SnRSeattle

I am very sorry for the people in NSW and hope that the Fodorites there, at least, are all OK. Four days of it--hard to imagine. It actually made the "Earth Week" section of the newspaper, page 2 of the front section. Sally in Seattle

Neil_Oz

Thanks (from a very temporary NSW resident for your thoughts), Sally.

The bad weather seems to have come back. Right now I'm staying with my parents-in-law in the Hawkesbury district, about 70 km NW of Sydney. This area has been drenched in the last couple of weeks, and this morning the rain is coming down in buckets, with high winds. It will be at least as bad in the Hunter Valley/Newcastle area that copped the worst of last week's storms and flooding.

These extreme weather events seem consistent with what climatologists and meteorologists forecast will be the effects of global warming.

Carrabella

Thanks for the thoughts, Sally. Newcastle, the Central Coast and the Hunter Valley were badly hit last weekend, but we are now drying out.Almost every street had trees and power poles down, and we had no electricity for three days (and nights!) but lots of people lost their homes, and 5000 cars, they say, are ruined after being caught in storm water on the Friday night.
The huge, red bulk carrier, Pasha Bulker, washed ashore on Nobby's Beach, is still there, and a marvellous sight - a day trip by train for Sydney visitors - easy walking distance from the railway station.
See www.abc.net.au/newcastle

chimani

Chucking it down in central Sydney too.

Apropos your comment about global warming, Neil. I find it curious how all of a sudden it's become a mainstream talking point. All the pollies are latching on to it. Some may be sincere and others are just responding to polls (best not to mention any names). And those polls are reflecting a concern that wasn't there even a year ago.

So what happened. It's taken 45 years for people to sit up and take notice.

swagman

Thanks Sally for your kind thoughts.

Finally blue sky for Sydney today but still a chill factor in the air.

s

clarasong

Yep, we were there the week of the bad storms, and it ruined our ability to get out, even walk about, as it was so wet and windy. All our excursions were cancelled or were a bust anyway, as we could not see anything much, and many roads were washed out. Dreary to travel that far to see so little. Sorry for the folks that were hurt by it. Hope things get better soon. Must come again on a better day.

Saltuarius

Sorry to hijack your thread Sally but chimani, it has always been so. It takes time to build momentem for any idea or movement. The easiest ones to get rolling are the jingoistic nonsense which leads to battles over sate of origin football or weapons of mass destruction. It is harder when the topic is more remote like soking and disease in later life and even harder when it means personal loss now for an ultruistic good sometime in the future.

You will note that Neal did not say that it was a result of climate change but consistent with most of the models. The weather will continue to be highly variable and perhaps more so.

margo_oz

I feel sorry for those people who were on holidays in Sydney for the past week or two - and it looks like it's going to come down again this afternoon / tomorrow / weekend.

Usually this is such a good time of year in Sydney.