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 VIC: Supercell thunderstorm challenges speed records
A supercell thunderstorm moved at speeds of up to 120km/h across Bass Strait today, prompting a Bureau forecaster to say it was the fastest he had seen in 30 years. The storm developed on a marked frontal line in very unstable conditions over SW VIC around dawn and gave torrential rain to Warrnambool around 8am. It was then driven ESE along the frontal line by 180km/h jetstream winds. It skirted the VIC coast to Cape Otway, then struck diagonally across Bass Strait to arrive over Flinders Island at 1pm. It covered just over 500km in 5 hours, peaking near Cape Otway and dying out as it passed Flinders Island. The Bureau rated it at supercell intensity for about two hours.
In Warrnambool, unofficial raingauges recorded between 30 and 50mm in less than an hour between about 8 and 9am, flooding roads and about 10 houses.
 VIC, NSW, QLD: High temperatures ahead of change
High maximum temperatures for November were recorded in western NSW, Sydney and along the Central Coast, in SW QLD, and in Melbourne and Gippsland today. In the Gippsland, Lakes Entrance, Orbost, East Sale, Bairnsdale and Point Hicks all reported maxima of around 34C, between 12 and 14 above average. In Melbourne, 33.6 at Essendon Airport was 12.4 up on average while Melbourne City's 31.6 was up 9.8. In Far SW QLD, Birdsville topped the nation with a maximum of 45.5, closely followed by Ballera 44.5, Windorah 43.3 and Bedourie 43.0. NSW's top temperatures were 42.8 at Tibooburra, 42.5 at Wilcannia and 42.4 at White Cliffs. Sydney Airport recorded 32.8 (+8.9) and Williamtown RAAF, north of Newcastle, 34.3 (+9.0).
NEWSBITS |
Winton QLD experienced heavy rain and strong winds in a half-hour late afternoon thunderstorm. Wind gusted to 100km/h and 30mm was recorded, 10.8 falling in one 11 minute period and 8.2 in a 6 minute period. |
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