Topic: Eastern NSW Storms 22 - 24 January 2007

[Michael Bath]

Casino observations suggest 33/20 is a fairly good representation of the surface conditions prior to the severe storm developing yesterday. Plotted with the 00z Brisbane sounding, it certainly shows an unstable atmosphere, but marginal. I suggest that upper level temps would be lower in the Northern Rivers - given the storm was six hours later and further south.  Shear profile was not the best but the dry upper levels would have assisted some strong updrafts. The regular lightning observed certainly reflects this.

Brisbane sounding:
http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/2007/soundings/2007012400brisbane.png

The very moist lower 3ks of the atmosphere and the slow movement of the storm resulted in some impressive rainfall rates and totals. The highest reported this morning is 50mm from Fairy Hill which is just north of Casino.

The Casino AWS measured a gust of 78km/h at 5.17pm.

The anvil was quite strong for a brief time.



MB

[Michael Bath]

For your interest my shots and Wade Laube's shots are online with audio at

http://www.smh.com.au/multimedia/national/western-suburbs-storm/index.html

Thanks Nick - terrific weather shots as always. Were you in the car for that close bolt, and was it just hand held ?

[nmoir]

I was in the car , and braced the camera between steering wheel and windscreen with a 30sec exposure

[vrondes]

Potent and atmospheric photos by everyone. In Parramatta you could hear the distant thunder and see the burnt orange flickers of lightning to the northwest . In anticipation of some activity coming this way i waited , only to capture the odd lightning strike or two, all heavily veiled in smoke from the day's fires to the north.
Cheers, Con.

[Michael Bath]

During the trip to Grafton yesterday, spotted extensive tree damage on the Summerland Way about 15ks south of Casino. An area about 5km N-S was affected. Given how fresh the damage was I assume it was from the storm on the 24th.



MB