SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - APRIL 2002
 Summary
Tropical
Cyclones Thunderstorms
Bushfires
Temperature
Rainfall
SUMMARY
Tropical cyclones Bonnie and Dianne had no
impact on the Australian coast.
A strong cold front caused heavy rain in Western Australia breaking many
daily rainfall records for April.
TROPICAL CYCLONES
Northern Territory
On the 7th a weak low formed in the monsoon trough over the Arafura
Sea. The low drifted slowly west to be located near the Indonesian Island
of Tanimbar on the 8th. Early the next day, the low deepened and started
moving southwest closer to the eastern tip of Timor. Tropical cyclone
Bonnie was named early on the 10th in the northern Timor Sea about
300 kilometres southeast of Dili. Bonnie continued moving southwest
parallel to the Timor coast during the day then turned west and passed
across West Timor, north of Kupang at category 1 intensity. Bonnie
continued moving west across the Savu Sea on the 11th intensifying slightly
before passing across the island of Sumba in the evening. On the 12th
Bonnie moved further towards the westsouthwest into the Indian
Ocean, away from Indonesia. There were no reports of damage.
Western Australia
A tropical low in the central Indian Ocean was named Tropical Cyclone
Dianne on the 6th near 11S 101E and moved in a general southwesterly
direction. Dianne entered the area of responsibility of Mauritius/La
Reunion
Meteorological Services early on the 8th and was renamed tropical cyclone
Jery.
THUNDERSTORMS
New South Wales
On the 10th at Leura (Central Tablelands) 2cm hail was reported.
On the 14th at Kings Langley (Metropolitan) very heavy rain occurred.
On the same day at Mt MacDonald (Central Tablelands) hail 2.5cm in diameter
and 40 mm of rain was reported 20 kilometres east of Cowra.
At Turramurra (Metropolitan) slow moving thunderstorms produced 43mm
of rain in 30 minutes on the 17th.
Victoria
On the 12th at Dunkeld in Western Victoria, a storm produced heavy rain
which caused local flooding.
On the 16th heavy rain with local flooding was reported at Drummond
North and Seymour in the North Central district. Large hail was also reported
at Drummond North.
Western Australia
On the 15th a thunderstorm caused strong downbursts at Tammin at 10:30pm,
stripping trees and lifting roofing iron from a few buildings.
Northern Territory
On the 11th thunderstorms in a rainband associated with Tropical Cyclone
Bonnie produced heavy rain at Gunn Point, 25 kilometres northwest of Darwin.
The 24 hour rainfall total to 9am on the 12th was 100.4mm with a maximum
rainfall rate of 83 mm/h recorded in a 30 minute period during the early
evening.
BUSHFIRES
Victoria
From the 8th to 12th approximately 28,000 hectares of scrub was burnt
north of Nhill in western Victoria.
Northern Territory
A large fire started by lightning threatening Watarrka National Park
(Kings Canyon) between the 15th and 22nd. The fire burned about 100 square
kilometres of spinifex country and required extensive back-burning to
control. Another fire around the same time burnt about 500 square kilometres
of the West MacDonnell National Park,
west of Alice Springs. Sections of the Larapinta Trail and Ormiston Gorge
walks and camping grounds in the area were closed during the fire. Other
large fires affected the Angas Downs and Curtin Springs stations near
Uluru for around 10 days and also the Todd River and Santa Theresa stations
southeast of Alice Springs.
TEMPERATURE
|
Highest Mean Maximum Temperature for April
|
|
Station
|
Actual
|
Previous Highest
|
Year
|
Years of Record
|
|
°C
|
°C
|
|
|
| Queensland |
|
|
|
|
|
Mt Isa Aero
|
34.8
|
33.5
|
1968
|
37
|
|
Longreach Aero
|
34.0
|
33.5
|
1986/93
|
37
|
|
Camooweal Township
|
37.0
|
35.9
|
1914
|
96
|
|
Urandangie
|
36.6
|
35.2
|
1957
|
65
|
|
Birdsville Police Stn
|
35.3
|
33.0
|
1993
|
49
|
|
Windorah PO
|
34.3
|
33.1
|
1993
|
68
|
|
Baralaba PO
|
32.4
|
31.9
|
1973/86
|
37
|
|
Rockhampton Aero
|
30.5
|
30.3
|
1957/98
|
64
|
|
Quilpie Airport
|
32.7
|
31.8
|
1993
|
62
|
|
Thargomindah PO
|
33.0
|
31.1
|
2001
|
65
|
|
New South Wales
|
|
|
|
|
|
Burrinjuck Dam
|
25.5
|
23.7
|
1997
|
90
|
|
Charlotte Pass
|
12.8
|
12.0
|
1942
|
71
|
|
Cobar
|
27.9
|
27.6
|
1993
|
39
|
|
Hillston
|
27.5
|
27.3
|
1993
|
95
|
|
Ivanhoe
|
29.6
|
28.6
|
1941
|
62
|
|
Narrandera
|
25.6
|
25.1
|
1993
|
32
|
|
Quandialla
|
27.0
|
26.4
|
1993
|
56
|
|
White Cliffs
|
30.0
|
30.0
|
1993
|
95
|
|
Tasmania
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bushy Park
|
20.6
|
20.0
|
2000
|
67
|
|
Launceston A/P
|
19.7
|
18.9
|
1990
|
62
|
|
Eddystone Point
|
19.5
|
19.2
|
1993
|
43
|
|
South Australia
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hawker
|
28.9
|
28.3
|
1981
|
36
|
|
Marree
|
32.7
|
32.5
|
1981
|
63
|
|
Renmark
|
27.0
|
26.7
|
1993
|
54
|
|
Eudunda
|
23.9
|
23.6
|
1981
|
37
|
|
Oodnadatta
|
32.6
|
32.5
|
1981
|
63
|
|
Western Australia
|
|
|
|
|
|
Port Hedland
|
38.2
|
37.7
|
1958
|
53
|
|
Roebourne
|
39.0
|
38.3
|
1981
|
78
|
|
Warmun
|
38.0
|
37.3
|
1964
|
39
|
|
Wittenoom
|
36.2
|
35.9
|
1987
|
48
|
|
Northern Territory
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jabiru Airport
|
35.9
|
35.6
|
1981
|
22
|
|
Mango Farm
|
36.2
|
35.7
|
1987
|
21
|
|
Daly Waters AWS
|
37.2
|
36.6
|
1942
|
32
|
|
Larrimah
|
35.9
|
35.7
|
1966
|
36
|
|
Timber Creek
|
37.5
|
37.5
|
1981
|
21
|
|
Wave Hill
|
37.1
|
36.5
|
1992
|
27
|
|
Brunette Downs
|
36.8
|
35.5
|
1961
|
34
|
|
Elliott
|
37.5
|
36.7
|
1998
|
21
|
|
Tennant Creek A/P
|
34.5
|
33.5
|
1981
|
32
|
|
Alice Springs A/P
|
33.5
|
30.9
|
1981
|
60
|
|
Curtin Springs
|
33.3
|
31.3
|
1993
|
36
|
|
Jervois
|
34.4
|
33.1
|
1993
|
31
|
|
Kulgera
|
31.6
|
30.3
|
1981
|
21
|
|
Rabbit Flat
|
36.7
|
34.7
|
1981
|
28
|
|
Yuendumu
|
34.9
|
32.4
|
1992
|
32
|
|
Highest Mean Minimum Temperature for April
|
|
Station
|
Actual
|
Previous Highest
|
Year
|
Years of Record
|
|
°C
|
°C
|
|
|
| New South Wales |
|
|
|
|
| Bombala |
7.8
|
7.7
|
1988
|
90
|
| Broken Hill |
13.6
|
13.3
|
1961
|
45
|
| Narooma |
14.3
|
14.3
|
1974
|
37
|
| Tibooburra |
17.2
|
16.5
|
1922
|
92
|
|
Station
|
Actual
|
Date
|
Previous Highest
|
Year
|
Years of Record
|
| |
°C |
|
°C
|
|
|
| Queensland |
|
|
|
|
|
| Double Is Pt Lighthouse |
31.3
|
20
|
31.1
|
1998
|
43
|
| New South Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
| White Cliffs |
37.9
|
9
|
37.3
|
1998
|
40
|
| Charlotte Pass |
19.8
|
2
|
19.1
|
1972
|
33
|
| Northern Territory |
|
|
|
|
|
| Yuendumu |
37.3
|
8
|
37.2
|
1973
|
37
|
|
Highest Daily Minimum Temperature for April
|
|
Station
|
Actual
|
Date
|
Previous Highest
|
Year
|
Years of Record
|
| |
°C |
|
°C
|
|
|
| New South Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
| Hay |
20.9
|
10
|
20.4
|
1989
|
45
|
| Lake Cargelligo |
21.5
|
13
|
20.0
|
1987
|
37
|
| Western Australia |
|
|
|
|
|
| Morowa PO |
23.0
|
14
|
22.4
|
1991
|
33
|
RAINFALL
Western Australia
On the morning of the 16th a strong cold front caused heavy rain and
minor flooding in the Perth Metropolitan area. Many daily rainfall records
for April were broken in the Southwest, but particularly in Perth. The
agricultural sector generally welcomed the heavy rain accompanying the
front as it moved through the wheatbelt in the following 24 hours.
|
Highest Monthly Rainfall on Record for April
|
|
Station
|
Actual
|
Previous Highest
|
Year
|
Years of Record
|
|
mm
|
mm
|
|
|
| Western Australia |
|
|
|
|
| Wonnenup |
118.6
|
106.2
|
1961
|
74
|
|
Lowest Monthly Rainfall on Record for April
|
|
Station
|
Actual
|
Previous Lowest
|
Year
|
Years of Record
|
|
mm
|
mm
|
|
|
| Queensland |
|
|
|
|
| Belgamba |
10.2
|
15.4
|
1993
|
31
|
| Tasmania |
|
|
|
|
| Lake Margaret (Power Station) |
81.2
|
117.0
|
1962
|
57
|
| Grove |
6.4
|
15.2
|
2000
|
49
|
| Lake Echo (Power Station) |
13.2
|
28.2
|
2000
|
44
|
| Hobart (Strickland Ave) |
13.4
|
19.6
|
2000
|
41
|
| Zeehan |
55.2
|
92.2
|
1988
|
33
|
| Huonville |
10.2
|
16.8
|
1988
|
32
|
| Marrawah |
33.2
|
38.8
|
1999
|
31
|
| Strathgordon Village |
73.6
|
90.6
|
1988
|
31
|
| Geeveston |
16.8
|
19.2
|
1982
|
30
|
|
Highest Daily Rainfall on Record for April
|
|
Station
|
Actual
|
Date
|
Previous Highest
|
Year
|
Years of Record
|
|
mm
|
mm
|
|
|
|
| Western Australia |
|
|
|
|
|
| Araluen |
66.0
|
17
|
55.4
|
1957
|
36
|
| Armadale |
69.4
|
17
|
51.6
|
1951
|
97
|
| Bokerup |
50.2
|
24
|
42.0
|
1985
|
43
|
| Capercup |
42.8
|
17
|
36.8
|
1973
|
37
|
| Cardup |
55.0
|
17
|
46.4
|
1991
|
32
|
| Churchman Brook |
80.4
|
17
|
79.2
|
1963
|
86
|
| Cranham |
46.8
|
17
|
36.1
|
1961
|
48
|
| Gordon River |
59.0
|
17
|
48.0
|
1985
|
43
|
| Gosnells City |
65.0
|
17
|
58.0
|
1976
|
41
|
| Karragullen |
59.0
|
17
|
58.0
|
1976
|
30
|
| Kilburnie |
64.2
|
17
|
59.4
|
1973
|
45
|
| Kojonolokan Hills |
45.2
|
17
|
35.8
|
1961
|
40
|
| Lort River Station |
43.0
|
18
|
39.0
|
2000
|
37
|
| Marradong |
54.0
|
17
|
49.5
|
1946
|
105
|
| Mettler |
69.0
|
17
|
43.2
|
1975
|
34
|
| Oldfield Loc 1020 |
12.0
|
18
|
5.0
|
1983
|
37
|
| Perth Airport |
61.0
|
17
|
53.8
|
1988
|
58
|
| Perth Metro |
69.6
|
17
|
66.5
|
1904
|
123
|
| Roleystone |
57.0
|
17
|
52.4
|
1991
|
34
|
| Serpentine |
67.2
|
17
|
60.2
|
1946
|
80
|
| Serpentine Main Dam |
77.0
|
17
|
62.8
|
1976
|
38
|
| Subiaco WWTP |
62.6
|
17
|
39.0
|
1987
|
35
|
| Tamaru |
57.6
|
17
|
57.0
|
1985
|
35
|
| Victoria Dam |
64.2
|
17
|
51.4
|
1991
|
33
|
| Wanneroo |
59.6
|
17
|
44.7
|
1964
|
60
|
| Wilgarrup |
61.0
|
23
|
60.0
|
1985
|
102
|
| Williams |
50.8
|
17
|
44.5
|
1913
|
117
|
| Windrush |
65.4
|
17
|
46.2
|
1975
|
42
|
| Wonnenup |
79.4
|
17
|
75.3
|
1985
|
74
|
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based
on data that have yet to be fully validated.
| 
