Hailstorms developed over the lower Blue Mountains after 2pm with frequent lightning the main feature near Warragamb Dam hinterland. One sparticular base and updraft consolidated and began to exhibit a green tinge which prompted a rapid move to chase mode.
Bureau radar loop, Sydney (Terrey Hills), close-up of Penrith and the Blue Mountains · 1:00pm AEST – 8:00pm AEST · Radar data: Bureau of Meteorology, © Commonwealth of Australia, CC BY 4.0
Himawari satellite loop (infrared), 10 minute steps over Sydney · 1:00pm AEST – 8:00pm AEST · Imagery: JMA Himawari via NASA GIBS
Heading via the Mulgoa Road and towards the Penrith Lakes allowed me to be in position for structure shots. I knew this was not to be long lasting and outflow was to consolidate development to the east. Once this began to outflow I made my way to Windsor and from here towards Oakville rather than the traffic in Quakers Hill and Doonside. This is where the main core occurred and dumped hail which Harley Pearman successfully intercepted. He report hail up to at least 1.5cm in diameter. Of course one feature of this storm was the copious amounts of lightning occurring in the core and also ahead of the storm.
Awaiting the storm near Maralya the storm did buld the anticipated north boundary and lightning was produced but the storm was in a downward weakening phase and eventually weakened after that last pulse.
