Topic: NSW, VIC and SE QLD Storms (incl Brisbane severe storm): 12-16 Nov 2008

[Jeff Brislane]

Hi Jimmy,

I think that the guy filming had no idea how to video properly anyway! Terrible footage and i'm not fully convinced it is a tornado but I though the same things about it that Brad mention, probable base rotation and possible anti-cycloninc rotation of the feature.

Just out of interest the first supercell also ended in textbook fashion with a likely bow echo and the region this guy was filming could be a comma/bookend echo region from the bowing outflow dominant stage. I hope i'm not trying to make the situation fit the video though.

Regards Jeff.

[Jeff Brislane]

Steven, the swirling winds in that video, though impressive and obviously very strong, are by no means indicative of a tornado. For starters winds in a tornado funnel travel in one direction around the funnel and don't chop and change suddenly like this wind does. Funnels on weak tornadoes are typically 50 to 100 metres in width so you'd expect the intense wind to only change direction if the funnel crosses direcetly over the property. What we are seeing in this video are the normal vortices and eddies we see in any wind interacting with the ground only far more intense.

Regards Jeff.

[Carlos E]

Deep deep deep in the BoM Jimmy    AC might get some better images

Shauno - I think it's the worst in Brisbane for quite some time due to the extent of the damage - certainly been plenty of other very major storms but not affecting so much property all at once.

Edit - this a is good clip from Upper Kedron

Wow, that is amazing.

[Michael Bath]

This clip from The Gap in Brisbane is awesome - the rain rate is off the scale once the winds really hit - then big hail to finish things off !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skrnDGl1LxQ

[Jimmy Deguara]

Michael,

That is incredible wind strength! I would hate to give it to estimate but we are talking 150km/h gusts at least there? What do people think?

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Brad Hannon]

Great video Michael, thanks for sharing - I just sat their gobsmacked!  Jimmy, I cant really give any great estimate of wind speed but cant help but recall the outflow from the Sth Dakota squall of June 7 2005 or that downburst we experienced when eating at Pizza Hut on one of the last evenings in the USA in 2006!  They were the best displays of sustained straight line winds i've experienced but that QLD effort may well have been even stronger towards the end of the video.  Wow.

Brad.

[shanesmp]

Jimmy, from past experiences.... to me that looks like gusts of about 155-160km/hr. (In the second burst). Incredible and utterly breathtaking stuff!!!

[Jimmy Deguara]

Well to tell you the truth, when trees are snapped so willingly, I suspect some great forcing and sudden extreme gusts. That has to be up there with the most extreme events for some years.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Macca]

Certainly some absolutely incredible footage.  I'd estimate those winds in the 160km/h vicinity.  Very brave of the individuals videoing to continue to do so during that - i'm quite sure they didn't realise the danger they were in at the time. 

Significant amounts of debris from wind and flooding is clogging the Brisbane River at the moment and they have suspended all river ferries this weekend due to the danger of them hitting a tree or similar.

[Jeff Brislane]

Wow! 

I would go as far as to say that the wind speed was likely gusting to 180km/h, maybe even 200km/h. Sustained wind speed could have been as high as 140 km/h average for ten minutes. Comparable to a Cat 3 cyclone. This could be one of the fastest straight line thunderstorm windspeeds ever witnessed in Australia. Bear in mind that 185 km/h is 100 knts.

I recall a severe wind event recently where Mt. Hotham was trashed by winds that reached 180km/h, I believe, and the damage there was comparable to this event.

Regards Jeff.

[Macca]

I'm pretty sure the Mt Hotham event ticked over the 200km/h mark and I *think* that building codes in the alpine areas of Victoria and NSW are higher than that of Brisbane (given that the alpine areas get 130km/h+ winds comparatively frequently in any given year.  Also, Double Island Point scored a 196km/h gust in 2006 from a storm.

Another QLD notable include the Brisbane supercell of January 1985 which produced 185km/h (i think) at Brisbane Airport (and cricketball hail also at the airport).

[Michael Bath]

The QLD BoM have a report about the 16th Nov storms including some extra radar and storm tracks

http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/cyclone/thunderstorms/16Nov2008/

[Harley Pearman]

Photos of lightning taken at Bathurst 14 November 2008

I have been working on my lightning photographs while on holidays. I took these at Bathurst 14/11/2008 from Mc Phillamy Park on top of Mount Panorama, Bathurst between 5 pm and 6 pm.

I am facing south west from the mountain. Mt Panorama offered excellent views to take these shots from the passing storm cell.

Harley Pearman

[Colin Maitland]

interesting video from the Brisbane Nov 16th 2008 storm.
I wonder if the kid will be confused about storms for some time.
It was a hell of an afternoon up here in Brissy during those storms.

Cheers


http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=U1GIiIz0Pzo