The Week That Was - Archives
2010: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
September 2010
Sunday 12th September 2010 - Saturday 18th September 2010
A low-pressure system passing across northern areas of South Australia on Monday 13th September produced widespread totals across the state of 15 to 20 mm with locally heavier falls of around 30 mm. Minor flooding followed across the Mount Lofty ranges near Adelaide.
A powerful cold front swept across Tasmania on Thursday 16th September, producing snowfalls down to 300 metres, destructive winds and massive seas. Widespread power outages were reported across the state as wind gusts up to 120 kph brought down trees and powerlines.
The wave rider buoy at Cape Sorell, on Tasmania’s west coast recorded a maximum wave height of 18.4 metres - believed to have been an Australian record.
Large waves broadcasting out from the Tasmanian system travelled along the NSW coast on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th September, creating dangerous surf conditions, with wave sets up to 5 metres high reported off Sydney.
Abnormally cold daytime temperatures were recorded across inland parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory during Thursday 16th and Friday 17th September because of cloud cover and rain across the area. Charleville’s temperature reached only 13C on Friday, its coldest September day in 68 years, while Boulia’s temperature peaked at 14C, the lowest ever September maximum temperature recorded there.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 5th September 2010 - Saturday 11th September 2010
Widespread flooding continued across much of Victoria during this week, mainly as a result of heavy rains across the state on Saturday 4th September. More than twenty separate rivers were in flood including major levels generated along the Goulburn and Avoca rivers. Flood peaks also travelled down the Murray River for the first time in several years.
Dam levels across Victoria reported major boosts with several catchments recording increases in capacity of more than 10% during the week.
Powerful westerly winds raged across the NSW southern coastal areas on Sunday 5th September, with several areas reporting wind gusts in excess of 100 kph. Bellambi, to the south of Sydney, recorded a wind gust of 126 kph at 8.45 am. Widespread power outages resulted, including some Sydney suburbs.
Substantial rain fell across much of eastern Queensland on Sunday 5th September, and across southern inland areas on Thursday 9th September. Many locations recorded their best September rain in several years and dam levels around Bundaberg and Burnett reached their highest levels in around a decade.
A heavy fog settled across Sydney on the morning of Friday 10th September, causing delays at Sydney Airport and a temporary cessation of Sydney ferry services.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 29th August - Saturday 4th September 2010
On Thursday 2nd September a low pressure cell developed over South Australia, began intensifying and then moved south-eastwards over the following 48 hour period.
Heavy rain and strong winds followed during this period, affecting South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and southern NSW.
Numerous weather warnings followed, including flood warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, sheep graziers alerts and severe weather warnings for destructive winds.
A line of severe thunderstorms passed through Adelaide on the afternoon of Friday 3rd September, producing frequent lightning and bursts of heavy rain. Local flooding resulted, with Adelaide city recording 37.4 mm of rain in 24 hours. This is the highest 24-hour total since 30th April when 38 mm was recorded. It is the highest September 24 hour total since 2nd September 2001. The Adelaide show was affected with reduced attendance.
The wet weather extended well to the north, with the Birdsville Races curtailed because of heavy rain.
A phenomenal burst of thunderstorms around Leigh Creek produced a 24-hour fall of 98 mm – the second highest such total on record.
Widespread rain extended across Victoria and NSW on Saturday 4th September, producing flooding of various degrees across many river systems. The news for the catchments was good, particularly for Victoria where good rises should result as water continues to run into the dams for at least the next week.
Flash flooding was reported on Saturday around Ballarat, Maryborough and Bendigo in Victoria and the Avoca River, to the northwest of Ballarat, flooded during the day. Flooding along the Seven and Castles creek also produced the danger of inundation around the Euroa and Violet Town area. Landslides caused damage to cars at Mt Buller, closed the road at Falls Creek and injured one person at Mt Hotham.
Damaging to destructive winds recorded across southeastern Australia on Saturday, including a gust to 133km/h at Falls Creek, 113km/h at Mt Buller. Gusts to 110km/h at Stenhouse Bay in SA and over 90km/h through Adelaide. Deniliquin in southern NSW recorded a gust to 91km/h at 5pm. These winds are strong enough to bring down trees and cause damage to property.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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August 2010
Sunday 22nd August - Saturday 28th August 2010
Heavy rain fell across the Northeast Pastoral District of South Australia on Sunday 22nd August, with falls of around 40 mm recorded across the area. Many travellers were cut off as roads flooded around William Creek and along the Birdsville track.
From Tuesday 24th to Friday 27th August, an intense low pressure cell developed over the Southern Ocean to the south of the Bight and moved slowly east. Four significant cold fronts were spawned from this system and all of these travelled across south-eastern Australia during the week.
Numerous weather warnings resulted during this period, including warnings for damaging winds, sheep graziers alerts and flood warnings. These affected south-eastern South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and southern and central NSW.
The best snowfalls for the season also followed, with all the resorts receiving 4 day falls in excess of 50 cm. Low level snow also fell across Tasmania.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 15th August - Saturday 21th August 2010
On Sunday 15th August, two lines of thunderstorms passed across the Sydney metropolitan area, producing an extensive fall of rice and pea sized hail. Most affected was the northern beaches area.
An active cold front powered across Victoria on Monday 16th August producing snow across parts of central Victoria, including Mount Macedon and Woodend.
Another cold front moved through on Wednesday 18th August, producing heavy rain and severe thunderstorm activity across the Mallee-Wimmera area of Victoria. Golf ball sized hail was reported from around Kerang and Netherby.
An intense low-pressure cell moving to the south of Tasmania on Friday 20th August produced severe weather over much of the state including wind gusts to 130 kph at Cape Grim. Numerous weather warnings were issued during this event.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 8th August - Saturday 14th August 2010
A widespread rain event affected much of eastern Australia during Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th August, affecting Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.
Heavy rain fell across much of eastern Queensland on Tuesday 10th, producing a total of 78 mm in Brisbane, with several other centres in the area recording 24 hour totals over 50 mm. Over 100mm for Bundaberg, which was a daily record for August.
A line of thunderstorms associated with this weather event produced heavy rain across Wagga Wagga, with 13 mm falling in just 10 minutes.
A tornado associated with this thunderstorm activity ploughed through the township of Moama, near Echuca, on the evening of Tuesday August 10th, producing minor damage across the area.
Flooding also followed across parts of eastern Tasmania on Wednesday 11th, with heavy rain also falling across Hobart and Mount Wellington which recorded a near record total of 199 mm in just 24 hours.
A strong cold front moved across the southwest corner of Western Australia on Thursday 12th August producing useful falls across the coast and into the adjacent inland areas. Dalwallinu in the Central Wheat Belt, recorded 30 mm of rain in 24 hours, and Southern Cross, 10mm, all of which was good news for the winter wheat crop.
On Friday 13th, huge swells were generated along the NSW coast, with peak wave heights of 10 metres being recorded. These swells were produced by an intense low-pressure cell located over eastern Bass Strait.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 1st August - Saturday 7th August 2010
A powerful cold front swept across south-eastern Australia on Sunday 1st August, producing a burst of strong and cold westerly winds, showers, thunderstorms and significant snowfalls. A destructive tornado was generated at Penola in South Australia by thunderstorm activity embedded in the front on the evening of Saturday 31st July.
On Sunday 1st August the front generated a line of thunderstorms that produced extensive small hail across parts of Victoria, including the MCG, during the AFL match that afternoon.
Substantial snowfalls were generated across the ski-fields on Saturday night and Sunday morning, 31st July and 1st August, with snow extending through the NSW Central and Northern Tablelands.
A low-pressure cell associated with the front then moved north along the NSW coast on Monday evening and night, producing wind gusts in excess of 100 kph in several coastal areas. A gust of 139 kph was recorded at Wattamolla to the south of Sydney and another gust of 107 kph was registered at Sydney Airport.
Widespread damage was reported from Sydney coastal suburbs, with trees down and power outages reported from many areas. Massive seas resulted in beach erosion along parts of the NSW coastline.
Widespread frosts were reported across extensive areas of eastern Australia on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings, with frosts extending as far north as southern inland areas of Queensland.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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July 2010
Sunday 25th July - Saturday 31st July
On Sunday morning, 25th July, Darwin experienced a minimum temperature of 26C, which is the warmest July morning since records commenced at that location in 1941.
Significant rain fell over southern inland parts of Queensland and much of inland NSW during the period Wednesday 28th July to Saturday 31st July. Widespread four-day totals in excess of 25 mm occurred across these areas, with parts of the Maranoa Warrego of Queensland, the Northwest Slopes and Plains and the Northern Tablelands of NSW, recording totals in excess of 50 mm.
Flood warnings resulted for the Peel, Namoi and Castlereagh rivers.
Daytime temperatures of 5 to 7 degrees above averagewere recorded across south-eastern Queensland on Friday and Saturday as northerly winds persisted across the area. Brisbane experienced maxima of 26 and 27C respectively on these days.
High humidity air settledacross much of eastern NSW and southeast Queensland on Friday morning, 30th July and both Brisbane and Sydney experienced major fogs. This produced significant dislocation of airline traffic.
Damage consistent with a tornado occurred in Beaufort in western Victoria at 8pm Friday, 30th July as storms developed ahead of a cold front. Significant impact on property and livestock. Power cut and the Western Hwy was closed for a period.
Another tornado struck Penola in the South East district of SA at 6pm Saturday 31st of July as storms developed with the approach of a second, stronger cold front from the southwest. Damage to buildings and power cut.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 18th July - Saturday 24th July
An intense and slow moving high-pressure cell produced a series of clear and calm nights across eastern Australia from Tuesday to Friday (20th to 23rd July) inclusive. Widespread frosts were reported across Victoria, NSW and southern Queensland during this period.
A minimum temperature of -20C was recorded at Charlotte Pass, NSW on the morning of Tuesday 20th, the coldest temperature recorded in Australia since 1994.
Scattered shower and thunderstorm activity persisted for much of the week just off the NSW coastline. Falls of 10 to 15 mm were recorded in parts of eastern Sydney on Tuesday night, but heavier totals occurred along coastal parts of the Hunter and Mid North Coast districts. In the 24 hours to 9 am on Wednesday 21st July, 27mm fell at Seal Rocks and 26mm at Nelson Bay.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 11th July - Saturday 17th July
A powerful cold front tore across the southwest corner of Western Australia in the early hours of Monday 12th July generating winds of up to 100 kph. An apartment block in the Perth suburb of Scarborough lost its roof in the storm.
On the morning of Tuesday 13th July, Alice Springs minimum temperature was 17.6C – the third warmest July night on record. The hottest ever July night was July 13th 1995 when a minimum of 20.4C was recorded.
The front that caused the damage in Scarborough reached Adelaide in the morning of Wednesday 14th July, producing strong winds, extensive hail and wind gusts in excess of 85 kph across the city. Rainfall of more than 40 mm was reported in some suburbs. Extensive damage was reported to the State Emergency Services, including widespread power outages.
Snowfalls of 20 to 30 cm were reported across the NSW and Victorian ski fields on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th July as the cold front passed across the area. This was the best fall of the season so far.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 4th July - Saturday 10th July
Ending on the morning of Tuesday 6th July, Adelaide experienced six nights in a row where temperatures fell below 5C. This was the longest run of cold nights in Adelaide since 1982.
The maximum temperature in Alice Springs on Tuesday 6th July was only 7C – the equal coldest day on record. Over 30 mm of rain was recorded in the area during the day.
Record and near record low daytime temperatures were registered across inland Queensland the next day, Wednesday 7th July. Charleville’s temperature peaked at a record low 8C, and daytime temperatures 10C to 12C below average were also noted at Winton, Cloncurry and Isisford.
A powerful front smashed across south-western WA in the early hours of Friday 9th July, producing wind gusts in excess of 100km/h. Damage was reported in several areas, including Perth and Geraldton. Severe weather warnings were issued for the area.
The front also produced widespread rains, with significant falls over inland areas of the Southwest Land Division, including the wheat belt areas, the best for the year so far.
Broome and Derby both have recorded more than 100mm of rainfall this month, breaking the July record for both towns. Records extend back more than 50 years at both weather sites. This record wet is due to a succession of low pressure troughs drawing on tropical moisture from the Indian Ocean.
As the front continued to move east, severe wind warnings were extended to cover parts of South Australia and Victoria, on Friday night and during Saturday. Widespread power outages were reported from Adelaide on Friday night and across western Victoria on Saturday.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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June 2010
Sunday 27th June - Saturday 3th July
Some good rain totals fell across southern parts of South Australia on Monday 29th, and Tuesday 30th June, with local flooding reported in several Adelaide suburbs. 24-hour totals of over 40 mm were reported from the Adelaide Hills.
Many parts of NSW, including Sydney, experienced their coldest temperatures in three years on the morning of Tuesday, 29th June. Sydney’s temperature fell to 4.7C, and Richmond -3.8C.
These figures were eclipsed on the next morning, which was even colder in many areas. Sydney recorded 4.3C – the coldest June morning in 61 years. Richmond’s temperature fell to – 5C, the coldest June temperature yet recorded on site.
Record low maximum temperatures were also recorded across Victoria on the morning of Tuesday 29th June, with both Stawell (7.2C) and Horsham (9.6) registering their coldest ever June highs.
An extensive northwest cloud-band produced rain across northern parts of WA, southern parts of the NT and central and southern areas of Queensland during Wednesday 30th June, and the following two days. 24-hour rainfalls in excess of 10 mm fell across the Alice Springs district, with some locations exceeding their average July totals in just one day.
Well below average daytime temperatures resulted because of this cloud cover, with Alice Springs recording a maximum of only 9C on Thursday July 1st– the coldest July maximum in 22 years.
Melbourne’s maximum temperature remained below 13C for 6 consecutive days between Saturday 26th June and Friday 2nd July – the longest cold spell since July 1995.
On Friday night (2nd July) and Saturday morning (3rd July) good rainfall registered over south-eastern Queensland, bringing falls in excess of 20 mm to parts on the Darling Downs and Maranoa Districts. Brisbane recorded 9mm from this event.
Perth's recording breaking run of cold nights (<5C) continued into Sunday morning, with a minimum of 1 degree. This made for 11 consecutive days below 5C, beating the previous record of 9 days set in 1997
June was also the second driest on record for Perth in over 130 years of records
This followed a state record for WA in equalling its warmest 12 month period on record. The average temperature to the end of June was 23.55 degrees, equalling a record set between Oct 2004 and Sep 2005.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 20th June - Saturday June 27th
A cold front moved across the continent from Wednesday 23rd June to Saturday 26th June, generating significant rain across five states.
Western Australia saw falls in excess of 20 mm about southern coastal areas on Wednesday with lighter falls extending into the wheat belt.
South Australia saw scattered falls of 5-10 mm over many southern districts on Thursday 24th, with Adelaide receiving
6 mm.
The front then affected the eastern states on Friday and Saturday, generating significant falls for parts of Victoria, NSW and Tasmania.
Minor flood warnings were generated for Victoria’s Seven and Castle Creeks catchment over northern central areas where falls in excess of 50 mm were recorded.
A minor flood warning was also triggered for Victoria’s Upper Goulburn catchment where falls in excess of 50 mm were also registered.
Flood watches were also issued for the north-eastern rivers of Tasmania.
Record low minimum temperatures occurred in WA in the wake of the front. Perth dropped to -0.5C on Saturday morning, just short of the June record of -0.7. Corrigin had its coldest June morning in 60 years of records at -4 degrees. Records were also broken through other parts of the Wheat Belt and Eucla districts.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 13th June - Saturday June 19th
A strong cold front moved across south-eastern Australia on Wednesday 16th June, triggering severe weather warnings for destructive winds across Tasmania, south-eastern south Australia, Victoria and southern NSW. A wind gust in excess of 140 kph was recorded at Mount Hotham in Victoria.
Many trees were blown down across Victoria, including Melbourne, where widespread power outages occurred. Some Melbourne suburbs also reported wind gusts in excess of 100 kph.
Sheep graziers alerts were issued across large areas of south-eastern Australia to cover the passage of the front, with cold, wet and windy weather providing a significant threat for lambs and newly shorn sheep.
Heavy rain also fell across the north-eastern parts of Victoria and the NSW Southern Tablelands where several locations recorded 24 hour totals in excess of 50 mm. Light snowfalls followed the rain.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 6th June - Saturday June 12th
On Wednesday 9th June a strong cold front rolled across south-eastern Australia generating strong winds for Tasmania, Victoria and southern NSW. Sheep graziers warnings were issued for all of Tasmania and much of Victoria and severe weather warnings for damaging winds for parts of Tasmania, Victoria and southern NSW.
Snowfalls were recorded with the front, down to around 300 metres across Tasmania and at higher altitudes across Victoria and southern NSW. All the ski-fields received at least some light falls, producing the first real ground cover of the season.
In the wake of the front widespread frosts settled across south-eastern Australia on Thursday and Friday mornings, with several centres experiencing their coldest mornings since last winter. Frosts extended as far north as the southern inland districts of Queensland.
A weaker front affected Tasmania and southern Victoria on Friday, producing further, but lighter, snowfalls for Tasmania and the ski resorts of Victoria and NSW.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 30th May - Saturday June 5th
On Sunday 30th May a low-pressure cell off the south coast of NSW generated wind gusts in excess of 130 kph around Montague Island and also heavy rain across the area. There was extensive damage done to housing, boats and infrastructure. Flooding resulted for the Snowy and Bega rivers and heavy rain also fell across Victoria’s Gippsland area.
During Wednesday June 2nd and Thursday June 3rd another low-pressure cell spun up off the north coast of NSW producing heavy rain and strong winds for the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast area. A tornado smashed across the small township of Lennox Head on the morning of Thursday 3rd June producing extensive damage across the area.
On Friday 6th June Sydney with hit by torrential rain with flash flooding resulting across several suburbs. Squally winds also produced some damage in the eastern suburbs, particularly around Maroubra. 24 hour falls in excess of 70 mm were recorded in several areas.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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May 2010
Sunday 23rd May - Sunday 30th May
Rain and thunderstorms lashed southern parts of South Australia on Monday 24th May, producing minor flooding in some Adelaide suburbs. Some regional areas recorded good falls with Whyalla and the northern parts of the Yorke Peninsula receiving totals in excess of 15 mm.
Victoria’s Mallee also received useful totals from the same weather system with both Mildura and Swan Hill recording falls in excess of 20 mm. The rain later extended to the Goulburn Murray district.
One of NSW driest areas, the South Coast District, finally received substantial rain on the next day, Tuesday May 25th, with very heavy rain recorded around Bermagui. More than 200 mm fell around Dignams Creek, and widespread falls in excess of 50 mm in surrounding areas. This was caused by a low-pressure cell forming off the NSW South Coast.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms erupted across north-eastern Tasmania on Friday 28th May producing 24 hour rainfall totals in excess of 200 mm around St. Mary’s. Local flooding resulted, producing a substantial damage bill across the area.
A low-pressure cell developed off the NSW South Coast on the night of Saturday 29th May, producing wind gusts in excess of 130 kph around Montague Island and Narooma on Sunday morning. Severe weather warnings were issued for the South Coast, Illawarra and Southern Tablelands districts for damaging winds and flash flooding. Dangerous ocean conditions were also resulting in the nearby coastal areas with swell waves reaching 9 metres.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 16th May - Saturday 22nd May
Further significant rain from northwest cloud-band activity continued across northern parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory early in the week. Argyle and Curtin, both in WA, received their heaviest May rain for 15 years, while Napier Downs station recorded 190mm - the biggest May rainfall total in nearly a century.
Cold air sliding over warm ocean waters produced the ideal conditions for waterspouts off the NSW coast, including those adjacent to Sydney, on the afternoon of Monday 17th. Severe weather warnings were issued but no damage resulted as the spouts stayed seawards.
Heavy rain burst across the coastal parts of NSW on Tuesday 18th May, with several eastern suburbs recording over 50 mm of rain in the 24-hour period ending at 9am on Wednesday 19th May. Sydney itself recorded 47.8 mm during this period.
Rain struck Perth on Saturday 22nd May, with the city recording 20 mm in the 24 hours to 9am Saturday, and a further 9.8 mm between 9 am and 3 pm. Useful falls also extended eastwards into the Great Southern and Central Wheat-belt areas.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 9th May - Saturday 15th May
On Thursday 13th May a cold front passed across the southwest corner of WA bringing much needed rain to Perth itself and the wheat growing areas of the Southwest Land Division. The front also generated a massive afternoon thunderstorm over nearby Newdegate, producing 84 mm of rain in an hour and a wind gust of 91 kph. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for the area.
Thursday 13th May was also a cold morning for much of eastern Australia, with many centres in southern Queensland recording their coldest morning for 2010. Frost level temperatures were registered for Stanthorpe, Toowoomba, Oakey and Dalby. A frost was also recorded at Richmond, in Sydney’s western suburbs – the coldest May temperature there for 5 years.
A low-pressure cell over the Tasman Sea produced a large ocean swell that battered the NSW coastline on Saturday 15th May. Maximum wave heights exceeded 6 metres on the Sydney wave buoy, with average wave heights of over 3.5m.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 2nd May - Saturday 8th May
- A cold front charged across Adelaide on the morning of Tuesday May 5th, producing lightning and thunder, together with localised flash flooding in some suburbs. However only 4.6 mm fell in Adelaide itself.
Heavy rain, caused by onshore winds and an upper trough, produced rainfall totals in excess of 100 mm during the night of Monday 3rd May and the next morning over parts of south-eastern Queensland. 129 mm was recorded near Tallebudgera and 107 mm at Biggera Creek Dam.
A cold front swept across south-eastern Australia on the night of Tuesday 5th May, producing scattered showers across Tasmania, Victoria and southern NSW, together with the first real snow of the year for the Alpine resorts. Light falls were recorded at Mount Hotham and Mount Buller in Victoria.
Extensive frosts settled across the NSW and north-eastern Victorian tablelands on the morning of Friday 7th May. Armidale, on the Northern Tablelands districts of NSW recorded a minimum temperature of -4C.
A strong cold front raced across Tasmania and southern Victoria on Friday 7th May, producing strong winds, cold temperatures and scattered showers across both states. Wind gusts in excess of 110 kph were recorded from both Maatsuyker Island and Mount Wellington, Tasmania.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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April 2010
Sunday 25th April - Saturday 1st May
A burst of thunderstorm activity blasted across Victoria’s Gippsland area on the morning of 24th April, followed by scattered showers and cooler temperatures on the 25th. Widespread totals of 10 to 20 mm resulted across much of east and central Gippsland.
Canberra’s temperature peaked at just 14C on the afternoon of Tuesday 27th April – the coldest day for 6 months.
A powerful cold front stormed across Tasmania and southern Victoria on Wednesday 28th April, producing a wind gust of 143 kph on Tasmania’s Mount Wellington –the equivalent of a category 2 tropical cyclone. Maximum wave heights hit 13 metres on the west coast of Tasmania.
April turned out to be a particularly warm and dry month for much of south-eastern Australia. Sydney experienced its fifth warmest April on record, Melbourne its second warmest and Hobart the warmest for the last 20 years. All of these cities also experienced well below average rainfall totals for the month.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 18th April - Saturday 24th April
A major thunderstorm hit the far northern South Australian outback on Wednesday 21st April, generating heavy falls and widespread flash flooding. Andamooka, Roxby Downs, Leigh Creek and Maree all received heavy downpours, cutting roads across the area.
A severe storm also hit Melbourne on the afternoon of Tuesday April 20, producing high intensity rain that produced flash flooding. Suburbs hardest hit were around the southeast, particularly Frankston, Hastings and Moorabbin.
Heavy fog descended across Sydney on the morning of Wednesday April 21st, producing transport dislocation as ferries were cancelled and traffic slowed to a crawl.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 11th April - Saturday 17th April
A strong cold front surged across south-eastern Australia on Sunday 11th April, causing plummeting temperatures across Tasmania, Victoria and southern parts of NSW. Severe weather warnings and sheep graziers alerts were issued over parts of Tasmania and Victoria, and light dustings of snow fell over the alpine areas of NSW and Victoria.
The season’s first frosts followed on Monday and Tuesday mornings, in the wake of the front. Zero or below zero temperatures were recorded on the north-eastern highlands of Victoria and the Southern Tablelands of NSW. Canberra recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2C on the morning of Tuesday 13th April.
On the evening of Tuesday 13 April, a burst of wet and windy weather, associated with a nearby low pressure cell, produced problems across Perth, mostly in the form of leaking roofs previously damaged by the major thunderstorm in March. Wind gusts in excess of 100 kph were recorded to the south of Perth.
A volcanic eruption in Iceland on Thursday 14th April, ejected vast quantities of ash into the upper atmosphere, much of which drifted across Europe. This produced widespread dislocation of international air traffic as air routes were closed because of the danger the ash posed to high-level commercial jets.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 4th April - Saturday 10th April
On Tuesday 6th April heavy rain and thunderstorms blasted across south-eastern parts of South Australia, including Adelaide, producing widespread power outages across the area. In Adelaide alone, over 7500 homes were blacked out, mostly across the northern and western suburbs. There were also numerous emergency service call outs because of flooding in houses. Adelaide recorded 33 mm – the heaviest 24 hour fall in three years.
Severe thunderstorm activity also affected Darwin and Alice Springs on the morning of Tuesday 6th April. More than 200 mm fell in some Darwin suburbs producing localised flash flooding. Alice Springs suffered wind damage and power outages as a powerful storm cell passed across the area.
Further heavy thunderstorm activity lashed northern parts of South Australia on Thursday 8th April producing some record rain totals across the area. Roxby Downs recorded 85 mm of rain in 24 hours and similar totals were registered at Andamooka. Leigh Creek and Woomera also received substantial falls.
Heavy rain affected southern parts of the Northern Territory on Saturday 10th April, producing 24-hour totals in excess of 25 mm in several areas. Kelly Creek recorded 53 mm and Atula 63 mm.
A strong cold front passed across south-eastern Australia on Sunday 11th April, producing plummeting temperatures strong winds and scattered shower activity. Sheep graziers alerts were issued for parts of Tasmania and Victoria, and a severeweather warning for large sections of Victoria.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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March 2010
Sunday 28th March - Saturday 3rd April
On Sunday March 28, tropical cyclone “Paul” formed off the east coast of the Northern Territory - over the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Over the next few days tropical cyclone “Paul” generated strong winds, heavy flood rains and high tides along the adjacent coastline. Bulman, over eastern Arnhem Land, recorded a 24-hour fall in excess of 440 mm during this period.
“Paul” weakened below cyclone strength on Wednesday 31st March and began to dissipate over the remainder of the week.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for south-eastern Queensland and northeast NSW on the afternoon of Wednesday 31st March. Very heavy rain was reported from Tewantin, Gatton and Warwick, but the storms weakened before reaching the Brisbane area.
Severe thunderstorms also erupted over southern parts of Western Australia on Friday 2nd April, but passed to the south and eat of Perth.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 21st March - Saturday 27th March
On Monday 22nd March, a super-cell thunderstorm struck Perth, producing destructive winds, flash flooding and golf ball sized hail. The storm produced widespread damage across the city and early estimates put the insurance cost in excess of $100 million. Large hail in Perth is a highly unusual event.
Queensland flood waters travelling down the Diamantina and Warburton River systems have been surveyed and are expected to reach Lake Eyre by about mid – April.
A severe weather warning was issued for the parts of Victoria on Saturday evening 27th March, including the Wimmera, Western, North Central and Central districts. This was for damaging winds associated with a developing low-pressure cell and associated cold front.
A tropical low formed to the north of the Northern Territory’s Top End on Friday 26th March and a cyclone watch was declared for adjacent areas. This system is expected to develop into a cyclone on the morning of Monday 29th March.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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Sunday 14th March - Saturday 20th March
Tropical cyclone “Ului” that formed near Vanuatu on Friday commenced a slow movement towards the Queensland coastline.
Evacuations from Heron Island and Lady Elliott Island were ordered on Wednesday March 17th, as the cyclone approached the area.
“Ului” intensified into a category 4 system on Wednesday March 17, before weakening to a category 3 on the 18th, and category 2 on March 19th. However it moved towards the Queensland coast more rapidly on the 19th, achieving a speed across the water of around 13 kph.
A severe weather warning for dangerous surf conditions was issued on Thursday for coastal areas south from around Townsville.
The first warning for coastal areas was issued on Friday evening south from Ayr, and expanded to south from Townsville on the morning of Saturday 20th.
The cyclone re-intensified into a severe category 3 system before crossing the Queensland coast near Airlie Beach early on Sunday morning. Wind gusts to 200 kph were reported from Hamilton Island and 9.5 m waves were recorded off Mackay.
The cyclone then moved inland and weakened on Sunday morning, although heavy rainfall continued across adjacent areas.
Dick Whitaker
Senior Meteorologist
©The Weather Channel
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