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SIGNIFICANT WEATHER - DECEMBER 2001
Widespread thunderstorm activity occurred in all states during December with Queensland hardest hit. Wind squalls in New South Wales reached 174 km/h at Richmond which is the highest ever recorded in Mainland New South Wales. Hot and dry conditions in eastern Queensland resulted in several large bushfires burning out of control. Fires also occurred in the Northern Territory and New South Wales.
Queensland On the 6th storms developed over eastern Queensland through the southern Wide Bay and Burnett and northern Southeast Coast districts. The strongest storms occurred in the Wide Bay and Burnett district, affecting chiefly the Monto and Gayndah areas. Houses were unroofed. Storm activity continued east stretching from northern Capricornia into the tropics. Mackay was hit by a carry-over storm from the previous day's activity. A 113 km/h gust occurred at the airport AWS, where a portable staircase was blown onto an aircraft. Damage to roofing was sustained elsewhere in the town, and at least one large tree was blown over. During the afternoon widespread storm activity again developed east of the trough. The northern Capricornia district experienced some of the strongest storms. Yeppoon was affected by the right half of a splitting storm cell which produced 20 cent piece sized hail and estimated 80 km/h wind gusts. Trees were also blown onto cars in the town. Further north, storm activity produced 97mm of rainfall in an hour in the Cardwell/Ingham area. On the 15th a thunderstorm produced 56.4mm of rainfall in an hour at Charleville Airport of which 42.6mm occurred in 34 minutes. On the 22nd thunderstorms developed late in the afternoon along the southern border ranges of the Southeast Coast district and moved in an eastnortheasterly direction. The most severe cell affected the Boonah and Gold Coast areas. Strong winds unroofed buildings, uprooted and snapped trees and signs. Damage is estimated between 2 and 5 million dollars for the Gold Coast and 1.5 million dollars for Boonah. On the 26th storms developed east of a westerly wind change in the Wide Bay and Burnett and Capricornia districts. The strongest storms occurred in the southern Wide Bay and Burnett district. Trees were snapped off by wind near Gootchie (northwest of Gympie), where a timber framed steel shed was also completely demolished. Hail, 2-2.5 cm in diameter was observed in the Childers/Maryborough area. A 95km/h wind gust was recorded at Double Island Point. There was widespread thunderstorm activity about central and northern Queensland on the 28th. A storm at Herberton in the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands district produced 2cm hail and considerable tree damage, including many large trees which were snapped in half. On the 29th storms developed east of an inland trough over the Southeast Coast, Wide Bay and Burnett, and Capricornia districts. A few stronger storms occurred across the area, unroofing a house in both Gracemere near Rockhampton and on the Gold Coast. A 78 km/h wind gust was also recorded at the Gold Coast Seaway associated with the latter storm. On the 30th an inland trough generated a second day of storm activity over the Southeast Coast, Wide Bay and Burnett, and Capricornia districts. The first severe storm developed near Boonah and moved northeast, moving off the coast just south of Brisbane and dropping hail as large as 3cm along its track. Flash flooding and some structural wind damage was also reported from southern suburbs. Later, a second severe storm produced extensive damage in the Glasshouse Mountains and Caboolture areas which unroofed many houses. In Monto in the northern Wide Bay and Burnett district, winds associated with a storm wrapped a shed around a transformer pole. A number of trees were also blown down in the area. On the 31st widespread severe storms over southeast and central Queensland occurred when an area of storms developed over the eastern Darling Downs and moved across the southern Southeast Coast district, producing some flash flooding in southern Brisbane suburbs. Later in the morning torrential rain from an isolated thunderstorm produced significant flash flooding of roads in Gladstone. A third severe storm hit the Fraser Coast during the evening, producing significant flash flooding in Maryborough and roofing and tree damage in the Maryborough and Hervey Bay areas. Storms also unroofed houses in Allora (Darling Downs) and Taroom (Central Highlands and Coalfields) during the day. New South Wales On the 3rd in the Sydney metropolitan area thunderstorms caused damage to property and trees in northwest New South Wales and two girls were killed in Sydney's northwest. Wind squalls reached 174 km/h at Richmond, the highest recorded in mainland New South Wales. Other wind gusts were: 109 km/h at Kurnell, 102 km/h at Hornsby and 3cm hail was reported at Pymble. Hail 2cm in diameter was also reported at Swansea (Hunter) and at Gunnedah (North West Slopes) wind gusts of 137 km/h caused damage to trees and buildings. On the 13th at Maitland (Hunter) golf ball size hail was reported. At Dungog (Hunter) strong winds of 93 km/h damaged houses. On the 18th at The Oaks (Illawarra) and at Blackheath 5cm hail was reported. At Bega and Brown Mountain (South Coast) 3cm hail occurred resulting in the Monaro Highway being closed due to excessive hail. On the 21st at Hawks Nest (Hunter) heavy rain and 3cm hail was reported. At Ryde (Metropolitan) 2cm hail occurred. On the 22nd at Port Macquarie (Mid-North Coast) heavy rain and 3cm hail was reported at Wauchope and Port Macquarie. At Ballina (Northern Rivers) 2.5cm hail occurred. On the 30th 2cm hail and very heavy rain (50mm fell in one hour) occurred at Ebor (Northern Tablelands). At Tabulam (Northern Tablelands) very heavy rain (46mm in 30 minutes) and 3cm hail was reported. At Grafton (Northern Rivers) and Inverell (Northern Tablelands) 3cm hail occurred. At Tamworth (North West Slopes) strong winds gusting to 89 km/h were recorded. Victoria On the 2nd at Carina in the Mallee, a storm(possibly a tornado) produced sparse hail to 2cm with damaging winds. Damage over a narrow path occurred to crops and trees. A funnel cloud or water spout was observed over Corio Bay near Geelong. On the 3rd at Toongabbie in Gippsland a thunderstorm produced hail to 3cm. On the 24th a severe thunderstorm in the early hours of the morning produced hail 3- 4cm in diameter, heavy rain and strong winds. Plants, crops, buildings and trees were damaged in the area from Bairnsdale to Nowa Nowa. Tasmania A tornado on the evening of the 24th damaged 114 homes in the suburbs of Launceston. South Australia Early on the 5th flooding was reported along the main railway line between Cook and Ooldea (West Coast) caused by thunderstorms. On the afternoon of the 6th large thunderstorms produced localised heavy rain in the north of South Australia flooding local creeks and causing road washaways. At Wilson (Flinders) 49mm of rain fell in one hour, Oodnadatta (Northeast Pastoral) 41mm in 70 minutes, Marla (Northwest Pastoral) 36mm in 2 hours. On the evening of the 29th a severe thunderstorm at Leigh Creek Airport (Northeast Pastoral) generated a wind gust to 111 km/h and 14mm of rain fell in 4 minutes. Lightning associated with widespread thunderstorms that crossed the state between the 1st and 3rd started scrub fires and caused minor lightning strike damage to properties. The lightning strikes also left about 11,000 homes across the Adelaide metropolitan area without power. Western Australia Persisting thunderstorms caused heavy rain through the Interior of the state from the 5th to the 9th. Giles (near the Western Australian/Northern Territory border) recorded 260.2mm of rain in the 5 day period to 9am on the 10th. This included 119mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 9th. On the 4th a storm that developed near Ravensthorpe moved eastwards along the south coast producing hail up to the size of tennis balls, and flash flooding. The storm passed over Esperance causing significant property damage and power outages. Many buildings were inundated by floodwaters as hail built up in gutters. The hail flattened crops and dented vehicles many having their windscreens smashed. One farming family required evacuation when part of their roof collapsed during the hailstorm. One property received 35mm of rain in less than 15 minutes. Northern Territory On the 1st, an afternoon thunderstorm downburst produced a 94 km/h wind gust at Delamere, 140 km southwest of Katherine. On the 2nd, an afternoon thunderstorm caused some damage to the Erldunda Roadhouse and in the area. On the 7th, an afternoon squall line produced 2cm hail at Pine Gap, 35 mm of rain in 30 minutes and wind gusts exceeding 80 km/h at Alice Springs airport. On the 10th, a 102 km/h wind gust was recorded at Tennant Creek Airport in a microburst produced by an afternoon thunderstorm. On the 20th, an afternoon squall line produced a 115 km/h wind gust at Borroloola in the Gulf country. On the 22nd, severe winds associated with evening thunderstorms at Humpty Doo (30 km east of Darwin) resulted in some minor damage. On the 23rd, an afternoon thunderstorm downburst produced severe wind gusts and small hail in Darwin’s northern suburbs. The strongest gust was 87 km/h at Darwin Airport. Some minor damage occurred. On the 24th, an 89 km/h wind gust was recorded at Victoria River Downs in an afternoon thunderstorm. On the 25th, an afternoon thunderstorm at Yulara caused some damage to property. Also on the 25th, Erldunda pub (150 km south of Alice Springs) was damaged by severe winds in an afternoon thunderstorm. On the 27th, a wind gust of 91 km/h was recorded at Centre Island in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria in an evening squall line.
Victoria On the 25th the following severe gusts were recorded: Wilsons Promontory 117 km/h and East Sale 96 km/h. On the 26th a gust to 102 km/h was recorded at Wilsons Promontory. South Australia On the afternoon of the 2nd a brief wind squall possibly associated with a dust devil, tore off part of a carport roof which blew onto power lines at Waikerie (Riverland). On the evening of the 19th squally winds with gusts of 85 to 95 km/h affected parts of the West Coast, Eyre Peninsula and the northern Spencer Gulf region, causing some tree damage. The squally winds were associated with the passage of a strong front. The strongest recorded wind gust was 95 km/h at Minnipa (West Coast).
Queensland On the 15th heavy rainfall of up to 125mm were recorded in the middle reaches of the Thomson and Barcoo Rivers. As a result, moderate flooding occurred in the lower reaches of the Thomson River from Bogewong to Jundah and also in the lower reaches of the Barcoo River from Coolagh to Retreat. A peak just over the major flood level of 5 metres was recorded at Windorah on the 26th. On the 31st heavy rainfall produced by a thunderstorm resulted in about 125mm of rain in 3 hours at Maryborough and caused flash flooding and damage to the shopping area of the town.
Queensland Hot weather combined with particularly dry conditions resulted in several large fires burning out of control around the Mackay area, mostly in inaccessible country. Areas affected included the Proserpine and Whitsunday region, both sides of the Connors Range, Nebo and the eastern side of the Eton range, from Sunnyside to Oakenden. A fire at Coppabella was brought under control on the weekend of 8/9th with between 1000 and 2000 hectares of land burnt out. This fire was believed to have been started when an insulator on a power line failed. On the 26th a fire was started by lightning on the western side of Fraser Island between Yankee Jack Creek and Gary's Anchorage. It was brought under control by the 29th. A number of other fires were also started by lightning strikes on Boxing Day. These included 3 fires in the Wide Bay Military Reserve about 10 km north west of Tin Can Bay, a small fire in the Tuan Forest and another in South Isis, burning along the Isis River. During the week ending the 30th a lightning strike was the cause of a fire in the Hughenden area which burnt out approximately 240 hectares of land between the properties of “Bundella" and "Thornville". Northern Territory Lightning caused many fires in the Barkly tableland area during the week before Christmas affecting Rocklands, Alexandria Downs, Brunette Downs and Benmarra pastoral stations. Some pasture losses were reported before rain extinguished most fires in late December. Pastoral properties in the eastern Alice Springs district were also affected by fires in the week before Christmas, including Argadargaga, Lake Nash, Ooratippra, Manners Creek and Lucy Creek stations. One large fire burnt half of Argadargada station and threatened two homesteads on the evening of the 25th. The total area burnt on these properties was estimated to be around 700 square kilometres and some fires in Lucy Creek station continued burning into the new year.
Western Australia Strong mid-level troughs produced significant rain events on the 1st in the Great Southern district and then on the 3rd and 4th in the Southwest and South coastal districts. Although falls in the earlier event were generally less than 40mm, both events caused significant damage in the order of millions of dollars to crops close to harvesting. Several sites in the Albany region recorded over 100mm in the 48 hours to 9am on the 5th including Mettler 138.6mm and Wellstead 131.4mm.
Note: Some statistical records mentioned in this report are based on data that have yet to be fully validated.
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