Queensland weather: Tropical Cyclone Linda downgraded as system tracks toward coast

Tropical Cyclone Linda has been downgraded to a subtropical low, but south-east Queensland residents are still bracing for gale-force winds, abnormally high tides and dangerous surf as the system continues to approach the coast.

Linda developed from a tropical low in the Coral Sea about 3:00pm AEST on Tuesday, despite the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) earlier saying a cyclone system was unlikely.

But by 10:00am on Wednesday, the BOM said Linda was no more.

Although the system is not expected to cross the coast, senior forecaster Rick Threlfall said it would still pack a punch.

Read the ABC News story - “Queensland weather: Tropical Cyclone Linda downgraded as system tracks toward coast.”

Tornadoes destroy homes in Tennessee, Kentucky as wild storms hit central US

At least five people have been killed as severe thunderstorms swept through the central US, spawning tornadoes that flattened homes, gale force winds and widespread flooding.

Gio Rodriguez, 8, sits outside his Tennessee home after a
 storm which caused chaos across much of the central United States.

The system, stretching from Texas to the Canadian Maritime provinces, had prompted several emergency declarations even before the dangerous storms arrived.

Storm crews confirmed two tornadoes touched down in middle Tennessee and Kentucky, with maximum-sustained winds of 193 kilometres per hour.

One of the tornados struck in south-central Kentucky, causing homes to collapse and cars to flip over, and a 79-year-old woman died after her Adairville home was destroyed, the Logan County Sheriff's Office said.

Read the ABC News story - “Tornadoes destroy homes in Tennessee, Kentucky as wild storms hit central US.”

Melbourne weather: Thunderstorms, giant hailstones set to batter city in peak hour

Wild winds, thunderstorms, heavy rain and giant hailstones are expected to lash the city on Tuesday afternoon during peak hour, with authorities issuing a warning about possible flash flooding.

Storms are expected to hit Melbourne this afternoon.

A severe thunderstorm alert warning has not yet been issued, but Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Stephen King has warned the city could be hit with winds in excess of 90 km/h and hailstones bigger than two centimetres across.

Read Daniella Miletic’s story in the Melbourne Age - “Melbourne weather: Thunderstorms, giant hailstones set to batter city in peak hour.”

A Kite That Might Fly

The notion of tethered wind turbines that generate electricity from abundant and reliable high-altitude winds seems futuristic. Now, KAUST research led by Georgiy Stenchikov has identified the most favorable areas for high-altitude wind-energy systems in the Middle East.

Windmills could harvest wind energy from the lower
 100-150 m and suffer from intermittent wind supply.
 But there is abundant wind resource higher up which has led
 researchers and energy companies to explore the potential
for using winds at high altitudes. © ImageSource

The results confirm that there is abundant wind energy up there that could feasibly be harnessed, bringing the possibility of high-altitude power generation a step closer.

“We are very enthusiastic about taking this work forward,” says Udaya Gunturu, who studies atmospheric processes at KAUST.

Read the Science and Technology Research News story - “A Kite That Might Fly.”