| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | 29 November 1992 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 2 |
| Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | Less than one hour |
| Fatalities | None |
| Damage | Total unknown; millions (A$) in crop damage |
| Areas affected | Queensland, Australia |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
A series of destructive severe thunderstorms struck southeastern Queensland, Australia, on 29 November 1992. The storms produced strong winds, flash flooding and large hailstones in the region, including the capital city of Brisbane. The storms also spawned two of the most powerful tornadoes recorded in Australia, including the only Australian tornado to be given an official 'F4' classification on the Fujita scale and the last violent tornado in Australia until 21 March 2013.[1][2][3]
The meteorological instability in the region resulted in the formation of at least five supercell thunderstorms in the space of around three hours. The storms, which spawned progressively further up the coast from Brisbane to Gladstone as the afternoon progressed, left a trail of damage resulting from hail, rain and wind. The event has been described as "one of the most widespread outbreaks of severe thunderstorms recorded" by veteran meteorologist Richard Whitaker.[4][5]
- ^ Whitaker 2005, p. 199.
- ^ Coenraads 2006, p. 229.
- ^ "Tornadoes". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 17 March 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
- ^ Davies & Oates 1992.
- ^ Whitaker 2005, p. 200.