WINTER STORM CHASE - WEATHER GODS BLESS SE QLD AND NE NSW WITH
OFF SEASON STORMS - JULY 10, 2000

A strong upper level trough caused widespread showers and storms to develop in SE QLD and NE NSW Monday, July 10.  Storms developed very quickly SW of Brisbane early in the afternoon, and before long the BOM issued a Severe Thunderstorm warning.

TOP PRIORITY SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane at 1:24pm EST on Monday the 10th of July 2000 For the Southeast Coast Thunderstorms were rapidly developing in the Cunninghams Gap area and may grow large enough to produce hail. The storms are expected to move towards the east. People are advised to secure outside items, move cars under cover andseek shelter. The next warning will be issued at 2pm.

The BOM continued to issue Severe Thunderstorm warnings all afternoon and into the early evening.  Click here to see these warnings.

An extensive line of activty developed soon after, and gradually moved east.  This line did spread out into rain with embedded thunderstorms, but remained quite lightning active.  No severe weather has been reported from the Brisbane Metro area, but there were reports of hail and strong winds in other districts (see below).

Click here or on the above stills for Anthony's chase report for this day

Summary of Significant Observations and Reports

Hail was reported at Kingaroy and Gin Gin.  Hail double the size of Golf Balls (storm spotter report) was also reported from the Woodford area.

A severe wind gust of 52knots (just over 90km/h) was reported from Emerald in the Central Highlands and Coalfields district.

An interesting report came in from an ASWA member a few days later!  Here's a brief summary:

Craig Williams (ASWA QLD) phoned Anthony Cornelius yesterday to inform me about an interesting event.  He commented on the frequent and relatively close CG's that occurred.  Of most importance, was the CG that struck a tree about 10m from his house!!!  He said that he heard a large buzzing noise before the strike, then the flash and instantaneous and very loud crack!  Craig mentioned that it appears the water inside of the tree boiled and exploded looking at the tree, he also noted that there were bits of bark impaled into the ground.

The damage?  A fried network card to the cable modem...one would automatically assume that the strike got into underground cabling - but, his cable modem is fine, and the same with his cable television decoder (all on the same line)...all perfectly fine!  I would have expected the modem, the decoder, TV, Computer etc all to explode, or at least be damaged!

SE QLD

Glenlyon Dam - 24mm
Texas - 22mm
Brisbane - 17mm
Clydesdale - 17mm
Beerburrum - 16mm
Somerset Dam - 15mm
Macleans Br - 15mm
Kelvin Grove - 15mm
Sunnybank - 15mm
Meandarra - 15mm

Heron Island in the Capricornia district also scored 34mm.

NE NSW

Cape Byron - 21mm
Sailor Jack - 18mm
Port Macquarie - 17mm
Pt Macquarie AWS - 16mm
Lower Creek - 15mm
Uralla - 15mm
 
 

Report by Ben Quinn