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Above: Two areas of storms
are visible on the Weatherzone combined
radar and lightning tracker images for NSW at 9pm. The speed of movement, shown
by comparing the white (current) lightning strikes with the blue (1 hour
ago), is about 70 to 80km/h.
Below: The BoM minimum
temperature anomaly map shows most of the continent had below normal maxima
today with widespread readings
of 8 to 11 below.
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 Violent
storms cause damage in northern and central
NSW
A trough
and low pressure system advancing eastwards across NSW today brought severe
thunderstorms to northern and central inland areas of the
state. The storms were intense but fast-moving, lasting as little
as 5 minutes. The storm cells shown in central eastern NSW at right formed
in far western NSW around 2 to 3pm, yet crossed the coast at Sydney soon
after 9pm. Details of heavy storm rainfall are given in Downpours below.
- Northwest: A 5-minute storm at White Cliffs around 3.30pm
brought golfball-sized hail and violent winds. Visibility was reduced to
a few metres. There was damage to light
structures, and
part of a shed was blown over a house without touching it. A different storm
gave Cobar Met Office 39mm between 6 and 9pm, 3.8mm falling in one minute
to 7.24pm.
- Dubbo: 15-minute storm shortlly after 9pm blocked roads
with debris, caused blackouts and damaged some buildings
when trees were blown down. The airport recorded 6mm in 8 minutes from 9pm.
A belt of damage occurred to the south of the city along a narrow path stretching
from Minore Road, west of Dubbo, through Western Plains Zoo, along old Dubbo
Road and on to Wongarbon. The zoo was closed for two days
to allow tree damage to be cleaned up, with hundreds of long-established
trees completely uprooted along a 400m wide swathe through the centre of
the complex.
Hundreds
of thousands of dollars worth of damage was caused to farming properties
and a vineyard in the area. A
substantial
shed
was destroyed 6km west of Dubbo, and two sheds at the Lazy River Winery were
torn apart, one containing a Porsche that was left without a scratch.
- Orange: Hail and minor damage to buildings and roadways
was reported.
- Tamworth and Northern Tablelands: Strong winds with a
late afternoon storm brought down powerlines, blocking roads and blacking
out 15,000 consumers,
or nearly
a half of Tamworth. Power was also lost in Calala, Guyra, Glen Innes, Gunnedah,
Inverell, Manilla, Barraba, Nundle and Willow Tree. A Country Energy spokesman
said trees and powerlines were down "from Goondiwindi to Murrurundi." Nine
houses in Gunnedah lost roofing and one in Tamworth was damaged by a falling
tree. Heavy hail was reported at Guyra and golfball-sized hail fell at Willow
Tree slashing an Australian Open Garden Scheme showpiece garden two days
before it was due to go on display after 12 months preparation -- the hail
was still lying in shaded drifts 24 hours later.
 Widespread
rain
spreads from SA into NSW, VIC and southern QLD
The
low brought widespread rain in addition to thunderstorm falls. To
9am the heaviest falls were in an east/west band across central SA, where
Arkaroola in the northern Flinders Ranges reported 38.6 and Leigh Creek Airport
had its heaviest October 1-day fall in 11 years with 22.0mm. Press reports
say Olary recorded 55mm, while across the border in NSW
Kimberly
Station 140km
S of Broken Hill reported 39.5. All unsealed
roads in the Central Darling Shire of NSW were closed, water flowing over
Silver City Hwy north of Broken Hill.
In QLD, Birdsville top the rain
list with 39.6mm and was isolated by impassable roads, including
the Birdsville Track. Birdsville Hotel owner Kym Fort told the Courier
Mail stranded
travellers had been forced to relax and spend the day in the pub or coffee
shop. A report on the rain farther east is given for 2
October.
Cold
day in southern
Australia
It
was an unusually cold day across much of the continent as a result
of cloud cover and rain associated with the Low in the east, and colder southern
air moving up behind the low in the west. Large parts of NSW, VIC and southern
WA reported minima 6 to 11 below average.
News sources: ABC, News.com, Northern Daily Leader, Daily Liberal, Central
Western Daily, Courier Mail |
