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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - SEPTEMBER 2002
Severe winds were reported in most states. In New South Wales, Thredbo and Albion Park had their highest wind gusts on record of 154 km/h and 128 km/h respectively. In Victoria a person was killed by a falling tree and significant property damage was reported at Neerim North. Dry and gusty winds continued to cause very high to extreme fire danger throughout most states during September.
Queensland On the 9th hailstorms were reported in the Capricornia district. Tennis ball sized hail fell at Westwood (near Rockhampton), 3cm diameter hail in south Rockhampton and 50 cent piece sized hail at Biloela and Calliope, the latter causing crop damage. On the 23rd a hailstorm at Cooroy/Pomona produced 20 cent piece sized hail causing some roof and tree damage. New South Wales On the 27th 5cm diameter hail was reported at Guyra (Northern Tablelands) and 2cm diameter hail was reported at Wooli (Northern Rivers)and Umina (Hunter). South Australia On the 15th a thunderstorm produced a 102 km/h wind gust at Coober Pedy (Northwest Pastoral). No damage was reported. On the evening of the 20th a thunderstorm accompanying a wind change produced wind gusts to 96 km/h at Wudinna (West Coast). No damage was reported.
New South Wales On the 15th at Thredbo (Southern Tablelands) wind gusts reached 122 km/h. On the 16th at Thredbo (Southern Tablelands) wind gusts reached 154 km/h.(highest wind gust on record) On the 18th at Thredbo wind gusts reached 130 km/h, at Goulburn (Southern Tablelands) 100 km/h, at Nowra (Illawarra) 118 km/h, at Albion Park (Illawarra) 128 km/h, (highest on record for Albion Park) and Lucas Heights (Metropolitan) 122 km/h. On the 27th at Narrabri (North West Slopes) wind gusts reached 105 km/h. Victoria On the 2nd gales and severe wind gusts occurred in southern and mountain areas. Extensive damage to trees and buildings was reported in the metropolitan area. Five aircraft suffered damage at Essendon Airport. A nursing home at Warragul lost its roof. Recorded maximum gusts were: 131 km/h at Mt Hotham, 122 km/h at Mt Buller and Fawkner Beacon, 118 km/h at Haines Saddle, 111 km/h at Dunns Hill, 105 km/h at Melbourne Airport and 94 km/h at Viewbank. On the 15th and 16th gales and severe wind gusts occurred in southern and mountain areas. Damage occurred to trees and buildings. Recorded maximum wind gusts were 139 km/h at Mt Hotham, 122 km/h at Lookout Hill, 117 km/h at Mt Gellibrand, 107 km/h at Mt Hotham Airport, 104 km/h at Mt Buller, 102 km/h at Mortlake, 98 km/h at Kilmore Gap, 96 km/h at Aireys Inlet, 94 km/h at Rhyll, Dunns Hills, Haines Saddle and Fawkner Beacon, 93 km/h at Mt Moornappa and Sheoaks and 91 km/h at Melbourne Airport. There was an unofficial report of a 190 km/h wind gust near Mt Buller. On the 18th gales and severe wind gusts occurred in southern and mountain areas. Damage occurred to trees and buildings. A person was killed by a falling tree at Neerim North in Gippsland. Recorded maximum wind gusts were 141 km/h at Wilsons Promontory, 122 km/h at Mt Hotham Airport, 120 km/h at Mt Gellibrand, 117 km/h at Mt Hotham, 109 km/h at Cape Otway, 104 km/h at Melbourne Airport, 100 km/h at Fawkner Beacon and Laverton, 98 km/h at Avalon, 96 km/h at Bairnsdale Airport and Geelong, 94 km/h at Point Wilson, 93 km/h at Haines Saddle, 91 km/h at Port Fairy and Portland. Severe wind gusts of 90 to 100 km/h were estimated at Tawonga in the Northeast. Tasmania Strong winds and severe wind gusts were common during the month. The Spirit of Tasmania/Bass Strait ferry was delayed more than 6 hours due to gale force winds and 6 metre seas when attempting to berth in Devonport on the 9th. A brick wall of a house in the Hobart suburb of Berriedale collapsed in strong winds on the morning of the 16th causing a damage bill of $100,000. Hobart (Ellerslie Road) had a 98 km/h wind gust. Winds felled a tree in the northeast, disrupting power for 10 hours. In Rocky Cape (North West Coast) a house roof was blown 400 metres on the 17th. Electricity supply was disrupted in the Northeast and also at Port Latta, Smithton, Burnie, Natone and King Island on the 18th due to falling trees. The Spirit of Tasmania/Bass Strait ferry was delayed an hour by 102 km/h winds and a 4 metre sea on the 17th/18th. It was also delayed on the 18th/19th due to storm-force winds and 7 metre seas. South Australia On the 2nd gale force northwesterly winds and blowing dust affected much of northern South Australia, both ahead of and with the passage of a front. Wind gusts of 85-95 km/h were recorded at Marree, Yunta, Woomera and Whyalla. Overnight a second front with localised severe winds, traversed southern coastal districts. Wind gusts to 104 km/h were recorded at Cape Borda on Kangaroo Island. On the 15th gale force northerly winds ahead of a front affected Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Northern and Northwest districts. Damage was widespread, with the eastern half of Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and the northern Spencer Gulf region being hardest hit. Emergency services received 800 calls from these areas. Hundreds of trees were blown over or suffered significant damage. Several houses lost verandahs or were partly unroofed, power lines were blown down and dozens of sheds and farm buildings were badly damaged. Struggling crops were further stressed and several boats were damaged after breaking their moorings. Early estimates put the damage bill close to $1,000,000 excluding crop damage. The notable feature of this event was the duration of the severe winds. The wind at Minlaton on Yorke Peninsula exceeded gale force for nine and half hours. The highest recorded wind gust was 117 km/h. On the 18th gale force westerly winds ahead of a cold front caused minor damage across the Lower South East district. A wind gust to 93 km/h was recorded at Mount Gambier Airport. On the 27th a dust devil, which formed near a wind change, affected several properties in Whyalla (Eastern Eyre Peninsula). The dust devil tore branches off trees and tossed pot plants, a bicycle and other objects around. Western Australia On the 1st Busselton and Cape Leeuwin recorded wind gusts over 100 km/h no significant damage was reported. On the 14th a front caused strong winds about the Lower Southwest. Over 45,000 Perth homes were without power and the SES received 170 calls for assistance. In Fremantle Harbour, the 40,607-tonne livestock carrier Al Messilah swung away from its berth at North Quay when bowlines broke. The highest wind gusts recorded were 105 km/h at Cape Leeuwin, 104 km/h at Rottnest Island, 102 km/h at Gooseberry Hill and Cape Naturaliste and 100 km/h at Perth Airport. Northern Territory On the 23rd a strong dust devil blew the iron roof off the Fox Furniture Store in Alice Springs, it landed about a block away damaging a car.
Queensland On the 11th bushfires threatened homes in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Several fires in the area were fanned by strong winds. On the 18th a 200 hectare fire occurred at Palmtree Creek Crossing (Taroom district). On the 18th/19th more than 200 fires were reported across Southeast Queensland. From the 19th to the 25th bushfires destroyed over 850 hectares of bushland near Mareeba, on the Atherton Tableland west of Cairns. The fire originated on the Hann Tableland. On Sunday the 22nd, the fire threatened homes, destroying sheds and stockyards, prompting Queensland Rescue to water bomb the fire which had an 18 kilometre front. Up to the 23rd a total of 4,323 hectares was burnt over the preceding 3 weeks in the Cambooya area. On the 24th fire fighters across Caboolture Shire battled several fires at Wamuran and Deception Bay, as well as many smaller grass fires. On the 25th a further 100 hectares was burnt in the Cambooya area. On the 26th numerous bushfires burnt throughout Far North Queensland, between Innisfail and Cooktown. A fire which destroyed about 50 hectares of grazing land near Mareeba, came close to reigniting the large blaze of the 19th to the 25th. Tasmania Fires were reported in the warm and windy conditions of the 15th, notably near Fingal and Bicheno. A fire weather warning was issued, well before the "fire weather season" had begun (normally late October). South Australia Fires in the far north of South Australia, on Kenmore Park Station and near Mintabie (Northwest Pastoral), which started in late August, burnt fiercely in very dry and windy conditions on the 30th August and again on the 2nd/3rd September. An estimated 800,000 hectares of pastoral country was burnt in under a week. A number of fires occurred in the warm and very windy conditions on the 15th. At Wirrabara (Flinders), Comaum and Kongorong (Lower South East), significant areas of pine forest were burnt. All three were rekindles of previously burnt slash heaps. The unseasonal weather prompted the Country Fire Service to impose a Total Fire Ban in the Mount Lofty Ranges. Northern Territory Large fires affected pastoral properties in southern parts of the Northern Territory during the last three weeks of September. Fires caused significant loss of pasture and fencing in areas to the northeast, northwest and southwest of Alice Springs. Large parts of Curtin Springs, Lindavale and Owen Springs stations were burnt out. A large fire also affected the southwest corner of Yulara National Park during the second half of the month, causing evacuation of people in the area and closure of walks at Katatjuta (the Olgas).
Tasmania A marked cold outbreak on the 18th/19th brought snow down below 100 metres, especially in southern Tasmania. This lead to numerous road closures between the 18th/20th.
Queensland On the 2nd/3rd there was a severe dust storm at Birdsville, dust storms were also reported at Bedourie and Thargomindah. On the 11th there was a dust storm at Sweers Island. On the 15th/16th there were dust storms at Birdsville and Windorah. On the 24th there was a severe dust storm at Thargomindah. On the 28th/29th there were dust storms at Birdsville and Urandangie.
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.
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