Topic: VIC Severe Storms / Flash Floods : 4 - 5 February 2011

[Taipan]

Hey Guys,
Hope all is well. Just looking at the GFS LI & Cape forecasts for this arvo and the figures look quite impressive. In the greater Melb. area LI's to -6 and Cape to 1800, so hopefully some storms and photo opportunities will arise. Higher figures in the north of the state, with Cape to 3000!
Cheers all,
Chris

[Jimmy Deguara]

That explains the severe storms and flash flooding in Victoria today!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Taipan]

Hey Jimmy,
Yesterday proved to be a wild day. Storms were popping up all around Melbourne by 2.00 pm. Photography was frustrating at times due to the huge amount of low cloud present and many of the storms were merging and/or breaking up. However at 4.30 two cells formed west of Geelong and tracked east. As the first of these storms approached Werribee/Hoppers Crossing (west of Melb.) a noticed a prominent hook on the radar at 4.45 pm. The precip was wrapping clockwise and tightening up in the north-west corner of the storm. Jumped in the car and got down there as quickly as possible. Managed to shoot some pics of the base (which I'll post tommorow arvo)and will get the applicable radar images. These two storms caused flash flooding and some wind damage in the western suburbs.

Cheers all,
Chris

[Harley Pearman]

Victoria's rainfall for 5/2/2011

The rain and storm event for Victoria is significant as suggested by the plot for Victoria.

Large rainfall totals have occurred and still are occurring around Melbourne, Mildura and much of Northern Victoria. Mildura had 147 mm and a further 22 mm until after 1 pm for a total of 169 mm. Other big totals of over 100 mm have fallen at Beechworth and Rutherglen as well as some parts of Melbourne. A big fall of 99.2 mm fell at Albury Airport and another 24.4 mm has fallen there from 9 am until 1.35 pm 5/1/11.

It seems the cloud system and rain is streaming from NW to SE but training over the same regions thus causing the larger than normal rainfall totals seen across the north of the state and southern border areas of New South Wales.

There are many flood alerts being issued for many northern rivers as a result of the rain and thunderstorms. The plot provided below shows generally where the largest falls occurred in the 24 hours to 9 am 5/1/2011.

Harley Pearman

[Michael Bath]

The southeast suburbs of Mildura had a lot more than the official figure

Flash flooding:

Mildura Rains Feb 2011

This was posted by a weatherzone member:

Evening all. I wanted to get online earlier, but between pure exhaustion, and an out of action broadband, I didn't have a hope. I'm now using the old dial up from my old computer. I thought the 2 inches we had at 1.30pm was impressive. But, from about 2.00pm to about 6.00pm, we broke all records here in Sunraysia. My niece lives next door to the Mildura Airport and registered 4 inches total. My eldest brother at Koorlong registered 6 inches, and here in East Red Cliffs, we received a massive total of 10 and a half inches (268.478mm, from 1.30pm to 6.00pm). I'm glad one of my neighbours, was there as I measured the last 3 inches, or I wouldn't have believed it myself. I did manage to take some pics & video of the incoming storm at 1.30, and I'll try and upload it in a moment. You only had to see it to know there was something frightening on the way. My neighbour and I across the road, hold it up there with the tornado we had in the late 70s. My next door neighbour has flooding in the house and water from her side has blown through the fence, into my place. We now realise there was an air pocket around the sewerage pipe, as the ground collapsed as I lifted my foot, after walking over it. The ground is so saturated at the fence line, I sank to my chest in the soil. Now I understand what quicksand is like. I had to use the fence post to pull myself up. Never been so scared in my life. I just hope we don't get anymore. Enough is Enough, we think.

[Brad Hannon]

Chased north central Vic on Friday with John and got this between Mittiamo and Echuca.

[Michael Thomas]

Nice shot there Brad. Certainly some very high dew points in Victoria that day. Dew points were around 23-24 C from memory.

[Brad Hannon]

Thanks Michael and yes the dews were incredible yet again.

Here are a few more pics:

[rogeressig]

My chase video and a few photos of Friday 4th. Filmed the storms rolling in over the bay, car was stranded in flash flood waters on beach rd!

STORM PHOTOS FEB 4th 2011, Port Phillip Bay
VICTORIA TROPICAL RAIN EVENT FROM CYCLONES ANTHONY & YASI FEB 4TH 2011 - ROGER ESSIG

[Michael Thomas]

Brad, love the photos. Some great structure there. Roger, great video. I really liked the time lapse, especially at the start.

On another note. Nobody has thrown out the 's' word yet. Not suprised after the last thread. Wind shear was certainly supportive of rotating storms and there was more than suffient CAPE. 500 hPa temps were very warm and lapse rates were not particularly steep which probably explains the lack of hail. The amount of rain these storms pump out was pretty impressive though.

Michael

[Brad Hannon]

Thanks Michael and there was no mention of the s word from me as we didnt see one  just a monster shelf.

[Michael Thomas]

Okay, I understand. I did notice a cell travelling between Charlton and Echuca that managed to remain descrete for some time before merging with line of storms. Also, looked like it was a left mover since it was travelling due east while most of the junk was drifting to the SE.

Here is the radar loop anyway for Yarrawonga -
http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR492-yarrawonga/2011-02-04-01/2011-02-04-23

And for Melbourne -
http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR023-melbourne/2011-02-04-01/2011-02-04-23
http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR02I-melbourne/2011-02-04-01/2011-02-04-23

There are a few storms around the Melbourne area that catch my eye.

[Brad Hannon]

Hehe Michael you've spotted the cell we initially targetted for intercept as its radar sig was very interesting.  Pity it was in the flood ravaged areas when it was in full flight.

[Brad Hannon]

Here are my remaining panos from the 4th Feb near Echuca:

[Brad Hannon]

Here are my remaining panos from the 4th Feb near Echuca: