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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - MAY 1999
A low located to the west of New Caledonia deepened and strengthened as it pushed slowly south into a strong high pressure system over the southern Tasman Sea driving swells of 5 metres onto the south coast of Queensland on the 23rd. It peaked at 8 metres on the 24th before easing from the 25th resulting in extensive beach erosion and triggering many marine accidents and rescues. In South Australia widespread rainfall were reported from across the state on the 23rd with some stations reporting highest falls on record. Widespread rainfall over parts of Western Australia between the 26th and 28th resulted from a low pressure system off the west coast, together with a slow-moving mid-level cloudband. Many locations experience record daily and/or monthly totals for May.
Queensland Gale force southeast winds were experienced in coastal waters in southeast Queensland during the formation of a small low on the 10th and 11th. Tasmania Gales on the 26th brought down trees and power lines in many locations in the north of the state. Western Australia On the 19th the passage of an active cold front over the lower Southwest produced strong winds and gusts estimated to be around 90 km/h. Isolated storms with hail developed and a downburst caused localised damage in the southern Perth suburb of Westfield where a house lost its roof. Another fifteen houses were struck by flying debris and two large trees were blown over. On the 27th Cape Leeuwin registered wind gusts to 94 km/h as a series of cold fronts crossed the west coast. Other notable gusts included Rottnest Island (89 km/h) and Swanbourne (suburban Perth, 87 km/h). There were reports of damage and erosion along some exposed costal areas.
Victoria On the 15th water spouts were observed around Port Phillip Bay. South Australia During the evening of the 22nd thunderstorms and heavy showers were reported from the Adelaide metropolitan area and parts of the northern Adelaide Hills. Some minor flooding and lightning strikes caused disruptions to power supplies.
Queensland The formation of a low pressure system off the south Queensland coast brought heavy rainfall to the Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay causing minor damage and local flooding on the 10th and 11th. On the 19th the passage of an amplifying upper trough caused the deepening of a surface trough off the south coast, again bringing heavy rainfall and flooding to the Sunshine coast.
Northern Territory Dry and gusty southeasterly winds resulted in a period of high to very high fire danger over the western Top End during the third week and the last four days of May. High fire danger also occurred over the central parts of the Northern Territory during the last two weeks of the month. Wildfires threatened properties in Palmerston and Humpty Doo on the 17th at Adelaide River on the 27th and at lake Bennett on the 31st. The Lake Bennett fire destroyed one dwelling.
Highest Mean Maximum Temperature for May
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Birdsville Police 28.0 27.3 1958 46
Tasmania
Cape Bruny L/H 15.4 15.2 1980 73
Hobart Airport 17.4 17.0 1980 40
Grove Research Stn 16.6 16.4 1980 44
Northern Territory
Alice Springs 27.2 26.3 1958 58
Jervois 28.6 27.3 1986 30
Highest Mean Minimum Temperature for May
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
C C
Tasmania
Hobart 9.4 9.3 1980 115
Lowest Mean Maximum Temperature for May
Previous Years of
Station Actual Lowest Year Record
C C
Northern Territory
Centre Island 28.3 28.4 1979 23
Lowest Mean Minimum Temperature for May
Previous Years of
Station Actual Lowest Year Record
C C
Northern Territory
Darwin 20.0 20.3 1976 59
Warruwi 22.7 22.9 1972 32
Centre Island 21.3 21.3 1982 23
Western Australia Developing low pressure systems off the west coast of Western Australia in combination with a slow-moving mid-level cloudband brought widespread rainfall to a large area of the southern half of the state between the 26th and 28th. In the northern agricultural district numerous sites received more than 150mm of rain as cumulative three-day totals to the 28th. West Binnu (about 30 km to the southsoutheast of Kalbarri) registered 134.8mm on the 27th, the highest daily total during the event, and a number of localities experienced highest on record daily and monthly total rainfall amounts for May. Parts of the town of Moora were again inundated by waters from the swollen Moore River, while in other areas of the district high waters and erosion damaged roads and fencing. Highest Monthly Rainfall on Record for Any Month
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
mm mm
Western Australia
Binnu 192.6 179.8 6/1968 65
Clontarf Farm 179.4 165.2 3/1971 70
Codg Codgen 167.2 142.6 6/1945 97
Coolangatta 173.8 162.6 6/1968 47
Goodlands 173.4 147.7 4/1961 48
Perangery 191.1 184.5 3/1927 86
Pindawa 194.8 169.2 3/1971 41
Tardun 183.0 178.0 6/1968 57
Yandanooka 239.8 235.1 6/1945 92
Highest Monthly Rainfall on Record for May
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
mm mm
Western Australia
Baandee North 136.4 118.6 1974 88
Badgingarra 191.0 188.7 1956 39
Balla North 163.0 149.7 1963 49
Bindi Bindi 161.0 131.4 1974 56
Bindoo 193.8 135.4 1984 31
Bonnie Doon 121.3 98.0 1984 77
Bonnie Rock 111.9 104.6 1962 64
Boodjerakine 149.8 116.4 1974 86
Canna 199.2 148.6 1962 79
Cape Naturaliste 239.4 231.6 1910 96
Coorow 169.8 162.6 1993 87
Dalwallinu North 152.0 116.2 1993 54
Dartmoor 132.6 105.6 1988 65
Ejanding 152.0 130.5 1921 92
Esperanza 132.6 129.9 1974 90
Fairfields 117.8 113.6 1974 36
Gleneva 200.0 195.4 1921 79
Happy Valley 127.8 109.6 1984 63
Highfields 215.6 159.6 1963 43
Jurien 245.2 165.5 1988 31
Lake Hinds 124.2 110.5 1953 75
Minaru 167.8 137.4 1993 65
Mingenew 228.6 178.6 1921 103
Mullewa 214.1 187.2 1921 102
Murrumbah 238.5 209.7 1921 99
Ogilvie 234.8 200.5 1921 89
Piawaning 134.5 129.2 1963 42
Riverside 151.4 142.4 1984 70
SouthHolmwood 203.6 196.1 1921 79
Tambrey 209.2 194.4 1984 60
Wannamal 206.6 187.8 1956 86
Wyalkatchem 134.7 122.6 1984 90
Yallalong 140.6 128.8 1962 96
Yarradagee 218.0 170.1 1921 94
Yathroo 208.6 183.1 1956 108
Yuna 199.8 197.1 1921 85
Highest Daily Rainfall on Record for Any Month
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
mm mm
Western Australia
Nabawa 83.0 27 78.4 5/1988 73
Ogilvie 117.0 27 99.1 3/1927 79
Yandanooka 122.2 27 98.8 3/1971 76
Highest Daily Rainfall on Record for May
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
mm mm
Queensland
Mantuan Downs 135.0 11 126.0 1977 108
Nive Downs 58.0 11 57.0 1977 118
South Australia
Uraidla 98.4 25 88.9 1898 109
Lenswood 77.9 25 77.2 1988 32
Western Australia
Baandee North 48.8 28 47.0 1944 88
Badgingarra 81.6 27 62.2 1967 31
Balgerbine 52.4 27 52.0 1974 41
Beacon 47.8 27 45.0 1988 63
Bindi Bindi 53.6 27 48.6 1993 56
Bindoo 85.0 27 76.8 1974 31
Bonnie Doon 59.0 27 42.0 1974 74
Bonnie Rock 52.8 27 48.0 1962 64
Boodjerakine 53.2 27 52.1 1937 84
Canna 69.4 27 67.4 1974 79
Cape Naturaliste 83.4 27 73.8 1991 92
Coorow 87.4 27 75.0 1993 81
Dalwallinu 65.6 27 55.1 1937 86
Dalwallinu North 69.4 27 45.0 1937 52
Esperanza 52.0 27 50.0 1974 86
Fairfield 86.2 27 68.0 1998 67
Geraldton 76.6 27 62.2 1969 57
Goodlands 62.6 27 52.4 1988 48
Jurien 76.8 27 49.2 1974 31
Kalannie 54.4 27 51.2 1993 65
Koobabbie 79.4 27 75.2 1993 89
Minaru 79.2 27 64.6 1993 61
Mingenew 125.2 27 57.7 1908 91
Moningarin 50.0 27 48.8 1937 89
Mount Wittenoom 66.0 27 56.9 1933 69
Murgoo 80.8 28 61.5 1908 84
Murrumbah 105.0 27 67.3 1908 92
Narra Tarra 86.0 27 67.8 1937 75
Northampton 82.2 27 66.5 1947 93
Piawaning 50.1 27 43.6 1988 40
Tambrey 65.8 27 53.8 1993 41
Wannamal 71.6 27 66.0 1908 84
Yallalong 75.0 28 73.7 1908 86
Yarradagee 96.4 27 85.0 1988 88
Yattalunga 85.0 27 82.6 1962 76
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.
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