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Deadly Weather Signs

Wednesday 27 April 2005

"Being able to recognise and understand weather clues could enable people to predict the weather," says Martin Babakhan, leading meteorologist from the Faculty of Science and Information Technology at the University of Newcastle.

"Severe storms are responsible for more damage than tropical cyclones, earthquakes, floods or bushfires," says Martin. "Unfortunately, storms also kill people. Lightning strikes and strong winds can cause tree limbs to fall, debris to become projectiles and small boats to capsize in open water."

"Cloud formations can enable us to 'read' approaching storms, allowing us to see the difference between weaker and potentially severe weather systems."

"One clue can be found in the cloud formation seen at the top of a thunderstorm cloud called the anvil. The anvil can reach heights of 10-16 kilometres and may appear to be 'boiling'. It often has a fibrous, frozen appearance as it is primarily composed of ice crystals."

"The anvil can indicate the age, strength and severity of the thunderstorm. Unevenness on the top indicates erratic growth, while a diffused edge suggests a weaker system."

"Other clues of storm severity can be found in the rain curtain. If it is dark and smooth, very heavy rain is likely. Rainfall in severe storms will become progressively heavier and is sometimes mixed with hail, while weaker storms have patchy rainfall or short downpours."

"A wall cloud is the name given to a small cloud feature that can be found toward the rear of the storm. As a storm becomes stronger and develops an organised inflow, its main updraught may begin to rotate slightly. This can be seen in the circular nature of the wall cloud."

"A supercell is the most dangerous cloud complex and accounts for most of the serious thunderstorms. It can be identified by a high, crisp anvil indicating a very strong, sustained updraught with a steep, almost vertical mass of boiling cloud towers at the rear of the storm and multiple lightning bolts."

"As we become more reliant on modern technology to predict the weather, we are losing our ability to recognise nature's weather warnings. Learning to identify and understand natureâ€™s signals, particulary when it comes to severe thunderstorms, could potentially save a life," says Martin.

Images available from the Media Unit on (02) 4921 6856.
For media interviews contact Martin Babakhan on (02) 4921 7089.