Sydney has been hit with severe storms and flash flooding today. Hope all our Sydneysider Gatchamaniacs are safe, well and dry after the deluge! News story from abc.net.au

Oh man...there have been flash floods here, but never building collapses caused by them! I'll keep the folks of Sydney in my thoughts.

I truly hope everyone is safe and sound! The world weather is truly upside down!

The CBD coped a beauty with all that rain. I know the area's pictured, and they're notorious for flash flooding. (In my younger days as a country lass newly arriving in the city. I lived closer to the city in Marrickville/Newtown. Worked in the CBD for about 10yrs.) It doesn't appear to be as bad out my way, creeks not flooded at the bottom of the hill. We had a storm in the middle of the day yesterday. We all slept in this morning, must have been the steady showers. 1/2 hour to get 4 kids out the door to school. Ruffled feathered Swan and Eagle sweeping them out the door in record time in the rain.

Eek! Hope everyone's safe.

No damage or ill effects here! Very relieved at the drop in temperature though. The unrelenting heat and stifling humidity over the last few weeks, coupled with no air conditioning at home has meant for very little sleep! We did watch torrents of water flowing down the street in front of our building at work yesterday morning. Then we had to drive through the city to a trade show (at Randwick Racecourse). A trip that would normally take less than 20 minutes took around 50. Roads were closed due to flooding, entrances to the racecourse were inaccessable and diverted traffic (which had to negotiate knee-high water in places) was heavy and slow-moving, which made for long delays. By lunchtime the rain had stopped bucketing and settled into passing showers and the drive back was much easier.

Us banana benders are melting, temp has been sitting at 28-38c (80-100F) with humidity at 70-80% for the last few months and it does not ease at night or early morning, what very little rain we have had evaporates before it gets to seap into the ground, if we do get any wind it's hot, we didn't get any of our usuall summer storms. Having talked to a lot of visiters from Sydney and Melbourne their weather has been crazier than normal, it's not good when the soil is so dry that the ground can't absorb any rain and leads to flooding. Love and hugs to all those effected by the crazy weather patterns around the world xox

Originally posted by littlewolf Having talked to a lot of visitors from Sydney and Melbourne their weather has been crazier than normal.

It's the El Nino event (something to do with the Southern Oscillation, apparently.) When we have an El Nino, the eastern states get high temps and if we have several in succession, you get droughts like you experienced in Queensland some years back. Over here in the west, an El Nino means we get a mild summer - I mean, it's February and the forecast maximum for where I am is 24ºC (76ºF) and tomorrow it's supposed to be 19ºC (66ºF) with rain! I'm not complaining at the moment - I love the mild weather since I can get more work done - but it means this year's wildflower season won't be quite as spectacular as usual because the native orchids won't have the high summer temps they need to bloom come spring. Of course the other thing I'm not complaining about is the lower-than-usual fire danger ratings. Normally at this time of year, everyone's stalking around their properties on edge and looking for any sign of smoke. Last year on the Australia Day weekend we had the tail end of a cyclone (that's like a hurricane only turning the other way) drift down from up north and dump over 200mm of rain across the lower south west. Roads were cut, dams overflowed and the river came up almost to the bottom of the bridge. We all went down to the old river crossing with cameras and bottles of wine to watch the flood, but we heard later that at the next town upstream a visitor had tried to kayak on the flooded river and was drowned when she got capsized. On Day Two of the rain I switched the water tanks over to collection and ended up with both of them overflowing on January 27th. So, yeah. Global Weirding is what it is.

Originally posted by littlewolf Us banana benders are melting, temp has been sitting at 28-38c (80-100F) with humidity at 70-80% for the last few months and it does not ease at night or early morning, what very little rain we have had evaporates before it gets to seap into the ground, if we do get any wind it's hot, we didn't get any of our usuall summer storms. Having talked to a lot of visiters from Sydney and Melbourne their weather has been crazier than normal, it's not good when the soil is so dry that the ground can't absorb any rain and leads to flooding. Love and hugs to all those effected by the crazy weather patterns around the world xox

The higher temps I can handle. Humidity I really have a harder time with. I'm used to dry heat, droughts and water restrictions. Not that I like it. But I grew up with almost every summer on water restrictions living in a rural town. I still have water preservation habits, so does DH. We are expected to have 45C (113F) tomorrow and high humidity. Sunscreen and waterfights!! Get out the Sprinkler!

Originally posted by GrumpyGhostOwl Of course the other thing I'm not complaining about is the lower-than-usual fire danger ratings. Normally at this time of year, everyone's stalking around their properties on edge and looking for any sign of smoke.

Second day in a row over 40 degrees C. The summer has broken records for "hottest on record", "most consecutive days over 35", "hottest January on record", "hottest February day on record" . . . and now we have the NSW Rural Fire service warning us that tomorrow will be perfect conditions for "Catastrophic" bush fire danger. Looks pretty bad for the whole state, and there is a state-wide total fire ban. There are plenty of fires already burning, but the fireys are worried that tomorrow's conditions will have them stretched to the limits. Check out the map on this page http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fdr-and-tobans

Originally posted by Katblu42

Originally posted by GrumpyGhostOwl Of course the other thing I'm not complaining about is the lower-than-usual fire danger ratings. Normally at this time of year, everyone's stalking around their properties on edge and looking for any sign of smoke.

Second day in a row over 40 degrees C. The summer has broken records for "hottest on record", "most consecutive days over 35", "hottest January on record", "hottest February day on record" . . . and now we have the NSW Rural Fire service warning us that tomorrow will be perfect conditions for "Catastrophic" bush fire danger. Looks pretty bad for the whole state, and there is a state-wide total fire ban. There are plenty of fires already burning, but the fireys are worried that tomorrow's conditions will have them stretched to the limits. Check out the map on this page http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fdr-and-tobans

I suspect a lot of the firies will be pretty certain that the conditions will have them stretched to their limits. If experience is anything to go by, the other states probably have professional firies on standby to fly in and assist if needed. Hopefully they won't be needed.

I received an SMS from the NSW state government yesterday. Catastrophic fire conditions. Please beware! High temps expected today, where I live we generally are 5 celecius higher then the Northern beaches. We are expected to be around 45c today, all weekend. Drying winds. It was out this morning and it was like midday at 8am. Any drongo caught having a BBQ in bush land better watch out for snipers Eagles and Condors and a Swan!! There is always one person who doesn't think...

yep there's always some bloody idiot out there who doesn't listen to the warning, it's up there with people who leave kids in the car or don't take precautions with their animals in extreme conditions, I think it should be mandatory for everyone to do a basic emergency course in flood, fire, storm, drought and first aid, what to do and what not to do

Originally posted by littlewolf yep there's always some bloody idiot out there who doesn't listen to the warning, it's up there with people who leave kids in the car or don't take precautions with their animals in extreme conditions, I think it should be mandatory for everyone to do a basic emergency course in flood, fire, storm, drought and first aid, what to do and what not to do

The silly part is that it's mostly common sense, which is an oxymoron. Prepare, Act, Survive. And thanks for the first aid reminder! Mine's up for renewal this month and I need to book in. (Better send that e-mail!)

I need to up date my first Aid certification. Fortunately the temps have dropped a bit for now.

I just got back from mine. They keep changing stuff. Management of the choking child was different from last year and infant CPR has a few changes as well. No more slings, either! There's more focus on treatment of anaphylaxis (not surprising, given the increase of severe allergic reactions within the wider community) and some minor changes to the application of compression bandages for snakebite. I thought the section on envenomation was hilarious. They had this section on snakes which began, in all seriousness, "Snakes are elongated legless reptiles..." Can you imagine the scenario where anyone at an Australian first aid course would put their hand up and say, "Excuse me, but what's a snake?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNEeq5qGh8I

LOL-- I grew up an Ambo officer for a neighbour. He ran the courses so from the age of ten years old I had a first aid certificate. I have let it lax in the last few years. No time raising 4 kids very close in age. My twins are very active. (The first 5yrs of twins is extremely hectic.) Even previous training helped recently with my daughters broken arm. No slings?? That has to be recent. The snake bite. Hilarious! I know of Aussie males who have grabbed a beer and waited for the Ambulance if bitten by a snake. A beer slows down the blood flow to the heart apparently. (NOT good advice if anyone reads this post.) True story... I've done CPR in RL when first aid officer in my work place about 25 years ago. Its was stressful, poor bloke passed away. But I'm glad I knew how to do it, and at least we tried to save him and I wasn't standing around helpless. I'm likely to volunteer later in the year for lifeline, 2hrs a week. I have to do their training first.

More weird climate stuff! About a week ago, southern Western Australia experienced heavy rainfall thanks to a tropical depression which travelled down from up north. There has been widespread flooding in the Great Southern and now the Blackwood River in the Lower South West is about to cop it, not because of the rain we've had here (a paltry 15mm by my rain gauge) but because of what has fallen upstream. It has taken the waters five days to travel downstream thus far. The town upstream has put levee banks in (they've held) and locals started watching the river rise in town last night. We'll probably see the levels start to come up here tonight. This is the second year in a row we've had a summer flood on the Blackwood. So weird. I'm not particularly worried since the pattern is for the river to reach a point between minor and moderate flooding (well below the 25-year flood levels and way below the 100-year flood levels) which is what we get in a good winter anyway. People around here build on high ground and it would have to be a flood of near-biblical proportions to reach my place. I just hope no tourist does anything imprudent this year. Last year during the Australia Day floods, an experienced kayaker from Perth launched her kayak into the flood at Bridgetown and she got capsized and drowned. Over a hundred volunteers then put their own safety at risk conducting the search and rescue operation. So come the weekend we're going to have sunshine, temps in the low thirties (Celsius) and a flood. On the bright side, I should be able to get some great photographs.

Just thought you all would like to know that, based on what's been going on in Australia in addition to what's been happening here (near record-breaking highs and just a trace of snow), we're not only seeing proof of climate change, but this is surely the Beginning of the End!

Yeah, I left out some feed for the horses of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (there used to be five but one of them left before they got famous*) but the Kangaroos ate it. * Discworld.

Sosai Z is finally succeeding...his plan to end the universe with one swift ice age, followed by a BBQ, is finally coming into play. I'm seeing a plot evolving here. End of the world invitations are being sent by email.

That actually doesn't sound so bad... after all we could use some respite from the heat, and it's always good to have ice at a barbecue to keep the drinks cold. It took a week for the water to reach us but we got to 'moderate' flood levels. Thankfully, no homes have been impacted by the flood so we get to enjoy the spectacle of Mother Nature demonstrating her power. EDIT: and since linking images isn't working, here's the link to my photo blog instead: http://blackwoodraptor.wordpress.com/

Now that it's officially autumn here in Australia, the south west corner is getting hot, humid weather with a prediction of low rainfall ahead! I knew it was going to be a hot day today when I opened the laundry door this morning and found myself face-to-face with the kangaroos, who had been lying down in the shade of the back verandah. They're currently on their second bucket of water. Now that it's March, the March Flies have also turned up (I know, the word is from the archaic 'march' meaning 'marsh,' not the month of March) and I swear they're at least 25% bigger than they were last year! It's not just me, everyone around the place is commenting on the unusually large March Flies. I suspect these Marchies were designed and manufactured by the same person who put together the robot ants from the ant episode. I haven't checked out their bums but I wouldn't be surprised to see tiny mufflers poking out.

It was wet here in Sydney. At school pick up I had six kids under ten years old, it decides to start pouring rain.... with one umbrella... give up!! Ebony shouts. "Kids make a run for it, car's that way..." Kids had a ball, they thought it was exciting, fun, the one falls in the mud... all fun and games...

The fire that destroyed property and livestock just under a month ago (when NSW had "catastrophic" fire conditions) is finally out! It was started by a lightning strike. http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/4514330/sir-ivan-fire-finally-out/

Originally posted by ElectricWhite Just thought you all would like to know that, based on what's been going on in Australia in addition to what's been happening here (near record-breaking highs and just a trace of snow), we're not only seeing proof of climate change, but this is surely the Beginning of the End!

Nah... a few more signs to go yet... I've read the Revelations.. not happening yet mate.