Extreme weather events in Melbourne

Extreme weather events in Melbourne, Australia have occurred on multiple occasions. The city has experienced a number of highly unusual weather events and extremes of weather as well as the rare natural disaster.^[1]

List of weather events

• 1863 - A major flood puts Port Melbourne underwater leaving thousands homeless across the city and drowning one man at Princes Bridge.^[2]
• 26 July 1882 - snow fell for half an hour in Melbourne.^[3]
• 1882 - Elizabeth Street in Melbourne was in flood.
• 1891 - The great flood causes the Yarra River to swell to 305 metres (1,001 ft) in width.^[4] Described as the worst flood in history it leaves thousands homeless and causes at least one death.
• 1908 - A heatwave strikes Melbourne.^[5][6]
• 2 February 1918 - The Brighton tornado, an F3 class and the most intense tornado to hit a major Australian city, strikes the bay side suburb of Brighton.
• 9 November to 1 December 1934 - Torrential rainfall of up to 350 mm. Yarra River becomes raging torrent. Extensive damage with 35 dead, 250 injured, and 3,000 homeless.^{[7][8][9][10]}
• 13 January 1939 - Melbourne experiences its second hottest temperature on record, 45.6 °C (114.1 °F), during a four-day nationwide heat wave in which the Black Friday bushfires destroy townships that are now Melbourne suburbs.^[11]
• 1951 - A moderate cover of snow blankets the central business district (CBD) and suburbs.^[12][13]
• 3 December 1954 - Record wet day causes flooding in Elwood and Flemington with homes also evacuated and Flinders Street and Swanston Street and major events cancelled.^[14]
• 1972 - Elizabeth Street is flooded after a massive downpour of rain.^[15][16]
• 8 February 1983 - The city is enveloped by a massive dust storm that "turned day into night".
• 16 February 1983 - Melbourne is encircled by an arc of fire as the Ash Wednesday fires encroach on the city.
• 18 September 1984 - Storm causes flooding of 100 homes in the eastern suburbs.^[17]
• December 1990 - Heatwave causes 4 deaths.^[18]
• 26 December 1999 - Flash flooding damages 300 homes with the worst effect on Broadmeadows.
• December 2003 - Freak storms
• February 2005 - Freak storms^[19][20][21]
• January 2009 - A heatwave results in a record three successive days over 43 °C (109 °F).^[22] This is closely followed by Melbourne's hottest day on record on 7 February, when the temperature reached 46.4 °C (115.5 °F) in the CBD. This same heatwave triggered the Black Saturday bushfires, the worst in Australian history.^[23]
• 6 March 2010 - Storms pass directly over Melbourne bringing large hail, flash flooding and high winds, causing widespread damage across western and central Victoria, stopping all modes of transportation in Melbourne. CBD streets of Flinders, Spencer and Elizabeth were spectacularly flash flooded.
• 10 November 2011 - Severe storm caused flash flooding in Croydon and Frankston.^[24]
• 25 December 2011 - Severe thunderstorms, large hailstones, flash flooding and multiple tornadoes caused major damage to houses and vehicles in the worst hit areas of Fiskville, Taylors Lakes & Keilor Downs.

^[25]

Highest temperatures

Many of the hottest days recorded in Melbourne occurred during major heatwaves which precipitated large firestorms:

• 47.2 °C (117.0 °F) (Anecdotal) – 6 February 1851 (Black Thursday)
• 46.4 °C (115.5 °F) – 7 February 2009 (Black Saturday)
• 45.6 °C (114.1 °F) – 13 January 1939 (Black Friday)

References