Hi,
Yes I know - sometime ago but it is a chase report.
25th November 2005 storm chase Central West - Classic Supercell and wall clouds interceptThis is one of the chases that somehow escaped a write-up. And not like it was a shabby storm chase. After all, Nick Moir did one of his special tricks - well not mobile phone special but jumping the fence special - breaking his ribs!
After a week of extensive severe storms in the Central West, I headed our on the 25th November 2005. With reasonable CAPE, decent wind profile and dry air aloft linked with a short wave, I decided to chase. My target was Mendoran to Gilgandra. And it was here that the first interesting and active cell had developed. In fact there were a cluster of cells.
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd01.jpg)
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd05.jpg)
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd07.jpg)
The cell west of Mendoran was along the trough line and seemed to have a rain free base and possible wall cloud on the southern flank - right mover? I could hear louder thunder in the distance to the west but could see nothing. I then headed back to Mendoran in case the eastern cell took off. It dumped heavy rain but escaped in no man's land. Heading north towards Coonabarabran, I noted a nice crisp anvil. Now the adrenalin began to pump because I knew this was the missing link - the left mover I could not see earlier! Finally, on an elevated clearing near Coonabrabran, I could see an awesome structure! A wall cloud came into view and a sharp clear and crisp side sheared anvil. This was a severe storm and on the move north - sharp left move likely traversing the boundary. Rotation was evident and the upmotion was distinct!
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd10.jpg)
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd13.jpg)
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd14.jpg)
After some timelapse, I opted for a closer vantage point and was able to get very close but with hill in the way. With the storm about to head over the hill, I knew I was in for a good view in case anything happened. Well the storm went into collapse mode. A shelf cloud and outflow a result.
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd18.jpg)
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd22.jpg)
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd25.jpg)
Finally making it back to Coonabarabran, it became a frustrating afternoon. The towers were struggling and it became reasonably hot. I made it all the way to Baradine. I just found a tree and waited. And waited. The storm to the south seemed to struggle and then finally on about 5pm, exploded! From a perspective 15kilometres west of Baradine, the next updraft also sent a side shear outwards and gradually I was able to block out the sun and improve the contrast. After some timelapse, I prepared myself for a direct hit of the cell.
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd28.jpg)
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd29.jpg)
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd32.jpg)
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd34.jpg)
It certainly was not violent but it did produce some heavy rain and for a period of about 15 minutes hail pelted down - it was a refreshing sound on the vehicle. The downdrafts, also did the usual about face as the storm finally headed north. After the storm, I went down the road and sampled hail size. Quite surprisingly, I ended up where I had been in the storm to measure the largest hailstones. My suspicions were correct, hailstones were up to the size of about golf balls.
It was a long day and I was hungry after a small lunch earlier. I settld for a pizza in Coonabarabran - some of the best pizzas I had ever tasted! After booking a motel, I headed out to the airport to view yet another cell drifting over the Warrumbungles from the north. It was certainly active and made for a peaceful and spectacular sunset. Nick Moir finally joined me in the motel and we shared the days frustrations and triumphs of the day and discussed the next day's chasing.
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd36.jpg)
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd47.jpg)
![](http://www.australiasevereweather.com/photography/thumbs/2005/1125jd51.jpg)
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara