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Thunder Down Under

Storm Chasing in Australia - Dec. 2007

While most of North America is feeling the grip of old man winter, down in the southern hemisphere storm season is reaching its peak. I travelled to New South Wales in Australia to meet up with local storm chaser Jimmy Deguara and together we went after the thunderstorms that billow up in the area north of Sydney. It was a challenge trying to forecast and chase in the southern hemisphere since everything works backwards compared to North America but it was a great learning experience and we got to see some dramatic skies.

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A heavy precipitation core is a welcome thing in this drought stricken area.

Here's a sign I've never seen while chasing in North America!

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Storms starting to form over higher elevation.

A billowing thunderstorm, just getting started.

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The road network here was not very good. Sometimes even the gravel roads couldn't get us under the storms.

Jimmy, surveying the sky and watching the cloud motion to see where we should head next.

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A large dust devil that was kicked up near one of the thunderstorms.

Some swiftly rushing water alongside one of the roads, nearby was a torrential downpour.

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A lowering below cloud base near a rural farm in New South Wales.

Just outside the "town" of Collie: Population: 39.

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The Warrenbungle mountains, just outside of Coonabarabran.

A good view of a mature thunderstorm as we approach.

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Dust being kicked up by thunderstorm outflow winds.

A rainbow near Dorrigo.