Storm Chasing - Australian Severe Weather Blog

Michael,

Yes it has been a while and I was astounded when I realised how long ago the last entry had been entered. Nevertheless, I have been busy given I have been doing quite a few things including the wedding. And of course, just to make matters worse, the Kellyville experience has come to an end. A complicated and very unfortunate circumstance meant I had no choice due to lack of time to do EXTRA work but to let go of the position which was meant to be to the end of the year. To suggest I am pissed off is an understatement. But at least I was able to secure four weeks at Shalvey. The kids were excited to see me back there and the staff were as well!

Jimmy

Quite a nice hailstorm yesterday afternoon at my place. Stones were only up to 1cm but there was a fair quantity amongst some torrential rain. A few very close lightning bolts hit nearby. Hail also occurred at Ballina and Lennox Head.

Instability remains but it is a lot cooler today - more info here
http://www.australiasevereweather.com/forum/index.php?topic=899

Hi Jimmy - can’t believe a month has passed since last writing on here - where did August go?   It sure has been a cold month though as you would expect not too bad here on the North Coast apart from frost in the valleys. No snow chases for me since late July although we got to see some at Mt Lofty in the Adelaide Hills on Thursday afternoon and evening. Alison, Rodney, Sonya and I were in Adelaide for a few days for the ASWA Conference. The trip turned out to be very well timed with some rare SA snow.  I very much enjoyed the trip and catching up with lots of weather people. The area is quite beautiful and green this time of year though of course cold !

Glad things are going well with the wedding preparations and with Imelda and Kim settling in.  Alison and I will drive down on the Saturday and return here on Monday.

Product development is still ongoing with EWN - have had a couple more business trips with one to Townsville next Thursday. Councils there are interested in the tsunami warning capabilities.  Will be issuing more alerts soon enough and today is a chance for some storms SE QLD and NE NSW.

Michael

Michael,

Time has been passing by rapidly with the wedding preparations well underway. The excitement is building and it should be an excellent day for us. Imelda, Kimberly and I are doing well and Kim has settled into the school doing tons of homework - she loves school! Her English is improving as well - I guess I help wherever I can.

We have gone snow chasing twice and yesterday we headed down for a trip to Wollongong. The Mt Kiera lookout is quite nice - I have never seen it before myself.

Despite all this, the two new arrivals have been here for over 7 weeks and are finding it way too cold! Warmer weather could really help things! It has to be the coolest winter for some time on average though what astounds me is that August seems to be cooler than July for the first time I can recall.

Jimmy

Michael,

I can understand the ‘frustrations’ of organising meeting material and the time taken. I am pretty sure some appreciate them but don’t show it - others may be too ignorant to pass on such a simple word “Thanks”.

As to weather, today was coooollllldddd. This morning killed my hands which is rare for me. And the day itself was rather cold as well - likely the coldest this season thus far. The two Filipinas are not appreciating the crispness of winter haha but they are enjoying their new home. Kimberly just started school today! She really likes school and was so excited - she caught the train for the first time. She is attending the Intensive English Centre at Evans High School for a term and then is free to apply to other schools.

Last Sunday, David Croan met Imelda and Kim for the first time and we appreciated his offer in driving us to the city and showing them around. We went up to CentrePoint Tower and took many photographs of the view - what better way to show Sydney in its entirity. Anyway, from here it was time to take the long walk to the Opera House - a wish Kimberly had asked for! The face lit up when it suddenly came into view - I wished I had photographed that moment! She simply has no idea of the surprise we had for her that day.

Anyway, things at Kellyville continue business as usual balanced by the needs for the new family. My life is being kept busy and I appreciate the challenges of decision making on my own as well as the responsibilities as a parent. Anyway, bring on spring I say and the storms!

Jimmy

Lovely mild days continue this ‘winter’ with low 20s expected again today. The weekend was pretty much perfect for the last days of the NSW school holidays.  We have not used the heater at all this cool season which seems a bit unusual.  Cloud is building up over QLD as a surface trough moves through then an upper trough amplifies over western QLD.  Should be some impressive July rainfall totals by the end of the week. Not expecting too much to extend down here - perhaps 50mm in total.

GFS and EC throw some cold air well north by next weekend - a system to watch as we may see some snow along the NSW central and northern ranges.

MB

Hi Jimmy, Hope Imelda and Kimberley are settling in well. Would be quite a culture shock for many things no doubt. At least the weather has been a bit milder this past several days though nothing like back home !

Last week’s cold and snow extending up to the Northern Tablelands was the main subject discussed at an ASWA meeting last Saturday in Brisbane. I presented a lot of information and charts about non-alpine snow forecasting and data for this event, and also for the snow event in mid May. It also included my usual week-in-review segment, and edited video footage from the 17-18 May snow chase with Rodney and Jason (pato). I did up a second presentation which showcased my best weather photos from the 2007-08 season set to music. Was a good meeting which I really enjoyed but I don’t think those attending have any appreciation of how much work goes into detailed powerpoint displays.  A silly 3 min QLD versus NSW video clip with a talking stuffed toy duck at the end of the meeting appears to be what stuck in most people’s minds - check the comments in the Events thread if you dare :http://forum.weatherzone.com.au/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=000250;p=2

Anyway, it does put me off being bothered to put so much work in (although I learn by doing them) when no-one else did any apart from Anthony with a week-ahead forecast, and there’s not one comment of thanks.   I must be in a bad mood today lol - and yeah, some of those at the meeting may end up reading this.

I have another quick trip to Sydney this Tuesday for an EWN meeting at IAG in the city. Fortunately the World Youth Day chaos should be over by then.

MB

Michael,

The dual Filipinas arrived Friday morning and came through about an hour after the plan arrived. It was definitely a relief and now life stage two has begun. Very much enjoying being with both Imelda and Kim. Kim is also enjoying it here and loves playing with Sally - our dog. We are doing many things regarding the wedding so going places they obviously have not seen before. However, there is one problem - the COLD! It is really getting to them as well as the dry air! Cracked lips:) Anyway, they will eventually get used to it!

We almost did the trip into the mountains to see the snow but did not want an overnight stay. David Croan was also going to go with us but decided against it as well. Anyway, there may be other opportunities regarding snow  we’ll see.

Jimmy

Hi Jimmy - only a few hours to go now before Imelda and Kimberley will be there - the long wait is almost over ! Does it seem like a year since you first met ?

Weather looks set to become interesting early next week with a cut-off low and trough system to pass fairly slowly across NSW. Indications are for some decent rain over wide areas and some storms too. The cold pool may provide some non-alpine snow if we are lucky. GASP and EC are almost identical this morning with GFS forecasting a slower movement of the low.  Some coastal showers may develop here by tomorrow - just in time for the school holidays.

Michael,

Just under a week to go before the couple arrive onto Australian soil. It still seems like an eternity. I can probably stand waiting more for a tornado than waiting for Imelda and Kim to arrive. Oh well - the time will come. Obviously the few things high on the agenda - getting final wedding stuff under way, getting work for Imelda, Kim to school, and of course drivers licence renewal for Imelda. Yep - going to be a busy period over the next few months.

Coldest morning this year as I type with 0.1C at Richmond this morning. We have had a few frosts this year but none of the snap frozen -3C and  below two mornings. Oh well - July is on its way.

Jimmy