East Coast Low (2002-06-02)

A low in the middle atmosphere developed overland in southeast Queensland by 2 June 2002.

At the surface a large high moved across southeast Australia Tasman while a trough developed to the east of the upper low generating gale force winds along the south coast of Queensland. The trough developed east of Bowen between Marion Reef and Frederick Reef and because of the large high over southeast Australia it had the same effect as a deep east coast low.

The gales extended northwards up to the Capricorn Coast by 4 June 2002. The low level onshore flow and the upper low combined to produce areas of very heavy rain. On Tuesday 4 June 2002 torrential rain and flash flooding occurred in the Yeppoon area with falls between 80mm and 100mm of rain in the 24 hours to 2300 UTC 3 June 2002.

Very heavy rain (with thunder) began falling at about 2230 UTC and continued until 0030 UTC 4 June 2002. Reports of amounts in that 2 hour period ranged from 120mm to 320mm. The heaviest areas seemed to be around Kinka Beach (halfway between Yeppoon and Emu Park, Emu Park itself, and at Zilzie just south of Emu Park.

Some of the reports received were Kinka Beach, 359mm in total, 70mm of it before 2100 UTC. Another Kinka Beach resident reported 322mm total, 102mm before 2300 UTC and 220mm after 2300 UTC, while a report from a resident 1 km inland from Kinka Beach indicated 305mmin in total and 75mm before 2300 UTC. At Barlows Hill, just north of Yeppoon 150mm was recorded in 90 minutes and at Kemp Beach 330mm was recorded in total, with 240mm after 2300 UTC. Emu Park reported 290mm in the 7 hours to 0500 UTC 4 June 2002. Zilzie recorded 380mm in total, 320mm after 2100 UTC.

The Keppel Sands Coastguard, 245mm up to 0200UTC. There was one report of 446mm at Kinka Beach for the whole event. A number of houses were inundated by stormwater at Emu Park and motor vehicles were abandoned.

Gales generated large seas and near Lady Musgrave Island 5 yachtsmen were rescued off two yachts, Banshee and Moonfleet Both yachts were destroyed by the seas. Rundle Island automatic weather station (AWS) reported gales from 1700UTC 3 June 2002 to 0900UTC 4 June 2002. The strongest 10 minute average wind recorded at the AWS was 45 knots. The strongest 10 minute average wind recorded at Double Island Point AWS was 39 knots, Lady Elliot Island AWS 35 knots, Frederick Reef 38 knots, Gannet Cay AWS 41 knots and Cape Moreton AWS 45 knots.

This event is classified as an East Coast Low.

More about East Coast Lows
Harden Up
Bureau of Meteorology website
The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research report