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The Bulahdelah Tornado was an intense tornado which occurred near the town of Bulahdelah (100 kilometres (62.1 mi) north-northeast of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia on 1 January 1970, and is thought to be the most destructive and powerful tornado ever documented in Australia.

The tornado left a damage path 22 kilometres (14 mi) long and 1.6 km (0.99 mi) wide through the Bulahdelah State Forest. It is estimated that the tornado destroyed over one million trees. Numerous trees were debarked with some trees being reduced to stumps. A caravan was destroyed and a 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) tractor was lifted into the air, landing upside down. From damage analysis, the storm was stated to have "incredible devastation" as the damage that it caused correlates to that of an F5 rating. The tornado was reported by witnesses as a swirling black cloud surrounded by flying debris, and producing a thunderous roaring sound. The weather system that produced the tornado was a classic set-up for violent tornadoes of the United States.

See also

• List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• Australian Tornadoes - Past and Present

References

1. ^ "Stormy Weather: A century of storms, fire, flood and drought in New South Wales" (PDF). Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
2. "23 September 2003: Australian thunderstorm climatology". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 26 November 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
3. "Tornadoes of Australia and New Zealand". The Weather Doctor. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
4. ^ Shanahan, B (April 1985). "Bulahdelah Tornado Report" (PDF). Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
5. "Severe Storms Archive - Tornado". Bureau of Meteorology.

32°22′59″S 152°11′43″E / 32.38306°S 152.19528°E / -32.38306; 152.19528

• 1970 disasters in Australia
• Tornadoes of 1970
• Tornadoes in Australia
• January 1970 events in Australia