See also Australian Tornadoes Pre 2004

Report and photos by Jimmy Deguara and Michael Bath

The full set of Dunoon Tornado video stills are available here and the awesome video clip of tornado causing substation explosion by Jimmy Deguara is here. [12.9mb WMV]

The 26th October 2007 was like any ordinary severe weather setup with an emphasis on supercell development. On top of other widespread severe weather across eastern NSW, a supercell developed and approached on a path to Lismore. Hail to golf ball size was reported 10km SW of Lismore.

With the initial phase weakening and developing new updrafts over Lismore, the storm moved towards Dunoon. The supercell interacted with a likely boundary in the area producing a long lived strong tornado. The debris filled tornado caused an explosion of the local electricity substation and damaged or severely damged several buildings including the local church. The tornado exhibited multi-vortex behaviour and made it to the news media around Australia and the globe over the next 24 hours. The tornado may have been on the ground for at least 25 minutes.

A tornado was intercepted near and over Dunoon on October 26 2007. This was a long lived tornado by Australian standards having been on the ground for up to 25 or 30 minutes. An unofficial rating of this tornado is at least E-F1 possibly E-F2. The rapidly rotating tornado exhibited multi-vortex behaviour and became rather larger in its mature phase. It hit and damaged several buildings with inflow winds ripping off roof tiles from others.

Tornado damage at Dunoon - full set of images here

Pictures of the tornadic supercell earlier in its lifecycle - full set of images here

Further details and discussion about the Dunoon tornado can be found in the Australian Severe Weather Forum thread

This waterspout photographed from Port Kembla occurred at 4pm 11th February 2007 - Bass Point in Shellharbour can be seen in the background. Photos by Neil Cox and used with permission.

Another tornado has hit the other side of the continent affecting Leschenault, 160km south of Perth on 7th August 2006. Articles follow:

Sixty homes hit by tornado.

4th August 2006. This tornado developed offshore along a boundary and moved inland ripping a roof off a house and hurling it into the air dumping it about 100 metres away. The tornado went through rapid transformations in and out of condensation funnel. Click to see the video online:

Video of Tornado La Perouse [18mb mpg]

This funnel south of Lismore on 12th February 2006 was photographed by Sue Nelson of Lismore Heights and Graeme of McKees Hill. The funnel lasted at least 20 minutes.

The Groundwater family of Biloela witnessed this funnel cloud at Dululu on Saturday 12th November 2005 at 2.45pm.

"We passed through rain about 15 mins after seeing the funnel on the trip to Rockhampton. After the funnel disappeared we noticed that the clouds above where it had been were bluish/greenish, suggesting that a hail storm might occur. We only experienced heavy rain for part of the trip."

The following 3 images are close ups of the first three

Marks Adams witnessed this tornado at Spring Terrace near Orange, NSW about 6pm on Tuesday 8th November 2005. The second photo has a line marked to indicate where the tornado touched down.

The Orange SES Unit attend a site where the tornado touched down. It was on a property called "Seven Pines" Spring Side (about 3 km from Spring Terrace). The tornado had ripped out and damaged a large number of trees, followed by the destruction of a large machinery shed and garage, and completely de-roofed a house on the property. The SES worked through till late that evening tarping the house. Luckily the occupants of the house were not injured.

During the period of about 1 week including both of these events, there were 6 separate reports of different tornadoes in the Orange Area reported to the SES.

Tornado at Orange, NSW

Dave and Jo Prescott witnessed this tornado about midday on Saturday 5th November 2005. The elapsed time between the first and last photo is about 10 minutes.

Funnels near Armidale

Landspout funnels were observed near Armidale on the 3rd November 2005 by Gordon Smith. Landspouts are not uncommon and can occur in multiples since they form along boundaries under cumulus clouds or thunderstorms. Although they are not as strong as tornadoes occuring from supercells, they still can cause significant amounts of damage.

The first 2 images were taken at 15:49 and show the main funnel with an upper cylindrical sheath. Photos 3 and 4 were taken at 15:52.

Tornado near Coonabarabran

A tornado was confirmed occurring on Thursday 20th January 2005. Conditions were favourable for the development of tornadic supercells. Other storms became outflow dominant. The photographs clearly show the clear slot with photographs taken from a western or northwestern perspective between 4.24 and 4.28pm. The account as observed by Brian and Vivian Evans. Photographs copyright Vivian Evans.

Large waterspout just off the Newcastle coast on Sunday 19th September 2004. Photos by Michael O'Connor

Waterspout just off the Illawarra coast on Saturday 5th September 2004. Photos by Chris Chafer