Albany 256km Radar/Lightning

LocationAlbany Meteorological Office Radar TypeWF 100 C Band Typical Availability2100-0001; 0130-0700; 0900-1300; 1430-1900

The Albany radar is rarely affected by false echoes or anomalous propagation and there are no permanent echoes. There is a blue gum plantation to the west of the station that obstructs the radar beam, causing a significant radar "shadow" to the west and south-west. During the winter months rain bands may be observed moving in from the north-west ahead of strong cold fronts. Heavy showers occur with the passage of these fronts with further lines of showers embedded in the strong west to southwest winds that follow. Large thunderstorm cells can also be seen moving along just off the south coast prior to the arrival of these strong fronts. "Cut-off" lows, with their own individual circulation, can occasionally develop off the south coast in the wake of cold fronts. Such circulations, when established, are generally slow moving and can produce large areas of rain and drizzle for days. South to southeast winds accompany such systems. During the summer months convective thunderstorms occasionally develop to the northeast of Albany near the Stirling Ranges and move to the southeast during the evening. Lightning from these storms creates a great night display but is a very real fire hazard. Heavy rain directly over the radar site can cause attenuation of all signals. Path attenuation can also occur when the radar beam passes through intense rainfall, with the returned signals from cells further along that path reduced.