Hey guys!
Judging by what I've read it looks as though many of you managed to get in on the action! Great pics there btw
Here's my story...
I went out with some relatives up to Ridge Road about 5PM, after repeatedly alternating between the radar and the view of the unfolding weather to the north. Upon arrival I spent approx. 30 minutes out in the open filming and photographing two separate cells, one stationed just north of Monbulk and another larger one over the Mount Dandenong/Lilydale area, both of which were producing heavy rain and a fair amount of thunder (caught only a few flashes of lighning & CGs on camera though).
While up there watching the initial performance I witnessed the development of a third storm right over Monbulk. A MASSIVE updraft tower rose up into the heavens so quickly it was almost like watching a timelapse video!!
A nice dark RFB was developing right underneath the updraft, and I spotted an interesting funnel-shaped lowering. Alas it was not a tornado funnel because I saw no sign of rotation.
My folks and I decided to then head up to SkyHigh Mount Dandenong for a bit, only stayed up there for about 10 minutes or so. During the stay (spent entirely in the car) and the trip there and back it was raining, at times quite heavily, especially around Sassafras and Olinda, a bit of minor flooding on the roads here and there.
On the way back home after 6PM, we stopped along along Glenfern Road in Upwey/Upper Ferntree Gully, where heavy rain was still falling as a couple of new cells popped up around Oakleigh and Scoresby.
Would share my footage if I could, hope you guys don't mind if you wait until my future weather/storm chasing website (currently in early stages of planning) is finally ready.
Anyway, I thought the bulk of today's activity would've ended after sunset (as typically happens in spring/summer seabreeze thunderstorm events), but a few cells seem to be popping up around Dandenong, Morrabbin, and Carrum, so could be another round of thunder and lightning