SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - September 2005
Thunderstorms occurred in most states and tornadoes were observed in Western Australia causing damage to homes. Strong winds were recorded in Queensland, News South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. Rain at the end of August caused major flooding in the Meander and North Esk rivers, causing damage to cattle and sheep. Western Australia On the 5th a strong cold front crossed the west coast causing damage extending from Badgingarra to Pemberton. A tornado was reported in the Badgingarra area with several more being reported in Perth suburbs. About 30 properties were damaged in a strip extending from Morley to Bayswater. Another tornado caused a strip of damage in Canning Vale. Several large sheds of the Canning Vale markets were badly damaged or destroyed and the roof of a shop was lifted and peeled back. There was also damage to homes in Waroona, Mandurah, Harvey, Australind, Bunbury, Pingelly and to two holiday chalets in Pemberton. A strong cold front crossed the west coast on the morning of the 17th reaching Perth at 4am. In Perth there were two distinct swathes of damage indicative of tornadoes. One path extended from City Beach through Floreat, Daglish, Subiaco and Kings Park. Several houses in Subiaco and City Beach had major roof damage while many others suffered damage primarily due to fallen trees or branches across the metropolitan area. The second tornado trail extended from Kallaroo through Padbury to Kingsley. Other affected suburbs included Lesmurdie and East Victoria Park. On the same day in the Southwest, another tornado was reported at Cowaramup and minor roof damage was reported at Australind. At Cowaramup roofs were taken off two classrooms at a primary school, a television antenna mast was bent in half and a number of trees were uprooted. One of the trees fell and damaged two cars. Queensland On the 27th, 4cm hail was reported during a thunderstorm at Wilson Peak (south of Boonah in southeast Queensland) and approximately 5cm hail during another storm at Kingaroy. On the 30th in the Lockyer and Brisbane Valleys thunderstorms caused wind damage to houses, uprooted trees, brought down powerlines and upturned a caravan through the Lockyer and Brisbane Valleys during the afternoon. Lockrose was the worst affected area. Three road accidents at the time of the storm brought the Ipswich Motorway and Warrego Highway to a standstill around 4pm. New South Wales Thunderstorms on the 27th at Lismore produced heavy rain and golf ball size hail at La Nook (northwest of Lismore). Victoria On the 9th thunderstorms that developed at night produced 2cm hail at Marnoo in the Wimmera district. On the 10th thunderstorms in the early hours of the morning produced 3cm hail at Cowes, Phillip Island. Thunderstorms redeveloped later in the day with one producing 3.5cm hail at Churchill. Isolated severe thunderstorms developed in the Mallee on the morning of the 28th. A line of severe thunderstorms associated with this front developed along Victoria’s western border during the early afternoon then travelled rapidly eastward during the afternoon. Thunderstorms during the evening produced flash flooding in West Footscray, Braybrook and Taylors Lakes. Hail to 2cm in diameter and damaging wind gusts were also reported at Braybrook. The severe thunderstorms continued moving eastwards with further reports of flash flooding from Wangaratta and Albury. Trees and powerlines were brought down and some houses had roofs dislodged due to damaging winds in Myrtleford. Tasmania A horse was killed instantly when struck by lightning in Launceston on the 10th. In the Northwest 26,000 premises were without electricity for a few hours after lightning struck transmission towers on the 11th. South Australia Northern Territory On the afternoon of the 15th widespread thunderstorms formed across the Alice Springs District. Hail 1 cm in diameter occurred at Papunya (215 kilometres west-northwest of Alice Springs). Wind gusts of 120 km/h were recorded at Territory Grape Farm (200 kilometres northwest of Alice Springs), where grapes were knocked off vines and thirty percent of trees in a 5 kilometre long strip were uprooted. A large door was torn off a building and an air-conditioning unit mounted on the roof was also blown apart. Minor tree damage and 87 km/h wind gusts were also reported at Jervois (250 kilometres east-northeast of Alice Springs). Queensland Between the 16th and 17th the passage of a frontal system across southern Queensland was associated with strong gusty northerly winds, ahead of a change and followed by west to southwesterlies. An intense low over the Tasman Sea further strengthened the winds in southeast Queensland. Many powerlines were brought down and more than 100,000 homes and businesses lost power, mainly around Brisbane. The Port of Brisbane was also closed Wind gusts of 90km/h or greater were reported on:
New South Wales Wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h were reported on the following days:
Victoria On the 11th strong and gusty winds associated with a low pressure system crossing Victoria produced gusts to 105 km/h at Avalon Airport, 101 km/h at Wilsons Promontory and 94 km/h at Cape Otway. Tasmania An electricity outage affected 200 properties in Strahan on the 9th after a tree limb was blown onto power lines. Over 1,000 properties in the southeast and southern Midlands were without power after strong winds on the 12th. Gusts of 90km/h or greater were reported on the following days:
South Australia On the 10th a low pressure system and associated trough intensified near the west coast of Eyre Peninsula and moved northeastward over South Australia. A wind gust to 95 km/h was observed at Nullarbor with the passage of this system. The passage of a front associated with a low well south of Australia on the 28th resulted in a gust to 91 km/h at Elliston and Minlaton. Western Australia On the 7th and 8th a low pressure system moved to the south of Albany on the evening of the 8th. A wind gust of 118 km/h was recorded at Cape Leeuwin. On the 27th and 28th a strong cold front moved along the south coast of the state with maximum wind gusts at Cape Leeuwin of 107 km/h and Forrest, 94 km/h. A strong cold front moved along the south coast of the state with maximum wind gusts up to 111 km/h at Cape Leeuwin on the 30th. Northern Territory There were four significant fires over the Top End. Fires near Elizabeth Valley and Fogg Dam in the northwestern Darwin-Daly District burnt for a day or two before they were brought under control. A fire near Spirit Hills early in the month, and one on Bradshaw Station in the middle of the month (northwestern Victoria River District), lasted for a week or more. These fires were on pastoral land and caused no significant damage to infrastructure. Tasmania Rain at the end of August caused major flooding in the Meander and North Esk rivers, moderate flooding in the South Esk, Forth and Mersey rivers, and minor flooding in the Macquarie and Ouse rivers. Some of the damage included: Many cattle and several hundred sheep drowned, including 420 on one property on Pipers River; the evacuation of several houses, and the caravan park at Deloraine; Deloraine racecourse was inundated with at least 40 horses evacuated and significant damage to the training track. A footbridge over the Mersey River at Latrobe was damaged with repairs estimated at $150,000. Numerous roads in the north were submerged and damaged and 10,000 salmon died at a marine farm when flooded debris blocked its fresh water inlet on Western Creek. The level of Great Lake rose more than 34cm in 24 hours. Peak heights were:
There was moderate flooding in the Macquarie River, and minor flooding in the South Esk, North Esk, Jordan and Clyde Rivers as a result of flowing heavy rain on the 11th and 12th. Peak heights were:
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated. |
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