SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - JUNE 1998

Introduction Tornadoes Snow/Frost Thunderstorms Bushfires Wind Flood Temperature
Rainfall

INTRODUCTION

A depression brought heavy rain to East Gippsland in Victoria on the 23rd and 24th resulting in major flooding. Wintry conditions produced by a number of cold fronts crossing the west coast between the 7th and 11th caused widespread rainfall, strong winds and snow on the Stirling Ranges. Tornadoes caused damage in the Goldfield district of Western Australia and in suburban Adelaide, South Australia.

TORNADOES

South Australia

On the 6th a small tornado moved through Adelaide's northeastern suburb of Greenwith. Seven houses were partially unroofed, other properties were damaged with fences and trees brought down.

SNOW/FROST

Victoria

On the 18th and 19th severe frost which caused damage to gardens was reported at Culgoa in the Mallee district.

Western Australia

Cold southerly winds produced snow on Bluff Knoll (Stirling Range), southwest of Western Australia during the 11th.

THUNDERSTORMS

New South Wales

On the 17th at Alstonville (Northern Rivers) 56mm of rain fell in 60 minutes. Some damage was reported mostly to small plants.

South Australia

A thunderstorm with hail moved across Adelaide's southern suburbs and hills in the early morning of the 12th of June. Associated winds blew a 10 metre long section of trees onto the roof of a house at Hawthorndene.

BUSHFIRES

Northern Territory

A fire on the 21st caused the loss of 900 mango trees on Cox Peninsula Road, about 40km south of Darwin.

WIND

Victoria

Wind gusts in excess of 100 km/h were recorded at Bullioh in the Northeast on the 20th. Trees were uprooted.

On the 23rd there were gale force winds and heavy rainfall in Gippsland and the Northeast. Strong winds and heavy rainfall continued in the east on the 24th.

Tasmania

Strong winds on the 7th caused blackouts to the northeast.

Western Australia

A number of cold fronts crossed the west coast between the 7th and the 11th which produced widespread rainfall and strong winds. Coastal areas reported the highest wind speeds and Rottnest Island registered gusts to 124 km/h during the 7th. Other notable gusts include: on the 7th, Ocean Reef (suburban Perth, 100 km/h) and Geraldton (96 km/h); on the 9th, Cape Leeuwin (109 km/h) and on the 10th Cape Naturaliste (102 km/h). In parts of the Southwest falling trees and limbs caused damage to some roofs and electricity supplies were interrupted as power lines were brought down.

Destructive winds and isolated thunderstorms also developed further inland with the passage of the fronts. Near Jarrahdale (south of Perth) some trees were toppled by strong winds. In the agricultural districts Cunderdin experienced gusts to 75km/h on the 7th and wind damage occurred in the vicinity of Trayning, Tammin and Pingelly. A high voltage electricity tower to the east of Southern Cross was bent over by a tornado on the 8th, cutting power supplies to the Goldfields. Southern Cross registered wind gusts to 78 km/h.

FLOOD

Victoria

The heavy rain over the 23rd and 24th in East Gippsland had the highest totals in the Bairnsdale to Orbost area. Major flooding was experienced in the lower reaches of the Mitchell and Snowy rivers and moderate flooding in the Cann and Avon rivers. There was extensive damage to livestock and property with 21,000 sheep, 40,100 cattle killed and 270 bridges were damaged or lost. Roads were cut, power was disrupted and one life was lost. The estimated damage bill is 50-70 million dollars.

TEMPERATURE

     
                       Previous                Years of
Station      Actual     Highest      Year       Record
               øC         øC
Queensland


Palmerville   32.2       32.1        1938         89


Northern Territory


Darwin A/P    32.4       32.1        1996         57

     
                       Previous                Years of
Station      Actual     Highest      Year       Record
               øC         øC
Queensland


Kowanyama     18.3       18.0        1996         32


Northern Territory


Warruwi       23.5       23.4        1987         32

                          Previous        Years of
Station      Actual  Date  Highest   Year  Record
               øC            øC
Western Australia


Geraldton     29.5     7    29.2     1985    56
Meekatharra   28.8     7    28.3     1965    48

     
                         Previous        Years of
Station     Actual  Date  Lowest    Year  Record
              øC            øC
Western Australia


Carnarvon     14.6   30    15.3     1974    52

     
                         Previous       Years of
Station     Actual  Date  Lowest   Year  Record
              øC           øC
New South Wales


Quirindi     7.0     23    8.3      1968   33
Tamworth     7.0     23    7.2      1959   41
Dunedoo      7.6     23    7.8      1977   33
Murrurundi   6.0     23    7.2      1968   33


Western Australia


Port Hedland 16.0    12   17.1      1956  50

    
                        Previous        Years of
Station     Actual  Date Highest   Year  Record
              øC           øC
Queensland


Normanton     24.2    2   23.9     1958     42
Hughenden     20.0    2   19.9     1978     34
Nambour       17.8    2   17.2     1975     33


Western Australia


Port Hedland  24.3    8   23.1     1951     50     

RAINFALL

     
                       Previous         Years of
Station      Actual     Highest Year     Record
               mm        mm
Queensland


Mt Isa        28.8       28.2   1991       33
Ballandean    93.6       90.1   1967       32
Karara        79.4       78.0   1983       31
Glenorie      75.8       68.9   1956       70


Victoria


Bruthen      308.8      256.9   1896      115
Buchan       337.8      321.5   1890      115
Club Terrace 455.0      444.4   1978       37
Dargo        257.8      248.4   1978       58
Ensay        337.6      209.8   1978       89
Orbost       425.0      347.6   1978      116
Swifts Creek 201.9      182.4   1978       61
Tubbut       167.2      156.4   1978       54


Tasmania


Hobart A/P   71.2       65.8    1981       40
Seven Mile 
  Beach      79.6       65.9    1981       37

     
                               Previous       Years of
Station          Actual   Date  Highest  Year  Record
                   mm             mm
Queensland


Fort Constantine  36.6     29    35.0    1985    111
Longreach         44.0     29    41.1    1954     50
Camooweal         57.0     29    56.6    1944    108


Victoria


Club Terrace     284.6     24   220.0    1978     37

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