Notable Weather Events Page 19

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WIndy change 14-08-05

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A vigorous approaching front had the BOM worried enough to issue multiple warnings.

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IDS20280
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT - BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
SOUTH AUSTRALIA REGIONAL OFFICE

SOUTH AUSTRALIA SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
Issued at 1:55 pm on Sunday, 14 August 2005
For people in the West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Eastern Eyre Peninsula,
Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island districts.

A cold front located west of Ceduna at 1:30pm will move across South Australia
during today. Locally damaging winds are possible with the passage of this front
in these districts during this afternoon.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should take sensible precautions
such as:
Move vehicles under cover or away from trees;
Secure loose outside items;
Keep clear of fallen power lines;
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Winds above 95km/h had already been reported at Nullabor. But would it hold up to Adelaide? It certainly did here in the Southern Ranges where I experienced 12 hours of gusty conditions with 10 minute gusts above 60km/h and a maximum in excess of 80km/h. Agricultural areas east of the ranges suffered the winds also with local damage to dry and dusty paddocks. Amazingly Adelaide city missed it. Just a bit breezy was all they suffered. The graph below shows the wind off the charts. The arrival of the front and subsequent wind change is quite clear as windspeeds plummet.

Rain totals for me from the frontal band and follow up showers totalled 20mm. Falls ranged from 15-25mm over the ranges and 3-5mm on the plains. The central ag areas needing the rain received generally less than 5mm.

Flooding and heavy rains 19-08-05

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This was not really a southern ranges event, but deserves a mention anyway. A strong front with an infeed of tropical moisture delivered an intense deluge across the northern hills and suburbs as is so often the case with this type of event. Most notably hit was Valley View on the 19th when over 30mm fell in just a few hours causing localised flooding to homes and property. Dry Creek also broke its banks which is a rare event. The heavy rains continued to drench the northern areas where over 60mm fell in some hills spots while south of the freeway totals below 20mm were the go.

Gale force winds and electrical storms. 29-08-05

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A strong cold front with an associated intense low that had a centre barometric pressure as low as 980hPa buffetted the state with gale force winds. Read the full report and see the lightning pics HERE.

Winter 2005 rainfall summary

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2005 has been a topsy turvey year rainwise. 448.75mm fell in the 3 months of winter over 47 days. The average winter rainfall is 355mm, average days is 46. Despite the winter totals on only 2 separate occasions was the rainfall heavy enough to give runoff. The remainder was light but consistent falls. The highest 24 hour fall was 49.5mm on june 15th.

The annual total to the end of august is 584.6. This means that a mere 135.85mm fell in the 5 months prior! Our average to the end of august is 617mm leaving a shortfall thus far of 32.4mm.

The graph below demonstrates the inconsistent rains this year. Winter certainly arrived with a thump and bang!

Record September Heat 08-09-05

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A remarkable 24 hours of warmth broke the record for september 8th in Adelaide. It made 28.2 at 14:32 which is 0.3 degrees above the old record of 27.9 set in 1914. Up in the ranges I recorded a max of 23.1 ironically at exactly the same as in Adelaide. It was also the hottest early september day recorded at this location. The unseasonal heat helped a line of storms east of the ranges develop during the day that delivered lightning thunder, strong winds, small hail and small amounts of rain to the riverland and mallee.

Late night Hail 15-09-05

 

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A weak front with an associated cold pool of air bought a short sharp burst of hail as the rain arrived. The radar image below shows clearly the isolated cells that delivered the burts. The graphs alongside the radar image (from top) show the wind change that arrived with the front, the sudden wind spike that died with afronts arrival and lastly the short burst of instant rain rate to 25mm/hour. Blackwood also experienced a hail burts but much more intense than this with reports of 25 minutes of heavy rain and hail. The hail was said to be still on the ground 5 hours later. Approx 8mm of rain was recorded in those few minutes. Very little more fell for hours after.

Lightning then Hail 28-09-05

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A trough ahead of an approaching strong front fired up over Eyre Peninsula heading towards the central districts. Progged to arrive early in the morning we all hoped and prayed it would hold together long enough to make it this far. Read the report HERE

Lightning and Heavy Rains 07-10-05

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An inland low brings good storms to the west coast and central districts with good solid rains to follow A cold front moving up behind the low continued the good rainfalls. Extremely cold temperatures for October lingered for 2 days resulting in the second lowest October Maximum at this location. Read the report and check out the great lightning pics HERE.

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