Weather residue

It's been balmy summer days in Brisbane with many days of picture postcard vibrant blue skies and pretty white fluffy clouds. Yesterday morning in a passing light shower a rainbow appeared in the valley, it seemed so close, arching a full prism of colour. It's been almost possible to forget recent weather events that rocked Brisbane....but only until I visit the suburbs directly affected.

On a recent trip to Milton, the ongoing effects of flooding were clear. From white chalky residue staining side walks where watterlogged plaster board had been piled for discarding, to the mud encrusted garden beds. Streets filled with tradesman's vehicles and the pumping sound of surface cleaning equipment, life is far from back to normal.

These visual signs indicate more obvious impacts, but there are also the harder to see psychological effects. In conversation with an acquaintance this week I realised how much things have changed for some. Her business had been completely submerged, after being told water from the Brisbane River wouldn't reach more than an inch in the building. So the flooding had been devastating. Offices are well under re-constuction and alternative arrangements have been made, in the circumstances it appears a very positive response.

What really caught my attention was discussion about forecast rain for this week in Brisbane and the fear of more flooding. I thought it's not possible, only showers have been forecast and it would take an enormous amount of water to create the circumstances again that arose in January. My acquaintance replied, yes you are right, it's just all those scaremongerers that seem to know I am one of those affected by the last floods. Feelings of vulnerability and fear will be with many of those affected for a long time I imagine. January's flooding will be a life long weather memory that many will never forget.

Change

After several days of a heat wave with temperatures in the high 30s the change rolled in yesterday afternoon. Heavy rain overnight has lowered temperatures but not the humidity. The forecast above is for Mittagong about 30 kilometres away but shows that we are in for a variety of conditions in the next few days.

I live in an area where volcanic soils and rain forest were cleared for farmland in the 1800s. The soil is very fertile but opens up with large cracks after a few days of heat. Heavy rain is soaked up as if the earth is a sponge so todays rain is very welcome.

I'm writing this while watching commentary about the effect of cyclone Yasi 2000 kms away. As a former Queenslander I have lived through many cyclones, usually in January and February, but this storm is way beyond anything that I have ever seen. February is beginning with very wild weather.

1st February 2011

Blah! It just feels too hot! No cool air tonight and a week of weather predicted over 30degrees. Humidity is high, sweat appears with little to no exertion... it's February in the subtropics. This is the month I have considered for some time to be the most uncomfortable for weather.

This week also brings a severe weather event in the form of cyclone Yasi approaching the north coast of Queensland. With a storm front around 500km wide, it's scale and force is hard to comprehend.

Heat and ideas of weather.

We have had a series of hot days in the mid 30s and I feel a little like this sun flower - stooped and past my prime.

Unlike Brisbane where the heat is often relentless at this time of the year we have been getting cool nights with the mist coming with a cool change at 6 or 7pm.

I've also been thinking a lot about my reaction to the weather since my visit to Brisbane last week. I was reminded of the 1974 floods when I lived there. So often weather conditions, like smells, do bring back memories.

My ideas about weather have been challenged in the last few weeks when there have been floods and storms in Qld, NSW and Vic, high temperatures and bushfires in WA and rough weather off the coast resulting in deaths when freak waves swept people out to sea in southern NSW. I haven't been affected by any of these events but I no longer feel that I 'know' the weather.

Blue skies

I'm not sure that I've been listening more intently this last week or just that constant comments on the weather from many people and conversations has accumulated in my mind. After a week of sunshine, warm to hot days, some with out a cloud in the sky; I've noticed two view points in conversation. The majority of comments have been along the lines of ....'Thank goodness for the sunshine, I'll take this heat any day over the rain, we don't want any more rain'.... a smaller proportion of comments have lamented the return of heat with clear sunny days. This week it would seem conversation about weather is not just the stuff of passing comment or a polite word between strangers; it's become a topic of genuine merit.

This got me thinking about what we wish for in weather, what is the perfect day? 24 degrees? sunshine? Perhaps a light shower over night and cool air for sleeping? What would it be like if every day was the same? Without seasons, what would our food be like? plants? clothes? Variation is at the heart of life, and although we would all like to live without the extremes of recent events, I can only imagine monotony without the daily changes. Change is one of the ultimate certainties in life, as long as the earth keeps spinning.

Canberra skies in summer

A weekend in Canberra with sunny blue skies during the day and late afternoon clouds. Some rumbling sounds and overnight rain brought more blue skies the next morning. I visited the National Art Gallery on Sunday and took these two images, unintentionally capturing the sky within and without a circle. Within just before entering the gallery, and without on exit a few hours later.

Afternoon Clouds

Rolling clouds and distant thunder remind me of summer weather in Brisbane where first semester back at school meant taking off your shoes and wading home through puddles left by the 3 pm storms. We have had thunder for the last three afternoons but no rain.

I have been enjoying the warm days but as you can see from the forecast above we are in for some hot days.