Topic: NSW / SE QLD Rain and Storms: 26-28 March, 2008

[Jason(pato)]

Well after a sustained period of non storm activity it looks like we may get some action. Tomorrow we have a bullseye of 1400 Cape and -4 LI's over us. Shear doesn't look too bad either with 15kts W at 700, 25kts WNW at 500, and 60kts WNW AT 300. Thursday looks like we might see some activity as well with Cape around 1000 and LI's of -4 again with shear much the same as Wedneday but with a 75kt jet at 300. This is from the 00z run so it may change a little between now and tomorrow, but at least it looks promising at this stage.With the lack of anything in these parts lately I'll take anything with a rumble or two.

[Shaun Galman]

Hi guys,

Best of luck Jason(pato) with any development that might spark up, also to MB, Rodney and anyone else chasing in the Lismore/Northern Rivers area today!

I noticed (as most of you may have if watching the radars) a terrific looking active HP storm cell yesterday (25th) evening that was cutting a nice path between Walgett and Coonamble, possibly 40-50k's wide. It seemed fairly long lived and well sustained cell with lightning abounds, even reaching "red core status" for a time. I definitely wish I was out on it but the steering winds and subsequent easterly push would have soon destroyed any chance of keeping on it once it moved east, away from the Castlereagh Highway? Would have meant an hour and a half trip for me from here so not much chance of me making it in time or predicting current path directions otherwise I just may have gone? Always next time (or next year if things don't improve out here lol)

Cheers guys,
Shauno


 

[Karina Roberts (slavegirl)]

It's good to see that this part of SE qld may see some storm activity again its been way to quiet of late up here.
It's been awesome to peruse through the threads and read about storms happening once again!

[Steven]

LIs are looking GOOD! for NE NSW, however the further north it weakens dramatically, best of luck MB!

[Steven]

Very interesting to see storms persisting well into the night, it's a sign of things to come. Although they are isolated.

[Michael Bath]

Quite a few cells around here mainly late evening but nothing very photogenic from my location.

Ballina has copped it this morning from a storm:
10.0mm to 7.00am
22.2mm to 7.09am
42.6mm to 7.16am
75.6mm to 7.30am

[Shaun Galman]

Storm Report 26th March 2008. Upper Western NSW

Hi all,
Last night turned out rather interesting here surprising enough? I had just about given up any hope of encountering anything decent but at 7:20pm I noticed a strong SW wind gust move in, registering 10-15klm. I went out for a look but no real signs of storms at that point, only a few partial cumulus and a lot of stars? At 8:37pm I heard a few rumblings only to go outside and see several large CG firing to our NW on the front line of a large squally storm! In total shock, I grabbed the camera, called Russ / Datazoid (who was in as much disbeliefe at the sight of a storm as myself) and we raced down town for a few shots. It seemed to be very fast moving and slipping by just to our North. Lightning was frequent but crawlers soon became the norm with the sudden temperature drop from 26.2deg. @8pm to 18.4deg @8:45pm. Russ and I, as usual, missed the best CG shots while driving but didn't miss out on seeing them as they were pretty much right in front of us! The active storm front had totally passed us by within 20mins and settled into a decent rain shower, putting 4mm in the gauge over 40mins or so. No real shots to post unfortunately as the lightning had become "rain rapped" fairly quickly and left no time to get a clear photographic position? I don't recall seeing any real structure as I would imagine the mid-high level winds were pretty strong with no real shear, given the storms rapid movement.

It was good to see well... something at least!
Cheers guys.
Shauno

[James]

15mm, 1-2cm Hail and some nice flangs according to my parents up in Bostobrick just before 2pm today.

According to radar the cell wasn't at maximum intensity when it hit them. Be interesting to hear how Dorrigo and the Moombil mountain area are going considering it is now nearly reaching maximum reflectivity's on radar.

[Jimmy Deguara]

Since your post James, it seems the storm has developed a configuration indigitve of a bow structure. Would be interesting to see if strong winds have occurred in the area.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Richary]

Ballina has copped it this morning from a storm:

Has anyone got a radar loop from this? Pretty intense from the sound of it.

[TroyVR]

I got some pictures looking towards south-east Sydney this morning, beautiful cloud bank.

[Steven]

Ballina has copped it this morning from a storm:

Has anyone got a radar loop from this? Pretty intense from the sound of it.

Here ya go Richary.

---> Grafton radar loop

[Steven]

Nothing to report except a rather lousy 5.2mm at the rain gauge, didn't even see any lightning. Non event for some, good rain for a few.

[Michael Bath]

A couple of pics from the two days of storms around the Lismore area follow. The activity has been pretty ordinary with the better cells peaking on the ranges or just too distant.

Wednesday 26th March 2008

Weakish cell south of Lismore that was high based and low topped:



Stronger storms along the border ranges though they very quickly died towards sunset:



---> all photos for 26th March



Thursday 27th March 2008

The morning storm from McLeans Ridges. Another cell east of here managed to give Ballina its flash flooding rain 7am to 730am:



Quite a large shelf cloud on another Border Ranges cell late arvo:



And a nice sunset:



Tried to catch some lightning with Jason during the evening but it was too distant and infrequent.

---> all photos for 27th March

MB

[Michael Bath]

Looks like a hailstorm just passed over Nambucca Heads after moving down off the ranges. Quite a intense core has now passed out to sea.

-----

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
for FLASH FLOODING, LARGE HAILSTONES and DAMAGING WIND
For people in the
NORTHERN RIVERS and parts of the
MID NORTH COAST and
NORTHERN TABLELANDS Forecast Districts.


Issued at 2:17 pm Friday, 28 March 2008.


Severe thunderstorms may produce very heavy rainfall, flash flooding, large hailstones and damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Woolgoolga, Sawtell and Dorrigo.


At the time of issue a particularly large thunderstorm cell was located just to the west of Nambucca Heads and moving to the east.