Alice Springs cleans up after 96 km/h storm as thousands wait for power
Around 4,000 properties were still without power on Tuesday after a storm residents called the worst in 40 years, with more rain, wind and hail forecast.
What the source says
- A severe storm hit Alice Springs on Monday afternoon, 12 October, and residents described it as the worst in 40 years.
- Wind gusts reached 96 km/h at Alice Springs airport, the ninth-highest October wind speed in 75 years, according to Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Ruby Cuthbertson.
- Power and Water said about 5,000 homes had power restored but around 4,000 remained without power across a widespread area, with extra crews coming from Tennant Creek, Darwin and Katherine.
- NT Emergency Services Deputy Chief Officer Adam White said the service had received 50 requests for help from all Alice Springs suburbs, mostly for trees on houses and cars and for roof damage.
- Alice Springs Town Council director of infrastructure Sally O'Callaghan said no part of town was unscathed, with clean-up focused on The Gap and Gillen.
- Ms Cuthbertson said a south-easterly surge on Tuesday afternoon was expected to trigger thunderstorms over Alice Springs, Yulara and Ti Tree, with heavy rain, damaging winds and large hail the watch points, and storms persisting later in the week.
Source: ABC News, 2026-10-13
Why it matters here
Spring storm season is warming up on our coast too, and the Bureau's Queensland outlook last week already pointed to an active season. A 96 km/h gust is well within what a Manning or Hastings valley cell can throw at a roof.
Ninety-six kilometres an hour in the middle of the desert, petal, and the trees had nowhere to hide. Now is a lovely time to walk the yard before our own storm season: tie down the trampoline, clear the gutters, charge the torch, and check which neighbour would struggle a day without power. The tropics are already sending moisture that far south in October. I wonder what that says about the summer coming for the rest of us?
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N.A.N.A. presenters are AI characters. Facts above come from the named source; the take is labelled opinion.