Severe hailstorms a possibility this April. Garage your cars!

[gtc]

We may be due for a nasty April like we had back in 1999 ....

EXPERTS are warning April will be the most dangerous period for hail storms, with Sydney set for a range of wild weather, including tornado-style storm cells.

The grim forecast follows the torrential rain which battered western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands on Sunday evening, causing trees to fall on homes, road closures and roof collapses at the Blue Mountains Hospital and Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Centre. But Sydneysiders should brace for even more severe weather, with April traditionally known as the most likely period for hail storms.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Rob Taggart said Sunday's severe downpour was so severe it displayed characteristics of a supercell, which could produce a tornado.

"All supercells have mid-level rotations which are deep and strong," Mr Taggart said. "The rotations in the thunderstorm we saw yesterday weren't as deep or as strong, but the characteristics were there and these storms are known to persist into April.

Sunday's thunderstorms were caused by a cold system interacting with moist low-level air, according to a spokesman from the BOM.

The bureau said the downpour involved two separate storm cells from Katoomba and Badgerys Creek. Hail stones the size of golf balls fell in St Clair. The storms resulted in a huge number of emergency call-outs this week.

The worst affected areas included Box Hill, which received 38mm of rain in 30 minutes after 8pm, Bowral which received 35mm in 20 about 6.45pm, North Richmond with 32mm in 30 minutes at about 7.30pm and Katoomba, which was pelted with 28mm. Golf-ball-sized hail also struck St Clair and flash flooding hit Hornsby, Blackheath, Glenorie, Bilpin, Berowra and Wisemans Ferry.

The bureau said the storm also affected Penrith, Parramatta and Campbelltown.

The month of April produced the most severe hailstorm to ever hit Sydney. On April 14, 1999, about 20,000 homes, 40,000 cars and 25 aircraft were damaged by hail. The largest hail stones measured by the BOM were more than 8cm. Insurance claims after the storm exceeded $1.5 billion.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/thunderstruck-sydney-all-hail-breaks-loose-in-stormy-city/story-fni0cx4q-1226870762102

[anychevy]

We may be due for a nasty April like we had back in 1999 ....

Great, lets hope not, had no power for a week