Topic: Severe winter storms - 27th July 2007

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi,

I was contacted my Mario Orazem and then Dave Nelson in regards to the storms this afternoon. I never ended up taking pictures but Dave has and will surely post this evening hopefully.

A couple of the updrafts have certainly risen to a height and near vertical structure that made me took notice at the end of Dave's phone call. The storm was severe warned as well passing through the extreme southern Sydney region by the looks. Not a bad storm to have at this time of the year!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Harley Pearman]

Hello

I was watching thunderstorm cells develop over SW Sydney from about 2.30 pm today. One cell sustained a strong updraft tower for a while. There were storms over SW NSW and Canberra region earlier and the system has moved across southern NSW.

I noted 3 cells between 4 pm and 5 pm almost following one another but spaced apart and looking at radar images the first one eventually intensified significantly once about 30 km off the coast of Wollongong. Two other cells followed it.

I have never seen a severe thunderstorm warning for Sydney during July. I was hearing reports coming through on 2UE from residents who were reporting significant hail around Waterfall and advising radio listeners of such hail in this area. Hail was also reported near Bowral and Goulburn from separate storms (Not sure of the size).

As I was tracking them, they were moving relatively fast.

I noted that one lightning tracker showed up to 25 lightning strikes (Sporadic) across parts of southern Sydney but mostly in adjoining rural areas.

Harley Pearman

[mitch]

Hi. First ever post. I think I will do well.

When I came home today I looked straight at the radar as I could see an anvil that was west off in the distance. With in about an hour this storm was approaching and I could see a nice looking vertical updraft. I was thinking this was such a treat to see in the middle of winter. The storm passed to the south by about 10km. There was some mammatus cloud but no lightning just thunder.

Looking at the radar again I saw another storm developing heading on the same path as the first. This storm approached like the first but the updraft from this looked even better. I looked at the bom website and saw a severe thunderstorm warning for just south of my general area which I agree I haven't seen before in July.

This storm passed a lot closer possibly at about 5km. It let off some amazing lightning and it also had a minor green tinge about it. I live in southern Sydney not far away from Cronulla and only got rain.

At about 6:15 I went to get take away with my dad and there was a report on the radio of hail covering the ground like snow in Engadine. Then there was a lightning strike possibly with in 500 metres accompanied by a massive bang which let off about 10 car alarms.

Great stuff

Mitch

 

[Dave Nelson]

hi Gang,
   watched a nice cell form to the SW of Sydney yesterday afternoon.
I decided to call Jimmy in case he hadn't seen it.

 first foto is from the Paramatta R at the end of Wharf Rd West Ryde. at 1524 Hrs
whilst on the fone to Jimmy

http://www.sydneystormcity.com/DSCF3408.JPG

the last 3 from a park near home  by Victoria Rd, an hour later   (curse the powerlines    )

http://www.sydneystormcity.com/DSCF3421.JPG
http://www.sydneystormcity.com/DSCF3423.JPG
http://www.sydneystormcity.com/DSCF3428.JPG

cheers
Dave N

[Mike]

Welcome, Mitch.  Yes you've done well for you first post!  Hopefully this is a sign of great things to come by way of early storms.  You can imagine that those of us who have not gone overseas to chase certainly are chaffing at the bit to get some big storms - patience is a wonderful thing but it's running out fast!  Welcome again!

Mike

[Jimmy Deguara]

Mitch,

Yes it sends a shiver up your spine when you get reports like that - hail covering the ground! Hail, if falling prefusely, can accumulate rather quickly. What is amazing is this must have been close to pure hail as the storm was moving rather quickly as Harley suggested.

Radar did show some reasonably impressive echos off the coast of Sydney at the time of these storms approaching Engadine!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Michael Bath]

Yes - quite impressive hail cover in places - Andrew Miskelly posted this photo of the hail drifts north of Taralga:

Hail near Taralga

Radar loop:

Sydney 128km radar loop

MB

[Mike]

You just have to love seeing the colour red in those radar reflections....  I've only seen hail once in six years here in Darwin and that was last year so I'm suitably impressed with the ground coverage.

Mike