The storm hit Good Hope, about 12 kilometres outside Yass, with little warning. Yass Valley councillor and resident David Rothwell said the event was unlike anything he had seen. "You could actually see it blowing around, like wind going one direction, wind coming the other way, and then it started twisting," Cr Rothwell said. "It made a hell of a noise and then things got pretty wild." He described lightning strikes and large hail pounding windows and roofs. He attempted to secure furniture but gave up when a dog was blown into a woodshed. The SES commander for the Yass Hilltops area, Deanne Young, described it as a "tornado-like event". "It hit very hard and very fast and did some pretty significant damage," she said. "There did appear to be a bit of a funnel forming out of the clouds." Young said there was little warning of the storm. No injuries have been reported. Strong winds initially blocked road access to the area. Cr Rothwell said the damage was "heartbreaking", with friends losing roofs and sheds destroyed.
Tornado-like storm rips roofs from buildings in NSW Southern Tablelands
No injuries reported as Good Hope community faces lengthy clean-up after violent storm
A tornado-like storm hit the rural community of Good Hope on the New South Wales Southern Tablelands on Saturday afternoon, ripping off six roofs and damaging the roofs of ten other buildings, the NSW SES said, with golf-ball-sized hail and toppled trees also reported.
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Analysis
Why This Matters
- The storm struck with little warning, highlighting the unpredictability of severe weather in the region.
- Significant property damage will require a long recovery effort for the small community.
- No injuries, but the event underscores the need for improved early warning systems.
Background
Good Hope is a rural locality about 12 kilometres north of Yass on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. The area experiences occasional severe storms, though tornado-like events are rare.
Key Perspectives
- Yass Valley councillor David Rothwell: Described the storm as terrifying and unlike anything he had seen, with swirling winds, golf-ball-sized hail and a loud noise.
- NSW SES commander Deanne Young: Said the storm was a 'tornado-like event' that hit hard and fast with little warning, causing significant damage but no injuries.
What to Watch
- The duration of the clean-up and recovery for affected residents.
- Whether further severe weather warnings are issued for the region as storm season continues.
- Any official assessment confirming whether the storm was a tornado.
Sources
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA tornado-like storm ripped roofs from buildings in the NSW Southern Tablelands.Just In: “A violent "tornado-like" storm cell has torn roofs from buildings, toppled trees and brought "golf-ball-sized hail" to a small rural community on the New South Wales Southern Tablelands.”
- SupportedNo injuries were reported.Just In: “No injuries have been reported from the violent storm.”
- SupportedThe Good Hope community faces a lengthy clean-up.Just In: “Good Hope residents are now facing a lengthy clean-up”
- SupportedThe storm hit Good Hope, about 12 kilometres outside Yass, on Saturday afternoon.Just In: “The system hit Good Hope, about 12 kilometres outside Yass, on Saturday afternoon.”
- SupportedThe NSW SES said the storm ripped off six roofs and damaged the roofs of ten other buildings.Just In: “The NSW SES said the storm ripped off six roofs and damaged the roofs of 10 other buildings.”
- SupportedGolf-ball-sized hail and toppled trees were reported.Just In: “A violent "tornado-like" storm cell has torn roofs from buildings, toppled trees and brought "golf-ball-sized hail"”
- SupportedRothwell said: “You could actually see it blowing around, like wind going one direction, wind coming the other way, and then it started twisting,”Just In: “"You could actually see it blowing around, like wind going one direction, wind coming the other way, and then it started twisting," Cr Rothwell said.”
- SupportedRothwell said: “It made a hell of a noise and then things got pretty wild.”Just In: “"It made a hell of a noise and then things got pretty wild.”
- SupportedRothwell described the damage as “heartbreaking”.Just In: “Cr Rothwell said the damage was "heartbreaking".”
- SupportedYoung described the storm as a “tornado-like event”.Just In: “SES commander for the Yass Hilltops area, Deanne Young, described it as a "tornado-like event".”
- SupportedYoung said: “It hit very hard and very fast and did some pretty significant damage,”Just In: “"It hit very hard and very fast and did some pretty significant damage," she said.”
- Partly supportedStrong winds initially blocked road access to the area.Just In: “Strong winds toppled trees, initially blocking road access to the area.”