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Storm News
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Severe Weather Summary - September 1996 |
September was noteworthy for the high frequency of damaging strong winds and thunderstorms in most states accompanying a series of active low pressure systems and associated fronts. The worst effects were in northeast New South Wales where hail and wind gusts caused $100 million worth of damage. Victoria also saw wide spread flooding.
On the 15th a dust devil unroofed a house in Rockhampton.
On the 19th thunderstorms damaged three house roofs in Quilpie.
On the 20th several dwellings sustained roof damage in the Gold Coast area due to severe storms.
On the 21st severe thunderstorms in the Rockhampton area unroofed two homes, and trees and power poles were brought down, with numerous water spouts being sighted in the area.
On the 30th severe storms damaged numerous homes near Bundaberg. A house a two sheds were unroofed near Mt Larcom by thunderstorms. Extensive hail damage was experienced to crops between St George, Goondiwindi and Mungindi.
A series of severe thunderstorms moved across the western slopes and tablelands and down to the coast on the 29th. Reports of severe weather included:
On the 18th severe thunderstorms were reported in Wimmera, Western and Central Districts. Hail to 2cm occurred at Edenhope and Balmoral and 4cm hail at Little River. Estimated severe wind gusts included those at Horsham (111 km/h), Hamilton (93 km/h), Fawkner Beacon (109 km/h), Frankston (102 km/h), Melbourne Harbour Control (102 km/h), Laverton (109 km/h) and Moorabbin (104 km/h). In the Frankston area trees were uprooted and some fell on houses and buildings.
Thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of teh 18th produced hail to 2.5cm in diameter in northern suburbs of Adelaide and in Naracoorte in the Southeast. No major damage was reported.
On the 28th a thunderstorm and probable tornado at Arkoola overturned caravans and uprooted large trees within a narrow damage path.
On the 26th a waterspout was seen near Harvey Estuary. Thunderstorms caused 106 km/h gusts at Rottnest Island.
On the 9th severe wind gusts with thunderstorms were reported in the Central district. The maximum gust at Leopold was estimated at 100 km/h. Strong wind was reported at Woolami and sparse hail to 2cm was reported at Harrietville.
On the 11th gales and severe wind gusts occurred in the Central and Western districts. More than 50,000 homes were without power due to damaged power lines. Houses were damaged by fallen trees and a school at Ararat lost a roof. The highest recorded wind gusts were 94 km/h at Hamilton, 96 km/h at Mortlake, 107 km/h at Ballarat, 100 km/h at Kilmore Gap and 106 km/h at Melbourne Airport.
On the 12th hail and severe wind gusts occurred in the Central, Western and Alpine districts. The highest gusts recorded were 113 km/h at Melbourne Harbour, 106 km/h at Fawkner Beacon, Point Wilson and Avalon, 102 km/h at Lookout Hill, 98 km/h at Laverton, 96 km/h at Mt Buller, 93 km/h at Portland and 91 km/h at Redesdale and Cape Otway.
On the 13th severe wind gusts of 95 km/h were recorded at Cape Otway and 91 km/h at Point Wilson.
On the 14th severe wind gusts were recorded in the Alpine area. Mt Hotham recorded 91 km/h, Falls Creek 100 km/h and Mt Buller 91 km/h.
On the 15th severe wind gusts were recorded in Central and Alpine areas. Mt Buller recorded 113 km/h, Mt Hotham 111 km/h and Dunns Hill 93 km/h.
On the 16th severe wind gusts were recorded in the elevated Western and Central districts and Alpine areas. Mt Buller recorded 122 km/h, Mt Hotham 119 km/h, Dunns Hill 95 km/h and Lookout Hill 93 km/h.
On the 19th gale force winds and severe wind gusts were recorded in Gippsland and the Alpine areas. At Bairnsdale, trees were uprooted, power lines brought down, garden sheds and verandahs damaged and buildings were unroofed. At Fernbank, winds caused minor damage. Maximum gusts recorded were Bairnsdale (111 km/h), Mt Nowa Nowa (93 km/h), Mt Hotham (150 km/h) and Falls Creek (139 km/h).
On the 22nd gales and severe wind gusts were reported in the Central district. Recorded maximum gusts were 115 km/h at Dunns Hill and 106 km/h at Melbourne Airport.
On the 30th at Halls Gap strong to gale force winds and severe gusts to 140 km/h caused tree and fence damage.
A low pressure system moved close to the west coast during the 29th and 30th. During this period there were power blackouts throughout the north of the State. In the north of the state a number of roofs were blown off and trees were brought down. A flash flood was reported at St Marys and a caravan park at Stanley was flooded by a tidal surge.
On the 11th severe northwest to west winds associated with a deep depression and associated cold front affected most of the state. Many localities recorded wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h. The highest recorded gust was 100 km/h from a convective downburst at Ceduna. Scattered minor damage was reported.
On the 12th severe west to southwesterly winds associated with a low pressure system affected southern parts of the state. Many localities reported wind gusts exceeding 90 km/h and damage in excess of $500,000 was caused in the Adelaide area. Gusts to 113 km/h were recorded at Cape Jaffa, 107 km/h at Mt Gambier and 104 km/h at Mt Crawford.
On the 29th a convective downburst to 93 km/h was recorded at Woomera. No major damage was reported.
Severe westerly winds associated with a very deep depression affected southern parts of the state on the 30th. Wind gusts to 102 km/h were recorded at Mt Crawford and mean winds exceeding 63 km/h affected Cape Jaffa for more than 7 hours. Minor damage was reported.
On the 13th to 14th an intense low south of the state caused near gale force winds along the west coast. Part of one roof was ripped off in Perth, with damage to one house in Bunbury. Trees were downed along a 150 km stretch of the Albury Highway between Arthur River and Mount Barker.
A cold snap occurred on the morning of the 13th. Snow settled to 200 metres in the south of the State. Many elevated roads were closed due to snow and ice.
Persistent rain over the State through September saw flooding in all rivers north of the Divide, along with the Wimmera, Glenelg, Wannon, Barwon, Leigh, Moorabool, Macalister and Mitchell Rivers and streams in the Yarra and Latrobe Valleys.
Flood activity started in the Latrobe Valley on the 12th and had extended to the Yarra Valley and Barwon, Leigh and Moorabool Rivers by the 13th. On the 14th, flood warnings were also issued for the Macalister River. Further rain on the 19th and 28th saw renewals of flooding in these streams. From the 28th onwards renewed flooding was also experienced in the Glenelg, Wannon, Mitchell and Wimmera Rivers and in all rivers north of the Divide.
During the month major flooding occurred along the Loddon and Goulburn Rivers and moderate flooding in the Barwon, Leigh, Yarra, Ovens, King, Buffalo, Wimmera, Avoca, Glenelg and Wannon Rivers.
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
mm mm
Queensland
Jambin 126.4 108.0 1984 70
Bundaberg 146.4 97.0 1992 40
Tasmania
Erriba 265.0 259.6 1974 39
Gowrie Park 221.4 212.4 1964 32
Forthside 167.8 163.9 1974 30
Pyengana 177.8 172.6 1979 34
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
mm mm
Queensland
Collinsville 44.0 21 32.7 1975 56
Alpha 79.2 30 69.9 1890 108
Arcturus Downs 82.2 30 63.5 1921 81
Bogantungan 63.6 30 62.2 1947 106
Gillespie
(Barcoo R) 34.0 29 32.8 1926 87
Fairbairn Dam 38.4 30 36.0 1978 87
Jambin 113.0 30 66.8 1947 68
Bundaberg 125.0 30 73.6 1974 36
Goodna 70.2 30 59.7 1894 102
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
Queensland
Double Island Point 25.3 24.4 1991 54
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
Northern Territory
Alice Springs 13.8 13.1 1971 54
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
Queensland
Cape Moreton 30.0 10 27.8 1981 39
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
Queensland
Innisfail 23.9 30 23.8 1986 39
Collinsville 24.5 30 23.0 1992 35
Mackay 23.7 30 23.1 1992 37
St Lawrence 23.6 30 22.8 1992 33
Clermont 22.1 30 21.8 1980/90 34
Tambo 23.3 12 22.0 1983 39
Rockhampton 22.9 30 22.8 1975 57
| Document: wx199609.htm
Updated: 15th September, 2000 |
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