ABSTRACT

On 30/12/2003, a band of mid levels storms unexpectedly developed west and northwest of Bendigo producing fierce downbursts and local flashflooding. Damage was sustained over the greater Bendigo area, thus bringing to an end a very weather active year for Bendigo. These unexpected storms developed along a narrow trough moving through the region which interacted with a tongue of mid level moisture spreading southeast from South Australia.

The storm development is a good example of activity when elevated moisture is advected into a previously very dry environment and mixes with daytime maximums near 40�C and the timely passage of the additional forcing structure of a trough... Extensive and energetic downbursts were common with these storms as rain falling from elevated storm cells evaporated in very dry air below 7000feet. As the storm band moved eastward, an opportunity to photograph receding multi cells in the setting sun allowed that rare occasion to see the rich detail of these storms.