Cyclone Monica
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| This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Monica, often called Cyclone Monica, is a severe tropical cyclone in the Coral Sea and Arafura Sea affecting northern Australia. It is one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere.
| cyclone | |
|---|---|
| Formed | April 17, 2006 |
| Dissipated | Currently active |
Storm history
On Monday, April 17, TCWC Brisbane issued an advice on the newly formed Tropical Cyclone Monica in the extreme north Coral Sea. The system began to establish a westward track, reaching Category 3 on the Australian scale on April 18 and being declared a severe tropical cyclone. The very destructive core of Monica crossed the northern Queensland coast with hurricane force winds on April 19, weakening very little as it crossed the coast.
Monica moved off the Cape York Peninsula and reformed southwest of Aurukun on April 20. As it moved across the Gulf of Carpentaria, it strengthened and became the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide so far this year. On April 23, Monica made its second landfall on small islands northeast of Arnhem Land and the southern side of the storm affected the extreme northern part of Australia's Northern Territory, which is very sparsely populated. Cape Wessel recorded sustained winds to 70 knots (130km/h) as Monica came close.[1]
Monica continued to strengthen as it tracked just north of the coast. The TCWC in Darwin had reported a minimum pressure of 905 mbar at 5:00pm ACST (0730 UTC) on April 23. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued an advisory around 1830 UTC April 23 which reported that the sustained winds were 155 kt (180 mph) and, by Atkinson/Holiday wind pressure relationship, the central pressure was 879 mbar (which, if correct, tied the record for the Southern Hemisphere with Cyclone Zoe). Some estimated unofficial preliminary data suggested that this cyclone could have produced the lowest sea-level pressure ever recorded in a tropical cyclone, with a reported minimum pressure of 869 mbar, surpassing Typhoon Tip's 870 mbar record.[2] Both official[3][4] and unofficial[5] Advanced Objective Dvorak Technique (AODT) gave T8.0 at peak. This corresponds to 170 knots or 195 mph 1-minute sustained winds.[6] Senior forecaster David Alexander said Monica was probably the best developed cyclone he has seen.[7] Senior forecaster Gordon Jackson says it was definitely the most severe cyclone to affect the Northern Territory, worse than Cyclone Tracy which destroyed the city of Darwin in 1974. [8]Weather bureau spokesman Mike Bergin said Monica could be the most severe tropical cyclone ever seen anywhere along the Australian coastline.[9]
Impact
Queensland
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage though rain from Monica caused the worst floods in living memory in parts of far north Queensland. Residents from a Cape York Peninsula aboriginal community and at least three families from cattle properties have been airlifted to drier ground. In the wake of Monica, Cairns broke its April rainfall record of 550 millimetres (21.7 inches).[10][11][12][13]
Northern Territory
Most of the residents were evacuated or located in shelters, mainly in Nhulunbuy. The town escaped significant damage, however, as the storm track was well offshore. [14]
It is currently expected that Monica will continue to track to the west-southwest. It is likely that Darwin will face a direct or near-direct hit from Monica as a severe tropical cyclone. The area was last devastated by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. At 8:00pm on April 24 evacuation shelters throughout Darwin were opened to the public in anticipation of an influx of people later on the 25th. [15]
On 24 April the Darwin RSL cancelled all ANZAC Day services and marches in Darwin that were to be held the next day, to ensure the safety of prospective participants. [16]
All government and private schools in the Darwin/Palmerston, Cox Peninsula, Jabiru, Tiwi Islands and Litchfield rural region will remain closed on 26 April. [17]
Current storm information
At 8:00 pm ACST Monday, 24 April 2006 the Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning advising that the core of Cyclone Monica had just crossed the coast of the Northern Territory approximately 30km west of Maningrida, and was expected to gradually weaken as it tracked towards the west-south-west towards the Darwin-Daly region on 25 April in the afternoon. Wind gusts of up to 220 kilometers per hour are expected to be experienced in Darwin as the cyclone moves over the region.
At 0600 UTC April 25 (1530 ACST), its center is projected to be within 75 nautical miles of 12.6 S 131.0 E with sustained winds to 90 knots, equivalent to a category 3 on the Australian scale or category 2 on the SSHS. Monica is forecast to continue moving west and to be off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia by Wednesday.
See also
External links
- Tropical Cyclone Advice for Cyclone Monica
- Threat Map image for Cyclone Monica
- 24-hour forecast map for Cyclone Monica
- Ocean Wind Warning for Cyclone Monica