A huge storm cell has been hovering off the south east coast of Australia for the past 24 hours.
radar image this afternoon
We had torrential rain and powerful winds in the night, gradually easing after midday today. There are tree branches down here, and the corrugated iron blew off the firewood stack. In other places roads are closed, power is out, and floods are threatening. When the rain stopped we drove out to the point to see the ocean.
monster waves at honeymoon beach
Great globs of foam were blowing in the air, whipped up in small rocky coves by wind and waves.
pinnacles in a sea of foam
Trees and shrubs exposed to the south bent almost double in the gale. Then we went down to our more sheltered beach where the huge swell thundered past, and we wondered how long it would be before the first surfers arrived with their boards.
waves looked like hills!
Here little birds called to each other as they dived from one thicket to another. Seagulls and gannets soared and wheeled in the sky, seeming to play with the wind.
gannets over shag rock
A Reef Heron kept low on the rocks near the lagoon which was emptying out in volume, rich brown water colouring the surf.
reef heron near shore
A lone Sooty Oystercatcher stood at the edge of the sea, retreating a little as each wave seemed to come further in over the rocks.
sooty oystercatcher against the spray
We went home past fallen branches and running gutters to the warmth of our slow combustion stove and the kettle on the fire. Not much chance of seeing Venus transiting the sun!
For more news on the wild weather http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-05/nsw-bad-weather/4053742
Being in Miami since 1954 these satellite photos have always been of interest. Some hurricanes are so huge and cover hundreds of square miles – it is frightening and I wonder how we survive. Or sometimes if we will. But the tornadoes are much worse than hurricanes in destructive power in so few seconds.
i am sure your tornados are much worse than this system, although it is doing a lot of damage from Melbourne to Sydney …. it is amazing to watch it coming on the radar isn’t it!
We copped it early evening tonight in Sydney – I love looking at the sea in wild weather, so enjoyed your photos 🙂
the power of the storm is thrilling! hope you come through unscathed, we have a bit of clearing up to do before people arrive for yoga tomorrow 😀
This must have been amazing to see in person. Thanks for sharing your photos.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
so windy i was reluctant to get out of the car, S lost his hat when it was blown off, but caught it later in the bushes …. on the sheltered side it was OK, just watching those huge waves!
Wow. There’s nothing quite like the weather & its effects to make one “present”. And to show how What’s In Front Of Me is the same …….. but different. Great photos;)
thanks mm, i agree whole heartedly 🙂
Such dramatic weather, take car and I hope the wood stays dry.Those surfers must be crazy!
You really got some terrific beach photos. The more I see waves crashing on the shore, the more I am ready to pack the car and head East to our own little beach. ‘Tis the season, here. 😉 Thanks for the share, Christine.
i look forward to enjoying your beach posts when they come 🙂
I could dig some old beach photos out of the archives, but hopefully, I’ll get some ‘new’ shots this year. I may have to replace my camera first, though. It was misbehaving horribly on Saturday. Bummer, huh?
Amazing photographs… Thank you and also Thank you for visiting my blog. You are so nice. With my love, nia
thank you nia, your blog is lovely, i really enjoy the photos you share!
I like the sculptural shape of the reef heron while it’s hunkered down like that. Oh, those rocks in the oystercatcher image. I’d love to paint them.