Storm in the Hill

Well didn't we get some last night.

The thunder rolled all afternoon with some moderatley heavy rain. It then cleared late in the day allowing me to walk home from work in sunshine. As the sun set the clouds rolled in again and the most amazing lightning show took place to the south and west of town. Then about 9pm it really came down.

Depending on where in the Hill you were between 1 and 2 inches of rain fell in about 2 hours. There were up to 40 homes damaged by a "mini tornado" in South Borken Hill but most people seem to be putting a positive spin on things. We had what sounded like hail but was actually small pieces of gravel falling with the rain. It had apparently been picked up by the tornado which was about 3km from my place.

A couple of creeks in the area are reported to be in flood but I have not been out to have a look yet.

At Silverton most of the population gathered at the Pub to ride out the storm. According to local media the Pub lost part of the roof over the accomodation area but they too remain positive.

Fortunately I was not working so I got a reasonable nights sleep but the boys from the fire station were at it all night. Tarping rooves and rescuing cars from flooded streets but. No one was seriously hurt and many people have stories to share with the rels that will be embelished for the benefit of future generations.

Personally we didn't do badly at all. Our 100 year old roof held up pretty well but it did tell me that I need to get up there and give it some love.

I am guessing that most of the roads in the immediate area of Broken Hill will be closed all though I don't expect them to remain closed for long. I'd say a day or two at the most will see roads open again. If you are coming up this way don't be put off by the media reports of damage that will take weeks to clean up but do check on road conditions if you are going to travel on unsealed roads in the Broken Hill area.

Duncs