Topic: NSW / QLD / VIC Storms (incl Nimmitabel tornado and other supercells): 22-26 Dec 2008

[shanesmp]

The following video is of me on Peel RD doing a u turn to try and out run the storm with golfball hailing falling all round. I apologise for the heavy breathing and hysterics, it just shows how fast I ran up and down the mountain to get pictures of this thing (Also being sick didn't help)... And I was really hoping that tennis balls were not going to drop out and smash my windscreen... Enjoy!

<a href="http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=o57p7ycubeI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=o57p7ycubeI</a>

Risking life and limb is the way I roll Michael

[pingtang]

Yesterdays chase was frustrating,especially after looking at Shanes images and the tornado SE of Cooma.

Firstly we saw some CGs near Goulburn early in the day but these were heavily embedded. We continued further north encountering more thundery rain. This thundery rain cleared once we got to Bathurst. We continued a little further west to a good lookout 15kms east of Orange. At this stage we could see strong convection to the SW W and NW. We jumped on the internet in Orange and could see the Young cell on the 256km Sydney loop. We could see the anvil from this stretching well eastwards.We could also see a cell 40k to our north which eventually became the Gulgong supercell. We wanted to intercept this,but theres no road option from Orange to Mudgee

We headed back to our lookout as a storm was developing to our west. This storm looked rather weak but an interesting base area developed on the southern flank but this rapdily decayed. As the storm moved in,a few CGs were oberved and we had a few borderline flangs as the storm moved overhead.We only got some brief moderate rain,before the storm cleared off to the east. The sun came back out,and it felt very humid. Our storm was now 20kms east of us,and it was beginning to strenghten a little with some nice updrafts visable but I didnt bother chasing this as I was still happy with our target area at that time.

Eventually we became impatient,and targted a base area near the town of Blayney(40kms W of Bathurst). This chucked out some CGs and contained some interesting structure at times but it was a little embedded which proved frustrating. This was the early stages of the cell that eventually hit Bathurst. (taken near Blayney)



This was before the storm became severe and was only showing small orange echos.It did intensify however as it moved east,but we got caught out as we had to backtrack 5kms west before being able to head east. From there we were always playing catchup. The storm looked interesting at times but being west of the storm is not ideal.

We went home via the Bathurst Crookwell road. We could see a cell flashing every few seconds south of Goulburn but a scud fest ended any hope of a lightshow.

In hindsight,Orange was perhaps a little too west but I think we were also unlunky. We had full sunshine for much of the afternoon,as the anvil junk from the Young storms passed well to our south. It just didnt happen.Frustating but thats chasing for you.

[Paul Graham]

Here is a panaroma of the Nimmitabel storm with flanking line extending up to the Illawarra, taken from south of Goulburn.  The area of sluggish convection eventually did develop into storm cells in the early evening.  I suspect gravity waves or a lee ridge or combination was holding it back. 

[Shaun Galman]

Hi all,

I almost fell off my chair when I saw the photo of the Nimmitabel tornado! (Thanks for sharing it Jason P.) What an unreal left-mover it spawned from! Thanks for the radar images Michael! I hope we get to see a bit more of it.
And great structure in the Bathurst storm! Awesome shots guys! 7cm hail Shane? WOW!

Makes my photos look a little weak lol

Yesterday's little onslaught was great here also! We had a lot of messy HP cells build and push through around lunchtime so we waited it out in the 37ºc temps with 100% humidity! (my favorite conditions!) Several cells were present but were just skirting the town area. One had passed over us at 2pm dropping only 2-3mm briefly. We seemed to be right on the build line come 3:40pm and a beautiful little cell formed only 5k's West of town. It had an amazing little RFB, a nice green hue, several powerful CG, VERY strong outflow winds and even a flanking downdraft notch cutting into the edge at one point!
I have to apologize for the view. I was with friends at the time and the cell was fully formed within 20mins so any photographic viewing preparation was almost non existent.

3:43pm


Just to the right of the photo above.


3:45pm and a cool little notch cutting back in there. There were a few nasty CG emitting from that base at this point!


3:47pm and the last photo before the town got core punched. Hail was immediate and we saw stones up to 2cm bouncing everywhere. I couldn't get out to any as they were melting to fast due to the high temps? Visibility would only have been a couple metres also. I sent a text to MB just after this was taken.


4:05pm and the cell leaving town and heading East towards Collarenebri. We copped 10mm of rain in 4minutes and there were many trees and branches down around town (including my yard!)


4:23pm and the hail (white core) was still reigning down out there to the right and rear of the HP area.


Russ (left) and myself waiting in the heat (back to 37ºc again) and watching the rear of the cells. This was taken by my friend Rick up for Christmas from Albury.

As you can see from the times my initial panic for a location went out the window pretty fast but it was good fun! :D  
We had another great little cell form around 7pm-ish which I will post photos of soon.
Cheers,
Shauno

[leo76]

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

For people in the NORTHERN RIVERS and parts of the MID NORTH COAST, HUNTER, NORTHERN TABLELANDS and CENTRAL TABLELANDS Forecast Districts.

Issued at 2:28 pm Wednesday, 24 December 2008.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce large hailstones, very heavy rainfall, flash flooding and damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Lismore, Grafton, Yamba, Maclean, Mudgee and Bathurst.

A particularly severe thunderstorm cell has been detected to the south of Grafton, with data from weather indicating it could produce very large hailstones. This cell is likely to pass very close to Grafton city around or shortly after 3pm.

I can hear some rumbles but can't see anything at the moment.

[Ben]

Fantastic photos everyone. Shane you scored awesomly with the hail! =D. My chase involved coming from behind that Mudgee cell, trying to push through it with awful driving conditions (crazy rain, wind and hail). I got infront of it shortly but not enough for the entire meso structure until Cassilis, where the storms was beginning to weaken. Photo 2 shows the best of it, but I couldn't fit the entire structure in even with a 3 portrait pano... I hung with Shane at Bathurst for a while but family was expecting me to be home at a reasonable hour so I left Shane at 4ish and saw cells heading towards Mudgee. Got in town to see a rather ordinary looking storm.. booted up wireless. Black on radar? So I took the Cassilis road (after pondering avoiding it through Gulgong where the core passed).. JUST avoided the core though ran through copius amounts of hail and insane wind on the front end but still got pelted by golf balls.. finally pushed myself up towards Cassilis and took a view of near the Feb 7 lookout was.. then noticed I had no fuel.. darted to Cassilis.. bar had some (for $1.76 per litre ugh, no servos!).. but then the storm struck and I was trapped in a shed with the petrol bloke, not filming it tragically, but it was the most insane hailstorm I've experienced. Few rooves blown off in town, windows smashed by hail (windward side), even a window blown out from the wind, would have been over 100km/h, until it settled into hail, LOTS of it. The core passed just west of town, but i think the storm had lost its hailage (sizewize anyway) by this stage. Thats a brief (though may not look it to you  :p ) summary, much of the hail is footage, which I'll do back in Sydney. Here are structure photos anyway.
Photo1: Just out of the storm, almost on me.. It didn't look that impressive, probably as I was not ahead of the storm enough. Shortly after I heard a roar of hail then golfballs started.
  
Out of the hail again and trying to get ahead of it. Nice seperation from the microburst and meso.
  
Finally a fair way ahead of it near Cassilis, showing its full structure. Looks to be weakening
  

Photos of the cassilis hail, which was only 2-3cm at MOST (30-40 mins after the storm, nice drifts!) can be found at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/28009095@N05/?saved=1

[Dazman]

Hi All

Quick intro...

I work in an industry that relies heavily on severe storm events, as such I have been watching this forum for about 3 years but this is my first post and I am very interested in learning more about significant weather events. This is why I have been monitoring for three years (have learnt alot with alot more to go!)

Just wondering if anyone has any information or photos of the tornado that allegedly hit Kyogle this afternoon? I have been told there are photos out there. I have also been told by a reliable source that there are at least five houses that have been demolished by the storm that hit this afternoon.

Thanks for your time

Daz

[leo76]

Havent heard anything as of yet about a tornado at Kyogle - Michael might be your best bet.

I live up just about Lismore and we had huge amounts of lightening today. One after the other in rapid succession and there were incredibly close. I truly thought the house was going to get hit.

[Rodney Wallbridge]

Gyday all, just got home in time from the work christmas party with a few nice drinks to be had. Noticed a fairly hefty storm cruising up from the SW which went over part of Lismore this arvo. I saw some of the Kyogle cell while at work haveing some bourbons. Santa was really nice to deliver this. Merry Christmass all!!
PS:I know that some roofs came off at Kyogle and a workmate lost his pump shed... don't know any other info.
 
 
 
Hope the storms stick around for the next week or so

[Richary]

Nice structure Rodney. Great looking cell.

Had a poke around on the news sites earlier but couldn't find anything about a tornado. Storms dried up in Sydney lately. Even the Friday ones forecast earlier in the week have disappeared off the news weather bulletins.

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi,

I very much doubt the tornado report but Michael did experience violent winds in the event and downed trees. I will let him say the rest but the photographs from Rodney are certainly an indication on its spectacular nature.

Imelda, Kimberly and I are in the Northern Rivers for Christmas and also for chasing purposes. We chased the southern cell mentioned in the significant warning above for possible very large hailstones north of Dorrigo. It emerged with some spectacular structure but obviously the SE change drifting into the region won out in the end and the storm weakened significantly. I concentrated on structure and also timelapse of this event.

We then headed north for region around Woodburn and watched a cell merger take place. Some interesting structure and definitely green tinge effects in all storms today.











Woodburn cells and the merger










All photos for 24 December 2008

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Michael Bath]

No tornado visible out there this afternoon and would be surprised if one occurred. Very much straight line winds but geeeeez they were at the top end of what I've seen over the years. Quite unnerving a few ks north of Kyogle when it really hit - I'm guessing 130-140km/h gusts mainly from the S-SE then later from the NE from the RFD - at this point I witnessed a large tree smash across the Summerland Way. It was completely blocked for 15 minutes until some people with 4WDs and winches dragged the branches out of the way.   Lots of tree damage between Kyogle and Wiangaree. And the rain !   wow, torrents.  Fortunately no hail where I was - and just as well as any large stones would have smashed through the car windows.

Apart from the Kyogle supercell, there was a feast of other cells until early evening - some impressive structures, shelf clouds and torrential rain, but far less lightning than the earlier storms.

Met up with Jimmy and family in Lismore afterwards.

A few pics from this arvo.

The Kyogle HP Supercell

















Other shots of later storms taken near Casino.










All photos for 24 December 2008

Michael

[Ben]

Awesome photos Michael and Jimmy!!! GO NSW!!! Both storms look nasty, and those winds sound insane Michael. Top picss!

[LRC78]

Michael I was out with the SES in Kyogle and at a roof job that I was on the occupant showed me panoramic photo's of the storm as it approached his house that were taken on a new you beaut phone. I am no expert but it looked like a tornado and that is how he described it. I asked for copies of the photo but he didnt know how to transfer them but I am going to try again to get some.
Ian L

[Jimmy Deguara]

Well, they could try attach on here using the additional options below when posting as a member.

Visual verification is one of the most powerful means of identification. Anyway, if it cannot be done - we'll have to suggest that there is insufficient evidence.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara