SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - MARCH 2002

Summary Tropical Cyclones Thunderstorms Wind Bushfires Temperature Rainfall

SUMMARY

Adelaide experienced one of its driest periods on record with no rainfall being recorded from 28 January to 25 March, a total of 56 days without rain. This was the longest dry period since 1905/06 when Adelaide did not record any rain for 68 days.

TROPICAL CYCLONES

Queensland

A tropical low was first identified on the 3rd, well east of the north tropical coast. It rapidly developed into tropical cyclone Des on the 5th and moved east to southeast before decaying to a low during the 6th. The only impact on the Australian mainland was swells 5-6 metres reaching the southern Queensland and northern New SouthWales coasts generated by an extended fetch between tropical cyclone Des and a large high over the Tasman Sea.

THUNDERSTORMS

Queensland

Widespread thunderstorms developed over southeast Queensland ahead of a vigorous upper cold pool on the 27th. Golf ball sized hail was reported from Goondiwindi.

New South Wales

A slow moving thunderstorm west of Bellingen (Mid-North Coast) produced continuous heavy rain with 198mm of rain recorded in 3 hours on the 8th. Local creeks rose 1.2 metres.

On the 26th at Coonamble (Central West Plains) strong winds damaged buildings and knocked down trees. Wind gusts reached 89 km/h. Also on the same day 2cm hail and strong winds were recorded near Lismore (Northern Rivers). At Katoomba (Central Tablelands) strong winds of 89 km/h uprooted trees. At Montague Island (South Coast) a wind gust of 141 km/h was recorded. There was damage to houses at nearby Narooma
and Tuross Heads.

On the 27th at Manilla (North West Slopes) 2cm hail was reported. At Gosford (Hunter) slow moving thunderstorms produced very heavy rain with 51mm in 30 minutes.

On the 28th at Danglemah (North West Slopes) 2cm hail and heavy rain was recorded.

At Nowra (Illawarra) heavy rain 110mm in 3 hours was recorded on the 29th. One person drowned when swept over the weir.

Victoria

On the 25th severe storms occurred in the Central and West Gippsland districts. At Healsville 3cm hail, local flooding and strong winds were reported. Hail 2cm in diameter was reported at Barrabool near Geelong. Hail
damaged fruit and vegetable crops at Noojee. At Traralgon 40mm of rain was recorded in 40 minutes flooding a college.

On the 26th at Tubbet in East Gippsland 29mm of rain was registered in 10 minutes. There was heavy rain and flooding in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Affected suburbs were St Albans, Keilor Downs and Taylors Lakes. In the Northeast district at Mitta Mitta, 20mm of rain was recorded in 30 minutes and the 24 hour total was 56mm.

Northern Territory

On the 4th a funnel cloud was observed near the Darwin suburb of Karama associated with an early afternoon shower.

On the 12th a wind gust of 93 km/h was reported at the Darwin Wharf in an early morning squall line which passed over Darwin Harbour. Also on the 12th a wind gust of 94 km/h was recorded at Tennant Creek AWS (Barkly District) in an afternoon thunderstorm downburst.

On the 14th a morning squall line produced a wind gust of 89 km/h at Centre Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The same squall line reached Darwin in the evening of the 14th and produced intense lightning activity.

On the 31st a funnel cloud was observed about 60 km north of Darwin Airport Meteorological Office.

WIND

Tasmania

A peak gust was recordedWNW 150 km/h at Derwent Estuary on the 18th. Hobart (Ellerslie Road) recorded NW 102 km/h on the same day.

BUSHFIRES

Queensland

A fire north of Southbrook (Darling Downs west of Toowoomba) burnt out 12 hectares on the 24th.

Victoria

A fire near Seymour on the 18th burnt approximately 6,000 hectares of farm land. Two houses, fencing and a number of farm buildings were destroyed, machinery was damaged and 3,000 stock were killed.

Tasmania

A fire near Sisters Beach burnt 250 hectares of National Park which threatened houses from the 9th to the 11th.

In the Central Highlands at Bothwell/Hollow Tree on the 18th-19th 3,000 hectares of farmland, stock, machinery, fencing and buildings were damaged. Damage is estimated up to $200,000. Also on the 18th-19th fires were
reported south of Hamilton. At Broadmarsh on the 19th 200 hectares was burnt and at Carrick on the 29th 50 hectares of grassland was burnt.

TEMPERATURE

Highest Mean Maximum Temperature for March
Station	Actual	Previous Highest	Year	Years of Record
	°C	°C
Northern Territory
Jabiru Airport AWS	35.5	34.9	1987	22
Mango Farm	35.4	35.4	1992	21
Milingimbi AWS	33.4	32.7	1966	22
Western Australia
Kalumburu	36.9	36.4	1970	59

Highest Mean Minimum Temperature for March
Station	Actual	Previous Highest	Year	Years of Record
	°C	°C
Western Australia
Mardie	26.3	26.1	1980	43

Lowest Mean Minimum Temperature for March
Station	Actual	Previous Lowest	Year	Years of Record
	°C	°C
Northern Territory
Kulgera	15.3	15.4	1987	21

Highest Daily Maximum Temperature for March
Station	Actual	Date	Previous Highest	Year	Years of Record
	°C		°C
Queensland
Stanthorpe	35.0	20	34.0	1998	35
New South Wales
Cobar	41.3	19	40.1	1998	39
Narrabri	40.6	20	40.1	1998	40
Trangie Research	40.0	19	39.0	1998	33
Barraba	38.2	18	38.0	1998	36
Pindari	38.0	20	37.8	1998	30
Woolbrook	34.0	18	33.6	1998	32
Glen Innes Ag.	32.0	20	32.0	1998	31
Inverell Research	35.7	20	35.4	1998	37
Tabulam	37.3	20	35.5	1998	31
Grafton	39.0	20	38.2	1991	35
Kempsey	39.5	19	35.2	1980	37
Taree	41.4	19	38.9	1965	37
Dunedoo	39.2	19	39.1	1998	37
Parkes	40.0	19	39.0	1998	45
Wellington	39.0	19	38.6	1998	37
Wellington Research	38.8	19	38.3	1965	37
Western Australia
Salmon Gums RS	42.0	15	41.5	1977	31

Lowest Daily Maximum Temperature for March
Station	Actual	Date	Previous Lowest	Year	Years of Record
	°C		°C
New South Wales
Quirindi	16.8	29	17.5	1989	37
Alstonville	19.6	2	19.9	1980	34

Highest Daily Minimum Temperature for March
Station	Actual	Date	Previous Highest	Year	Years of Record
	°C		°C
New South Wales
Tabulam	21.2	20	21.2	2001	31
Murrurundi	24.0	20	22.8	1965	37
Western Australia
Merredin	26.8	15	26.5	1980	36

RAINFALL

Lowest Monthly Rainfall on Record for March
Station	Actual	Previous Lowest	Year	Years of Record
	mm	mm
Queensland
Lakefield National Park	10.3	15.4	1986	30
Dalrymple Heights	17.0	29.5	1992	65
Barnganal Blue Mtn	0.6	17.4	1991	54
Roma Peak	9.8	13.2	1992	42
Northern Territory
Pirlangimpi	96.9	131.4	1987	34
Wave Hill	0.0	0.0	1987	28

Highest Daily Rainfall on Record for March
Station	Actual	Date	Previous Highest	Year	Years of Record
	mm		mm
Queensland
Jondaryan PO	83.9	28	82.8	1939	115

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