Notes on Developing Cold Fronts
Winter 2011 notes:
BoM Central Tablelands Weather Warnings via phone on 1300 659 218
Head to the Local Weather News link above for spring and summer weather events, including our storm season.
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Sunday, 4-12-11, 6m: Its unlikely now that any strong cold fronts will occur until autumn 2012. It sure has been a very cool start to summer though. In the mean-time, enjoy this amazing rime image from Laurier Williams, taken on top of Mt Cannobolas, near Orange. Also, enjoy the the great snowfall images from 1965 and 1956. Thanks to Mr NASA for digging up these images.
Have a look at this ski.com.au winter chart from one of the members there, Gerg. You can see that the maximum snow depths at Spencers Creek have been lowering over the decades and also that the last decade hasn't been very good for snow depths. View the link here.
NB: The forecasts and outlooks above are informal considerations presented by blackheathweather.com. Please refer to the main page for official BoM forecasts.
Debunk The Myth
I often hear it said in Blackheath that we didn't get snow because it was too windy. There is no scientific basis to this at all. Its just that most cold fronts come from a SW direction and are usually windy and bring more snow to the Oberon Plateau than they do to the Blue Mountains. Its not because its too windy that we don't get snow its because we are downwind of the Oberon Plateau and during most cold fronts they 'steal' most of our snow. Without wind, the cold air from down south wouldn't get here in the first place. So snow lovers, tell your mates that its not the wind that prevents the Blue Mountains from getting snow at all, its the Oberon Plateau in most situations.
NB: We still can get nice snowfalls from the SW but you need cold upper levels (at least minus 27C at 500hPa) and good mid level moisture at 700hPa to create a nice moist and unstable mix. Don't forget it was very windy from the SW during the 19-6-07 fall and cold upper level air and good moisture in the lower levels was the reason we got such good snow.
