Training

Weather Training Program Overview

 

Note: Our training programs are “hands on, practical and light-hearted” – our training staff have travelled extensively across Australia and the USA chasing, researching and documenting thunderstorms and severe weather and share these experiences within the talk to keep the audience entertained and interested.

 

1. Introduction to Weather Fundamentals

• Understanding the Atmosphere: Basic atmospheric layers, pressure systems, and air masses.

• Key Weather Drivers: Overview of climate influences like the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and subtropical high-pressure belts.

• Importance of Weather Knowledge in Operations: How understanding weather enhances safety, planning, and risk mitigation.

 

2. Thunderstorms

• Formation and Causes:

  • Thunderstorm ingredients: moisture, lift, instability, and wind shear.

  • Typical environments: warm, moist air near the surface and cooler air aloft.

• Dangers of Thunderstorms:

  • Lightning risks: impact on personnel safety and equipment.

  • Hail: damage to vehicles, equipment, and infrastructure.

  • High winds: hazards to buildings, structures, and transport routes.

  • Flash flooding: effects on open-pit mines and site accessibility.

• Recognising Storm Risk:

  • Identifying thunderstorm warnings, forecasts, and real-time radar monitoring.

  • Signs of developing thunderstorms: cumulus cloud growth, temperature changes (this is a visual section to observe visual cues in the sky)

 

3. Tropical Cyclones

• Causes and Formation:

  • Cyclone ingredients: warm ocean waters, low wind shear, high humidity.

  • Lifecycle of a cyclone: formation, intensification, weakening.

  • Seasonal timing and regions at risk (e.g., northern Queensland, Northern Territory).

• Dangers of Tropical Cyclones:

  • Extreme winds: risks to buildings, transport, and equipment.

  • Storm surge: impacts on coastal operations and low-lying areas.

  • Heavy rainfall: potential for widespread flooding.

  • Preparedness for cyclone threats: securing sites, communication plans, evacuation routes.

 

4. Cyclone Types and Their Differences

• East Coast Lows (ECLs):

  • Characteristics: intense low-pressure systems impacting Australia’s east coast.

  • Comparison with tropical cyclones: shorter duration, intense rainfall, strong winds.

• Ex-Tropical Cyclones:

  • Definition: cyclones that no longer are tropical but retain severe weather potential.

  • Impacts: potential for heavy rainfall and flooding even after weakening.

• Subtropical and Extratropical Cyclones:

  • Characteristics and regions affected.

  • Typical effects on operations: prolonged rainfall, gusty winds, coastal flooding.

 

5. Heatwaves

• What Causes Heatwaves:

  • Blocking patterns

  • Influence of climate patterns (e.g., El Niño) on heatwave frequency.

• Dangers and Implications:

  • Worker health risks: heat stress, dehydration, and exhaustion.

  • Increased energy demand for cooling and logistics adjustments.

  • Preventive measures: hydration stations, cooling shelters, adjusted work schedules.

 

6. Heavy Rain and Flooding

• Causes of Heavy Rain:

  • Moisture sources, orographic lift, and frontal systems.

  • Weather patterns associated with heavy rainfall: troughs, monsoon, cyclones.

• Flood Types:

  • Flash flooding: rapid onset, often due to intense thunderstorms.

  • Riverine flooding: prolonged rainfall over catchment areas.

  • Coastal flooding: storm surge impacts during cyclones or low-pressure systems.

• Operational Impacts and Mitigation:

  • Water management in open pits, stockpiling equipment above flood zones.

  • Monitoring rainfall rates and thresholds for site access and evacuation.

 

7. Reading Weather Data

• Weather Data Basics:

  • Understanding weather parameters: temperature, humidity, wind speed, pressure.

  • Identifying trends and interpreting forecast data.

• Reading Synoptic Charts and Maps:

  • Pressure systems (highs and lows), fronts, troughs, and weather patterns.

  • Recognising potential weather impacts from synoptic setups.

• Using Radar and Satellite Imagery:

  • Radar: reading reflectivity for rainfall intensity, storm tracking.

  • Satellite: identifying cloud cover, cyclone development, and storm systems.

• Forecast Models and Probability-Based Data:

  • Using forecast model outputs for short-term decision-making.

  • Understanding probability terms (e.g., “chance of” versus “likely”).

 

8. Using the Weather Dashboard

• Overview of Dashboard Features:

  • Key tools: thunderstorm alerts, lightning tracking, rainfall projections.

  • Customizable asset tracking to monitor weather relative to key assets.

• Real-Time Monitoring Capabilities:

  • Tracking active weather systems (storms, cyclones) in real-time.

  • Monitoring rainfall rates, temperature trends, and wind speeds.

• Forecasting and Planning:

  • Using forecast data to schedule operations around adverse weather.

  • Incorporating probability forecasts for proactive decision-making.

 

10. Q&A and Practical Application

• Question Time