SEVERE HAILSTORMS - DECEMBER 12, 2000

A combination between a surface trough and a broad area of cold upper level air over SE Australia caused showers and storms to develop over eastern inland parts of SE QLD and NSW on this day.   Strong vertical development could be seen to the west of Brisbane from late morning onwards, and by early afternoon a line of active storms developed in a line from roughly Crows nest, south to Toowoomba.  Some cells in this line maintained very high intensities on radar for extended periods, however, to date, there have been no reports of severe weather in this area.

Strong activity also developed on the border ranges during the afternoon, with an extremely intense cluster of activity developing SE of Warwick, moving N then propergating NW.  Several periods of hail (up to 3cm's in size) was reported from Mt Marshall (near Allora) by an observer, along with severe winds, which brought down trees and powerlines. 

Brisbane storm chaser Anthony Cornelius and visiting Victorian chaser Paul Yole experienced 3-4cm hail, 90-100km/h winds and witnessed a funnel cloud from this storm!

The following photos and summary are courtesy of Adam Cole (Warick).

There seemed to be 4 areas of intense lightning during the afternoon. Fisrt Started W of Esk and covered area Toowoomba to Kingaroy at one stage started about 1300PM and stopped at 1600PM to reform for a while at Kingaroy from 1630 till 1715PM

During this time cells were noted W of this Dalby and also a severe one near Warwick. This proved to have max lightning from about 3PM to 5PM. Lightning basically continual to South (Stanthorpe & Tenterfield)

Radar

Showed storms starting crowes nest with max intensities moving north Kingaroy. Unusual item about Warwick storm was came from SE of Warwick and moved in an anti clockwise direcion That is it moved to north of Warwick after gaining what storm material had been near Stanthorpe and rapidly intensified and continued to grow as it went through north of Warwick and then seemed to back track to the immeadiate west of Warwick. I also observewd this phenomen with continualally changing anvil direction and watching the storm turn around.

I don't believe I have ever seen this happen before. Take note that the storm has a bow effect but that in proceeding to this effect the Storm moved West and then SW after initial movement was NW. After disappaiting, there was contiued movement to wards north West but also to North east, possibly resulting in the quick way this storm died.

Obserations

Seemed to be very hazy when this storm was at its max intensity, however, this may have been dust created by the storm. Significant winds were observed in Warwick as the storm turned and possibly a tornado was on the ground, probably large to account for the amount of dust that seemed to be in the air at the time to the direction of the storm as observed from Warwick. This tornado would have gone through sparesly populated areas of the Cunningham's gap area and on towards Allora. Wall clouds were just able to be made out from Warwick through the dust, with several possible lowerings sighted but extremely unphotogenic due to dust. These were to the NE.

A highly unusual day.