big storm heading north

for all those north of grafton

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
for GIANT HAILSTONES, DESTRUCTIVE WIND and FLASH FLOODING

For people in the
NORTHERN RIVERS,
MID NORTH COAST and
NORTHERN TABLELANDS Forecast Districts.

Issued at 7:23 pm Wednesday, 10 December 2008.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce large hailstones, destructive winds, very heavy rainfall and flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Tenterfield, Casino, Kyogle, Yamba, Maclean, Woolgoolga, Sawtell and Dorrigo.

An especially severe thunderstorm was located about 12 km north of Maclean at 7:15pm and was moving to the north to northeast. It has been producing giant hail (larger than 5 cm diameter) and potentially destructive winds.

Another especially severe thunderstorm was located about 10 km east of Casino and is also moving towards the north-northeast. This storm is also likely to produce giant hail and potentially destructive winds. It is expected to pass west of Lismore and move towards Nimbin over the next hour.

A third intense thunderstorm was located near Corindi Beach (north of Woolgoolga), moving towards Wooli.

Hail about the size of tennis balls was reported at Swan Creek (east of Grafton) at 6:15pm.
3 to 4 cm hail and winds estimated at 100 km/hr were reported at Coutts Crossing (south of Grafton) just before 6 pm.