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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - MARCH 2001
A very intense east coast low brought storm force winds and widespread major flooding on the northern New South Wales coast around 8 March. The same system also then produced severe flash flooding near Brisbane. Several locations in New South Wales recorded their highest monthly rainfall for March on record. The ex-tropical cyclone Abigail produced significant flooding in parts of the Northern Territory during the first week of the month.
Northern Territory Ex-tropical cyclone Abigail passed through the Victoria River Region on the 1st, then turned south and moved parallel with the Northern Territory/Western Australian border for a further 6 days before weakening over central Western Australia on the 8th. Heavy rain produced by ex-tropical cyclone Abigail caused a 15 metre peak at the Katherine River bridge on the 1st, inundating rural roads and properties around Katherine. Residents of Beswick (west of Katherine) were moved to higher ground as flood waters flowed through the community and low-lying areas. The Daly River community also remained flooded during the first two weeks of the month. Floodwaters cut the Victoria Highway west of Timber Creek between the 4th and the 9th, and continued to cover the Buntine Highway. Communities of Kalkaringi, Daguragu and Pigeon Hole were evacuated during the first week of the month and started returning on the 11th after repairs to essential services were completed. On the 4th, residents of Kiwirrkurra in Western Australia were evacuated to Kintore and Alice Springs when their community was flooded. Floodwaters also cut the Stuart Highway between Elliott and Renner Springs on the 7th and continued to cover the Carpentaria Highway near Borroloola for the first week of the month.
Queensland On the 9th, a severe flash flooding event caused up to $20 million of damage in the Brisbane area. The thunderstorms were produced north and south of Brisbane in convergent rain bands extending from a surface low over northeast New South Wales. These storms became almost stationary in a broken line parallelling the coast. Cars were flooded, roads closed, and houses inundated. Two people drowned in separate incidents in the floodwaters. The highest 24 hour totals were at Beenleigh 317mm, Logan City 284mm, Marsden 251mm, Cooroy Composite 232mm and Ball Lookout 218mm. Some houses in southern suburbs also experienced roof damage from squally winds. On the 19th, a line of thunderstorms extended from Rockhampton to Tin Can Bay with several thunderstorms reaching severe intensity during the afternoon. Severe wind damage and pea sized hail was reported from a property near Calliope and flash flooding was reported along the Hervey Bay esplanade. On the 21st, a line of thunderstorms moved through the Brisbane area on the 21st with strong winds which brought down power lines and blacked out residents in Kallangur, Murarrie, Jimboomba, Upper Caboolture, Red Hill and Paddington. Flash flooding again affected the Brisbane area and highest 24 hour rainfall totals included: Cleveland Bowls Club 95.2mm, Capalaba Water Treatment Plant 914mm and 91.6mm at Ormiston College. New South Wales On the 8th, a very intense east coast low crossed the New South Wales North Coast near Byron Bay, with extensive flooding and wind damage. Wind gusts recorded include:139 km/h at Evans Head with a mean wind speed of 100 km/h; 93 km/h at Casino; 120km/h at Woombah; and 91 km/h at Ballina. Extensive damage was caused to roofs, trees and powerlines. On the 11th, Coningdale (Northern Tablelands) had 36 mm of rain in 25 minutes. On the 25th, Gloucester (Mid North Coast) had 45 mm of rain in 60 minutes; 60 mm of rain in 20 minutes at Lansdowne; 71 mm of rain in 180 minutes at Yarras (all Mid North Coast) and 73mm in 180 minutes at Walcha (Northern Tablelands) over five hours caused local flooding from Gloucester to Walcha. Victoria On the11th, large hail, heavy rain and damaging winds were reported near Corryong, causing tree damage. Tasmania Storms on the 21st, caused power interruptions in the north of the State. Bureau of Meteorology equipment at Flinders Island AWS was damaged as a result of lightning activity on the island. South Australia On the 15th, a severe thunderstorm, which developed along a vigorous cold front, produced wind squalls to 122 km/h at Nullarbor on the West Coast. Western Australia On the 6th, a water spout observed to the east northeast of Port Hedland made landfall as it moved northeast across the suburb of Pretty Pool. It caused some minor damage to about five houses in the area, along with tree and shrub damage. Garden settings and sheds were ripped apart and colour bond sheeting was dumped up to 200 metres from their origins. The tornado lasted a few minutes with wind speeds estimated to have been up to 111 km/h and a radius of strong winds about 150 metres wide. There were no reports of injury, however some very heavy localised rainfall of up to 70 mm was recorded in the area surrounding the tornado. Northern Territory On the 12th, wind gusts associated with an evening thunderstorm squall line damaged dinghies at an island resort at Bynoe Harbour, 45km southwest of Darwin.
On the 27th, an evening thunderstorm squall line produced a 87 km/h wind gust at Charles Point, 25km west of Darwin. No damage was reported.
Queensland Southeast Queensland: On the afternoon of the 9th, very heavy rainfall caused flash flooding from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast with reports of 200 to 300mm in a 2 to 3 hour period. Heaviest rainfalls were reported in the Beenleigh-Logan area and the southern suburbs of Brisbane where severe local flooding occurred which caused major traffic disruptions, damage to cars and houses. Border Rivers: There were two instances of moderate flooding in the Border Rivers during March, both resulting from heavy rainfalls in the Macintyre River catchment in New South Wales. During the first period, the Macintyre River at Goondiwindi reached 7.4 metres on the12th. Moderate flooding again occurred as the Macintyre River at Goondiwindi reached 7.3 metres on the 28th. New South Wales Widespread major flooding occurred along coastal New South Wales from the Lower Hunter to Richmond Valley during the 7th to the 11th. Victoria On the 22nd, local flooding occurred around the Tullamarine/Laverton area. Road traffic to the Airport was disrupted due to water over the Tullamarine freeway. Four hour rainfall totals (10am to 2pm) were 98mm at Melbourne Airport and 89mm at Laverton. Northern Territory Victoria River at the Roadhouse, rose again on the 4th, cutting the Victoria Highway to Western Australia until the 9th. The Todd River flowed on the 2nd, closing all stream-bed causeways for a couple of days. Another rise occurred on the 22nd, again closing some stream-bed causeways. The Daly River, at the Police Station, fell to 12 metres on the 1st, before again rising slowly to peak at 12.67 metres on the 10th.The river began falling again on the 11th and at the end of the month was below the gauge of 10 metres. The Daly River community was threatened for more than a month, though the floodwaters were largely confined within the riverbanks with only flooding of low areas. Kiwirrkurra, in the Gibson Desert in Western Australia west of Alice Springs, was flooded and people were evacuated to Alice Springs as a result of ex-tropical cyclone Winsome.
Victoria On the 15th, strong winds caused roof damage to a house at Warragul. On the 16th, damaging winds were reported in the Central, Northeast and Western districts. Trees were damaged at Casterton and Wangaratta. A 130 km/h gust was recorded at Lovely Banks and 120 km/h at Pt Lonsdale. At Clifton Springs, sheds and other buildings were damaged. Tasmania Gusts exceeding 90 km/h were reported at Cape Grim on the 12th, 25th and 27th; Maatsuyker Island on the 10th, 13th, 26th and 27th; Mount Wellington on the 10th, 12th, 13th, 26th and 28th; Hartz Mountains on the 13th and 24th; King Island Airport on the 17th and Derwent Estuary Site on the 10th and 26th. South Australia On the 11th, a wind squall lifted a bouncing castle into the air at Kapunda in the Mid North. One child died and 11others and an adult were injured. Early on the 16th, a wind gust to 91km/h was recorded at Coles Point on the Lower Eyre Peninsula. No known damage was reported with either event. During the morning of the 21st, gale force southwest winds affected the South East district as a low moved northeast towards Mt Gambier. Mean wind speeds up to 69km/h were recorded at Cape Jaffa. On the 25th, a wind gust of 117km/h, and a heavy shower, was recorded at Coles Point on the Lower Eyre Peninsula.
Queensland On the 9th a lightning strike caused a fire at Dunrossie (in the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders District - near Hughenden), burning approximately 800 to 1000 hectares.
Western Australia A high to the southwest of Western Australia on the 23rd directed fresh and cool south to southwesterly winds across the southern half of the State. Maximum temperatures were close to record lows for March on the south coast averaging around 16°C. Cool and calm conditions overnight produced further record low temperatures. Several sites in the Goldfields, Central Wheat Belt, Great Southern, Lower West and South West recorded temperatures below 10°C with Donnybrook in the South West recording a chilly 2°C, a record low temperature for March.
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.
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