SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS - JANUARY 8, 2001

A combination between an upper level and surface trough caused widespread showers and thunderstorms to develop in NE NSW and SE QLD on this day.

In NE NSW, a storm dumped copious amounts of hail 25km's NE of Tenterfield, with reports of a "snow like" covering.  Storm chasers Anthony Cornelius and Adam Cole photographed a wall cloud and funnel near Tenterfield.  This funnel could quite possible have been a retracting Tornado.

Jason Rainforest and myself were at the same location, and took the following photos.

In SE QLD, a very large and strong storm developed around the Warwick area late in the afternoon, dumping large amounts of hail and rain which damaged crops as it moved north.  Jason Rainforest took the following photos.

Also the following hail drifts, tree and crop damage between Warwick and Cunninghams Gap, and a cell approaching Beaudesert during the evening (last photo).

This storm dissipated a short time later, howeve another developed to it's NW and moved generally north, hitting the eastern suburbs of Toowoomba, and the town of Murphy Creek just to the east.  14 houses were damaged in Toowoomba, and the Murphy Creek area suffered considerable tree and property damage.  Jason Rainforest and myself surveyed the Murphy Creek damage the next day, and took the following photos.

The damage path was between 3 and 4 km's wide, from Murphy Creek itself, west towards Toowoomba.  As you can see in the photos above, several thick and healthy trees were snapped off, or uprooted.  We believe that the damage was from straight line winds, and not a Tornado.
 

MPEG Videos

A pan of the storm NE of Tenterfield in NSW.

Fast flowing water over a floodway between Warwick and Cunninghams Gap.
 

Summary of SIgnificant Observations/Reports

Hail reported to "cover the ground like snow" 25km's NE of Tenterfield in NE NSW.

A funnel cloud was also seen by Anthony Cornelius and Adam Cole in this area.

Hail reported from Warwick.

Haildrifts up to 6 inches deep between Warwcik and Cunninghams Gap.  Hail size up to 2cm.

Approximately 14 houses damaged in the eastern suburbs of Toowoomba.  Aso houses damaged and trees uprooted/snapped off between Murphy Creek and Toowoomba.

Flash flooding reported (exact location unknown - more than likely in or just south of Toowoomba), with up to 1m of water in some areas.

A mudslide, caused by the storm, closed the Warrego highway for some time.

Large amounts of hail still lying on the ground around Murphy Creek the following day.

Hail pierced flyscreens at one property between Murphy Creek and Toowoomba.
 
 

Data for this day

Thanks to the Brisbane and SE QLD Storm Site for providing this data.  Brisbane local scale radar event loop (562k) is here, and the energex lightning detection loop showing up to 923 cg's in a five minute period is here. (70k)