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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - JULY 1997 Introduction
Fog Wind
Bushfires
Snow
Temperature Rainfall
July brought a variety of notable weather events around Australia. Severe winds resulted in the loss of three lives off the west coast of Tasmania, bushfires destroyed property in the Northern Territory, and snow was reported at Uluru. In southeastern Australia the dry trend continued from June into July.
Tasmania Launceston and Launceston Airport were fog bound for over three days at the beginning of the month.
Victoria On the 9th at Glen Forbes (South Gippsland) wind speed of 90 km/hr plus was recorded. Tasmania Strong northwesterly winds ahead of a cold front on the 9th caused damage and power failures in the north of the state. Strong winds caused by this system forced the Bass Strait catamaran to return to port for passenger comfort. A cold front which passed over the State on the 21st caused large seas on the west coast. A fishing boat overturned during the night with the loss of three lives. South Australia On the 7th, raised dust whipped up from the Adelaide Plains by strong northerly winds covered much of metropolitan Adelaide. Parafield Airport was closed for several hours. On the 14th, near gale force winds with and ahead of a cold front affected southern coastal districts. Winds gusted to 93 km/h at Coles Point (Lower Eyre Peninsula), 87 km/h at Strathalbyn (Mt Lofty Ranges) and 115 km/h at the exposed Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island.
Northern Territory Dry fresh and gusty southeasterly winds resulted in periods of very high to near extreme fire danger over Darwin and adjacent rural areas on the 5th - 6th, 16th - 18th, 21st - 22nd and 28th - 31st of July. Fires in bushland and agricultural properties destroyed $110,000 worth of stockfeed at Noonamah on the 16th, caused the loss of a vineyard and citrus plantation at Virginia on the 17th , killed livestock at Humpty Doo on the 18th and destroyed a cucumber crop, irrigation system and a shed worth $40,000 at Berrimah on the 28th. Other fires threatened residential properties at Royal Darwin Hospital and Humpty Doo on the 2nd, at Bees Creek on the 5th and at several locations throughout the rural areas on the 21st and 22nd.
Tasmania After the passage of a cold ront, a cold sotherly airstream became established with snow settling to the 150 metre level on the 10th. Many roads were closed. A cold front and associated low pressure system that crossed through Bass Strait on the 15th brought good snow falls to the northern ski fields.
Western Australia Many localities in the southern half of Western Australia experienced very low overnight temperatures almost continuously from the 8th to the 23rd of July. In the agricultural areas minimum temperatures fell to below freezing, producing widespread frosts on numerous occasions. Northern Territory On the 12th Yulara AWS, reported 5.9 for the Maximum, this was the Lowest Maximum Temperature recorded at this station, with a limited record of 11 years, but was also the Lowest Maximum Temperature for any Northern Territory station over all years of record. Previous record for the Northern Territory was Alice Springs with 7.0 in August 1966.
Previous Years of
Station Actual Lowest Year Record
øC øC
Victoria
Swan Hill 1.3 1.7 1901 97
Lowest Daily Minimum Temperature for any Month
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Lowest Year Record
øC øC
Western Australia
Bencubbin -4.3 15 -3.9 1957 40
Esperance MO 1.4 10 2.2 1974 29
Lowest Daily Minimum Temperature for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Lowest Year Record
øC øC
Victoria
Longerenong -5.0 30 -4.5 1982 32
Bendigo -5.0 12 -3.2 1983 40
Lowest Daily Maximum Temperature for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Lowest Year Record
øC øC
Queensland
Birdsville 12.1 12 12.4 1978 41
Windorah 11.7 12 12.3 1978 31
Western Australia
Giles 9.2 11 9.5 1962 41
Victoria Rainfall in July was well below average. All Victorian Districts except East and West Gippsland recorded rainfall in the lowest 10% of records for the month.Lowest Monthly Rainfall on Record for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Lowest Year Record
mm mm
New South Wales
Collarenebri 0.0 0.0 1970 112
Cootamundra 0.8 3.0 1982 108
Forbes 1.0 1.3 1948 122
Victoria
Archerton 25.8 35.8 1982 55
Bonnie Doon 15.2 17.4 1982 95
Kyabram 7.0 7.2 1982 33
Mansfield 16.0 18.6 1902 96
Strathbogie 20.2 25.1 1929 95
Tatura 5.0 7.5 1982 55
Tubbut 3.0 5.0 1970 52
Lake Eildon 27.4 27.4 1939 110
Weeaproinah 31.4 89.5 1957 96
Tasmania
Chain of Lagoons 0.0 9.7 1953 45
Eddystone Point LH 12.6 22.6 1937 87
Falmouth (Glencoe) 1.6 5.5 1971 30
Forthside 34.0 44.2 1977 31
Flinders Island AP 15.2 18.2 1976 55
Moorina 32.8 41.9 1971 87
Orford PO 8.2 13.3 1965 44
Orford South 7.0 7.5 1937 65
Pioneer 24.4 36.6 1971 90
South Mt Cameron 29.4 39.6 1976 38
St Mary 8.2 8.6 1971 92
Triabunna 6.4 7.7 1971 97
Waterhouse(Barooga) 15.6 18.8 1976 37
South Australia
Booleroo 4.8 5.6 1899 114
Magill PO 25.4 28.6 1976,77 106
Arno Bay 6.8 8.4 1976 90
Torrens Is 13.4 15.0 1982 69
McClaren Vale 22.8 23.0 1976,82 60
Berri 1.1 1.2 1982 37
Waikerie 0.0 1.0 1982 97
Blanchetown 3.0 5.0 1985 30
Nildottie 2.4 3.8 1985 32
Highest Monthly Rainfall on Record for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
mm mm
New South Wales
Frenchs Forest 190.2 180.3 1976 40
Williamtown 191.2 172.2 1952 54
Note: Some records and events mentioned in this report are based on real time data and as such, have not been fully validated. For further details please contact the Regional Office of the Bureau of Meteorology in the relevant capital city. |