Super Storm Cell Hits Canberra: The Aftermath Part II
Apologies for the delay in getting these images up, I have been busy writing my first paper for publication.
So the damage at the ANU was pretty extensive as an article in ANU’s On Campus Newsletter reports…
“Just under 60 buildings across campus received major damage this week during one of the worst storms to hit Canberra in recorded history. The freak storm cut a swathe from Belconnen to Civic late on Tuesday 27 February, pelting the area in large hailstones and heavy rain. A thick layer of hail still carpeted the campus on Wednesday morning when University authorities began an extensive damage assessment and clean-up operation. Water inundation was the most common cause of damage in many buildings, where gutters were blocked by hail and roofs gave way under heavy loads of rain. This resulted in extensive harm to ceilings, walls, carpets, computers, books and documents. The School of Art, School of Music, Chifley Library, and the Research School of Information Sciences and Engineering, and Computer Science and Information and Technology buildings were among the hardest hit. The hail also damaged some windows and skylights on campus, destroying up to 80 per cent of the glasshouses at the School of Botany and Zoology. Several more buildings received minor damage, mostly related to water leaks.”
The full article can be found here.
At lunch on the day after the storm here my research group went for its usual walk to the other side of campus for lunch and the following are photos of some of the things we saw.
Broken windows at the Research School of Physical Sciences & Engineering
Hail on the tennis courts at ANU. It was still there at 1pm.
Sullivan’s Creek which runs through the ANU and is the main outflow of stormwater into Lake Burley Griffin. Normally it is just a trickle. Notice the flood mark from the night before about a metre above the current water level.
Hail and deris at Union Court. Apparently just after the storm it was covered entirely with hail.
A mound of hail collected upon one of the grassed areas near the Union Court. The grass area resembled was a complete mud bath. Standing on the mound are members of SP3; at the back from left to right are Jan (from Stuttgart), Wes and Rhys and at the front are Dr Christine Charles and Professor Rod Boswell, my supervisors.
The ABC Canberra & The RiotACT websites also have good collections of photographs taken during and after the storm. The latter also includes a few videos taken during the storm that have been posted on YouTube.
January 12th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Hello,
I’m a french meteorologist, author of several books on the weather (http://www.meteo-paris.com/publications.html # queltemps). I write a book on weather records in the world. Would you allow me to publish your photo (hail storm) ? Your name will be mentioned and I will send you a book.
Thank you very much - Guillaume Séchet - email: guillaumesechet@hotmail.com