SEVERE HAILSTORMS - AUGUST 27, 1999

A weak front moved through the Eastern states late in the week.  The front initially brought rain with it overnight and early morning in SE QLD, but the rain and cloud cleared mid morning and storms developed later on in the day in the clear skies behind the rain.  Late in the afternoon 2 strong cells developed west of Brisbane.  One of these cells had max intensity (Red - 100+ mm/h) on radar for over 2 hours!! The storms moved slowly throughout their lifetime, and there were unnofficial reports of hail drifts 15 inches high blocking the New England Highway west of Brisbane.  Crops were severely damaged by these storms, with reports of up to 90% of some crops destroyed.  Houses also suffered roof damage from the hail.

These thunderstorms fizzed before they reached Brisbane, but more thunderstorms developed throughout SE QLD during the afternoon and well into the evening.  Although none of these appeared to be, or were reported as being severe, there was a cell on the northern edge of a new line of storms that moved through the region between 6 and 8pm displayed quite a nice lightning show.  Lightning continued on the tracker west of Brisbane well into the night.

Report by Ben Quinn