Topic: NE NSW / QLD Storms/Rain ( incl Atherton tornado ) 15 - 18 Feb 2010

[Colin Maitland]

Some severe storms approaching the SEQ after a very hot and humid day. Warnings have been issued for the storms in QLD and severe weather system for NSW.

SEQ is expecting some medium to heavy falls tomorrow.

Warning for NSW

Issued at 7:10 pm on Monday 15 February 2010

Synoptic Situation: 6:00 pm EDT Monday
The Low currently situated off the NSW South Coast has begun to move slowly away to the southeast and will continue this path overnight tonight and into Tuesday.

Very heavy rainfall has eased across the South Coast over the past one to two hours. Although steady rainfall continues across the area the risk of significant flash flooding has lessened. Conditions will continue to improve throughout the evening and overnight. Since 9am this morning rainfall totals in excess of 200mm have been recorded between Moruya and Bega.

Damaging surf conditions, with waves exceeding 5 metres in the surf zone, may produce significant beach erosion between Ulladulla and Gabo Island for the remainder of today before easing on Tuesday.

Flood Warnings are current for the Bega and Moruya Rivers.
Emergency services advise do not enter flood water. Stay well clear of creeks, storm drains and causeways.

Emergency services advise you check your property regularly for erosion or inundation by sea water, and if necessary, raise goods and electrical items.

Surf Life Saving Australia recommends that you stay out of the water and stay well away from surf-exposed areas.


For SEQ

For people in the BRISBANE CITY, GOLD COAST CITY, LOGAN CITY, IPSWICH CITY, SCENIC RIM, REDLAND and parts of the LOCKYER VALLEY, MORETON BAY and SOMERSET Council Areas.

Issued at 7:11 pm Monday, 15 February 2010.

The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 7:05 pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Boonah. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. They are forecast to affect Ipswich and Beaudesert by 7:35 pm and Logan City and Highvale by 8:05 pm.

Very heavy rainfall and localised flash flooding are likely.

Approximately 60mm of rainfall has been recorded within 1 hour at Tarome and Kalbar Weir.

[Antonio (stormboy)]

Well a bit disappointing with the storms that developed yesterday. The 2 pictures below show 2 cumulonimbus developing just above us and the 3rd picture is the radar frame that best represents that development that you see that in the 2nd image developed into a storm.

storm boy

[Colin Maitland]

Storm warnings have once again been issued this afternoon for the SEQ for severe storms and flash flooding. It is expected to last over the next few hours.
Last night we received some large downpours in various areas from the storms that swept across the south east.

Some of the higher totals were

Around the Ipswich area west of Brisbane

Churchill AL *   99mm
Amberley        116mm
Brassall        103mm 
One Mile Bridge 101mm

Kalbar       132mm
   

[Richary]

Brisbane City 80mm in an hour around lunchtime today, that must have been some storm as well as being quite localised.

[Richary]

Today's radar archive from Brisbane is quite interesting (and maybe unusual). The storms came up out of very little very quickly, and the existing weather pattern was flowing in a NW-SE pattern. Suddenly along this line everything developed at once along that line and obviously dumped a huge amount of rain very quickly. Anyone in Brisbane able to give us any observations from this event?

Radar loop from 10am-2pm local

http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR664-brisbane/2010-02-16-00/2010-02-16-04

[Colin Maitland]

Some pretty heavy falls yesterday in Brisbane  as Richary has already posted. There was major flash flooding through out areas of Brisbane causing property damage and many cars to be swept away or inundated with water. An insurance companies nightmare.

WZ news reported: South-east Queensland residents are mopping up after storms caused flash flooding across the region on Tuesday.

In the heaviest rain in more than eight years, hundreds of millimetres fell in less than two hours in some areas, causing widespread damage to homes and cars.

At the height of the storms, more than 60,000 homes were without power and there were hundreds of calls to the State Emergency Service (SES) for help.

The Queensland State Emergency Service evacuated people from two streets in Brisbane's north.



Some of the totals received since 9 am yesterday.

Brisbane          121.4mm   
Beerburrum        158  mm 
Nambour            93.8mm
Peachester          76 mm
Archerfield         75 mm
Upper Kedron        74 mm
Dayboro            106 mm
Lawnton             94 mm
Mt Mee             135 mm
Wamuran            149 mm

[Michael Bath]

Not much south of the border yesterday (16th) - just some rain patches downwind of the storm cells in SE QLD.   The evening before (Mon 15th Feb) produced a very active lightning show for a couple of hours during the evening. It followed some earlier weak storms which moved across from the WNW.  During the evening show, one cell appeared to peak right out the front of home (McLeans Ridges, NE NSW) with a number of very close CGs including one that appeared to hit a neighbour's house or tree about 10pm. The crackling/ripping sound was amazing. I'd guess the bolt hit about 50 metres away.   Photography was next to impossible with rain. Given how much lightning was occurring it was very frustrating to see so few bolts.

and this just in

Tornado tears through crops
Kristy Sexton-McGrath, Wednesday February 17, 2010 - 10:42 EDT
A tornado has ripped through far north Queensland, amazing onlookers.

Residents say the tornado travelled through an area just south of Atherton yesterday afternoon, damaging crops.

Atherton resident Chris told ABC Local Radio, the tornado was strong enough to throw a pile of tractor tyres 100 metres into the air.

"I just couldn't believe my eyes. To the left of me, off the road there, a tornado, a funnel actually dropped," he said.

"The funnel was clear as. It went right up into the sky and you could see it dropping and as it was moving you could actually see it spinning the dust and the corn and it was all coming up to there."

Weather forecaster Bill O'Connor says the tornado was caused by a passing storm.

"In the past, we've seen damage that's obviously from a tornado. Any thunderstorm has the potential of producing one," he said.

- ABC

[James]

And a picture courtesy of ABC online

[Colin Maitland]

This is the youtube footage that has just been posted for the tornado.


Malanda Twister.mp4

Another link  http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=43835

[Paul D]

Plenty of thunder yesterday afternoon with storms moving over app 3pm:-

missed a few absolute ripper deafening multiple bolts around 4pm
grab off video(has been modified to try and overcome rolling shutter effects)


cheers
PD

[Michael Bath]

Nice lightning capture there Paul

That tornado is very impressive - radar at the time is available from the link below. It would suggest it occurred around 0620UTC with a converging precipitation area over Malanda (SE of Atherton)

128km Radar Loop for Cairns, 04:00 16/02/2010 to 10:00 16/02/2010 UTC

[Colin Maitland]

It is pretty amazing watching the footage of the tornado.

The BOM is now warning residence along the East Central coast of QLD to prepare for flash flooding and heavy rains that is expected to fall over the next 24 hours. Areas around Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Yeppoon will probably feel the brunt of it on Thursday.

Today Castlehope west of Gladstone received 115mm since 9am today.

It has been very hot and humid in Brisbane for the last 2 weeks and we were all looking forward to a reprieve after this last rain event. Even BOM thought this may happen, but it now looks like the humid hot weather is going to stick around for a least another week.

Insurance companies were busy today amidst all the claims that have been lodged after this weeks events.

Cheers
Col

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi,

All I can say is WOW! Incredible tornado exhibiting full condensation to the ground and excellent upmotion. Interesting that the videographer turned the video camera sideways to fit it in!

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Colin Maitland]

This link will take you to an absolute brilliant footage of the Atherton Tableland Tornado. Just follow the link to the video footage.

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/02/18/94305_local-news.html

Trying to find this one on you tube for a permanent link.

Enjoy
Col  

[Michael Bath]

Wow - that's great footage. It sure seems to change direction and speed up once it hits and smashes the "pivot" structure. And nice rope out.