Topic: Darwin Storm events 2008/2009

[Mike]

Yes, the enthusiastic Cloudfairy returns to Darwin!  I'm sure we'll be able to get some chasing or 'photo opportunities' in whilst you're back.

[Michael Bath]

STW for Darwin area - cell has looked quite nice on radar and tracker over the past hour or so


SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
for Damaging Winds
For people in some areas within 60 km of Darwin.
Issued at 5:10 pm on Tuesday 11 November 2008

At 5:00 pm, thunderstorms with the potential for damaging winds were observed on radar near Humpty Doo and Berry Springs moving towards the west.

The following areas may experience damaging wind gusts between 5:10 pm and 6:10 pm:

Howard Springs,
Palmerston,
Darwin,
Cox Peninsula.

Damaging wind gusts have already been reported at Noonamah.

[Mike]

Yep just a bit more on that storm.  I left for work around 4pm and could hear some booms from the SE.  It was exactly the same type of storm that came in Monday arvo.  I've got photos of both that day's storm and yesterday arvo's monster.  Both single severe pulse.  Huge wide towers with bubbling convection surrounding the towers face, smooth crisp anvil and low cloud base.

The one yesterday I got some nice pics from the wharf before work and as you can see it's a monster!  i did not know it was severe warned, but given its structure and new updrafts to the right and left flanks it was no surprise...this thing was emitting plenty of lightning from its base and inflow winds could be felt from the wharf.

First two photos of the severe storm for yesterday Tuesday 11th.  One during updraft stage and the other during continual growth moving west when it was then SSWarned.

Other two photos show same storms but different angles - ironically this was the only storm in the whole rural and Darwin area.  Given the break up of the trough of late, this fella took advantage of all the cape and moisture going.  It's great to see these powerful towers shadowing the city.

[Michael Bath]

Thanks for posting these Mike - love to see the powerful updraft type shots.
Here's the vis from 0530z to 0830z

[Mike]

Early morning line of storms along the coast moved in today (Nov 12) - no way I was going to go after them due to catching up on lost sleep, but perhaps I should have as the storm produced a fairly long lived water spout visible from the city!  I knew that storms were going to brew along the coast as I had seen things start to gather around 2am but sleep deprivation prevailed.

Oh well, there's always another day.  Would have made for some special photos.

..oh, just as an aside re severe storms in Alice Springs over the weekend - one storm produced 2.5cm hail.  I've seen the photos in the paper here albeit a small filler type pic.

[Aesacus]

Hi everyone,

I'm thinking of coming to Darwin (from Canberra) for week but can't decide when would be best for storm watching. There are some cheap flights in the first 10 days of December, but then not again until around mid to late January. If anyone could give me some pointers to help me decide, that would be great.

Cheers,
David.

[Mike]

Hi David (Welcome and congrats on your first post!)

Guess I could help since I live here!

From what I've seen of the models of late things should start to flare up again soon.  We've had this wretched dry influx of strong easterlies which have been wrecking any storms in Darwin itself - but tonight there was a wonderful 20 minute storm only 15km from the harbour which produced some spectacular clean air strikes.  I was at work viewing it and envious.

anyway...if you plan to come up during the first two weeks of Dec that would be cool. I've got two weeks off work at the same time so if you do come up then we can go chase some beasties in the rural areas or if in town I'll take you to my favorite haunts to get photos.  December is pretty good for storms and as I mentioned, the models look better as this month goes on. (BoM still say we'll get a cyclone by xmas, but that remains to be seen!)

In essence storms can flare up anywhere at anytime of day or night here so it's difficult to give you an 'exact' time to come.  Some days you get nothing, then other days there's plenty.  But all I can suggest is perhaps book a ticket and I'm confident of something around - even if it means traveling inland to get them, you'll find big storms out there.  But no guarantees up here, our weather is atrociously frustrating for storms  where you want them - but they are around every day now.

If you want more details as per my phone number etc just PM me.

[Peter J]

Mike,

I saw an article on foxtel's TWC, that had one of your lightning pics on it as part of a competition.
Hope you win

Big Pete

[Mike]

Really?  i did receive an email saying that they posted a pic during one of the segments - I've yet to see one when I'm viewing it - hope I win!  I'll have to post more!

[Peter J]

The photo was the best one in the group they showed BY FAR!!!! Anyone who could get a lightning strike to fill (in a crawler type way) the full frame like that has to be a shoe in!

Anyway, are you getting much rain up there at the moment? Has the monsoon part of the wet season arrived yet?

Big Pete

[Mike]

This just in...

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
for Damaging Winds, Large Hailstones and Very Heavy Rainfall
For people in Alice Springs
Issued at 11:58 am on Tuesday 18 November 2008

Thunderstorms with the potential for damaging winds, large hailstones and very heavy rainfall have been observed on radar and are expected to affect Alice Springs between 1215 pm and 0215 pm CST.

The Northern Territory Emergency Service advises that people should secure loose outside objects, move cars under cover and seek shelter. Driving conditions may be hazardous - avoid flooded roads and watercourses.

In Darwin we are experience widespread storms and showers at the moment. The monsoon is not here yet, but conditions are very akin to it. So no, Pete no monsoon just yet.   Nothing worth chasing as all the thunderstorms are imbedded above a blanket of low cloud.  The radar loop for Darwin is impressive but messy.   All I've heard all day thus far is rolling thunder and the odd heavy shower.  No need to worry about the obs - just go outside and see it!

[Mike]

Something of interest as a developing low is to our west and witht he associated trough through the NT, is our current storm activity and convergence to a boundary.  Storms to our north over the Islands are actually reforming back towards the convergence line to the mainland and it's quite interesting to see the graphic and radar in comparison.

  Thought I'd share it with you between severe weather in other states!

There's been widespread storms and showers about the place due to a developing low in the western portions of the Northern Territory/ Western Australian border and with an associated ridge of low pressure combined with a trough - yeah it's all happening. Smile

The graphic below shows you the streamline surface winds which are currently happening. You'll see the convergence of winds to the N/NE/NW of Darwin (if the map is small just click on it to enlarge) and a developing low to the west. The winds were not this way this morning, but have organized themselves rapidly.

http://australianweathernews.com/charts/DARMET-0.GIF

Now the current radar loop below confirms and shows storms developing along the boundary to our northern parts from the Tiwi Islands about 78km away. You can see them forming in front of the main storm area and stretching towards the low.

http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR633.loop.shtml

Something that I was fascinated by viewing both things at least.

[Adrian]

Mike,

Alice seems to be the place to be at the moment in the NT for wild weather !

Was in a meeting all afternoon so will have to do a surf to see if the STW eventuated into anything.

p.s. nice showing on Sat night, sorry I couldn't stick about to chat;

Could be an excuse to have a few xmas beers!!! with a few of the others cloudfairy ??

Cheers,
.adrian

[Adrian]

BOM - Calender

Nice CG shot (over Darwin) for April in the 2009 Calender.

http://www.bom.gov.au/calendar/

Cheers,
.adrian

[cloudfairy]

yep, I'm with you for a christmas beer. Will be my first xmas without family, so maybe I'll need a bit of support

btt: I don't get the actuall situation in Darwin. The dry air seem to disapear, sounding this morning was saying it is getting unstable, then suddenly a storm out of a heavy shower over Darwin and the Airport, I guess. (It was dry, well, without rain, in Casuarina the hole day, or I've missed something)
Hey, the only reason I choose Darwin and not Melburne for my studies were the storms.....so where are you???????
And, yes, I still have this stupid jetlag and feel confused.