Sydney weather

[Nigel C]

Massive storms hitting YSSY right now causing chaos for aircraft trying to arrive and depart.

At 1030 there was a tornado reported near Kurnell, with wind gust up to 200km/h confirmed by the BOM. Moderate funnel clouds are in the TTF...
TEMPO 2338/0045 VRB45G80KT 2000 THUNDERSTORMS WITH MODERATE RAIN AND SMALL HAIL, MODERATE FUNNEL CLOUDS BKN005 SCT020CB

I imagine Grahame is watching racetracks being flown all over the place, and there have been many diversions due fuel limits being reached.

[Grahame Hutchison]

A strong storm front with high winds, lightening and hail, hit Sydney around 1045-AEDT. We had hail on the balcony up to 2cm dia, saw lightening appear to hit a crane at Port Botany, and visibility reduced to less than 200 metres (only 4km from the airport). Even VOZ702 VH-VUV from Brisbane to Hobart tracked well out to sea, and is now heading back in towards Eden.

Live ADS-B Map

ATIS YSSY R 160010
APCH: EXP ILS OR GLS APCH
RWY: 16L AND R FOR ARRS AND DEPS
SFC COND: WET
OPR INFO: HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTING ON.
SYDNEY DME NOT AVBL
START APPROVAL RQ, WHEN READY FOR PUSH BACK OR ENGINE START,
CTC SYDNEY COORDINATOR ON FREQ 127.6, FOR START TIME
+ WIND: 100/20-30
XW MN 22 MAX 25 KTS
VIS: RED TO 3000M IN HVY RA
WX: CB AND LIGHTNING IN AREA
CLD: SCT007, BKN018
+ TMP: 19
+ QNH: 1015

1050-AEDT - Aircraft are holding to the North, East and Southeast.



1131-AEDT - Looks like ATC will have some sorting out to do - ACDC are holding off the coast in 9H-AVK, and FJI911 has also gone into a hold.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Sorry Nigel, I didn't see your post and started This Thread

I can believe the Tornado effect, I could see the clouds over Botany Bay heads moving in opposing directions, almost looked like northerly and southerly patterns colliding.

Yep, plenty of holding, including ACDC in the A319, heading in from Auckland. NZ103 operated by B777-319(ER) ZK-OKR did three orbits off the coast, and is now heading north to Brisbane.

Live ADS-B Map

[Adrian B]

You can throw in there a runway change, plus a water craft in trouble in Botany Bay on the 34L approach moving all arrivals to 34R . ATC guys are certainly earning their sheckles today.

[Mark T]

Looks like ANZ103 has headed up to Brisbane

[Radi K]

Fiji and CI to BNE.

ACDC to Canberra

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Adrian B

You can throw in there a runway change, plus a water craft in trouble in Botany Bay on the 34L approach moving all arrivals to 34R . ATC guys are certainly earning their sheckles today.

Most ATC folk enjoy the challenge such weather brings as its a change from what can be a boring normal day,

[Grahame Hutchison]

70 minutes on and ATC are still working hard to clear the backlog - only a few minutes ago, there were six aircraft queued on Taxiway Tango up to the Runway 34R Holding Point, and waiting for departure.

[NathanJ]

Garuda 712 did quiet a few orbits down south, attempted a 07 arrival before aborting and heading to MEL.

Round 2 is just about to arrive... Gonna be an interesting arvo playing airports!

[Adrian B]

Second storm is about to hit. Runway change from 16 to 34 to 07 and in the process if going back to 16. Gusts up to 50 knots with a 25 knot downwind on 07.