Storms in BNE tonight (Mon 8 Oct)

[QF WP]

Have just driven out to the airport, as I'm off to MEL for a couple of days work. As I'm status chasing at present and I only booked the flights last night, I wasn't able to get K class at an appropriate time (all booked to Fully Flexible). Storms have been building all afternoon and as my wife was driving, we were listening for the traffic reports. Then they advised a storm front was passing the Darling Downs heading towards BNE, with high winds, rain and lightening/thunder expected in 30 minutes. BOM forecast seems to agree.

First flight to SYD was leaving at 6.15pm, just when I expect the full brunt of the storm is going to hit. One of the reasons I love QF is some of their staff are very pro-active. Michelle, whom I recognised from the QP upstairs, attended me and I asked whether there was any possibility to get one of the direct flights, as one was 35 mins before departure. Unfortunately, whilst it was full, she was able to get me on the next flight (leaving 6.50pm) which gets me into MEL much earlier than my 10.00pm expected arrival via SYD.

Also watched as she consulted her "cheat sheet" book for selling me the MEL flight and transferring/merging the two flights sectors I had. She found that ther were two seats available and proceeded to also give me a better seat (14A, exit row window) than the 27C the system automatically allocated me.

Well, it's looking very ugly outside and the first row of lightning is starting. Wonder whether this will affect many flights arriving/departing.

 

[QF WP]

Well, so much for taking off at 6.50pm. Airport is still closed but storm front has headed north. Sunshine Coast to Gympie should be being hammered by now. Just waiting for the flights to start landing now and the QP i a zoo. Wonder how many flights were stranded on the tarmac and unable to disgorge their pax.

Passed the time by meeting Nathan75, as he noticed I was posting from the QP. He came and found me and he had an awesome F1-11 DVD. Made me think of meloz "scrubbing the rubber"

Now he and smithym know that moderators are people juut like them.

 

[Reggie]

Now he and smithym know that moderators are people juut like them.

Yeah right, I don't believe you:evil:

 

[NM]

Lots of lightning around my place tonight, but not much rain in it for us.

 

[Mal]

Lots of lightning around my place tonight, but not much rain in it for us.

Ditto here. Don't worry, there are storms predicted for tomorrow as well so perhaps they can bring us some more rain!

Also, it's not rain that tends to close off airports, but the threat of lightning in the area.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I hope the rain was better than the dust that came with the rain last night.

What a mess of the cars this morning.

 

[QF WP]

Well, my flight finally left at 9pm (we were waiting for connecting pax who were delayed in the air). Finally made MEL at 11pm.

 

[Wunala Dreaming]

Happening again this afternoon...

Causing major problems for aircraft trying to land at BNE (see below):

Cheers

 

[serfty]

64 km Brisbane (Mt Stapylton) Radar Loop

They are moving pretty fast!

 

[NM]

Quite heavy hail at Caboulture around 4pm. And lots of lightning once again. Certainly going to cause some more delays today.

 

[Mal]

Look at all the pretty patterns the circling planes are making

Storm seems to be moving away now. A friend reported hail where he lives (southside) but not sure of the details.

 

[NM]

Storm seems to be moving away now. A friend reported hail where he lives (southside) but not sure of the details.

According to the weather radar, there are more cells approaching from the south-west. So I expect the reprieve is going to be temporary.

 

[NM]

And more storms again this morning. Lots of lightning around right now, so I assume some more BNE airport disruptions again today that could have follow-on affects for other locations and routes as well.

 

[QF WP]

So long as there isn't storms tonight as I'm heading from MEL/SYD/BNE now

 

[NM]

So long as there isn't storms tonight as I'm heading from MEL/SYD/BNE now

Its been grey all day here.

There are few more cells just appearing way out west, beyond Dalby. So you are safe for a few hours, but may be some delays later this evening.

 

[markis10]

Hi all, its a common missunderstanding that the BOM public Radar image shows storms, in fact it does not show where the storm cells are, only where the rain is, which may or may not be the result of the storms.

Of more interest to pilots is the wind shift in such storm cells, and this can be tracked by a pulsed doppler lidar to determine where the up and down draughts are located in a cell by the BOM. Most airborne radars do not have this capability AFAIK.

 

[NM]

Hi all, its a common missunderstanding that the BOM public Radar image shows storms, in fact it does not show where the storm cells are, only where the rain is, which may or may not be the result of the storms.

Of more interest to pilots is the wind shift in such storm cells, and this can be tracked by a pulsed doppler lidar to determine where the up and down draughts are located in a cell by the BOM. Most airborne radars do not have this capability AFAIK.

indeed that is true. But in most cases in Qld, the lightning is close to the rain and the lightning is what closes airports and disrupts schedules.

There is a BOM doppler wind radar available for the BNE area.

 

[markis10]

indeed that is true. But in most cases in Qld, the lightning is close to the rain and the lightning is what closes airports and disrupts schedules.

There is a BOM doppler wind radar available for the BNE area.

Ahh, another misconception , I have never closed an areodrome because of the possibility of a lightning strike, its the turbulance (read down and up drafts) thats an issue, especially on short final.

The average airline aircraft suffers one strike a year, the last crash that lightning played a part in according to ICAO was in 1988, there are only 9 such crashes on record according to ICAO.

 

[QF WP]

Well, I reiternate that there had better not be any more storms in BNE tonight.

I have arrived in SYD after a lengthy delay in MEL as this mornings weather in BNE has caused a knock-on effect through scheduling this afternoon as predicted by NM. Flew up in an international config 767-238). Whilst I thought it was going to create a tight connection, my operating aircraft for QF542 is also late in, revising my departure time from 5.30pm to 6.05pm.

Looks like my early home to Mrs LW (snagging some brownie points because she's ill) is being affected . I'll just have to drink a couple more Blue Tongues and wait..

 

[markis10]

Lindsay

The 5PM forecast for YBBN (Metar) shows no storms expected in the next three hours, you will be fine! There is a 30 percent chance there will be storms tomorrow AM from 3 til 10 though!