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 QLD: Storms, heavy showers cross the SE
A fast-moving trough that crossed southern QLD during the afternoon and evening brought squally winds, some thunderstorms in the SE and brief but torrential rain. Around 45,000 properties around Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast lost power and there were widespread reports of downed branches and powerlines. Top wind gusts just reached the damaging-wind threshhold of 90km/h. As the squall line crossed the state, Thargomindah recorded 94km/h at 1.30pm, Roma 87 shortly before 8pm and Cape Moreton 94 and Double Island Point 96km/h later in the evening. Very heavy rain fell from the line of showers accompanying the trough -- Archerfield recorded 7mm in 5 minutes -- but its speed resulted in most locations receiving only 5 to 10mm.
The greatest damage was reported in coastal areas east and SE of Brisbane. About 30 trees were brought down on roads on North Stradbroke, Russell and Macleay Islands and nearby mainland areas, with trees on houses in Mt Cotton, Capalaba and Cleveland. In southern Moreton Bay, SE of Brisbane, a 10-day-old houseboat moored at Victoria Point had its top half blown off causing $100,000 damage, while four boats were washed ashore at nearby Point Halloran and another four on parts of South Stradbroke Island. Other boats and some navigation beacons dragged their moorings. Warm, gusty winds ahead of the change prompted fire warnings, but only a few small fires were reported around Esk, 70km WNW of Brisbane.
 NSW: Wet and cold across the north
A broad cloudmass accompanied the low and trough system shown in the charts above as it crossed northern and some central parts of NSW giving general falls of 15 to 25mm. The rain-bearing northwesterly flow benefited northwest-facing slopes, giving top falls of 35 to 40mm in the NW Slopes and Upper Hunter (Mt Kaputar was top on 41.8mm), as well as 25 to 30mm over the border in the QLD Granite Belt around Stanthorpe. While these totals are for the 24 hours to 9am Saturday, most of the rain fell today. Early evening thunderstorms in the far northeast gave some heavy falls, with Ballina, Lismore and Byron Bay all recording around 9mm in a little over 10 minutes.
Thick cloud cover kept daytime temperatures well below normal, with a large area in the north and NW of the state recording maxima 10 or 11 below. |
