SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - JANUARY 1998

Introduction Bushfires Cyclones Thunderstorms Wind Temperature Rainfall

INTRODUCTION

The remnants of cyclones Sid and Les brought record flooding to the Townsville (Qld) and Katherine (NT) districts respectively during January. There were major bushfires in Victoria, Tasmania and the Pilbara district of Western Australia. Thunderstorms in all states resulted in wind damage and flash flooding.

BUSHFIRES

New South Wales

Bushfires were reported at the start of the month, the worst affected area was the southeast part of the state. One firefighter died at Wingello (southwest of Sydney). A bushfire near Parkes about 300km west of Sydney was reported at the end of the month.

Victoria

Victoria's largest bushfire in the last decade burned in the Alpine region from New Years Eve through to the 13th. 32,000 hectares of forest was burnt by the fires, started by a New Years Eve campfire. The mountainous terrain hampered fire fighting efforts. Outposted forecasters provided on-site briefings and extended forecasts, and a portable Automatic Weather Station was on-site. The outposting continued from New Years Eve until the 12th.

Tasmania

A fire on the 1st damaged the Cataract Gorge Park and recreation centre in Launceston as it swept through 130 hectares.

On the 17th 3000 hectares of land and 5 houses were destroyed by a fire in some southern suburbs of Hobart. Bushfires on the West Coast near Granville Harbour destroyed a holiday shack and burnt out at least 220 hectares. Several scrub fires were reported around the State during the month.

Strong winds in the north and northeast on the 25th uprooted trees and disrupted power supplies, downed power lines caused several grass fires.

Western Australia

Numerous smaller fires burnt parts of the Pilbara during January. The Department of Land Administration, estimated that the area of the Pilbara burnt by bush fires was 155,000 hectares.

Widespread rains in the Kimberley assisted with the control and suppression of fires in that region.

CYCLONES

Queensland

Tropical cyclone Katrina formed on the 3rd , then wandered around the Coral sea for about 3 weeks having only a minimum impact on the Queensland coast. The maximum intensity of category 4 was reached on the 15th for approximately 18 hours whilst it was located about 300 nautical miles northeast of the north tropical coast. It finally weakened to below Tropical Cyclone intensity on the 25th.

Ex Tropical Cyclone Sid caused severe flooding over the northeast tropical coast between the 7th and the 14th, including record flooding in the Townsville area.

Western Australia

Tropical Cyclone Tiffany 22nd Jan to 2nd Feb 1998

Tropical Cyclone Tiffany formed on the 24th close to the northwest Kimberley coast after several days as a low over the North Kimberley. The system developed rapidly into a small but intense tropical cyclone with a radius of gales between 100 and 130 kilometres. Movement was generally west to west southwest, moving away from the Kimberley coast and remaining offshore from the Pilbara at a distance of approximately 200 kilometres.

During the 26th and 27th the storm intensified to become severe Tropical Cyclone Tiffany and the lowest central pressure was estimated to be 940 hectopascals. While mean wind speeds along the Pilbara coast tended to be less than 60 km/hr the North Rankin offshore platform (north northwest of Karratha) reported mean wind speeds of 84 km/hr during the 27th. Tropical Cyclone Tiffany began to weaken as it continued westwards and lost gale force winds during the 30th. The dissipating low then moved west northwest and continued to weaken. By the 2nd of February the remnants of the system were about 700 km south southeast of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

Western Australia/Northern Territory

Tropical Cyclone Les 29th Jan to 1st Feb 1998

Tropical Cyclone Les formed in the central Gulf of Carpenteria on the morning of the 24th. Tropical Cyclone Les moved steadily westwards and intensified to Category 2 before passing over the southern half of Groote Eylandt and then over Numbulwar on the southwestern Gulf of Carpenteria coast early on the 25th. Several houses lost their roofs in Numbulwar and power supplies were interrupted on Groote Eylandt during the cyclone.

The cyclone weakened into a tropical low as it moved over the Top End of the Northern Territory, producing 300 to 400 mm of rainfall in the catchments of the Katherine and Upper Roper rivers during the 25th and 26th. Record flooding occurred subsequently in the Katherine region. Having brought flooding rains to parts of the Northern Territory, particularly around the Katherine area, Tropical Cyclone Les moved across the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf to the north of Wyndham in the far North Kimberley on the 29th. Crossing the Kimberley coast again the system moved to the south of Kalumburu as the general track changed from west to southwest during the 30th. The following day Tropical Cyclone Les adopted a southerly track and passed inland just to the east of Broome at around midnight. By the 1st of February the low had degenerated into a rain-bearing depression over the Great Sandy Desert. Gale force winds of 63 km/hr were experienced in exposed Kimberley coastal areas. Early on the 31st Cygnet Bay reported wind gusts to 120 km/hr, and later that morning Kuri Bay experienced wind gusts to 139 km/hr. The lowalso produced heavy rains in parts of the North and West Kimberley with numerous localities receiving daily totals of more than 100 mm. Kuri Bay reported the highest daily amount, 309.6 mm on the 31st.

THUNDERSTORMS

Queensland

Severe thunderstorms resulted in flash flooding in Brisbane's southern suburbs on the 28th. During the same day storms snapped four 33,000 volt power poles at Cecil Plains on the Darling Downs.

New South Wales

On the 3rd Walcha (Northern Tablelands) received 2cm diameter hail and 50mm of rainfall in 30 minutes. Oberon (Central Tablelands) had 50mm in 30 minutes with local flooding.
On the 4th Mudgee (Central Tablelands) received 52mm of rain in 120 minutes, local creeks overflowed.
On the 5th at Nyngan (Central West Slopes) there was a 111 km/hr wind gust, 4 homes were destroyed, 18 houses unroofed and 77 homes sustained significant damage. Schools, businesses and public buildings were also severely damaged.
On the 9thBroken Hill received 40mm of rain in 40 minutes. Some homes were flooded by water 60 to 90cm deep. On the 14th at Wentworth (Lower Western) there was a 93 km/hr wind gust, roofs were blown off houses and trees twisted.
On the 18th at Orange (Central Tablelands) there was a wind gust to 111 km/hr in the area, roof and window damage in the Canowindra, Orange and Cargo areas, a silo was blown off its foundations at Cargo. Penrith (Metropolitan) received 45mm of rain in 45 minutes.
Cobar (Upper Western) had a 109 km/hr wind gust. Darkes Forest (Illawarra) received 36mm of rain in 30 minutes. Walgett (North West Slopes) had a 94 km/hr wind gust.
On the 19th near Oberon(Central Tablelands) there was 2.5 cm diameter hail and local flash flooding at Sallys Flat, a local laundry was flooded.
On the 20th Bathurst (Central Tablelands) received 2cm diameter hail. Mudgee (Central Tablelands) had a 111 km/hr wind gust, a few houses were damaged, half a roof was missing off one house. Singleton (Hunter) had wind gusts of around 93 km/hr. Six houses were unroofed at Bargo (Illawarra), Moorebank, Strathfield, Lidcombe, Hoxton Park and Pendle Hill (Metropolitan) 4cm diameter hail, local flash flooding and wind gusts to 93 km/hr through the Sydney southwest suburbs as well as the Central Business District and other city suburbs. Strathfield shopping centre was flooded. Flash flooding at Hoxton Park. Grace Brothers in the Central Business District had three floors flooded. Power lines were brought down and some roofs torn off at Pendle Hill.
On the 21st Loomerah (Northern Tablelands) received 35mm of rain in 21 minutes , there were damaging winds in the Nundle and Armidale areas, some houses were unroofed with large trees down near Armidale. Wellington(Central West Slopes) had wind gusts to 102 km/hr, flash flooding and 6cm diameter hail in the Wellington/Eumingerie area, there was house and property damage in the area, hail smashed windows on houses and cars and stripped trees flash flooding across the Dunedoo road.
On the 24th at Braidwood (South Coast) there was a 93 km/hr wind gust. At Penrith, Glenmore Park, Seven Hills and Granville (Metropolitan) there was flash flooding and wind gusts to 102 km/hr in some western suburbs of Sydney. Branxton (Hunter) had wind gusts to 111 km/hr, with damage to houses, large trees were uprooted and two haysheds flattened. Norah Head (Hunter) there was a 91 km/hr wind gust. Gloucester (Mid North Coast) received 45mm of rain in 20 minutes.
On the 25th Gloucester (Mid North Coast) received 100mm of rain in 60 minutes.
Uralla (Northern Tablelands) had a 89km/hr wind gust. Lillypilly (South Coast) received 3cm diameter hail Nymboida (Mid North Coast) had a 89 km/hr wind gust.
On the 30th at Bingara (North West Slopes)there was a 139 km/hr wind gust, many large trees were uprooted, 2 sheds and an unoccupied farm cottage was partially unroofed.

Victoria

On the 12th, storms in the Wimmera district produced severe winds. At Kaniva, trees and power lines were downed. Power outages for up to 23 hours occurred. In Central and West Gippsland districts slow moving storms produced local heavy rainfall. At Winchelsea 40mm of rain was reported in 40 minutes and at Warragul 31mm occurred in 30 minutes.
Severe thunderstorms occurred in the Wimmera and Central districts on the 13th. Severe wind damage was reported at Campbells Bridge and in the Geelong area. Water damage occurred at the Kirkbrae Retirement Village at Whittington.
Large hail to 3cm, damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall resulted from severe thunderstorms in the Western, Wimmera, Northern Country and Central districts on the 14th. The largest hail was 3cm at Camperdown. Severe winds and heavy rainfall caused damage at Stawell and Horsham. Wind damage was reported in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne.
Slow moving storms in Melbourne on the 24th and 25th resulted in local flash flooding. The State Emergency Service attended more than 200 calls for assistance.
In the 24 hours to 9am on the 25th, 87mm was reported at Flemington, 64mm at Upper Beaconsfield, 60mm at Officer, 38mm at Melbourne, 36mm at Epping, 31mm at Preston and 30mm at Montrose. Large hail to 3cm was also reported.

Tasmania

Thunderstorms, which crossed North Tasmania on the 15th, caused power failures in some towns.

South Australia

On the 9th, severe wind gusts and heavy rain (almost 50 mm in an hour) associated with a severe thunderstorm caused minor damage at Innamincka in the far northeast of the state.
On the 12th, heavy rain was reported at several locations on the Eyre Peninsula. An unofficial reading of 87 mm was received from the Kelly - Barna area, while Cleve Airport recorded 29 mm in 30 minutes and 44 mm in 90 minutes. A house was flooded at Kimba. Heavy rain was also recorded in Adelaide's north and northeast suburbs, One Tree Hill recorded 35 mm in 30 minutes, a factory roof collapsed at Greenfields and minor flooding occurred at Semaphore. Torrential rain caused flash flooding near Hamley Bridge in the mid-north, winds damaged cabins at a caravan park at Middle Beach and flash flooding caused $68,000 damage to a house and shops, and heavy rain caused the collapse of a hotel ceiling as 23 mm fell "in minutes".
More heavy rain on the 13th caused flash flooding in several of Adelaide's north and northeastern suburbs. 47 mm fell at South Para reservoir. A heavy thunderstorm dumped 30 to 40 mm on Mount Gambier city in half an hour; streets, shops and houses were flooded with damage in excess of $200,000.

Western Australia

On the 7th a downburst damaged the roof of a shearing shed and trees on a property about 25 km to the west of Mullewa (northern agricultural area). Heavy rain accompanied the storm and 34 mm of rain was registered in 35 minutes.
On the 18th heavy rain, 57 mm in 40 minutes, and destructive winds occurred south of Mount Florance (Pilbara) during the afternoon. Several large trees had their trunks snapped.
On the 21st Forrest experienced wind gusts to 105 km/hr. There were no reports of damage.

Northern Territory

A slow-moving thunderstorm caused flash flooding in Darwin suburbs on the 9th, as 120 mm of rain was recorded in 3 hours at Darwin Airport. Some houses and cars were damaged by flood waters and major roads were cut for several hours.
On the 17th, a 93 km/hr gust was reported at Borroloola in a squall line and a 100 km/hr gust was recorded in a thunderstorm down burst at Strangways, 30 kilometres south of Darwin. On the 19th, a 96 km/hr gust was recorded in a thunderstorm down burst at Giles.
A squall line associated with Tropical Cyclone Les produced a 102 km/hr gust on the 25th at Centre Island in the Sir Edward Pellew Group north of Borroloola and a monsoonal squall produced a 104 km/hr gust on the 27th at Delissaville, 25 kilometres southwest of Darwin. No damage was reported in the above events, apart from some minor tree damage in Darwin suburbs during monsoonal squalls on the 26th and 27th.

FLOODS

Queensland

From the 7th to the 14th north coastal Queensland experienced extreme weather conditions and heavy rainfall which led to significant rises in most coastal streams from Dordonvale to Home Hill. A tropical low (ex tropical cyclone Sid) embedded in the monsoon trough crossed from the Gulf of Carpentaria near the north of Townsville and with support from a strengthening ridge to the south placed the region in a zone of heavy monsoon rain. Major riverine flooding resulted in the lower Herbert, the upper Burdekin and Haughton rivers. Severe flash flooding occurred in all coastal streams in the bluewater area to Townsville with the most intense rainfall centered around Townsville itself. Rainfalls exceeding 1300mm were recorded at some locations over a 7 day period with Townsville receiving 549mm in 24 hours to 9am on the 11th, the highest on record.
The most significant rainfall occurred in the Herbert river on the 9th and at Townsville on the 10th which caused the most damage. One life was lost as a motorist was swept from a flooded road. The region suffered extensive damage with an estimated 100 million dollars worth of damage.

Northern Territory

The Katherine and Daly River floods during late January and early February 1998 resulted from a record rainfall in the Katherine River catchment area during the 48 hour period up to 0900 CST 27th January. The rainfall was produced by the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Les which weakened into a rain depression which remained slow moving over the southern Top End between the 25th and 28th of January 1998.
The flood peak in the Katherine River basin commenced on the 25th in the Katherine Gorge, moved downstream to Katherine by the 27th and then on to the Daly River community by the 3rd of February. Flooding in the upper reaches of the Roper and Waterhouse Rivers also affected the communities of Beswick and Mataranka.
The Katherine River rose above its flood level of 16.0 metres at the Katherine Railway Bridge between the 26th and 31st and peaked at 20.4 metres at 1630 CST on the 27th . This flood peak exceeded its previous record height of 19.3 metres in 1957. The Daly River rose above its flood level of 11.5 metres at the Daly River Police Station on the 28th as runoff from further rainfall in the Daly Region added to the floodwaters between the 27th and the 30th. The Daly River peaked at 16.5 metres on the 3rd of February, 1.6 metres above the 1974 flood level of 14.9 metres and remained near this level until the 6th of February.
Thousands of residents in Katherine Town and in the Mataranka, Daly River and Beswick communities were evacuated. The Stuart, Victoria and Arnhem Highways were cut during the floods, three people are known to have drowned and flood damage is estimated in 10s of $millions.

WIND

Tasmania

Strong winds in the north and northeast on the 25th uprooted trees and disrupted power supplies. Tree limbs and flying bark caused problems for drivers on some roads.

South Australia

On the 13th, a number of trees were damaged by wind 10km northeast of Minlaton on the Minlaton to Port Vincent road.
At Olympic Dam on the 17th, squalls to 100 km/hr broke trees and branches, blew fences over and caused damage to a shed and portable buildings.
A wind squall with winds to 117 km/hr just after midnight on the 22nd, blew airconditioners off house roofs at Tarcoola.

Western Australia

On the 5th gusty localised winds caused roof damage to three houses in the Parmelia area (to the south of Perth) as the wind changed towards the southwest.

TEMPERATURE

Highest Daily Maximum Temperature for Any Month


                         Previous           Years of
Station    Actual  Date  Highest     Year   Record
             C             C     

Western Australia

Wittenoom  47.6     02     47.5    Feb 1977    45

Highest Daily Minimum Temperature for January

                  
                          Previous        Years of
Station     Actual Date   Highest   Year  Record
               C             C

Queensland

Burketown      29.8   24     29.5    1983/94  39
Gayndah        26.9   28     26.0    1987     41
Cape Moreton   25.5   28/30  25.2    1994     41
Brisbane Aero  26.1   26     25.9    1983/87  49


Tasmania

Launceston Apt 19.8   14    =19.8    1982     58
Erriba         16.8   14    =16.8    1988     35

Lowest Daily Minimum Temperature for January


                         Previous        Years of
Station     Actual  Date Lowest   Year   Record
               C           C

Queensland

Coen         19.2   05    20.5    1975/86   31    
Palmerville  18.0   04    18.5    1978/79   34

Highest Mean Minimum Temperature for January

                          Previous       Years of
Station        Actual     Highest  Year  Record
                 C           C

Queensland

Double Is Point 23.5        23.4    1946   57


New South Wales

Riverview Obs   19.3        19.0    1946   60


Tasmania

Swansea         13.4        13.3    1988   41


Western Australia

Cocos Island    25.7        25.6     1973  46
Meekatharra     26.0        25.9     1981  48

Highest Mean Maximum Temperature for January


                        Previous       Years of
Station         Actual  Highest   Year Record
                  C       C

Queensland

Double Is Point  30.6   28.7      1980     57

Tasmania

Erriba           21.1  =21.1      1981     35

Western Australia

Meekatharra      40.9   40.6      1985     48

RAINFALL

Highest Daily Rainfall on Record for Any Month


                             Previous           Years of
Station        Actual   Date Highest   Year     Record
                 mm             mm

Queensland

Pentland        208.0    11    182.9  Mar 1945   114

Townsville Aero 549.0    11    366.5  Mar 1945    59

Lassie Ck Stn   264.2    11    155.6  Mar 1997    31

Paynes Lagoon   273.0    11    181.1  Jan 1972    30

Highest Daily Rainfall on Record for January

                              Previous       Years of
Station         Actual  Date  Highest  Year  Record
                  mm            mm

Queensland

Toomba Stud     191.0    11     113.6   1980   39
Gordonvale      388.0    09     309.0   1979   36
Glen Eagle      141.4    10      92.6   1991   65


Tasmania

Deal Island      74.0    26      29.6   1996  127
Flinders Is Apt 107.0    26      52.2   1992   54
Memana          110.0    26      52.0   1996   35


Western Australia

Wyndham         134.5    28      89.2   1982   30


Northern Territory

Adelaide river  182.0    28     134.4   1997   36
Jindare         337.0    27     112.0   1991   25
The Pines       223.0    27     164.6   1982   26
Douglas River   207.0    27     150.4   1981   24
Katherine Aero  220.8    26     118.8   1975   24
Kurundi         112.0    27      93.2   1939   46
Daly River
    Mission     209.0    28     196.1   1968   44

Highest Monthly Rainfall on Record for January

                         Previous         Years of
Station         Actual   Highest   Year   Record
                  mm        mm

Victoria

Ultima P.O.      73.5     66.8     1979    101


Tasmania

Flinders Is Apt 147.2    125.0     1963     54
Whitemark       143.8    124.8     1963     35


Western Australia

Wyndham         362.8    329.4     1986     30


Northern Territory

Douglas River   560.4    440.2     1981     24

Katherine Aero* 913.8    509.6     1997     24

Berrimah Farm   868.4    822.4     1995     34

* January Record for any station in Katherine town was
704.6 mm, set in 1904 at Katherine Council.

Lowest Monthly Rainfall on Record for January

                         Previous         Years of
Station        Actual    Lowest    Year   Record
                 mm        mm

Queensland

Mt Moffat        0.0      15.0     1994      37
Lake Manchester 16.0      17.6     1919      82


Tasmania

Hastings Chalet 21.6      27.5     1948      52
Grove Research  12.2      12.3     1974      45

Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.

© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2008, Bureau of Meteorology (ABN 92 637 533 532)
Please note the Copyright Notice and Disclaimer statements relating to the use of the information on this site and our site Privacy and Accessibility statements. Users of these web pages are deemed to have read and accepted the conditions described in the Copyright, Disclaimer, and Privacy statements. Please also note the Acknowledgement notice relating to the use of information on this site. No unsolicited commercial email.