WSC - Western Storm Chasers of Melbourne - Est. 1993
We hope you enjoy our pictorial record of storm activity in around the central, western central and CBD areas of Melbourne - in particular Geelong, Lara, Avalon, Tarneit, Laverton, Werribee, Ballarat, Daylesford, Melton, Sunshine, Hoppers Crossing, Essendon and Parkville.
Topography
The area between Geelong and Melbourne sits in the lee of the Otway Ranges to the SW, which creates a 'rain-shadow'effect. This 50km low-lying region of the Basalt Plains therefore receives a relatively low average annual rainfall compared to most of Melbourne's northern and eastern suburbs. Of course extreme weather, storms and heavy rain still occur here with the most damaging events often originating from due west.Recent History
From 1996 to 2010 most of Australia experienced one of the worst droughts on record. In Victoria Stage 3 water restrictions were in force, watering lawns was forbidden and retailers selling water tanks made an absolute killing. Over the course of 2010 rainfall picked up dramatically, and by the later months of 2011 there was little reason to 'chase' storms. If there wasn't one over-head, there was usually one on the way.Whether the result of La Nina or climate change - flood events in 2010 and 2011 were frequent and extreme affecting most of Australia, the worst hit being Queensland, New South Wales, and inland Victoria - resulting in fatalities, stock losses and widespread property damage. On 6th February 2011 some Melbourne locations received soaking rains - areas from Laverton to Tarneit got around 117mm of rain in under eight hours.
Have a Plan
A storm can be both terrible or exhilarating, depending on your proximity to it and what you stand to lose. For all our technology there are still severe events that cannot be predicted, or avoided, so
personal safety must always come first. As with bushfires, the time to make a survival plan is not
when you can smell smoke. You should have a storm survival plan in place long before the rain falls and the wind begins to howl.Local knowledge, the most current data, and knowing if and when you need to move are vital.
Our Links page can help you find live radar images from the Bureau of Meteorology, webcams,
current warnings, rainfall and streamflow data to keep you well informed. From a safe distance,
thunder heads and lightning are things of awesome beauty. A storm raging directly above you is something else entirely. Remember also, that heavy rainfall many kilometers away will cause the local rivers to rise, even though it may remain completely dry where you are.Equipment
There is an excellent selection of wireless weather stations for home enthusiasts available, including some that have solar rechargeable batteries in the sensor unit outside. They measure barometric pressure, temperature, wind speed, wind gusts, luminance, UV and rainfall the information can be downloded to your pc for further analysis. Check out our Weather store for all the latest Weather Station equipment at very reasonable prices.So watch those storms, take great photos, and please be careful out there !
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