Tuesday, 26 January 2010

BULAHDELAH STORM CHASE

From: Hunter area, Written by: Grant Burgess

http://raymondterrace.hunterweather.com/

Accompanied by Trevor Burgess (Dad)

With the frustration of missing my second electrical storm within two weeks due to work, I was keen to give my new lightning trigger a workout.

Just on dusk I could see several nice towers toward my NNE producing some lightning, checked back soon after to see one tower had exploded producing a nice solid circular anvil. Distant CG's were evident & didn't look as far off as the radar suggested. Within minutes my Dad & I were in the car chasing northwards.

Checked out several rest areas on the Pacific Hwy north of Karuah but with poor views of the still distant cells we pushed further north. Stopped for pics at one of those emergency phone bays near Nerong (about 10km south of Bulahdelah) where we were treated to some nice but still distant CG's along with the odd decent rumble. Most of the lightning that I saw tonight were CC's. A quick radar check on the mobile showed a small cell headed straight for Bulahdelah.
 

Continued further north to Bulahdelah where we arrived ~2155, ended up north of town at the golf club where we stood on the 1st tee trying for a few more CG's. The ground here was still wet with puddles evident from the storm that had just past over.

Left for the return journey home ~2220 with frequent lightning visible in the rear view mirror. Arrived home at 2300 & could still see the lightning toward the distant north. Overall a successful chase of ~150km in total.