Thunderstorms Sydney 24th Feb 07

[Guest Fred Bear]

Sydney is now getting absolutely hammered by storms. Out here in Western Sydney, the most amount of lightning I have seen in a long time. Has to be a strike every few seconds aswell as heavy rain and high winds. Gusts of 100km/h have been recorded at Penrith down the road. Photos and video to come.

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology

 

New South Wales

 

 

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

 

NSW SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

 

for LARGE HAILSTONES, DAMAGING WIND, VERY HEAVY RAINFALL and FLASH FLOODING

 

For people in the

 

Illawarra,

 

Central Tablelands,

 

Metropolitan and parts of the

 

Central West Plains,

 

Central West Slopes,

 

South Coast,

 

Hunter and

 

Southern Tablelands (north and northeast of the ACT) Forecast Districts.

 

Issued at 5:02 PM Saturday, 24 February 2007.

 

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce large hailstones, damaging winds, very heavy rainfall and flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours.

 

Major locations within the warning area include Wollongong, Nowra, Batemans Bay, Orange, Goulburn and Parkes.

 

Wind gusts just over 100 km/h have already been reported today from Penrith.

 

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:

 

* Move your car under cover or away from trees.

 

* Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.

 

* Keep clear of fallen power lines.

 

* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.

 

* Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.

 

* Unplug computers and appliances.

 

* Avoid using the phone during the storm.

 

* Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.

 

* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.

 

The next warning is due to be issued by 8:00 PM.

 

This warning is also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at http://www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 218. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly.

 

 

 

[Ultralights]

the storms are on there way to newcastle as well, been out a cessnock all day, and the flying has been perfect.... i have been told, currently doing a 150 hr engine pulldown so had to remain grounded........ but the storms are rapidly building as i type this!

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

We tried to find you today @ Hoxton Park Dave C and I Ultralights and you were not there. That explains it then. Storms have ceased here in Western Sydney for now but looks like more on the way.

 

 

[Ultralights]

i know the storms have passed the central coast area, my channel 10 is back and static free.

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

That's your weather finding radar is it? Your local idiort box signal quality ;)

 

 

[Yenn]

Ultralights.

 

What engine do you have that has to be pulled down at 150 hours, surely not a Rotax 2 stroke?

 

 

[Ultralights]

yep, its a 503. only top end though. but its the learning curve bit, i have never worked on a 2 stroke engine before.

 

back to the weather, lat night brought storms to the lower hunter, but the all ended when they go to my place, i was so looking forward to an evening in with a bottle of red, and a spectacular light show and heavy rain... but alas, the storms faded out about 5 km away... close enough to smell and hear, but not enjoy...

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

I know that feeling well. Looks like we got most of it in Sydney then.