Topic: QLD / NSW Rain Event and Storms & VIC / TAS Severe Winds: 10-15 April 2009

[Richary]

Reported on the news tonight that up to 2cm hail fell in places from this storm, and they also had a bit of video of mostly IC lightning.

On another storm topic, the front that crossed Tasmania and Melbourne today reportedly had gusts of over 100kph and they showed a brief pictures of quite severe looking damage in Melbourne during the Channel 9 weather. Does anyone have any information on this event from closer to the action?

[Antonio (stormboy)]

those storms in Melbourne area had winds of up to 160kmh and i have the radar of the cell passing through

see

http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR023-melbourne/2009-04-14-13/2009-04-15-13

[Harley Pearman]

Dust storm affects parts of inland New South Wales:

The cold front that swept across Victoria and New South Wales 15/4/2009 resulted in a significant dust storm over inland Southern and Central New South Wales.

There were numerous reports of dust and dust storms at 3 pm 15/4/2009 at several Bureau of Meteorology Weather sites in the state. Localities and towns affected include:-

Balranald, Canberra Airport Cootamundra, Cowra, Gundagai, Hay, Hillston, Lake Cargelligo, Narrandera, Pooncarie, Quandialla Tumbarumba, Yass, Wagga Wagga and Wyalong.

Interestingly, the wind speed at 3 pm at the affected places does not appear to be excessive with Canberra Airport receiving the strongest wind gusts of 46 km/h.

(Source - Bureau of Meteorology Daily Weather Bulletin New South Wales 3 pm 15/4/2009).

As stated in the Weatherzone news storey "Dust Storm surges through New South Wales" dated 15/4/2009 from Weatherzone, the dust was whipped up by strong winds ahead of the cold front with gusts of up to 90 km/h in some areas. The wind picked up large quantities of dust from the drought stricken south west New South Wales and carried it eastward with the wind change.

Harley Pearman

[Jimmy Deguara]

I awoke this morning and looking out the window to an eerie look. I could not figure out what it was. Later I realised that it was the remnants of the dust storm producing a dust haze over Sydney.

Based on my perspective, this was the best I could do for the night considering mid-level cloud came through:

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Michael Bath]

This was posted elsewhere by Blair Trewin from the BoM:

There were severe thunderstorms in northern Tasmania with this event, with quite severe damage in the Burnie-Smithton area, as well as around Scottsdale. The Scottsdale AWS recorded a gust of 194 km/h. This was originally assumed to be an error but there is substantial (albeit extremely localised) damage in the immediate vicinity of the observing site (including a parked bus - of considerable vintage - tipped on its side), suggesting the value is at least plausible. A direct hit from a tornado is a possibility.

Whatever happened, it was obviously localised - I drove through central Scottsdale (about 1.5km from the AWS) on Saturday and there was no evidence of damage remotely commensurate with 194 km/h winds.

If confirmed, the gust would, I think, be the strongest non-Alpine gust recorded in Australia south of Brisbane.

[Michael Bath]

A further report about the Tasmanian storms during the morning of 15th April, with three tornadoes suspected:

April winds upgraded to tornadoes
Tuesday May 12, 2009 - 18:00 EST
Strong winds across northern Tasmania last month are now being described as tornadoes.

The storms, on April the 15th, started in the state's north-west, and swept along to the north-east, with wind gusts reaching 194 kilometres an hour.

The Weather Bureau's David James says there were most likely three tornadoes, one near Scottsdale, another near Legerwood and the third in the Wynyard- Boat Harbour area.

Mr James says the characteristics of the storm were consistent with a tornado.

"It was an unusually strong wind event, and from the pattern of the damage and from the strong wind gusts that we recorded we think we have recorded some tornadoes in Tasmania," he said.

- ABC

The Hobart sounding is attached, though the profile is incomplete. Hobart was in the rain band south of the storms.

[Jane Gough]

Hi Michael,

My Parents were in Boat Harbour around the 24th April, and saw the damage. The locals described the event to Mum and Dad as a 'mini tornado'  : . Mum has photos of the damage in that area, but I haven't seen them yet. Quite happy to post them here if you are interested in seeing them. Mum tried to get some more information out of the locals, but didn't have much luck! 

[Michael Bath]

Yep sure Jane
I half-recall David Jones from the BoM mentioning something about the damage. It is probably him in the ABC report with a name mis-spell.