28 February 2012

The heart of the storm

| johnboy
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water water everywhere

Here’s the forecast rainfall for Australia for the next few days.

See that insane purple patch? That’s us.

If you get any good flooding related photos send them in to images@the-riotact.com .

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Can I point out that rainfall at Cooma Airport for the fours days 28-29th Feb and 1-2nd March has been 127.8mm and for Canberra Airport 126.4mm.
Note that Canberra only had half the forecast 200-300mm.
The forecast for Cooma was better.
Just BTW – IMHO there has been something of a beat up in the media of what has mostly been minor flooding.

Jerrabomberra Creek is inching its way up towards Canberra Ave… hopefully won’t get near it.

Gungahlin Al9:05 am 01 Mar 12

70mm in the 12 hours to 7am at Harrison and still steady rain. Great deep drenching for the soil.

60mm by 7.30am at Harcourt Hill and I see the airport and other stations similar. The system would have to heavy up very considerably in the period to 9am tomorrow to validate the magnitude of the forecast map above. But hey, I would have to say for the BoM – pretty good forecasting to get the overall structure of the multiday event – even if they erred somewhat on the heavy side.
Listening to ES pers last night struggling to yak on about rain forecasts on the TV crosses – arm waving about floods all over NSW – leaves me thinking that the BoM or a prof met person should handle that side of media interviews. The ES people should keep more to what they know – actual flooding – rescues etc.
The media has exaggerated at times, I noticed in yesterdays Canberra Times that Cooma was “lashed by more than 25mm rain” – I see the airport recorded 30 – wow more than 1 inch and in a DAY – biblical !! On last nights TV news on one of the ABC channels – a lady reporter hyperventilated that Broken Hill had 86mm in a day which she said was half the yearly rain. Well a simple check taking 30 secs online shows that the mean annual rain at the BoM Patton Street station is quoted as 258mm. Also I see that Feb 2011 had 140.6mm and Feb 2010 has 109.6 and Feb 2000 scored 94.8mm in a day – so locals should not have been too stunned to see rain and local flooding in February.
On ABC news online just now I see this gem – “Canberra has already exceeded its average rainfall average for March.”
Time for a cuppa and a quiet read before hitting the Send button I think.

Is it ordinary rain, or is it….. CHUBBY RAIN?

Peewee Slasher said :

“Purple Rain”

Also known as a downright ROYAL drenching…

Heh heh, the term “purple patch” had quite a different meaning I recall back in the day.

These maps are generated by computer models which have become notoriously confused by our changing climate patterns. I doubt we’ll see 400mm BUT I must say, the steady and increasingly heavy rain today and tonight actually conforming to the forecasts is a bit of a worry. Cos if those forecasts are accurate, things will become mighty interesting in this region.

Amanda Hugankis said :

Peewee Slasher said :

“Purple Rain”

“Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changin’
It’s time we all reach out for something new, that means you too
You say you want a leader, but you can’t seem to make up your mind
And I think you better close it and let me guide you to the purple rain ……..”

It all makes sense!

Showing your age here, Amanda. And now so am I. 🙂

Amanda Hugankis2:51 pm 28 Feb 12

Peewee Slasher said :

“Purple Rain”

“Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changin’
It’s time we all reach out for something new, that means you too
You say you want a leader, but you can’t seem to make up your mind
And I think you better close it and let me guide you to the purple rain ……..”

It all makes sense!

Gungahlin Al2:37 pm 28 Feb 12

Meh. Try a metre in 24 hours. Then you know what hit you… (Actually with the attention TAMS gives to keeping stormwater drains unclogged, this could be quite serious.)

CrocodileGandhi said :

BOM’s forecast is confusing me at the moment. The seven day forecast says that Saturday will be mostly sunny, but the rainfall map says that there will be 50-100 mls of rain on Saturday. I’m hoping that the former is correct, as I’m supposed to be camping at Corinbank…

Yep, I discovered the same thing. I’m going to be a pessimist so I will be prepared for a very wet weekend. It’s not the camping that’s the problem – my tent stays bone dry, it’s all the sitting around on lawns… I’m going to invest in a nice big umbrella.

Peewee Slasher2:20 pm 28 Feb 12

“Purple Rain”

CrocodileGandhi2:07 pm 28 Feb 12

BOM’s forecast is confusing me at the moment. The seven day forecast says that Saturday will be mostly sunny, but the rainfall map says that there will be 50-100 mls of rain on Saturday. I’m hoping that the former is correct, as I’m supposed to be camping at Corinbank…

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