Storm Chasing - Australian Severe Weather Blog

Michael,

I can understand the ‘frustrations’ of organising meeting material and the time taken. I am pretty sure some appreciate them but don’t show it - others may be too ignorant to pass on such a simple word “Thanks”.

As to weather, today was coooollllldddd. This morning killed my hands which is rare for me. And the day itself was rather cold as well - likely the coldest this season thus far. The two Filipinas are not appreciating the crispness of winter haha but they are enjoying their new home. Kimberly just started school today! She really likes school and was so excited - she caught the train for the first time. She is attending the Intensive English Centre at Evans High School for a term and then is free to apply to other schools.

Last Sunday, David Croan met Imelda and Kim for the first time and we appreciated his offer in driving us to the city and showing them around. We went up to CentrePoint Tower and took many photographs of the view - what better way to show Sydney in its entirity. Anyway, from here it was time to take the long walk to the Opera House - a wish Kimberly had asked for! The face lit up when it suddenly came into view - I wished I had photographed that moment! She simply has no idea of the surprise we had for her that day.

Anyway, things at Kellyville continue business as usual balanced by the needs for the new family. My life is being kept busy and I appreciate the challenges of decision making on my own as well as the responsibilities as a parent. Anyway, bring on spring I say and the storms!

Jimmy

Lovely mild days continue this ‘winter’ with low 20s expected again today. The weekend was pretty much perfect for the last days of the NSW school holidays.  We have not used the heater at all this cool season which seems a bit unusual.  Cloud is building up over QLD as a surface trough moves through then an upper trough amplifies over western QLD.  Should be some impressive July rainfall totals by the end of the week. Not expecting too much to extend down here - perhaps 50mm in total.

GFS and EC throw some cold air well north by next weekend - a system to watch as we may see some snow along the NSW central and northern ranges.

MB

Hi Jimmy, Hope Imelda and Kimberley are settling in well. Would be quite a culture shock for many things no doubt. At least the weather has been a bit milder this past several days though nothing like back home !

Last week’s cold and snow extending up to the Northern Tablelands was the main subject discussed at an ASWA meeting last Saturday in Brisbane. I presented a lot of information and charts about non-alpine snow forecasting and data for this event, and also for the snow event in mid May. It also included my usual week-in-review segment, and edited video footage from the 17-18 May snow chase with Rodney and Jason (pato). I did up a second presentation which showcased my best weather photos from the 2007-08 season set to music. Was a good meeting which I really enjoyed but I don’t think those attending have any appreciation of how much work goes into detailed powerpoint displays.  A silly 3 min QLD versus NSW video clip with a talking stuffed toy duck at the end of the meeting appears to be what stuck in most people’s minds - check the comments in the Events thread if you dare :http://forum.weatherzone.com.au/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=000250;p=2

Anyway, it does put me off being bothered to put so much work in (although I learn by doing them) when no-one else did any apart from Anthony with a week-ahead forecast, and there’s not one comment of thanks.   I must be in a bad mood today lol - and yeah, some of those at the meeting may end up reading this.

I have another quick trip to Sydney this Tuesday for an EWN meeting at IAG in the city. Fortunately the World Youth Day chaos should be over by then.

MB

Michael,

The dual Filipinas arrived Friday morning and came through about an hour after the plan arrived. It was definitely a relief and now life stage two has begun. Very much enjoying being with both Imelda and Kim. Kim is also enjoying it here and loves playing with Sally - our dog. We are doing many things regarding the wedding so going places they obviously have not seen before. However, there is one problem - the COLD! It is really getting to them as well as the dry air! Cracked lips:) Anyway, they will eventually get used to it!

We almost did the trip into the mountains to see the snow but did not want an overnight stay. David Croan was also going to go with us but decided against it as well. Anyway, there may be other opportunities regarding snow  we’ll see.

Jimmy

Hi Jimmy - only a few hours to go now before Imelda and Kimberley will be there - the long wait is almost over ! Does it seem like a year since you first met ?

Weather looks set to become interesting early next week with a cut-off low and trough system to pass fairly slowly across NSW. Indications are for some decent rain over wide areas and some storms too. The cold pool may provide some non-alpine snow if we are lucky. GASP and EC are almost identical this morning with GFS forecasting a slower movement of the low.  Some coastal showers may develop here by tomorrow - just in time for the school holidays.

Michael,

Just under a week to go before the couple arrive onto Australian soil. It still seems like an eternity. I can probably stand waiting more for a tornado than waiting for Imelda and Kim to arrive. Oh well - the time will come. Obviously the few things high on the agenda - getting final wedding stuff under way, getting work for Imelda, Kim to school, and of course drivers licence renewal for Imelda. Yep - going to be a busy period over the next few months.

Coldest morning this year as I type with 0.1C at Richmond this morning. We have had a few frosts this year but none of the snap frozen -3C and  below two mornings. Oh well - July is on its way.

Jimmy

Hi Jimmy - can sympathise with the amount of extra work that you have to do with school. Alison has been working on student reports for the past three weeks. Sure takes a lot of effort. At least you’ll have two weeks off very soon !

How long till Imelda and Kim arrive - must be getting close now?

Weather patterns locally are now quite dull with a typical winter pattern established. The days are very pleasant of course with sunny days, and generally light winds. Quite a different story close to the cold front moving across southern parts of Australia. A number of severe weather and storm warnings are in place for TAS and VIC in particular.

Michael,

Good luck in your new job - I hope it goes well. I can’t believe that New Zealand is taking over a number of contracts from Australia including those in the weather arena. But this is the way things are traversing on the international stage. Outsourcing has made job security vulnerable.

I continue to teach and have just gone through perhaps the worst of term II. I am enjoying it but it can be quite tough to catch up with the paper work and keeping with tasks in hand especially when they are announced often on the go! Nevertheless it is a good school overall.

The weather continues cool but today was rather mild. We had some showers here and there but nothing major of late - just that couple of days of rain which gave a decent soaking last week.

Jimmy

Hi Jimmy,

The Tasman low continues to whip up surf and seas, and produce some strong winds along the coast but little else. The models forecast the system quite well with the cold air and snow confined mainly to the Victorian Alpine area as the front passed through a couple of days ago. Looks like this June will be the first in a long time not to see any snow events in the Central Tablelands. Hopefully patterns will be more interesting in July.

My media monitoring work finished on Friday. All regional contractors have lost their jobs and a large part of the centralised work will now be done by juniors in New Zealand - can you believe that - not India lol. The quality of reporting will be quite poor as the staff will have no local knowledge of spellings and key issues to the region in question.  Fortunately, I am now employed by EWN. The role of the job is still evolving and will involve more travel - so interesting times ahead.

Michael

Michael,

Mild day here today. Yesterday there was some early rain and then it all cleared. Cloud once again increased today. Not sure if rain is coming through overnight. Nevertheless, the rain will clear if it does occur as the cold front nears.

School continues to be busy - probably too busy for my liking - has unnecessarily too much of a work load both on teachers as well as students. The main thing though is that the school is a safe environment.

Jimmy