The heart of the storm

Can I point out that rainfall at Cooma Airport for the fours days 28-29th Feb and 1-2nd March has been 127.8mm and for Canberra Airport 126.4mm.
Note that Canberra only had half the forecast 200-300mm.
The forecast for Cooma was better.
Just BTW – IMHO there has been something of a beat up in the media of what has mostly been minor flooding.

Jerrabomberra Creek is inching its way up towards Canberra Ave… hopefully won’t get near it.

70mm in the 12 hours to 7am at Harrison and still steady rain. Great deep drenching for the soil.

60mm by 7.30am at Harcourt Hill and I see the airport and other stations similar. The system would have to heavy up very considerably in the period to 9am tomorrow to validate the magnitude of the forecast map above. But hey, I would have to say for the BoM – pretty good forecasting to get the overall structure of the multiday event – even if they erred somewhat on the heavy side.
Listening to ES pers last night struggling to yak on about rain forecasts on the TV crosses – arm waving about floods all over NSW – leaves me thinking that the BoM or a prof met person should handle that side of media interviews. The ES people should keep more to what they know – actual flooding – rescues etc.
The media has exaggerated at times, I noticed in yesterdays Canberra Times that Cooma was “lashed by more than 25mm rain” – I see the airport recorded 30 – wow more than 1 inch and in a DAY – biblical !! On last nights TV news on one of the ABC channels – a lady reporter hyperventilated that Broken Hill had 86mm in a day which she said was half the yearly rain. Well a simple check taking 30 secs online shows that the mean annual rain at the BoM Patton Street station is quoted as 258mm. Also I see that Feb 2011 had 140.6mm and Feb 2010 has 109.6 and Feb 2000 scored 94.8mm in a day – so locals should not have been too stunned to see rain and local flooding in February.
On ABC news online just now I see this gem – “Canberra has already exceeded its average rainfall average for March.”
Time for a cuppa and a quiet read before hitting the Send button I think.

Is it ordinary rain, or is it….. CHUBBY RAIN?

Peewee Slasher said :

“Purple Rain”

Also known as a downright ROYAL drenching…

Heh heh, the term “purple patch” had quite a different meaning I recall back in the day.

These maps are generated by computer models which have become notoriously confused by our changing climate patterns. I doubt we’ll see 400mm BUT I must say, the steady and increasingly heavy rain today and tonight actually conforming to the forecasts is a bit of a worry. Cos if those forecasts are accurate, things will become mighty interesting in this region.

Amanda Hugankis said :

Peewee Slasher said :

“Purple Rain”

“Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changin’
It’s time we all reach out for something new, that means you too
You say you want a leader, but you can’t seem to make up your mind
And I think you better close it and let me guide you to the purple rain ……..”

It all makes sense!

Showing your age here, Amanda. And now so am I. 🙂

Peewee Slasher said :

“Purple Rain”

“Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changin’
It’s time we all reach out for something new, that means you too
You say you want a leader, but you can’t seem to make up your mind
And I think you better close it and let me guide you to the purple rain ……..”

It all makes sense!