Elsewhere in Weather News: January 26th, 2013

Oswald Brings Significant Rainfall to Queensland

Southern Australia’s heat wave came to an abrupt end this week thanks to a potent trough that made its way across its southern half. This trough ushered in cooler air and more reasonable highs can be expected with lows in the teens as opposed to the high twenties that they were experiencing last week.

Oswald satellite

Satellite image of Oswald in its early stages, taken on January 21st. (Source: Australia’s BoM)

However, a tropical disturbance, as predicted by the models last week has organised and brought much moisture to Queensland as it made its way south and transitioned into an extratropical storm. Formerly known as tropical storm Oswald, the extratropical storm has dumped over a metre of rain (1000mm) in some areas of Queensland causing for flash flooding concerns. As of Friday evening, 11 flood warnings were in effect (all in Queensland) as well as some wind warnings for the higher elevations and coastal areas. Peak gusts of 115km/h were recorded with Oswald’s passage. It appears as though residents were well prepared as not much damage was reported and only one rescue had to be executed off the coast.

MSLP/rainfall Oswald

MSLP and rainfall for Saturday morning. (Source: Australia`s BoM)

The extratropical storm will get pushed out to sea ahead of the trough early next week giving way to calmer weather for Queensland. Areas of North-East Australia will remain under very warm conditions (over 40°C) through next week, combined with relative humidity below 20%. This could cause some bushfires and Fire Weather Warnings might have to be issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.

Elsewhere in Weather News: January 20th, 2013

Intense Heat Wave Continues in Australia

A significant heat wave has remained in place for most of Australia’s southern half, this past week. The large ridge of high pressure has kept about 70-80% of Australia under extreme high temperatures (over 40°C) and in turn has created dangerous conditions in which bushfires can occur. Total burn bans were in place for a few communities in the southern half of Australia and firefighters are on high alert. As of Friday there were 142 bushfires burning in New South Wales alone and 29 of them were 0% contained.

Temperature map

Map of Australia’s extreme temperatures on January 12th, 2013. (Source: Australia’s BOM)

Residents of Tasmania have been experiencing similar weather conditions this New Year, contributing to a massive brushfire that had been raging through a large area of its south-eastern peninsula two weeks ago. Here, 1,000 people had to be rescued by boat from their homes. The damage in that area has not yet been tallied, but at least 20 houses, including a school, has burned down to the ground and at least one person is confirmed dead.

On Friday, January 4th, the village of Wudinna, located on Australia’s southern coast, reached extreme temperatures of 48.2°C, and various other cities broke their daily temperature records as well. Adelaide recorded all-time January high temperatures on the same day as the mercury rose to 44.1°C. Even more impressively, on January 12th Moomba (South Australia) managed to reach a temperature of 49.6°C – Australia’s hottest temperature in 15 years. The average temperature for Southern Australia ranges between 25°C and 35°C in January, and a little cooler for areas along the coast. This past week, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology even had to go to the extreme by changing the temperature scale on their maps because temperatures constantly exceeded the scale during this intense heat wave.

Trough

Potential through coming through which would help cool down the temperatures late next week. Also to note a possible tropical disturbance on Australia’s north side. (Source: Australia’s BOM)

Although it is not uncommon to see heat waves affecting specific areas of Australia, to see between 70 and 80% of Australia experiencing a significant heat wave such as this one, is not a common sight. Significant heat will persist into next week before a large trough moves into the region and brings an end to the sweltering heat by next Friday. Interestingly enough, models are also showing a tropical cyclone forming off the Australia’s North Coast around the same time that the heat is predicted to come to an end.

Elsewhere in Weather News: November 17th, 2012

Wildfire Flare Up in Southern Australia

On Monday the 12th of November, a large wildfire in Southern Australia flared up. Residents had to be evacuated in the region of Tulka as the wildfire threatened houses. Over 100 firefighters battled the blaze but unfortunately they were unsuccessful in their attempt to control it that day. In total, the fire burned nearly 5,000 acres, destroying seven properties. No one was injured, though animals such as koalas that lived in the area where the wildfire took place needed veterinary attention. The fire has been contained since Tuesday.

Wildfire

Picture of the Tulka Wildfire. (Source: Michael Sleep/ABC)

This month, Port Lincoln, a city near Tulka, received only 4.4mm rain in comparison to its 20mm average for the month of November. The lack of precipitation combined with a high of 36.4°C on Sunday November 11th (13°C above the November average) contributed to conditions ripe for wildfires in Southern Australia at this time of the year. Tulka typically receives minimal rainfall in the month of November due to dominant high pressure off the coast of Southern Australia and troughs that sporadically make their way to the region. It is predicted that most of Australia will have a warm and dry summer, having an indirect relation to the weak El Nino that is forecast to develop this winter. If this were the case, it would be an active wildfire season in Australia this summer.

Systems map

Systems map of Australia of next Wednesday, high pressure dominating Southern Australia. (Source: Weatherzone)

Several days prior to this event, a few other wildfires flared up in Western Australia but they were located in a remote area and did not directly affect population.

Wildfire NASA picture

Picture of a wildfire in Western Australia on November 7th, taken by NASA. (Source: NASA)

Warm Start to the Week

This week will start out on the warm side as a high pressure ridge edges into Manitoba. Temperatures on Monday and Tuesday are expected to reach or exceed 20C, which will mark the first occurrence of a 20 degree reading since April 6.

A large ridge centred over Western North America will bring warm weather to Southern Manitoba on Monday and Tuesday

A large ridge centred over Western North America will bring warm weather to Southern Manitoba on Monday and Tuesday

Highs on Monday should be around 20C in most of Southern Manitoba. Skies will range from mainly sunny to mainly cloudy, with Winnipeg and the Red River Valley tending to be on the cloudier side and Western Manitoba on the sunnier end. As such South-Western Manitoba will likely be a bit warmer than the rest of Southern Manitoba. Tuesday will feature much the same weather as Monday with temperatures once again climbing up to around the twenty degree mark over Southern Manitoba. Skies on Tuesday will mostly likely be a mixture of sun and cloud, preventing temperatures from climbing much above 20 degrees. Should Monday or Tuesday be sunnier than currently expected you can easily add a couple degrees onto the temperatures listed above.

20 degree temperatures are expected in Southern Manitoba on Monday and Tuesday

20 degree temperatures are expected in Southern Manitoba on Monday and Tuesday

A cold front will slice through Manitoba on Wednesday, dropping our temperatures back down to normal values. Highs on Wednesday are expected to hover in the low teens in Southern Manitoba, while on Thursday temperatures will remain stuck in the single digits. A recovery in temperatures in expected to begin on Friday and stretch into the weekend.

No significant precipitation is expected this week, although some weak shower activity might form as a low pressure system and associated cold front pass through on Tuesday night and Wednesday.


Elsewhere in Weather News

Australian Rains

As Australia’s summer transitions into fall, heavy rains have pummelled its capital, Sydney, and surrounding regions resulting in flash floods throughout the area.

Rainfall map from this past week in NSW, including Sydney’s approximate location. (Source: Bureau of Met.)

Rainfall map from this past week in NSW, including Sydney’s approximate location. (Source: Bureau of Met.)

Between Monday, April 16th and Wednesday, April 18th, the New South Whales (NSW) region was hit hardest from the flooding where some areas received between 150mm-200mm of rain. The flash floods were triggered by a number of towns receiving rainfall of 40mm/h over a couple hours, and the fact that the soil was saturated in those areas due to heavy rainfall that occurred over the past month.

Parking lot swamped by water. (Source: Seven Network)

Parking lot swamped by water. (Source: Seven Network)

Emergency crews were called to assist residents whose cars were overtaken by water and also to help those trapped in their homes as water levels rose in a matter of hours. Utility crews were also busy due to more than a thousand people losing power.

Video of car struggling to cross flooded roads. (Source: mascott1963)

Unfortunately, more rain was forecast to fall this weekend as another slow moving trough/cold front stretched across the whole region. No additional flash flooding was reported with this latest rainfall, however more rainy days are expected to hit the coast this coming week which increases the risk of further flooding in the region where another 15mm-25mm are expected through to Wednesday.

This event comes just two months after the region located north of NSW, Queensland, was hit hard by flooding (brought to you on February 27th post). Australia’s eastern coast has seen its fair share of dangerous flash flooding already this year.

Elsewhere in Weather News has been provided by Matt