MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY
MARCH, 2006
Second Installment
(For general comments about the nature of these summaries, as well as
information on how to download the tabular cyclone track files, see
the Author's Note at the end of this summary.)
SPECIAL NOTE: The March summary is being issued in two installments.
The first covered the Southwest Indian Ocean and Northwest Australia/
Southeast Indian Ocean basins. The second installment covers the
Northwest Pacific, South Pacific and Northeast Australia/Coral Sea
basins.
*************************************************************************
MARCH HIGHLIGHTS
--> Two severe tropical cyclones form off Western Australia--one makes
landfall
--> Very destructive tropical cyclone strikes Queensland
--> Another severe tropical cyclone in Coral Sea recurves away from
Australia
*************************************************************************
ACTIVITY BY BASINS
ATLANTIC (ATL) - North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico
Activity for March: No tropical cyclones
*************************************************************************
NORTHEAST PACIFIC (NEP) - North Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 180
Activity for March: No tropical cyclones
*************************************************************************
NORTHWEST PACIFIC (NWP) - North Pacific Ocean West of Longitude 180
Activity for March: 1 tropical storm **
** - treated as a tropical storm by JTWC only
Sources of Information
----------------------
Most of the information presented below is based upon tropical
cyclone warnings and significant tropical weather outlooks issued
by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the U. S. Air Force and
Navy (JTWC), located at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In the companion
tropical cyclone tracks file, I normally annotate track coordinates
from some of the various Asian warning centers when their center
positions differ from JTWC's by usually 40-50 nm or more. All
references to sustained winds imply a 1-minute averaging period
unless otherwise noted.
Michael V. Padua of Naga City in the Philippines, owner of the
Typhoon 2000 website, normally sends me cyclone tracks based upon
warnings issued by the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the
Philippines' Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA). A very special thanks to Michael for the
assistance he so reliably provides.
In the title line for each storm I have referenced all the cyclone
names/numbers I have available: JTWC's depression number, the
JMA-assigned name (if any), JMA's tropical storm numeric designator,
and PAGASA's name for systems forming in or passing through their
area of warning responsibility.
TROPICAL STORM
(TC-01W / BASYANG)
3 - 13 March
--------------------------------------
A. Storm Origins
----------------
Tropical Storm 01W originated from a disturbance associated with a
near-equatorial trough located approximately 410 nm south-southeast of
Yap. At 2030 UTC 3 March JTWC issued a TCFA on this system, remarking:
"Animated enhanced infrared imagery reveals that deep convection over a
tightening low-level circulation center has increased. An upper-level
analysis shows that the area is under low to moderate vertical wind
shear, has an increasingly symmetric 850-mb vorticity signature, and
has excellent poleward outflow." The first warning on Tropical
Depression 01W was written at 04/0000 UTC, locating the centre
approximately 240 nm east-southeast of Palau. At this time, the system
was drifting slowly towards the northwest at 3 kts, heading towards a
weakness in the subtropical ridge.
B. Synoptic History
-------------------
Tropical Depression 01W was upgraded to a 35-kt tropical storm at 0600
UTC 4 March while located approximately 260 nm east-southeast of Palau.
Tropical Storm 01W did not intensify further. The system maintained
its peak strength of 35 kts for a little over 24 hours while drifting
north-northwestward. Plagued by moderate wind shear, TS-01W became
disorganized on 5 March and was downgraded to a tropical depression at
05/1800 UTC. At this time, the centre was relocated to a position
approximately 210 nm east of Palau after enhanced satellite imagery and
a 05/1028 UTC QuikScat pass revealed the formation of a weak LLCC to
the south of the previous location. A further relocation was required
at 06/0000 UTC, placing the centre a little further to the south.
Turning onto a westerly heading, TC-01W passed 195 nm south of Palau
late 6 March/early 7 March. After multi-spectral satellite imagery
failed to reveal the poorly-defined LLCC, JTWC issued the final warning
at 07/0000 UTC.
JTWC continued to monitor the remnants of Tropical Storm 01W through
their STWOs and considered the development potential to be fair at 0600
UTC 8 March after multi-spectral satellite imagery indicated a
consolidating LLCC with convection wrapping around the western
periphery. At this time, the system was located approximately 305 nm
east-southeast of Zamboanga, Philippines, and tracking towards the
west-northwest. Continuing on this heading, the system made landfall
over Mindanao late on 8 March. Did TC-01W reach the southern
Philippines as a re-vitalised tropical storm? Some analysts felt that
the system did. However, it was never officially re-upgraded and JTWC
downgraded the disturbance back to poor status at 09/0600 UTC and
dropped it from their STWOs altogether at 10/1730 UTC. Re-emerging
back over the waters of the Sulu sea, the LOW crossed Palawan Island
early on 11 March before dissipating halfway across the South China Sea
early on 13 March.
The peak intensity estimated by JMA was 30 kts with the lowest CP
estimated at 1004 mb. PAGASA issued only three warnings on Tropical
Depression Basyang after it entered their AOR before it was downgraded.
The first was released at 06/1200 UTC and the final at 07/0200 UTC.
The peak 10-min avg MSW assessed by that agency was also 30 kts.
Graphics depicting the track of Tropical Storm 01W/Basyang may be
found at the following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/WPAC/BT-IMAGES/2006-01W-NONAME.gif>
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/WPAC/BT-IMAGES/2006-01W-NONAME-A.gif>
C. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
There were no reports of damages and casualties associated with
Tropical Storm 01W/Basyang.
(Report written by Kevin Boyle)
*************************************************************************
NORTH INDIAN OCEAN (NIO) - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea
Activity for March: No tropical cyclones
*************************************************************************
SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN (SWI) - South Indian Ocean West of Longitude 90E
Activity for March: 1 tropical disturbance
1 tropical storm
NOTE!!! The Southwest Indian Ocean basin was covered in the first
installment of the March summary.
*************************************************************************
NORTHWEST AUSTRALIA/SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN (AUW) - From 90E to 135E
Activity for March: 2 tropical LOWs
2 severe tropical cyclones (hurricanes)
NOTE!!! The Northwest Australia/Southeast Indian Ocean basin was covered
in the first installment of the March summary.
*************************************************************************
NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA/CORAL SEA (AUE) - From 135E to 160E
Activity for March: 1 hybrid storm
2 severe tropical cyclones (hurricanes) **
** - one of these originated in Fiji's AOR east of 160E
Sources of Information
----------------------
The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for
Northeast Australia/Coral Sea tropical cyclones are the warnings
and advices issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres at
Brisbane, Queensland, and Darwin, Northern Territory, and on very
infrequent occasions, by the centre at Port Moresby, Papua New
Guinea. References to sustained winds imply a 10-minute averaging
period unless otherwise stated.
In the companion tropical cyclone tracks file, I occasionally
annotate positions from warnings issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning
Center (JTWC) of the U. S. Air Force and Navy, located at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, when they differ from the Australian centres' coor-
dinates by usually 40-50 nm or more. The JTWC warnings are also the
source of the 1-minute average maximum sustained wind values included
in the tracks file. Additionally, information describing details of
satellite imagery and atmospheric circulation features included in
the narratives is often gleaned from the JTWC warnings.
For the portion of Tropical Cyclone Wati's track lying east of
longitude 160E, the following applies:
The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for
South Pacific tropical cyclones are the warnings and advisories
issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres at Nadi, Fiji (for
waters north of latitude 25S), and Wellington, New Zealand (for
waters south of latitude 25S). References to sustained winds imply
a 10-minute averaging period unless otherwise stated.
Northeast Australia/Coral Sea
Tropical Activity for March
-----------------------------
Three significant cyclonic storm systems traversed waters between the
coast of Queensland and 160E during the month of March. The first,
during the opening days of the month, was a subtropical, hybrid-type
storm which brought high winds, heavy seas and moderate rainfall to
southeastern Queensland. The second system, Severe Tropical Cyclone
Larry, formed well out in the Coral Sea around mid-month, intensifying
into a Category 5 cyclone as it marched westward toward the Queensland
coastline. Larry made landfall near Innisfail on the 19th with peak
10-min avg winds estimated at around 110-115 kts. The storm was reported
to have been the most destructive to strike Queensland in almost
20 years. Finally, a visitor from Fiji's AOR, Tropical Cyclone Wati,
moved into the eastern Coral Sea and became a fairly strong hurricane,
but very fortunately for residents of Queensland, recurved southeastward
and did not affect the Australian coastline. Reports on all three of
these storm systems, authored by Simon Clarke, follow.
SUBTROPICAL HYBRID STORM
1 - 6 March
--------------------------------------------
A. Introduction and Origins
---------------------------
Exactly two years ago to the date, a subtropical hybrid storm swept
down the Coral Sea and lashed the southeastern Queensland and the
northern New South Wales regions of Australia with heavy rains and gale-
force winds (see separate report in the March, 2004, global summary). A
similar and perhaps more intense event unfolded in the first week of
March, 2006.
On 1 March 2006, a strong pressure gradient became established along
the south coast of Queensland, generated by a strong (1032 hPa) HIGH
in the southern Tasman Sea and a low pressure area well to the east
of Townsville. This forced a large area of strong to gale force
onshore winds onto the coastline south of the Whitsunday Islands.
By 02/0000 UTC warm air advection extended from inland Queensland
over to southeastern Queensland and adjacent waters as a new 1008-hPa
LOW developed near 23.0S/154.5E (approximately 210 nm east of Yeppoon).
Over the ensuring 18-hour period this LOW moved southward to near
24.0/154.5E (approximately 70 nm northeast of Sandy Cape, Fraser Island)
while steadily deepening to 1000 hPA. At this time, a ship reported
storm-force winds to 50 kts near the centre.
B. Synoptic History
-------------------
Over the ensuing three-day period, the complex low pressure system
drifted quite slowly in a general southerly direction between 50 and
60 nm off the south Queensland coast with new centres periodically
forming and being re-absorbed into the overall complex system. This
LOW was not a traditional tropical cyclone, but rather a sheared-type
hybrid with storm-force winds concentrated around the LOW's southern
quadrant. Satellite imagery throughout the life of the subtropical
hybrid clearly showed an upper-level cloud structure concentrated to the
east and south of the LLCC. At times a large, clear "eye-like" feature
could be seen in visible satellite images as the LOW hovered off the
south Queensland coast. Occasionally, the deep convection attempted
(unsuccessfully) to wrap around the western side of the centre.
Two distinct peaks in intensity were observed. The first peak
occurred at approximately 04/0600 UTC with the main centre of the LOW
(998 hPA) near 27.0S/154.8E. Low-level clouds in satellite imagery
depicted a vigorous surface cyclonic circulation with convection
along the southern eye wall. There were no observations near the
convective areas near the eye, but storm-force winds were reported
farther out. BoM estimated that winds of at least 60 kts may have
been experienced near the centre at this time.
The second peak occurred approximately at 04/2300 UTC with the main
centre of the LOW (995hPa) near 27.2S/154.2E. This occurred on
Sunday morning local time as the LOW edged slightly towards Brisbane
with strong winds induced by cold air northwest of Brisbane producing
a strong area of low-level warm air advection south and west of the
centre. Most of the wind damage occurred around Brisbane's eastern
suburbs and through Moreton Bay at this time. BoM reported high
inbound wind speeds in the southern quadrant of up to 55kts.
Subsequently the LOW accelerated to the east-southeast at 20 kts away
from the coast and started to fill. The final gale warning was issued
by BoM at 06/0600 UTC with the LOW (1000 hPA) located near 29.5S/160.0E
(approximately 380 nm east of Yamba). The LOW was subsequently captured
by the mid-latitude westerlies and accelerated across the Tasman Sea,
eventually washing out to the north of New Zealand on 8 March 2006.
A graphic depicting the track of this hybrid storm system may be
found at the following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/SOHEM/BT-IMAGES/2006-01Q.gif>
The operational track in tabular format may be accessed at the
following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/SOHEM/B-TRACKS/2006-01Q-BT.txt>
C. Synoptic Observations and Damage Reports
-------------------------------------------
The following notes and observations (slightly edited) were provided
by BoM:
(1) Wind and Wind Damage
------------------------
Maximum 10-min avg reported below:
Cape Moreton 53 kts (03/1430 UTC)
Double Island Point 49 kts (03/0430 UTC)
Spitfire Channel 38 kts (04/2256 UTC)
Inner Beacon 37 kts (03/1435 UTC) and (04/2200 UTC)
Banana Bank 36 kts (03/1530 UTC)
Gold Coast Seaway 36 kts (04/0800 UTC)
Point Lookout 53 kts (04/0500 UTC)
Ship near 25.1S/154.0E 180/52 kts (03/1200 UTC)
Ship near 26.7S/153.7E 180/52 kts (04/0900 UTC)
Ship near 26.4S/153.9E 230/55 kts (05/0000 UTC)
Wind damage affected many areas in southeastern Queensland. A
Counter Disaster and Rescue Service spokeswoman said volunteers had
been "flat out" as trees crushed houses and cars. A nursing home at
Kirra was evacuated when a tree fell on a unit. No residents were
injured. In Brisbane, residents of a unit block in Wooloowin and a
house in Chermside were lucky to escape when trees fell on their
properties.
Traffic accidents kept police busy and one vehicle crashed into a
house at St Lucia. Energex staff reported blackouts from 100,000
homes and businesses from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon. At
Mt. Tamborine and Bonogin boggy grounds hampered restoration efforts,
and in Beaudesert trees and branches continued to damage wires. In
Moreton Bay on Sunday, 5 March, boats were damaged and ripped from
their moorings. One of these yachts was found later in the week at
Noosa Heads.
(2) Landslide on Gold Coast
---------------------------
A landslide occurred at Burleigh Heads, where about 30 metres of land
shifted in a vacant Council allotment, eventually moving towards four
nearby villas.
(3) Waves and Storm Surge
-------------------------
The second highest significant wave height since 1976 was recorded at
the EPA's Brisbane wave recording station on Saturday (4 March).
Significant wave heights up to 7.2 m were recorded by an EPA wave
monitoring buoy located 0.5 nm southeast of Point Lookout, North
Stradbroke Island, while individual waves up to 15.0 m (and possibly
16.7 m) were also recorded. Significant wave heights of 5.4 m, 5.3 m
and 5.5 m were also recorded respectively at the Sunshine Coast, Gold
Coast and Tweed Heads wave recorders. These waves were the second,
fifth and third highest wave events at these sites.
Severe Beach erosion occurred on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts. On
the Gold Coast erosion scarps up to 2 metres formed along the beaches.
Waves surged up into walkways and an amount of beach fencing was lost.
The Elephant Rock car park was closed, full of sand. Large sections of
beach fencing (up to 100 m) were also lost at Miami and Mermaid beaches.
A significant storm surge occurred with storm water outlets blocked by
surging waves and this caused localised flooding of low lying coastal
areas such as Flat Rock Creek and Marine Parade at Kirra.
The Mayor of Redcliffe said there was a significant storm surge in
Moreton Bay. However, following the issue of the first Severe Weather
Warnings, sand bagging was carried out and this prevented large-scale
erosion.
Significant coastal erosion also occurred on the coastal side of
Fraser Island.
(4) Rainfall
------------
As the system remained over water, there was not widespread heavy
rainfall associated with this event. Some areas received useful rain:
24hrs to 01/2300 UTC
====================
Byfield (Capricornia) 123 mm
Samuel Hill (Capricornia) 110 mm
Tuan (near Noosa) 75 mm
Rainbow Beach 64 mm
24hrs to 02/2300 UTC
====================
Strathmay 113 mm
Kingfisher Resort 89 mm
Oyster Creek 73 mm
Carbrook 71 mm
24hrs to 03/2300 UTC
===================
Springbrook 169 mm
Tomewin 158 mm
Coolangatta 124 mm
Tallebudgera 91 mm
Gold Coast Seaway 80 mm
24hrs to 04/2300 UTC
====================
Springbrook 92 mm
Mt. Nebo 79 mm
Tomewin 63 mm
Coolangatta 60 mm
(Report written by Simon Clarke with significant input by Jeff
Callaghan of the Brisbane TCWC)
SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE LARRY
(TD-15F / TC-17P)
16 - 21 March
-------------------------------------------------
A. Introduction
---------------
Tropical Cyclone Larry was the first cyclone to make a major impact
in coastal Queensland in almost twenty years. The last cyclone to
cause significant damage was Tropical Cyclone Aivu (1989), and prior
to that Tropical Cyclone Winifred (1986). Larry crossed the
coastline close to Innisfail at almost the identical location as
Winifred twenty years earlier and subsequently cut a swathe of
destruction from the coast to the adjacent Atherton Tablelands,
eventually producing flooding rains across the Northern Goldfields
and Gulf Country of Queensland.
A preliminary report on Tropical Cyclone Larry, authored by the
Australian Bureau of Meteorology is available on-line at the
following URL:
<http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/cyclone/tc_larry/>
B. Storm Origins
----------------
An area of organised convection established itself in the
northeastern Coral Sea to the south of the Solomon Islands as early
as 16 March. A tropical LOW developed with increasing low to mid-
level organisation and flaring convection. Initially, the LOW
drifted slowly in a general south-southwesterly direction before
turning to the south-southeast and back again to the southwest under
the influence of a building upper-level ridge to its southeast.
Early stages of development depicted an elongated low-level central
circulation with a trough extending west of the low centre out to 300 nm
and two complex areas of consolidating convection. The system lay
underneath an outflow region in the upper-level subtropical ridge
which allowed very weak vertical shear and good outflow in all
quadrants. Hence, conditions were favourable for development. The
LOW consolidated, and by 17/1800 UTC had deepened to 995 hPa while
centered near 16.6S/157.6E, or approximately 680 nm east of Cairns.
The system was moving west-southwestward at 15 knots and was
officially named Tropical Cyclone Larry. (Editor's Note: At 17/0000
UTC the pre-Larry LOW just reached 160E and was assigned a tropical
disturbance number (15F) by RSMC Nadi, but as the system turned back
to the west and remained in Brisbane's AOR, the Fiji number is
essentially irrelevant.)
C. Synoptic History
-------------------
The Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane, issued its first Tropical
Cyclone Watch for coastal and island communities between Cape
Tribulation and Proserpine at mid-morning on 18 March (local time) as
it was clear that the cyclone would indeed move in an almost direct
westerly path due to solid mid-level ridging to the cyclone’s south.
The cyclone continued to intensify as it approached the coast,
benefiting from improved radial outflow and a low shear environment.
Hurricane intensity was attained at 19/0000 UTC with 65-kt winds
(10-min avg) about 480 nm east of Cairns (approximately 17.7S/151.1E).
A ship with the ELZI5 call sign reported ESE 41.7-kt avg winds at both
0900 UTC and 1200 UTC near 18.24S/154.42E and 19S/154.48E,
respectively. Larry continued to move westwards at 15 kts to the south
of Willis Island where radar and satellite imagery commenced picking up
Larry’s well defined eye (see Link 6 below). The eye passed to the
north of Flinders Reef where winds of 79 kts from the east were reported
at 19/2100 UTC. The cyclone eventually crossed the coastline at
Innisfail (17.6S/146.2E) at 19/2030 UTC (at 6:30 AM local time). Two
hours previously, the Bureau of Meteorology estimated that it had reached
a peak strength of 915 hPa with maximum 10-min avg winds of 115 kts.
[Note: This is where Category 5 starts on the Australian Cyclone
Severity Scale, which uses peak gusts as its measure rather than
sustained winds. This certainly caused confusion in the world-wide
media at the time with comparisons to Hurricane Katrina from the
previous Atlantic season. However, based on the Saffir-Simpson Scale
(which uses 1-minute average sustained winds), Larry would have
probably been a low-moderate Category 4 storm by US standards. A
complete comparison between the two systems can be found as a special
feature within the February 2006 Summary.]
As Larry approached the coast, satellite and radar imagery depicted a
significant increase in very strong convection in the northern
eyewall as the cyclone made landfall. This convection subsequently
wrapped rapidly into the southeast quadrant and came ashore to the
south of Innisfail, where some of the most severe damage was
observed. The eyewall subsequently malformed as it squeezed its way
onto the Atherton Tablelands between Atherton and Ravenshoe.
Larry progressively weakened as it tracked overland toward the west-
southwest at 30 km/hr (16 kts) for several hundred kilometers,
finally losing cyclone status at 20/1530 UTC near Iffley Station
(19.0S/141.2E), inland south of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Bureau
of Meteorology continued to issue Severe Weather Warnings as the
remnant system moved westward into the Northern Territory.
A graphic depicting the track of Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry may be
found at the following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/SOHEM/BT-IMAGES/2006-17P-LARRY.gif>
The operational track of Larry in tabular format may be accessed at
the following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/SOHEM/B-TRACKS/2006-17P-BT.txt>
(C) Observations
-----------------
The preliminary BoM Report at the following URL provides the most
salient observations recorded with the cyclone and also provides
further links to wind and pressure charts:
<http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/cyclone/tc_larry/>
Further observations can be found at the Australian Weather News
Website (see Links 6 & 7 below).
For the purposes of this report, it is not intended to reproduce any
further data here.
(D) Preliminary Damage Reports
------------------------------
Similar to Cyclone Ingrid in the previous year, Larry was not only a
significant weather event, but also a major media story, not only
locally, but globally following on from media focus on the prolonged
and damaging Atlantic hurricane season of 2005.
However, there was some criticism at the time that many people were
not aware that Larry was approaching until a very late stage.
Nonetheless, the fact that only 30 people were reported as sustaining
minor injuries is a testament to the quality of the warning system in
place to deal with such a cyclone.
Prior to landfall, evacuation centres were established in communities
between Innisfail and Ingham. An official disaster declaration gave
authorities the power to legally enforce evacuation if necessary.
Hundreds of people were evacuated from the small coastal communities
in the cyclone’s path, including tourists holidaying at resorts on
Bedarra Island and Dunk Islands.
Both Cairns and Townsville airports were closed and all flights in
the area cancelled. Ports were closed, with large vessels shifted to
sea to ride out the storm. Disaster response teams, thousands of
sandbags, and Australian Defence Forces Black Hawk helicopters were
positioned to provide assistance when needed.
Larry was a relatively small cyclone in size with the most
significant wind damage being confined to the stretch of coastline
between Cairns and Cardwell, and extending 110 km inland to Mount
Garnet to the west. The cyclone caused damage to houses,
businesses, infrastructure, crops and forestry totaling at least
AUD1.5 billion (USD1.1 billion). The eye of cyclone Larry crossed
the coast between Innisfail and Mission Beach, causing widespread and
extensive damage to housing, buildings and crops.
More than 1000 buildings were damaged by the cyclone, many of which
were damaged beyond repair. A breakdown of the structural damage
caused by Larry can be found at Link 1. The towns of Babinda and
Silkwood bore the brunt of the winds, as they were clipped by the
northern and southern portions of Larry's eyewall.
More than 120,000 homes lost power during the cyclone with many areas
without electricity for several days. More remote areas were without
power for several weeks. Road and rail transport was disrupted for
several days.
The initial cost estimate of damage to crops alone was estimated to
be as high as 1 billion (AUS) dollars. Between 90 and 100% of the
banana crop in the region, which accounts for 80% of the nation’s
supply, was wiped out by Larry. Sugar cane was also flattened in
areas in Larry's path, with much of the crop "snapped and ripped out
by the roots". The stack on the chimney at Mourilyan Sugar Mill was
toppled.
Larry crossed the coast at a neap tide, so the significant storm
surge and effects of the waves only caused the sea level to exceed
highest astronomical tide in a few locations and resulted in only
minor salt water inundation. Sea levels exceeded the predicted tide
by 1.75 metres at Clump Point, 1.76 metres at Cardwell and 1.54
metres at Mourilyan.
As Larry moved inland, heavy rains fell across northwestern
Queensland with totals approaching 600 mm in 48 hours in the region to
the north of Mount Isa. The rain caused rapid rises to major flood
stages and the highest river levels on instrumental record in the
Leichhardt River system. In the Flinders River basin to the east,
moderate flooding occurred onwards from 25 March.
At the time of writing, insurers have reported more than 18,000
claims as a result of the cyclone, and insured losses are expected to
exceed AUD350 million (USD225 million).
E. Displaced Cassowaries
------------------------
The following news item was obtained from a link to a press release
sent to Gary Padgett by Matthew Saxby. A special thanks to Matthew for
sending this interesting story.
"They have borne Cyclone Larry and weeks of torrential rain, but now
the luckless residents of Innisfail face a new dilemma, a posse of
hungry marauding cassowaries. The critically endangered and famously
testy flightless bird, known for its ability to disembowel humans with
its razor-sharp claws, is running amok through the backyards and
suburban streets of north Queensland in search of food.
"The birds are believed to have left rainforest areas after much of
the fruit-bearing plants they depend on were knocked down by Larry's
260 km/h winds. It is expected to be months before the birds' food
sources begin to replenish.
"Meanwhile, roaming cassowaries are reported to have chased several
residents through town. One recently fell into a backyard swimming pool
and had to be rescued. The people of Innisfail and surrounds have now
been warned not to feed the birds. Queensland Parks and Wildlife
rangers have set up food stations throughout the cyclone-affected region
to entice cassowaries back into the forests and save them from being
hit by cars or chased by dogs. At least six cassowaries have died in
the Mission Beach region, south of Innisfail, since the cyclone, all
struck by cars.
"The birds are vital to the survival of the World Heritage-listed wet
tropics rainforest because they are the only animals capable of
distributing the seeds of more than 70 species of trees whose fruit is
too large for any other forest-dwelling animal to eat and thus relocate.
There are less than 1200 cassowaries left in Australia.
"Rangers had to remove roadside feeding stations in the weeks after
Larry because too many of the endangered birds were being drawn to
traffic. Smaller birds found in suburban streets are being relocated
into rainforest areas. During the evening, hundreds of flying foxes
can also be seen hovering over Gordonvale, south of Cairns. The loss of
their regular food sources has led them to raid backyard trees in search
of fruit."
(E) Links
---------
Link 1--Bureau of Meteorology Official Report:
<http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/cyclone/tc_larry/>
Link 2--Alternative Report, pictures and in depth links:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Cyclone_Larry>
Link 3--Further satellite imagery:
<http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=13421>
Link 4--Satellite Imagery of Larry after landfall:
<http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=13431>
Link 5--Larry to the south of Willis Island:
Link 6--Larry - Synoptic and Satellite Details 19 March :
<http://www.australianweathernews.com/news/2006/060319.SHTML>
Link 7--Larry - Synoptic and Satellite Details 20 March:
<http://www.australianweathernews.com/news/2006/060320.SHTML>
Link 8--Complete Radar Loop of Larry:
<http://australiasevereweather.com/tropical_cyclones/2006/radar/tropical_cyclone_larry.gif>
(Report written by Simon Clarke with additions by Gary Padgett)
SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE WATI
(TD-16F / TC-18P)
17 - 28 March
------------------------------------------------
A. Introduction
---------------
Wati aroused much interest in Queensland as it emerged from the
northeastern Coral Sea on an initial path that was almost identical
to that of Cyclone Larry which had just cut a destructive path across
Australia's northeastern coastline. As events were to unfold, Wati
was eventually swept to the southeast parallel to the Queensland
Coast, passing between Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands before crossing
the North Island of New Zealand as a powerful extratropical cyclone
almost a week later.
B. Storm History
----------------
The cyclone was first identified as a westward-moving depression
(TD-16F) approximately 325 nm east of the northern tip of Vanuatu as
early as 17 March 2006. The depression moved westwards with
improving organisation as a result of decreasing vertical wind shear,
good equatorial outflow and high SSTs. By 18/1800 UTC, the
developing depression rounded the northern tip of Vanuatu before
entering the Coral Sea on a 15-kt west-southwesterly track. The
depression was upgraded to cyclone status at 19/1200 UTC by the RSMC
Nadi and named Wati as deep convection increased and became
superimposed over the LLCC. The developing cyclone was located near
15.9S/163.2E (about 300 nm north-northwest of Noumea, New Caledonia)
at this time.
Wati was initially steered to the west-southwest under the influence
of a large subtropical ridge to the south. Early development was
somewhat inhibited by the presence of Tropical Cyclone Larry to its
east, which restricted outflow on the southern periphery of Wati,
which in turn confined favourable outflow to the equatorward
direction.
As Tropical Cyclone Larry weakened overland, Wati's radial outflow
improved and the system intensified under low vertical wind shear
conditions. By 21/1800 UTC, the cyclone was located near 17.4S/
153.7E (approximately 400 nm east of Innisfail) and had attained
hurricane status (Severe Category 3 under the Australian Cyclone
Severity Scale). At this time Wati entered a weak steering flow
environment and become quasi-stationary before eventually being
captured by a major shortwave trough digging northwards from near New
Zealand. This trough induced a recurvature in Wati's track toward
the southeast parallel to the Queensland coast. Peak intensity was
achieved at 23/1800 UTC: 950 hPa and maximum 10-min avg winds of
85 kts near 20.3S/157.1E (approximately 460 nm east of Proserpine).
Soon afterward, Wati commenced extratropical transition due to
increasing vertical wind shear. The cyclone accelerated to the
southeast from 6 kts to 16 kts as it slowly lost both its embedded
centre and its convective organization due to the increasing
northwesterly wind shear.
Cold air was advected into the centre and the LLCC became detached
to the northwest of the sheared convective cloud mass. By 25/0600 UTC
Wati had undergone complete extratropical transition near 28.4S/
163.3E (approximately 460 nm east of Cape Moreton, Australia). The
storm remained a powerful 988-hPa extratropical system at this time
with winds estimated to 50 kts.
The extratropical Wati passed as close as 150 nm to the west-
southwest of Norfolk Island before sliding southwards and then almost
due east over the North Island of New Zealand. The system was
finally absorbed in the mid-latitude westerlies to the east of New
Zealand after 28/0600 UTC.
A graphic depicting the operational track of Tropical Cyclone Wati
may be found at the following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/SOHEM/BT-IMAGES/2006-18P-WATI.gif>
The operational track of Wati in tabular format may be accessed at
the following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/SOHEM/B-TRACKS/2006-18P-BT.txt>
(C) Observations and Preliminary Damage Reports
-----------------------------------------------
Wati remained an ocean-based storm throughout its life. The main
impacts of the cyclone were associated with the high seas and ocean
swells generated across the Coral and Tasman Seas. Battering waves
and large swells up to 5 metres in height affected the Capricorn and
Southern Coast of Queensland from 23 through 25 March.
Cyclone watch advisories were issued by BoM Brisbane for Lord Howe
Island and cyclone warnings were issued by the BoM Sydney for Norfolk
Island. However, Wati tracked almost midway between the islands
without causing significant damage to either.
Following extratropical transition, Wati maintained much of its
energy which was unleashed on the North Island of New Zealand on
26 March, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. The New Zealand Herald
reported high school students stranded near Whangaruru on Northland's
east coast after being unable to cross the rising Punaruku Stream,
15 nm north of Hikurangi. The 25 students and two teachers were safely
rescued without injury. Elsewhere, fallen tree branches caused minor
property damage.
In the 48 hours to 9 AM on 27 April, totals of 147 mm of rain were
recorded in Kaikohe and 143 mm in Kerikeri, with close to 100 mm in
many other parts of the region. Northeasterly gales affected exposed
parts of Northland on the 26 April with a gust of 76.5 kts recorded
at Cape Reinga.
(D) Links
---------
A satellite image of Wati in formative stages of development can be
found at:
<http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=13427>
Photographs of large swells on the Gold Coast whipped up by Wati can
be found at:
<http://www.swellnet.com.au/sessions/Gold_Coast_Mar25_01.php>
Interesting images of Wati undergoing extra tropical transition at:
(Report written by Simon Clarke)
*************************************************************************
SOUTH PACIFIC (SPA) - South Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 160E
Activity for March: 1 tropical depression
1 tropical cyclone of hurricane intensity **
** - system spent most of its life west of 160E in Brisbane's AOR
South Pacific Tropical Activity for March
-----------------------------------------
Three tropical depressions were numbered by RSMC Nadi during March.
The first of these, Tropical Depression 14F, formed on 13 March over
waters between Fiji and New Caledonia. This system formed in a region
of fairly high vertical shear and never became well-organized. Deep
convection remained sheared well east of the center and winds were never
estimated greater than 25 kts. The depression was slow-moving and
drifted generally in a southerly direction for 2 or 3 days, the final
reference in Nadi's Tropical Disturbance Summaries being at 2100 UTC
on the 16th. No track was given for this system in the companion global
cyclone tracks file.
A system moving eastward from the Coral Sea reached 160E and was
numbered Tropical Depression 15F before reversing direction. This
depression developed into the intense Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry which
dealt a very destructive blow to the Queensland coast. Tropical
Depression 16F formed on 17 March northwest of Fiji and began marching
westward where it strengthened into Tropical Cyclone Wati near Vanuatu
on the 19th. Wati continued westward as it intensified, entering
Brisbane's AOR as a 50-kt tropical cyclone at 20/0000 UTC. Since Wati
spent most of its lifetime and reached its greatest intensity west of
160E, the report on this cyclone was included in the preceding section
of this summary covering the Northeast Australia/Coral Sea basin.
*************************************************************************
SPECIAL FEATURE - SOURCES OF TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION
The purpose of this section is to list some websites where many and
varied types of tropical cyclone information are archived. Many readers
will know about these already, but for the benefit of those who don't,
I wanted to include them.
(1) Aircraft Reconnaissance Information
---------------------------------------
Various types of messages from reconnaissance aircraft may be
retrieved from the following FTP site:
<ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/products/nhc/recon/>
Information regarding how to interpret the coded reconnaissance
messages may be found at the following URL:
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/reconlist.shtml>
Links are also included to websites with further information about the
U. S. Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and the NOAA Air-
craft Operations Center.
(2) Archived Advisories
-----------------------
All the advisory products (public advisories, forecast/advisories,
strike probabilities, discussions, various graphics) issued by TPC/NHC
are archived on TPC's website. For the current year (using 2004 as an
example), the archived products can be found at:
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2004/index.shtml>
Links to tropical products archives for earlier years are available at
the following URL:
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastall.shtml>
JTWC warnings for past storms are archived on the NRL Monterry website:
<http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html>
On the NRL site, the link to past years can be found in the upper left
corner of the screen.
I am not aware at the moment of any other TCWC which archives all
its tropical cyclone warning/advisory products for public access, but
if I learn of any, I will add them to this list.
(3) Satellite Imagery
---------------------
Satellite images of tropical cyclones in various sensor bands are
available on the NRL Monterrey and University of Wisconsin websites,
courtesy of Jeff Hawkins and Chris Velden and their associates. The
links are:
<http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html>
<http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/tropic.html>
On the NRL site, the link to past years can be found in the upper left
corner of the screen. For the CIMSS site, a link to data archives is
located in the lower left portion of the screen.
Additional tropical satellite imagery, along with looping ability for
composite microwave imagery for the Western Hemisphere north of the
equator, can be found at:
(1) For the Eastern North Pacific:
<http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/trop-epac.html>
(2) For the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea:
<http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/trop-atl.html>
I'm sure there are other sites with available imagery available, and
as I learn of them, I will add the links to this list.
*************************************************************************
EXTRA FEATURE
In order to shorten the amount of typing in preparing the narrative
material, I have been in the habit of freely using abbreviations and
acronyms. I have tried to define most of these with the first usage
in a given summary, but I may have missed one now and then. Most of
these are probably understood by a majority of readers but perhaps a
few aren't clear to some. To remedy this I developed a Glossary of
Abbreviations and Acronyms which I first included in the August, 1998
summary. I don't normally include the Glossary in most months in
order to help keep them from being too long. If anyone would like to
receive a copy of the Glossary, please e-mail me and I'll be happy
to send them a copy.
*************************************************************************
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This summary should be considered a very preliminary
overview of the tropical cyclones that occur in each month. The cyclone
tracks (provided separately) will generally be based upon operational
warnings issued by the various tropical cyclone warning centers. The
information contained therein may differ somewhat from the tracking and
intensity information obtained from a "best-track" file which is based
on a detailed post-seasonal analysis of all available data. Information
on where to find official "best-track" files from the various warning
centers will be passed along from time to time.
The track files are not being sent via e-mail. They can be retrieved
from the archive sites listed below. (Note: I do have a limited e-mail
distribution list for the track files. If anyone wishes to receive
these via e-mail, please send me a message.)
Both the summaries and the track files are standard text files
created in DOS editor. Download to disk and use a viewer such as
Notepad or DOS editor to view the files.
The first summary in this series covered the month of October,
1997. Back issues can be obtained from the following websites
(courtesy of Michael Bath, Michael V. Padua, Michael Pitt, Chris
Landsea, and John Diebolt):
<http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/>
<http://www.typhoon2000.ph>
<http://mpittweather.com>
<ftp://ftp.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/pub/landsea/padgett/>
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/>
Another website where much information about tropical cyclones may
be found is the website for the UK Meteorological Office. Their site
contains a lot of statistical information about tropical cyclones
globally on a monthly basis. The URL is:
<http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/tropicalcyclone>
TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORTS AVAILABLE
JTWC now has available on its website the Annual Tropical Cyclone
Report (ATCR) for 2004 (2003-2004 season for the Southern Hemisphere).
ATCRs for earlier years are available also.
The URL is: <http://199.10.200.33/jtwc.html>
Also, TPC/NHC has available on its webpage nice "technicolor"
tracking charts for the 2004 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific
tropical cyclones; also, storm reports for all the 2004 Atlantic
and Eastern North Pacific cyclones are now available, as well as
track charts and reports on storms from earlier years.
The URL is: <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov>
A special thanks to Michael Bath of McLeans Ridges, New South Wales,
Australia, for assisting me with proofreading the summaries.
PREPARED BY
Gary Padgett
E-mail: garyp@alaweb.com
Phone: 334-222-5327
Kevin Boyle (Eastern Atlantic, Western Northwest Pacific, South
China Sea)
E-mail: newchapelobservatory@btinternet.com
Simon Clarke (Northeast Australia/Coral Sea, South Pacific)
E-mail: saclarke@iprimus.com.au
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
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