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Northern Rivers Storm Chase with Evening Lightning Show: Tuesday 13th December 2005
Report compiled by Michael Bath

It was a pretty good setup with great windshear, a strong cap and instability of over 2,000 CAPE and -6 Lifted Index. The upper trough at 500hPa was well positioned for the North Coast and SE Queensland. The depth of the low level moisture was of some concern, but otherwise the moisture profile was good for strong storms. The Brisbane sounding revealed another inversion about 450hPa though it would not be an issue once storms became established.

The first activity on radar was not till about 1pm. A stronger cell kicked off near Tabulam about 2pm. Given storms would move NE today this storm was not chaseable - and of course went on to become a supercell as it crossed the border into SE Queensland.

Dave Ellem and I headed out about 3pm, initially expecting more storms to form just to the south of the Northern Rivers and head into usual chase territory. At the first vantage point all activity seemed high based and low topped. An exception was the storm heading into Queensland which had a strong looking anvil. We could not see the base properly due to the haze.

It was quite hot as we waited near Woodburn. Contrast was poor but fresh updrafts on a messy looking storm slowly came into view to our southwest. Once it started to really kick off, we shot NW along the Coraki Casino road.

The closer view revealed very strong updrafts and a thick curved anvil spreading eastward. There was great updraft-downdraft separation and microbursts on the northern edge.

CG lightning was now observed and a shelf cloud like structure developed along the NE base inflow region.

The drive through Casino was slow and frustrating and by the time we got to a good location NW of town, the cell had weakened a little and lost its earlier very organised appearance. However, the CG lightning was full on and the turbulent inflow shelf cloud feature was amazing - especially as it was now overhead ! We couldn't stay there long so moved further north towards Kyogle. A line of precipitation spread eastward now and lightning occurred along this line and the original cell.

Just south of Kyogle we watched as the storms passed to our southeast and weakened further.

It was not over as more storms were forming to the southwest. We got some food at Kyogle then waited just north of town. Rodney Wallbridge met up with us just prior to a weak looking line of activity centred along the Richmond Range passing over. CG and anvil crawler lightning was occurring.

We let this pass and then moved back to NW of Casino for the evening lightning show. Persistent light anvil rain made it difficult at first, but it was still a great show from the storm cluster moving into the Tweed.

More storms to our far S and SW were very lightning active into the evening but were just not close enough to capture some amazing photos. We called it quits just before 10pm.


Radar

From Bureau of Meteorology

  • Grafton local scale loop 0130z to 1200z 13/12/2005 (12.30pm to 11pm local time)
  • Grafton medium scale loop 0100z to 1300z 13/12/2005 (noon to midnight local time)
  • Brisbane local scale loop 0300z to 1100z 13/12/2005 (2pm to 10pm local time)


    Satellite Images

    From Weatherzone

    13/12/2005 03z 13/12/2005 04z 13/12/2005 05z 13/12/2005 06z 13/12/2005 07z 2pm to 6pm local


    Analysis Charts

    From Bureau of Meteorology

    Brisbane sounding at 11am 13/12 local

    13/12/2005 06z


    GFS Model Analysis

    From NOAA 13/12/2005 06z analysis

  • Liftex Index
  • CAPE
  • Relative Humidity surface
  • Relative Humidity 850 hPa
  • Relative Humidity 700 hPa
  • Relative Humidity 600 hPa
  • Relative Humidity 500 hPa
  • Relative Humidity 300 hPa
  • Temperature (C) surface
  • Temperature (C) 850 hPa
  • Temperature (C) 700 hPa
  • Temperature (C) 500 hPa
  • Temperature (C) 300 hPa
  • Winds (knots) surface
  • Winds (knots) 925 hPa
  • Winds (knots) 850 hPa
  • Winds (knots) 700 hPa
  • Winds (knots) 500 hPa
  • Winds (knots) 300 hPa
  • Winds (knots) 200 hPa


    Document: 200512-03.htm
    Updated: 24th December, 2005
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