Topic: NSW, QLD & VIC Severe Storms : 27 - 31 Dec 2008 inlcuding classic supercell lightning hailstones

[Michael Bath]

Chased with Rodney Wallbridge and Jason Paterson this arvo (30 Dec). Didn't have far to go as the convection kicked off just south of Casino. Was awesome to see the whole life cycle of the main storm in the region: from the first updrafts to the base rotation, large hail, and large supercell structure - and two funnels.





We watched the storm gather from McKees Hill. The first part of the storm quickly moved towards Coraki but the flanking line persisted and persisted and kept organising itself, eventually passing right over the top of us. The motion in the clouds was amazing. Just after it did cross our location a number of close CGs hit.









A mid level funnel (not shown) was observed at this location just 1km east of where we had been.



We then followed the storm into Lismore. The hail shaft was impressive. Hailstones were observed along the Bruxner Highway from the Goonellabah public school onwards, with some large stuff picked up near the BP servo. We measured stones 5cm in diameter.



A quick check at my place which allowed for a view of radar and the supercell passing north of Byron Bay. Stones at my place look like they got to 3 or 4cm as per the report by James.



I noticed another mid level funnel - this lasted a few mins - you can see its position in the 2nd photo.





We then moved to Eltham to watch another cell which had developed in the same location as the first - but it was an evaporator.



Later afternoon and into the evening has been a sky with beautiful structures like this.

[Jason(pato)]

Gday All,

Just a few pics to add to Michaels report.

Early development near McKees Hill

 

Things beginning to get organised

 

There was some amazing motion in the structure and this updraft took on a corkscrew appearance

 

There was clear rotation at this stage, which certainly had us excited. It wasn't long after this shot that the first mid level funnel was spotted.

 

We chased the hailshaft into Goonellabah, but the cell was moving too quick for us to keep pace

 

On returning to MBs place we couldn't get over the absolute crisp, rockhard updrafts which seemed to be the order of the day.

 

 

After moving to a spot near Eltham I couldn't help noticing two cells off the coast to the south

 

Once again the Northern Rivers has delivered the goods. Was an absolute pleasure teaming up with MB and Roddy again for an enjoyable couple of hours chasing.

Hope you enjoy,

Cheers Jason

[Rodney Wallbridge]

Gyday all, chased with Michael and Jason Pato today!Fantastic report Michael, WHOO at the explosive upper levels of the storms so crunchy i think the Gobbledock from smiths crisps would be jealous! Here's  my favourites for the day . Awesome Pics everyone I'm just blown away how well covered storms are now!
Storm address in the Northern Rivers
 
 
 

[Michael Bath]

Have put up the webcam sequence for today. The NW facing camera mucked up during the day but this NE view had the better show anyway. It is an 8mb download

It's amazing to see hail falling in the first few frames before the clouds even come into view!

MB

[leo76]

Just going to go through the pics from today and upload them soon. Wasnt it just the most fantastic cell??

[dann weatherhead]

Up in Queensland for  holidays. 4 days of storms since I left Sydney. Anyway I couldn't wait to share this beauty. The pictures in this thread are just phenomenal so many of stoking, ripping quality. I have rarely seen development so explosive.I have tones more, but here is the NSW ripper going nuts off the Queensland coast.  I say, Go Australia!

 

[Michael Bath]

Some weather data for Tuesday 30th December 2008

I've attached the obs for Casino and Lismore. You can see that Casino reached 35/21 which resulted in CAPE being around 4000. It was certainly enough to break the cap over land. The Lismore obs show the winds as the storm passes over. There were fresh E-NE winds feeding this cell - even west of Lismore.

Brisbane 00z

Brisbane 12z


---> Grafton 128km scale radar loop

---> Brisbane 128km scale radar loop

---> Brisbane 256km scale radar loop

---> Brisbane doppler radar loop


Lovely isolated cells













A couple of hail photos from Ray Mullens of Goonellabah are attached too.

MB

[JulianR]

Gday All,

Some images from tuesday 30/12 Taken at Mt Tamborine and also at Southport, Gold Coast.

From Mount Tamborine




Heading towards Nerang, facing SE


Southport Broadwater, facing E/SE








Continued next post ...

[JulianR]

Images from 30/12/08 @ Southport, Gold Coast

Continued From Southport, facing E/SE











Cheers,

Julian

[JulianR]

Chased in NR's on Monday 29 December 2008 with Michael Manning & observed some lovely structure moving N/NE towards Casino/Kyogle.













Cheers,

Julian

[leo76]

30 December 2008

Well a drive back from the Gold Coast airport yesterday ended up turning into a day trip.

As we were driving back near Chinderah we noticed some interesting clouds form with 3 seperate towers. We watched them rather closely and as we progressed further along back to home, the three had combined into one large anvil by the time hit Byron Bay. By the time we were at Tintenbar, it was looking by a full blown cell. It looked fantastic!

By the time we reached Goonellabah, the decision was made to go grab the camera and then go take some pics.



This was on the corner of Invercauld Rd and Cynthia Wilson.




We decided to head down the Bruxner Highway into Lismore. I was looking up as we were going along (no I wasnt driving) and noticed that the cloud was starting to rotate.

"Pull over!!!"

Then this caught my eye. Its taken through the window so excuse the reflections



This was moving down then it go back up, only to move back down again



We then headed off through Lismore Heights just as the rather decent size hail started to hit the ground. Kept going down along Corndale Road.





After that we got stuck behind a tourist in a rent-a-van and couldnt keep up with it.

[Michael Bath]

Wow - nice funnel there Gaylee. The rotation of the base was so obvious at times it's not surprising one has been captured in that area.

The meso was well separated from the main updraft and it appears the large hail was coming out the W or NW side of it before any rain hitting the same places.

There are reports of isolated hail stones the size of cricket balls (7cm) so that appears fairly likely given ones we saw were up to 5.5cm and some bigger ones were photographed by Beck near the media centre at Goonellabah

Beck Armytage's pics:











Also - a base shot as the supercell was passing north of Byron Bay:

http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/2008/image39992a.jpg

[Antonio (stormboy)]

The 30 Dec was a great day wasn't it. The cells west of Lismore developed very quick and moved away very quick - here are a few pictures that I took just before and after it hit.

During the mini storm we had a split one second hail falling and it turned into rain the storm turned shy and went to the Byron Bay leaving us a nice cumulonimbus structure to the northeast. Here are the pictures.

[Antonio (stormboy)]

my cousin in canberra sent me this really close lightning pic

[Mike]

Structure, structure, structure!  Thanks to all for posting them - what a season you guys are having!  I'm enjoying the read, the pics immensely.