Storm Chase 22nd March, 2003

The day began very similar to the previous day with very high humidity and low 30's temps. At 9.00 This morning, the anvil from the storms last night was covering much of southern Brisbane. Once the temperature started to get into the high 20's the storm cell out to sea dissipated and the anvil quickly disappeared.

By 12.00, there was good cumulus development to my south west towards the border ranges. They were slow moving but some of the cumulus to my north around the Dalby area became cumulus congestus and started off the first storms for this afternoon. Many other cells merged to become one massive cell and by 4.50, the first severe storm warning was issued.

TOP PRIORITY
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
at 4:50pm EST on Saturday the 22nd of March 2003

For the Southeast Coast District.

A cluster of thunderstorms with possible hail and damaging wind squalls was
observed in the Kilcoy area at 4.45 pm moving east about 30 kilometres per hour.

The storms are likely to reach Bribie Island and southern parts of the Sunshine
Coast in the next hour.

People are advised to secure outside items, move cars under cover and seek
shelter.

The next warning will be issued at 4.30 pm.



***** NOT FOR BROADCAST AFTER 4.30 pm *****

This warning is also available by telephone on 1196 at a cost of 35 cents plus
GST, and on 1300 659 219 at the cost of a local call.

As the cell moved east, it split up with one cell heading towards Caloundra and another moving south-east. This cell quickly intensified with areas of red showing up on the echoes. With plenty of wind shear, the cells were able to build up extremely quick but due to the lack of directional winds, the storms were slow moving only travelling at 30km/h. By 5.30, the two cells of interest were moving in complete opposite directions with the northern cell moving north-east towards Maroochydore and another cell moving south-east right towards my at Archerfield.

I went out to investigate the cell and was not surprised to see a very thick anvil with severe characteristics with some mammantus forming underneath the anvil. I was not surprised to see another severe storm warning issued.

IDQP0008
BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
Queensland Region
Brisbane Office



TOP PRIORITY
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
at 5:25pm EST on Saturday the 22nd of March 2003

For the Southeast Coast District.

Two large thunderstorms with possible hail and damaging wind squalls were
observed on radar at 5.20 pm.

The first storm near Maleny was moving east and expected to reach southern parts
of the Sunshine Coast with the next 30 minites.

The second storm near Mt Mee was moving southeast and expected to reach northern
Brisbane suburbs with the next hour.

People are advised to secure outside items, move cars under cover and seek
shelter.

The next warning will be issued at 6.00 pm.



***** NOT FOR BROADCAST AFTER 6.00 pm *****

This warning is also available by telephone on 1196 at a cost of 35 cents plus
GST, and on 1300 659 219 at the cost of a local call.

The storm cell number 2 (the one moving south-east) still continued to intensify with a good area of red appearing on the radar. By 5.40, there were scattered storms throughout the entire south-east section of Queensland. The storm at Maroochydore weakened as it moved out to sea but the line of cells just to the north of Dalby were intensifying slowly as they moved south east towards my area.

At 5.47 pm, the storm cell weakened significantly and the anvil took on a fibrous look and the storm had no more explosive updrafts about it. I agreed for the time being that the storm was going to run out of puff before it hit Brisbane. A new cell appeared outside Gatton to its south and took my interest. It was moving in from the east and might have a chance of success but it quickly fizzled out. With the chance of cell number 2 hitting Brisbane low, I was a bit disapointed how quickly it died off. One minute it was exploding upwards with a crisp anvil and then 10 minutes later, the anvil was fibrous with minimal rainfall.

Although another severe storm got broadcasted at 5.56pm stating the possibility of hail and wind gusts for Brisbane, I knew that the possibility of hail was very low and the possibility of wind gusts was fairly low as well.

At 7.00, lots of activity was present on the radar and the severe storm warnings were updated all the time. At 7.30, a new storm warning was issued for a storm near Boonah which was moving north-east. This storm put on an excellent lightning show with anvil crawlers and good cg's present as well. So far, at least a dozen good sized storms had moved through south-east Queensland this afternoon. The outlook looked good now for more storms to come throughout the night.

Shortly after 9, a severe storm swept through my area producing very heavy rainfall.

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