1876 Bowen tornado

1876 Bowen tornado
A map showing the approximate path of the Bowen tornado
Meteorological history
Formed16 February 1876, c. 9:45 p.m. AEST (UTC+10:00)[1][a]
Dissipated16 February 1876, c. 9:45 p.m. AEST (UTC+10:00)[1]
Duration30 seconds
F5 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Path lengthc. 5 km (3.1 mi)
Highest winds>420 km/h (260 mph)
Overall effects
Fatalities1
InjuriesNumerous
Damage£7,000 (1876 GBP)
£1.05 million (2026 GBP)
$2.05 million (2026 AUD)
Areas affectedBowen and surrounding communities
Part of the List of Australian tornadoes

The 1876 Bowen tornado was a violent and exceptionally short lived tornado that remains the strongest tornado in Australian history, as being the only one to be rated F5 on the Fujita scale.[2][b] The tornado was incorrectly marked to strike Brisbane by the Bureau of Meteorology,[3] but was said in local newspapers that tornadic damage was dealt in Bowen.[4] The tornado had estimated wind speeds of over 420 km/h (260 mph), was reported to kill one person,[5] injure numerous people and deal £7,000 worth of damage, equivalent to £1.05 million (GBP) and $2.05 million (AUD) today when adjusted for inflation.[4] The Bowen tornado also remains the first tornado to be rated F5 outside of Europe.

On 16 February 1876 at 9:00 pm[1], a distant roar was heard, resembling constant thunder–that same roar continued to get louder as the storm approached Bowen. Eventually, a violent but short-lived tornado struck the town; one that had a reported lifespan of a mere 30 seconds.[2] This funnel would go on and obliterate a hotel, a brick shop, dwelling and bakery. The tornado's damage was documented so well that the Bureau of Meteorology would rate it F5; placing the tornado's estimated wind speed of at least 420 km/h (260 mph). The approximate path length of the tornado is 5 km (3.1 mi), though the tornado's true path length would be much shorter.

Impact

A dozen homes, a hotel, a brick shop, dwelling and bakery were all destroyed. The floor of a house with a man inside was driven 7 feet (2.1 m) into a lock-up fence; without injury. A hospital in the town was also destroyed, where multiple injuries would take place. A store was shifted on its foundation; with its veranda being blown away, as well as a portion of a boarding house. A hotel was also blown away, with a few cottages being considerably damaged. The walls of the Lands Office buckled and the roof fell inside, destroying a considerable amount of furniture. Another house was shifted off its supports, and carried approximately 8 feet (2.4 m) before being set down, remaining somewhat intact. It was also reported that a horse was killed after a flying sheet of iron cut it in two.[5] Overall, one person lost their life, numerous people would be injured and £7,000 of damage was dealt; equivalent to £1.05 million (GBP) and $2.05 million (AUD) today when adjusted for inflation.[4]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The tornado's exact accepted date is disputed. According to the BoM Severe Storms Archive, the tornado occurred on the 22nd February; but the Brisbane Telegraph claims the tornado occurred last Wednesday (and the article was written on the 21st).
  2. ^ This is with the possible exception of the Bulahdelah tornado, which was believed to have at least F4 strength winds, but was never officially rated on the Fujita scale.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Terrific Tornado, Bowen". Brisbane Telegraph. February 21, 1876. p. 3.
  2. ^ a b "The Tornado at Bowen". The Capricornian. 4 March 1876. p. 156. Retrieved 3 February 2026 – via Trove.
  3. ^ "Severe Storms Archive". Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "General News". The Queenslander. 26 February 1876. p. 26. Retrieved 29 January 2026 – via Trove.
  5. ^ a b "General News". The Queenslander. 22 February 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 29 January 2026 – via Trove.
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