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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - OCTOBER 2000 Thunderstorms and/or winds causing damage were reported in all states during October. Significant bushfires affected large areas of Western Australia and the Northern Territory, together with fires in southeast Queensland. A cold outbreak resulted in record low maximum temperatures in parts of the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia. New South Wales Due to the Olympics and Paralympics, summaries from New South Wales for August and September are included at the end of this months summary. The August and September summaries on this site have also been ammended to include the New South Wales data.
Queensland A severe thunderstorm with hail reported (as 2 cm diameter and flattened) and very strong winds occurred between Innot Hot Springs and the Silver Valley Road west of Ravenshoe on the Atherton Tableland on the 28th. The storm damage was over an area of approximately 10 square kilometres with wind damage apparent from a variety of directions. Trees were defoliated and trunks snapped off well above the ground. A house converted from an old tobacco barn was unroofed with the corrugated iron found a considerable distance away. The storm was described as being like a tornado and the hail was piled up to 30 cm deep in places. Victoria On the 19th, funnel clouds were observed in the Geelong area and at Cranbourne (southeast of Melbourne). On the 24th, in the Northeast District, storms caused local flash flooding and sparse 2 cm hail was reported at Winton. Tasmania Lightning strikes caused numerous blackouts across the north of the state on the 19th. South Australia On the 25th, during a thunderstorm at Roxby Downs, 20 mm of rain was reported to have fallen in 20 minutes. Western Australia From the 18th to the 21st, a middle level disturbance in the north of WA brought widespread showers and thunderstorms to the area. Falls were heavy, with Warmun recording 93mm and Argyle Airport reporting 78mm on the 19th. Northern Territory On the 17th, a thunderstorm downburst damaged trees at Kidman Springs, 100 kilometres southwest of Katherine during the early afternoon. On the 26th, an afternoon thunderstorm caused flash flooding and a narrow strip (1 to 2 kilometres wide) of tree damage near Deep Well, 50 kilometres south of Alice Springs. On the 29th, a thunderstorm downburst caused a (1 kilometre wide by 15 kilometres long) swath of vegetation damage near King River on the Victoria River Highway, 38 kilometres southwest of Katherine.
Queensland On the 1st, there were many fires throughout Southeast Queensland. Bush fires were also reported at Logan City and Beaudesert south of Brisbane, at Ipswich to the west and Deception Bay to the north. Two farm sheds, a derelict house and a community hall at Deception Bay were destroyed by fires. On the 26th, a large bush fire was reported at Doonan on the Sunshine Coast. The fire destroyed more than 30 hectares, Doonan's Pengari private school was evacuated and 3 homes were threatened. On the 30th, a fire was reported to have burnt 1,000 hectares at Tiree (southwest of Hughenden). Western Australia On the 24th, lightning sparked bushfires that burnt about 25,000 hectares in the Stirling Ranges, about 300 kilometres southeast of Perth. From the 2nd to the 31st, bushfires in the Karajini National Park in the Pilbara District were sparked by lightning, burning more than 500,000 hectares of bushland scrub. Northern Territory Fresh, dry and gusty easterly winds resulted in periods of very high fire danger over the Barkly district, Victoria River region and the Top End during the first half of October. Very high fire danger also occurred in the western Alice Springs region during the second half of October. On the 6th, apparently deliberately lit fires occurred in the Holmes Jungle Nature Park on the outskirts of Darwin suburbs. Ten fire crews battled to save houses at Knuckey Lagoon and buildings at the Micket Creek Shooting Range, as strong winds pushed the fires towards these properties. Darwin firefighters remained on alert during the first week of October to assist Tennant Creek volunteers as fires continued to threaten the town. Many fires which had burnt extensive areas in the Barkly region, the Tanami desert and the western Alice Springs region since early September, were extinguished by widespread rain and cool weather during the third week of October.
Victoria On the 18th, heavy rain in the Trentham area (North Central District) caused some flooding on roads. On the 19th, flash flooding occurred in the Melbourne Metropolitan area. On the 23rd, heavy rain leading to local flooding was recorded in the North Central district. At Lauriston, 84 mm of rain was recorded in 24 hours. Tasmania On the 1st, the South Esk river at Mathinna reached a minor flood peak height of about 2.08 metres in the afternoon and at Fingal reached a minor flood peak height of about 4.91 metres in the evening. On the evening of 30th September, the Meander river at Meander reached a minor flood peak height of about 2.28 metres. At Strathbridge, the Meander river reached a minor flood peak height of about 5.50 metres, in the early morning of the 2nd October. South Australia Minor flooding occurred over the night of the 17 -18th October in Clare and surrounds.
New South Wales On the 26th, McLeans Ridges (Northern Rivers District) reported 15mm of rain in 10 minutes. Wind gusts were recorded up to 110 km/h, trees were snapped off and an empty 5,000 gallon water tank was thrown 500 metres. Victoria On the 1st, severe wind gusts were recorded in Gippsland, Wilsons Promontory 132 km/h,Bairnsdale 104 km/h and East Sale 90 km/h. On the 17th, minor wind damage occurred to a house at Mildura. On the 27th, a severe gust to 115 km/h was recorded at Wilsons Promontory. Tasmania Strong winds caused blackouts in the Launceston area on the 25th. Gusts exceeding 90 km/h were reported at Barren Tier on the 3rd; Cape Grim on the 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th, 15th and 27th; Derwent Estuary TERS site (Tasmanian Earth Resources Satellite Station) on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 14th and 27th; Eddystone Point on the 1st and 25th; Flinders Island Airport on the 1st; Hartz Mountains on the 3rd, 5th and 7th; Hobart on the 3rd; Mount Wellington on the 2nd to 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 13th, 14th and 27th; and at Smithton Airport on the 10th. South Australia High winds on the 18th October, over much of the Agricultural districts brought down trees, cut power lines from Aldinga to Gawler and caused damage to houses in Wallaroo.
Tasmania Cold conditions on the morning of the 17th brought widespread frost to the state. Damage to grape and stone fruit crops is estimated in the millions of dollars. South Australia Parts of the Agricultural districts had widespread frosts for the month, and reports of up to 80% loss of crops have been made for some properties.
Western Australia Maximum temperatures in the region were down to record levels for this time of year, Halls Creek reporting a lowest maximum temperature of just 22.2C and Wyndham PO 25.4C on the 20th. The average maxima for this time of year is 37.1C and 38.9C respectively. Northern Territory A cold outbreak was experienced almost throughout the Northern Territory
around the 20th of the month due to the passage of a frontal system
and associated cloud band over the region. Several stations reported
the lowest recorded daily maximum temperatures and the lowest recorded
mean maximum temperatures for the month.
Western Australia Much of the South West Land Division (SWLD) reported low rainfall totals in October. The worst areas were west and northwest of Esperance where record low rainfall totals were reported in the North and South Central and North and South Coastal Districts. Albany Airport reported a monthly total of 22.2mm and Katanning PO just 2.8mm. Narrogin, in the South Central District, recorded its second lowest rainfall total on record for October of 3.2mm.
THUNDERSTORMS/TORNADO New South Wales On the 28th, Laurieton and Camden Haven (Mid North Coast), reported hail, 4cm in diameter at Camden Haven and 2cm in diameter at Laurieton. There was some property damage with four requests for assistance from the SES. Williamtown (Hunter District) reported a wind gust of 96 km/h.
THUNDERSTORMS/TORNADO New South Wales On the 26th, Mudgee(Central Tablelands) reported hail 2.5 cm in diameter. TEMPERATURE
RAINFALL
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.
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