Photographs by Jimmy Deguara

The 25th November 2005 was to precede the anticipated event the next day. Instead it superceded the event. A boundary developed in the Central West setting up a favourable environment for supercells. From late morning through to the evening period, supercells developed rapidly along the line and sometimes split into spectacular left and right mover pairs. One particular complex developed earlier in the day near Gilgandra and split by late mornimg - the left mover heading to Coonabarabran. This showed significant rotation as it approach but outflow eventually undecut it. Later during the afternoon another cell developed to its north and exploded into a supercell passing just west of the town of Barradine. This also produced hailstones the size of at least golf ball size in diameter measured about 15 minutes after the event. This was an incredible severe weather event with a beautifully sculptured supercell further south along the line near West Wyalong.

Photographs by Jimmy Deguara

The 27th October 2005 showed promise for severe weather including supercells. Reality set in though as storms dominated the Northern Tablelands rather than the Tamworth region. Some crisp updrafts were indicative of developing strong cells but these were too high based and failed to organise.

Meanwhile, moisture invasion of the southern parts of the Northern Tablelands created an ideal environment for rapid development of thunderstorms. Some incredible updrafts were observed - one updraft in particular accelerated rapidly to create a knuckle formation of the updraft.

Check the chase report more of these spectacular shots.

Photographs by Michael Bath

The 16th September 2005 lightning show produced one of the most incredible lightning photography opportunities for Michael Bath. Living on top of a deep valley, never before had Michael photographed lightning with the point of contact so close and clearly visible. The shots were incredibly clear and gave a 3D branching staccato effect.  

Incidentally, these storms were severe producing large hail and damaging winds. Damage was reported just south of Michael's location.

Check the chase report more of these spectacular shots.

Photographs by Jimmy Deguara

The LP supercell (low precipitation supercell) is a prize for the bag for any chaser. They may not be a common storm type in Australia but there now have been a few documented. But the sculptured beast observed on 1st February 2005 even had the lay person stand up and watch. After finally breaking the cap along the boundary, I stood in awe as the sun hid behind the solid anvil - the knuckles exhibiting a powerful burst. Geoff and I raced to be in position near Penrith. The site was absolutely breathtaking - stacked plated with multiple inflow region and a wall cloud centering the base. This storm was particularly active with bolts descending from the updraft and anvil. Reports of hail with diameters to 7cm were suggested from this storm.

Photographs by Jimmy Deguara

There is one wish a chaser has each year: to be able to chase the magnificent Texas Panhandle. On 31st May 2005, this vast elevated plain produced a severe weather setup with once again particlarly large hail from monster HP supercells. At one stage, we were treated to a beautiful, barrel updraft.

This dangerous storm eventually weakened and dissipated whilst another supercell was spawned to its west.

This storm traversed Lubbock causing extensive damage and flash flooding. At one stage, three tornado warnings werein effect in the region near Lubbock. The city had experienced early morning flashflooding and large hail from the remnance of previous convection drifting overnight from New Mexico.

One always wanders what may be happening in another supercell cluster - apparently tornado reports there as well.

Photographs by Jimmy Deguara

Colorado is renowned for its magical storm structures. The first storm on June 2 2005 would make any mouth water. It was tornado warned and exhibited a spectacular gust front formation. A tornado was apparently observed with this storm!

But the storm to its immediate southwest was about to pound Limon. Approaching from the east unveiled a mean, sculptured HP beast complete with striations and inverted wedding cake structure. In fact it contained a detached ring imitating the Rings of Saturn!

In addition to the tornado warning, hail to grape fruit was already being reported in the community of Limon. The obvious casualties were cars, house roofs and windows. Paralleling the interstate, a large tornado was observed in the storm further east. The whole complex of supercells merged into an MCC (Mesoscale convective complex). This storm would remain the favourite for my 2005 chase vacation.

Photographs by Jimmy Deguara, Richard Davis and
a Gosford resident

A High Precipitation (HP) supercell developed and moved through the Sydney suburbs dropping violent winds and very large hailstones on Wednesday 2nd February 2005. A possible weak tornado at North Ryde is being investigated.

The Central Coast supercell also dumped very large hail that damaged cars and broke windows. Both storms were labelled as dangerous with the upgraded BoM warning.

More information here - including radar images

Photographs by Michael Bath

Some NNW moving storm cells developed between Ballina and Evans Head from about 8am on 20th April 2005. The first thunderstorms were smaller and tracked mainly between Ballina and Alstonville.

However a larger slow moving system consisting of multiple cells formed near Ballina and tracked over and mainly west of Byron Bay early afternoon.

The storms were not lightning active but produced some flash flooding and strong wind gusts. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm advice for the storm depicted in this radar image at 2.20pm. A wind gust of 102km/h had been recorded at Cape Byron shortly before the warning was issued.

Byron Bay recorded 122mm between noon and 3pm, while the nearby Belongil AWS recorded 104mm, 76mm of which fell in the hour to 3pm. Fernleigh about 10km to the west recorded 80mm during the event.

Photographs by Michael Bath and Maraie Halstead

Some weak thunderstorms persisted in the Northern Rivers during the afternoon and evening of 22nd March 2005. A few cells formed off the Tweed Coast during the evening but were only giving off dull infrequent in-cloud lightning at first. However, a new updraft on a storm off Byron pushed a little higher and gave a barrage of clear-air CGs over 5 minutes. These were taken about 10.40pm from McLeans Ridges.

Meanwhile, a more organised storm formed on the Richmond Range west of Casino around 11pm. This tracked generally eastwards hitting Casino with hail to 4cm diameter and strong winds just after midnight. Small hail was also reported at Tregeagle. Maraie Halstead took these images just after the hail fell in Casino.

Photographs by Michael Bath

Some thunderstorm activity developed in the north of the Northern Rivers region during late afternoon on 17th February 2005. A multicell persisted in the Tweed for a while before dissipating. Further activity formed along the Queensland border towards sunset.

A very slow moving complex of storms passed through the Ballina to Byron areas mid to late evening. Lightning was frequent but mostly in-cloud.

Photographs by Jimmy Deguara

A severe weather outbreak with supercells was anticipated on the 7th December 2004. One of the first storms developed explosively west of Nyngan and rapidly organised into a classic supercell. The wall cloud began to rotate dangerously close to producing funnels or even a tornado until rain cut through disrupting the surface boundary. The rotation persisted but became rainwrapped and the storm moved southeast in its HP supercell state. In total, this region experienced 3 supercells including a right moving LP supercell and another violent, sculptured HP supercell further west. Supercells lined up along the dryline from central New South Wales to south central Queensland causing widespread severe weather. For more details see the chase report

Photographs by Dave Ellem and Michael Bath

Conditions on 9th November 2004 were ideal for supercells to develop if storm activity established in the Northern Rivers. Early thunderstorms formed to the north and south of the area which often happens - but can be initially off putting to storm chasers ! Dave Ellem and Michael Bath headed west about 1.30pm to watch initial development between the Great Divide and Richmond Range west of Casino. Weak multicellular development to the SW gathered strength suddenly after 3.30pm. Another storm with explosive updrafts formed to the north.

The chasers headed east not knowing at the time that the two powerful storms were heading on a collision course near Casino.

Just south of town the southern storm was crossing the highway. The northern cell was now interacting and commencing the merging process. It is unclear whether the interaction intensified the southern cell, but the power of the event was soon apparent. Heavy rain suddenly turned into a barrage of giant wind blown hail ! Stones in the 8 to 9cm diameter range smashed the chase vehicle in a matter of seconds.

For more details see the chase report