Vic - Potential showers/storms - 21st Dec to Boxing Day 2011

[aussiestormfreak]

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST


SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING - MELBOURNE AREA
for DESTRUCTIVE WIND, FLASH FLOODING and LARGE HAILSTONES
For people in the Inner, Eastern, Western and parts of the South East, Northern, Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula, Outer East and Port Phillip Local Warning Areas.


Issued at 3:46 pm Sunday, 25 December 2011.


The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 3:45 pm, very dangerous thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Essendon, Melbourne Airport, Preston and St Albans.


These thunderstorms are moving towards the east to southeast.


Very dangerous thunderstorms are forecast to affect Footscray, Greensborough, Kew and Melbourne City by 4:15 pm and Glen Waverley, Lilydale, Ringwood and Scoresby by 4:45 pm.


Other severe thunderstorms were located near Bacchus Marsh, Laverton, Melton, Werribee and the area east of Linton.


They are forecast to affect Caulfield, St Kilda, Sydenham and Williamstown by 4:15 pm and Clayton, Dandenong, Mt Waverley and Narre Warren by 4:45 pm.


Destructive winds, very heavy rainfall, flash flooding and large hailstones are likely.


Very large hail has been reported with thunderstorms this afternoon.


The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Keep clear of fallen power lines.
* secure any loose objects in the vicinity of your home.
* keep away from creeks and drains.
* do not drive vehicles through flooded areas.
* stay indoors if possible.
* Avoid using the phone during the storm.
* if you are outside, avoid sheltering under trees
* listen to the radio for storm updates
* switch off your computer and electrical appliances


The next warning is due to be issued by 4:50 pm.


A more general severe thunderstorm warning is also current for the Central, Northern Country, North Central, Wimmera and parts of the Mallee, South West, North East and West and South Gippsland districts.

Source: Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology

[dopplerstu]

We got golf balls in St Albans

[Flangfest]

It seems to be more a heavy rain / hail storm rather than lightning. Unless the rain is that heavy that I can't see it! Booming thunder though! Best Christmas present

[Supercellimpact]

[Meso]

Lol @ the BoM graphic...i mean it's great of them to warn people and everything...i just wish they'd upgrade from MS Paint to Photoshop.

[Flangfest]

On my doorstep just saw my first flash of lightning. I am an amateur to this but it doesn't look overly ominous as the hail storm of March a few years ago. Thinking it might slide just to my north.

[Supercellimpact]

[occluded]

Looks like that cell is heading straight for our place.

Wouldn't you know it, I'm down the bay at the folks place instead

[tonycynic]

Got woken by the midnight storm, the 4am storm and the 6am alarm for work. Home now to relax and a huge storm is heading right here. Love it.
Not a great view here so looking forward to those pics guys. Enjoy.

[TheFishmanAU]

It is like a popcorn machine has exploded overhead. They are getting bigger they are closer to 1-2 cm. It is like watching a popcorn machine is on my roof.

[Australis(Shell3155)]

Hail Photos.

Put HAIL STONES next to a ruler for actual measurements,

Ps I dont want them here I had them in march........

[nafets]

I think a new cell is developing t the south/ above! Loudest thunder from it I've heard today! Strange cloud formations as well!

[Flangfest]

I'm liking the look of this next line.....will definitely get a direct hit.

[flatcam]

Just got back from a short chase with my Father from that storm. When I first saw it, I was shocked by the rate it was growing! it took a mere 6-10 minutes to anvil out at the top! From then on, a dark core developed underneath so we decided to go for a small chase. After a while, the storm grew to massive proportions! My father and I were situated on a hill in Coburg facing towards the Essondon airport, watching it as it further grew. It was at this point that the thunder became more intense and the black core grew even darker. We enjoyed watching the storm from this point for another half hour or so before deciding to try and get closer. We began driving towards the core when my Dad was shocked to see a massive chunk of ice hit the road - we were nowhere near the core at this point in time. Golf-ball sized hail began pelting the roof of our car! Not willing to risk getting our car dinted, we retreated away. Imagine what it would be like to be directly under that core! We were nowhere near it when the golf-balls started hitting our car.

I have several pictures so I will try and upload them into the storm chasing forum later

Best chase we've ever had!

Cheers, Cam

[Lily]

Pictue of pathetic= lily making bets with family at Xmas celebration in Ferntree Gully whether we get red over Scoresby AWS. We currently have six of us sitting around the table betting where the storms will go lol. I've got $50 on red hitting us!

[flatcam]

Oh wow! Another black cell has just popped up in front of me. This time, there's GREEN directly overhead!

Cheers, Cam

[SC.]

Got greenage here too. Heaps of thunder.

[Geoff]

I've got $50 on red hitting us!

Forget about red, that cell hitting the CBD now could be black over you in 20 minutes!

[Meso]

Pictue of pathetic= lily making bets with family at Xmas celebration in Ferntree Gully whether we get red over Scoresby AWS. We currently have six of us sitting around the table betting where the storms will go lol. I've got $50 on red hitting us!

Sounds like a few frothies have been downed already at the Lily family xmas party lol

[mick]

As good as it gets on the radar, im betting on when lily will suffer storm damage,