Author Topic: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006  (Read 14821 times)

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Offline Jimmy Deguara

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Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« on: 08 December 2006, 10:02:19 AM »
Hi,

I was talking with both Jeff and Nick in regards to the bushfires in Victoria. I have not seen such a powerful pyrocumulus (or is it a pyrocumulonimbus) on the news. Compared to the crappy storms we had approaching - I would have rather been down there! Any other comments or images in relation to these potentially dangerous fires please don't hesitate to mention here.

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Jimmy Deguara
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Jeff Brislane

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #1 on: 08 December 2006, 03:51:58 PM »
Jimmy, I cannot remember seeing such a strong radar image of the fires yesterday since Canberra. For magnitude it's up there in the top 10% for sure. As for the pyrocumulonimbus did you notice it was producing lightning? You could see fresh strikes occuring yesterday on the tracker.

Offline Jimmy Deguara

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #2 on: 09 December 2006, 12:51:35 AM »
Hi Jeff or anyone,

If images of the lightning can be posted that would be awesome as it I am not at all surprised!

John, I must say I tend to agree with the seriousness of not only those fires but all fires. My reasoning behind the reasoning of such widespread bushfire areas and the danger threat associated with most regions probably unrivalled by almost any other situation we have ever seen are affected by the following factors:

- many or most areas of the SE of Australia are in deep drought
- we are in a pattern of well above temperatures so early in the season so the probability of strong heating and less widespread thunderstorm activity and associated low rainfall is high
- the concequent effect of countless lightning strikes across a widespread region has in my opinion been once again unrivalled by any other bushfire seasons in recent history
- last and not least - the cold outbreak could not have been timed perfectly (from a distastrous effect perspective). Most of us probably took note of the snow that came from the cold outbreak which would have provided moisture for higher altitudes. But what about the subsequent frosts on one or two days following the rain and snow! I noted that just in Mudgee region alone and it seems a similar effect towards Gunnedah and Tamworth that frosts have burned and killed off any existing vegetation to create an even more extensive fire hazard right across the eastern region of Australia.

John, you may well suggest that this weekend will have the potential of dangerous bushfires but I would like to alert to the period perhaps around Christmas/Boxing Day. If we have a repeat system periodically as the large low during mid - November, they are the slow progressing systems that can generate high temperatures, strong winds and very low humidities as well as high Haines Index values over several consecutive days covering wide region of SE Australia. I hope this is not realised.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
« Last Edit: 09 December 2006, 01:03:17 AM by Jimmy Deguara »
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Offline Michael Bath

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #3 on: 09 December 2006, 02:34:10 AM »
There are some impressive pyrocumulonimbus photos on WZ forums for this date.  The VIS satpic loop (3 - 7pm) shows it well too:



This Terra MODIS image for 5th Dec is nice - it was also published in the Daily Telegraph.
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?2006339-1205/Australia.A2006339.0050.500m.jpg

MB
« Last Edit: 09 December 2006, 02:45:19 AM by Michael Bath »
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Offline Jimmy Deguara

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #4 on: 09 December 2006, 06:12:32 AM »
Hi Michael,

If you have time to select a few direct links to some of the most impressive website pictures, that would be great!

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Jimmy Deguara
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Jeff Brislane

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #6 on: 09 December 2006, 08:20:20 AM »
OMG! Do those pyro CB's have overshooting tops!

MB those top three photos are just sensational! Those are the best pyro CB pics I have ever seen! Man I wish I was there with a camera.
« Last Edit: 09 December 2006, 08:22:52 AM by Jeff Brislane »

Offline David C

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #7 on: 09 December 2006, 04:30:50 PM »
WOW! Robbie excelled himself with those shots -- awesome. On the flip side, damn..pity the animals that are caught in all that but what incredible convection. Hoping we don't see any of that around here.
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Offline Jimmy Deguara

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #8 on: 09 December 2006, 04:31:54 PM »
Thanks Michael for posting these - sensational!

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Jimmy Deguara
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Offline Brad Hannon

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #9 on: 12 December 2006, 06:09:47 AM »
WOW they are fantastic pics.  I wish I could contribute some pics being from Victoria but im too far south :( (then again thats not a bad thing considering the size of these fires).
hmmm June 2nd......

Offline Jane Gough

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #10 on: 12 December 2006, 06:40:36 AM »
Hi Everyone.

I thought I would show you some of my images from the smoke haze experienced in Melbourne over the weekend. These were taken on Saturday morning and the city skyline should be clearly visible. I hope these are not too large and exceed guidelines!





The temp according to my weather station reached a max of 42.2C, the media hyped it up saying it was the hottest December day in 53 years, but December 31st last year was 42.9C (42.4C on my weather station, still beating yesterday's efforts.)

The strong Northerly was horrid, but the SW change came through in the SE Suburbs around 3.30ish. Today 19.5C.....gotta love Melbourne's weather!!

Here is a map which may be of interest showing the current fires and hot spots. I really feel for the residents and firefighters working in the most atrocious conditions yesterday. Unfortunately the change bought little or no rain to the areas that need it most. :-[

http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/images/news_image/web_sentinel_map_20061211_0800_11751.jpg
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Offline Jimmy Deguara

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #11 on: 12 December 2006, 04:39:21 PM »
Hi Jane,

Thanks for those pictures - that haze is very thick and disgusting! We had smoke haze several weeks ago but it has been clear since!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara
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Jeremy Lunn

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #12 on: 12 December 2006, 05:21:04 PM »
The sun was appearing bright orange or even pink not too long before sunset on Saturday night (eastern suburbs of Melbourne, about 15km).  If only I had grabbed the camera.

Offline Brad Hannon

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #13 on: 13 December 2006, 03:47:49 AM »
Hi Jeremy, I actually did take some shots of the 'smoky orange' sun as it was setting on Saturday night.  I will try and post a few tonight.
hmmm June 2nd......

Offline Brad Hannon

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Re: Bushfires Victoria 6th December 2006
« Reply #14 on: 13 December 2006, 01:36:34 PM »
Here are a few pics of the sunset thru smoke haze here in Melbourne on Saturday night.  There was a half hour or so where it was an intense orange.  You can tell I havent seen a storm for a while!
« Last Edit: 13 December 2006, 01:40:23 PM by Brad Hannon »
hmmm June 2nd......