Severe storms in Australia refers to the storms, including cyclones, which have caused severe damage in Australia.
On 26 January 1971 a severe storm caused flash-flooding on the Woden Valley freeway when culverts became blocked with debris at either end. Several cars were swept from the road into the rushing water. Seven people were killed, 15 were injured, and 500 people were affected by the 1971 Canberra flood. Insurance damage was estimated at $9 million (1971 dollars). Significant rectification work was undertaken at the Yarra Glen arterial roadway. [1] [2]
Five people were injured in the suburb of Chisholm in 1990 by a tornado which destroyed a wooden church and damaged 37 houses. [3]
27,000 people were affected across the territory by a severe storm in November 1996. [4]
There were heavy storms (and a possible tornado) [5] which hit Canberra, and the surrounding New South Wales region, on 2 December 2005. The storms were the worst emergency to hit Canberra since the 2003 Canberra bushfires. [6] The storms caused much damage to houses and property, and one man was killed by a falling tree in the suburb of Curtin. The storm hit Canberra at about 4.30 pm, and moved south-eastwards across the city. There were 51 Canberra suburbs which reported damage during the storm, the most extensive being in Fyshwick estimated to be A$3–4 million in damage. The ACT Emergency Services received about 200 calls for help during the storm, with the NSW SES getting more than 500 calls. Calvary Hospital, and thousands of houses lost power, with ACTEW saying that about 5% of the network had been affected. Calvary utilised a generator until power was restored. The storm was rated as one of the biggest ever to hit the ACT, with an estimated A$15 million in damages across the city.
On 31 December 2006 a huge thunderstorm, the third in three days, caused havoc in the southern part of Canberra – inner suburbs and Tuggeranong. [7]
On 27 February 2007 a supercell storm hit Canberra City, with hail covering the ground to a depth of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) and creating 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) high hail drifts in Civic. [8] The ice was so heavy, a newly built roof of the newly constructed shopping centre collapsed.[ citation needed ] Birds were killed by hail produced from the supercell (Northbourne Avenue), and people were stranded.
The following day (28 February) many homes in Canberra were subjected to flash flooding, caused either by the inability of storm water infrastructure to cope, or through mud slides from cleared land. As reported by the Bureau of Meteorology, February 2007 had a record number of thunderstorms. [9]
November to February is traditionally the thunderstorm season in the ACT.
On the afternoon of 20 January 2020 a short [10] but severe storm struck Canberra and nearby Queanbeyan in NSW. Hailstones as large as golf-balls and winds over 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph) were noted. Many thousands of motor vehicles were badly damaged by hail and many were written off. [11] Over 50,000 insurance claims were lodged, largely for vehicles, and the event was declared a catastrophe by the National Insurance Council. [12] The cost of the storm was over A$500,000,000. [13] Power to about 1,000 homes was cut. Sixty-five Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) experimental greenhouses were severely damaged by hail, and as consequence years of crop, and other types of research, were lost. [14] The Australian Academy of Science's Shine Dome was seriously damaged, with smashed skylights and denting of the copper roof surface. Large numbers of fauna were killed [15] and trees were also damaged. [11]
On the evening of Monday 3 January 2022, a power supercell thunderstorm impacted Canberra. It began to move through Tuggeranong, which prompted the Bureau of Meteorology to issue a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Damaging Winds, Heavy Rainfall and Large Hailstones. The storm underwent further intensification as it moved over Canberra and hit Belconnen at peak strength. As the storm moved over West Belconnen, the Bureau of Meteorology updated their Severe Thunderstorm Warning to include Giant Hailstones.
The storm reportedly produced hailstones the size of golf balls. Many trees and powerlines were also brought down, causing 17,000 people to be without power. Flash flooding was also reported in various suburbs.
The ACT SES received over 800 calls for help, with teams from NSW SES brought in to assist with clean up efforts.
It took up to seven days before power was fully restored to some parts of Canberra, such as Scullin.
The storm event and emergency services response to it was the subject of a formal Inquiry by the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, Standing Committee on Health and Community Wellbeing. [16]
The 1947 Sydney hailstorm was a natural disaster which struck Sydney on 1 January 1947. The storm cell developed on the morning of New Year's Day, a public holiday in Australia, over the Blue Mountains, hitting the city and dissipating east of Bondi Beach in the mid-afternoon. At the time, it was the most severe storm to strike the city since recorded observations began in 1792.
On 21 January 1991 supercell thunderstorms moved across the Northern Suburbs of Sydney during the afternoon. Strong winds and large hail stones caused extensive damage. Hail stones up to 7 centimetres (2.8 in) in diameter and flash flooding was reported in several locations. Some areas received more than 35 millimetres (1.4 in) of rain in 6 minutes and more than 60 millimetres (2.4 in) in half an hour. Areas of most severe damage stretched from the Warrawee – Turramurra area to Duffys Forest, with significant damage occurring to property in the Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby and former Warringah council areas. More than 7,000 houses were damaged. The total estimated insurance payout for the storm was estimated at A$215 million. [17]
Australia's most costly natural disaster in dollar terms, as of 1999 [update] , was a severe hail storm over Sydney on 14 April 1999. Hail up to almost the size of cricket balls – 8 to 9 centimetres (3.1 to 3.5 in) circumference – fell in a damage path that extended from Bundeena in the south to Darling Point in the north, and from Sydenham in the Inner West to Bondi Junction in the east. In total, over 20,000 properties and 40,000 vehicles were damaged during the storm with more than 25 aircraft damaged at Sydney Airport. [18]
A severe storm in the Hunter Region, Sydney and central western regions killed three and injured 50, over a 4-day period in November 2001. [19] A widespread storm across the Southern Eastern States on 1–2 February 2005, killed three and injured 12, with the damage bill estimated at $216.7 million. [20]
A Piper Chieftain light aircraft crashed west of Condobolin in December 2005 during storms killing Peter Menegazzo, one of Australia's biggest landowners, and his wife. [21]
A major storm in early June 2007 known as an east coast low caused major disruption in the Hunter Region, Central Coast and Sydney killing 9 people. During the days following it also caused extensive damage and major flooding in the lower-Hunter River region, including Maitland, and flash flooding in other parts of the region. Electricity supplies were extensively damaged. The resultant swell from the storm on 8 June caused the bulk carrier, Pasha Bulker , to run aground off Newcastle's Nobbys Beach.
A few months later in October, a tornadic super-cell thunderstorm hit the region surrounding Lismore twice in one month. The first storm with giant hailstones the size of tennis balls hit Lismore on 8 October causing chaos in the CBD. Extensive damage was caused in central Lismore from large hail and strong winds. More than 17 people were injured by hail or flying glass from smashed windows. Over 1,000 claims were received by the NRMA, mostly for damaged motor vehicles, broken windows, skylights and roof tiles. Nearly 300 calls for assistance were received by the State Emergency Service. Many buildings were damaged including City Hall, the police station, ambulance station, hospital and other council buildings and small businesses. City Hall had massive damage on western side and had partly collapsed. The roof of the Gymnastics Centre had partly collapsed due to weight of hail and water. Damage bill estimated at $60 million with Lismore declared a natural disaster area.
South Lismore was hit by another severe storm the following day on 9 October causing even more damage than the day before. Hail 6 cm size and strong winds estimated at 100 km/h caused widespread damage. About 20mm rain fell in 10 minutes. Windows were smashed with hail inside houses. People were injured, cars damaged and trees uprooted with flash flooding and power outages. [22] [23]
Three weeks later, another storm caused chaos in the small town of Dunoon. More than 20 houses lost their roofs with some partly demolished, including the local church, as tornadic winds swept through the centre of town. Trees were snapped off or uprooted, power lines brought down and gardens flattened. Large hail was reported. The local sub-station exploded after being hit by flying debris, causing power outages. The Lismore district was declared a natural disaster area for the second time this month with the damage bill at Dunoon estimated at $5 million. On the same day, large hail and strong winds caused damage exceeding $1 million in Grafton, Byron Bay and Mullumbimby. [24]
Beginning on the evening of 12 February 2010, some regions of Sydney were inundated by strong rain and localised flash flooding caused by a Black nor'easter. The storms produced some of the highest rainfalls seen in the area over a decade, with 88 millimetres (3.5 in) recorded in Hornsby and 73 millimetres (2.9 in) in Mona Vale over just one hour. [25] The storms continued through to 14 February, with a maximum daily rainfall for the year of 332 millimetres (13.1 in) recorded at Tuross Head. Some areas of the northwest and southeast were declared natural disaster zones. The State Emergency Service received over 1,500 distress calls, with damages exceeding A$6 million in western regions. [26]
Throughout summer 2011–2012 Sydney experienced above average rainfall, with many cases of flash flooding, and rivers breaking their banks due to sustained rain periods. On 8 March one of the more widespread flash flooding events occurred disrupting the daily commute, by flooding train stations, and arterial roads. [27]
From 20 to 22 April 2015, the Hunter, Central Coast and Sydney regions experienced severe rain fall and 'cyclonic winds' gusting from 100 to 135 kilometres per hour (62 to 84 mph) from an east coast low resulting in many cases of flash flooding, and rivers breaking their banks due to sustained rain periods. Over the course of the three days the Main Northern and Illawarra railway lines were closed at some point. Over 80 Department of Education and Communities (DEC) schools were closed across NSW on both 21 and 22 April due to safety concerns. The Newcastle and Hunter regions were hit worst by the storm and four people were killed in flash flooding, including three people in the Hunter township of Dungog. Between 100,000 and 200,000 homes and businesses were without power at some point during the three days. [28] [29]
On 16 December a tornadic supercell thunderstorm struck the east coast, with high rainfall, hailstones and unusually strong winds. Kurnell in southern Sydney was particularly hard hit with homes and businesses un-roofed, sewerage and electricity cut, two trucks tipped on their sides, and workers evacuated from Kurnell Refinery and the desalination plant, which was damaged. A "Wind gust of 213 kilometres per hour (132 mph) recorded in Kurnell at 10:33am," was "the fastest wind speed recorded in NSW history". [30] Injuries to people were only minor. Roof damage also occurred at Westfield Bondi Junction and in South Nowra, Thousands of homes lost power in Bulli, Thirroul and Woonona north of Wollongong. [30] [31]
The Hunter, Central Coast, Sydney, Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains regions were impacted by severe rainfall between 4 and 6 January 2016. Peak rainfall over 24 hours included 255 millimetres (10.0 in) near Bulahdelah, including 80 millimetres (3.1 in) in one hour, 246 millimetres (9.7 in) at Newcastle, 239 millimetres (9.4 in) at Barrington Tops, 219 millimetres (8.6 in) at Williamtown, [32] and more than 200 millimetres (7.9 in) near Moruya. [33] [34] Due to flooding of the Hunter River, the State Emergency Service issued an evacuation order for parts of Raymond Terrace. [35]
The East Coast of Australia, including Brisbane, South East Queensland, far North NSW, the Northern Rivers and Sydney were battered by severe weather between 3 and 5 June 2016. Up to 200 millimetres (7.9 in) of rain fell across the entire coast, with 468 millimetres (18.4 in) falling in Wooli River Caravan Park near Grafton over 24 hours, and gusts of up to 125 km/h hitting Newcastle and Sydney. Flash flooding along the coast was recorded as a result of the storms. For the first time in over 30 years, a severe weather warning and flood watch was posted for the entire 2,000 km NSW Coast. [36] More than 3,000 were received across NSW by 5 June, with 9,000 homes across Sydney and the Central Coast without power throughout Sunday. The deaths of dour people across the coast were attributed to the severe storms. [37] The system, stretching for nearly 3,000 km at its peak, was the result of two systems merging on Friday 3 June, developing into an East Coast Low. [38]
On 20 January 2020 a short [10] but severe storm struck New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Sydney, the Hunter Region, the Riverina and South Coast were all affected by the weather event. Roofs were blown off, trains were halted and people trapped in vehicles by fallen trees, and two persons were hit by lightning. [39] Large hailstones and winds over 110 km/h were noted. Many thousands of motor vehicles were badly damaged by hail and many were written off. [11] The event was declared a catastrophe by the National Insurance Council. [12] The cost of the storm, in the ACT alone, was over A$500,000,000. [13]
From 7–10 February, many areas on the east coast of New South Wales received heavy and continuous rain, the heaviest falls for thirty years. 391.6 millimetres (15.42 in) of rain fell over the four days in Sydney, more than three times the February average. [40] Flooding was extensive, including areas, such as Lake Conjola, that had been devastated by bushfires about 6 weeks earlier. The rain did help extinguish many still burning bushfires, and greatly improved the levels of dams after years of drought. Power supply, trains, ferries and road transport were disrupted by flooding, fallen trees and washouts. Areas of the Northern Beaches, such as Collaroy, were damaged by waves more than 5 metres (16 ft) high. [40]
On 14 October 2021, multiple severe thunderstorm formed over the blue mountains and quickly moved east towards Sydney. One particular storm boasted an impressive hook echo on radar, and doppler winds indicates the presence of a broad mesocyclone. As a result, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a relatively rare tornado warning. Luckily, no tornado eventuated. The maximum recorded hail size was 6 cm, and the roof of a shopping mall collapsed in the suburb of Mount Druitt due to extremely heavy rainfall. 24mm of rainfall was recorded in the Penrith area in just 30 minutes. The supercell reached its peak intensity just west of Blacktown before weakening as it moved into a more stable atmosphere. It eventually moved out to sea at 6:19pm causing only minor damage near the coast. [41]
Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated Darwin , from 24 to 25 December 1974. It killed 65 people and destroyed over 90 percent of Darwin's buildings, leaving over 20,000 people homeless. Most of Darwin's population was evacuated to Adelaide, Whyalla, Alice Springs and Sydney, and many never returned to Darwin. [42] [43]
Tropical Cyclone Sigma caused destruction from Townsville to Brisbane between 24 and 27 January 1896. [44] 18 people were killed, most of whom lost their lives when a storm surge caused a breach of the Ross River on 26 January, travelling 3 miles (4.8 km) upstream, and flooding parts of Townsville to a depth of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in). [45]
Cyclone Mahina, in March 1899, resulted in the greatest death toll of any natural disaster in Australian history. Over 400 people lost their lives. The storm decimated a pearling fleet at Bathurst Bay in Queensland and deaths included the crews of around 100 vessels and an estimated 100 local aboriginals, who were swept out to sea while trying to save shipwrecked crew. [46]
Two of the country's strongest cyclones occurred on the North Queensland coast in 1918. [47] The Mackay Cyclone struck Mackay and surrounding regions in late January 1918, in addition to a devastating storm surge and extensive flooding. A Category 4 cyclone with barometric pressure at the eye as low as 933 hectopascals (13.53 psi), Mackay and Rockhampton experienced the death of some 30 people, hundreds of injuries, and A$60 million damage. Of the approximately 1400 homes in the Mackay township, 1300 were destroyed or severely damaged. [48]
10 March 1918 saw an even stronger cyclone and storm surge cross the coast at Innisfail, with further desolation at Cairns, Babinda, and on the Atherton Tableland. Barometric pressure measured from outside the cyclone eye was recorded at 926 hectopascals (13.43 psi). Estimates based on height of the storm surge suggest the 1918 Innisfail Cyclone was a "super typhoon" with pressures below 900 hpa at the eye, [47] however recording equipment at the storm centre was badly damaged so an accurate minimum could not be obtained. 37 people perished in the township of Innisfail, with a further 40-60 Aboriginals estimated to have died in outlying areas. With a population of 3500, Innisfail saw only 12 houses remain unscathed. [49]
A cyclone in Northern Queensland killed 99 people over two days in mid March 1934. [50]
A cyclone struck the Gold Coast on 20 February 1954. Four people were killed during the cyclone, [51] while a further 22 died in the resulting floods around Lismore in Northern New South Wales. [52]
On 16 November 2008, Brisbane was hit by a thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph) [53] reaching speeds of Category 2 tropical cyclones, [54] and flooding throughout the region. Areas were declared disaster zones, with one of the worst hit areas being The Gap, a north-western suburb, where roofs were lifted off houses, trees were uprooted, and cars were destroyed by falling debris, destruction typical of tropical cyclones. Recovery efforts were hampered as further storms continued throughout the week. [55]
A series of severe weather events hit Queensland, Australia, beginning in December 2010 and continuing into January 2011. [56] [57]
On 27 November 2014, Brisbane was hit by a Mesoscale convective system [58] which brought wind gusts up to 141 kilometres per hour (88 mph), reaching speeds of Category 2 tropical cyclones, and hail stones up to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) in diameter. It was the worst storm to hit Brisbane since 18 January 1985 [59] and caused over A$1 billion in damage. [60] 39 people were injured, [61] [62] although none seriously (though 12 required hospital treatment). There was widespread flooding and hail damage in the city and the suburbs of Inala, Archerfield, Moorooka, Annerley, West End, Toowong, Fortitude Valley and Bowen Hills. Light aircraft were flipped over at Archerfield Airport. [63] [64] [65] Due to the vast number of buildings and cars that were hail-damaged, insurance assessments and repairs took many months. [66]
On 18 October[ citation needed ] and 22 December 2018 [67] the Gold Coast got hit with supercell storms producing hail the size of golf balls and damaging winds.
On 14 November there was a hail storm with hail the size of cricket balls ?d Biggera Bay being the worst hit. [68]
On 13 December another severe storm hit the very South of QLD 120 millimetres (4.7 in) of rain and left Biggera Waters, and Labrador without mains power. [69] [70]
On December 25 2023 a fast-moving severe thunderstorm struck South East Queensland producing a wind gust of 169 kilometres per hour (125 mph) over Archerfield Airport around 4:30pm. This same storm then also caused hailstones between 3 to 4 cm in Southern Brisbane and caused 50mm of rainfall in 30 minutes in areas west of The Gold Coast. The storm resulted in the death of a 30 year old man caused by fallen powerlines, and the lost of power to 19,000 properties across council areas in South Eastern Queensland. [71] The winds inside of the storm near Archerfield also damaged 9 planes at the Airport and beat the previous record set at Archerfield of 143 kilometres per hour (89 mph) set back in December 1946. [72] A day later on December 16 2023 a girl was struck by lightning from storms on the Sunshine Coast [72]
On Christmas night around 8:30pm Tornadic Supercell storm event begun to build around Cedar Vale east of Jimboomba moving south-south east towards Tamborine Mountain [73] knocking out power lines and toppling and uprooting large trees. Several eyewitness accounts [74] spoke of a funnel formation with wind gusts of up to 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph) via a private weather station [75] on top of the mountain. As it continued to move south-south east towards Wongawallan, houses lost roofs and in some places buildings completely destroyed. By 9:05pm–9:15pm it tracked across Upper Coomera and Oxenford where "an image was shared of what can clearly be seen as a tornado making landfall sweeping over Helensvale. Houses in Helensvale and Oxenford recorded wind gusts of 204 kilometres per hour (127 mph) making these the worst affected areas. Almost all mature aged trees were uprooted on both of these roads. The tornado then reduced to 169 kilometres per hour (105 mph) over Coombabah and caused destruction in Runaway Bay, Hope Island and Paradise Point. It then left out through the sea at 9:30pm. There were thousands of lightning strikes tracked in the "heat lightning" event. Over 130,000 houses were left without power for days following the event as well as long cleanup efforts, known as ‘the largest clean-up in Gold Coast’s history’. [76] [77] [78]
On 28 September a storm described as a one-in-50-years event led to the entire state of South Australia losing power. [79] There has been widespread flooding throughout the state and more storms have caused further damage. [80]
A severe weather event occurred over the city of Melbourne, and surrounding areas of Victoria were tornadoes, from 1 to 6 December 2003. The storm formed at around midnight on the night of 2 December. The two hours from midnight to 2 am saw extremely heavy rainfall, with some areas recording more than 100mm of rain in that time. The rapid rain fall caused flash flooding, which resulted in extensive damage to property. [81] At the time the Australian Bureau of Meteorology called the storm a "once in 100 year event", but similarly severe storms struck Melbourne in 2005 and 2010.
An unusually intense low-pressure system developed over Eastern Bass Strait on 2 February 2005. After a spell of warm days with a north to north easterly airflow over much of eastern Australia, the region suffered the effects of one of the most intense summer time weather systems on record. Southern NSW, South Australia and Tasmania also received substantial rainfall during this event, however the highest rainfalls were concentrated in Victoria. The event made February 2005, Victoria's wettest February since 1973 and the 7th wettest in the last 106 years. The cold air associated with this system also assisted in the month of February in Victoria being its coolest since 1954. Many rainfall and temperature records were broken in the course of the event as the system passed across eastern Australia. [82]
The system brought abnormally low temperatures and severe storms with gale and storm force winds to most parts of the region. However, the continuous rainfall for about 30 hours was perhaps the most significant feature produced by the low-pressure system. The rainfall resulted in widespread flooding, particularly over Central Victoria and West and South Gippsland. Unseasonable snowfalls were observed on the Australian Alps. Although low-pressure systems in February are not uncommon, the slow and westward moving nature of this particular system was extraordinary. The centre of the low developed and deepened over Melbourne with very little movement. The combination of extreme rainfall and lashing winds caused destruction.
6 March 2010 brought one of the worst hail storms to ever hit Melbourne. The storm occurred due to the collision of warm humid air moving southwards, and a cold front moving from the south-west. The resulting storms moved from north to south, wreaking havoc across Shepparton in the state's north, uprooting trees and damaging roofs. As the storms passed over central Melbourne they released large hailstones and very heavy rainfall, causing localised flash flooding and extensive property damage. [83]
In the days preceding 25 December 2011, a high blocking pattern developed over south–east Australia, with a quasi-stationary high residing over New Zealand and a trough extending over Victoria from the interior of the continent. This stationary pattern allowed for a number of days of warm, moist northerly airflow across Victoria which lead to high moisture levels through a deep layer creating unstable conditions. Severe thunderstorms developed in the east and on Christmas Day an upper-level trough approaching from the west lead to strong low-level shear allowing the unstable atmosphere to develop a number of supercells (very severe long lasting thunderstorm cells) around the Melbourne area, chiefly through the northern suburbs. [84] The temperature rose to 30 °C (86 °F), with a forecast of mostly sunny with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
Around 3:00pm a small storm cell formed just north of Melton and within 30 minutes the storm grew into a supercell and was headed straight for Melbourne's western suburbs. [84] It was reported by residents that before the storm hit a loud roar could be heard, this was the sound of hail the size of tennis balls. Numerous reports of large hail were received, ranging from 8 centimetres (3.1 in) in diameter and causing significant damage to property, transport and infrastructure. Flash flooding occurred as a result of very heavy rainfall and multiple storms moving over the same location. [84] The worst affected areas were the northern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne including Taylors Lakes, Keilor, Eltham, Greensborough/Doncaster and Keilor Downs. [85] Tornadoes hit Fiskville, powerful enough to upend cars, and Melton. [86] The Victorian SES handled more than 2000 calls in the first six hours; Powercor reported more than 3300 people without power; Jemena recorded more than 20,000 within its distribution area of inner Melbourne in result of the storm; Melbourne airport was closed; [87] and the Insurance Council of Australia estimated a total damages bill of A$100 million. [84] The storm blacked out more than 20,000 homes with major outages in Port Melbourne, Ballarat, Armadale, Essendon, South Morang, Toorak and South Melbourne. The Bureau of Meteorology predicted a morning shower and a maximum of 23 °C (73 °F) for the following day. [88]
The worst severe storm to hit Ballarat brought heavy rain and hail, and strong winds on 30 November 2012. It damaged and flooded homes and sent roofs flying. It destroyed some homes in Mt. Clear, and almost destroyed a school in Sebastopol.[ citation needed ]
On 21 November 2016, Melbourne experienced a thunderstorm asthma event which killed 9 people. [89] The hot, windy conditions on the evening of the storm led to the spread of fine grass pollen particles, which sparked asthma symptoms in thousands of people across the city. [90]
On 27 August 2020 there were severe storms across Melbourne and southern Victoria. 3 people were killed including a 4-year-old boy. [91] 200,000 residents in 101 suburbs were put under a boil water notice which was lifted 4 days later. [92]
The northern coast of Western Australia is frequently ravaged by severe storms.
On 25 December 1869, a cyclone levelled the towns of Roebourne and Cossack with many deaths. [93]
In 1875, a cyclone destroyed the pearling fleet in the Exmouth Gulf, resulting in 59 deaths. [93]
In 1877, six barques, six men and cargoes of guano worth £20,000 were lost at the Lacepede Islands. [93]
In 1880, a 20 feet (6.1 m) storm surge obliterated Onslow. [93]
In 1881, Cossack was destroyed again with ships ending up miles onshore and 12,000 sheep drowned at Ashburton. [93]
In 1887, a cyclone at Eighty Mile Beach sank five barques and four schooners, killing hundreds of people. [93]
In 1892, 15 luggers and 40 men were lost at Onslow. [93]
In 1894, Roebourne (population 4,000) and Cossack (population 2,000) were hit with storms that destroyed almost all buildings. [93]
In 1894, a cyclone near Roebourne and Geraldton killed 61-71 people.
In March 1907, a cyclone in the Exmouth Gulf destroyed 15 pearling luggers, 2 schooners, and five Japanese people drowned. [94]
On 22 March 2010, a hail storm struck Perth with golf ball sized hail, gale-force winds up to 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph), and 40 millimetres (1.6 in) of rain. Frequent lightning strikes bought 120,000 homes without power with mudslides wrecking several homes. The storm was formed by a sudden wind change that combined with a surface trough, allowing the storm to move south and hit the entire southwest of Western Australia. [95]
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm or a lightning storm, is a storm characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere, known as thunder. Relatively weak thunderstorms are sometimes called thundershowers. Thunderstorms occur in a type of cloud known as a cumulonimbus. They are usually accompanied by strong winds and often produce heavy rain and sometimes snow, sleet, or hail, but some thunderstorms produce little precipitation or no precipitation at all. Thunderstorms may line up in a series or become a rainband, known as a squall line. Strong or severe thunderstorms include some of the most dangerous weather phenomena, including large hail, strong winds, and tornadoes. Some of the most persistent severe thunderstorms, known as supercells, rotate as do cyclones. While most thunderstorms move with the mean wind flow through the layer of the troposphere that they occupy, vertical wind shear sometimes causes a deviation in their course at a right angle to the wind shear direction.
A supercell is a thunderstorm characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone, a deep, persistently rotating updraft. Due to this, these storms are sometimes referred to as rotating thunderstorms. Of the four classifications of thunderstorms, supercells are the overall least common and have the potential to be the most severe. Supercells are often isolated from other thunderstorms, and can dominate the local weather up to 32 kilometres (20 mi) away. They tend to last 2–4 hours.
Severe weather is any dangerous meteorological phenomenon with the potential to cause damage, serious social disruption, or loss of human life. Types of severe weather phenomena vary, depending on the latitude, altitude, topography, and atmospheric conditions. High winds, hail, excessive precipitation, and wildfires are forms and effects of severe weather, as are thunderstorms, downbursts, tornadoes, waterspouts, tropical cyclones, and extratropical cyclones. Regional and seasonal severe weather phenomena include blizzards (snowstorms), ice storms, and duststorms.
The 1999 Sydney hailstorm was the costliest natural disaster in Australian insurance history, causing extensive damage along the east coast of New South Wales. The storm developed south of Sydney on the afternoon of Wednesday, 14 April 1999, and struck the city's eastern suburbs, including the central business district, later that evening.
A series of destructive severe thunderstorms struck southeastern Queensland, Australia, on 29 November 1992. The storms produced strong winds, flash flooding and large hailstones in the region, including the capital city of Brisbane. The storms also spawned two of the most powerful tornadoes recorded in Australia, including the only Australian tornado to be given an official 'F4' classification on the Fujita scale and the last violent tornado in Australia until 21 March 2013.
Extreme weather events in Melbourne, Australia have occurred on multiple occasions. The city has experienced a number of highly unusual weather events and extremes of weather. An increase in heat waves and record breaking temperatures in the 21st century has led to much discussion over the effects of climate change in the country.
The 2010 Victorian storms were a series of storms that passed through much of the Australian state of Victoria on 6 and 7 March 2010. One of the most severe storms passed directly over Greater Melbourne, bringing lightning, flash flooding, very large hail and strong winds to the state's capital.
Australian rivers have been subject to devastating floods in New South Wales, recorded since colonisation. Flooding in New South Wales has predominately been caused by excessive flows into rivers located in New South Wales and, to a lesser extent, excessive flows into rivers located in Queensland and Victoria. Floods can devastate local communities and impact the entire local economy.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi was a powerful and destructive tropical cyclone that made landfall in northern Queensland, Australia in early 2011, causing major damage to the affected areas. Originating as a tropical low near Fiji on 26 January, the system intensified to tropical cyclone status during the evening of 30 January. Yasi deepened rapidly over the next 24 hours, and was classified as a Category 3 cyclone at about 5 PM AEST on 31 January 2011. Late on 1 February, the cyclone strengthened to a Category 4 system; then, early on 2 February, the cyclone intensified into a Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone. The system had a well-defined eye and continued to track west-southwestward, maintaining a central pressure of 930 hPa and a Dvorak intensity of T6.5 into the evening.
Australian east coast lows are extratropical cyclones or low-pressure systems on the coast of southeastern Australia that may be caused by both mid-latitude and tropical influences over a variety of levels in the atmosphere.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Joy struck Australia in late 1990, causing the third highest floods on record in Rockhampton, Queensland. This cyclone began as a weak tropical low near the Solomon Islands, and initially moved westward. On 18 December, it was named Joy, becoming the 2nd named storm of the 1990–91 Australian region cyclone season. After turning southwest, Joy developed a well-defined eye and strengthened to maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h (103 mph) while approaching Cairns in Far North Queensland. Brushing the city with strong winds, the cyclone soon weakened and turned southeast. Joy later curved back southwest, making landfall near Townsville, Queensland on 26 December. It dissipated the next day; remnant moisture continued as torrential rainfall over Queensland for two weeks.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Lam was the strongest storm to strike Australia's Northern Territory since Cyclone Monica in 2006. It formed from the monsoon trough on February 12 in the Coral Sea. For much of its duration, the system moved westward due to a ridge to the south. The system crossed over the Cape York Peninsula and moved into the Gulf of Carpentaria, whereupon it gradually organized due to warm waters and favorable outflow. On February 16, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) classified it as a Category 1 on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and gave it the name Lam. The storm intensified further while drifting toward the Wessel Islands, developing an eye and strengthening to the equivalence of a minimal hurricane on February 18. It strengthened to reach maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) early on February 19 before turning to the southwest, making it a Category 4 cyclone. That day, it made landfall on Northern Territory between Milingimbi and Elcho Island at peak intensity, and it rapidly weakened over land. About six hours after Lam moved ashore, Cyclone Marcia struck Queensland as a Category 5 cyclone, marking the first time on record that two storms of Category 4 intensity struck Australia on the same day.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Althea was a powerful tropical cyclone that devastated parts of North Queensland just before Christmas 1971. One of the strongest storms ever to affect the Townsville area, Althea was the fourth system and second severe tropical cyclone of the 1971–72 Australian region cyclone season. After forming near the Solomon Islands on 19 December and heading southwest across the Coral Sea, the storm reached its peak intensity with 10-minute average maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h (80 mph) – Category 3 on the Australian cyclone scale. At 09:00 AEST on Christmas Eve, Althea struck the coast of Queensland near Rollingstone, about 50 km (30 mi) north of Townsville. Although early weather satellites provided only occasional glimpses into the cyclone's formative stages, its landfall was monitored closely by land-based radar that depicted an ongoing eyewall replacement cycle. Althea produced copious rainfall over central and western Queensland as it turned toward the southeast, and on 26 December the cyclone emerged over open waters. After briefly re-intensifying, the system dissipated on 29 December.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017 was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike Queensland since Marcia in 2015, and was the costliest tropical cyclone in Australia since Yasi in 2011. Forming as a tropical low on 23 March, the low gradually intensified into a named tropical cyclone on 25 March. After steadily strengthening offshore to a Category 4 system, Debbie eventually made landfall near Airlie Beach, at 12:40 AEST on 28 March. Afterwards, Debbie rapidly weakened into a tropical low by late 28 March, but continued to travel south, causing significant damage and flooding in the populous areas of South East Queensland and Northern Rivers. In total, the storm caused A$3.5 billion (US$2.67 billion) in damage and fourteen deaths across Australia, primarily as a result of extreme flooding. This makes Debbie the deadliest cyclone to hit Australia since Fifi in 1991.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Kelvin was a strong tropical cyclone that impacted Western Australia in February 2018, causing moderate damage. The system was first identified as a weak tropical low on the morning of 11 February over the Northern Territory's Tiwi Islands by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). The low moved southwestwards over land and emerged over the Indian Ocean near Broome on 16 February. The storm intensified into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the following day, becoming the sixth named storm of the 2017–18 Australian region cyclone season. Kelvin subsequently moved slowly eastwards and began to rapidly intensify in the hours prior to landfall. On 18 February, the storm crossed the coast along Eighty Mile Beach as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, and a high-end Category 1 hurricane-equivalent cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Despite being over land, Kelvin weakened at a slow rate over the next few days, and was downgraded to a tropical low on 19 February. The remnant low of the system drifted over the Outback before being last noted by BoM on 21 February.
A black nor'easter is a persistent and potentially violent north-easterly storm that occurs on the east coast of Australia, particularly from southeastern Queensland to southern New South Wales, usually between late spring and early autumn, about two days a year.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Nora was a strong tropical cyclone that affected Far North Queensland and the northeastern Northern Territory during March 2018. The ninth named storm and third severe tropical cyclone of the 2017–18 Australian region cyclone season, Nora developed from a tropical low which formed near the Torres Strait on 19 March. The system initially moved quickly to the west-northwest, and then began tracking slowly southwestwards over the Arafura Sea while gradually developing. A turn to the east on 22 March brought the tropical low into a favourable environment for strengthening, and the system reached tropical cyclone intensity later that day. Nora then underwent a period of rapid intensification as it moved southeastwards into the Gulf of Carpentaria. The storm peaked on 23 March as a high-end Category 3 severe tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 155 km/h (96 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 958 hPa (28.29 inHg). Nora made landfall north of Pormpuraaw at about 13:00 UTC on 24 March as a minimal Category 3 system. Nora weakened steadily as it tracked southwards along the coast, and was downgraded to a tropical low the following day. Nora's remnants meandered over land for several days before moving back over the Gulf of Carpentaria and dissipating on 28 March.
Severe weather events or extreme weather events in Sydney, Australia, include hailstorms, thunderstorms, gale, bushfires, heatwaves, drought, and flash flooding from heavy rain. Sydney is rarely affected by cyclones, although remnants of cyclones do affect the city.