 |
Surface chart for 10pm EST tonight
shows an intense secondary low in the unusual position of crossing the
west coast
of TAS. Note the strong pressure gradient, from 990hPa near the centre
of the low to 1018hPa over NW VIC. BoM  |
 Rogue
low brings wild weather to SA, VIC, TAS and southern
NSW
While low pressure systems are regular visitors around the shores
of TAS, they seldom cross the coast. More favoured routes are to
cruise through Bass Strait or brush the south coast. Today, a secondary Low
of 985hPa broke the rule, moving NE and crossing the TAS West Coast near
Queenstown late this evening. As if apologetic for its blunder, the low formed
a second centre SE of Hobart early Tuesday morning and moved slowly off to
the NE.
The Low severely tightened pressure gradients across the SE mainland, leading
to widespread gale force winds and storm force gusts across SA during the morning
and VIC around the middle of the day. Details are below,
but the strongest gusts in SA were 96km/h shared by Cape Borda, Cape Jaffa
and Mt Lofty summit. SES personnel were called to 4 jobs in Keith, two in Mt
Gambier and one NE of Millicent, mostly to clear trees blown across roads.
Storm force gusts were reported well inland in VIC with gusts of 93km/h shared
by
Melbourne
Airport,
Dunns Hill (near Mt Dandenong) and Longerenong (20km ENE of Horsham).
Kilmore Gap (50km N of Melbourne
CBD)
recorded a top of 98km/h.
Blizzard conditions developed in VIC and NSW alpine
areas as rain turned to snow late morning and average winds turned to gale
force norwesters. Top gusts were 122km/h at Thredbo, 119 atop Mt Hotham and
113 at Mt Buller. Onshore southwesterlies gave 15 to 40mm to the Mt Lofty
Ranges, SE SA and the VIC West Coast and in the Northeast. Uraidla in the
Adelaide
Hills recorded 50.8 for the 2 days to 9am Tuesday, while Merino VIC, 40km
west of Hamilton, recorded 66.4.
Thunderstorms developed around the low and were experienced in SA, VIC, TAS
and southern NSW. Mt Gambier Airport reported storms and hail showers for much
of the day while Thredbo Village reported a thunderstorm with hail at 3pm while
snow was falling heavily at Top Station. Gales and heavy rain developed in western and northern TAS as the low approached.
Quamby Bluff, south of Deloraine, recorded 97.4mm for the two days while Diddleum
in the Northeast registered 92.8 and Mt Read inland from Zeehan recorded 98.8.
Most locations on the West, North and Northeast Coasts recorded between 50
and 80mm, leading to brief minor flooding in parts of the North and South Esk
and Meander River Basins. Wind gusted to 117km/h at Cape Grim in the state's
northwest and to 119km/h on Hogan Island in Bass Strait which, although only
50km ESE of Wilsons Promontory, is part of TAS.
 Warm
winter's day around Sydney
Strong warm northwesterlies broke June maximum
temperature records in Sydney and along the NSW coast today. Parramatta
North recorded its warmest June day in 35 years of record with a top of
35 while Riverview set a 19 year high. On the South Coast, Narooma's 23.2
was its highest June reading in 20 years while Nelson Bay north of Newcastle
broke a 7 year record. |
