Trying to make sense of the Warwick 'dome'
WARWICK has lost count of how many times severe downpours have been forecast to hit, only to receive a result that could barely fill a shot glass.
In a familiar set of circumstances, the Rose City again missed out on the opportunity for sizeable showers over Christmas and Boxing Day.
On Christmas night, Warwick looked set for a mammoth period of rain, with a big front moving from the New South Wales border up through south-East Queensland.
The apparent front missed Warwick however, with heavy rainfall instead piling through Boonah, Kyogle, Coolangatta and Murwillumbah.
Warwick finally experienced rain later in the evening, with 15.2mm falling across the night.
On Boxing Day, our northern neighbours in Toowoomba received the spoils, with hail falling and 29mm of rain tumbling down.
Despite a severe thunderstorm warning on blustery conditions, Warwick received just 3.6mm of rain.
In trying to explain why Warwick continually looked on while our neighbours received useful rain, BOM meteorologist Janine Yuasa said it was a case of bad luck.
"Showers and storms are quite hit and miss in their nature,” she said.
"Broadly speaking, ranges and higher terrain are a bit more favourable for thunderstorm activity, as they can help to enhance them, and the troughs can help trigger them.
"Most of the time, they kick off over the ranges to the east of Warwick, then track towards the coast.
"It is common for storms to head towards the east.”
