Wednesday 6 June 2012: The Maelstrom

Novocastrians become a bit nervy around this time of year. On 8 June 2007 an east coast low developed off the coast which resulted in a mini cyclone hitting Newcastle, major flooding and storm damage but most notably a bloody big coal ship washed up on Nobbys Beach.

Two years ago today, on 6 June 2010, a dead whale washed up on Bar Beach. Rather than disposing of the body by explosion (as had been done before elsewhere with disastrous effects) the Council decided to bury it.

We have another east coast low off the coast. It may be nothing to the Scotland Rugby team who think they are at home but to us we are a little nervous. I have never seen seas as big as they were today. I am told also that they are breaking much further out which has not seen before. The swells ranged to 7 metres and we had gusts to just below 100 kph (about 60 mph) although they were stronger to the South. A momentous day with the transit of Venus and the whale has been uncovered by the high seas. I can tell you the smell of two years of decay is unbelievable.

This was on Nobbys Breakwall. The structure would be about 4 metres high to the top of the antenna. If you are interested is seeing some more, here is a link

• NIKON D700:
• f/8:
• 1/750":
• 105.0mm:
• ISO 200

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