Final update on yesterdays action (or lack of haha). Finally at about 3pm the skies cleared and we got the solar heating I was hoping for but it may have been too late unfortunately. I got home about 5pm and kept an eye on the radar/s and satpics for 30mins or so then headed up to my local lookout which is the highest point in metro Melbourne. From there I watched westward for several hours (quite relaxing actually) as convection began to kick off and move ENE'ish which meant it was sliding to my north. Several updrafts pulsed along a line and were quite strong but there was one (well several really) problem - I have never seen such shallow yet powerful updrafts! Not only were they quite high based but they were extremely low topped as well hahahaha. They never stood a chance as the tops were drawn away by S-Westerlies. Two interesting things did occur as the sun was setting - first was a persistent horseshoe vortice and the second was mammatus in the upper remnants of a very very dead updraft which was clinging to what was effectively an orphan anvil. Oh and there was a great sunset Jimmy!
As John intimated, there was a little action to the north of Melbourne after dark. I had gone home and checked the radar at about 8.30 to see the another line of cells was building, possibly along a wind change convergence W and NW of Melbourne. A quick look outside confirmed intracloud flashes followed by a bright flash which signified the possibility of CG action! So off I went again in this desperate hunt for some action
Up to my lookout for the mandatory missed photo opportunity between 25 second exposures - a beautiful clear branching staccato CG which would have taken up 1/2 of my frame had the shutter been pressed. Oh the heartache
These storms were moving NE away from me so I made the move to meet John on his advice at a new multistory location in the Eastern suburbs and we had some fun watching the cells drift into the Ranges.
Now we look to Sunday with hope.
Brad.
