Topic: SE Aust Storms and Rain: 30-31 August 2008

[Shaun Galman]

Upper Western NSW Storm Update 30th August 2008

Hi guys,
Thought I'd open up this weekend for use as we are currently in the vicinity of a storm front approaching from the W-NW with a forecast significant rain event to follow.

Currently we have a temperature of 29.6ºc and a small amount of humidity, just enough by the looks of things? Convection rates are up as the cells forming here now are already hitting the cap, hopefully they will be strong enough to push on through! I can see a large cell sitting to our SE (we will miss out on that one due to the wind direction) that is only now starting to anvil out. Plenty of moisture aloft with the cumulus already taking on that heavy, dark bluish-grey appearance.

I'm watching the storm line building between Dubbo, Bourke and up into Tibooburra QLD. I'm expecting these to arrive in our area the next few hours. I'll be ready for anything we get lol! Batteries are charged, tripod is clean (was dusty) and now I can use my old Nikon for some DV footage! The only drawback is that I'll be on foot with no vehicle but I'll see what I can do.

The storms are finally here after all that waiting and watching! I can finally put my new Canon to the test :D

Take care,
Shauno

[Michael Bath]

How did you go Shauno? - saw some lightning on tracker in your general area but did not have time to look too closely.

Some good rainfalls across inland NSW particularly western parts of the Central Tablelands and Hunter, and Central West. I don't think the skiers will be too happy with the 75mm at Thredbo Top Station given a lot of that would have been rain.

Michael

[Peter J]

It has definetly come early here - raining in Mooroolbark - first severe thunder warning was issued here just 20 mins ago - 3cm hail falling in Box Hill - raining hard and 40-50kt winds blowing.

I hope to post some pics later if i can work a way from getting them from camera-phone to forum.

For I'm just bunkering down - another bolt and thunder clap.

Big Pete

[Michael Bath]

Another stand-out rainfall is just east of Narrabri on Mt Kaputar. It's had 55mm to 9am and 64mm since (to 4pm). Nearby Caroda has had 27mm to 9am and 35mm since.

Pete - 3cm hail is pretty impressive given there are no warnings for your area.

[Shaun Galman]

Hi guys,
The storms didn't quite make it to us on Saturday (30th) night. The temps fell just enough to cause any active cells to die off. I watched the couple active cells (the ones you may have noticed Michael) that were sitting to our SW but they were around 30-40k's away, just too far off to get shots of.

I sat with camera bag and tripod at the ready, staring out the window watching for the first signs of any lightning flashes but I kind of knew the temps were not favourable after 8pm. We had a very strong wind gust push through at 9:30pm bringing some dense raised dust but that was it. This must have been the original storm front as it was due here at around that time.

Other than that, the rainfall totals were very nice, receiving 26mm in town from midnight Saturday (30th) to midday Sunday (31st). Good to hear they were wide spread falls and some significant ones by the sounds! :D

Take care,
Shauno

[Peter J]

Pete - 3cm hail is pretty impressive given there are no warnings for your area.

It was very isolated - only fell in a short area of Box-Hill North, unfortunately no pics of this incident, and it did only last 2-3 mins.
The storm only lasted 15 mins before it died, but it did make some rumblings before it left.

Big Pete

[TroyVR]

Wind reading from Cronulla beach- averaging about 42km/h with gusts reaching 52km/h

Swell has picked up severely and is pounding the seawall