Chasers keep us in the weather loop STORM BUSTERS
NORTH Coast Storm Chasers are preparing for a busy and stormy season, starting today.
Goonellabah's Antonio Parancin and Dylan Bingham, both 21, are the faces behind the local weather advice online service.
Their activities are recorded on a website, Facebook, Twitter and a blog.
The website ncstorm chasers.com provides real-time weather updates for Goonellabah every 10 seconds thanks to their own weather station at their house.
Mr Parancin is a part-time web developer and TAFE student and Mr Bingham is the manager of a fast food shop in Casino.
When the weather models predict wild wind and lightning, they jump in their cars to chase the storms.
"Safety is important for us, we ensure we get under cover first, and then we record the storm. It can be lots of fun and stressful but safety comes first," Mr Bingham said.
The duo will be chasing storms from today, as the forecast looks propitious for thunderstorms.
"If Friday is sunny, and it gets to 28 or 30°C, there could be potentially severe storms anywhere in the Northern Rivers," Mr Parancin said.
"The same trough caused severe hailstorms in Sydney on Wednesday; a lot of people were surprised by it."
Saturday has the potential for thunderstorms if that trough gets stuck under us, especially if it rains on Friday night, Mr Bingham said.
There is also a high chance of severe rain in between and after the thunderstorms, according to the storm chasers.
The lads chase storms north into south-east Queensland, south to Coffs Harbour and inland to Tenterfield or Armidale.
