Topic: Tornado in Penola, South Australia 31 July 2010

[Colin Maitland]

Reports are just starting to filter through in relation to the wild weather and tornado that has struck the South Australian Wine region of Penola.

At this stage there is only 2 photos but I am sure that will change as more news and pictures become available throughout the day.

ABC reports
A tornado has ripped through the small town of Penola in south-east South Australia last night, destroying at least four buildings and damaging many more.

Locals say they heard what sounded like a freight truck just moments before a funnel touched down in the east of the town and tore through the main street at about 6:00pm (ACST).

Locals say the tornado cut power, blew out walls and sent corrugated iron flying hundreds of metres into the air.

News links  http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/tornado-hits-penola/story-e6frea83-1225899441056

http://www.borderonline.com.au/?p=4407

[Paul D]

Mt.Gambier radar loop

Depends on exact timing but any ideas? (the 8.40UTC 6.10 local time almost looks like the point of contact between two bow echoes? although the previous frames don't seem suggestive of that?)

PD

[Richary]

News reports indicated 5:30pm local which would be 0800 UT. There are now about 30 photos up at

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/galleries/gallery-e6frecgc-1225899585128?page=1

I had seen this story initially last night then more info today, and the Sydney TV news had some coverage with reports of winds to 180kph (but where this figure came from is unknown). Also no overhead shots to survey the damage path to indicate if it was a tornado or just straightline winds.

The first SES call to Penola came at 5:36pm local

17:36:58   31-07-10   MFS: *CFSRES INC055 31/07/10 17:36,RESPOND COLLAPSED BUILD,GLENRISE PROPERTY - ROBE RD,PENOLA MAP 0 0 0 TG231,HOUSE COLLAPSE -PERSON REPORTED TRAPPED,CALLER REMOTE FROM SCENE,PRIORITY ONE,MTG029 SDO050 PENO19 - SES Mt Gambier Response

Unfortunately the pager feed archives I can see don't go back quite that far to see when the CFS got the first call there but I suspect it would have been similar.

[Dave Nelson]

The local SES stated Quote....  The State Emergency Service has estimated the size of the tornado's path as 50 metres wide and three kilometres long. Unquote

Thats pretty significant and would hopefully confirm a tornado rather than straightline winds.  tho pix of the funnel would dispel all doubt.  Several witnesses interviewed on TV
said thay saw a funnel

take it for what its worth 

Dave N

 

[Michael Bath]

I would say the tornado was in the small cell ahead of the squall line. Follow the cell that crosses Cape Jaffa at 0620z and passes over Penola between 0800z and 0810z.

128km Radar Loop for Mt.Gambier, 05:00 31/07/2010 to 10:00 31/07/2010 UTC

Adelaide put up a special sounding at 08z:

[Michael Thomas]

Nice to see the 08Z Adelaide sounding. Not too suprising to see tornado reports. I would think the conditions were pretty much ideal with very strong wind shear and steep low/mid level lapse rates.

Just an aside, but are damaging straight line winds common from these cool season severe storms? I would think that downdrafts would typically be weaker compared to higher CAPE warm season severe storms due to less evaporative cooling????

Sorry for the aside, I like to ask questions.

Michael

[Richary]

I also saw the news reports today of a 50 metre wide 3km long path of damage, with debris being found 5km away. 10 Late News just showed a brief clip taken from the event, and despite the poor light at the time it looked like a tornado to me. A very definite funnel from a low cloud base heading towards whoever was doing the filming. Can't see it on youtube though.

[nmoir]

New Twister Footage


this is the video you are talking about

[Richary]

Thanks Nick, that looks like the one. Searched for Penola etc on youtube but it wasn't there at the time.