Storm Australian Severe Weather Forum

Severe Weather Discussion => General Weather - all topics not current severe weather. => Topic started by: Michael Bath on 14 September 2010, 08:17:20 AM

Title: New Gunnedah Radar
Post by: Michael Bath on 14 September 2010, 08:17:20 AM

Hi all,

The new Namoi (Blackjack Mountain) Doppler radar is now online. It's located just south of the town of Gunnedah and in 128km scale covers the southern half of the Northwest Slopes and Plains and surrounding areas.

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR693.loop.shtml (http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR693.loop.shtml)

128km scale boundary with districts

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/namoi128.png)


256km scale boundary with districts

(http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/namoi256.png)

Title: Re: New Gunnedah Radar
Post by: David C on 14 September 2010, 12:39:05 PM

Hi Michael, all

As well as the basic service it provides to the communities concerned, for us here this radar will be very interesting indeed given that this area is, perhaps somewhat anecdotally, regarded as one of Australia's supercell and tornado 'hotspots'. Will we be seeing lots of nice hook echos in the future?!?

My own thoughts; in the early days - well where there's smoke there's fire. There were too many reports from this region to ignore. Twelve years on, with chaser reports, plus model data over this time, wide uptake of the internet, every man and his dog with a camera of some sort etc, the evidence would have to suggest no (on being hotspot) so currently I am leaning more towards the microburst crowd. Of course we did have the 2005 event, and when it comes down to it, the last 10 years is but a snapshot of the severe storm climatology of the region.

Title: Re: New Gunnedah Radar
Post by: Mathew Townsend on 14 September 2010, 01:32:25 PM

Blackjack Mt radar is in good position to locate violent 'supercells' and tornadoes in the area whereas does not detected on both Moree and Newcastle radars. This does include the improvement of forecasting and 'severe thunderstorms' warning track maps and reportings.

Title: Re: New Gunnedah Radar
Post by: Michael Thomas on 15 September 2010, 08:05:48 AM

Well this is good timing. Currently a strong storm with 50 km of the radar. Looks like there is rotation as well.

Title: Re: New Gunnedah Radar
Post by: Michael Bath on 15 September 2010, 08:06:36 AM

Day 2 and it's already captured a probable supercell just west of Gunnedah.

I agree David - we would have had more reports and photos of tornadoes if there had been any.