„Sydney-Hagelsturm 1999“ – Versionsunterschied
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{{Infobox storm |
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|event=1999 Sydney hailstorm |
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|image=[[Image:1999 Sydney hailstorm stones.jpg|245px]] |
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|caption=Hailstones dropped during the storm, compared to a [[cricket ball]] ({{convert|7|cm|in|abbr=on|disp=s}} diameter) |
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|formed=4:25 pm, [[April 14]], [[1999]]<br/>North of [[Nowra, New South Wales|Nowra]] |
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|dissipated=10:00 pm, [[April 14]], [[1999]]<br/>East of [[Gosford, New South Wales|Gosford]], offshore |
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|location=[[Eastern Suburbs (Sydney)|Eastern suburbs]], [[Sydney]] |
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|damages=Insured: [[Australian dollar|A$]]1.7 billion<br/>Total: A$2.3 billion (est.) |
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|fatalities=1 ([[lightning]], off [[Dolans Bay, New South Wales|Dolans Bay]]) |
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}} |
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The '''1999 Sydney hailstorm''' was the costliest [[natural disaster]] in [[Australia]]n [[insurance]] history, causing extensive damage along the east coast of [[New South Wales]]. The storm developed south of [[Sydney]] on the afternoon of [[14 April]] [[1999]] and struck the city's [[Eastern Suburbs (Sydney)|eastern suburbs]], including the [[central business district]], later that evening.<ref name="BM19">Zillman (1999), 19.</ref> |
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The storm dropped an estimated 500,000 [[tonnes]] of [[hail]]stones in its path.<ref name="AON2">Steingold, ''et al.'' (1999), 2.</ref><ref name="HEN1">Henri (1999), 16.</ref> [[Insurance|Insured]] damages caused by the storm were over [[Australian dollar|A$]]1.7 billion,<ref name="NH1">Schuster, ''et al.'' (2005), 1.</ref><ref name="CC2">Climate Action Network Australia, ''et al.'' (2006), 2.</ref> with the total damage bill (including uninsured damages) estimated to be around A$2.3 billion.<ref name="EMA6">Emergency Management Australia (2006).</ref><ref name="COEN537">Coenraads (2006), 229.</ref> It was the costliest in Australian history in terms of insured damages, overtaking the [[1989 Newcastle earthquake]] that had resulted in A$1.1 billion in insured damages. [[Lightning]] also claimed one life during the storm, and the event caused approximately 50 injuries.<ref name="BOMsevere">Bureau of Meteorology (2007).</ref><ref name="EMA361">Emergency Management Australia (2003), 61.</ref> |
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[[Media:== dont be gay ==]] |
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The storm was classified as a [[supercell]] following further analysis of its erratic nature and extreme attributes. During the event, the [[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Bureau of Meteorology]] was constantly surprised by the frequent changes in direction, as well as the severity of the hail and the duration of the storm. The event was also unique as the time of year and general conditions in the region were not seen as conducive for extreme [[storm cell]] formation.<ref name="NH1"/><ref name="BM29">Zillman (1999), 29.</ref> |
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==Conditions and climatology== |
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The conditions around Sydney on [[April 14]] were calm, although a slight instability in [[atmosphere|atmospheric]] conditions was recorded by the [[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Bureau of Meteorology]] in the region. Two instability events had been identified in the greater Sydney area, but both were considered minor by the meteorological agencies. A weak [[cold front]] was moving north along the coast, and moderate [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] was falling over the [[Blue Mountains (Australia)|Blue Mountains]], [[South-western Sydney|southwest]] of the city.<ref name="WH99">Whitaker (2005), 99.</ref> The meteorological reports and figures, however, suggested that the general atmospheric conditions were "not conducive" to support the formation of a major thunderstorm in the region.<ref name="WH99"/> |
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Historical records show that the formation of severe thunderstorms for the time of day and year had been rare, and it was improbable that they would maintain their intensity and cause significant damage.<ref name="BMi">Zillman (1999), i.</ref><ref name="RL">Leigh (1999).</ref> This long-standing belief contributed to the Bureau of Meteorology's decision not to issue warnings in the early part of the storm's development.<ref name="WH99"/> The 1999 event was only the second time in recorded history that hail larger than {{convert|2|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} had fallen in the Sydney metropolitan area in the month of April,<ref name="BoMSW">Bureau of Meteorology (1999).</ref> and only the fifth hailstorm to strike Sydney during April in the 200 years of meteorological records for the city.<ref name="COL">Collings ''et al.'' (2000).</ref> |
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Hailstorms have had a history of significant damage in Australia. Since records on insured losses by the Insurance Disaster Response Organisation began in 1967, three other hailstorms — Sydney in 1986 and 1990, as well as Brisbane in 1985 — feature on the top ten list of most insured damages caused by a single natural disaster, in addition to the 1999 storm. Hailstorms have caused more than 30% of all insured damages inflicted as a result of natural disasters in Australia during this period, and around three quarters of all hailstorm damage has occurred in [[New South Wales]].<ref name="NH1"/> |
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==Development of the storm== |
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===Formation and southern Sydney=== |
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[[Image:1999SydHail Map Sth.PNG|thumb|right|Path of the storm from formation and in the southern regions of Sydney.]] |
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The storm cell formed at 4:25 pm [[Time in Australia|AEST]] to the north of [[Nowra, New South Wales|Nowra]], roughly {{convert|115|km|mi|abbr=on}} southsouthwest of Sydney. After forming, it initially headed towards the coast in a northeasterly direction. The cell passed just to the west of [[Kiama, New South Wales|Kiama]] at around 5:15 pm and gained a 'severe' classification from the [[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Bureau of Meteorology]] at the same time.<ref name="BM17">Zillman (1999), 17.</ref> 'Severe' is a classification used by the [[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Bureau of Meteorology]] for [[thunderstorm]]s which meet a specific criteria, namely producing [[hail]]stones with a [[diameter]] of {{convert|2|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} or more, [[wind]] gusts of {{convert|90|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} or greater and [[flash flood]]ing, or [[tornado]]es. This classification is also used by the Bureau to classify the attributes of a storm at any given time during its life.<ref name="BOMsevere"/><ref name="BM6">Zillman (1999), 6.</ref> |
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The storm continued to move in a northeasterly direction, crossing the coast just north of Kiama at 5:25 pm. It was downgraded from a severe thunderstorm and proceeded to move further off the coast for another 15 minutes while gaining speed to around {{convert|37|km/h|mph|abbr=on|}}. The storm then veered northward at 5:40 pm and continued parallel to the coast. Around 6:00 pm, directly east of [[Wollongong, New South Wales|Wollongong]], the storm changed direction again, this time to northnortheast, and continued parallel to the coastline. Moderate hailstones were recorded falling in Wollongong as the western edge of the storm passed over the area, and the storm was reclassified as severe.<ref name="BM17"/> |
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The storm moved parallel to the coast in a northnortheasterly direction for the next fifty minutes. It maintained a severe classification though did not impact heavily on the coastal suburbs, because it was entirely offshore. The western edge of the storm, however, recrossed the coastline just east of [[Helensburgh, New South Wales|Helensburgh]], {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on|}} southsouthwest of Sydney, at about 7:00 pm. Ten minutes later the direction of the storm veered slightly more northward and the centre of the storm crossed back onto land at [[Bundeena, New South Wales|Bundeena]] at around 7:20 pm.<ref name="BM18">Zillman (1999), 18</ref> |
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===Immediate Sydney region=== |
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[[Image:1999SydHail Map Ctr.PNG|thumb|right|Path of the storm over the eastern suburbs area of Sydney.]] |
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The Bureau of Meteorology had not issued warnings for [[Sydney Airport]], located on the northern shore of [[Botany Bay]], or the rest of the eastern suburbs to prepare for large hail. They were not expecting the storm to veer northward again, but rather to continue to head further out into the [[Tasman Sea]] in a consistent northnortheasterly direction.<ref name="BM18"/><ref name="ANN4">Department of the Environment and Heritage (1999), iii.</ref> |
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After crossing the coast, the storm continued to move northward, crossing Botany Bay at 7:40 pm and reaching the Airport five minutes later. It travelled across the [[Eastern Suburbs (Sydney)|eastern suburbs]] between Botany Bay and [[Sydney Harbour]] between 7:45 pm and 8:05 pm, dropping massive hailstones on both houses and businesses in the eastern suburbs district and the [[central business district]].<ref name="BM18"/> Some of the largest hailstones ever to be recorded in the Sydney region fell on the eastern suburbs during this storm. There were reports of {{convert|13|cm|in|abbr=on}} [[diameter]] hailstones in the eastern suburbs, although the largest confirmed hailstone was {{convert|9|cm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter.<ref name="BMiii">Zillman (1999), iii.</ref> It was the first time in 52 years that stones greater than {{convert|8|cm|in|abbr=on}} had fallen in Sydney, with the last reported event being the [[1947 Sydney hailstorm|1947 hailstorm]].<ref name="COL"/> |
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The storm continued across Sydney Harbour and changed direction slightly to be heading north. It weakened after travelling over the Harbour, and was downgraded from a severe storm at 8:15 pm. The Bureau of Meteorology had concluded that the storm would weaken after heading across Sydney Harbour, believing it was dissipating and would therefore not produce any more substantial hail as it moved northward; therefore it did not issue warnings for the northern suburbs.<ref name="BMi"/><ref name="ANN4"/> |
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===Northern Suburbs and dissipation=== |
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[[Image:1999SydHail Map Nth.PNG|thumb|right|Path of the storm after crossing Sydney Harbour until dissipating.]] |
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The storm then continued north for twenty minutes over the [[North Shore (Sydney)|North Shore]] suburbs of Sydney before regaining strength and veering northnorthwest again, redeveloping severe thunderstorm characteristics. The storm's redevelopment again caught the Bureau of Meteorology off-guard, who had expected the storm to dissipate and move out to sea without causing further substantial damage.<ref name="BM18"/> |
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It proceeded to drop large amounts of hail on the [[Northern Beaches (Sydney)|northern beach]] suburbs of [[Mona Vale, New South Wales|Mona Vale]] and [[Palm Beach, New South Wales|Palm Beach]] around 8:50 pm, and the centre of the storm again crossed the coast and back out to sea just after 9:00 pm. The storm maintained its intensity, however, and continued to move in a northwesterly direction across [[Broken Bay]]. The western edge of the storm had a minor impact on southern suburbs of the [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]] between 9:15 pm and 9:30 pm.<ref name="BM18"/> |
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The storm moved entirely off the coastline and into open water at around 9:45 pm. It then dissipated rapidly around 9:55 pm, directly east of [[Gosford]]. It was subsequently downgraded from severe status and the storm cell had faded completely by 10:00 pm.<ref name="BM19">Zillman, 19.</ref> |
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{{clear}} |
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==Aftermath== |
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===Secondary storm cell=== |
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[[Image:1999 Sydney hailstorm radartwocells.png|thumb|right|225px|The [[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Bureau of Meteorology]] radar image from 8:10 pm, showing the first cell directly over the Sydney central business district and the second cell approximately {{convert|80|km|mi|abbr=on}} south along the coastline.]] |
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A second, far smaller storm cell passed along a similar route to the first later in the evening of April 14. This cell was never given the classification of 'severe' by the [[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Bureau of Meteorology]], nor did it develop into a [[supercell]] like its predecessor.<ref name="WH97">Whitaker (2005), 97.</ref><ref name="WH101">Whitaker (2005), 101.</ref> Therefore, the route of the second cell was more direct and predictable than the first, following the general movement of the cold front (see [[#Conditions and climatology|conditions and climatology]]), and the Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings to all residents in the second cell's projected path to expect further storm activity.<ref name="WH101"/> |
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The secondary cell passed through Sydney two hours later than the first, just after 10:00 pm, having been approximately {{convert|80|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Sydney when the supercell struck.<ref name="RL"/> It dropped hail up to {{convert|2|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} in diameter, as well as producing heavy [[rainfall]]. Damage caused by the second cell was mostly due to rain coming in through roofs already damaged by hail from the first cell. Hail from the second cell also contributed to the damage.<ref name="RL"/><ref name="WH1034">Whitaker (2005), 103—4.</ref> |
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===Damage caused=== |
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The downpour of an estimated 500,000 [[tonnes]] of hail across Sydney [[suburbia]] resulted in widespread damage on the [[coast]]al suburbs in its path.<ref name="AON2"/><ref name="HEN1"/> Insured losses due to the disaster reached roughly [[Australian dollar|A$]]1.7 billion, with total costs estimated to be around A$2.3 billion.<ref name="EMA6"/><ref name="COEN537"/> The storm was the costliest natural disaster ever to hit Australia in terms of insured losses, surpassing the [[1989 Newcastle earthquake]] by around A$600 million.<ref name="NH1"/> The areas that incurred the most damage were between [[Lilli Pilli, New South Wales|Lilli Pilli]] and [[Darling Point]], located {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} apart on the [[coast]]line of Sydney.<ref>NSW State Emergency Service (2005).</ref> |
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The vast majority of damage was done by hail and rain. Approximately 24,000 [[house]]s were significantly damaged, with many suffering [[water damage]] through the holes in roofs that the large hailstones created. The stones were estimated as travelling at up to {{convert|200|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} in some periods of the storm, causing indentation damage to around 70,000 vehicles.<ref name="NH2">Schuster, ''et al.'' (2005), 2.</ref> Twenty-three [[Airplane|planes]] and [[helicopter]]s at [[Sydney Airport]] were reported as having incurred notable damage from the hail, caused by the inability to place them under [[hangar]]s in time to avoid the storm. This has been significantly attributed to a lack of warnings from the [[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Bureau of Meteorology]], who had expected the storm to continue moving further out into the [[Tasman Sea]] in the northnortheasterly direction in which it had previously been travelling.<ref name="BM18"/> |
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The most significant insurance costs were in the areas of residential property damage with 31.8% of total payments, motor vehicle damage with 28.6% and for properties which service the [[Trade|commercial]] and [[Industry|industrial]] sectors at 27.5%. Damage to aviation property, mainly planes at the vulnerable Sydney Airport, amounted to 5.9% of the claims, while 5.8% of all insurance payments were made for 'business interruption' and 0.4% for damage to boats as well as other miscellaneous claims.<ref name="NH2"/> |
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The storm caused one fatality; a 45-year-old man, who was [[fishing]] about {{convert|100|m|sigfig=1}} off the coast at [[Dolans Bay, New South Wales|Dolans Bay]] in [[southern Sydney]], was killed when his boat was struck by [[lightning]].<ref name="EMA6"/> Fifty injuries were recorded, caused by flying objects, road accidents due to poor visibility and smashed windscreens and other factors.<ref name="EMA361"/><ref name="WH1034"/> |
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===Emergency response=== |
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[[Image:1999 Sydney hailstorm cardamage.jpg|thumb|right|225px|The aftermath of the storm on a suburban Sydney street.]] |
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Owing to the magnitude of the storm, the [[State Emergency Service]] were aided by the [[New South Wales Rural Fire Service]], the [[New South Wales Fire Brigades]] and the Australian Capital Territory Emergency Service in recovery work.<ref name="NH3">Schuster, ''et al.'' (2005), 1.</ref> Within hours of the storm striking the city, all affected areas were declared as 'disaster zones' and the [[New South Wales Government]], under [[Premier of New South Wales|Premier]] [[Bob Carr]], invoked a [[state of emergency]], which gave control and co-ordination of the response to the State Emergency Service.<ref name="EMA4">Emergency Management Australia (2004).</ref> In the days following the storm, [[John Moore]] ([[Minister for Defence]]) approved a request for 300 [[Australian Defence Force]] personnel to assist recovery operations, although their assistance was only for one week while resources were stretched. The government, one week later, "unexpectedly" removed complete control from the State Emergency Service and placed certain suburbs and areas under the control of the Rural Fire Service and Fire Brigade.<ref name="EMA4"/><ref name="WSMS">Head (1999).</ref> |
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In the five hours following the storm striking Sydney, the State Emergency Service received 2,000 emergency calls to 1,092 separate incidents.<ref name="WA">Wilson (n.d.).</ref> In total, the State Emergency Service received 25,301 calls for assistance to 15,007 incidents, with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service also receiving 19,437.<ref name="GA">Geoscience Australia (n.d.).</ref> The recovery and clean-up mission used an estimated [[Australian dollar|A$]]10 million worth of [[tarpaulin]] covers while waiting for permanent repairs.<ref name="NH2"/> |
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After 9 days, approximately 3,000 buildings (out of a total of 127,947 initially damaged) were still waiting for assistance and temporary fixes to shattered roofs and windows, while a similar number still required assistance a further week later (as a number of tarpaulins became detached or otherwise ineffective).<ref name="NH3"/><ref name="WSMS"/> One month after the disaster, the main priority of the emergency services was ensuring that temporary fixes remained in place, as Sydney suffered further adverse weather in the period immediately following the storm.<ref name="EMA4"/><ref name="WSMS"/> |
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A study of a [[Sample (statistics)|sample]] taken of affected areas suggested that roughly 62% of buildings in the affected areas suffered damage to roofs, around 34% to windows and 53% to vehicles.<ref name="RL"/> Construction of infrastructure for [[2000 Sydney Olympics]] in the city's west at the time meant there was a deficiency of [[Tradesperson|tradespeople]] who could be contracted to repair roofs and windows. Estimates put between 45,000 and 50,000 tradespeople in Sydney at the time of the storm, yet owing to [[Supply and demand|high demand]] "companies were quoting householders [A]$14,000 or more for roof repairs which would normally cost $3,000."<ref name="WSMS"/> The situation led to a warning from [[Minister (government)|Minister]] for [[Consumer protection|Fair Trade]] [[John Watkins (Australian politician)|John Watkins]] on the day following the storm, urging homeowners to ensure that tradespeople working to repair homes were fully qualified and legitimate.<ref>Australian Associated Press (1999).</ref> |
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==See also== |
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{{portalpar|Earth sciences}} |
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*[[Severe storms in Australia]] |
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*[[List of disasters in Australia by death toll]] |
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*[[Emergency management]] |
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==Notes== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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==References== |
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<div class="references-small"> |
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{{col-begin}} |
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{{col-2}} |
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*{{cite news |
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| title=Beware shonky tradespeople after hail damage: Watkins |
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| author=[[Australian Associated Press]] |
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| date=[[April 15]], [[1999]] |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=NSW Lightning Bolt: Volume 6 Issue 1, May 1999 |
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| url=http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/sevwx/bolt/vol6no1/vol6no1.shtml |
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| author=[[Bureau of Meteorology]] |
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| publisher=Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales Severe Weather Section |
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| date=1999 |
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| accessdate=2007-11-16 |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=Severe Thunderstorms: Facts, Warnings and Protection |
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| url=http://www.bom.gov.au/info/thunder/ |
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| author=Bureau of Meteorology |
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| date=2007 |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=Power to Change |
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| url=http://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/files/1532/File/Weather_Change_Final_Low.pdf |
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| author=Climate Action Network Australia, [[Environment Victoria]], [[Greenpeace]], Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales, [[World Wildlife Fund]] |
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| date=2006 |
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| publisher=[[Bellingen Shire Council]] |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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}} |
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*{{cite book |
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| author = Coenraads, Robert |
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| title = Natural Disasters And How We Cope |
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| year = 2006 |
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| publisher = The Five Mile Press |
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| location = Victoria, Australia |
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| isbn = 1 74178 212 0 |
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| pages = pp. 228—9, 537 |
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}} |
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*{{cite book |
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| author = Collings, Anne, Lee, Lynette |
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| title = Sydney hailstorms: the health role in the recovery process |
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| year = 2000 |
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| publisher = [[Medical Journal of Australia]]: 173 |
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| pages = pp. 579—582 |
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}} |
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*{{cite book |
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| author=[[Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Australia)|Department of the Environment and Heritage]] |
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| title=Bureau of Meteorology Annual Report 1998-99 |
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| date=1999 |
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| publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |
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}} |
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*{{cite book |
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| author = Emergency Management Australia |
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| title = Hazards, disasters and your community |
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| year = 2003 |
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| publisher = [[Emergency Management Australia]] |
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| location = Canberra, Australia |
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| isbn = 1 921152 01 X |
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| url = http://www.ema.gov.au/agd/EMA/rwpattach.nsf/VAP/(1FEDA2C440E4190E0993A00B7C030CB7)~Hazards+7th+ed.pdf/$file/Hazards+7th+ed.pdf |
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| pages = pp. 26—7, 30, 69 |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=Operations Archive: 14 April 1999 Sydney Hailstorm Damage |
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| url=http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:RwBiqRFKWGwJ:www.ema.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/00ed8726e14caddfca256d09001da856/a6c8fbcd32f86573ca256d3300058036%3FOpenDocument%26TEXTONLY%3DTRUE+Sydney,+NSW:+Severe+Hailstorm+(incl+Lightning)&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&client=opera |
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| author=Emergency Management Australia |
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| date=2004-08-02 |
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| publisher=Australian Government - Attorney-General's Department |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=Sydney, NSW: Severe Hailstorm (incl Lightning) |
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| url=http://www.ema.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/9d804be3fb07ff5cca256d1100189e22/a6c8fbcd32f86573ca256d3300058036?OpenDocument |
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| author=Emergency Management Australia |
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| date=2006-09-13 |
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| publisher=Australian Government - Attorney-General's Department |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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}} |
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{{col-2}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=Sydney hailstorm |
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| url=http://www.ga.gov.au/urban/projects/nrap/sydney_hailstorm1.jsp |
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| author=[[Geoscience Australia]] |
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| date=n.d. |
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| publisher=Australian Government |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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}} |
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*{{cite news |
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| title=Mounting anger over Sydney hailstorm disaster |
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| url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/1999/apr1999/syd-a23.shtml |
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| author=Head, Mike |
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| date=1999-04-23 |
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| publisher=[[World Socialist Web Site]] |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=The Sydney hailstorm: the insurance perspective |
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| url=http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/agd/EMA/rwpattach.nsf/viewasattachmentpersonal/(C86520E41F5EA5C8AAB6E66B851038D8)~The_Sydney_hailstorm_the_insurance_perspective.pdf/$file/The_Sydney_hailstorm_the_insurance_perspective.pdf |
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| author=Henri, Christopher |
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| date=1999 |
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| publisher=Australian Government - Attorney-General's Department |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=The April 1999 Sydney Hailstorm |
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| url=http://www.riskfrontiers.com/nhq/nhq5-2tables.htm |
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| author=Leigh, Roy |
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| date=June, 1999 |
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| publisher=National Hazards Quarterly, Macquarie University |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=The largest hailstorm in our history |
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| url=http://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/infopages/2497.html |
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| author=[[State Emergency Service|NSW State Emergency Service]] |
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| date=2005 |
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| publisher=New South Wales Government |
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| accessdate=2007-11-15 |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=Characteristics of the 14 April 1999 Sydney hailstorm based on ground observations, weather radar, insurance data and emergency calls |
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| url=http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/5/613/2005/nhess-5-613-2005.pdf |
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| author=Schuster, Sandra |
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| coauthors=Blong, Russell, Leigh, Roy, McAneney, John |
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| date=2005-08-11 |
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| publisher=Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=Sydney Hailstorm 14 April 1999: Impact on Insurance and Reinsurance |
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| url=http://www.aon.com.au/pdf/reinsurance/Aon_Sydney_Hailstorm.pdf |
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| author=Steingold, Malcolm, Walker, George |
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| date=May, 1999 |
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| publisher=Aon Re Australia Limited |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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}} |
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*{{cite book |
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| author = [[Richard Whitaker|Whitaker, Richard]] |
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| title = Australia's Natural Disasters |
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| year = 2005 |
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| publisher = Reed New Holland |
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| location = Sydney, Australia |
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| isbn = 1 877069 04 3 |
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| pages = pp. 97, 99—104 |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=April 14 |
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| url=http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/book/apr14.html |
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| author=Wilson, Pip |
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| date=n.d. |
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| publisher=Wilsons Almanac |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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}} |
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*{{cite web |
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| title=Report by the Director of Meteorology on the Bureau of Meteorology's Forecasting and Warning Performance for the Sydney Hailstorm of 14 April 1999 |
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| url=http://www.bom.gov.au/inside/services_policy/storms/sydney_hail/hail_report.shtml |
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| author=[[John Zillman|Zillman, Dr. John]] |
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| date=1999 |
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| publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |
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| accessdate=2007-09-08 |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/sevwx/14april1999.shtml Bureau of Meteorology summary of storm] |
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[[Category:1999 in Australia]] |
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[[Category:1999 meteorology]] |
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[[Category:1999 natural disasters]] |
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[[Category:Natural disasters in Australia]] |
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Version vom 30. Juli 2008, 22:26 Uhr
Vorlage:Infobox storm 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 14 April 1999 and struck the city's eastern suburbs, including the central business district, later that evening.[1]
The storm dropped an estimated 500,000 tonnes of hailstones in its path.[2][3] Insured damages caused by the storm were over A$1.7 billion,[4][5] with the total damage bill (including uninsured damages) estimated to be around A$2.3 billion.[6][7] It was the costliest in Australian history in terms of insured damages, overtaking the 1989 Newcastle earthquake that had resulted in A$1.1 billion in insured damages. Lightning also claimed one life during the storm, and the event caused approximately 50 injuries.[8][9]
The storm was classified as a supercell following further analysis of its erratic nature and extreme attributes. During the event, the Bureau of Meteorology was constantly surprised by the frequent changes in direction, as well as the severity of the hail and the duration of the storm. The event was also unique as the time of year and general conditions in the region were not seen as conducive for extreme storm cell formation.[4][10]
Conditions and climatology
The conditions around Sydney on April 14 were calm, although a slight instability in atmospheric conditions was recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology in the region. Two instability events had been identified in the greater Sydney area, but both were considered minor by the meteorological agencies. A weak cold front was moving north along the coast, and moderate precipitation was falling over the Blue Mountains, southwest of the city.[11] The meteorological reports and figures, however, suggested that the general atmospheric conditions were "not conducive" to support the formation of a major thunderstorm in the region.[11]
Historical records show that the formation of severe thunderstorms for the time of day and year had been rare, and it was improbable that they would maintain their intensity and cause significant damage.[12][13] This long-standing belief contributed to the Bureau of Meteorology's decision not to issue warnings in the early part of the storm's development.[11] The 1999 event was only the second time in recorded history that hail larger than Vorlage:Convert had fallen in the Sydney metropolitan area in the month of April,[14] and only the fifth hailstorm to strike Sydney during April in the 200 years of meteorological records for the city.[15]
Hailstorms have had a history of significant damage in Australia. Since records on insured losses by the Insurance Disaster Response Organisation began in 1967, three other hailstorms — Sydney in 1986 and 1990, as well as Brisbane in 1985 — feature on the top ten list of most insured damages caused by a single natural disaster, in addition to the 1999 storm. Hailstorms have caused more than 30% of all insured damages inflicted as a result of natural disasters in Australia during this period, and around three quarters of all hailstorm damage has occurred in New South Wales.[4]
Development of the storm
Formation and southern Sydney
The storm cell formed at 4:25 pm AEST to the north of Nowra, roughly Vorlage:Convert southsouthwest of Sydney. After forming, it initially headed towards the coast in a northeasterly direction. The cell passed just to the west of Kiama at around 5:15 pm and gained a 'severe' classification from the Bureau of Meteorology at the same time.[16] 'Severe' is a classification used by the Bureau of Meteorology for thunderstorms which meet a specific criteria, namely producing hailstones with a diameter of Vorlage:Convert or more, wind gusts of Vorlage:Convert or greater and flash flooding, or tornadoes. This classification is also used by the Bureau to classify the attributes of a storm at any given time during its life.[8][17]
The storm continued to move in a northeasterly direction, crossing the coast just north of Kiama at 5:25 pm. It was downgraded from a severe thunderstorm and proceeded to move further off the coast for another 15 minutes while gaining speed to around Vorlage:Convert. The storm then veered northward at 5:40 pm and continued parallel to the coast. Around 6:00 pm, directly east of Wollongong, the storm changed direction again, this time to northnortheast, and continued parallel to the coastline. Moderate hailstones were recorded falling in Wollongong as the western edge of the storm passed over the area, and the storm was reclassified as severe.[16]
The storm moved parallel to the coast in a northnortheasterly direction for the next fifty minutes. It maintained a severe classification though did not impact heavily on the coastal suburbs, because it was entirely offshore. The western edge of the storm, however, recrossed the coastline just east of Helensburgh, Vorlage:Convert southsouthwest of Sydney, at about 7:00 pm. Ten minutes later the direction of the storm veered slightly more northward and the centre of the storm crossed back onto land at Bundeena at around 7:20 pm.[18]
Immediate Sydney region
The Bureau of Meteorology had not issued warnings for Sydney Airport, located on the northern shore of Botany Bay, or the rest of the eastern suburbs to prepare for large hail. They were not expecting the storm to veer northward again, but rather to continue to head further out into the Tasman Sea in a consistent northnortheasterly direction.[18][19]
After crossing the coast, the storm continued to move northward, crossing Botany Bay at 7:40 pm and reaching the Airport five minutes later. It travelled across the eastern suburbs between Botany Bay and Sydney Harbour between 7:45 pm and 8:05 pm, dropping massive hailstones on both houses and businesses in the eastern suburbs district and the central business district.[18] Some of the largest hailstones ever to be recorded in the Sydney region fell on the eastern suburbs during this storm. There were reports of Vorlage:Convert diameter hailstones in the eastern suburbs, although the largest confirmed hailstone was Vorlage:Convert in diameter.[20] It was the first time in 52 years that stones greater than Vorlage:Convert had fallen in Sydney, with the last reported event being the 1947 hailstorm.[15]
The storm continued across Sydney Harbour and changed direction slightly to be heading north. It weakened after travelling over the Harbour, and was downgraded from a severe storm at 8:15 pm. The Bureau of Meteorology had concluded that the storm would weaken after heading across Sydney Harbour, believing it was dissipating and would therefore not produce any more substantial hail as it moved northward; therefore it did not issue warnings for the northern suburbs.[12][19]
Northern Suburbs and dissipation
The storm then continued north for twenty minutes over the North Shore suburbs of Sydney before regaining strength and veering northnorthwest again, redeveloping severe thunderstorm characteristics. The storm's redevelopment again caught the Bureau of Meteorology off-guard, who had expected the storm to dissipate and move out to sea without causing further substantial damage.[18]
It proceeded to drop large amounts of hail on the northern beach suburbs of Mona Vale and Palm Beach around 8:50 pm, and the centre of the storm again crossed the coast and back out to sea just after 9:00 pm. The storm maintained its intensity, however, and continued to move in a northwesterly direction across Broken Bay. The western edge of the storm had a minor impact on southern suburbs of the Central Coast between 9:15 pm and 9:30 pm.[18]
The storm moved entirely off the coastline and into open water at around 9:45 pm. It then dissipated rapidly around 9:55 pm, directly east of Gosford. It was subsequently downgraded from severe status and the storm cell had faded completely by 10:00 pm.[1] Vorlage:Clear
Aftermath
Secondary storm cell
A second, far smaller storm cell passed along a similar route to the first later in the evening of April 14. This cell was never given the classification of 'severe' by the Bureau of Meteorology, nor did it develop into a supercell like its predecessor.[21][22] Therefore, the route of the second cell was more direct and predictable than the first, following the general movement of the cold front (see conditions and climatology), and the Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings to all residents in the second cell's projected path to expect further storm activity.[22]
The secondary cell passed through Sydney two hours later than the first, just after 10:00 pm, having been approximately Vorlage:Convert south of Sydney when the supercell struck.[13] It dropped hail up to Vorlage:Convert in diameter, as well as producing heavy rainfall. Damage caused by the second cell was mostly due to rain coming in through roofs already damaged by hail from the first cell. Hail from the second cell also contributed to the damage.[13][23]
Damage caused
The downpour of an estimated 500,000 tonnes of hail across Sydney suburbia resulted in widespread damage on the coastal suburbs in its path.[2][3] Insured losses due to the disaster reached roughly A$1.7 billion, with total costs estimated to be around A$2.3 billion.[6][7] The storm was the costliest natural disaster ever to hit Australia in terms of insured losses, surpassing the 1989 Newcastle earthquake by around A$600 million.[4] The areas that incurred the most damage were between Lilli Pilli and Darling Point, located Vorlage:Convert apart on the coastline of Sydney.[24]
The vast majority of damage was done by hail and rain. Approximately 24,000 houses were significantly damaged, with many suffering water damage through the holes in roofs that the large hailstones created. The stones were estimated as travelling at up to Vorlage:Convert in some periods of the storm, causing indentation damage to around 70,000 vehicles.[25] Twenty-three planes and helicopters at Sydney Airport were reported as having incurred notable damage from the hail, caused by the inability to place them under hangars in time to avoid the storm. This has been significantly attributed to a lack of warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology, who had expected the storm to continue moving further out into the Tasman Sea in the northnortheasterly direction in which it had previously been travelling.[18]
The most significant insurance costs were in the areas of residential property damage with 31.8% of total payments, motor vehicle damage with 28.6% and for properties which service the commercial and industrial sectors at 27.5%. Damage to aviation property, mainly planes at the vulnerable Sydney Airport, amounted to 5.9% of the claims, while 5.8% of all insurance payments were made for 'business interruption' and 0.4% for damage to boats as well as other miscellaneous claims.[25]
The storm caused one fatality; a 45-year-old man, who was fishing about Vorlage:Convert off the coast at Dolans Bay in southern Sydney, was killed when his boat was struck by lightning.[6] Fifty injuries were recorded, caused by flying objects, road accidents due to poor visibility and smashed windscreens and other factors.[9][23]
Emergency response
Owing to the magnitude of the storm, the State Emergency Service were aided by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, the New South Wales Fire Brigades and the Australian Capital Territory Emergency Service in recovery work.[26] Within hours of the storm striking the city, all affected areas were declared as 'disaster zones' and the New South Wales Government, under Premier Bob Carr, invoked a state of emergency, which gave control and co-ordination of the response to the State Emergency Service.[27] In the days following the storm, John Moore (Minister for Defence) approved a request for 300 Australian Defence Force personnel to assist recovery operations, although their assistance was only for one week while resources were stretched. The government, one week later, "unexpectedly" removed complete control from the State Emergency Service and placed certain suburbs and areas under the control of the Rural Fire Service and Fire Brigade.[27][28]
In the five hours following the storm striking Sydney, the State Emergency Service received 2,000 emergency calls to 1,092 separate incidents.[29] In total, the State Emergency Service received 25,301 calls for assistance to 15,007 incidents, with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service also receiving 19,437.[30] The recovery and clean-up mission used an estimated A$10 million worth of tarpaulin covers while waiting for permanent repairs.[25]
After 9 days, approximately 3,000 buildings (out of a total of 127,947 initially damaged) were still waiting for assistance and temporary fixes to shattered roofs and windows, while a similar number still required assistance a further week later (as a number of tarpaulins became detached or otherwise ineffective).[26][28] One month after the disaster, the main priority of the emergency services was ensuring that temporary fixes remained in place, as Sydney suffered further adverse weather in the period immediately following the storm.[27][28]
A study of a sample taken of affected areas suggested that roughly 62% of buildings in the affected areas suffered damage to roofs, around 34% to windows and 53% to vehicles.[13] Construction of infrastructure for 2000 Sydney Olympics in the city's west at the time meant there was a deficiency of tradespeople who could be contracted to repair roofs and windows. Estimates put between 45,000 and 50,000 tradespeople in Sydney at the time of the storm, yet owing to high demand "companies were quoting householders [A]$14,000 or more for roof repairs which would normally cost $3,000."[28] The situation led to a warning from Minister for Fair Trade John Watkins on the day following the storm, urging homeowners to ensure that tradespeople working to repair homes were fully qualified and legitimate.[31]
See also
Notes
References
Vorlage:Col-begin Vorlage:Col-2
- Australian Associated Press: Beware shonky tradespeople after hail damage: Watkins, April 15, 1999
- Bureau of Meteorology: NSW Lightning Bolt: Volume 6 Issue 1, May 1999. Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales Severe Weather Section, 1999, abgerufen am 16. November 2007.
- Bureau of Meteorology: Severe Thunderstorms: Facts, Warnings and Protection. 2007, abgerufen am 8. September 2007.
- Climate Action Network Australia, Environment Victoria, Greenpeace, Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales, World Wildlife Fund: Power to Change. Bellingen Shire Council, 2006, abgerufen am 8. September 2007.
- Coenraads, Robert: Natural Disasters And How We Cope. The Five Mile Press, Victoria, Australia 2006, ISBN 1 74178 212 0(?!), S. 228—9, 537.
- Collings, Anne, Lee, Lynette: Sydney hailstorms: the health role in the recovery process. Medical Journal of Australia: 173, 2000, S. 579—582.
- Department of the Environment and Heritage: Bureau of Meteorology Annual Report 1998-99. Commonwealth of Australia, 1999.
- Emergency Management Australia: Hazards, disasters and your community. Emergency Management Australia, Canberra, Australia 2003, ISBN 1 921152 01 X(?!), S. 26—7, 30, 69 (gov.au [PDF]).
- Emergency Management Australia: Operations Archive: 14 April 1999 Sydney Hailstorm Damage. Australian Government - Attorney-General's Department, 2. August 2004, abgerufen am 8. September 2007.
- Emergency Management Australia: Sydney, NSW: Severe Hailstorm (incl Lightning). Australian Government - Attorney-General's Department, 13. September 2006, abgerufen am 8. September 2007.
- Geoscience Australia: Sydney hailstorm. Australian Government, abgerufen am 8. September 2007.
- Head, Mike: Mounting anger over Sydney hailstorm disaster, World Socialist Web Site, 23. April 1999. Abgerufen am 8. September 2007
- Henri, Christopher: The Sydney hailstorm: the insurance perspective. Australian Government - Attorney-General's Department, 1999, abgerufen am 8. September 2007.
- Leigh, Roy: The April 1999 Sydney Hailstorm. National Hazards Quarterly, Macquarie University, abgerufen am 8. September 2007.
- NSW State Emergency Service: The largest hailstorm in our history. New South Wales Government, 2005, abgerufen am 15. November 2007.
- Schuster, Sandra, Blong, Russell, Leigh, Roy, McAneney, John: Characteristics of the 14 April 1999 Sydney hailstorm based on ground observations, weather radar, insurance data and emergency calls. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 11. August 2005, abgerufen am 8. September 2007.
- Steingold, Malcolm, Walker, George: Sydney Hailstorm 14 April 1999: Impact on Insurance and Reinsurance. Aon Re Australia Limited, abgerufen am 8. September 2007.
- Whitaker, Richard: Australia's Natural Disasters. Reed New Holland, Sydney, Australia 2005, ISBN 1 877069 04 3(?!), S. 97, 99—104.
- Wilson, Pip: April 14. Wilsons Almanac, abgerufen am 8. September 2007.
- Zillman, Dr. John: Report by the Director of Meteorology on the Bureau of Meteorology's Forecasting and Warning Performance for the Sydney Hailstorm of 14 April 1999. Bureau of Meteorology, 1999, abgerufen am 8. September 2007.
External links
- ↑ a b Zillman (1999), 19. Referenzfehler: Ungültiges
<ref>-Tag. Der Name „BM19“ wurde mehrere Male mit einem unterschiedlichen Inhalt definiert. - ↑ a b Steingold, et al. (1999), 2.
- ↑ a b Henri (1999), 16.
- ↑ a b c d Schuster, et al. (2005), 1.
- ↑ Climate Action Network Australia, et al. (2006), 2.
- ↑ a b c Emergency Management Australia (2006).
- ↑ a b Coenraads (2006), 229.
- ↑ a b Bureau of Meteorology (2007).
- ↑ a b Emergency Management Australia (2003), 61.
- ↑ Zillman (1999), 29.
- ↑ a b c Whitaker (2005), 99.
- ↑ a b Zillman (1999), i.
- ↑ a b c d Leigh (1999).
- ↑ Bureau of Meteorology (1999).
- ↑ a b Collings et al. (2000).
- ↑ a b Zillman (1999), 17.
- ↑ Zillman (1999), 6.
- ↑ a b c d e f Zillman (1999), 18
- ↑ a b Department of the Environment and Heritage (1999), iii.
- ↑ Zillman (1999), iii.
- ↑ Whitaker (2005), 97.
- ↑ a b Whitaker (2005), 101.
- ↑ a b Whitaker (2005), 103—4.
- ↑ NSW State Emergency Service (2005).
- ↑ a b c Schuster, et al. (2005), 2.
- ↑ a b Schuster, et al. (2005), 1.
- ↑ a b c Emergency Management Australia (2004).
- ↑ a b c d Head (1999).
- ↑ Wilson (n.d.).
- ↑ Geoscience Australia (n.d.).
- ↑ Australian Associated Press (1999).