Intercepted this supercells with Michael Bath meeting up after having intercepted it himself from the northern perspective. I began the day leaving Sydney (leaving too late as it turned out. Commiserations for Colin who was not able to chase – this chase was dedicated to him!) The storms developed near Mt Seaview.
One storm remained near stationary and another followed but moved in a NNE direction. Both storms displayed intense cores despite their distance from the Namoi radar located near Gunnedah (approximately 200km away). The storm moving northeast was more enticing so I gave chase to this one. Briefly however, I turned to go back for the stationary cell despite its right moving characteristics. But I U-turned north based on the previous plan to chase the Northern Rivers late in the day.
Receiving a call from Michael was welcoming and through the gaps in Coffs Harbour I was able confirm with him what seemed like a mesocyclone. We both confirmed that this warranted a chase slightly inland as the storm was moving north over Dorrigo.
A couple of stops along the road north to Grafton allowed for a nice look at the supercell structure effectively validating the storm chase.
Was great to have a weekend of chasing with Jimmy – doesn’t happen too often anymore!
With the setup I expected some strong activity to form in the Dorrigo to Glen Innes area and track N-NE later in the day.
At first some low precipitation structures with very high tops formed to the west of the Northern Rivers, but the main event was coming up from the ranges of the Mid North Coast. The meso came into view when it was passing through the Nymboida area. Met up with Jimmy at Grafton then we heading up the Copmanhurst to Tabulum Rd encountering bursts of extreme precipitation includinding hail to golf ball size. A tree across the road just south of Baryulgil put an end to the chase and forced us back to Grafton, but at least there was a spectacular rainbow and mammatus display.
I was up the coast near Wachope and speaking to a worker of the petrol station and he was telling me that family building a home at Comboyne (not completed amd not insured) was smashed by giant hail cricket ball sized and larger boulders fused together that destroyed the solar panels. It was before Christmas and later i thought of this event – this near stationary supercell (right moving supercell from a split) would have been right on that area.
http://www.extremestorms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/1214jd0251.jpg
Full report
http://www.extremestorms.com.au/supercells-northeast-nsw-14th-december-2013/