Topic: NSW & S Qld Severe Storms: 19-23 September 2008

[Shaun Galman]

Hi guys,
Surely something large and severe must spring up around the N-NE NSW, S QLD area over the coming days?
There is currently a large storm cell near Boomi NSW that is very active on the radar and seems severe (well into the red/black at the core) this looks to be following the line that's pushing up into S QLD. So I hope someone is out there covering the action! It looks pretty good on the LT so far!

I noticed the first ever SEVERE? logo on the OzForecast.com site for our area tomorrow. I'll be ready and waiting.

Temps are really up here today. Currently just nudging over 35ºc, still with a lot of mid/low level white moisture haze. The northerly wind does still feel a bit dry but moisture from E QLD must be feeding down into the storms just enough to drive them.

Take care if chasing!
Shauno

[Michael Thomas]

Sea breeze front pushing through Amberley is very obvious-

20/03:30pm     28.7         18.5          6.5     ENE          15     19     1013.8     
20/03:00pm    30.0       17.4        8.0    NE        11    16    1014.0    
20/02:30pm    30.6       13.8       10.1    NNW        8    12    1014.3    
20/02:00pm    30.3        14.5       9.6    NNW       6    12    1014.7    

That's a 4C increase in dp and large wind shift. It seems to be the reason that storm near Harrisville quickly got its act together.

[Carlos E]

I notice they now have the "This thunderstorm is very dangerous" out for that storm as well. It's as black as the ace of spades.

[Shaun Galman]

Hi all,

Is that large storm North of Lismore currently, (5:31pm) a possible HP supercell? It looks enormous on the vissat with a nice overshooting top and forward shearing anvil! Not to mention it is very active on LT!

What an afternoon for the NE! I very much wish I were there chasing with you all! :D (I'm staring out my window looking at, now clear, blue skies lol)

The line in SE QLD is still firing and should continue for some time if things hold up. Seems the major 4 or 5 frontline storms spread down the SE QLD and NE NSW coast are the largest from current observations.

I'm expecting some exciting reports and photos to be coming in soon!

Take care,
Shauno

[Mike]

Watching the radar and forum comments with interest guys.  Hope those chasing stay safe but get some photos. Nice Doppler wind flow agreed MB - wow!  What great storms they are.

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi guys,

It seems like a supercell to me and that is the Bureau's way of warning for a dangerous storm.

Michael called in with hail reports - I will let him pass on the information:)

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Rodney Wallbridge]

Gyday all, here are two pics from the cell that passed over Kyogle. Michael Bath and Jason were out there earlier and  report ground covered in Hail. Look forward to seeing the pics and report.The cell consolidated just to the south of Kyogle on radar.Some lovely Mammatus spotted and some nice scud cloud in places.

[Steven]

Brilliant shots Rodney, not bad at all for early spring instability.

We're still awaiting our turn, I can't spot any lightning yet, though my hopes have been boosted by further development to the west of the main activity. Can't wait.

Edit: Now I can ha ha.

[Michael Bath]

Chased with Jason Pato this afternoon. There was barely a cloud in the sky until after 2pm.

Fairly high based storms developed - I guess they formed above the 900-850 cap evident of the Brisbane sounding this morning.

Early cell south of Casino.



This was the one that passed very close to Casino and was NW of the storm in the first photo. The microburst was quite impressive though had weakened by the time it hit us. We still copped pea sized hail with some 1cm stones.





This is the development of the hailstorm that went on to pass right over Kyogle. Again it was fairly high based. There was lots of great lightning to be seen south of the storm, but the prospect of getting into some more hail was too much for me !





So we went into it. On the south side of Kyogle there was a lot of 1 to 1.5cm hail and very heavy rain and some brief bursts of violent winds.



After about 15 mins of it hailing it started to get bigger - into the 2-3cm range then with some 4cm stones. The sound on the car was awesome!



When it finally cleared we noticed some of the hills just W-NW of Kyogle has become white!  This area had a massive cover of hail mostly in the 2 to 4cm range with some measured at 4.5cm. It was an amazing scene.











Jase will put up some more pics shortly

Michael

[Steven]

Interesting to see how the first line fizzles only for the second line directly behind it to intensify. It is heading straight for my location, you can tell.

Fantastic shots MB, that hail is pretty big.

[Michael Bath]

These VIS satpic need to be shown - pretty ideal situation.

The two supercells are visible at 4.30pm - one over Kyogle and the other Harrisville/Amberley:


2.30pm

3.30pm

4.30pm

[Jason(pato)]

Gday Everyone,

Well what an extraordinary afternoon, the duration of that hailstorm over Kyogle was amazing. Heres a few pics to add to what MB has posted.

Microburst



Developing Anvil of the Kyogle storm



Just caught the tailend of this CG, you can just make it out on the left of frame



Near whiteout conditions

[Jason(pato)]

Heres a couple more of the hail in the surrounds of Kyogle.








Certainly an enjoyable arvo with MB.

Cheers Jason

[Michael Thomas]

Awesome photos there, great work! I have to agree, Kyogle storm appears very much like a supercell. Here's the radar loop of the for the Kyogle and Harrisville storms-

---> Brisbane radar loop

I would like to see the doppler images, did these indicate a mesocyclone on these storms? Having look at the observations and plotting them on forecast soundings it appears as in there was high CAPE. Lismore got to 30/19 which plotting on a forecast sounding give a surface based LI and CAPE of -8 and 3000, respectively. Amberley got to around 28/18 giving roughly a surface based LI of -6 and CAPE of nearly 2000. Plenty of energy there. I would have to say that I think the sea breaze front played a huge role in todays storms. After the sea breeze front moved through Amberley, winds where 15 knots from the ENE, gusting to 19 knots. Given the weak mid level winds this was needed to get 0-6 km shear around the 40 knot mark for better storm organisation. The sea breeze front was accompanied by a pretty large surge in moisture which would of increased CAPE substantially. All in all, things really came together today, looking froward to seeing more photos, I love the hail there Jason, superb.

I think later I will post my thoughts on tomorrow, which I think at this stage is looking as good, if not better, than today.

Michael

[Michael Bath]

You might wish to look at these photos by AC - not sure where they were taken but it's the storm near Harrisville/Amberley:

http://www.downunderchase.com/stormchasing/08-09/190908/20-09-08-01.jpg
http://www.downunderchase.com/stormchasing/08-09/190908/20-09-08-02.jpg

Some beautiful structure there !