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Weather News Archive 2019 September

Image 1, Current EWN Radar w/lightning overlay (12.45pm)

Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms Southeast QLD and NSW Northern Rivers

27-29 September 2019

The weather radar is starting to come to life much similar to yesterday with isolated thunderstorms initiating around the far northern portion of the Northern Rivers of NSW, eastern parts of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt and inland parts of the Southeast Coast district of QLD.

The majority of thunderstorms are expected to remain below severe criteria however a few may edge into the severe zone producing localised strong to damaging wind gusts and moderate to heavy rainfall during the afternoon. This is however still heavily dependent on a few factors including moisture depth, surface heating, etc.

Yesterday, rainfall of between 1mm-5mm was recorded for parts of the Darling Downs with between 10mm-20mm received for inland parts of the Scenic Rim. Today is much similar in regard to rainfall, mostly due to limited moisture with only locally heavy rainfall possible for a number of lucky locations up to approx. 15mm-20mm. We are sure any rainfall would certainly be welcome.

Looking ahead Into tomorrow, isolated shower and thunderstorm activity is expected to edge further north to parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett district as the upper trough moves offshore. Drier air and windy conditions tomorrow are expected to elevated fire danger to severe levels especially for parts of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt.



Image 1, Weather.us base reflectivity Thursday 4pm, 26/9/2019

Image 2, Weather.us accumulated precipiation. Period from 26/9/2019-29/9/2019

Image 3, K index (measure of thunderstorm potential) Sunday afternoon, WeatherWatch MetCentre

Showers and isolated storms to return to eastern QLD and northern NSW

25 September 2019

An upper trough responsible for patchy rain areas across central Australia will drift east during Thursday. This upper system will combine with increasing moisture and a surface trough to produce some weak instability. In response to this, afternoon showers and isolated storms will be possible, particularly across south-central QLD. Activity is likely to be hit and miss, with only a few millimetres expected.

During Friday, the surface trough will linger across eastern QLD and northern NSW with continuation of afternoon showers and isolated storms, most likely across northern parts of SE QLD and into the southern Wide Bay region. There is the potential for an isolated severe storm to develop across this region, however, this threat is considered low.

Over the weekend, isolated storms may continue across SE QLD and northern NSW, however this is highly dependent on the positioning of the surface trough and available moisture. Should drier westerly winds encroach too close to the coast, storm activity isn't likely, however should the surface trough be situated across inland parts of the ranges, afternoon storms will become a higher possibility, particularly during Sunday where an organised storm or two is possible.

During Monday, a southerly change is expected to move up the NSW and QLD coast, contracting storm activity to the Sunshine Coast region with an isolated severe threat possible. This will be highly dependent on the positioning of the southerly. Should it move slower than expected, southern SE QLD may once again see an afternoon shower or storm.



Image 1, EWN satellite of the rainband crossing the nation's centre yesterday

Image 2, Rainfall totals in the 24 hours to 9am today (Source: Bureau of Meteorology)

Welcome rain across central Australia

25 September 2019

The first rains since May have soaked central Australia yesterday, as a rare cloudband brought the second heaviest falls of the year.

Moisture from the Indian Ocean linked up with a trough passing over the region, generating a thick cloudband and rain.

Alice Springs recorded 14.8mm in the 24 hours to 9am today, the second best fall of the year, with locations surrounding the town receiving similar falls (14mm at Bond Springs, and 17mm at Colyer Creek).

Further east, Birdsville recorded 6.4mm to 9am, its heaviest fall since March, and heaviest in September since 2016.

Along with the rain, the thick cloud brought significantly cooler than average temperatures. Alice Springs struggled to just 13.6 degrees, its coolest September temperature in almost a decade, and coldest day in over two years.

Like many parts of the rest of the country, central Australia has been struggling with very dry conditions, even for the desert's standards.

Alice Springs has received just 63mm this year (average to end of September 196mm), whilst Yulara (Uluru) is fairing even worse, with just 20mm for the year so far (average 195mm). If dry conditions continue for the remainder of the year, both places (particularly Uluru) are at risk of recording their driest year on record.

Hot and dry conditions are likely to return by this weekend and persist into next week.



Image 1, EWN satellite of the dust storm on 23 September, 2009

Image 2, Dust storm over Brisbane (Source: Exist2Chase)

On this day: 23 September 2009

23 September 2019

Today marks the ten year anniversary of the Eastern Australian dust storm, one of the worst dust storms in recorded history to hit the region, causing visibility to be reduced down to 100 metres and scenes more resembling Mars than Earth.

A vigorous cold front with wind gusts of 100km/h swept across the country and collected dust sourced from a very dry interior (northeast South Australia) and drought hit New South Wales, resulting in a band of dust more than 500km wide and 1000m long.

Skies were turned a thick red across large parts of the east coast, including Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane, with visibility reported down to 500 metres at Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast, and 100 metres at Toowoomba. This lead to numerous flight delays and cancellations.

Air quality ratings were 'poor to hazardous', resulting in school trips and sports to be cancelled, as well as some outdoors workers being prohibited to work.

The event was considered the worst dust storm to hit NSW in nearly 70 years, and made headlines around the world.

Video: Remembering the 2009 duststorm in Sydney (Source: ABC News Sydney)



Image 1, EWN satellite and lightning tracker

Storms light up northern Western Australia and southern Northern Territory

23 September 2019

Thunderstorm activity has returned to the Kimberley and Northern Interior of WA and western regions of the NT for the first time this spring.

Mid level moisture from the Indian Ocean is being drawn into a low pressure trough across the northern half of WA. This lead to a scattering of storms across the region late Sunday evening, becoming more widespread during Monday afternoon.

During Tuesday, this storm activity should weaken into patchy rain areas across eastern WA and into southern parts of the NT.

Whilst only a few millimetres of rain is expected, it will be a welcome relief for inland locations of Australia that haven't seen precipitation in months.



Image 1, Access R rainfall Friday 3pm (WeatherWatch MetCentre)

Image 2, Dust mass across SA this afternoon (windy)

Image 3, BoM PME rainfall totals, Friday 20th September 2019

Image 4, GFS showing the rough, isolated storm potential this afternoon. (WeatherWatch MetCentre)

Hot temperatures, dust storms, then moderate falls for South Australia

19 September 2019

A cold front and pre-frontal trough will move across South Australia today, generating strong to locally damaging northwesterly winds and hot conditions to its east. Gusts of up 90km/h may develop during the day, along with areas of raised dust which may lead to reduced visibility, before gradually easing into Friday.

Maximum temperatures are expected to soar into the mid to high 30's across SA today, with some locations set to see temperatures 10-15 degrees above the September average. Coober Pedy heading for a top of 37C, Woomera 34C, Port Augusta 34 and Adelaide 30C. This heat in combination with strong northwesterly winds will lead to an increase in fire danger this afternoon, before a cooler southwesterly change moves in behind the front.

Isolated high based thunderstorms are expected across central portions of the state this afternoon, with little to no rainfall expected. These storms may produce locally damaging wind gusts in the form of microbursts during the afternoon and evening hours.

Overnight Thursday and into Friday, a band of showers, isolated storms and rain periods is expected to spread across eastern parts of the state, with widespread falls of 5-15mm expected from Mount Eba down to Mount Gambier. Isolated heavier falls of up to 30mm may develop, particularly with any storm activity.

Blustery southwesterly winds and shower activity will continue into the weekend, with another burst of activity possible during Sunday as a weakening cold front moves across southern regions of the state.



Image 1, EWN satellite imagery.

Image 2, EWN 24 hours accumulated rainfall totals.

Heavy rain and storms batter eastern Australia

18 September 2019

After a dry and warm start to spring, afternoon showers and storms were a welcome relief for many locations during Tuesday afternoon across eastern NSW and southern QLD.

Scattered, tending widespread showers and storms developed across inland NSW and QLD during the early afternoon, before quickly moving east. Whilst it a was welcome sight for parched farmers and bushfire ravaged locations, it was not enough to extinguish any fires with dry lightning causing further headaches.

Loder Creek Dam on the Gold Coast picked up 30mm, Foxley in the Scenic Rim 16mm, Darlington 10mm and Benoble 10mm. Sadly, drought stricken regions around Stanthorpe-Warwick-Tenterfield only received isolated totals in the 1-2mm range.

Further south in northern NSW, South Grafton picked up 27mm, Coffs Harbour 32mm, Dorrigo 42mm and Wooli 30mm thanks largely to a line of heavy storm activity during the evening hours.

The bulk of the action has been centred across central NSW, with widespread falls of 30-70mm over the last 24hrs, with some locations receiving their best rainfall totals for over 12 months.

Careys Peak in the Barrington Tops picked up a whopping 143mm in the 24hrs to 9am this morning, Terry Hills scored 85mm, Gosford 75mm, Richmond 56mm, Wallsend Bowling Club 61mm.

Terrigal, in the southern Hunter region, also recorded a stunning waterspout very close to the coast this morning. This type of phenomena can regularly occur within east coast low events.

The low responsible for the fantastic falls, will slowly dissipate today with an easing trend expected this afternoon and into Thursday.



Image 1, Forecast rain accumulation over the next 66 hours to 4pm Wednesday over NSW

Image 2, Thunderstorm forecast from EC model on Tuesday 17th September evening across NSW (Source: Windy)

Image 3, Snow forecast from EC model on Tuesday 17th September morning across NSW (Source: Windy)

Heavy rain, thunderstorms and snow for NSW

16 September 2019

After a spell of warm weather, NSW is set to experience a significant shift from today as a gusty cool change and rain spreads across the state, with some places also likely to experience thunderstorms and snow.

Much needed rain is beginning to make its way across NSW from today as a trough and cold front move across the state. Ahead of this change, westerly winds will cause another warm day with elevated fire danger for central and northern parts of the state, however temperatures will rapidly drop as the change hits.

Large parts of the state's south will at least record some rainfall, although only a small amount is expected to fall inland. However, those on the coast and ranges are likely to experience significantly more rainfall.

By tomorrow morning, many parts of south-east and central-east NSW are likely to have recorded 10-to-20mm, with isolated higher falls of 30-to-40mm.

On Tuesday and into Wednesday, models suggest a low might form within the trough, and bring heavy rainfall to the central and mid-north coasts, with potential for 24 hour totals in excess of 50mm, with isolated totals of 100mm. In far northeast NSW and into southeast QLD, thunderstorms may develop and with stronger wind shear near this low, there is potential for some of these thunderstorms to become severe.

The cold front is also expected to bring an airmass cold enough for snow, with snow possibly falling as far north as the NSW central tablelands on Tuesday morning.

The system will clear away from Thursday, however another front and cloud band may bring further rain from Friday and into the weekend.



Image 1, Forecast wind gusts for Friday 13th September, 2019

Image 2, Wind observations for the Hobart area on ths morning of Thursday 12th September, 2019

Damaging winds lash Tasmania

12 September 2019

Vigorous westerly winds battered Tasmania overnight, bringing wind gusts in excess of 150km/h that felled trees and powerlines and left thousands of people without power.

The winds hit early in the morning over the state's more populated southeast, with wind gusts peaking at 154km/h at Mount Wellington at 2:25am, and 113km/h at 2:47am in Hobart.

Almost 4000 people were left without power this morning due to fallen powerlines, however power has now been restored to many people.

Elsewhere, winds ripped iron sheets from rooves, while one unlucky resident had a trampline peirce their roof.

Winds have eased today, however another burst of strong winds are likely on Friday.



Image 1, Temperature anomolies yesterday over Western Australia (Tuesday 10th September, 2019)

Image 2, OCF Forecast temperatures for Saturday 14th September, 2019

Early spring heatwave for inland Western Australia

11 September 2019

Temperatures are soaring more than 15 degrees above average across inland parts of Western Australia, as an unseasonably hot airmass grips the state over the next several days.

A low pressure trough lying across the state's inland is dragging down a very hot airmass more typical of late spring from northern Australia, and is not set to move much in the coming days due to a stubborn high over Australia's east.

Yesterday, temperatures soared into the mid 30s over inland parts, causing short-term (< 30 years) September records to fall over some areas, including Mount Magnet which hit 35.9 degrees.

Today this heat is pushing into coastal areas, with Eucla and Forrest soaring to 37 degrees (average 22 and 24 degrees respectively.

Coastal areas will cop a brief reprieve as a cooler change sweeps through, however by Friday and especially Saturday the airmass will be hot enough to threaten records.

On Saturday, Eucla is forecast to reach 38 degrees, which would be a record for this early in spring. Kalgoorlie is forecast to reach 36 degrees, just shy of the 36.8 degrees recorded in late September 1980.

A cold front will cause the hot airmass to be pushed out of the region by early next week.



Image 1, Satellite imagery showing smoke plumes.

Image 2, Aerial imagery showing damage to Binna Burra Lodge (Source: Binna Burra Lodge facebook page)

Image 3, Smoky skies over the Gold coast on the evening of September 9, 2019 (Source: Nathan Darlinio)

Severe bushfires ravage NSW and QLD

10 September 2019

Intense bushfires have caused significant destruction to bushland and property across parts of New South Wales and Queensland the last several days, with more than 100 fires still burning across both states.

Strong winds, extremely low humidity and hot conditions caused dangerous bushfire conditions late last week and into this week, with a number of severe blazes breaking out, particularly over northern NSW and southern QLD. These blazes have been started by a combination of deliberately lit fires, cigarette butts, accidents by farmers and lightning.

Hundreds and thousands of hectares of bushland have been burnt out from these fires, however some have also caused destruction to homes and property.

An erratic fire in the Lamington National Park razed the 86-year old heritage listed Binna Burra lodge on the weekend, a situation described as 'unprecended' by numerous authorities. While there has been evidence of fires in the distant past, fires of this callibre have not been observed since European settlement in the Lamington NP area.

Last night, another significant blaze broke out across the Sunshine Coast, which has caused one home to be destroyed and up to 10 damaged. This fire remains emergency warned, and was believed to have been started by juveniles.

Other dangerous fires across the last several days include those at Applethorpe, Tenterfield, Drake, Bee's Nest (north of Ebor), Taunton, south of Yamba, Lidsdale and Brookhill.

Record dry conditions in some areas across the last 12-18 months had many fearing for the worst this spring and summer, with the bushfire season declared to start much earlier than normal across many regions.

Unfortunately this outbreak showed those fears were justified, and unless widespread and significant rain falls soon, the risk of further bushfire outbreaks over the next few months remains high.



Image 1, Wind gusts for Friday afternoon (windy).

Image 2, QLD 4 day fire danger rating outlook via Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

Image 3, NSW fire danger ratings through until Friday, via BoM

Hot conditions, strong winds and severe fire dangers for eastern Australia

3 September 2019

Eastern Australia can expect to see summer like temperatures throughout the first week of September, as a hot, dry airmass filters across the region from northern Australia, with an increasing fire danger for the eastern states.

A high pressure system across central QLD will combine with a deepening low and associated cold front across southern Australia from Wednesday to Saturday. Dry northwesterly winds and warm to hot temperatures will develop across inland parts of South Australia, NSW, QLD and the southern NT elevating the fire danger.

Friday will be of particular concern for parts of QLD and NSW, with strong to locally damaging winds of 70-90km/h coupled with warm temperatures and low humidity. This is expected to lead to numerous very high to severe fire dangers across eastern Australia.

In the wake of this front, strong to locally damaging southwesterly winds may be experienced for parts of southern Australia during Friday, particularly South Australia, Alpine and elevated regions of Victoria and NSW. This will likely lead to areas of raised dust across inland locations, potentially reaching coastal regions during Saturday.

Unfortunately, this system is likely to be too dry for any rainfall across inland QLD and NSW, with most rainfall confined to parts of SA, VIC and far southern NSW.


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