming over PNG/Indonesia etc but it will be a week before we see anything from it.  There is a low embedded in it but no activity from it expected in the next three days as BoM suggest.

Also included a Nick Moir special at the end - taking a shot whilst driving.  :) turned out quite good I thought!

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 03 December 2008, 06:22:19 AM
Yer the last one seem to be close, but the thunder wasn't close enough afterwards. What we had on Saturday was much closer.

I really could kick myself, that I wasn't at the Wharf. Probably I should go there EVERY night, so I won't miss anything.
But I'm happy about my smiley shot ;)
:D Ms. Smiley took a smiley pic :D
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 03 December 2008, 06:27:22 AM
That last photo was taken on Saturday night on the drive back to Darwin - I snuck that one in whilst attempting to get us home!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 04 December 2008, 04:53:37 PM
2nd December 2008

Renate - don't be so hard on your photographs - as you have had some great shots ! please keep posting your images.


Got a chance to survey the damage to the car in the daylight (from the night prior) - will require a new bumper and some panel work to the right hand side. The poor little bugger did quite a bit of damage!

Managed to catch a few shots as the cell dodged town last night? did anyone else get any decent shots?

Cheers,
.adrian


Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Richary on 04 December 2008, 05:21:38 PM
cloudfairy - love that 3rd shot with the sunset behind the awesome cloud.

Adrian, that first one is amazing.

Keep them coming, I can see a Darwin trip coming up next year!

Richard
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 04 December 2008, 06:28:03 PM
2nd December 2008

Renate - don't be so hard on your photographs - as you have had some great shots ! please keep posting your images.
thanks I will.....
Quote
Managed to catch a few shots as the cell dodged town last night? did anyone else get any decent shots?

but not the ones of last night....I had a very bright light pointing on me while taking the pics....so they are....nothing...

But I like yours!!!!! bright and pin sharp!! wow
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 04 December 2008, 07:45:13 PM
hi there,
tonight was better!!! As I saw these two cells with great updraft on the radar, I jumped on the next bus and went to the Wharf.
They merged together with great anvil in the sunset.
From SE was a new one coming.
The first strike is from the two merged ones. The others are from the one on the forth pic as it has moved further west.
There were three other cells flashing. Nothing big, but really nice!!

And we saw dolphins playing!!!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 04 December 2008, 09:15:41 PM
You're certainly getting some really nice photos Renate and these are things that you can remember Darwin by!   Love the posts and is great to see your enthusiasm!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Karina Roberts (slavegirl) on 09 December 2008, 08:36:13 AM
Great Photo's everyone! Love reading this thread, specially when nothings happening here!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 09 December 2008, 08:48:03 AM
well, I think the next days will be interesting again. moist air from the monsoon trough over Indonesia and dry air from inland....I'm hoping for some great storms. It is already bubbling around ;)

*sing* storms are in the air, everywhere I look around....*/sing* hope they will be tonight, and the whole week :)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 09 December 2008, 10:15:30 AM
No shortage of storms about.  Some stronger than others but the ones I can see currently aren't too explosive.  They're tending to get some height but towers are weak and precip falling from the mids in some of them, but that are producing the odd bolt.  The larger cells are inland which you'd expect given that's where they form.  Sounding shows some wetter mids than have been seen over the last few days, I would have preferred it a little drier - maybe this is the cause for the cells collapsing (?) and lapse rates are - well - they're acceptable for updrafts !

I was looking at the GFS for Thursday and it showed good potential similar to last Saturday when we chased, but the models have shifted somewhat away to more 'average' indices.  Things should pick up I would say from tomorrow onwards for Darwin at least, a lot of the higher numbers are coastal rather than inland.  Might be a coastal photo opportunity instead of an actual chase - time will tell.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 09 December 2008, 12:30:38 PM
we have a strong sea breeze (12knots) atm, so they are dying around us.....so they expect an early morning storm.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 12 December 2008, 06:42:39 PM
 Storms moving onshore made for chaotic decisions whether to chase or not.  The ones inland were large but fast moving and very erratic in what they wanted to do steering wise.  A lot of cloud cover really made for difficult observation of where new, spent or growing cells were.  There were several storms out to sea which were moving SE to Darwin and some died off, but some did not and provided some decent bolts through the northern suburbs moving inland and then back out to sea!.  I grabbed my daughter (and her book) and simply went around the corner (again!) and managed three shots of some decent lightning behind my home or thereabouts.  We had seen two absolutely massive strikes to our north whilst photographing and they pulsed at least 4-5 times and looked as wide as a house!   The storm I photographed lasted about 20 mins until one behind did the same and put out quite a lot of lightning.

Just as an interesting side note...Renate's co-countryman, Thomas who is also here has the luck of the Irish - although being German - I've been here 7 years and not seen a spout or funnel.  Thomas has been staying centrally in Darwin City and has photographed two in less than two months!!  He has far too much time on his hands sitting at the wharf all day waiting for vorticity!  Once he sends me the images I'll post them up.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 13 December 2008, 04:50:18 AM
cool pics....
I went to Cas beach and could see some great strikes. But I had trouble to stand still because of the wind, I guess my tripod would just have been blown away. So, again, I didn't got anything.

And yer I'm in a snit.

And guess what, Thomas told me he got a good shot from last night.....

feel like the only stormchaser without any fotos.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 16 December 2008, 02:19:29 PM
5th Dec 2008

Just went through the camera after the last few days ....... its been a bit dry :(

Got this shot - which I thought I would post .... just for the sake of it !!!

cheers,
.adrian
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 16 December 2008, 05:05:56 PM
Neat flang there Adrian.  For those that have a thing for our current weather one word comes to mind C#@!P!

Squally monsoonal showers are forecast from Thursday as the monsoon arrives.  So it's going to be a dry spell for any decent storm shots unless something is able to show some gust front structure.  David is here from the forum (Aesacus) but he leaves for Katherine tomorrow to house-sit and possibly chase.  We had a chat today at home and debated on whether to make a run down the track but we decided it's not a good option given the obs and conditions.  I'd rather chase (intercept) than be the chasee (follow) and I've already given those reasons in another thread.  David has enjoyed the weather - albeit the humidity - but a bit frustrated with no actual decent storms to date.  The obs in Katherine for tomorrow are much more favorable than Darwin as their CAPE is 3000 and LI's at -5 - not too bad considering!  I told him to keep an eye out for the 'dry' storms if possible!

The 1004hpa low off the west of Darwin and near the Kimberley has a 50% or better chance of cyclone status by Thursday and is moving W/SW.  bom here aren't too concerned at the moment - as they rightly should not be because it's not affecting us - but PTCWC are watching closely.  We were told that a cyclone might be in our midst around xmas, WA might get that prezzie.

It's gonna be a wet week with fairly large rain falls expected - hope Katherine does not get too much, they'll be flooded in again!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Carlos E on 17 December 2008, 06:51:21 PM
Excellent pictures in this topic!

I wish I lived in Darwin. I love stormy/rainy days, and I much prefer warm weather over cold.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 18 December 2008, 03:46:42 AM
Well, at the moment there are no electrical storms around.
Monsoon is back and all we get now is rain.... (boring, but I guess the nature was longing for it)
What might be a bit more exciting is the tropical low in the Timor Sea. Very slow moving and developing but keeps the forecaster and TCWC busy.
I will know more about it after chart discussion today.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 18 December 2008, 05:19:11 AM
Indeed.  Coastal suburbs yesterday received up to 100mm in a short period and most areas received between 40-80mm.  It's been non-stop steady to moderate soaking rains.  The monsoon showers will be with us tomorrow and that's when things get a little more exciting if you like squally showers.  At least the increased wind whips up the swell for the surfers.

Darwin Met have handed over the Low to WA - no surprises there given the models show it moving S/SW.  With it wobbling in the trough it will look like it's tracking east at times but the consensus I would assume is that it won't affect us unless winds change.  The trough is active though so anything will happen.  There was comment by some that BoM really did not have a clue where it was heading - well in fairness I'd like to see these people forecast anything and saying that it's going to dump hundreds of mm's of rain, track east, cause major flooding and we'll get it is a bit over the top so early out. The monsoon will give us the rain amounts regardless, the low will obviously drag some of that with it but crystal ball predictions don't sit with me very well considering that a lot of folk up here are newcomers and are skittish about this type of talk.  There's always a chance of the low moving towards us, but awareness/preparedness is the important key here, not scaremongering with false forecasts that panic people.

Anyway where was I.....oh yeah, David from the forum is down at Katherine and he's been inundated with rain - had to chuckle because the obs are good down there - but the monsoon has a habit of delivering what we get further north - rain!  He's not happy with that forecast :)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 18 December 2008, 08:38:50 AM
You are right Mike!!
Different models give different output and the BoM has to decide in which to believe most.....but as you said, it is a hard decision. This morning at chart discussion we heard that the US model let it move to southeast, so that would be us.....

So, we have to wait and see. I would prefer it just disappearing, cause I'm going to Kakadu from Friday on......I don't want any rain there!!!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 18 December 2008, 09:45:04 AM
Interesting that JTWC gave a good summary of its progress with recent deep LLC, good divergence and there's been thunderstorms around it for two days now without weakening.  Their sat image gave it a poor rating, but who knows how old that was when posted. Once the earth's rotation kicks in a little to get some circulation then it should be easier to track.  Don't like your chances of no rain in Kakadu - there's plenty of it coming with the monsoon only several hours from the coast!  It's hard enough working out who says what about it, computer models are just that and we all know how hard they are to predict when it comes to where it goes.  Time is on our side (well unless it heads our way!) for review so I'm simply mindful of it and don't forecast these at all!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 21 December 2008, 07:11:14 AM
Now that Billy has made landfall the outer rain bands are still sweeping through from the NW into Darwin.  More a-typical monsoonal bursts are now more regular with sporadic downpours in between drizzle and light rain.  I've bought a rain gauge today and plonked in the front yard un-obscured by my palms so it will be interesting to see how much it catches in the next 12-24 hours.  I've never actually taken much notice about rainfall measurements so this time I'm keeping a log to see how much falls in my particular area.  A couple of coastal storms this morning which produced some lightning and there's been rumbles all day, so that at least has given me hope over the next few days of getting some shots once this cyclone moves further westward.

Apart from that the monsoon is well entrenched now and sits off the coast.  Not more to really say about it except that it's wet :)  It's the same each year and I've overheard a few newcomers to the Territory saying they can't believe how much rain they've seen in a day -sometimes we up here take it for granted and get a little complacent about water conservation - the thought did pop up re installing rain water tanks in all yards but given that you'd fill it in a week it would be overflowing for the next 4 months every time it got topped up by storms.  But it's something I might do regardless for the dry season - at least the garden will appreciate some decent water :)

If anything of value comes from news of any damage or flooding from TC Billy I'll pop that in the appropriate thread as it comes to hand.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Peter J on 22 December 2008, 07:48:59 AM
Mike

It might be worth your while keeping an eye on the second tropical low developing in the GoC, as it could potentially bring more flooding rains to you (and despite what the BoM are saying, it could be a low Cat 1 storm crossing over you).

Big Pete
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 22 December 2008, 12:31:05 PM
Chatter all day here from others re that low.  It's a 1005 low and the JTWC had been eying it.  BoM have made comment on it .  It has some NW circulation and LLC but difluence (an area where winds on the same plane are flowing at angles away from each other) aloft was its problem.  They gave it a 'poor' rating over the 24 hour period - but they said that about Billy too and that became a Cat2.  Go figure!  It must have a dominant W/SW track somewhere in there because it's realistically heading for land by what BoM have to say below.  Not too much flooding for Darwin per se, the other inland regions will def get some large falls from it.
 BoM's flood threat advice had this to say about it:

 'A second tropical low is developing in the western Gulf of Carpentaria and is
expected to move west, over the Top End, over the next few days. It is not
expected to reach Tropical Cyclone intensity. It will generate heavy showers,
storms and rain areas over the Arnhem and Roper-McArthur districts during Monday
before extending further west and affecting the Darwin-Daly District from
Tuesday.'

ED:  JTWC latest give it some strengthening but still a poor rating.  BoM also have posted something in their TC reports and give it a poor rating lso.  Might get some decent storms out of this if it persists inland, but will have to keep an eye on pressure levels as it moves to us.

(http://www.northauschasers.com/includes/2008/download/file.php?id=929&t=1)


So looks like the camera stays in the bag for another week or I go out and take waterfall piccies.  yawn!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 30 December 2008, 01:12:04 PM
Storms Darwin 29 December.

A westward moving tropical low on the eastern side of the NT produced some outer lines with nice gusty storms today. A few single cells had moved through the area in the early afternoon with a couple of rumbles but a fairly strong line of storms flowed through from the inland areas around 2pm.  The line broke up somewhat as it approached the closer rural areas and virtually disintegrated, but the storms within the line found their own paths and there were a couple of nice gusty storms sweeping through by 3pm.  Gusts were in the range of 30kts and white-out conditions with the pelting rain.  There were several large CGs in my area alone, I spotted 10 whilst driving near home.  An unenviable time for any chase as there was a blanket of low cloud, but you could see the towers through lighter cloud breaks.

 Some banter about today's brief gusty weather being compared to pre-severe TC George a couple of years back with the amount of lightning and winds, but it pales in comparison.  This low displays none of the deepening to the extent that George was - that low was just plain nasty and what was forming into a deadly cyclone and produced that F3 tornado - this low is just a nice strong low with lots of rain and the odd gusty storm.  I wish it was a deepening low forming into a cyclone...the amount of lightning that day re-wrote the record books !


The monsoon has been invigorated by this low and we're expecting it to be with us again tomorrow 30th Dec.  That makes three tropical lows in as many weeks moving underneath Darwin towards the Kimberley region.  I'd hate to think what would have happened if they had been cyclones moving across Darwin and fortunate that the monsoon has been pulled inland so many times.  Katherine could do without any more rain in the catchment areas as the river level is up high enough already and with this third low producing some good rainfall they'd be monitoring things closely in the next few days.  Most areas received between 18-50mm today and no doubt inland areas a lot more.

The low is currently at 1001hpa just east of Groote Eylandt and still has some decent rainfall to it and is expected to hover into the Arnhem region for some days still.  Tonight will be one of those 'observe' scenarios to chase anything because by this time tomorrow it will be very wet indeed again.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Aesacus on 13 January 2009, 05:38:48 AM
I know Katherine is a little far from Darwin, but thought these photos should be put in this thread.
This storm came through on the 10th of January (with a very low CAPE and weak LI). There was constant thunder for about half an hour before the storm arrived, but the lightning died completely when it hit. The outflow of this storm was pretty amazing.
Here are some photos...
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 13 January 2009, 06:46:45 AM
Hey, beautiful pics!!!! Much better as what we get here atm.

I took some pics of the squall line yesterday. will post them later when I'm back at home.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 13 January 2009, 08:03:59 AM
10 january?  You still there?  If so for how much longer?

Huge structure of the storm there, David and a nice shelf cloud to boot!  That's the problem with big storms set amongst the monsoon regime - large, bulbous and full of rain and towers seem to all appear shrouded in a fine mist of condensation along the flanking lines with towers flat and suppressed.

At least you got something for your efforts considering storms were - and are - still very rare to date here!

Katherine radar loop ->  http://radar.strikeone.net.au/?fuseaction=loops.main&radar=423&numberofImages=20&dateStart=1231556400&dateFinish=1231578000
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Aesacus on 13 January 2009, 01:35:49 PM
Hi Mike!

Yeah, still here in Katherine. I leave on the 20th.
We've had a number of electrical storms since I've been here, mostly at night. Since I don't have an SLR I can't get any lightning shots (or cloud shots at night), so didn't really see the point in posting anything until now. There are a number of cells floating about at the moment but the usual story is that they dissipate just before reaching Katherine (or they merely swipe us on their way).
Looks like Darwin has had a really dry run of late. Hope things improve!

David.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 14 January 2009, 07:02:34 AM
I don't know if it is worth to post, but I think we need more action here ;)
These are the pics of the line of 11.01.09
We saw few flashes somewhere in the clouds to the left but none when it was dark.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 14 January 2009, 07:07:37 AM
the line yesterday was pretty active but was hanging around the west of Kathrine for sooo long that it took me tooo long to decide to go south. As I finally got there with Thomas, most of the action was gone and it suddenly started to move towards us very fast. It was very gusty and we left before the heavy rain could start. We drove about 80-90 km the Stuart Highway.
We didn't get much. Well, of course Thomas got the good strike.
I got no pics for posting.

radar (http://radar.strikeone.net.au/?fuseaction=loops.main&radar=631&numberofImages=21&dateStart=1231743600&dateFinish=1231768800)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 14 January 2009, 08:31:50 PM
...and as Renate mentioned, this line dissipated into the night but at 3am it reformed with convergence from the sea breeze and went ballistic at 3am.  No guesses who was asleep!  So after dragging my bottom lip off the ground some very good friends of ours from Wollongong have been up here trying to get some storm shots without success for the last three trips in two years!  But, for some reason Darinka's better half awoke and this photo is the result. 

 Spectacular CG over the ocean adjacent Darwin taken from their hotel room on the 7th floor.  Photo credit to Darinka Braidotti.  Her husband Mick and their son Michael are avid chasers and when they visit Darwin they do the miles to get storm shots, but this one really impressed me no end.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Darinka on 15 January 2009, 05:22:59 AM
Great pictures Cloudfairy and David
Was down at Katherine on the 8/01/2009, met up with a pretty good line of storms which only seemed to produce heavy rain, decided to head back to Darwin at
6pm as we still had over 3 hours of driving.  After 30 minutes on the Stuart Highway these line of storms started to produce thunder and a great lightning show with plenty of cg's, but for the most part, it couldn't be seen for the trees and there was no road turnoffs or safe vantage points off the Stuart Highway especially with Road Trains flying past.

Darwin has been pretty quiet as far as storms go, and more concentrated inland in the last 10 days that ive been here, although i thought i would share some pics
from a line of storms that came through the Darwin Coast on Tuesday 13/01/2009 at 3am.  Pictures could have been a bit sharper, though not too bad considering being woken from your sleep, trying to find where you put your camera and getting a total block on the camera settings and guessing infinity in the dark while cg's are dropping (there were only 5 like these that i had seen) things can get ugly. 

Ps Thankyou Mike for the post.

Anyway hope you enjoy
Regards Darinka
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 15 January 2009, 07:06:46 AM
As I maybe have mentioned a while ago.... I shouldn't sleep.

Awesome picture, Darinka!!!!!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 15 January 2009, 07:24:08 AM

There's a mass of storm activity to our SW which is confined to a low pressure area - pity it's so far away and probably inaccessible.  Another line formed this morning around Darwin's coastal regions brought on by the onshore winds - fairly hefty rain and low slung.  I received 4.2mm at home in a short space of time (thanks to my new weather monitor) and interestingly you'd expect this sort of weather to be associated with low barometric pressures, but scanning the gizmo the pressure was constant at 1002-4 last Frid-Sat with little or not storm activity, yet now it has been showing hpa pressures at 1008-10 and we've got lines of moderate showers and the large cells developing in the afternoon - got me baffled!

The upper winds have been a Godsend of sorts over the past two days with storms.  Whilst they initially 'turkey neck' on the way up, new convection forms within the same towers and they do look healthy.  The anvils are large and are dispersed very quickly which helps clear the air for new storms to mature.  Last night Darwin was surrounded with great structured storms, but not a lot of lightning activity, they are meeting the sea breeze and turning more shower borne.  They are tending to like the calmer nighttime air and perhaps it's a little drier in the levels to produce the lightning, but trying to pick them is proving difficult.  They look like tall, well structured CB's but looks are deceiving.

If the monsoon has broken up then this shower activity must be from another trough - but it's very monsoonal in appearance cloud wise.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Michael Bath on 15 January 2009, 10:53:34 AM
Attached is an image of Hector over the Tiwi Islands about 05z 13/1/2009
Quite a nice example.


Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 15 January 2009, 11:14:25 AM
Where did you get that from? that is beautiful view of him.
I try to picture him nearly every time he is there, but usually the sun and he himself put himself into shadow, so it is difficult to see any structure. The same yesterday....
attached how I saw him yesterday, from the roof of the BoM Building Casuarina

Two or three days ago he developed pretty late and wasn't that strong. But he looked beautiful in the sunset!!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 16 January 2009, 02:29:51 AM
Beaut photo Michael, everyone's been asking me the same thing....where's the link for the sat image !!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Michael Bath on 16 January 2009, 03:31:59 AM
It's from the MODIS website where you can get 250 metre resolution images but it's hit and miss whether the polar orbiters pass over at the right time:

http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/

You can search the NT images here:
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/index.php?subset=Australia2

I've linked to lots of stuff from here:
http://australiasevereweather.com/links/ozsatpic.htm




Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 16 January 2009, 05:30:40 AM
Thanks MB, will bookmark these links as a resource.  Nice and clear images.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 17 January 2009, 08:44:45 AM
BoM visit 16Jan 2009

I was lucky to have an invite to join in to hear and see their morning 'chart discussion' where they view the past 24 hour obs/satpics/radar/wind profiles/storm possibility and also the outlook weather profiles.  Highly enthralling and interesting!  I mentioned to MB that I did not realize how much I actually knew because I understood their jargon and interpretation of things as they went from one image/graphic/satpic to the next and onto the wind charts.  It's not as easy as the public thinks - a lot of decision making and deciphering models to interpret even a daily forecast!  Plenty of info and I'd love to have some of their radar software!

A couple of things that members might find interesting is that as with NSW, Qld, SA and Vic you all have the SSW graphic that is posted on the BoM warning's page when severe storms are posted and you get that grid map overlayed over the area?  Well we don't have that - yet - Michael oley has been working on this for Darwin. I asked him why on earth it was not done years earlier considering the amount of storm activity we get and he said it was purely due to the 'assessment factor re risk' per large hail.  Not so much for wind damage as most of our storms do produce 90k/mh wind gusts when they get ramped up, but it is the hail factor that equates heavily into this expensive exercise.

But we should see this down the track so we'll be up on par with our southern counterparts.  They also have new software for storm assessment and making warnings.  They can create or delete storms on this program which show signs of being SSWarned and can also do a similar thing with overlaying onto different maps - bloody interesting I can tell you!

BoM do in fact work hard to forecast storms here and whilst there are some who give them a hard time, their workload during storms is intense.  By the time they send an SSW it has dissipated, when they don't send one it fires up!  This new software will allow them to make a determination quicker and give them space to keep an eye on 4 computer screens at once!  Their window of nowcasting is pretty tight also, whilst they have several programs they can view for convective purposes, the weather is so unpredictable here it's no wonder they get given a hard time, but for my part it was fascinating.

The monsoon I saw and heard is traveling south for the winter but we're expecting monsoonal showers n stuff from tonight.  The trough lies well inland and the low attached to it (ex-Charlotte) is not doing much at all.  They said there was not much activity to our NW convective wise and most of the vigorous forming of storms/cloud is to the N/NW/NE  A low and an eddie around the traps but not doing anything.  The senior forecaster said that the monsoonal inflow through Asia and Indonesia was brisk!  Gale force winds in some areas and through the levels it was strong and they were a bit miffed as to why there's not much more activity - although there was a chuckle throughout the room as he mentioned our 65+ rainfall from a couple of storms in less than an hour yesterday arvo from two storms!.  A bit of finger pointing at a few officers as to say 'Well? did you pick that fella?'

It's given me a better understanding of the weather and look even further outside the square and the confidence to apply my chasing to looking at certain things around the atmosphere and especially the winds - they're pretty crucial!

* Added some neat cloud base shots from storms yesterday - the cropped one is something I've never seen in my life - downdraft pushing through the cloud and meeting changes in temperature!  It looked like a dome lowering and opening up like a flower - insane stuff and was amazing.



Cheers all!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 27 January 2009, 03:43:04 AM
This current monsoon trough just won't go away!  Whilst chasing has been deplorable, the conditions this trough has produced is quite impressive.  4 lows, 2 cyclones from them, trough has moved from the Top End way down to the base of the NT, hovered for two weeks.  The returned to the Top End and actually strengthened which each movement up and down the NT.  Whilst Darwin had its driest January rainfall ever - although you would not think so given the rain days - the monsoon is now once again being invigorated as it lies across our fair city.  For a trough to remain active for almost 5 weeks shows the season is living up to its name.

I don't think I've seen December/January this lax for chase worthy storms.  There's been the odd storm embedded with rain bands but in essence not worth a chase at all or for a 'photographic opportunity' because the radar is very deceptive and some think that lots of colours means storms - nah - it means rainfall intensity and naturally you're going to get the odd bolt exiting, but it's Russian roulette with where to actually go for a strike and you'd be extremely fortunate to nab a photo.

Structure wise the storms have been good when in between bands, but as this monsoon deepens once again it's going to be a wet couple of weeks I suspect.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 28 January 2009, 04:01:51 PM
I got a little pulsestorm yesterday around Berry Springs, I suppose.

This pic is a DRI. My first ever. So, you are welcome to criticize it. I know it isn't really sharp. I guess, the 5 pics are not identical despite I used a tripod.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 28 January 2009, 04:27:35 PM
Hi Cloudfariy,

Not so much a criticism..... but some thoughts on your the HDR image.

Try only using only 3 photos; until you have the knack of it. As 5 is unnecessarily complicated when you are starting out.

You might also want to review the individual exposure settings as the foreground is well underexposed i.e. try -1 0 1

The blurring maybe from a time delay between photos... you should be able to rattle off 3 shots in under a second. (obviously depending on your settings!)

Not sure if you did it in CS4, but have a look at the photomatix software if you want to get into HDR.

My 2 bob worth!

Cheers,
.adrian
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 28 January 2009, 04:57:05 PM
thank you Adrian!

Photomatix cost money......
I did it with PS CS4

You may be right. I'll try -1 0 1 next time...I can do that in one click, yep.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 28 January 2009, 06:12:52 PM
Was out rural today getting some cloud observation education for myself - book in hand naturally. There was a lot of CB's trying to get to anvil stage but just a real lack of instability.  Lifting was no problem with them, but they just collapsed once they reached the EQ level.  There were broad/short anvils on a couple further inland but their structure was extremely lame.  Only towards Annaburro (near Jabiru) did some convection collect together and show some promise, but for my three hours out in the yonder I saw not one hint of lightning. I was commenting to MB that most of the structures were Cumulonimbus Congestus & Calvis - shower borne CBs which needed to step up to the next levels to Incus and very weak anvils on the ones I saw quickly dispersed to wispy cirrus.

The monsoon is coming full strength again tomorrow (Wed 28th) so once again chasing is on the back burner.  Whilst there's always a whinge from me re not being able to chase because of the squally showers, it has proven to be beneficial this time around and I've made good use of the gaps in rain bands to catch up on some important observation criteria for myself.  It's made picking stronger cells or cells with potential a little easier to spot since I've been out and about. 

The last few monsoon periods I've been really slack and not bothered to venture out, but this season I decided that I'd get out and do some homework between monsoon bands, that it's just as important to know what you're looking at as opposed to guess work, which inevitably could result in a bust or a decent set of images/info.

Just some thoughts as I listen to the rain.    The images below is typical of what was around in the areas and me looking oh so serious on what I was doing!.  One of the images has low topped CUs with two sets of lowering condensation walls which was nice to see come down.  Temps out there were around 33 in the sun - quite a contrast to the 29-30 in the city and was very humid.

Cheers everyone - really do hope you get some rainfall after these horrific 40C days southern cities are getting.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 02 February 2009, 10:53:46 AM
Chase report Sun Feb 1 2009

Seeing fairly active lightning way in the south from the city I decided to head home and check the obs after work at 1am and get some supplies and head out.  I decided against going east even though there were some cells active, but they were petering out.  Headed down to Adelaide River some 100km's the south and about 20 mins out from my chase intercept area there were big positive strikes from dome to ground, and lots of CGs.  I was going to turn off at a couple of open areas and set up and perhaps that might have been the way to go.  Driving with the window down i noticed warm air tending to cooler as I approached my locale - I'm thinking...this aint good - outflow!  The lightning had stopped for a bit and there were more low based CGs about 20km's ahead - all of a sudden I got hit with a heavy rain curtain and promptly hit the anchors and did a U-turn.  After out running the shaft I stopped at another locale heading north and waited...again the rain had caught me!  It was then I knew I had mistimed the strikes by only 10-15 minutes.  How disappointing!

The cluster of storms near Batchelor were pretty strong.  I had seen them start to form on radar at 1:30am and were looking good, the towers were hidden behind a gust front I could see whilst driving but two towers pushed out and above this - albeit for only ten minutes. that was my window of opportunity right there.  No shots this time but a good chase experience and I guess nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Radar loop included:

---> Darwin radar loop (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2009/radar/20090131/berrimah128.htm)

The cells were weakening as they moved inland, but of course with no laptop with me and little coverage it was 50/50.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 14 February 2009, 11:07:53 AM
Finally the monsoon trough is moving north. It is predicted to be off shore of Darwin on Tuesday. So, I expect some thunderstorms coming with it over the weekend.
The second half of the week is predicted to be pretty dry rainwise....so hot and humid air ..... I hope for some nice Cbs, with enough dry air in it, in clear sky that spitting heaps of lighting for maybe the following weekend. Would be nice!!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 14 February 2009, 09:52:00 PM
Can you believe it people that the last actual decent lightning active storm worth photographing was November 29!  I missed out on a couple during December - but talk about a glut!  Monsoons are great for rain and the rivers, but I say adios to it !
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 15 February 2009, 10:49:56 AM
Today looks so much better. Still stupid northerlies, but better convection is bubbling up. Already got some nice cloud cloud pics.

I get more and more excited......can feel the storms coming back!!!!! Believe me, Mike. This weekend and first half of next week will be much better than the last 6 weeks.
The trough will push the thunderstorms back towards us.....present them to us!!!!! And we will take them :)))))))
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Michael Bath on 16 February 2009, 08:23:17 AM
That's an amazingly long time between decent storms opportunities - can you recall other seasons like this Mike ?

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 16 February 2009, 09:04:38 PM
Hi MB.  2007/8 was a little dismal, but the glut then was around 3 weeks here and there.  This monsoon has lingered inland for two months at least - and counting.  It produced daily showers and maybe a week of actual 'monsoonal squalls' but it has kept temps and instability ' stable' if that could be deemed appropriate.  A strong NW or NE flow really does not allow storms proper to form and definitely has kept them away even inland since the time mentioned.  Personally due to only chasing for around 3 years now I can't go back further than that.

Storms today were much more organised, healthy and came in from 2pm till around 6pm.  Got a few shots from the wharf of them forming with rain curtains.  Saw two massive strikes right near work as we watched the storm rise directly in front of us - it brought a smile to my face and the resounding concussion boom that rattled all the windows at work cracked everyone up.

Renate is right re the setups.  Hot days with humid nights and mornings.  Clear skies till around lunch and then the cumulus really get going and mature to CB stage.  Early anvils today around lunch hinted that things were favorable.  Storms are pushing both from inland and from the coastal areas, so the convergence of the trough is evident on radar.  At 9am this morning coastal convergence was in my face with a line of  immature CBs stretching  the coast on the NW side of Darwin and anvil near the Tiwi's - always a plus to see this stuff around so early.

The trough lies just north of Katherine and this is the weather I enjoy - storms forming along a boundary each day!  Hope to get some pics over the next two nights as they're my days off.  Everything is crossed, but I'll post my other photos today sometime.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 19 February 2009, 05:43:24 AM
after the heavy rain, now the storms are coming back.

Yesterday we had a squall line south of Darwin from WSW to ENE with a nice and long shelf cloud.
Actually the first one this long I've ever seen AND pictured.  :D

Here it is. (I had to cut off the right side because of a stupid pole in the way, and a stupid power line detrackted my focus..  :'( )
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 19 February 2009, 07:49:54 AM
Great shot!  Our area received 84-140mm from this system in the 24hr accumulative period!  The lack of storms may take a nice change from Saturday onwards.  Next week is just insane!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 19 February 2009, 05:57:06 PM
Mike,

Certainly looking up - might have to go for a drive on Sat :)

Cheers,
.adrian
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 21 February 2009, 05:40:08 AM
still the storms are far from perfect or spectacular....BUT....

Yesterday was the day of iridescent clouds!!! And better....iridescent pileus!!!!!!

and a nice sunset.

I hope for more on the weekend.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Michael Bath on 22 February 2009, 05:17:12 AM
Some lovely examples there Cloud Fairy - glad you were there to capture it :)

I see there was a severe thunderstorm warning for the Nhulunbuy area this morning - anything to report ?
regards, Michael
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 23 February 2009, 04:07:24 PM
Chase Report Feb 22 09

Headed down to Adelaide River (100 km' south of DWN) at about 1430 on Sunday Arvo managed to intercept 2 storms (between Noonamah and AR) before heading back at about 1830.  Great formations but not a huge amount of activity given the promising instability indicators.  Have posted a few photo's from the chase. 

Apologies to cloudfairy .... a certain telephone carrier starting with T, made trying to meet you mission impossible :(

Cheers,
.adrian


Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 23 February 2009, 05:28:55 PM
Hmmm .... not Really a chase but another report for Feb 22 09

Seems the storms haven't finished for the night.

Storm Cell moving West off of Nightcliff had some promise.

Cheers,
.adrian
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 24 February 2009, 06:40:00 AM
Great pics Adrian!!!

Here are mine from yesterday :)  ;D ;D ;D <- thats how I looked like from yesterday afternoon on.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 24 February 2009, 06:46:15 AM
And a nice shelf from Saturday :)
Hope you like it.

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Shaun Galman on 24 February 2009, 06:47:43 AM
Hi all,
Adrian: those are some stunning photos! Those colours and composure are really great!
The cloud structure is pretty well defined also. Were these over land or out over the ocean? Would have been nice to have seen them from a grounding point of view but really great shots none-the-less! PRINT! lol.

Cloudfairy: really great photos also! I like the first one a lot.
It's great to see the Darwin/NT area finally getting the storms it's renowned for! :D
Take care,
Shauno
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 24 February 2009, 02:11:13 PM
Hi Shauno,

Thanks for the feed back, I am pretty sure these were grounding over the ocean.

Renate - fantastic shots :) now I wish I had gone out on Saturday.

Cheers,
.adrian

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 25 February 2009, 09:56:47 AM
Sunday night proved to be the awesome night to photograph at Nightcliff jetty...I could only see flashes from work and yeah - depressing.  But..all was not lost on the Monday morning at 1:30am!  Plenty of instability abounds and the OIC emailed me with some details for a chase location and he was right...squall line came in - I hate them!  Outflow dominant and the last image really only showed a decent storm with about 10 big long strikes.  Storms are about but cloud cover is a hassle!

Here's some of my pics from the last few days.

(http://australasiaforum.net/australasia/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4767.0;attach=3489;image)

(http://australasiaforum.net/australasia/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4772.0;attach=3492;image)

(http://australasiaforum.net/australasia/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4785.0;attach=3498;image)

(http://australasiaforum.net/australasia/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4782.0;attach=3497;image)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Darinka on 25 February 2009, 10:51:08 AM
Hi All

Great pics Cloudfairy Adrian and Mike, nice to see some great storms come back to Darwin.  Mike that's what should
have happened while i was there!!  Anyway keep them coming to us few who are storm deprived.

Regards
Darinka
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: RainBird on 27 February 2009, 09:21:06 PM
Wow! Awesome photos everyone!! :)

It's been some time since my last post, I'd like to catch up and share some of my Feb 2009 highlights, Renate and myself hit the storms hard when they finally popped up! :D





Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 07 March 2009, 06:04:16 AM
Even that it is pretty quiet here atm, I found a nice looking single multicell yesterday evening, just before sunset.
I was out in Coolalinga for archery and had trouble to concentrate on the targets as I saw this beauty to the east. So I decided instead of shooting straw I will go and hunt a fat storm for dinner ;)

I went past Humpty Doo for the second pic (Mike, there where we stoped the fist time on our first chase, where you spotted the vortex),
then I drove to Windows on the Wetlands for the last one.
Can't remember where I took the first pic....anyway, the pics are from Humpty Doo to Windows on the Wetlands and from 6.30pm till 7pm

And this morning, just before 4am I woke up because of a loud bang....so the 3-4am storms are back ;)
thunder and heavy rain in Rapid Creek....Airport seems to be left out.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 14 March 2009, 09:44:11 AM
we had some storms in Darwin yesterday late afternoon. One coming from the south the other from ENE. The merged together over the sea.


I took the first two pics from the top of the Met Building in Casuarina and the last pic from Casuarina Beach.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 15 March 2009, 05:16:39 PM
Heya,

I managed to get some lightning yesterday. :) behind Humpty Doo and then Adelaide River Floodplains (with heaps of millions of mosquitos  >:( )
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: RainBird on 16 March 2009, 08:45:03 PM
Great lightning Renate!! :)
That loopy crawler is awesome! Well done ;)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 17 March 2009, 05:53:08 PM
Am I the only one up here???? Mike, Adrian, where are you?????

That's from today. I drove too far inland.....so I missed most of this nice very active coastal cell :(

Hope you guys got more!!!

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 18 March 2009, 01:57:01 PM
Hi Renate,

Sorry .... have been bogged down with work & travel :( 

Have been watching your posts .... some great shots.

Hopefully this weekend will bring some action.

Cheers,
.adrian



Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 18 March 2009, 06:05:16 PM
Today is St. Patrick's Day and I love Ireland!!!!!! And it was soooo dry today.....nothing.....nothing out there....so I decided to go party and celebrate my favorite country!!!

 :'(  :'(  :'(  :'(  :'(  :'(  :'(
I missed this wonderful storm.....
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: RainBird on 18 March 2009, 08:59:25 PM
I was really eager to head out around the Darwin area to watch the late afternoon skies for a possible chase..
I invited a good friend to come out chasing but they were totally convinced that it would be dry and thought I was just 'clutching straws' that it would rain..  ;)
I headed out on my own and found a good spot down at the wharf and watched...  Finally near sundown huge towers exploded north of Adelaide River, SE of Darwin, Already being at the wharf I was just in the right spot to capture some CGs and structure photos.

As the storm approached Darwin it produced a very large shelf cloud and incredible outflow winds with gusts recorded up to 100km/h.
I observed some felled trees, a traffic accident and several snapped branches around the CBD and Fannie Bay areas.
No STW was issued prior to the thunderstorm!  :o

(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s317/Jazza_666/DSC_3140asml.png)

(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s317/Jazza_666/DSC_3162aasml.png)

(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s317/Jazza_666/DSC_3174asml.png)



Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 25 March 2009, 04:43:03 AM
yesterday a strong storm cell developed to the east moving northwestwards. I heard that there was a warning out for a gusty storm, when I was down at east arm wharf to get some pics. from a southwestern cell I saw a nice long cg (of course I missed it).
Then I decided to try catching this northern cell. I had no idea which road to take, so I tried Howard Springs, Gunn Point Rd but didn't dare to drive on the dirt road with a non-4WD and knowing that a storm is coming. So I turned around and got a sunset shelf on the Stuart Highway. I stopped on a little road beside the Highway, not realizing that it leads to the defense site. A car stopped beside me then and the guy was so nice, asking me what I'm doing, and that I shouldn't take pictures of the defence site....I wasn't I wanted to catch an interesting cloudband above the shelf.....anyway I had to move on (that's why I cut the foreground on one pic).
I drove to a sideroad past Humpty Doo...the famous one ;)
Missed nice crawler because my camera takes ages for saving.
The lightning moved further to my left and I decided to drive this road further (no idea where it leads me). Behind a right bend I stopped and managed to get two cgs...two small ones.....guess what my camera was doing when the long and closer ones happened?
Then again I drove further, turned right.....and left...and....I can't remember....after a while I realized that there are trees everywhere and no gap in between. I also realized that I can't remember the way back.....as I saw the storm to my right.... I roughly knew where I was heading to....the direction, not where I am....anyway, I found my way back :) pretty frustrated because of my camera....
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Michael Bath on 25 March 2009, 06:56:52 AM
Boy - some frustrations and difficulties on that chase Renate!
The BoM issued a number of warnings as the storms came into Darwin. The sounding from yesterday (23rd March) is interesting with quite a lot of dry air aloft.


Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: RainBird on 25 March 2009, 08:24:33 AM
I managed a couple of shots out near Lambell's Lagoon and Middle Point late in the afternoon towards nightfall.
The stoms lacked promising lightning activity especially to Darwin's standards, most lightning was intracloud or small cralwers with the very occasional CG touching down in the most unexpected places.

The storms became outflow dominant prior to reaching Darwin, leaving me the only option to try my luck on the other side of the pricip shaft for some rear-firing lightning beneath the anvil.  I did manage an interesting shot of the guster with an unusual rounded dry based cell on the northern edge which kind of reminded me of a supercell, though the apparent lack of vorticity and due to climatic factors, it is very unlikely.

After piercing through the rain, I set up camera near the Middle Point transmissions field where I managed some small anvil crawlers on nightfall.
All in all, this was a very difficult storm to find a photogenic opportunity with, but that's the joys and excitement of chasing, much like going fishing in a sense :)

Cheers,

Jacci



Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 25 March 2009, 09:54:23 AM
Boy - some frustrations and difficulties on that chase Renate!
The BoM issued a number of warnings as the storms came into Darwin. The sounding from yesterday (23rd March) is interesting with quite a lot of dry air aloft.

you are right we have a deep dryness in the midlevels. but we also had westerlies and this gulf line. and during the day you could see how more and more convection started....nothing too solid or strong but compared to the last week....
I think this gulf line was strong enough to make it to the westerlies around darwin to get more feed.....I had a look at the radar loop from last night and you can see how it redeveloped a couple of times and merged with stuff from the south. and thats what I experienced....it weakened so many times, and I was always about to drive home....then it started again with more frequent flickers.

radar loop (http://radar.strikeone.net.au/?fuseaction=loops.main&radar=633&numberofImages=10&dateStart=1237794600&dateFinish=1237809000)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 26 March 2009, 06:56:41 AM
Heya mates!!!! Life is great.....forget what I was complaining about yesterday ;)
Life is fantastic again!!!
We had a wonderful, beautiful multicell developing over annaburro, or I guess it was a multicell first and developed to a squall line. The forecast was a late gusty storm, and BoM was right!
crispy and gusty :) and like electric dynamite :)
loop (http://radar.strikeone.net.au/?fuseaction=loops.main&radar=633&numberofImages=10&dateStart=1237876800&dateFinish=1237898400)

Anyway, I was out there with Mike and we got the feeling that Darwin might not be the right spot for this storm so we drove to Mendora. On our way we had the black cloudfront in our back painted with nice rainbows.

In Mendora (omg, still smiling, and giggling) we were welcomed at the jetty by a huge impressive shelf cloud.
As it went over us we had heavy rain and strong wind and heard something about a knocked down tree on Arnhem Highway around Humpty Doo.

Well, as it was getting dark the lightning (and the rain) was above us. We had trouble to adjust the car in the right position, there was lightning everywhere and wonderful ones....long strong flickering cgs. I'm still excited about it.

After a while the strikes were getting shorter, so we drove after it and got a couple of good ones from another beach.
(http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2575/98/58/621159964/n621159964_1532178_5337685.jpg)

(Mike, you're welcome to add your text and of course, please, your photos. I'm not that good in writing.)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: RainBird on 26 March 2009, 08:18:56 AM
Wow!!
Great work Renate!
Some of those CGs look like they would of been rather close.
The shelfie and lightning pics are awesome and wow the rainbow, real icing on the cake :)
Those storms literally rained down thousands of CGs, both massive staccatos and pulsing strikes around the greater Darwin area yesterday evening, good to see our normal storms have returned, only thing is it has left it right until the end of the season lol.

Thanks for sharing :)
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 26 March 2009, 08:23:27 AM
well, I didn't zoom in and they didn't fit into the picture....yer they were close!!!!!! It was ......don't have a word for that!!
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 21 April 2009, 03:29:16 AM
hey guys,...

we are still alive, up here.....
and we got a storm (our last one?) in the night from Saturday to Sunday (midnight till 2am). Passing us by to the north, between Tiwi Islands and Gunn Point. So, it was pretty far away, but therefor I got nice pics with lightning reflecting on the the sea.
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 22 April 2009, 06:26:46 AM
Hey all.  Been a fair while since I posted - so apologies.  I've been fairly busy with other storm related issues other than photography!

The storm that Renate and I chased was severe warned about midway through our chase - we did not know that of course until we reached our final destination.  We initially went rural as the leading edge of this system was beginning to ramp up.  I decided to chase about 45km inland and see how this thing was going to mature.  Radar images looked pretty safe and showed a lot of potential.  Steering winds were SE and they were heading NW, but some of the better structure within the storm system was moving north.  We captured some nice shots as the storm gathered momentum and I said to Renate that we really needed to keep in front of this system and let it chase us and relocate much further north.  I chose Mandorah which is about 75km from Darwin on the other side of the harbor, it actually overlooks Darwin itself and this appealed to me to see this beast covering the coastline as it came in.

We only encountered shower activity on the western edge of the storm, which was okay by me because there was a dry area between cells and the road direction was taking us directly in front of all the action anyway.  DP's for that time were hovering around 25-26 and CAPE was well into the 5000 mark.  I have since found out that there was some lowering from this storm on the NW side.  I did catch a glimpse of something during the drive but views were obscured by trees.  A photo I shall post shows it and it's not scud or inflow tags.

Once we reached Mandorah it was a blessing...the whole shelf cloud was covering the entire breadth of Darwin and suburbs both sides and came in quickly.  The rain obviously came with it as it passed overhead, but it ended just at the right time.  All the CG's were located directly in front of us no more than 200 metres away.  A lot of photos I've seen from other people back in Darwin show all the lightning at our location - poor us!

The lightning was the best I've seen for quite a while and they were all multiples most of the time, something I'm not always seeing when out and about.  The bureau has received a report from me as none of their spotters did one and no chaser went from woe to go as we did - how odd given the size of it!  They were keen to read what we saw and how it unfolded.  There was some light tree debris near our location and winds I guesstimated were around 45-50kts with gusts.

The storms had intensified quite a lot once they moved offshore from Wagait Beach - 2km from where we were...we headed down there for some more shots, but we had had our fill and decided to call it quits for the day.

Here's some of my shots from the arvo/night.



Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Mike on 22 April 2009, 06:42:01 AM
The dry season is approaching very fast and storms of late have been confined to the NE coastal region.  I decided to head out this morning at 3am as there was plenty of activity lighting up the darkness and went for a 'photographic opportunity' rather than a chase!  Had to wait about an hour for the main cells to mature more, but eventually they did and produced some nice strikes.  We have a tropical low above us which is expected to deepen, but if it does reach cyclone status it is expected to move away from us for now...the MJO is deep, but there's easterlies hampering storm development at this time.

anyway here's the pics from the previous night and this morning.

Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Peter J on 22 April 2009, 03:42:58 PM
That pic of Cloud-fairy aka Renate is quite a good one.

Worth keeping girl.

Big Pete
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: cloudfairy on 23 April 2009, 03:33:00 AM
thanks pete :)
mike already sent it to me :)
I like it too. maybe it should become my avatar.....
Title: Re: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009
Post by: Adrian on 23 April 2009, 01:11:17 PM
Nice work Mike and Renate,

Have been a bit slack as have be os on business and been flat out with work.

Good to see that someone is making the effort in capturing what little has headed our way in the last few months :(

Cheers,
.adrian