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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - APRIL 2001 Tropical cyclone Walter and Alistair caused minor damage at Cocos Island and the Tiwi Islands respectively. Severe thunderstorms affected the Gold Coast on 26th April, and some moderate flooding also occurred along the South Esk River in Tasmania.
Western Australia A tropical low formed off the northwest coast of Western Australia on the 2nd and quickly intensified to a tropical cyclone. Walter was named while 260 km eastnortheast of Christmas Island and moved on a westerly track passing to the north of Christmas Island during the night of the 2nd-3rd. The system veered westsouthwest and continued to intensify to a category 3 status early on the 4th as it began a track towards the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. By the morning of the 5th the system was 90 kilometres north of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and moved westsouthwest away from the Islands. Wind gusts to 100 km/h and 170 mm of rain was recorded causing minor tree damage. Tropical cyclone Walter dissipated quickly and was downgraded to a tropical low as it moved south on the 8th bringing rain to the Lower and Central West districts. Northern Territory/Western Australia Tropical cyclone Alistair developed in the northern Arafura Sea on the 15th and continued to deepen on the 16th as it moved west to southwest towards the Timor Sea. Tropical cyclone Alistair was named on the 17th about 100 km north northeast of Croker Island. The cyclone passed about 20km northwest of the Tiwi Islands during the evening of the 17th, causing only minor damage to vegetation around the communities on the islands. Tropical cyclone Alistair continued on a steady west southwest track and intensified to a category 2 near Troughton Island, close to the northwest Kimberley coast on the 18th. Alistair continued on a westsouthwest track until the 20th and heavy showers were reported in coastal areas. Alistair was downgraded to a tropical low on the 21st whilst westnorthwest of Exmouth. The tropical low re-curved and crossed the coast north of Carnarvon on the 24th. Wind gusts to 89 km/h and heavy localised rainfall of more than 100mm was recorded in the area damaging 30-40% of banana crop plantations to the north of the town with the passage of the low.
Queensland Golf ball sized hail and 70mm of rain was reported from Aips Creek (west of Rockhampton) on the 24th. On the 26th a severe thunderstorm affected the Gold Coast. Flash flooding, small hail and strong winds were reported from Mermaid Beach. Strong winds and lightning damaged more than 60 homes, brought down trees, power lines and caused traffic disruptions. Also on the 26th flash flooding and wind damage with an estimated 100 km/h gust was recorded westsouthwest of Nobby (40-50 km south of Toowoomba). A suspected tornado was reported from Jambin (near Biloela). Damage was confined to a one km track which caused tree damage and 56mm of rain was recorded in 35 minutes. New South Wales On the 2nd at Malabar ( Metropolitan) hail 5cm in diameter was reported. Strong winds from a downburst caused damage to trees and buildings between Maroubra and Bondi. Wind gusts to 96 km/h were recorded at Little Bay. On the 9th at Richmond (Metropolitan) 5cm hail and 32mm of rain was reported in 30 minutes which caused flash flooding in the Richmond/ Freemans Reach area. On the 20th at Muswellbrook (Hunter) 3cm hail, heavy rain and strong winds damaged cars and buildings between Muswellbrook and Singleton. At Willmot (Metropolitan) heavy rain caused flash flooding near St Marys with 45mm of rain recorded in 30 minutes. On the 21st at Wybong (Hunter) 2cm hail was reported. On the 22nd at Brodies Plains and Inverell (Northern Tablelands) hail up to 4.4 cm was reported. Also on the same day at Gloucester (Mid-North Coast) 2cm hail was reported. On the 26th at Murwillumbah (Northern Rivers) 3cm hail and 50mm of rain fell in 40 minutes. At Swan Creek (Northern Rivers) 31mm of rain fell in 45 minutes. At New Italy (Northern Rivers) large size hail was reported. On the 27th at Paddys Flat (Northern Tablelands) 4cm hail covered the ground. On the 28th at Coffs Harbour (Mid-North Coast) 2 waterspouts about 6km out to sea were sighted. On the 28th at Coffs Harbour (Mid-North Coast) 2 waterspouts about 6km out to sea were sighted. Northern Territory A slow-moving thunderstorm complex produced about four hours of torrential rain in Alyangula on Groote Eylandt on the 8th. Flood waters one metre deep covered parts of the town and access roads, flooding buildings and causing severe erosion damage to golf courses and local roads.
Tasmania Moderate flooding occurred in the South Esk River at Fingal and Llewellyn and in the Macquarie River at Mt Morriston. Fingal reached a moderate flood level of 5.5 metres on the 24th. Llewellyn reached a moderate flood peak of 5.4 metres on the 24th and a minor flood peak of 4.6 metres on the 25th with the passing of the main flood peak from Fingal. Mt Morriston peaked at a moderate flood level of 2.4 metres on the 24th.
Victoria Severe gusts occurred in southern and mountain areas on the 11th. The following gusts were recorded: Wilsons Promontory 145 km/h, Mt Hotham 107 km/h, Aireys Inlet 98 km/h and Falls Creek 95 km/h. On the 21st six soccer players at Thomastown were injured by lightning. There were reports of lightning strikes to buildings in the metropolitan area. Tasmania Wind gusts of 90 km/h or greater were reported on the following days: Cape Grim and Luncheon Hill on the 11th, Eddystone point on the 22nd and 23rd; Maatsuyker Island on the 1st,2nd,4th,8th,9th,11th-14th,18th,19th,26th and 27th;Mt Wellington on the 1st, 4th, 8th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 15th,18th,19th and 26th; Keoghs Pimple on the 4th,5th,9th,12th-14th and 18th; King Island on the 11th; Derwent Estuary TERS Site on the 1st,4th,9th,11th and 19th. South Australia A wind gust of 106 km/h which was associated with a thunderstorm, was recorded at Oodnadatta Airport during the evening of the 7th. No damage was reported.
TEMPERATURE
RAINFALL
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.
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