|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - JULY 2000
A disturbance produced thunderstorms with hail over parts of Queensland on 10th July. Between about 20th and 27th, a major system resulted in gale force winds and extensive snowfall to SE Australia, together with major flooding in northern Tasmania. Large bushfires over the Top End occurred during July.
Queensland The passage of a surface trough triggered unseasonal thunderstorms across the Central and Southeast districts on the 10th. A gust to 96km/h and a blanket of hail to pea size was observed at Emerald on the 10th. Hail was also reported at Gin Gin, Kingaroy, Tungamul near Emu Park, Kinka Beach and Nanango, but the only significantly large hail, twice the size of golf balls was reported at Woodford. New South Wales On the 9th at Ellengowan (Northern Rivers) 40mm of rain fell in 35 minutes. South Australia On the 20th, frontal activity moved through the State with strong to gale force winds over much of the southern Agricultural districts. Isolated thunderstorms were reported from parts of the Mt. Lofty Ranges with Mt Lofty recording a gust to 109 km/h. At Woodchester near Strathalbyn extensive damage was caused to property when a tornado moved through the area, damage was confined to a path 5 kilometres long and 150 metres wide. Two tornadoes were reported at Hatherleigh with a 6 kilometre path and at Cape Jaffa in the Lower Southeast. Damage was confined to stands of trees and there was minimal property damage. On the morning of the 24th a further two weak tornadoes were reported from Woodcroft (a southern suburb of Adelaide) and at Aldinga Beach (south of Adelaide). At Woodcroft, houses within a small area suffered superficial damage, whilst at Aldinga Beach, damage was confined to trees and sheds. Western Australia On the 13th, a tornado damaged the roofs of several houses in Thornlie (suburban Perth). Winds were estimated to have reached 120 km/h as the short lived tornado briefly touched down.
Northern Territory On the 16th, the worst fire so far this season burnt a 24 square kilometre area at Livingstone, 60 kilometres southeast of Darwin. The fire damaged 107 properties, destroying seven mango orchards, three sheds, irrigation equipment and a caravan. The fire took 6 hours to bring under control with the help of 24 volunteer fire fighting units, a helicopter and two graders. One volunteer fire fighter was seriously burnt as a wall of fire swept past him. On the 24th and 27th, large fires burnt scrub and threatened properties in the Darwin River area, 45 kilometres southeast of Darwin. On the 29th, a fire that had been burning for over a week in the Douglas Daly area was controlled using a 25 kilometre backburn. The fire burnt part of the Douglas Daly Hot Springs reserve and a large area within the Douglas pastoral station.
Victoria On the 20th, severe gusts estimated to 111 km/h caused tree damage around Foster (West Gippsland), the SES attended 20 jobs. Cape Nelson AWS (Western District) recorded a severe gust of 107 km/h and this was associated with a squall line. Wind damage occurred on the Mornington Peninsula and the SES were called to 127 jobs. On the 23rd, gale force winds were recorded in the Metropolitan area, the SES attended over 200 jobs and several historical bathing boxes at Mt Martha were damaged. Severe gusts were recorded in other southern and alpine districts; Lookout Hill 106 km/h; Gelantipy 102 km/h; Mt Baw Baw and Dunns Hill 100 km/h; Mt Buller 98 km/h; Mt Moornappa 93 km/h; Rhyll and Kilmore Gap 91km/h. On the 24th, a severe gust to 93 km/h was recorded at Cardinia Reservoir. On the 25th, severe gusts were recorded in the Alpine districts, Mt Buller AWS recorded 100 km/h. On the 26th, Mt Baw Baw AWS recorded a severe gust to 111 km/h. Tasmania From the 20th to the 25th, it was windy throughout Tasmania with the North of the state receiving the worst damage.The strongest winds and most damage were on the 23rd and 24th. A fisherman was drowned and his boat wrecked after fishing in gale force winds on the evening of the 21st. Roofs were damaged, walls blown down and trees were blown over, one trapping a woman in a caravan in Devonport. Lightning strikes caused power interruptions. A factory was damaged at Bell Bay with the Port Authority anemometer going off the scale at 126 km/h. Gusts exceeding 90 km/h were reported at Cape Grim on the 16th, 20th, 21st, 24th & 26th; at Derwent Estuary TERS site on the 20th; 21st & 23rd, at Eddystone Point on the 21st; at Friendly Beaches on the 23rd; at Hartz Mountains on the 23rd & 25th; at King Island Airport on the 20th & 23rd; at Luncheon Hill on the 29th & 30th and on Mt. Wellington on the 9th, 20th, 23rd, 24th & 30th. South Australia Strong to gale force winds associated with a cold front were reported from the higher parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges on the 18th. Localised damage to property was reported. Western Australia The passage of several active cold fronts produced strong to gale force winds near the lower west and southwest coast between the 10th and 17th. Gusts in excess of 85 km/h were recorded at a number of sites. Notable gusts were reported from Ocean Reef 124 km/h on the 13th and Cape Leeuwin 119 km/h on the 17th. Strong winds also developed on the 22nd and Cape Leeuwin registered a gust to 102 km/h.
Queensland A cold outbreak combined with a rainband aloft, resulted in record low maximum temperatures in southeast Queensland on the 27th. Light snow and sleet was reported at Springbrook on the southern border ranges. Australian Capital Territory Snow was reported at Canberra Airport on the 27th. Victoria A severe cold outbreak during the last week of the month brought widespread snowfalls down to low levels, continuing one of the best snow seasons on record. Tasmania Snow falls on the 26th cut many higher roads in the south of the state. Several schools were closed for the day due to snow.
Tasmania The North Esk river at Corra Linn, reached a major flood peak height of about 3.12 metres on the morning of the 21st. The Meander river at Strathbridge reached a major flood peak height of about 7.15 metres on the evening of the 21st. The Meander river at Deloraine Bridge, reached a moderate flood peak height of about 2.64 metres on the morning of the 24th. Many roads were cut and flash flooding also occurred in the north of the state.
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
