Melbourne is sweating through humid and muggy conditions in the lead up to Melbourne Cup. The moist and unstable air that caused the stormy weather over QLD and NSW this week has moved south and now it's Victoria's turn to experience hot temperatures and summer- like storms.
Yesterday, Melbourne had it's warmest day in 6 months with 31 degrees and it's already a sticky start to the day with the city not getting below 20 degrees all night. Showers have kicked in this morning and thunderstorms are expected to develop over the next few hours, becoming more widespread across the state this afternoon. Melbourne is heading for 28 degrees today and temperatures will be as much as 10 degrees above average across the state.
How long will this hot and stormy spell last? Monday will still be very warm with the chance of storms but a cool change will drop temperatures significantly by Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup. Melbourne can expect a top of 20 degrees and some isolated showers. So ladies- pack a pashmina or cardie and scotchguard the suede heels just in case!
The weather can often prove to be the greatest gamble on Melbourne Cup day, influencing the track conditions, betting odds and the fashions on the field. The last two Melbourne Cups have seen partly cloudy conditions, with a top of 22 degrees recorded in 2007 and a maximum of 17 degrees experienced in 2008.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
No guarantee for Adelaide's Sunday scorcher
South Australia is sweating in above average temperatures this week with northern towns set to reach 40- plus temperatures and Adelaide forecast to reach 36 degrees by Sunday, as per the previous post. But there's a chance that southern areas including Adelaide won't get their Sunday scorcher.
Over the weekend, northerly winds will continue to spread hot air throughout the state, but a trough will also develop across southern areas. The trough will effectively act like a barrier between hot northerly winds in the north and cooler southerly winds in the south. What this means is that anywhere north of the trough will reach the forecast hot temperatures, but to the south of it, temperatures will be as much as 10 degrees cooler. For example, Whyalla is forecast to reach 39 degrees while Mt Gambier is heading for just 22 degrees.
The position of this trough is going to make a big difference as to just how hot Adelaide gets this weekend. On Saturday, there's a chance that Adelaide won't get as high as 31 degrees and while the predicted 36 degrees on Sunday is still possible, if the trough drifts further north, it may only get to 26 degrees.
Either way, it will still be quite warm but I'll keep you posted!
Over the weekend, northerly winds will continue to spread hot air throughout the state, but a trough will also develop across southern areas. The trough will effectively act like a barrier between hot northerly winds in the north and cooler southerly winds in the south. What this means is that anywhere north of the trough will reach the forecast hot temperatures, but to the south of it, temperatures will be as much as 10 degrees cooler. For example, Whyalla is forecast to reach 39 degrees while Mt Gambier is heading for just 22 degrees.
The position of this trough is going to make a big difference as to just how hot Adelaide gets this weekend. On Saturday, there's a chance that Adelaide won't get as high as 31 degrees and while the predicted 36 degrees on Sunday is still possible, if the trough drifts further north, it may only get to 26 degrees.
Either way, it will still be quite warm but I'll keep you posted!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Hot spell heads for South Australia
South Australians are baking in Summer-like temperatures this week thanks to hot northerly winds. Today, Adelaide is expected to reach a warm 28 degrees, which is 6 degrees above the October average, but by Sunday the city will be sweating in 36 degrees! A cool change is expected early on Monday which will drop the day's maximum to just 22 degrees.
With this hot spell, northern parts of the state may experience their first 40-plus temperatures since March. Cooper Pedy is forecast to reach the 40 degrees while Oodnadatta could swelter in 41 degrees.
With this hot spell, northern parts of the state may experience their first 40-plus temperatures since March. Cooper Pedy is forecast to reach the 40 degrees while Oodnadatta could swelter in 41 degrees.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wild storms black out Brisbane
As predicted, violent storms tore across southeast QLD yesterday evening leaving 22,000 homes and businesses without power. The upside of the lightning show was the much needed rain that drenched the suburbs and dams from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast. The highest 24 hour rainfall total to 9am this morning occurred just north of Brisbane at Lipscombe Road with 135mm, Brisbane Airport received 54mm, and further south Upper Springbrook recorded 115mm. Fortunately, the dams also faired well with Wivenhoe and Somerset getting 31mm and 59mm, respectively.
Showers eased backed significantly today giving residents the chance to dry off.
Showers eased backed significantly today giving residents the chance to dry off.
Flooding rains put northern NSW underwater- again
Towns on the NSW Mid North Coast have been inundated by floodwaters for the fourth time this year with the heaviest rain falling across the Bellinger Nambucca catchment. This deluge comes after 3 months of below average rain for the region. Coffs Harbour has received a month and a half's worth of rain in just a day with 147mm, making it it's wettest October day on record. Bellingen was the worst hit with a whopping 409mm in just a day! This is as much rain as places like Mt Isa, Tennant Creek and Bourke would get in an entire year! It brings Bellingen's rainfall total so far this year to over 3000mm or 3 metres! Other parts of the coast between Kempsey and the NSW/QLD border were soaked by falls of over 100mm.
A further 50-100mm is possible from Kemspey to Yamba today leading to further flash flooding and river rises. Rain will ease by tonight with showers persisting tomorrow, but drier weather will kick in from Thursday.
The reason for this huge downpour is a lingering trough over the coast which is being fed by very humid onshore winds. As this system moves to the west, conditions will ease.
Further inland, rain and storms have also been pelting north-western parts of NSW with 25mm in Cobar, it's heaviest day of rain in 4 months. Another 50mm is possibe today, especially for towns hit by storms which may be severe.
A further 50-100mm is possible from Kemspey to Yamba today leading to further flash flooding and river rises. Rain will ease by tonight with showers persisting tomorrow, but drier weather will kick in from Thursday.
The reason for this huge downpour is a lingering trough over the coast which is being fed by very humid onshore winds. As this system moves to the west, conditions will ease.
Further inland, rain and storms have also been pelting north-western parts of NSW with 25mm in Cobar, it's heaviest day of rain in 4 months. Another 50mm is possibe today, especially for towns hit by storms which may be severe.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Torrential rain soaks Sydney!
It's another busy morning at The Weather Channel! The heaviest rain in years is drenching Sydneysiders with as much as 50mm falling in just an hour over the eastern suburbs. The downpour started at around lunch-time yesterday and to 9am this morning Canterbury was soaked by 96mm, it's heaviest day of rain in at least 5 years. Meanwhile, Sydney city recorded a month's worth of rain in 24 hours with 73mm. The highest rain total for the Sydney area was in French's Forest with a huge 114mm!
But it's not just Sydney getting soaked, areas north of the city have also picked up heavy falls. Parts of the Mid North Coast have seen as much as 77mm in Forster.
The cause of all this rain is moist air from the Tasman and Coral Seas clashing with a pool of cold air from the Southern Ocean. Since the moist oceanic air is a lot warmer than the cold pool, it rises above it. As the warm air rises, it cools because temperature decreases with altitude. As the air cools, it eventually condenses and falls back down as rain.
Sydneysiders will be making the commute to work this morning under grey skies and slippery conditons but the rain will ease this afternoon. Torrential falls will continue on the New South Wales north coast with another 100mm possible by Wednesday. The soaking rains are also gradually seeping into southern Queensland which may see 50mm over the next 48 hours. This comes as good news for Queenslanders who have barely seen a drop in the last 3 months.
But it's not just Sydney getting soaked, areas north of the city have also picked up heavy falls. Parts of the Mid North Coast have seen as much as 77mm in Forster.
The cause of all this rain is moist air from the Tasman and Coral Seas clashing with a pool of cold air from the Southern Ocean. Since the moist oceanic air is a lot warmer than the cold pool, it rises above it. As the warm air rises, it cools because temperature decreases with altitude. As the air cools, it eventually condenses and falls back down as rain.
Sydneysiders will be making the commute to work this morning under grey skies and slippery conditons but the rain will ease this afternoon. Torrential falls will continue on the New South Wales north coast with another 100mm possible by Wednesday. The soaking rains are also gradually seeping into southern Queensland which may see 50mm over the next 48 hours. This comes as good news for Queenslanders who have barely seen a drop in the last 3 months.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The east bakes in hottest temperatures in months
Country and city folk across Queensland and New South Wales are baking in summer-like temperatures today as dry and hot north-westerly winds stream across the eastern states. Temperatures across western Sydney and much of inland New South Wales are expected to be as much as 10 degrees above average today. If Penrith reaches its forecast maximum of 35 degrees, it will be its hottest day since February. For coastal suburbs, cool relief is in sight with a southerly buster set to drop temperatures by up to 8 degrees this afternoon. When the change pushed through Melbourne yesterday, the city's temperature plumetted from 28 to 19 degrees in just 30 minutes.
While the warm and sunny weather is welcome by many, the combination of hot, dry winds and months of below average rain have put both states under major bushfire threat. Rockhampton has picked up only 25mm of rainfall in the last 6 months, well below the average of 220mm for this period. Most of Queensland has had less than 20% of its average rainfall in the last 3 months. The Pacific Ocean is currently in an El Nino phase, and this lack of rainfall across eastern Australia is typical for winter and spring during El Nino conditions.
A high to very fire danger has been issued for Queensland's northern and central districts, with a total fire ban in place for the Lower Central West Plains in New South Wales.
While the warm and sunny weather is welcome by many, the combination of hot, dry winds and months of below average rain have put both states under major bushfire threat. Rockhampton has picked up only 25mm of rainfall in the last 6 months, well below the average of 220mm for this period. Most of Queensland has had less than 20% of its average rainfall in the last 3 months. The Pacific Ocean is currently in an El Nino phase, and this lack of rainfall across eastern Australia is typical for winter and spring during El Nino conditions.
A high to very fire danger has been issued for Queensland's northern and central districts, with a total fire ban in place for the Lower Central West Plains in New South Wales.
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