Another HP supercell developed a line of storms bringing a magnificant gust front!  What a chase!

I had to get up early for interviews, just 2 hours sleep – I was exhausted.  But it was going to be the start of another big day.  It was a sunny morning – but the trough was closer today and moisture was rapidly pooling (after being ‘swept out’ a bit last night from the previous storm system).  It was chaos in Brisbane – roads were all still flooded, including major freeways.  Normally on Thursday, I visit job sites for my dad’s company…but was quickly rung up to be told that all the job sites were flooded out.  So it was on to concentrating on chasing!

After a few more interviews and waiting for Bryan, we headed off.  First to Beaudesert to get some lunch.  Here we met up with Michael (Pingtang) from Weatherzone.  We watched for a bit and then headed towards Boonah and eventually Kalbar to sit and wait…and wait…and wait.  A line of storms were approaching the eastern Downs, but we thought it to be a bad idea to head there as by the time we crossed the ranges to get to them they’d be on top of us and given the shear, would probably overtake us.  Instead after a while, we decided to head southwards from Boonah along a road on a ridge I’d been on once before.  I’m sure Michael thought we were crazy, going on a small, windy, narrow dirt track – but the view at the end was worth it!  In hindsight, I think it might actually be quicker taking the main road to Rathdowney and then climbing up the hill, as I didn’t realize how close it was to the main road (about 5km).

We stopped on top of the ridge – there was some smoke from a nearby fire being sucked into the storm which ruined the contrast for the first part.  But soon it became apparent – one large HP supercell, rolling across the ranges from Oakington.  The pictures don’t do it justice, it was looking very menacing! 

And soon, the debate…of what to do.  The speed of the storm was quite significant, so it was hard to think what to do.  Dave and I discussed options… “How fast can you punt the Fozzie through the windy forest road to get to Rathdowney?”  “Not fast enough…” I muttered.  But we had to give it a try, either that or be absolutely consumed by the storm as it came across the top of the ridge which wasn’t what we wanted!

The first part of the drive was fine – but the road went south for a short while, which meant the inevitable.  Outflow gusts started, at first only 40-50km/h, but soon entire trees were nearly bending in half, Fozzie size branches were falling on the other side of the road while our Fozzie was being hammered with a barrage of smaller branches and sticks which made cringing thuds on the roof and windscreen.

It seemed like an eternity – but Rathdowney came at last!  Why was that good?  Well, there’s not many trees in Rathdowney (although there are lower speed limits – oops).  And then just north of Rathdowney it completely clears!  And the main storm we were initially chasing had put a massive eastward outflow push – meaning if we could just get north, we’d be back out of danger.

With the sound of the Fozzie screaming we shot northwards – and finally got ahead of the guster!  At first just a little – and it was a menacing site. 

But we were able to get well ahead of it, and what a beauty the storm was!  Absolutely incredible gustfront stretched from horizon to horizon. 

We continued to stop along the road up to Beaudesert.  Here it was looking eerily scary, a massive storm coming across in what seemed to be several supercells joined in a line. 

It looked like the world was going to end in Beaudesert...

And we stopped just north of Beaudesert before shooting further north to get out of the way as the next big storm came through. 

However the line was tilting more north/south which meant we weren’t going to stay ahead of it.  We decided to stop in a field – rather than taking what’s a fairly treed road (the Mt Lindsay Hwy).  Winds weren’t overly strong, only 70-80km/h – but there were some beautiful close CGs within a couple of hundred metres!  We eventually left…but we had to help clear part of a tree off the road first before proceeding.  We were able to get through (drove through the ditch on the side of the road), but Michael didn’t have the clearance.  So Bryan and I got out and helped clean the debris off the road.  One idiot came through in the opposite direction – Dave was still in the car and flashed him, but he didn’t slow down.  Proceeded to come through the side on the dirt (despite a car with hazards on and flashing), before suddenly realizing there was a tree there and skidding on the brakes (nearly crashing into us, clearing the tree and the car – shows the dangers the SES guys must face!) 

We went our separate ways and we headed back home.  Ben and Lennie (from Adelaide and Darwin), were around chasing and stayed at our place.  We decided to go to the pub for a meal and celebrate – it certainly felt like we earnt it!  What a few days!