Wind storms spark record wave
Pastor Dale Morgan
Wind storms spark record wave*
By Robyn Grace
September 22, 2006 04:38pm
Article from: AAP
AUSTRALIA - GALE-force winds have produced a massive 19.5m wave off the
coast of Tasmania, according to surf forecasters.
The rogue wave was recorded about 9am (AEST) yesterday and is believed
to be one of the largest ever measured in Australia, forecasters say.
Swellnet website forecaster Ben Matson said a waverider buoy located
10km from Cape Sorell, on Tasmania's west coast, recorded a wave peaking
at a height of 19.5m (64 feet) as westerly winds crossed the coastline.
"It was probably a combination of several waves that all combined at the
one time to produce this single enormous wave," he said.
"Large swells are common in the Southern Ocean at this time of year but
wave heights of this magnitude are extremely rare."
Mr Matson said waves of that size had the potential to cause significant
damage to ships and had been known to "send oil tankers to the bottom of
the ocean" in other parts of the world.
Forecasters were currently examining old data but Mr Matson said the
wave could be the largest ever measured in the country.
Tasmania was battered by strong winds for a second successive day today
as cold fronts and a deep low pressure system passed around the state.
Winds reached up to 160km/h on Maatsuyker Island, on Tasmania's south
coast, yesterday and hit a high of 140km/h at Scotts Peak dam in the
state's south-west just before 8am today.
Three boats ran aground, almost 10,000 homes lost electricity and
several roads were blocked across the state as strong winds continued today.
State Emergency Service (SES) southern region manager Geoff Marsh said
volunteers had a quiet day despite the warnings.
Of the 12 calls received, "all were very minor" and mostly related to
trees blown down on the Tasman Peninsula, he said.
Two houses in the Hobart suburb of Sandy Bay sustained minor roof damage.
A severe weather warning is expected to be lifted this afternoon but a
windy weekend is still predicted.
Swellnet has warned surfers and boating enthusiasts to seek shelter away
from exposed regions over the weekend.