Topic: Mary River Tornado Kakadu Northern Territory March 1 2007

[Michael Bath]

Just noticed this article - wonder what date it actually happened ?


http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1877209.htm

Tornado formed 3 weeks ago in Kakadu
Tuesday March 20, 2007
It has been revealed a tornado that formed in the Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory almost three weeks ago flattened trees and destroyed caravans.

The Bureau of Meteorology says the tornado left a three kilometre path of debris near the Mary River Ranger Station.

The severe weather meteorologist, Greg Browning, says the tornado was about 300 metres wide and in some cases ripped the bark and branches from trees.

He says tornados of this intensity are rare and it formed from the tropical low that hit the Top End.

"It probably is only the sort of thing that you're likely to see in a cyclone-type environment or a pre-tropical cyclone environment when there is a developing low system or something like that," he said.

"It's certainly not typical in the Top End, we don't normally have the conditions right to make tornados."

- ABC

© ABC 2006

[David C]

I reckon in all these top end / supercell / tornado debates over the years we tend to forget that conditions favourable for mini-supercells and / OR tornadoes can and do occur in the vicinity of tropical cyclones. In the case of supercells, these generally develop in minimal buoyancy and hence are driven by dynamics (thanks to very strongly sheared environment). Most of these TC associated supercell tornadoes are weak (as are all tornadoes), however, violent examples have been documented in the USA.

This one sounds rather strong  based on the path width and damage - was there a TC somewhere around at that time?

[Michael Bath]

No TC - but a developing tropical low. Just found out it occurred on 1st March

BoM report

Darwin 00z


Sounding shows quite a nice shear profile

[Michael Bath]

VIS images 06 to 09z 1st March

Impressive overshoot on the very large thunderstorm.

06z


07z


08z


09z

[Mike]

Yes, i've just found out about this too.  (believe it or not!)  Saw the photos on the TV and certainly a distinct path with damage to many trees and surrounding shrubbery and buildings.  Width definitely as you mentioned Michael.

We certainly get supercells associated with TCs and there were in fact tornadoes with TC Tracy way back in '75, as many I've spoken to on re that night attest to seeing. 

That tropical low from 1-3 March did produce some very severe weather as I've posted on the forum during those days.  The low certainly was deepening very significantly on its way to becoming TC George as it passed over us and the Met office here are still in the phases of completing their summary of the event - hence my not having a reply just yet to some data I requested from them from 2 March. (best let them get on with their work....)

We have another low over us at the moment (1006hpa) and is producing some long-lived cells but more precip than anything else.  Unfortunately the low is not deepening to any degree to date, so i'm doubtful we'll get a repeat of that fantastic period 1-3 March.  But the weather is a fickle thing and it all could change within a day or two!

So yes, agree wholly with all.

Mike

[David C]

Interesting sounding - favourable thermodynamics there I must say and the shear between around 800 - 500 is quite good. That was the morning sounding, right, so if the low deepened during the day then those low-level wind fields would have strengthened further. That is a large thunderstorm too and not your typical mini supercell!!

[Adrian]

Hi All,

Came across some photos on the bom site of this event; which need to be seen.

http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/media_releases/nt/20070320.shtml

Cheers,
.adrian

[Mike]

Neat shots and Greg (met officer) was pretty amazed at the damage.  He was assessing the damage for the bureau and there are a few more pics around the traps - I think I posted some on this forum after getting them from Greg...