Storm Chasing

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Tropical cyclones, heat waves, storms and snow! January 2010

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

As two tropical cyclone warnings are issued up north – Tropical Cyclone Magda and now ex-tropical cyclone Neville – in contrastĀ heat waves and scorching the south of the continentSydney’s west experiencing 3 consecutive days of 40C or higher temperatures. Lucky the recent rains have made the forests and fields green again that bushfires are not a major threat.

And then of course snow fell during a brief cold snap that passed over southern Australia namely Victoria and southern NSW producing snow over the highlands of the Snowy Mountains. What a month. Now back to the 40C heat!

Incidently, following the two severe storm events prior to Christmas including the Singleton hailstorm, early January was an active period for severe thunderstorms with a few explosive thunderstorm events intercepted.

Jimmy

Explosive updraft and overshooting top lower Blue Mountains January 5th 2010

Explosive updraft and overshooting top lower Blue Mountains January 5th 2010Base with wall cloud January 5th 2010

Deep convection - this severe pulse storm kept rising January 10th 2010

Deep convection - this severe pulse storm kept rising January 10th 2010

Explosive updrafts lower Hunter Valley from outflow of Putty pulse storm January 10th 2010

Explosive updrafts lower Hunter Valley from outflow of Putty pulse storm January 10th 2010

Base of exploding storm headed for Jerrys Plains January 10th 2010

Base of exploding storm headed for Jerrys Plains January 10th 2010

Inflow characteristics and intense lightning were characteristic of this storm
Surprise supercell developing in deep layer shear January 14th 2010
Wall cloud under severe supercell near Walcha - January 14th 2010

Wall cloud under severe supercell near Walcha - January 14th 2010

Severe pulse storms SE Australia – Storms continue November 2009

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Storms have been ongoing throughout Victoria over the past couple of days spreading into NSW. Some interesting pulse cells developed with some impressive anvil shields due to deep convection. Temperatures in the upper levels at anvil levelĀ have been rather cooler than I have seen it for many years. So the lapse rates in the upper portion of the atmosphere have allowed for some rapid development including the odd overshoot on pulse cells even. This has also enhanced the conditions for hail development once storms can tap into the upper atmosphere. Mid level temperatures have also been rather cool warming up yesterday as the ridge strengthened. We’ll see what happens over the next several days. At least moisture is no issue from now on. Sydney and the North Coast should be in the firing line over the coming days.

Jimmy

NSW Floods Queensland Flooding and damage

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Those images you have show how spectacular and messy the flooding was – certainly a huge damage bill. What is amazing about this even was the widespread nature of the major floods across southeast Queensland and North East NSW region. Certainly the most significant flood event in years for that part fo the world. And what about the Coffs Harbour and Bellingen region – 3 floods in one year! And it si only May!

Jimmy