Brisbane Storms | Blog 13/12/09 to 17/01/10

wxblog 13/12/09 to 17/01/10

Sunday, January 17, 2010: Severe storms today?

Thunderstorms are expected over NE NSW and SEQld today. While we don't have a nice fresh northerly wind like we would usually want on such a day, instability is high, and previous days of inland storms should mean we could do quite well today. Storms will develop on the ranges at first and hopefully reach the coast later, though steering winds are a little slack. If storms get going, golfball hail and severe winds are a possiblity - mostly over the ranges and inland areas.

Sunday, January 3, 2010: Good falls with showers and storms

This morning was very hot and humid, with high dew points. Storms built quickly from about 10am, and became widespread leading to STW's for several hours. Several falls of over 80mm occurred, from Caboolture up into the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. As at 11pm, Ball Lookout has topped the falls with 141mm. The top of the Somerset Dam catchment has done well, with 80-100mm falls there as well! Further west, even Toowoomba had 20-30mm, while to the south, Yangan (near Warwick) scored 44mm. In the Brisbane area, falls of 20-45mm were widespread.

Some pics from today: drainage issues in Park Ridge, and storms about to hit the Marburg area:

A few more pics here. As you can see, photogenic storms were hard to come by!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009: Showers and Storms, heavy falls

Just like most of the last week, heavy showers and storms are developing right around the district. As I type this, a heavy storm has just moved through Esk and the Wivenhoe Dam area seems to be getting a good drink, which should lead to improved inflows.

I took a shot of Illaweena Street, Drewvale (far southern Brisbane) with about 30cm of water flowing over it. Yeah, that's not especially rare, but it shows the area's have some pretty significant rain:

This link will give you an idea of how much rain has fallen in the 24hrs to 9am, and since 9am.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009: Severe Tuesday

Two lines of storms moved through the SE Coast District today, producing severe winds in some western and southern suburbs of Brisbane and out at Ipswich. There was a report of sparse golfball size hail at Redbank Plains as well. The first storms developed after 10am in the Boonah area, and then quickly after just NW of Brisbane. These soon fizzled, but after lunch a band developed from the Brisbane southern suburbs to the NW while another a little while later developed near Harrisville and moved NE, then north through Brisbane. Much of SE Qld is tonight blacked out. Much further west, numerous severe thunderstorms occurred, including one at St George which produced recorded gusts to 132km/h, and dropped 55mm.

A VIS satellite image taken at 3.30pm, the day's Brisbane radar loop, and some pics take by me:

A few more pics here, in the gallery.

Looking ahead: Storms likely again on Wednesday, but steering winds turn slacker, and more SSE, meaning storms may only be brief near the coast and nearby inland, before retreating further inland.

Monday, December 21, 2009: Storms this week

Once again, there were showers and isolated storms about the place. Several places scored 20-30mm after receiving similar on Sunday. Enoggera picked up 62mm to 9am while the city scored 34mm. Many places in the southern suburbs and into Logan got nothing!

Looking ahead: Tuesday should see more storm acitivty than previous days, with the threat of large hail, gusty winds, and flash flooding. They are expected to start developing by lunch time, so be watching the radar. Following days should see storms develop - mostly on the ranges.

Other news: Severe TC Laurence crossed the WA coast today as a category 5. Mandora, *just* away from the centre of the storm, had many hours of destructive winds, with a highest gust of 211km/h and lowest pressure of 928.4hPa. Luckily that part of the country is sparsely populated!