Topic: NSW & SE QLD Storms 22 - 28 October 2010

[Steven]

A line of cells just east of Toowoomba is showing maximum reflectivity on the Doppler. It also has a bit of a 'v' shape to it. Hook echo perhaps?

[Colin Maitland]

STW has been issued for that event Steven.

Brisbane is mentioned in STW for QLD 1 this time, but the storm is making and eastwards track and should reach us with in the next few hours.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING - SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND
for DAMAGING WIND, FLASH FLOODING and LARGE HAILSTONES

For people in the SCENIC RIM and parts of the LOCKYER VALLEY, IPSWICH CITY, SOUTHERN DOWNS, SOMERSET and TOOWOOMBA Council Areas.

Issued at 6:38 pm Sunday, 24 October 2010.

The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 6:35 pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Mount Barney, Moogerah, the area south of Cunninghams Gap, the area northwest of Cunninghams Gap, the area west of Toogoolawah and the area south of the NSW border. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. They are forecast to affect the area southwest of Esk, the area west of Esk, the area northwest of Esk, Aratula, Rosevale and Mulgowie by 7:05 pm and Boonah, Esk, the area south of Esk, Kooralbyn, Harrisville and Grandchester by 7:35 pm.

[Jason(pato)]

Just home from a chase around the NRs.....rain chased me home from Mallanganee. Will get some piccies up later. Line just hitting home now.

[Steven]

I was still hoping for the line out west to re-intensify, but it's looking very unlikely.

The Bureau cancelled its warning a while ago. I guess they don't think much else is going to eventuate tonight.

[Hardy25]

A line of cells just east of Toowoomba is showing maximum reflectivity on the Doppler. It also has a bit of a 'v' shape to it. Hook echo perhaps?

did you mean bow echo?

[Jason(pato)]

24th October 2010 Storm Chase


Morning and early arvo commitments had me stranded at home till after 230pm. After checking the radar out and having a brief discussion with MB I decided to bite the bullet and try and intercept the storm that was drifting off the ranges towards the Coraki/ Woodburn area. However I left my run a tad late and only managed to get a couple of pics of the rear end.



Storm over Nightcap Ranges/Border Ranges



After a quick call to Rodney Wallbridge to find out where he was (near Tabulam) I decided to venture out to Mallanganee where stuff from over the border was moving towards. Being on the tallest point around it was quite a nerve wracking experience as numerous bolts began dropping into the valley below from a base which evolved quickly in the time I was observing. Rain soon forced me back into the car but not before I grabbed a couple of pics of the scene coming across the valley.





I then put a call into MB again who suggested to move east as the rain was going to be a nuisance so I moved back towards Casino and settled at a regular spot 5km nth of town. It was now apparent that the cells from earlier had merged into one great squall line. I stayed at the spot for a while before rain again made me beat a hasty retreat back towards Lismore. Did manage to score some bolts though.








 
Got back to Lismore and ventured to another fave spot of mine to try for some more lightning but most stuff was embedded in the rain so I called it a night as the rain came pelting down again.

Was good to get out on my first chase of the season and although it wasn't unbelievably spectacular it was certainly nice to see lightning and hear the roll of thunder again.

Cheers Jason

PS Forgive the graininess of some of these pics....used a different photo editor than the usual PS I use.....didn't do the pics justice at all

[Michael Bath]

Looking amazingly green around Mallanganee Jase! Glad you were able to get out and about.


A few pics taken from McLeans Ridges, NSW yesterday (24th Oct)

It didn't take long for cumulus congestus to fire up. This taken at 11am:



This is the cell that dumped nearly 70mm in about an hour on Goonengerry west of Mullumbimby:





Another cumulonimbus developed to my north. This was over the Nightcap Ranges. The activity in this area persisted for a couple of hours slowly edging towards the Murwillumbah area. The multicell made a nice backdrop to the V8 Supercar race on the Gold Coast:





The lightning was pretty elusive as the main line came through early evening. There was plenty of it - just hardly any was visible.






All photos taken on 24 October 2010

MB

[Paul D]

Bit of lightning activity last night, and again today as a small cell moved over the coast producing a few isolated CG's
the two pic's below were around 1-19 pm this arvo as the storm moved in a more Ntherly direction over the coast hinterland.
(Gympie loop was out for a couple of hours this arvo during the period of better activity...)





PD

[Rodney Wallbridge]

Gyday all, Yesterdays chase took me out to Tabulam just after lunch as atmosphere was to be saturated fairly quickly during the afternoon.
Some weak cells developed and tracked SE just east of Tabulam which produced thunder.
Moving south of Tabulam I observed some substantial cells building on the range. As i was driving into the backend of the isolated cell east of Tabulam the distinct sound of Hail on car resulted in a quick stop to allow it to get ahead. Was able to sneak around the side of this cell and take a few pics from the top of Mallanganee range as the squall line developed even snared a Cg!
Spoke to Jason on the Ph and found he was now back in casino.
The wet nature of todays cells made taking pictures outside not an option, so being out solo presented an easy opt for tripod and camera in front passenger seat which works well.Drove home in torrential rain and witnessed magnific CGs pounding the surrounding paddocks........one hammered the ground about 100mtrs behind my neighbours house so i waited for a bit to get out and open the gate
Todays storm which swept through Csino at 5pm was feeding on the Se winds managed to finish work at 4pm east of Lismore and be south of Casino before it got into town for a few pics. After more heavy rain at home, it was noted on WZ of a near record in rainfall for Casino. The record of 379.2mm in 1972 for October is near. My AWS presently has 340.2mm for October 6kms NE of town.

Here are a few piccies.

[David C]

Skipping back to Saturday, this cell developed over the central Sydney metro area and later gave flash flooding to the the inner suburbs, and I believe some hail as well.

[Jimmy Deguara]

David,

That is a solid and very interesting looking base! Glad you got to it as I could not get there in time - city is off limits to chasing!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Clayton]

Hey

I was able to get a few pictures of the isolated cell that hit Murwillumbah on the 25-10-2010 at around 1-2pm
I was at Tyalgum during the storm and it passed just South of my house so I was able to get a few pictures as it passed South of me
and before it hit Murwillumbah.

Heres the radar for the storm http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR663-brisbane/2010-10-25-02/2010-10-25-03





























Hope you like the Pictures they aren't the best as they were only taken with a Point and Shoot Camera
Trying to save up for a new DSLR at the moment.

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi John,

So Jimmy, any chance that the incidents with the lens will make you consider finally getting a new camera, or picking up a secondhand camera/lens so that you dont miss out again?

Haha:)

Definitely not considering it at this point - positioning was fine and the lens is working again - perhaps the issue was the snow chase a couple of weeks back. The camera works fine - I get sufficient sales from the current setup - getting a new one won't necessarily increase sales but will reduce profits.

Of course, feel free to donate a super sharp non-distorting lens with wide angle capabiilities if you wish:)

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Steven]

did you mean bow echo?

Yes I meant "bow echo". A "hook echo" is something else I think, but it's easy to get weather terminology mixed up at times.

[Harley Pearman]

Western Sydney Thunderstorms 27 October 2010

I have only just returned to Sydney and I was not in any position to chase it. This afternoon at least three or four thunderstorm cells developed over Western Sydney roughly between Parramatta to the Blacktown area.

The first cell was small but dropped a heavy rain shower around the Parramatta and Westmead area. I was in Parramatta at the time. The storm dropped a considerable rain shower over a localised area before it weakened. There was another storm cell behind that.

A third storm later developed over Blacktown but matured over Seven Hills. I was in Seven Hills at the time and noted that the core passed over head where I was. This storm produced a considerable rain shower and a number of cloud to ground lightning strikes. This storm produced a very heavy rain shower but surprisingly no hail. Following that it appeared that a fourth storm cell matured on the southern side. I noted a low dark cloud base forming but it quickly became hidden by sudden and intense rain. This storm produced over Seven Hills an intense burst of rain as well as cold outflow winds from the east or south east. In addition, considerable runoff occurred. By the time the storm cleared, I observed some mammatus formations on the underside of the anvil. The storm started to weaken thereafter.

Unfortunately, I do not have any photos only because I was returning home after addressing my insurance matters and I did not have a camera with me.  

Early early rainfall totals strongly show a small area affected by the main storms with Blacktown Dog Pound receiving 12 mm followed by other falls of 4 mm to 10 mm but limited to an area around Parramatta to Blacktown to Baulkham Hills.

A radar image is provided below.

Harley Pearman