Sunday 30 September 2007

One of these is not like the other ones

From today's Bureau of Meteorology report for Victoria:


Victorian Weather and Warnings

Warnings current:
  • Coastal Wind Warning West of Cape Otway
  • Coastal Wind Warning Cape Otway to Wilsons Prom
  • Coastal Wind Warning East of Wilsons Prom
  • Coastal Wind Warning Port Phillip and Western Port
  • Gippsland Lakes Wind Warning
  • Ocean Wind Warning 2
  • Victorian Severe Weather Warning
  • Tsunami


  • It's not often you get a tsunami warning in Victoria. And we haven't really had one this evening.
    Tsunami Warning for Victoria
    Issued at 1746 on Sunday the 30th of September 2007 for People in coastal areas of Victoria from Wilsons Promontory to Gabo Island

    An earthquake of preliminary magnitude 7.6 occurred at 1523 EST at 49S164E generating a potential Tsunami.

    It has been determined that no significant threat exists to coastal communities of Victoria.

    There has been a warning issued for southeastern coastal communities of Tasmania.


    And the warning for Tasmania:
    IDT24000
    Top Priority

    For all Tasmanian coastal waters

    An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 occurred at 03:23 pm EST near the Auckland islands [49.4S 164E] and may have generated a tsunami.

    If confirmed, a sea level rise in the order of 35cm is possible about the south and east coasts with possible sea level rises around remaining coastal areas.

    Dangerous waves and currents may affect beaches, harbours and rivers for several hours from the time of impact.

    The waves can be separated in time by between ten and sixty minutes and the first wave of the series may not be the largest.

    The SES advises that people should:

    Stay out of the water.
    Monitor the local media for updated information.

    This Warning will be updated 07:00pm EST.


    I was momentarily fascinated by the idea of a 35cm tsunami barging through Port Phillip Heads and hurtling up the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers. 'Twas not to be.

    Still, it makes a change from the usual round of warnings and alerts.