Storm News
and Chasing

[Index][Archives]
Main Index Home Page Stock Weather Photos Australian Severe Weather Forum Storm News and Storm Chasing Reports Tropical Cyclones / Hurricanes / Typhoons Weather Data and Links Wild Fires / Bushfires Weather Observation Techniques Weather Picture Catalogue Tornado Pictures and Reports Stock Video Footage and DVDs for sale
Giant Hail Batters parts of the Northern Gold Coast: Wednesday 12th October 2005
Report compiled by Michael Bath

Vehicle hail repairs: The Dent Shed

A supercell thunderstorm developed near Rathdowney early afternoon and tracked NE across Mount Tamborine and the Northern Gold Coast.

Giant hail damaged many vehicles and property with stones measured to 9cm diameter reported. Hail larger than than 9cm is very likely given the damage. The Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) received over 1,000 calls for assistance to help secure homes damaged by the gorilla hail, mainly at Pacific Pines, Oxenford and Helensvale. As at 18th October, 6,500 insurance claims with losses totalling $60 million have been reported.

These photos taken by Marty Pouwelse. The first shows the view from the north, the second shows a gustfront at Coomera and the third shows the storm after it had passed out to sea.

 

These photos of the Gold Coast storm taken by James Chambers from Brisbane.

 

These photos provided by Jeff Higgins and taken by Dave and Trudy Freddrick of Mount Tamborine. Radar image at 1.40pm matches the location:


 

The next 3 photos were taken at Pacific Pines. Radar image at 2pm matches the following locations:


 

These photos taken by Jeff Higgins. They clearly illustrate how the large hail is made up of many smaller stones that have joined quickly during some process in the storm's development.

Jeff writes, "the area where the pictures were taken was 2km NW of Pacific Pines in Oxenford (500 metres due west of the Movie World theme park). This gives a damage path (at that point) about 3km wide! Also the largest amount of damage to house and property was where the 9cm stone was found. This location was ENE of a large hill and given the fact that the cell core came from the SW maybe this hill give some extra orographic lifting to add to the hail size."

"Leanne at our Coomera home was a further 1.5 km to the NW and she recieved white-out rain and very strong winds. She also reported insane greenage and even a deep blue tinge to the clouds. At Mt Tambourine trees were totally stripped by 5cm+ hail in large quantities - this matches the radar image at the time quite well."

If you have any reports or photos you would like to provide about this storm, please send an email to Michael Bath


Radar

From Bureau of Meteorology

  • Brisbane local scale loop 0200z to 0530z 12/10/2005 (noon to 3.30pm local time)


    Satellite Images

    From Weatherzone from noon to 4pm local

    12/10/2005 02z 12/10/2005 03z 12/10/2005 04z 12/10/2005 05z 12/10/2005 06z


    Observations

    From Bureau of Meteorology

  • Coolangatta Airport
  • Gold Coast Seaway
  • Warwick
  • Toowoomba Airport


    Analysis Charts

    From Bureau of Meteorology

    Brisbane sounding at 2pm local

    12/10/2005 00z

    From Weatherzone surface winds and dew point: analysis and +03, +06 forecast

    12/10/2005 00z 12/10/2005 03z 12/10/2005 06z


    GFS Model Analysis

    From NOAA 12/10/2005 06z analysis

  • Liftex Index
  • CAPE
  • Relative Humidity surface
  • Relative Humidity 850 hPa
  • Relative Humidity 700 hPa
  • Relative Humidity 600 hPa
  • Relative Humidity 500 hPa
  • Relative Humidity 300 hPa
  • Temperature (C) surface
  • Temperature (C) 850 hPa
  • Temperature (C) 700 hPa
  • Temperature (C) 500 hPa
  • Temperature (C) 300 hPa
  • Winds (knots) surface
  • Winds (knots) 925 hPa
  • Winds (knots) 850 hPa
  • Winds (knots) 700 hPa
  • Winds (knots) 600 hPa
  • Winds (knots) 500 hPa
  • Winds (knots) 300 hPa
  • Winds (knots) 200 hPa
    Document: 200510-01.htm
    Updated: 19th October, 2005
    [Australian Severe Weather index] [Copyright Notice] [Email Contacts] [Search This Site]