SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - JULY 1997

Introduction Fog Wind Bushfires Snow Temperature Rainfall

INTRODUCTION

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.

FOG

Tasmania

Launceston and Launceston Airport were fog bound for over three days at the beginning of the month.


WIND

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.



BUSHFIRES

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.


SNOW

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.

 
TEMPERATURE

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.


Lowest Mean Minimum Temperature for July

                                     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

 

RAINFALL

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.