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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - MAY 1998
With the onset of winter, southern states experienced episodes of gale force winds and cool season waterspouts and tornadoes. Slow-moving rainbands moved across the continent, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms to some areas.
Victoria A waterspout formed out to sea and tracked over Wonthaggi causing damage to approximately 25 homes. Trees and power lines were also brought down. South Australia On the afternoon of the 19th, a small tornado tore the roof off a small shop and some tiles off an adjacent house in Ascot Park, a suburb of Adelaide, as a cold front moved through the area.
Queensland A severe thunderstorm caused wind damage to a hospital and school on Bribie Island (48km north of Brisbane) late on the evening of the 4th. New South Wales On the 2nd at Port Macquarie, 30mm of rain fell in 20 minutes which caused localised flash flooding. South Australia On the afternoon of the 16th, thunderstorms developed in a moist easterly airstream, coupled with an upper level low over northeastern South Australia, producing some flash flooding. 38mm of rain fell in less than an hour around Booleroo (Mid North).
South Australia On the 13th of May a grass fire burnt 140 hectares of Hinks Conservation Park, 35km southwest of Cleve on Eyre Peninsula. At Carey Gully, in the Adelaide Hills, 30 hectares of grass and scrub was burnt when a "burn-off" got out of control. Northern Territory A fire which spread from an untended campfire threatened homes in the Darwin suburb of Palmerston on the 7th and burnt about 100 hectares of scrub. Fires were also reported near Humpty Doo, 40 km east of Darwin on the same day. A fire threatened homes in the Darwin suburb of Leanyer on the 28th and burnt 16 hectares of grassland.
Tasmania Gales on the 23rd caused damage to a house in Devonport and blew down trees in various locations in the northwest and north of the state. A wind gust unroofed a house in Glenorchy early on the morning of the 28th. Western Australia On the 26th a rapidly deepening low pressure system off the lower west coast produced very strong winds with notable gusts recorded at Cape Naturaliste (111 km/h), Cape Leeuwin (107 km/h) and Jandakot (suburban Perth, 98 km/h). There were reports of minor damage to roofs and numerous tree limbs which fell across roads in the southwest. On the 28th during the passage of a series of active cold fronts Cape Leeuwin registered mean wind speeds of 102 km/h and gusts to 126 km/h. Cape Naturaliste reported gusts to 100km/h. Roof damage was sustained at several properties in the Bunbury area (south of Perth). Falling tree limbs caused interruption to some electricity supplies and blocked roads for short periods of time.
Highest Mean Maximum Temperature for May Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Highest Mean Minimum Temperature for May Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Highest Daily Maximum Temperature for May Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Highest Daily Minimum Temperature for May Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Western Australia A slow moving rainband produced very heavy rains over a small area of the Pilbara from the 26th to the 29th. Onslow registered a daily total of 184.3mm on the 28th contributing to the town's highest May monthly total on record of 373.5mm. Highest Monthly Rainfall on Record for May Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
mm mm
Queensland
Highest Daily Rainfall on Record for May Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
mm mm
Queensland
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.
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