A spectacular storm hit Sydney this afternoon during rush hour with heavy rain, lightning and a severe thunderstorm warning which has expired. More warnings were issued for the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie region this evening for heavy rain. A spectacular shelf cloud was observed across the Eastern Suburbs prior to the storm approaching. Rainfall totals reflect the storms most intense cores passing through the southern and eastern suburbs.
Looked like a nice shelf cloud! I had just received a message from Leonie and then Dave Croan contacted me about the shelf cloud.
I think that was very outflow dominant.
Please find attached two photos of this storm as it passed north along the coast and Sydney’s East.
I am on top of the Auburn City Council car park roof looking south east.
A shelf cloud was observed. I observed some lightning and mid range thunderclaps but all the activity was to the south and south east.
A light showers did occur at Auburn but generally nothing significant.
I could not chase but the shelf cloud was an interesting feature to watch.
I managed to obtain this photo image which is quite clear considering the distance. The colouration feature did not last long but it lasted long enough to enable me to take at least one image of it.
There was another storm cell to the west of Sydney during the Wednesday afternoon peak hour but I was unable to get close enough to it to take any photos. I only saw one cloud to ground lightning strike from it before is rapidly decayed.