Storm chase report 29 Nov 08Renate (cloudfairy), myself, Jacci and Thomas (also from Germany) went chasing some inland storms this day as the GFS showed real promise. LI's were predicated to be -7 and CAPE values were 3400 combined with a weak cap things were going to be extreme. How extreme we had no idea as I had just viewed the radar to see what was firing at 2pm and it was the beginning of something special.
After collecting everyone I decided to head to Humpty Doo given there were two large storms firing. The original plan was to chase the closer rural areas and then head to Adelaide River to where the GFS showed more intense storms to form later. Our timing and position was perfect. A large storm was in motion so I pulled off the highway down another road with a clear view of the storm and we photographed great structure and constant close CGs. We were all pleased with the start of the chase day! The lightning was getting a little too close for us so I decided that we head a little further inland as two more big storms were up. A lot of CG action but the structure of these storms was beautiful against the backdrop of the wetland areas. We hung around the area for about half an hour and I really wanted to get to our main location as soon as possible by dark.
We were all buzzing from what we had photographed thus far and the locations chosen were great - out of the rain and clean air between us and the storms. Approaching Adelaide River we saw yet another huge storm over the township so we pulled up and took some shots of the massive rain shaft and brooding mass. Moving through the township there was some rain so we waited and grabbed something to eat and drink and then head out of the township to the south. A large storm was to the NW of the town and close, so I pulled over and the CGs were intense right beside us. I recommended that we take shots from within the car and most of us got some ripper dusk CGs! Thomas stated the ball rolling as we fumbled with our settings. Once that action had died down I drove only about another 10kms out of the township down the Stuart Highway and found this great open area - and yep the storms were going nuts on the left of us. We all set up our cameras once it ws dark and really the rest is history! A full two hours of lightning right in front of us, above and surrounding us.
Unbeknown to us there was a massive squall line headed for Darwin and this was the reason for all the storms and lightning. Probably by timing and luck we had caught all the initial bigger storms as they formed prior to the squall line reaching us. After another hour of shots we decided it was time to head home as it was getting very ugly rain wise. The drive home was an experience - with an open speed limit of 130km/h I could only drive at 50-70km/h for 100km! We had inadvertently caught the core of two major cells and literally core punching them - nowhere to go as they followed the highway home. Torrential rain and constant flashes of lightning and several very close bolts hit along side the road as we drove home - it was far safer to drive sensibly rather than sit and wait given the lack of areas to pull over.
The radar loop shows the initial large storms we encountered during the afternoon and then a monstrous squall line with the rain that soaked the Top End well after midnight. It was the best chase ever for me and everyone agreed the same - we got everything except hail and tornadoes! All the locations were perfect, the timing was perfect and the everything was just as textbook as you could ask for.
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Berrimah radar loopHere's some snaps of our chase time. It was insane!
