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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - NOVEMBER 2000 November was a notably wet month over much of the continent. Many places in Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory recorded their highest monthly rainfalls on record. Flooding was widespread in Queensland and New South Wales reaching major flooding in the latter half of the month in several catchments. In contrast, many places in Tasmania had their driest November on record. Severe thunderstorms occurred sporadically over much of the continent with associated damaged reported to crops, vegetation and buildings.
Queensland On the 2nd, a severe storm tore a path of destruction through North Rockhampton suburbs, with reports of up to five tornadoes (evidence of at least one confirmed by the Bureau). Estimated damage bill is $200,000 plus, with widespread tree damage and roofing damage to some houses. Golf ball sized hail was reported in the outer suburbs with wind estimates to about 150 km/h, but only 78 km/h was actually measured at Rockhampton airport. A large truck was lifted and thrown about 50 metres. On the 3rd, reports were received of a funnel cloud to the west of Peaks Crossing (in the Gatton area). Hail 2.5 cm in diameter was reported at Gatton with 3 cm hail to the north. Damage near Gatton was limited to large branches down and a few trees stripped of leaves. However 10 to 15 kilometres south of Stanthorpe, an estimated $1 million damage was done, especially to small crops in the area. On the 4th, large hail 2.5 to 3.5 cm in diameter was reported from across the Gatton to Beaudesert area. Flash flooding was reported at Beaudesert with 39 mm in 35 minutes recorded at Hiddenvale (but hail blocked rain gauge). On the 5th, residents of East Palmerston near Innisfail reported very strong gusting winds followed by heavy deluges of rain and a burst of hail about the size of marbles. On the 7th, Raglan Station near Rockhampton reported 20 cent sized hail with major damage to the homestead and property. The homestead roof had been lifted and dumped to the side of the house. There was extensive damage to a nearby farm residence and a machinery shed was destroyed. On the 12th at Mt Isa, hail larger than 2 cm was reported from a number of suburbs, including the off duty Observer's residence. The thunderstorm was classified as severe mainly due to the rainfall intensity (although lower than the suggested 70 mm per hour, the recorded rainfall rates were much higher than normal for this location). There were reports of hail in the area which is a rare occurrence for the city and surrounding area, but uprooted trees were the only damage. On the 24th, the Jindalee Over the Horizon Radar station, located 35 kilometres southwest of Longreach, reported at approximately 6.30 pm a large funnel shaped cloud on the ground approximately 5 to 10 kilometres south of the Radar site. By 7pm the storm hit and 59.7 mm was recorded in under an hour. New South Wales On the 2nd, hail 2 cm in diameter was reported at Uralla (Northern Tablelands). Hail 2 cm in diameter and 44 mm of rain in 25 minutes was reported at Moonbi, near Tamworth (North West Slopes). On the 3rd, hail 2 cm in diameter was reported at Picton (Illawarra) and heavy rain caused flash flooding. Hail 4 cm in diameter was reported at Campbelltown (Illawarra). Hail from 2 to 7 cm in diameter was recorded in the western suburbs of Sydney, heavy rain and minor flooding was reported. A tornado occurred at Greystanes (Metropolitan) with considerable property damage. 24 mm in 8 minutes was recorded at Appin (Illawarra). There was very heavy rain with 29 mm in 20 minutes recorded at Bedowra near Cooma (Southern Tablelands). Hail 5 cm in diameter was reported 24 kilometres east of Moree (North West Plains). On the 4th, hail 4 cm in diameter was reported at Dorrigo (Mid North Coast), with damage to skylights. Hail up to 3 cm in diameter was reported at Comboyne (Mid North Coast) with 20 mm in 20 minutes. On the 5th, hail up to 3 cm in diameter was reported at Kempsey (Mid North Coast). Hail 2.5cm in diameter was reported at Corindi Beach near Coffs Harbour (Mid North Coast). Large hail golf to tennis ball size, was reported at Nimbin (North Coast), roofs were damaged and large trees were brought down, the SES was called in. There was a possible tornado/downburst at Mount Warning (North Coast) accompanied by a 'shrieking' sound. Items were 'blown out of a house', hail was golf to tennis ball size. On the 6th, a thunderstorm and strong winds was reported at Mullumbimby (Northern Rivers) with damage to roofs. On the 10th, a thunderstorm with heavy rain was reported at Barham (Riverina). 90 mm in two hours, flooding was reported and electricity supplies were cut, 12 houses were sandbagged. On the 15th, very heavy rain was recorded at Brewarrina (Upper Western), 139 mm fell between 9am and 3pm, it was the wettest day on record at Brewarrina. On the 19th, very heavy rain was recorded at north Dubbo (Central West Slopes), 40 mm in thirty five minutes. On the 22nd, very heavy rain was recorded at Girilambone (Central West Plains), 76 mm in about one hour. On the 26th, hail about 2 cm in diameter was reported at Fig Tree near Wollongong (Illawarra). There was golf ball size hail at Green Valley (Metropolitan) which damaged roof tiles. On the 27th, a thunderstorm with heavy rain and severe winds was reported at Boggabri (North West Slopes) 8 houses were damaged, trees and power lines were brought down. On the 28th, hail 2 cm in diameter was reported near Uralla (Northern Tablelands) and trees were brought down. On the 29th, severe winds at Nymboida (Northern Rivers) brought down trees and blocked a road. Hail 2 cm in diameter was reported near Uralla (Northern Tablelands). At Corrowong near Delegate (Southern Tablelands), a severe thunderstorm with strong winds destroyed a hay shed and snapped trees, hail was the size of ice cubes. Hail the size of golf balls was reported at Gunnedah (North West Slopes). There were wind gusts up to 143 km/h at Montague Island (South Coast). A severe thunderstorm with strong winds and flash floodingwas reported at Narooma (South Coast). On the 30th,very heavy rain about 11 mm in less than ten minutes and 2 cm hail was recorded at Patons Bridge between Forbes and Cowra (Central West Slopes). Strong winds and heavy rain was reported at Bathurst (Central Tablelands), winds reached 83 km/h, tree branches were broken and there was a power failure. There was very heavy rain in the western suburbs of Sydney, 39 mm in 40 minutes was recorded at Holsworthy and 15 mm in 6 minutes was recorded at Berowra. Hail 2 to 3 cm in diameter was reported at Patonga near Gosford (Hunter), there was some property damage and trees were brought down. There were strong winds at Nobbys Head at Newcastle (Hunter) with gusts up to 121 km/h. Heavy rain, 25 mm in 15 minutes was recorded at Coonamble (Central West Plains). Australian Capital Territory On the 20th, thunderstorms and some hail were reported in the northern and western parts of the Australian Capital Territory. On the 30th thunderstorms occurred in the Australian Capital Territory in the early morning. Victoria On the 1st, storms produced heavy rain in the Mallee. At Annuello, 36.4 mm was recorded in one hour. Storms in the Wimmera produced heavy rain leading to local flash flooding, with buildings in the central business district of Stawell suffering water damage. At Halls Gap, a restaurant was flooded. Stawell recorded 32 mm of rain, Halls Gap 48 mm and Lake Bellfield 70 mm. On the 4th, at Genoa in East Gippsland, storms produced very heavy rainfall and at Becker's Sawmill 53 mm was recorded in 20 minutes. On the 10th, at Lake Bolac in the Western District, approximately 100 mm of rain was recorded in one hour (Spotter report). On the 11th, Combienbar AWS in East Gippsland recorded 32.4 mm of rain in 20 minutes. On the 16th, at Mia Mia in the North Central District, heavy rain caused local flash flooding. Fences were washed away and some roads were closed, 80 mm was reported at Heathcote. At Callawadda in the Wimmera district, 37 mm of rain was recorded in 20 minutes. A storm near Beulah in the Mallee produced approximately 50 mm of rain in about 10 minutes (Spotter report). Heavy rain caused road damage at Diamond Creek in the Central District. On the 17th, heavy rain with storms occurred in the Central, North Central and Western Districts. In the Central district at Wesburn, a storm produced 50 mm of rain and at St Andrews 40 mm of rain in 45 minutes was reported. In the North Central District, Newbury near Trentham reported an estimated 60 mm in one hour and there was a report of 110 mm at Heathcote, this caused flash flooding. 60 mm of rain occurred in under one hour at Dunkeld in Western Victoria. On the 18th, heavy rain with storms occurred in the Central and Northeast Districts. Flash flooding was reported at Mt Macedon. Beechworth recorded 33 mm in 40 minutes and El Dorado 49 mm in 90 minutes. On the 20th, storms produced heavy rain in the Eastern Central district. Pakenham recorded 40 mm. On the 28th, storms which occurred in the Central and North Central districts produced severe damaging winds. Houses were damaged at Craigieburn, trees damaged at The Patch and damage to buildings and trees occurred in the Strath Creek, Marysville, Glenburn and Yea areas, heavy rain was also reported at Strath Creek. On the 29th, hail caused damage to the school at Newborough in West Gippsland and large hail caused damage to buildings and vehicles at Dinner Plain in the North East District. Western Australia On the 26th, a low pressure trough moved through the Southern Coastal district in the evening and this sparked thunderstorms and showers in the Esperance and Salmon Gums area. Roof and tree damage were reported and winds gusting up to 150 km/h were estimated to have occurred in the main street of Esperance from a severe thunderstorm downdraft. The Esperance Meteorological Office recorded a maximum wind gust of 124 km/h from the NNW at 4.40pm before power was cut to the Office. Northern Territory On the 2nd, a 96 km/h wind gust was recorded in a squall line at McCluer Island, about 250 kilometres northeast of Darwin. On the 4th, a thunderstorm with strong winds and heavy rain caused tree damage and flash flooding at Harts Range, 120 kilometres northeast of Alice Springs. On the 5th, golf ball sized hail damaged cars and stripped vegetation and heavy rain caused flash flooding at Ellery Creek and Palm Valley about 80 kilometres west of Alice Springs. Also on the 5th, a severe storm felled large trees and damaged signs at Renner Springs, 150 kilometres north of Tennant Creek. On the 7th, a thunderstorm downburst caused an 87 km/h gust at Territory Grape Farm, about 180 kilometres north of Alice Springs. On the 11th, a second severe thunderstorm at Renner Springs produced golf ball sized hail which smashed windows and damaged cars and buildings. Also on the 11th, a thunderstorm produced strong winds and a sandstorm at Ali Curung, 150 kilometres south of Tennant Creek, damaged vegetation. A heavy hailstorm damaged a vehicle on the Stuart Highway and narrowly missed $20 million grape crops ready for picking at Ti Tree, 180 kilometres north of Alice Springs. On the 12th, a thunderstorm at Yuendumu, 250 kilometres northwest of Alice Springs produced a duststorm with gale force winds which threw around garden furniture. On the 13th, 5 cm in diameter hail and high winds at Suplejack Station in the Tanami Desert caused damage to vegetation. Also on the 13th, thunderstorms dumped 72 mm of rain in a 24 hour period at Tennant Creek, producing a flash flood knee-deep in the main street, damaging several residences, community buildings and classrooms. On the 14th, a violent hailstorm and torrential rain at Rabbit Flat in the Tanami Desert stripped vegetation and caused water damage to property. Also on the 14th, a thunderstorm produced strong winds and golf ball sized hail at Kalkaringi, 180 kilometres south of Timber Creek, causing dents in cars and buildings. On the 20th, a thunderstorm downburst damaged trees and property at Bees Creek, 40 kilometres south of Darwin. On the 21st, strong winds and marble-sized hail in a brief thunderstorm microburst felled trees and toppled heavy tables at Yulara resort (Ayers Rock). Thunderstorm downbursts also caused gusts to 89 km/h in the Darwin region at Humpty Doo on the 22nd and at Marrakai on the 26th. On the 24th a storm caused localised tree damage to 'The Pines' property near Butterfly Gorge(Douglas River). Large paperbarks and Lichardt Pines had branches and tops snapped off, some were uprooted.
Queensland During the month of November, widespread rainfall occurred in many parts of Queensland, particularly western Queensland. This resulted in a total of 104 flood warnings being issued for 7 river basins. Fitzroy River: Condamine - Balonne Rivers: On the 20th, further rainfall was again recorded in the lower tributaries of Balonne River. However, during this event, rainfall was more widespread and again resulted in rises and minor to moderate flooding in Bungil and Muckadilla Creeks which continued in the lower Balonne to the NSW border to the end of the month. This event also bought moderate flooding to the Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creeks. Border Rivers: Warrego River: Paroo River: Bulloo River: Thomson and Barcoo Rivers and Cooper Creek: New South Wales During November, major flooding was reported in the Namoi, Macintyre, Macquarie and Gwydir rivers. Moderate to major flooding was reported in the Darling river. Moderate flooding was reported in the Warrego, Bogan, Hunter, Castlereagh and Paroo rivers. Minor flooding was reported in the Lachlan river. Tasmania Moderate flooding was reported in the upper and middle reaches of South Esk River on the 3rd and 4th. Peak heights were, 5.61 metres at Fingal in the evening on the 3rd and 5.40 metres at Llewellyn in the afternoon on the 4th. South Australia On late afternoon of the 10th, flash flooding from heavy rains, associated with thunderstorms effecting centres in the Riverland. Loxton North reported 87 mm in about an hour, with run off removing topsoil from vineyards. Ngarkat in the Murray Mallee district reported 91 mm in two hours.
Queensland From the 2nd to the 4th, fires at Uanda and Jireena burnt about 5,500 and 1,000 hectares respectively. On the 4th, a fire at Moorinya burnt 6,000 hectares.
Tasmania Gusts exceeding 90 km/h were reported at Cape Grim (Baseline Air Pollution Station) on the 2nd and 28th; Mount Wellington on the 21st and at Flinders Island Airport on the 2nd. South Australia Gusts to 107 km/h were recorded at Parafield associated with thunderstorms on the afternoon of the 17th.
South Australia In Adelaide the mean minimum temperature for November was 17.1 C, which is 3.4 C above the normal November mean minimum of 13.7 C and is the highest November mean minimum ever recorded in Adelaide, well above the previous highest mean minimum of 15.8 C registered in 1902.
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.
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