Southerly buster

The Pampero is not the only wind that rises quickly with devastating effect. In Australia, barely does a Sydney-hobart Race go by without a southerly buster coming through. Similar to the Pampero, the Australian buster can form a roll cloud as it hits with a line squall. The land and mountains have an effect in accelerating the wind further, particularly over the coastal waters.

Linked to a Southern Ocean low, southerly busters form when a cold front sweeps in towards south-east Australia. At this stage it is no different to any other aggressive cold front: preceded by warm, generally northerly winds, and followed by colder, denser air.