From Abc · · 1m 40s
Storm batters Alice Springs, 9,000 homes lose power
A sudden severe thunderstorm with 96km/h winds damaged properties across Central Australia and left thousands without electricity on Monday afternoon.
In brief
A sudden severe thunderstorm with 96km/h winds damaged properties across Central Australia and left thousands without electricity on Monday afternoon. A severe thunderstorm with wind gusts of 96km/h hit Alice Springs on October 12, damaging thousands of properties and cutting power to approximately 9,000 homes…
Storm hits Alice Springs Monday afternoon
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded heavy rain and hail at three thirty pm and wind gusts of ninety six kilometres per hour at three forty four pm in Alice Springs.
Thousands lose power across region
Power and Water Corporation said approximately nine thousand properties lost power due to damage caused by the sudden storm cell.
Hilton DoubleTree among damaged properties
The Alice Springs Hilton DoubleTree sustained significant damage, with parts of its roof collapsing during the storm. Trees were pushed onto roads, powerlines and roofs across the area.
Emergency services respond to calls
NT Emergency Services received forty seven calls for assistance since the storm hit. Adam White from NTES said some areas may have experienced up to one hundred kilometres per hour winds.
“I've just seen a couple of reports of some areas that may have experienced up to 100km/h winds, so a very, very short-lived but intense storm that came through there.”
More storms predicted for Tuesday
The Bureau of Meteorology warned another similar storm cell was predicted for Tuesday afternoon and evening, bringing damaging wind gusts, large hail and heavy rainfall.Robert Urbaniak said Centralians were not out of the woods yet.
“There's still the chance of severe thunderstorms again bringing damaging wind gusts, large hail and the chance of heavy rainfall.”
Residents urged to stay vigilant
NT Emergency Services urged Alice Springs residents to remain vigilant in the coming days and keep an eye on SecureNT for updates. Power and Water reminded people to stay away from fallen trees and powerlines.
“We remind people to please stay away from fallen trees and powerlines, and always assume powerlines are live.”
The bottom line
A severe thunderstorm with wind gusts of 96km/h hit Alice Springs on October 12, damaging thousands of properties and cutting power to approximately 9,000 homes.
