May 11-12 2003

There was much hope on the morning of the 11th May for some sort of severe weather later in the day as a strong low and trough was spiralling across central SA.
Already large rainfall totals were being recorded in western areas of the state. Edithburgh 45.8mmm, Minlaton 27.2mm, Parawa 26.8mm, Port Lincoln 26.2mm all up to 9am. Clear rotation on Adelaide radar was evident with heavy showers over Yorke Pen moving south and showers over Spencer Gulf moving north..
By 3pm it was getting increasingly black in the west and with the forecast suggesting heavy falls and thunderstorms south west of Port Augusta to Edinburgh to Bordertown it was looking promising.

By about 4.30pm I had joined Andrew/Kathy/Kameron and Greg up at St Kilda where we watched as the showers/storms got progressively closer. Thunder could be heard regularly in the distance and the clouds started to look a tad meaner.
Eventually it started raining heavier and the lightning became visible. As it got closer several areas of scud and sus lowerings appeared and then it was obvious a guster was along the leading edge of the storm.

We had a good view of the storm to our east giving out lightning every 30 secs or so I suppose. As it all started to move further south we decided to move. Initially we headed to Parafield until Kathy decided to go to Wynn Vale lookout but I lost them and continued down to Gepps Cross corepunching the storm and actually getting in front of it. Some of the worst driving conditions I've ever experienced. I then turned back north along Main North Road and corepunched it again lol... Decided to zoom up McIntyre Road to Modbury as that was where the storm appeared to be heading, got some great CGs right in front of me and this continued all the way down to Dernancourt and then Campbelltown when the lightning seemed to die a fair bit so I headed back home.
All up a satisfactory chase and storm, didn't get many photos and no video but I'm just glad to see lightning again!!  Recorded 13mm at my house from the storms and rain.

Other chaser reports and photos can be found here: http://www.saweather.net/reports/

With the trough remaining near stationary and the upper trough still over SA there was always a chance of more action on the 12th.  Unfortunately I was working so I couldn't chase but Greg did head up to the Moonta area on Yorke Peninsula. He encountered a rotating wall cloud, a funnel, and frequent Cg's!!!!
You can see his report and some photos here: http://www.saweather.net/reports/
Also during the afternoon, thunderstorms with heavy rain and small hail caused flash flooding on the eastern slopes of the Flinders Ranges between Quorn and Wilmington. Hail was still visible on the ground along Horrock's Pass, the following morning.

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