The 29 November 1992 Queensland storms produced the only officially F4-rated tornado in Australian history, marking the most violent tornado outbreak recorded in the country.
Key Facts
- Date
- 29 November 1992
- Supercell thunderstorms formed
- At least 5 in approximately 3 hours
- Notable tornado rating
- F4 on the Fujita scale (only in Australia)
- Affected corridor
- Brisbane to Gladstone, southeastern Queensland
- Next violent Australian tornado
- 21 March 2013
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Meteorological instability in southeastern Queensland on 29 November 1992 created conditions conducive to severe storm development, driving the rapid formation of multiple supercell thunderstorms across the region within a short timeframe.
At least five supercell thunderstorms developed over roughly three hours, tracking progressively northward from Brisbane toward Gladstone. The storms produced strong winds, flash flooding, large hailstones, and two exceptionally powerful tornadoes, one of which received Australia's only official F4 Fujita-scale classification.
The storms left a widespread trail of damage from hail, rain, and wind across southeastern Queensland. The outbreak was later described by veteran meteorologist Richard Whitaker as one of the most widespread severe thunderstorm outbreaks on record in Australia, and the F4 tornado remained the country's last violent tornado until March 2013.