Crazy Weather!!!

[aldona]

It's supposed to be the hottest part of summer here (last year at this time, we were sweltering in 110+ degree (F) heat...

but Melbourne has just endured 24 hours of truly freaky weather...

- the coldest February day ever recorded here

- the heaviest rainfall in a 24 hour period since records began to be kept

- and it all started with a clap of thunder so loud it was heard across about 30 miles and registered on the seismic detectors (about 1 on the Richter scale!)

I knew it had been a wild night when I got up this morning and turned on the radio, and the news reader was warning people not to go into Melbourne unless necessary.

Then got out onto the roads, to find absolute traffic chaos (and we live 20-25 miles out of town!), freeways and other major roads under water, bits of roads washed away, trees down everywhere. On my way to work saw a metal light pole that had been reduced to a pile of silver ribbons and twisted wire, obviously hit by lightning.

Got to work and there was no electricity all day until about 4 pm. Our clinic is fully computerized with all patient records and administrative stuff on computers, so it was complete chaos. No phones, no computers, no light (had to literally practice medicine by candle light).

I've seen some big storms, but nothing like this. Here are some pictures.

[]http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,415291,00.jpg[/]

The swirly bit at the lower right of Australia...that was us last night.

[]http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,415293,00.jpg[/]

Flooding of Princes Highway, Werribee (west of Melbourne)

[]http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,415314,00.jpg[/]

A resident of Wattle Glen (outer east suburb) caught in a tree by rising water.

[]http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,415290,00.jpg[/]

The Yarra River broke its banks near Flinders Street Station and Southbank. (We're talking MIDDLE OF THE CITY! Imagine if this happened in New York, London etc!)

[]http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,415298,00.jpg[/]

Venice or South Melbourne?

[]http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,415287,00.jpg[/]

What is left of a crane at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after the storm.

[]http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,415294,00.jpg[/]

This one is about 1/4 mile from my house - Heatherton Road, Endeavour Hills.

[]http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,415299,00.jpg[/]

Kensington Road - usually a leafy green boulevard in the middle of town.

[]http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,415137,00.jpg[/]

Lightning over the Bolte Bridge

[]http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,415236,00.jpg[/]

A walking trail is underwater in down-town Melbourne.

[]http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,415009,00.jpg[/]

The bolt of lightning that did this to a power pole made neighbors think a bomb had exploded.

I hear Sydney got some wild weather too...and there was snow on the mountains, sleet in Canberra and SNOW in ADELAIDE!

Truly weird!

I just had to share this in the Townhall forum so everybody could see it.

aldona

[cricket]

I just have to say something--even in terrible weather such as this, the place looks beautiful!

[Bravus]

Not to get controversial, but this is why 'global climate change' is a better label than 'global warming' - and that's why we should expect more of this stuff...

(And I'm with Christine, and a little nostalgic for Melbourne)

[Nan]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

And I'm with Christine, and a little nostalgic for Melbourne)

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Yeah me too. Sydney has had some wild weather this week - personally we were not affected - but seeing the Yarra IN Flinders Street or St Kilda Road is really something else.

[Planey]

For those people not familiar with Australia, Melbourne is known for its changeable weather. The standard joke there is "if you don't like the weather there, wait a couple of hours". I believe Neil Finn was living in Melbourne when he wrote the song "Four Seasons In One Day."

The reason I mention this is not to cast aspersions (I would rather live in Melbourne than Sydney which is a big statement from a true-blue New South Welshman) but to point out just how dramatic was this particular weather phenomenon.

Spectacular to watch on TV but unfortunately there were many people adversely affected, including some serious injuries. My prayers are with all those affected.

Graeme

[aldona]

The editorial comment in today's paper said something like: because we in Melbourne are used to having erratic and unpredictable weather, we are going to find it difficult to discern global climate change until it is really, really bad.

Had to go to and from the shops the long way today...Heatherton Road is still under water (and more rain expected...some really ugly clouds on the horizon tonight). But as Planey said, there are lots of people much more seriously affected. I think only 1-2 people have died, but a number are in hospital and lots of homes and buildings damaged.

aldona

[Nicodema]

Aldona, thank you for sharing that report from down under! I have forwarded it to all of my "Boxcar 37" email group (a bunch of male scientists and ethical atheists, that is, all the men in my extended family! We always discuss politics and such together and they know I consider the current US admin to be the "beast" or the forerunner thereof)

This is really Biblical proportion kind of stuff! You all might want to check out this link as well (from the Independent - UK) for long-term projections of more of the same and then some:

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=607254

Seriously after having just watched Doug Batchelor's (Amazing Facts) DVD yesterday seeing this report was like, WOAH!!! Let the naysayers cry "chicken little" all they want about political opinion and commentary ... they can't easily dismiss the blatant upheaval of nature herself!!!!!