Storm Australian Severe Weather Forum
Severe Weather Discussion => Australian Severe Storms, Weather Events and Storm Chasing => Topic started by: John Allen on 27 December 2008, 11:29:56 AM
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Well im in Bendigo, and looking to get some chasing in...the question is where and when will the weather respond to my wishes...im currently suffering a bad case of SDS. My current thought (given the stormcast predictions from BSCH) is to target Southern NSW (though im probably going to need some suggestions on the specifics given my mexican status). As for tommorow CAPE suggests up to 2000, LIs up to -6 and half decent shear (10 N-NW backing round to 30 SW at the surface) north of Canberra. My question to all you NSW chasers is whether there will be suficient moisture to warrant chasing the region around Goulburn or as far north as the central tablelands? Does this setup have the potential to yield storms which are worthwhile chasing (IE supercellular or multicells) from your experience? Anyones suggestions would be appreciated to help me have a good shot at this chase.
The alternative is to try Bendigo, though im a little worried that it may be a bit dry to really get going. (Probably more potentially unstable situation).
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I am certainly no expert but it does look somewhat interesting tomorrow. The moisture along the east coast is excellent at the moment with dew points of 20-21C all the way down to Wollongong. A bit dry further west though at the moment. I am a little concerned about the amount of upper level moisture in the GFS forecast soundings and the weak mid and low level winds. I might have a guess and say that storms will fire along the ranges just inland from the coast, similiar to today.
Michael
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STWs for parts of N Vic now, along with a large part of NSW and S inland QLD.
John has been keeping pace with round two of storms between Gundagai and Yass this afternoon. Cells have been pulsing into the severe range though nothing has stood out - although right now just SW of Yass looks interesting.
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Anyone chasing in the Canberra region would have scored well 27/12/2008. I was in the region and at 7.30 am, travelled from Batemans Bay to Queanbeyan and then went SE of Canberra.
At Bungendore, I noted the first Cumulus towers going up around the Bogong Mountains after 9 am. After 12 noon, thunderstorms had erupted around Canberra.
I went SE of Queanbeyan to watch the action. A series of storm cells merged to form a squall line. I positioned myself in front of the northern cell SW of Queanbeyan.
I have not sorted out my photos yet and have not looked at them but they will reveal a storm on the northern side of the squall line intensifying as it was coming towards me. I let the northern storm hit and I received a battering from gale force winds (Outflow winds), very heavy rain and even hail. I received hail to about 1 cm size but it was the winds that made this storm quite intense.
Actually looking at the BOM rainfall plots later that evening, that storm I had peaked around Quenbeyan dumping over 30 mm of rain. Queanbeyan City had 34 mm and Canberra Airport had 31 mm and other suburbs SE around Queanbeyan city had 34 mm. There was localised flash flooding and allot of tree bark across the roads immediately after the storm.
East of Queanbeyan with the storm outflow dominant, that storm slowly weakened.
I would suspect that a "Severe Weather Warning" would have been issued on that storm given the intensity of the wind.
I then drove NE toward Bungendore, then towards Lake Bathurst and caught up with newly developing thunderstorm cells passing underneath them. South of Goulburn, I drove under a torrential rain shower but nearing Goulburn, I core punched a strong thunderstorm from the south without realizing it. I was wondering why I could not see the hills around Goulburn but then it was too late and I found myself within a torrential downpour with localised flash flooding. I could barely see and I was reduced to driving 30 km / h. That storm dumped its load and I saw localised flash flooding. The streets of southern Goulburn were awash with water with blocked gutters, roads were inundated and it was messy and rather treacherous.
After this, another small intense storm occured north east of Goulburn that did not last long.
The system died down after this. I drove back to Sydney in light rain. However south of Campbellton, I drove under another thunderstorm that was dropping moderate to heavy rain and occasional intracloud lightning. This was the last storm of the day and appears unless corrected by others, the most northern storm to have developed in this system as I did not see any other storm cells further north.
I have not looked at my photos yet but driving 430 km did prove fruitful and the Goulburn / Canberra / Queanbeyan region did fire some strong thunderstorms.
Harley Pearman
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Sunday 28 December 2008
Severe (flash flooding) cell just intensified over my place. Rain rate got to 170mm/hr with 29mm so far. Surprisingly a stack of very close CGs and massive booming thunder has hit right here and now across the valley as the cell edges north - house shaking thunder! Webcam may show some structure if the low cloud clears.
http://australiasevereweather.com/video/webcam.htm
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Hi Michael - I noticed the view wasn't quite as spectacular as usual on the webcam. All I could see were the nearest trees and white!
Possibly about to get the remnants of a weak storm here. Hope so (cool things down a bit). Nothing in it though.
EDIT - proved to be a little heavier than expected. A quick 9mm and despite little lightning activity before (just a few rumbles) it let loose two very close flangs to the west (the direction I can't really see from home) as the rain started. That obviously discharged things because there was no more lightning. Cooled it off a touch anyway.
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That was probably from the huge dumping of rain.
Still some rumbling happening down here at Goonellabah.
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29 Dec 2008
Hi gang,
there's a monster cell over Gosford at the moment 1315 EDT fantastic mamatus display right across Sydney
the cell is showing what I would say is a definate large hook echo in the (red/dark red area) radar in the 1300hrs EDT frame (weatherzone) actually looking at that frame it shows 3 arms a nice pinwheel spiral
Dave N
Further info: ... (added 16:30EDT) a fellow ham radio operator was in Spencer, the Hawkesbury, the storm passed over
the top of him, he had torrential rain, lots of hail and said the cloud structure was awesome to look at.
I chastised him lots for not taking any photo's for me ::)
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Hi all,
Had a few active cells about on Saturday night that we photographed for a short time. One cell sitting to our NE that was stationary for over an hour and had several bright crawlers, nothing in the way of CG though. A rather large storm was positioned to our SE at about 80-100k's distance! This was HIGHLY active with a constant barrage of CG and crawlers shooting out on the front edge of the anvil. I took a couple photos of it as the cell to our NE had collapsed and managed to only just pick up the shelf cloud which surprised us! I will get round to posting a few of the shots when I can.
Some nice action around the NW slopes today. A few large storms moved through the areas of Collarenerbri, Coonamble and Moree. Seems to still be firing in parts with a little more left over for this afternoon I think?
CAPE was up around 2500-ish and the LI was just above -6! Along with temps still at 40.2ºc (analog) currently-3:49pm and I'm reading 42º on my digital thermometer.
The Moree radar seems to have been knocked out for a period due to a large storm that just passed through.
I wish I had seen the cell build at Coonamble as it looked pretty impressive (just before radar loss) around 1:40pm EDT. Looked like a nice guster style storm line at Collarenerbri.
I would also bet that there was a nice bit of structure out on some of those storms today! Surely that would be a given due to the isolation and convection taking place? Shear seems okay also? :D
We've only just missed out these last couple days. Gets a little frustrating at times, particularly when I can see monster updrafts out to our East heading away and going towards Colly lol.
Take care,
Shauno
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Check out the VIS for Northern NSW/SE Qld. Looks interesting.
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Photos of the Casino HP Monster from west of Casino this evening Monday 29 December 2008. This area is brilliant for storms!
Looking from Lismore at the developing base approx 1730.
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-01jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-01jh.jpg)
Next are from Woodview (west of Casino) during the development stage and into maturity. The Staccato lightning from the vault region was simply breathtaking! Should be on video too :D
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-02jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-02jh.jpg)
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-03jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-03jh.jpg)
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-04jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-04jh.jpg)
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-05jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-05jh.jpg)
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-06jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-06jh.jpg)
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-07jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-07jh.jpg)
This last one was taken under the base. I stayed in my position for another 10 minutes as the rain/hail and wind started. I didnt hang around too long for the larger stuff and had to be home by a certain time :(
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-09jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-29-09jh.jpg)
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I know leo76, I was thinking the same thing. Huge cloud mass means something big is coming. I see the line heading for Brisbane is also back building to its north as well. I'm getting excited we'll see some action tonight! I can also spot the flashing high in the sky.
Oops I just noticed the lights dimmed. Not good.
James those shots are in one word. Wow.
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NSW North West Slopes and Plains 29 December 2008
I have just received an email reporting hail to 50mm and 20mm of rain just north of Edgeroi. I heard 3rd hand of a house and cars being 'destroyed' by hail the size of oranges near Terry Hie Hie. And ABC News are reporting that houses lost roofs and power lines were brought down in Boggabilla today. Tamworth Airport AWS recorded a 107km/h gust during the storm down there.
We went for a swim near Upper Horton and somehow escaped all of this severe weather but noticed lots of debris on the road and flash flooding near Killarney Gap.
Damn it should have gone chasing.. the storms cooled things off so much that it was almost too cold for a swim!
Cheers,
Dave
EDIT: Just made up a webcam movie of the storm that crossed Killarney Gap (probably same cell that affected Edgeroi and Terry Hie Hie - I haven't looked at RADAR yet) and looks very impressive with lots of rotation. I think Narrabri was very lucky to have narrowly missed out today.
http://narrabriweather.net/events/11217-20081229.mpg
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29th December 2008
Well what an afternoon. Cells started to appear on radar from around 1pm but nothing got going locally until around 4pm.
After checking the radar I noticed some development to the SW of Casino so I decided to head out for look. Headed to a regular location about 10km south of Casino to watch the afternoon unfold. The cell that had caught my attention earlier was powering away, but new development to the west of the other cell aroused my interest. So my focus was on this new cell, initially it wasn't anything spectacular but that would soon change.
Early development of the cell that would later hit the Kyogle area.
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4433.jpg)
Things really began to get organised not long after this pic was taken, with a nice guster coming into view from the SW
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4438.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4442.jpg)
With a nice NE inflow into this cell it was really starting to intensify quickly
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4444.jpg)
Lightning had really picked up in intensity too with many close stacatto bolts followed by canon thunder. I decided to venture another 1km or so down the road to get a closer view and this is what greeted me. Apologies for the dark spot in the corner, this was taken from inside the car as it was really quite dangerous to be standing outside
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4453.jpg)
The amount of close CGs was incredible and at times quite frightening, with many dropping in front of the guster into the paddocks nearby within 500m. I decided that enough was enough and decided to hightail it out of there, but not before grabbing this
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4456.jpg)
I put in a call to Michael Bath who indicated that the storm would avoid Casino and was heading north in the direction of Kyogle. I decided to make my way to Kyogle to try and get ahead of this now enormous beast. I was racing the storm with the lightning still flashing away ahead of the guster. While in transit I kept stealing glances at the incredible scene which was keeping pace with me it seemed. I stopped at a location about 5km north of Casino to try and get a pic of the beast. I couldn't believe it when I saw it, the sky had an angry turquoise look to it to I snapped off a quick pic and kept heading towards Kyogle
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4463.jpg)
It soon became apparent that it was going to beat me there and around 15km south of Kyogle it hit! The rain and wind was absolutely incredible, certainly the most intense I've experienced. I pulled over onto the side of the road and waited for it to pass over me, that took a good 15mins. Having a guess I reckon the winds would easily have been in excess of 120km/hr with the rain being pulverised to mist. Visibility would have been reduced to around 40m at most. Amazingly with the amount of greenage that I saw I only experienced sporadic pea sized hail
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4469.jpg)
Once it passed I decide to make my way home with the possibility of grabbing some lightning pics on the way. There was small amounts of debris and broken tree limbs about, but I reckon more substantial damage could've happened closer to Kyogle. Got some nice lightning pics from the retreating storm with rain finally forcing me back to my house
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4480.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4574.jpg)
In all a pretty amazing day and definitely one of the more intense chase days I've experienced,
Hope you enjoy,
Cheers Jason
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Well done to Jason and James! Some great shots there!
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Hi guys,
First, James and Jason, awesome cell on the North Coast once again!
Monday 29 December 2008
Headed out with the expectations that anything to fire further south would have to do so by about early to mid afternoon. The storms were downhill from then. Unfortunately, the storms in the Hunter became too cluttered leaving. I had thought about targeting the lower Northern Tablelands and even the Mid North Coast but the traffic near the Bulahdelah area was incredible when I headed down a couple of days ago.
Taking some friends from the Central Coast, we headed to near Singleton. The storms formed a line but this did not deter me given the occasionally strong inflow as it approached. But the line weakened and the main storm near Cooranbong was impossible to get to. I thought about heading north to Quirindi but that would have meant another 4 or so hours to the trip. I'll await the outcome of David and Paul's efforts up that way.
Here are a few images:
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229jd01.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229jd01.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229jd15.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229jd15.jpg)
Right moving cell
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229jd19.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229jd19.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229jd23.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229jd23.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229jd24.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229jd24.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229jd25.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229jd25.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229jd26.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229jd26.jpg)
Cell approaching Muswellbrook later - after this cell we turned back home.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229jd29.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229jd29.jpg)
Aftermath damage of the Cooranbong cell which turned out to be very severe:
Not sure why this car had its back window smashed in! Perhaps a branch?
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229jd43.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229jd43.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229jd49.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229jd49.jpg)
These hailstones were photographed 4 hours after the storm. Apparently the whole lawn was covered by hailstones up to the size of golf balls.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229jd51.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229jd51.jpg)
---> All photos for 29 December 2008 (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/jd20081229.html)
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
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Here is a gif of some footage I got shot from my balcony of a plane flying over the story bridge in Brisbane surrounded by lightning.
http://i41.tinypic.com/20k2b6g.gif
Later I'll be posting the footage on youtube with my other lighting vids here
http://au.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=654014151BB870F9 (http://au.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=654014151BB870F9)
*Edit* here's the vid
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Prvry1EBUiY
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Monday 29 December 2008
Gyday all, I grabbed a few shots of the squall line in SE QLD today.These pics were taken SE of Harrisville. Awesome Piccies everyone that has posted!!!
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20081229rwa.jpg)
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20081229rwc.jpg)
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indiie - we saw plane fly over here late in the afternoon/early evening and it was flying rather low. We supsect it was to get under the storm.
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indiie - we saw plane fly over here late in the afternoon/early evening and it was flying rather low. We supsect it was to get under the storm.
Yeah that one didn't appear to be on the usual flight path. It came from the direction of the airport so not sure but it may have even taken off during the storm, or otherwise may have been circling? It certainly changed it's path and started circling back over the city after the close call!
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NSW North West Slopes and Plains
I have just received an email reporting hail to 50mm and 20mm of rain just north of Edgeroi. I heard 3rd hand of a house and cars being 'destroyed' by hail the size of oranges near Terry Hie Hie. And ABC News are reporting that houses lost roofs and power lines were brought down in Boggabilla today. Tamworth Airport AWS recorded a 107km/h gust during the storm down there.
David - I have been sent photos of gorilla sized hail from Kenebri, SW of Narrabri. Some of the stones are bigger than cricket balls and completely solid - not discs or jagged shapes - HUGE ! Seeking permission to show them here.
Terrific photos everyone. I wasn't able to chase yesterday due to family commitments in Ballina but still got some photos from here and there.
Pity the radar archives have failed, along with some key missing 1km VIS images yesterday afternoon.
MB
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Monday 29 December 2008
Dave Croan and myself chased through the Hunter to the NW Slopes. A line of convection in clear air over the Dharug Nat Park area north of Sydney appeared solid and crisp, but we decided to pursue our target zone near Scone since this was closer to a region of higher CAPE forecast by the GFS model. Looking north, it was apparent that storms were not developing into the clean clear air available to their cousins in the south. There was little to inhibit them and the sky was murky with anvils from storms billowing up all over the place. Sadly, from a chaser's perspective, this was going to limit the energy available and lead to the demise of some as they ingested rain chilled air.
Collage of storm gusting out near Scone
(http://www.skyrama.com/storm_photos/29-12-2008/Storm_joined.jpg)
(http://www.skyrama.com/storm_photos/29-12-2008/P1010103.JPG)
(http://www.skyrama.com/storm_photos/29-12-2008/P1010104.JPG)
Backend of supercell east of Scone (late in the afternoon)
(http://www.skyrama.com/storm_photos/29-12-2008/P1010105.JPG)
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We were coming home from Sydney yesterday (29 Dec 2008) to Ballina and at 2pm a severe storm with very strong winds, hail and flooding rain developed at Bulahdelah.
These are some pictures a movie will come soon showing what we came home to at 9pm
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Yes, great photos there. It strikes me this is a particularly active storm season over there.
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Yes, great photos there. It strikes me this is a particularly active storm season over there.
Nice pun ;). Yes I'd agree.. at least a half dozen lightning storms since last month.
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A couple of screen caps from my vids taken last night (29 Dec). Not the best picture quality.
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First lightning photos from storm chase 27/12/2008
My first photos of lightning that I took from my storm chase near Canberra - Queanbeyan region 27/12/2008. I was located SW of Mt Jerrabomberra looking west. The photos were taken between 12 noon and 1 pm.
Harley Pearman
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I thought about heading north to Quirindi but that would have meant another 4 or so hours to the trip. I'll await the outcome of David and Paul's efforts up that way.
Adding to Paul's post above, storm spacing was a problem with the upper Hunter at the time when there was cooling aloft. This storm that developed west of Scone looked nice in it's incipient phase but was soon buggered up by cool downdraft air from another storm just to the east.
(http://www.thunderbolttours.com/temp/dec29%2001sm.jpg)
(http://www.thunderbolttours.com/temp/dec29%2004sm.jpg)
(http://www.thunderbolttours.com/temp/dec29%2005sm.jpg)
What was interesting was the low cloud bases and the interaction with the nearby hills. Have never seen a hill enveloped by a shelf cloud at such close range before!
(http://www.thunderbolttours.com/temp/dec29%2012sm.jpg)
As for the storm that tracked through Breeza and on to Tamworth, well we just went drove through the plains hoping to wash the car. Lot's of close Cgs, very heavy rain with some small hail and strong winds.
(http://www.thunderbolttours.com/temp/dec29%2013sm.jpg)
A good chase overall, particularly with Paul now being based in Melbourne and me not getting much spare time to chase atm.
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Here's the full vid of the plane narrowly avoiding the lightning
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Prvry1EBUiY
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Great photos Paul/David, some real nice structure in those shots. How close was the flang in the video capture? Looks pretty close!
Tues 30 December 2008
I was heading back from lunch at Alstonville when the storm first came into view today. What a sensational classic Supercell! The worst part - I didn't have my camera with me. I had chaser convergence with Dave Ellem so hoping he got some photos of the structure as it was up there with my top 5 in Australia. One of Becks photos (http://s387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/?action=view¤t=Panorama4.jpg (http://s387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/?action=view¤t=Panorama4.jpg) ) shows the curvature of the base and it really was rotating.
I headed home to get my camera and by that stage the hail was starting to fall. Started off as 2-3 cm stones before 4cm stones started falling sporadically around the grass. I headed up to Floreat Park and watched as stones as large as 6cm fell all around.
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-02jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-02jh.jpg)
Had to head to Lismore for an hour however managed some photos of the back end structure which was huge. The updrafts were boiling up and backshearing against an 80 knot jetstream!
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-04jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-04jh.jpg)
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-05jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-05jh.jpg)
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-06jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-06jh.jpg)
Heading back from Lismore the structure was still there and looking even bigger than earlier.
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-07jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-07jh.jpg)
One of the hail nets over an hour after the storm had passed on Cowlong Road.
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-08jh.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-08jh.jpg)
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Chased with Rodney Wallbridge and Jason Paterson this arvo (30 Dec). Didn't have far to go as the convection kicked off just south of Casino. Was awesome to see the whole life cycle of the main storm in the region: from the first updrafts to the base rotation, large hail, and large supercell structure - and two funnels.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123001.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123001.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123002.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123002.jpg)
We watched the storm gather from McKees Hill. The first part of the storm quickly moved towards Coraki but the flanking line persisted and persisted and kept organising itself, eventually passing right over the top of us. The motion in the clouds was amazing. Just after it did cross our location a number of close CGs hit.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123003.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123003.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123004.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123004.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123005.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123005.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123006.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123006.jpg)
A mid level funnel (not shown) was observed at this location just 1km east of where we had been.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123007.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123007.jpg)
We then followed the storm into Lismore. The hail shaft was impressive. Hailstones were observed along the Bruxner Highway from the Goonellabah public school onwards, with some large stuff picked up near the BP servo. We measured stones 5cm in diameter.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123008.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123008.jpg)
A quick check at my place which allowed for a view of radar and the supercell passing north of Byron Bay. Stones at my place look like they got to 3 or 4cm as per the report by James.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123009.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123009.jpg)
I noticed another mid level funnel - this lasted a few mins - you can see its position in the 2nd photo.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123010.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123010.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123011.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123011.jpg)
We then moved to Eltham to watch another cell which had developed in the same location as the first - but it was an evaporator.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123012.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123012.jpg)
Later afternoon and into the evening has been a sky with beautiful structures like this.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/2008123013.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/2008123013.jpg)
-
Gday All,
Just a few pics to add to Michaels report.
Early development near McKees Hill
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4593.jpg)
Things beginning to get organised
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4600.jpg)
There was some amazing motion in the structure and this updraft took on a corkscrew appearance
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4609.jpg)
There was clear rotation at this stage, which certainly had us excited. It wasn't long after this shot that the first mid level funnel was spotted.
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4611.jpg)
We chased the hailshaft into Goonellabah, but the cell was moving too quick for us to keep pace
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4617.jpg)
On returning to MBs place we couldn't get over the absolute crisp, rockhard updrafts which seemed to be the order of the day.
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4632.jpg)
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4633.jpg)
After moving to a spot near Eltham I couldn't help noticing two cells off the coast to the south
(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/jaypat75/IMG_4637.jpg)
Once again the Northern Rivers has delivered the goods. Was an absolute pleasure teaming up with MB and Roddy again for an enjoyable couple of hours chasing.
Hope you enjoy,
Cheers Jason
-
Gyday all, chased with Michael and Jason Pato today!Fantastic report Michael, WHOO at the explosive upper levels of the storms so crunchy i think the Gobbledock from smiths crisps would be jealous! Here's my favourites for the day . Awesome Pics everyone I'm just blown away how well covered storms are now!
Storm address in the Northern Rivers
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20081230rwc.jpg)
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20081230rwb.jpg)
(http://www.australiasevereweather.com/rodney/20081230rwa.jpg)
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Have put up the webcam sequence for today. The NW facing camera mucked up during the day but this NE view had the better show anyway. It is an 8mb download (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/webcam/20081230/webcam_loop_20081230.htm)
It's amazing to see hail falling in the first few frames before the clouds even come into view!
MB
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Just going to go through the pics from today and upload them soon. Wasnt it just the most fantastic cell??
-
Up in Queensland for holidays. 4 days of storms since I left Sydney. Anyway I couldn't wait to share this beauty. The pictures in this thread are just phenomenal so many of stoking, ripping quality. I have rarely seen development so explosive.I have tones more, but here is the NSW ripper going nuts off the Queensland coast. I say, Go Australia!
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/files/images/08-12-30-01dw.preview.jpg) (http://sydneystormchasers.com/files/images/08-12-30-01dw.jpg)
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Some weather data for Tuesday 30th December 2008
I've attached the obs for Casino and Lismore. You can see that Casino reached 35/21 which resulted in CAPE being around 4000. It was certainly enough to break the cap over land. The Lismore obs show the winds as the storm passes over. There were fresh E-NE winds feeding this cell - even west of Lismore.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/thumbs/2008123000brisbane.png) (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/soundings/2008123000brisbane.png) Brisbane 00z
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/thumbs/2008123012brisbane.png) (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/soundings/2008123012brisbane.png) Brisbane 12z
---> Grafton 128km scale radar loop (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20081230/grafton128.htm)
---> Brisbane 128km scale radar loop (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20081230/mt_stapylton128.htm)
---> Brisbane 256km scale radar loop (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20081230/mt_stapylton256.htm)
---> Brisbane doppler radar loop (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20081230/mt_stapylton_doppler128.htm)
Lovely isolated cells
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/satpics/200812300230.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/satpics/200812300330.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/satpics/200812300430.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/satpics/200812300530.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/satpics/200812300630.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/satpics/200812300730.jpg)
A couple of hail photos from Ray Mullens of Goonellabah are attached too.
MB
-
Gday All,
Some images from tuesday 30/12 Taken at Mt Tamborine and also at Southport, Gold Coast.
From Mount Tamborine
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_063_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_063.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_067_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_067.jpg)
Heading towards Nerang, facing SE
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_097_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_097.jpg)
Southport Broadwater, facing E/SE
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_104_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_104.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_105_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_105.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_116_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_116.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_132_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_132.jpg)
Continued next post ...
-
Images from 30/12/08 @ Southport, Gold Coast
Continued From Southport, facing E/SE
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_162_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_162.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_164_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_164.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_177_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_177.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_pano1_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_pano1.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_pano3_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/301208/301208_pano3.jpg)
Cheers,
Julian
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Chased in NR's on Monday 29 December 2008 with Michael Manning & observed some lovely structure moving N/NE towards Casino/Kyogle.
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_037_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_037.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_041_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_041.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_058_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_058.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_069_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_069.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_071_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_071.jpg)
(http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_pano1_thumb.jpg) (http://julian.bsch.au.com/pics/291208/291208_pano1.jpg)
Cheers,
Julian
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30 December 2008
Well a drive back from the Gold Coast airport yesterday ended up turning into a day trip.
As we were driving back near Chinderah we noticed some interesting clouds form with 3 seperate towers. We watched them rather closely and as we progressed further along back to home, the three had combined into one large anvil by the time hit Byron Bay. By the time we were at Tintenbar, it was looking by a full blown cell. It looked fantastic!
By the time we reached Goonellabah, the decision was made to go grab the camera and then go take some pics.
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/leo7620/weather/DSC_6371.jpg)
This was on the corner of Invercauld Rd and Cynthia Wilson.
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/leo7620/weather/DSC_6372.jpg)
We decided to head down the Bruxner Highway into Lismore. I was looking up as we were going along (no I wasnt driving) and noticed that the cloud was starting to rotate.
"Pull over!!!"
Then this caught my eye. Its taken through the window so excuse the reflections
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/leo7620/weather/DSC_6374.jpg)
This was moving down then it go back up, only to move back down again
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/leo7620/weather/DSC_6380.jpg)
We then headed off through Lismore Heights just as the rather decent size hail started to hit the ground. Kept going down along Corndale Road.
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/leo7620/weather/DSC_6394.jpg)
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/leo7620/weather/DSC_6396.jpg)
After that we got stuck behind a tourist in a rent-a-van and couldnt keep up with it.
-
Wow - nice funnel there Gaylee. The rotation of the base was so obvious at times it's not surprising one has been captured in that area.
The meso was well separated from the main updraft and it appears the large hail was coming out the W or NW side of it before any rain hitting the same places.
There are reports of isolated hail stones the size of cricket balls (7cm) so that appears fairly likely given ones we saw were up to 5.5cm and some bigger ones were photographed by Beck near the media centre at Goonellabah
Beck Armytage's pics:
(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/th_Panorama1.jpg) (http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/Panorama1.jpg)
(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/th_Panorama4.jpg) (http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/Panorama4.jpg)
(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/th_PC309873Small.jpg) (http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/PC309873Small.jpg)
(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/th_PC309886Small.jpg) (http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/PC309886Small.jpg)
(http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/th_PC309890Small.jpg) (http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo317/stormy3972/30th%20Dec%2008/PC309890Small.jpg)
Also - a base shot as the supercell was passing north of Byron Bay:
http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/2008/image39992a.jpg
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The 30 Dec was a great day wasn't it. The cells west of Lismore developed very quick and moved away very quick - here are a few pictures that I took just before and after it hit.
During the mini storm we had a split one second hail falling and it turned into rain the storm turned shy and went to the Byron Bay leaving us a nice cumulonimbus structure to the northeast. Here are the pictures.
-
my cousin in canberra sent me this really close lightning pic
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Structure, structure, structure! Thanks to all for posting them - what a season you guys are having! I'm enjoying the read, the pics immensely.
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Wow!!! Some really beautiful shots. There is nothing happening here so it's great to see you guys getting some amazing storms. Hope it continues well into the new year and beyond!
-
Hi guys,
I had posted something earlier but it seems to have gotten lost during a simultaneous post by someone else ( a good idea therefore to be very careful and any long posts do it in a text editor like notepad as a back-up).
The storms are amazing this year in your region. I particularly like the structured cow catcher nearer Byron Bay - that is when the storm seems very well mature and structured! Excellent stuff!
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
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Here are the hailstones from Kenebri, NSW (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Kenebri,+nsw&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=57.543944,69.345703&ie=UTF8&ll=-30.726697,149.015924&spn=1.770687,2.167053&z=9) on Monday 29th December. The photographer did not request their name to be shown but has given permission for the shots to be displayed here.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/20081229_hailstones1.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/20081229_hailstones2.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/20081229_hailstones3.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/20081229_hailstones4.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/20081229_hailstones5.jpg)
Nice fingernails in the 2nd shot :)
MB
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today they predict Increasing cloud with the chance of isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Light northwest winds becoming moderate to fresh north to northeast along the coast in the afternoon and evening in the northern rivers . lets hope that some storms do come out of the blue today it will be a great start to the year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!
-
Here's a few of my storm pics from some of the other dates in this thread.
Sunday 28th December 2008
A severe thunderstorm warning for flash flooding was issued shortly before the main cell of the afternoon developed right over my place at McLeans Ridges.
Some funnel like base features as the cell intensified on its northward heading.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1228mb09.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1228mb09.jpg)
The rainfall was very intense with 34mm falling - most of which fell in about 10 minutes. CGs went nuts for a while - the storm really punched upwards right here. Hail and about 50mm of rain was reported a few ks to my north at Clunes.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1228mb13.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1228mb13.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1228mb16.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1228mb16.jpg)
Nice sunset too.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1228mb23.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1228mb23.jpg)
All photos for 28 December 2008 (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/mb20081228.html)
Monday 29th December 2008
I wasn't able to chase due to family commitments in Ballina.
This is the early cell south of Grafton looking across the Richmond River.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229mb05.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229mb05.jpg)
Later in the afternoon the Casino to Urbenville HP supercell was in full swing. The mammatus display was impressive downstream at least !
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229mb16.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229mb16.jpg)
A lot of lightning was visible from Ballina - which is about 50ks from the storm core. A bit of structure was evident too.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229mb21.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229mb21.jpg)
Some lightning when back at home
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229mb23.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229mb23.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1229mb29.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1229mb29.jpg)
All photos for 29 December 2008 (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/mb20081229.html)
Michael
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Wow, those hailstones from Kenibri are huge! That giant stone in the first pic might be almost 10cm going by my own hand width across my knuckles of 9cm.
-
OMG! They're huge. Certainly an impressive set of nails there.... :o
-
Jeff,
I prefer to be a little more conservative in the size of the hailstones - I would say 8 - 9cm maximum. Her hands look smaller than a typical large hand. Still, that is an impressive effort given that giant hail events on this scale are few and far between!
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
-
Those fingernails are going to be famous!! Hope their cars were undercover!
-
Really top photos there. Amazing storm with jaw dropping structure. Would be interesting to know the moisture depth at the time of the storm. It would seem from the soundings that only the lowest 50 to 100mbar was moist. Interesting to see the amount of instablity higher in the troposhere. If you took the LI at 300 instead of 500 mbar, the LI would be well below -10 (as pointed out on WZ). The combination of a shallow but extremely unstable boundary layer with moderate-strong wind shear may have favoured the classic supercell structure due to lower precipitation loading on the storm's updraft.
Also, looking at the 256 brisbane radar it appears if another powerful supercell formed of the sunshine coast later in the evening. A large V notch is clearly present for a considerable time.
Michael
-
Jeff,
I prefer to be a little more conservative in the size of the hailstones - I would say 8 - 9cm maximum. Her hands look smaller than a typical large hand. Still, that is an impressive effort given that giant hail events on this scale are few and far between!
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
Yeah but once you add those nails into the equation .....
-
...Also, looking at the 256 brisbane radar it appears if another powerful supercell formed of the sunshine coast later in the evening. A large V notch is clearly present for a considerable time.
Michael
That storm system came flowing through on radar about 10.50pm that night - saw it too.
Big Pete
-
Michael T - comparing the two Brisbane soundings, the moisture is marginal earlier in the day but it is still fairly good to near 600hPa. There's quite a cap which was eroded by additional moisture from the N - NE (shown on the Casino and Lismore obs previous page). The main supercell passing over Lismore appears to have established a strong easterly inflow, perhaps assisted by outflow from the smaller cell that tracked from SW of Coraki to Evans Head?
Overall moisture improves by the evening sounding which would be more representative of conditions when a couple of cells were still powering along just off the coast.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/thumbs/2008123000brisbane.png) (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/soundings/2008123000brisbane.png) (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/thumbs/2008123012brisbane.png) (http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/soundings/2008123012brisbane.png)
---> All my photos for 30 December 2008 (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/mb20081230.html)
These are other photos by Beck Armytage taken on the eastern outskirts of Goonellabah (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=20+Pignat+Place,+goonellabah,+NSW&sll=-28.813168,153.34749&sspn=0.00705,0.008465&g=20+Pignat+Place,+goonellabah,+NSW&ie=UTF8&ll=-28.813497,153.347157&spn=0.00705,0.008465&z=17)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1230ba01.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1230ba01.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1230ba02.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1230ba02.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1230ba03.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1230ba03.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1230ba04.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1230ba04.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1230ba05.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1230ba05.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1230ba06.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1230ba06.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1230ba07.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1230ba07.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1230ba08.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1230ba08.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1230ba09.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1230ba09.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2008/1230ba10.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/1230ba10.jpg)
-
Nice inflow tail in one of the latter pictures from Beck.
I am now thinking that this storm began as an LP supercell and traversed along the supercell spectrum to become classic as suggested by one of the nice pictures nearer Byron Bay. Very little if any precipitation is falling fom the supercell and mostly lrge to giant hailstones which to me supports a more Low Precipitation environment and behaviour. Love the structure too!
Take a look at the similarity in some respects to the Low Precipitation supercell at Camden 12th February 2003:
http://www.australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2003/docs/200302-01.htm
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
-
hey nice video there just one question what is an LP super cell?
regards stormboy
-
Considering the dynamics of an LP Supercell I would tend to agree it started off that way but seemed to change into a Classic Supercell whilst passing over Goonellabah/Richmond Hill. The RFD realy started to wrap around with precip/hail at this point.
This photo - http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2003/0212jd13.jpg - shows a similar base to the storm on the 30th of December. Lovely clear slot!
Dave Ellem has some great photos and time lapse video on his website here (http://www.nswstorms.com/)
-
Hi James,
Considering the dynamics of an LP Supercell I would tend to agree it started off that way but seemed to change into a Classic Supercell whilst passing over Goonellabah/Richmond Hill. The RFD realy started to wrap around with precip/hail at this point.
Personally I cannot comment because I was not there. However, none of the photographs and even the video with hail and a moderate rain falling convinces me of classic behaviour but perhaps it was tending that way around McLeans Ridges or further east. There is little run off in that video by Dave Ellem. The supercell is rather dry in all pictures taken.
Remember, an Low Precipitation supercell is defined as a supercell with little or no precipitation from the main updraft. LP supercells are notorious giant hail producers.
Any other pictures further east?
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
-
My point was that your observations were quite right. It was LP status as per my understanding of LP, Classic and HP Supercells. Completely agree with you :)
As and just after the storm had passed through Mcleans Ridges is when it seemed to turn into a classic. Photo of it here looking NNE 15 or so minutes after passing
(http://sydneystormchasers.com/system/files/images/08-12-30-06jh.preview.jpg)
-
Jimmy - there are numerous photos of the back of the storm further east like the one by James, but I have not come across any more from the N or NE before it passed out to sea. Have a look at some more in the gallery here (http://australiasevereweather.com/photography/photos/2008/mb20081230.html). The meso passed over us just SW of Lismore with virtually no precipitation - just a few spits of rain. The road into Lismore did not look particularly wet with under 2mm at Lismore Airport and probably not much more in other parts of Lismore apart from eastern areas where the large hail fell. 12.5mm fell at my place. It does appear that the transition to classic occurred around this area.
-
Jimmy,
I'm not talking about the hailstone in the womans hand but rather the hailstone in the mans hand with mud on it in the first image. Compare the stone to the width of the mans hand. My own hand is 9cm across the knuckles and if his is the same then that stone is at least 10cm and possibly a record for this season at least if not the area as it is wider than his handspan. The rest of the stones in his hand look to be around 7-8cm but that top one is a monster and must have left a significant crater!
To add to this post I've measured a friends hand and his is also 9cm across the knuckles.
Measuring from the base of my middle finger to the end of my palm gives me a measurment of 12cm. Looking at that mans hand which looks to be average size or larger than it's possible that the hailstone in question could have been as big as 12cm. I'm being very serious about this as I don't want to see a possible record hailstone size go un-noticed. Im my opinion it's as big at least as the largest stone you were hit by near Muswelbrook a few years back if not bigger.
Another interesting thing to notice is the average size of the stones collected in all images appears to be at least 6-7cm with a probable minimum of 5cm. The smallest stones are likely 5cm. So it stands to reason that if the average size is high then the maximum size must also be high.
Regards Jeff.
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Jeff,
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/20081229_hailstones1.jpg)
Now you are seriously talking > 10cm 12cm hailstones are massive stones to be referring to! First - is it a man's hand or a boy's hand? What if the hailstone the woman was holding was the same one in that hand? Seriously, I would be very surprised if the storms on that day were on the scale to match what happened in Muswellbrook.
I have photographed my hand with callipers on opened at various measurements from 7cm through to 12cm in diameter.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/07cm.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/07cm.jpg) 7cm
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/08cm.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/08cm.jpg) 8cm
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/09cm.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/09cm.jpg) 9cm
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/10cm.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/10cm.jpg) 10cm
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/11cm.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/11cm.jpg) 11cm
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/thumbs/12cm.jpg) (http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/photos/12cm.jpg) 12cm
Any further comments? Michael, are you able to determine whether it is a man holding the hailstones and whether they have any further images or have taken measurements. This one is killing me in suspense.
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
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Good point regarding moisture depth Michael. I have had a closer look at the 12Z sounding and a few things have surprised me. First off, below 900mbar the air is very moist. This moist layer is then capped by what looks like an elevated mixed layer from roughly 900 to 800 mbar. Then from around 750 mbar and up the air is very dry. What I find interesting is that the possible elevated mixed layer between 900 to 800 mbar is actually unstable. In fact a parcel of air originating from between 900 to 800 mbar gives ~1200 j/kg of CAPE. It would appear that a small cap just below 700 mbar was all that was holding down this layer.
Regarding the storms structure, from what has been said I would have to a agree that initially the storm appears to have been LP but I am sure that a transition to a classic supercell would have occurred and I would guess to HP even when the storm moved offshore. The precipitation core of the storm was really quite small to the south of Lismore with quite low reflectivities. This is a good lesson I think, all to often people get excited about large blobs of black on the radar while this shows that quite large hail can fall from quite 'innocent looking' storms given the right conditions.
Michael
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Very unlikely to get any more detail about those hailstones given they were sourced from facebook by a friend of a friend of an email contact - lucky to see them at all I think.
It is very hard to estimate small and large hail sizes. To me the biggest look about 9cm but a proper ball shape of course. The hand holding the very big stone does look "youngish". My hand is about 1cm wider than yours Jimmy and I don't have big hands. I'm certainly open to opinions on the size of those stones. Pity they didn't photograph them with something we know the size of.
Michael T - it was a lesson for me observing the 30th Dec Lismore supercell regarding precipitation - and lack of it SW of Lismore. It didn't completely click what was being observed at first. The updraft and meso was separated a long way from what radar was picking up as "the storm". Be great to see the 3D scans of the structure.
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Are you talking about the TRMM images Michael? Unfortunate we can't have the 3D look into these storms - would be highly beneficial.
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These photos were taken by Greg Carlill from Pottsville on 30 Dec 2008. The first images were taken at 3.27pm local time and correspond to the radar image below the 2 photos.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/20081230gc01.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/20081230gc02.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20081230/idr663-20081230052400.gif)
This was taken at 3.43pm:
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/20081230gc03.jpg)
(http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2008/radar/20081230/idr663-20081230054200.gif)
Mike - not TRMM - RHI I think they are called - gives a cross section through cells and can be obtained by asking the right BoM people.
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The structure of that storm in those images is amazing. I've really got to make a trip one day during the next storm season and chase with one of you - stunning photos. Thanks MB - will keep that in mind when I visit BoM.
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Are you talking about the TRMM images Michael? Unfortunate we can't have the 3D look into these storms - would be highly beneficial.
Be great to see the 3D scans of the structure.
I'm curious, what additional info would you guys expect vertical scans to reveal (excluding the obvious)? I can see that there is a decent vault visible when the storm was LP. (for anyone being initiated with the 'supercell spectrum' read Bluestein's paper on LP supercells. http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520-0493/111/10/pdf/i1520-0493-111-10-2034.pdf )
Regarding the Pilliga storm, I think Jeff may be right in that the sample of hail in the photos is very large and up there with the October 2004 Muswellbrook storm of 2004. Unless they have deliberately gone fossicking for the very largest stones (as perhaps only a storm chaser might do!), that is a pretty large mean hail size. Interestingly, I was out on a property very near to Gwabegar on the 20th Dec and they had two destructive hailstorms in the preceding months, including the one that trashed parts of Wee Waa.
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Excellent images and reports in this thread. We just got back from the hometown of Tamworth from holidays and have some photos from the 29 th of December storms around Tamworth,
1st shot is looking south east towards the Great Dividing range of a departing storm half an hour before the main storm hit,
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/elenecon/Storm%20Season%2008-09/Tamworthstorm291208-4.jpg)
Main storm coming over the Melville ranges that hit town with winds to 100kph recorded at the airport,
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/elenecon/Storm%20Season%2008-09/Tamworthstorm291208-3.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/elenecon/Storm%20Season%2008-09/Tamworthstorm291208-1.jpg)
In the following shot you can see a Dash 8 coming in to land at the airport as the front approaches. Those who love turbulence would have enjoyed this landing,
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/elenecon/Storm%20Season%2008-09/Tamworthstorm291208-5.jpg)
This one of a developing LP cell to the north late in the day,
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/elenecon/Storm%20Season%2008-09/Tamworthstorm291208-6.jpg)
and finally the overshooting top of a storm to the east just after midday, possibly the Comboyne cell that produced 6cm hail as mentioned earlier in the thread
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/elenecon/Storm%20Season%2008-09/Tamworthstorms29-12-08.jpg)
Cheers, Con.
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David,
Regarding the Pilliga storm, I think Jeff may be right in that the sample of hail in the photos is very large and up there with the October 2004 Muswellbrook storm of 2004. Unless they have deliberately gone fossicking for the very largest stones (as perhaps only a storm chaser might do!), that is a pretty large mean hail size.
Based on the ground coverage - rather limited and there does not seem to be much hail melt in the specific hailstones mentioned, I think they have fossicked around and found whatever they could find. To me they must have been in the most severe part of the storm - not as much precipitation and giant hailstones.
I go by my estimates that the environment on this day and the hail size was more of the 8 to 9cm maximum hail size - not the near 12cm being referred to here.
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
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A follow-up regarding this event on 29th December 2008 (page 4 of this thread (http://www.australiasevereweather.com/forum/australian-severe-storms-significant-weather-events-and-storm-chasing/nsw-storms-27th-31st/45/))
From the BoM's Lightning Bolt newsletter:
29 December 2008: At Edgeroi, north of Narrabri on the North West Plains, a supercell thunderstorm produced giant hail. Photo evidence showed hailstones to at least 11cm in diameter, some of the largest recorded in NSW.
Edgeroi is approx 100km NE of the hail photos sourced from Kenebri (if that's where they were actually taken).
VIS satpics and radar archives on the day are poor but it looks like it was not the same cell responsible for both of the large hail reports.
(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/forum/20081229_hailstones1.jpg)
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Dear all
Here the report from Modanville on 30th December 2008.
It was a great view up there at my dad's place and i was by myself experiening a scary moment. This large hail shaft was almost creeped towards us having my car outside (no garage!) untouched!
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/5-7.jpg)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/6-8.jpg)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/6-8.jpg)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/8-6.jpg)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/9-6.jpg)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/10-6.jpg)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/11-6.jpg)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/12-4.jpg)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/th_Video1mpeg1-1.jpg) (http://s334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/?action=view¤t=Video1mpeg1-1.flv)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/th_Video2mpeg1-1.jpg) (http://s334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/?action=view¤t=Video2mpeg1-1.flv)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/th_Video3mpeg1-1.jpg) (http://s334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/?action=view¤t=Video3mpeg1-1.flv)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/th_Video4mpeg1-1.jpg) (http://s334.photobucket.com/albums/m406/MurbanLegend/?action=view¤t=Video4mpeg1-1.flv)
Above in photos there a lightning bolt i took. This is only one daytime cg ever i took before 3pm which the earliest i had! In the backend of this cell i saw lot of lightning strikes in seperated cumulus cloud which is not part of the storm.......pretty creepy aye!? I was tackling to get a photo of that but pretty difficult.
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Amazing pictures.
Do you guys use professional equipment. My pictures usually stink!
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Amazing pictures.
Do you guys use professional equipment. My pictures usually stink!
I have a basic Fiji SLR digital camera with 10.1 mega-pixels. It have plenty options with shutter speed, contrast and colour format. It is very useful.