29Dec00Heavy storm falls continue in NT/western Qld
29Dec00Wintry weather in Tasmania eases
29Dec00Isolated very heavy rain was again reported from widely scattered parts of the Northern Territory and along the nearby Queensland border as storms and rain areas developed near slow-moving, complex trough systems. Dum In Mirrie, 50km southwest of Darwin, recorded 150mm between 5 and 9am, of which 104 fell in two hours to 8am. In the Territory's north east, Centre Island recorded 150mm between 9 last night and noon today, with a further 30mm falling between 6 and 9 tonight. The Island's one-day total to 9am of 137mm was the highest December one-day fall in its 29 year record. 500km to the SSE, Camooweal recorded 87mm in 12 hours to 9am, of which 61 fell between 9 last night and 3 this morning. Other heavy falls are given below.
Strong, cold westerlies continued to whistle through Bass Strait and buffet western, southern and highland areas in Tasmania today, with overnight snow again reported from the central highlands. However, winds moderated somewhat today as the stream steadied, and the succession of troughs that have freshened winds and brought heavy rain and hail over the past two days petered out. Waldheim, at Cradle Valley, recorded 76.2mm for the 24 hours to 9 this morning, breaking the record which had stood until yesterday morning for the second straight day. The previous December one-day rainfall record of 74.0mm was broken with a fall of 103.2mm yesterday, while today a further 76.2mm was in the gauge at 9am.