Summary of events. The day started with storms expected to fire along a trough line ahead of a southerly change late in the evening. Mid level light showers cleared very early morning and the atmosphere was primed for storms. Dew points were very low behind the trough, but along coastal area's DP's remained high around 18-20 during the morning, with hot northerlys comming in, bringing temperatures that would hit 38+ in all area's of the Hunter and the Sydney basin. Wind shear was OK, and strength was OK as well. With the sounding traces at Williamtown and Sydney, it was clear the storms would be very high based, and would need the ranges to help break the cap, but once it did development would be explosive. This is exactly what happened. As storms fired on the ranges and moved east they tapped into the moisture in the Sydney area and Hunter. I got word of a possible tornado or 2 in Sydney, around Richmond and Hornsby, and very intense lightning, 4000 CG strikes in 1 hour in Sydney alone! Some incredible damage around in Sydney, as high based storms dropped there rain, cooling the surrounding air and sinking very quickly towards the ground causing damaging winds as it spead out. Thousands of tree's snapped/fallen over, onto houses, cars etc. 2 school girls died when a gum tree snapped and fell on their tent during a school excursion, our hearts go out to them, and the familys. Damage is expected to cost between 70 and 100 million dollars.

James Harris took photographs from St Ives and has storms and damage photos.

Chase account. On my last day of holidays and my last chance to chase, I watched all morning waiting for storms to develope, killing time looking at weather models, obs, weather forum etc. As storms started to fire late morning/early afternoon I headed out. Where to go, central coast or Singleton. I chose the central coast as the line was moving east but propergating northwards. I arrived near Toukley to watch storms develope near me. The temperature had risen to 39 degrees, CG's striking every 20 seconds or so. Not that active compare to the stuff in Sydney. I was unsure where to go.

The storm was getting closer and small hail started to fall so I bolted back to near the freeway and took a turnoff north towards Morrisset. Clear air CG's 1-2km away whilst I drove from a dark base kept me entertained as I drove. I stopped as more hail started to fall, this time a little larger , 2cm or so, and smashing into pieces as it hit the ground. It was then I saw development up towards Newcastle and to my WNW, incredible boiling updraughts on both storms. I watched the Morisset one for a little while longer and then drove north.

I drove north hoping to get close to the Newcastle storm, but the one to my west was almost overhead. I pulled over and watched an updraught explode overhead minutes before the storm arrived, with a hail shaft approaching I thought my car was about to get written off. It hit with strong winds, heavy rain, and 2cm hail, not as much as what I expected. Happy the hail was not too big, I continued on (at the time I think I was near Warners Bay) and drove to Charlestown, then to Newcastle. Storms could be seen everywhere, with more explosive development near Maitland and west of there.

I continued on towards Maitland where a gorgous LP storm was exploding, and moving NEish with a nice hail shaft.

Meanwhile massive towers were shooting up towards Singleton and Muswellbrook. As they were moving E/NE the only chance I had to catch them was to head towards Dungog. I drove until I was near a place called Clarence Town I think it was called. Hail to 3cm lay on the ground in peoples front yards. I snapped a photo and continues on. Just over the next hill an incredible site. A nice downburst had just come down and was moving across towards the town. CG's every couple of seconds and CC lightning underneath cloud bases was incredible. Hail shafts clearly visible. I wanted to get closer to the core of this so I headed back to the town. Lightning to my north was intense. I managed to get on the edge of the downburst with a few close strikes, small hail and heavy rain.

After this had passed I continued north. After a 10 minute drive the storm was getting away, but a nice rainbow presented itself with a challenging photo opportunity. A rainbow with daytime lightning would make a great photo. I tried 3 photos, and 2 came out. The rainbow is faded and the lightning is very hard to see, but its on film. Not the best pictures, but unique. I then headed home and near Morpeth saw the storms anvils up north and headed home.

That was the end of the day, so I thought. Just after sunset, one last storm developed over Newcastle and I headed to a lookout near the beach to get some photos. These will be up later and may not be too good as I could not find my tripod ! DOH ! But the great lightning show with a flash every second, sometimes more frequent, topped off a terrific day!