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Severe Weather Summary - April 1996 |
Tropical cyclone OLIVIA at the beginning of the month caused extensive property damage and produced severe wind gusts in Western Australia and South Australia. Heavy rains resulting from ex-tropical cyclone OLIVIA were experienced in Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania as the system moved towards the Bight.
Tropical cyclone OLIVIA formed in the Timor Sea on the 5th while located approximately 370 kilometres to the north of Kalumburu. The cyclone moved on a westwards path and slowly intensified and was upgraded to a category 4 cyclone on the 9th. During the 10th tropical cyclone OLIVIA turned towards the southsoutheast and accelerated toward the west Pilbara coastline, crossing the coast that evening. The system then tracked just to the west of Pannawonica and Paraburdoo then headed towards the southsoutheast and weakened.
Severe property damage occurred on Barrow Island where numerous buildings and equipment were damaged. Damage was also reported at Mardie Station. At Pannawonica fifty houses were damaged and power supplies disrupted. Minor damage was reported from Karratha, Dampier, Tom Price and Paraburdoo. The tidal surge at Barrow Island produced some severe coastal erosion. A wind gust of 267 km/h was recorded on Varanus Island, north-east of Barrow Island, and 257 km/h at Mardie Station, this being the second highest recorded on the Australian mainland. The Kimberley received general rains from OLIVIA, with Cygnet Bay reporting 84mm on the 9th. Notable rainfall registrations in the 24 hours to 9am on the 11th occurred at Yalleen (south-east of Mardie), 117mm, and Wickham, 114mm. As the system moved on a south-easterly path towards the Great Australian Bight parts of the Murchison, Goldfields and Eucla also recorded heavy rains.
A thunderstorm cluster formed near an upper low and caused torrential rain and severe local flooding in the Yaamba area during the 23rd. The 24 hour total ending 9am on the 24th was 480mm, most of which fell in the 6 hour period between 10am and 4pm.
On the 11th at Mannering Park (Hunter) 2cm hail stripped foliage.
On the 27th at Bellbrook (Mid-North Coast), there was 2cm hail, but no reports of damage.
On the 11th heavy rainfall mainly in the middle, south eastern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne caused local flooding which disrupted traffic and delayed train services. Prahran recorded 52mm of rain in 24 hours. Major roads were flooded due to blocked drains.
On the 18th heavy rainfall caused the Watts Creek at Healsville to overflow flooding the caravan park.
Heavy rainfall on the 17th to the 19th caused flooding in the Huonville area and flash flooding in Hobart suburbs. Although not of the same magnitude of the February floods, the event attracted considerable media attention.
Gales affected all areas of Tasmania on the 2nd, although most damage occurred in the north of the State. Yachts broke their moorings and some houses were damaged by falling trees. Gusts were reported to 131 km/h at Maatsuyker Island.
A storm that occurred near Meander on the 3rd blew roofs off houses and farm buildings and uprooted trees.
Gale force winds on the 12th associated with ex-tropical cyclone OLIVIA brought down tree branches across Kangaroo Island. Wind gusts of 106 km/h were reported at Cape Willoughby. Rough seas were generated in Boston Bay, near Port Lincoln, by strong north to northeast winds. The waves stirred up sediment which resulted in the death of a large proportion of stock in tuna farms located in the bay. Losses have been estimated as high as $60 million.
Trees and a building in the Midland area suffered minor damage during a period of strong winds as a cold front passed over the Perth metropolitan area on the 19th.
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
mm mm
Queensland
Yaamba(Fitzroy River)
539.2 481.4 1928 98
Tasmania
Taroona 189.4 96.9 1974 32
Northern Territory
Inverway 184.0 134.4 1961 38
Riveren 242.6 79.2 1985 28
Rosewood 157.2 140.5 1939 102
Previous Years of
Station Actual Lowest Year Record
mm mm
New South Wales
Tia(Highrent) 3.2 5.8 1980 35
Cape Byron 5.2 36.6 1953 45
Buladelah 6.4 13.2 1956 90
Comboyne 14.8 21.4 1973 90
Port Macquarie 7.4 14.2 1896 155
Taree 1.1 3.9 1935 114
Wauchope 5.0 5.7 1896 105
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
mm mm
Queensland
Yaamba (Fitzroy River)
480.2 24 256.0 12/1990 98
Previous Years of
Station Actual Lowest Year Record
C C
Victoria
Mangalore 18.0 18.6 1995 37
Previous Years of
Station Actual Lowest Year Record
C C
Tasmania
Hobart A/P 15.5 15.7 1965 37
Maatsuyker Island
12.4 12.6 1965 60
Previous Years of
Station Actual Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Collinsville 20.0 18.9 1983 33
St Lawrence 20.4 20.1 1968 55
Previous Years of
Station Actual Lowest Year Record
C C
Victoria
Donald 7.7 7.8 1977 30
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Brisbane AMO 34.3 1 33.6 1973 47
Gympie 35.6 1 34.5 1973 32
Richmond 38.9 6 38.7 1983 39
Clermont 36.5 6 36.4 1980 34
Urandangie 40.4 6 40.0 1980 34
Windorah 39.2 7 38.6 1979 30
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Lowest Year Record
C C
Queensland
St George 16.3 30 16.9 1983 35
Surat 17.6 30 18.3 1962 31
Bollon 16.9 30 17.7 1983 38
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Highest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Isisford 24.2 9 23.9 1958 32
Longreach 25.0 9 24.4 1983 31
Previous Years of
Station Actual Date Lowest Year Record
C C
Queensland
Gympie 4.8 13 5.6 1983 32
Kingaroy 1.5 13 2.0 1983 40
| Document: wx199604.htm
Updated: 15th September, 2000 |
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