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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - AUGUST 1999
Significant rainfall occurred along parts of the Queensland coast, while over the Top End of the Northern Territory, dry and windy conditions caused a number of bushfires. A tornado struck the southern suburbs of Perth and caused significant property damage in East Fremantle.
Queensland An extensive band of thunderstorms across southern and central districts between the 26th and 29th was caused by an amplifying upper trough pushing through the area. Moderate hail falls were reported over the eastern darling Downs and western Moreton on the 27th. New South wales On the 13th at Rosedale (South Coast) 2.5cm hail was reported. On the 28th at Kyogle (Northern Rivers) 2cm hail was reported. Victoria On the 26th slow moving storms caused local flash flooding in Geelong. Heavy rain was also reported in Mornington. South Australia Thunderstorms, heavy showers and hail were reported from the Adelaide metropolitan area and parts of the central districts on the 8th. On the 24th short lived thunderstorms developed on and east of the Mt Lofty Ranges during the evening. Further thunderstorms developed during the early morning of the 25th over the Riverland. No damage was reported from any of these thunderstorm events.
Victoria On the 18th a garage was damaged in Geelong by gale force wind. Western Australia On the 10th and 17th the Lower West and Southwest experienced strong winds as active cold fronts moved over the region. Swanbourne registered a gust of 100 km/h on the 17th and gusts at a number of sites exceeded 90 km/h. On the 18th strong winds continued near the Lower West and Southwest coast, and in the far southwest of the state Cape Naturaliste (120 km/h) and cape Leeuwin (113 km/h) recorded notable gusts. A tornado caused significant damage in southern metropolitan suburbs as isolated thunderstorms moved over Perth and adjacent areas early on the 25th. Properties in East Fremantle sustained major structural damage where a block of flats list its roof, and a tree was blown onto a carport and verandah in another street. Other properties suffered minor damage to roofs and fences in suburban Fremantle, Palmyra, Melville, Alfred Cove and Ardross. The trail of destruction was about 25 to 50 metres wide and 7 kilometres long. Wind gusts associated with the tornado were estimated to have reached 150 km/h.
South Australia Fog caused major disruption to air services at Adelaide Airport on the morning of the 20th. The fog, which developed north of Adelaide, moved slowly south enshrouding much of the metropolitan area.
South Australia Widespread frosts were recorded over much of the state during the first three days of August.
Northern Territory Dry and gusty southeasterly winds resulted in periods of very high fire danger over the Top End during the first three weeks of August. On the 3rd, 4th and 5th, a large fire burnt about 200 square kilometres of pasture on Manbulloo, Scott Creek and Dry River pastoral stations southwest of Katherine. A large fire also affected the Larrimah and Gorrie station area south of Katherine on the 6th. On the 15th, a fire swept through Humpty Doo, McMinns Lagoon and Howard Springs area, 40 kilometres southeast of Darwin, threatening houses and destroying irrigation equipment. Bushfires in the Acacia Hills area, about 50 kilometres southeast of Darwin on the 16th and 18th affected about 20 properties over an area of about 800 hectares. Houses were threatened and mango plantations, baling hay, irrigation equipment and pasture was destroyed.
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.
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