Weather News

Turbulent skies over WA's interior

Jacobus Cronje, Sunday June 25, 2017 - 10:55 AEST

Following a week of generally clear weather over the interior of WA, thundery clouds and a strong jetstream are leading to storm activity and some magnificent cloud features observable on satellite.

A broad region of low pressure, fed by moist higher-level winds from the northwest, is leading to thunderstorm development over the Gascoyne, Goldfields and Southern Interior.

There are also some parallel cloud structures visible on satellite imagery scattered across the interior. These herringbone-like structures are associated with extreme wind shear and turbulence with a jet stream, currently stretching across the country all the way from the Pilbara through to the eastern seaboard.

Turbulence is most common on the cooler, poleward side of a jetstream, and these turbulent cloud features are oriented perpendicular to the zone of stronger winds in the higher levels of the atmosphere.

Check out the herringbone cloud structures associated with the jetstream at http://www.weatherzone.com.au/satellite/was

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2017

Enter a postcode or town name for local weather, or text to search the site. » advanced search

Weather News

» all stories

A very wet weekend for southeast Qld, northeast NSW

11:48 AEST A prolonged rainfall event is set to bring large totals to parts of NSW and Qld from Saturday, with possible heavy falls and flooding. A low-pressure system in the Coral Sea, a deepening coastal trough and persistent easterlies will bring moisture-laden air into southeast Qld and northeast NSW will bring days of rainfall to the region. While there is not a drop of rain on the radar over southeast Qld and Northeast NSW on Friday morning, the mass of cloud associated with a low in the Coral Sea will enhance rainfall over the weekend.