A RARE and unusual phenomenon deep in the Southern Ocean is creating extreme weather conditions, including hurricane-force winds, off the South Australian coast.
Winds of 80 knots, or 150km/h, were recorded south of the Great Australian Bight yesterday, resulting from an intense low which developed since Tuesday. Swells up to 7m were expected to pound the coast last night. Winds greater than 64 knots, or 118km/h, are classified as hurricane-force - a new category introduced by the Bureau of Meteorology for areas on southern latitudes.
It describes more extreme winds than storm winds, which is the warning given for winds greater than 48 knots or 88km/h. Hurricane-force winds are usually associated with tropical cyclones. A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said it was a "rare and unusual" event but the phenomenon was not a cyclone or hurricane in the Southern Ocean.
"The low is well to the south of us and the winds won't impact the SA coastline but it will produce heavy swell along the open ocean coasts," he said. "We are predicting the swell to get to 5-7m."
The swell was expected to peak late last night and, while some big waves could hit the coasts this morning, they will reduce during the day. More rain has been welcomed by farmers, with parts of Eyre Peninsula recording up to 15mm of rain across Tuesday night. In the 24 hours to 9am yesterday, Streaky Bay and Coles Point had the highest rainfall with 15mm, while Elliston and Wudinna recorded 13mm. Adelaide had 6mm for the same period. A few showers have been forecast today with a morning shower tomorrow.
AdelaideNow... Hurricane winds off the coast 
29-Mar-2007, 06:20
Rare hurricane force winds off South Australian coast 
