Strong Storm Pushing Across Eastern Australia! (credit: Weatherzone and Higgins Storm Chasing)

DISCUSSION:  As of earlier this afternoon (Australian Eastern Standard Time), there was a rather large convective complex moving through parts of eastern as well as southeastern Australia (as reflected by the image above courtesy of Weatherzone).  This large amalgamation of deep convection was associated with a weak low pressure system which is slowly moving to the east along the southern coast of Australia (i.e., ironically running virtually parallel to the length of the Great Barrier Reef as a point of reference).  As shown in the two lower images, you can clearly denote the 12-hour progression of this low pressure system which was tracking along the southern coast of Australia.  These two respective lower images both show the 1000 mb analysis at 00 Z and 12 Z on 14 January 2014 (i.e., the pressure surface which meteorologists typically use to study low pressure systems at or near the surface of the Earth).  Attached below is a brief quote from the Higgins Storm Chasing team which discusses some specifics regarding the recent/future status of these strong storms.

"4:20 am: some intense slow moving storms producing heavy rain, frequent lightning and areas of flash flooding are impacting the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim and Sunshine Coast Hinterland."

To learn more about other high-impact weather events occurring across Australia and the South Pacific, be sure to click here!

©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz