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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - JULY 1998
There were some significant frosts over Western Australia during the first half of July. Two deep low pressure systems, one during 5th-8th July and the other during 27th-27th July brought gales and flooding rains to areas of southeastern Australia.
New South Wales On the 27th at Willow Tree (North West Slopes) a tornado was reported from Swinging Ridges road 12km southwest of Willow Tree. Vehicles and a weatherboard house were damaged and a baby was sucked out of the house.
Victoria On the 5th strong winds which caused damage to houses was reported in the Northeast at Myrtleford. On the 9th severe gusts were recorded in the Central district. Fawkner Beacon recorded a gust to 120 km/h. On the 27th gales occurred in the North Central, Central and Northeast districts. Gusts estimated around 90 km/h were reported in the Alexandra area. Trees were damaged and power lines brought down. At Beechworth a hayshed and trees were damaged. South Australia On the 5th a developing low pressure system caused strong northerly winds and very minor damage to trees in an area south of Adelaide. Adelaide Airport experienced very strong surface winds which gusted to 95 km/h and a 35 foot fishing boat broke from its moorings, neat Granite Is. due to gales force winds. On the 8th convective activity on a rapidly moving cold front produced damage over Kangaroo Island, the Adelaide area and the Barossa Valley. A small tornado moved down the main street of Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island and produced structural damage to many buildings and also to a ferry. As the front moved through Adelaide it produced damage around Torrensville and Campbelltown, suburbs of Adelaide. Trees snapped, roofing was removed, windows were blown in and bricks were blown out from part of a wall. There were reports of wind damage in the Barossa Valley later in the afternoon, with property damage caused by falling trees at Tanunda. On the 27th and 28th a low deepened near the South Australia coast. The lowest recorded mean sea level pressure recorded in Adelaide was 988.1 hPa on the 27th. Gales were observed over all of the South Australian coastline over the next 48 hours before the low moved into Bass Strait. Isolated thunderstorms were reported from Mt Lofty Ranges overnight on the 27th/28th. The windy weather produced above average tides. Two people fishing along the coastline near Mt Gambier on the 26th are missing. TasmaniaA deep low pressure system off the northwest coast on the 28th caused widespread wind damage along the northwest coast. A maximum gust of 176 km/h was recorded at Cape grim. Power lines were brought down by falling tree branches and several planes were damaged at Devonport Airport. Many sheds and outbuildings were also damaged. One shed was blown onto the Bass highway blocking traffic. A man was washed into the sea at Burnie and was rescued after two hours in the water. Western Australia Parts of the lower west coast were buffeted by gales during the passage of an active cold front on the 31st. A large shed that was under construction near Rockingham (south of Perth) was extensively damaged by the strong winds, gusts were estimated between 100 to 120 km/h. Notable wind gusts were recorded at Mandurah (92 km/h) and Cape Naturaliste and Rottnest Island (89 km/h).
Western Australia As minimum temperatures fell to around freezing, central and southern parts of the Southwest land division, including some west coast localities, experienced frosts from the 7th to the 10th and 15th and 16th. Further frosts developed over a larger area of southern Western Australia between the 27th and 30th. Yeelirrie (Southeast district) registered the lowest minimum air temperature for the month, -4.3oC on the 28th.
South Australia Snow fell on the Stirling Range (southwest) on the 26th and 27th as a cold southerly airstream developed in the wake of a cold front. Reports of snow on the morning of the 28th were widespread extending from the Mt. Lofty to the Southern Flinders Ranges.
Queensland Several bands of heavy rainfall across western and southeast Queensland towards the end of July caused major flooding in the Border rivers and minor to moderate flooding in the western catchments of the Paroo and Bulloo rivers. Tasmania During the 6th and 7th major flooding was experienced in the Meander river. A peak height in excess of 3.5 metres was reached at Meander, while a peak height of 3.2 metres was reached at Deloraine on Monday the 6th.
Highest Mean Maximum Temperature for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Lowest Mean Maximum Temperature for Any Month
Previous Years of
Station Actual Lowest Year Record
C C
Western Australia
Giles 16.2 16.3 1986 42
Highest Mean Minimum Temperature for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Highest Daily Maximum Temperature for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Highest Daily Maximum Temperature for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
C C
Western Australia
Lowest Daily Maximum Temperature for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Lowest Year Record
C C
Western Australia
Highest Daily Minimum Temperature for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Kowanyama 23 5 23.2 1989 32
Innisfail 22.1 21 22.0 1981 42
Taroom 18 28 17.6 1986 42
Windorah 18.4 20 16.5 1981/93 32
Sandy Cape 20.7 20 20.2 1964 40
Miles 16.9 28 16.4 1989 41
Injune 16.9 28 15.6 1993 32
Widespread rainfall occurred in the Pilbara, Murchison and Gascoyne rivers during June 30 and July 1st as a rainband moved over the region. Isolated thunderstorms and heavy rains developed producing minor flooding. Several localities reported daily totals of more than 50mm on the 1st and Exmouth reported the highest daily total of 87.6mm.
Parts of the Gascoyne and Murchison received moderate to heavy rains between the 11th and 14th as a northwest cloudband spread from the Exmouth area across to the southern Goldfields and Eucla. General falls tended to range from 20 to 30mm and several localities reported daily totals of more then 50mm. Carnarvon registered a record of 102.6mm on the 13th. Heavy rains were again recorded in parts of the Northwest region of the state as a cloudband moved over the area during July 31st and August 1st. A number of sites in the Pilbara and Gascoyne reported daily totals of more than 50mm in the 24 hours to 9am on the 1st. Kooline approximately 250 kms to the south of Karratha registered 100 mm of rain, the highest daily total. Highest Monthly Rainfall on Record for Any Month
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
mm mm
Western Australia
Highest Monthly Rainfall on Record for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
mm mm
Queensland
Highest Daily Rainfall on Record for Any Month
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
mm mm
Western Australia
Highest Daily Rainfall on Record for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
mm mm
Queensland
Highest Daily Rainfall on Record for July
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
mm mm
Tasmania
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.
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