High-energy Monster

Friday December 15 2006

After the previous day's storm chase, Michael Bath and I discussed what the chances were for another storm chase this day, as lots of cloud was moving across NSW and likely to keep heating down a little. However even with the cloud, temps reached into the high 20's with dew points around 20C, and with this combination, the forecast sounding was suggesting CAPE values of over 3000j/kg. That is VERY unstable! Storms triggered off late due to the cloud delaying the heating, and Michael and I decided to head to Casino at 5pm to target a cell heading NE towards town. The initial target cell dyed as we got to Casino so we waited NW of town, watching patiently as a cell developed to our NW. This cell began to move towards our location - not bad when everything else was moving NE!! Another cell which at times looked like a well organised LP was tracking from the SW towards us as well. Soon powerful, pulsating CGs began punching through the storm quite regularly, and a shelf cloud structure began to develop.

It was unbelievable to watch how quickly this garden variety storm was evolving into a huge monster. The constant lightning and contrast was just stunning. A multi layered gustfront continued marching towards our location. As the rain started and lightning got WAY too close we decided to jump in the car and shoot SE.

As we left the sky was black and green, illuminated constantly by powerful glows of purple from the massive CGs. It was up there as one of the most powerful lightning displays I have seen in the Northern Rivers. The sky was indescribably evil looking! As darkness overtook, a storm evolved into a massive area of rain with constant lightning, and it was time to head home.

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First supercell of summer

Thursday December 14 2006

Despite looking marginal initially, the sky made me think severe storms were quite possible in the Northern Rivers today. Around 2pm I headed off down south in the hope of catching a suspicious looking storm that was heading NNE towards Grafton on radar. On its initial track I thought it may go through Maclean, so that was the target. Driving south was painful, watching massive updrafts explode up and push out into a huge backsheared anvil…it seemed to take forever to get down Maclean! Just before emerging from the horrible treed in stretch south of Woodburn, I got an SMS warning mentioning destructive winds and large hail. I was not surprised when coming out of the trees to see a large, crisp anvil to the SW! I tracked south to a slightly clearer spot to watch. The cell was moving strongly left and so looked to pass well to my west, which was disappointing as there are hills in the way blocking the view.

Time to head north to Woodburn as the storm was in unchaseable territory. The cell had weakened and was looking a little moisture starved, though it still appeared to be rotating away and was giving some lovely CGs so I kept heading NW. Eventually I stopped just NW of Coraki where the storm began to develop some lovely photogenic structure - really smooth, sculptured type structure, with a nice curved updraft region and very obvious rotation. Just before the outflow hit I shot NW to Casino, getting blasted by rear flank winds during the drive before heading home.

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Explosion on the southerly

Wednesday November 29 2006

Like the previous day, a potentially explosive storm setup was on the cards. While the cap was stronger than the previous day, a strong southerly change with surface temps of up to 40C ahead of it meant there was a chance the cap could break. And so it did! Around 5pm Michael and I headed towards Casino to meet a cluster of storms that had formed on the Northern Tablelands and was moving NE. On arriving at a spot just NW of Casino, it was clear the storms were high based. As the cell to our SW neared, a massive rain free base (RFB) developed, and was accompanied by strong inflow which would have been over 35C. I had never felt such hot, moist inflow into a storm before - it was like opening a fan forced oven! Needless to say, the storm exploded when fed with this hot, moist air! James Harris had just arrived to enjoy the spectacle. Thunder was constant overhead, and a couple of close CGs from the base prompted as to head N!

Cells were rapidly developing to our E as we headed for Kyogle, with amazing, frequent pulsating lightning coming from cells all around! The massive base was still present to our SW and looked great with the lowered sun. We soon stopped just S of Kyogle for some photos. The sky had changed so quickly, with intense precipitation now occurring from the SW round to the E, a massive high based gustfront to our E, and the huge RFB edging towards us from the SW. The scenery and contrast was just magic!

We continued N to escape the storm, stopping at Kyogle. The sky looked so turbulent and evil, with intense precipitation now just S of town and microbursts which were advancing hot surface winds at high speed towards us. It was hard to stand up in the wind at times, and it looked like there'd have to be some major damage from winds somewhere. With the rain about to hit we raced to Wiangaree. Eventually out of harm’s way, we stopped and enjoyed the majestic, golden clouds at the rear flank of the storm on sunset. More storms developed in the area afterwards, but were obscured by all the low cloud the very strong southerly winds had now brought in. What a way to end three great days of chasing!

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Good things come for those who wait, and wait, and wait...

Tuesday November 28 2006

A dozen or so storm chasers from across Australia had converged on the Northern Rivers to chase, with strong instability present over the region. I met up with James and Macca who had driven down from Brisbane and we proceeded to Grafton. In the heat we waited, and waited, and waited, but despite hopes of a late afternoon storm, the cap held right through until dusk, when a line of lightning active cells which had develop some time earlier eventually moved into the area. The lightning was impressive right from the first bolt we could see, however it was still a little distant for our liking.

Eventually the cell heading right for our location weakened, and outflow pushed through the area. This triggered cells to the E to take off, and a barrage of lightning began to take off just E of Grafton. We raced to the other side of town to get into position for photos. The show was amazing – lightning occurring practically constantly. The storms were moving away quite quick though, so we decided to shot NE up the Pacific Highway to keep up with the show and stay out of the rain.

We arrived at Ulmarra not long after and once again set up the cameras. The lightning was great, but the frequency had dropped a bit from when we were driving. We stayed in the same spot for about 3 hours, enjoying several lines of storms that passed through the area to our E. The last cell we watched was the best, with amazing, branched bolts striking with 5km of us every few seconds. We called it a night after about 11pm.

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Explosion of lightning!

Monday November 27 2006

Storms looked quite likely on the Northern Tablelands with very strong instability present, however other commitments meant I could not chase till after 9pm. Luckily, a line of weaker storms developed later in the evening and moved through the Northern Rivers. I was at Ballina with some friends, enjoying the show from the river, but went out on chase to a favourite spot near Alstonville after 9pm. I watched the mostly in cloud lightning flash away for about 20 minutes before CGs began to appear, and became reasonably frequent. It was a pretty active show!

The lightning eased off a fair bit, so I decided to head home. On the drive, it was obvious that massive anvil crawlers were ripping through the sky overhead, but were obscured by low cloud. On arriving home, this low cloud cleared, and revealed some of the most spectacular anvil crawlers I've seen in a while. I set the camera up on the roof and caught a few images of them. There was no lightning locally for about 5 minutes, then a crawler started in the distance, moving quickly towards me. Then FLASH!! It arched down into a CG only a few kilometres away! What a sight! About 5 minutes passed, and again a crawler started moving towards me. Suddenly I was dazed by an incredible flash, followed by the loudest crack of thunder I have ever heard!! Again, the crawler had arched down, but right next to our house. The photo I took doesn't show the CG, but does show the anvil crawler responsible along with a landscape that is lit up like daytime! A few more similar anvil crawler/CGs hit nearby, but none as close as the one next to our house. It once again proves that even if the storm is a fair way away, it is not safe to be outside!

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A very long day...

Wednesday November 15 2006

With one of the strongest cold fronts to actually hit this year coming through in mid November, the stage was set for a massive supercell outbreak. Shear was the strongest I have ever seen it on a potential storm day. SE QLD looked best positioned for supercells so I headed up early in the morning to Brisbane to chase with Anthony and Dave. We headed to the Sunshine Coast, however on arrival a very dangerous storm warning was issued for a supercell which was heading straight for the Brisbane CBD. We watched this cell from our location and it looked like a monster. To our frustration, a large storm near Taroom had produced a massive anvil covering the whole of our target area, wiping out any chance of storms there. We had to race north to Maryborough to catch a complex of cells approaching that area if we were to get anything. Near Tiaro we encountered a right moving supercell, which was producing some nice CGs and exhibiting quite obvious rotation. It was moving so fast it was gone in about 5 minutes! We pressed on to Maryborough where we encountered hail up to golf ball size and some great CGs.

We were so disappointed with what we'd seen thus far given the day's potential, so we kept heading N to Childers in the hope of catching some of the storms in that area. We met up with Macca and watched as a compact supercell developed to our NW and an earlier storm to our NE went ballistic with lightning. The show was quite spectacular, and more cells continued to develop into the evening. We called it quits around 8pm and headed back to Brisbane. Thanks to Anthony and Dave for letting me join them on the chase!

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First supercell of summer

Wednesday November 1 2006

With not a single decent storm in October, today's storm was very very sweet! I headed out around lunchtime, and on arriving at Woodburn, the sky was filled with healthy storm day cumulus, and a strong storm was obvious to the SW. The situation gradually looked bleaker as the high based, low topped cell approached, so I headed to a spot E of Casino to meet up with Michael. While driving the cell gave off an explosive updraft and a wall cloud began to form underneath. From here the cell generally intensified, offering some beautiful updraft and base structures, along with some wicked clear air CGs. As it moved in over us we shot back W to avoid it, copping really wild winds from the rear flank downdraft. The temptation of a core punch was too much to resist for Michael, so I jumped into his car and we drove in.

Once in the core we copped a barrage of large hail up to around 4cm in diameter, along with torrential rain and violent winds. A couple of close CGs struck around us as well, but was hardly audible with the masses of ice being propelled at the car at high speeds. As the cell cleared off, more developed behind it SW of Casino, and we watched these from dusk into the evening, enjoying an extremely brief lightshow before heading home.