Storm Chase Northern Rivers December 5th 2009Hi,
Taree during the morning
Kempsey
After an overnight stay in Taree, this was obviously going to be another high base ordeal. After a brief stop near Kempsey, we headed up to play storms near Coffs Harbour.
The cell developing near Coffs Harbour had briefly tapped some of the moist boundary layer but eventually collapsed. Updrafts were quite strong due to the steep mid-level lapse rates but could not be maintained due to the dry air entrainment at base level. A storm developed near Urunga though seemed to quickly disspipate so we made our way north in pursuit of the cell in the western North Rivers (Michael Bath and co were onto).
Urunga cell
A couple of glimpses of the rear vision mirror indicated I had to at least stop and check a developing base behind me. Low and behold, an interesting base and associated updraftgot some excitement. The storm seemed to want to rotate so timelapse was organised.
Possible rotating cell
14km North of Coffs Harbour
14km North of Coffs Harbour
However, after about 5 to 10 minutes the base began to fall apart due to the dry entrainment. Another storm was developing to the west so we headed for Corindi Beach.
Even within 5 minutes a storm would go through rapid decline! The storm near Coffs Harbour was off the coast and you could still make out the reasonable updraft.
This storm near Coffs Harbour had an interesting base with with organised scud earlier - again rapid decline
Another storm had organised in the Coffs Harbour region so we made our way south and eventually these storms weakened. Some nice staccato lightning was observed.
Another cell and associated strong upraft was intercepted 14km north of Coffs Harbour but this went into rapid decline. Another cell behind it also began to weaken. This was back in the same location where the rotating cell was timelapsed.
A strange humourous situation occurred here that I had never witnessed. We were tracking a lone kangaroo we saw opn the way and photgraphed before it entered a grassy field. Whilst photographing the weakening cell a massive bolt hit the grassy field. To our amazement, there was a scattering of movement which I thought was small herd animals. It was a herd of a hundred or so kangaroos! We could not believe it! Yes 5pm feeding time - but we had never anticipated a scene like this so close to the coast! Prior tot he bolt, we had not noticed them feeding.
FInally, we decided to head to the Woolgoolga area for a feed. We ended up booking a cabin and also grabbing some fish and chips and headed for the headland. We enjoyed the frequent lightning display (in low contrast) with a couple of cells that intensified once off the coast. Some video and photographs were obtained of this activity though nothing too spectacular. I missed some decent staccato bolts but it seemed the timing was not the best.
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
