2007-08 Australian region cyclone season
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The 2007-08 Australian region cyclone season is an event in the ongoing cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started on November 1, 2007, and will end on April 30, 2008. However, the formation of a tropical cyclone on July 27, 2007 marked an earlier beginning to the season. The regional tropical cyclone operational plan also defines a "tropical cyclone year" separately from a "tropical cyclone season"; the "tropical cyclone year" began on July 1, 2007 and will end on June 30, 2008. The scope of the Australian region is limited to all areas south of the equator, east of 90°E and west of 160°E. This area includes Australia, Papua New Guinea, western parts of the Solomon Islands, East Timor and southern parts of Indonesia. Tropical cyclones in this area are monitored by five Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs): the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane; TCWC Jakarta in Indonesia; and TCWC Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.[1] The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre issues unofficial warnings for the region, designating tropical depressions with the "S" suffix when they form west of 135°E, and the "P" suffix when they form east of 135°E. StormsUnnamed Tropical Cyclone
An area of low pressure on the edge of the area of responsibility with Perth formed into tropical disturbance on July 29. Although no advisory was issued it was monitored and designated a number[2] by Meteo-France. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center had issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert [3] on the developing system a day earlier, and began warnings on Tropical Cyclone 01S later on July 29 with the storm estimated to be centred within Perth's region. The cyclone began to dissipate early on July 30, with the JTWC discontinuing advisories later that day [4] and the Bureau of Meteorology issuing its last warning the next day. The Bureau of Meteorology upgraded the disturbance to a tropical cyclone in its post-storm analysis, with maximum 10-min sustained winds of 75 km/h (45 mph) based on QuikSCAT observations. The cyclone's intensity was estimated to have reached cyclone intensity from July 29 to July 30. The cyclone is the second on record to exist in the Western Australian region in July, the other being Cyclone Lindsay in 1996.[5] Severe Tropical Cyclone Guba
The Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Brisbane began issuing warnings on a developing tropical low located near the southern Papua New Guinea mainland on November 13, 2007,[6] while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the storm.[7] Later that day, the JTWC issued its first advisory, designating the low as Tropical Cyclone 02P.[8] TCWC Brisbane initiated tropical cyclone advices on the tropical low early on November 14, with a cyclone watch declared for the northern coastal and island communities in the Cape York Peninsula. Shortly after, TCWC Brisbane upgraded the system to Tropical Cyclone Guba, a name assigned by the TCWC in Port Moresby.[9] The name Guba is a boy's name in Papua New Guinea meaning 'a rain squall on the sea'.[10] Guba drifted erratically off the Queensland coast for the next two days, and cyclone warnings were cancelled when TCWC Brisbane expected the cyclone to remain slow-moving. Guba began drifting southwards and intensified on November 16, becoming a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone. Guba was a small, but intense system, forming a well-defined eye. Guba began weakening on November 17 and was downgraded to a Category 2. After downgraded to a Category 1 cyclone on November 18, it started to accelerate to the west towards the Queensland coast. Cyclone watches and warnings were declared again on November 19 as the cyclone was expected to move closer to the coast and intensify. This did not materialise, however, as Guba then turned northwards later that day, avoiding the Australian mainland, then northeast while it continued to weaken. TCWC Brisbane downgraded Guba below tropical cyclone strength, and issued its last advisory early on November 20. Flooding in Papua New Guinea led to at least 150 deaths.[11] In the Oro Province, about 2,000 people were evacuated as a result of the flooding.[12] Roads, bridges and 40 houses were washed away, as tides in the area reached two metres high.[13] The provincial capital, Popondetta, had its water supply shut down, and Papua New Guinea's national airline, Air Niugini, suspended flights to Popondetta's main airport. The Rabaraba district in Milne Bay Province was also hit by flooding, with 30 houses and food gardens washed away, and forcing the evacuation of about 100 people.[12] The government in Papua New Guinea reported that an estimated 145,000 people were affected from the flooding in Oro Province.[14] Six days of torrential rain led to a damage total of 200 million kina ($71.4 million USD). The government has declared the Oro Province a state of emergency. The government in Papua New Guinea has given 50 million kina to help the province's communities. The Papua New Guinea Defence Force and local United Nations officials will assist in the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.[13] Australia donated AUD$1 million in humanitarian relief to the affected regions. Five Royal Australian Air Force aircraft and three Australian Army helicopters will be sent to Papua New Guinea to assist in the relief; along with supplies which include water purification tablets, water containers, emergency shelters, blankets and generators. The AusAID organised a mission to assess the damage to infrastructure and to report priority relief needs.[15] Guba was the first tropical cyclone to be assigned a name from Port Moresby's name lists since Tropical Cyclone Epi in 2003. It is the first cyclone to occur in the Queensland region in the month of November since 1977.[16] Tropical Cyclone Lee-Ariel
On November 13, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Perth began issuing warnings on a developing tropical low which was located within the area of responsibility of TCWC Jakarta.[17] On November 14, TCWC Perth upgraded the Tropical Low to Tropical Cyclone Lee, while the cyclone was still in TCWC Jakarta's area of responsibility.[18] Later that day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on Tropical Cyclone Lee,[19] and then designated the storm as Tropical Cyclone 03S shortly after.[20] The TCWC in Perth upgraded Lee to a Category 2 on November 15. Later that day, TCWC Perth issued its final advisory on Lee as it crossed west of 90°E,[21] and the system was renamed Severe Tropical Storm Ariel by the Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Mauritius; see 2007-08 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season.[22] Tropical Low (ex Tropical Cyclone Dama)
On December 18, a Tropical Depression in the southwest Indian Ocean was named Moderate Tropical Storm Dama, monitored by Météo France. The system then moved southeast, entering the area of responsibility of Perth's Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, east of 90°E. The storm however, was not at Tropical Cyclone strength when it crossed the area, but was still a tropical depression, in which the Perth TCWC began issuing shipping warnings. Tropical Cyclone Melanie
On December 27, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Perth identified a Tropical Low near 11.2°S and 117.2°E, and began issuing shipping warnings for the developing system.[23] Early on December 28, the TCWC in Perth upgraded the tropical low to a tropical cyclone and named it Melanie.[24] The cyclone moved southwards, then turned to the southwest on December 29 and strengthened to a Category 2 (Australian scale).[25] Cyclone watches and warnings were issued for the Pilbara coast. On December 30 Melanie began to weaken and become less organized. Melanie continued to weaken and the system was downgraded to Category 1 status on December 31. Continued weakening took place thereafter and it weakened below cyclone status early on January 2, when the final advisory was issued.[26] Tropical Low (WA)
On December 31, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Perth identified a Tropical Low north-northwest of the Cocos Islands, and began issuing shipping warnings. [27] The low then moved southwest for the next few days, where it proceeded to enter an area of high vertical Wind Shear, and began to rapidly weaken. The TCWC issued its final shipping warning on January 2. [28] Tropical Cyclone Helen
On January 3 the TCWC in Darwin, Australia, identifed a Tropical low, located near the edge of their Area of Responsabilty, with TCWC Perth, which had formed over land and had moved into the Timor Sea. [29] Later that day a TCFA was issued by the JTWC who then upgraded the low to a Tropical Cyclone designating the cyclone 10S later that day. [30] [31] Early on January 4 TCWC Darwin then upgraded the low to Tropical Cyclone Helen [32]. Tropical Cyclone Helen reached its peak intensity later that day of 50 knots. [33] It then started to weaken due to interaction with land with it weakening in to a tropical low on January 5 as it had become less orgainsed. [34]. on January 6 the JTWC issued its final warning on Tropical Cyclone Helen, [35] and then later that day TCWC Darwin followed suit and issued its final advisory on Tropical Low Ex-Helen as it approached TCWC Brisbane's Area of Responsibility. [36] Tropical Low (17S)
On February 4, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Perth identified a Tropical Low near 15.4°S and 101.5°E, and began issuing shipping warnings.[37] On February 7, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued its first advisory, designating the low as Tropical Cyclone 17S.[38] On February 10 Tropical Cyclone Warning Center Perth and Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued their final advisory on the system.[39] Severe Tropical Cyclone Nicholas
On February 10, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Perth identified a Tropical Low near 16.0°S and 124.7°E, and began issuing tropical cyclone advices on the system.[40] On February 12, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing system.[41] Later in the day, the JTWC issued its first advisory, designating it as Tropical Cyclone 19S.[42] Early on February 13, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Perth upgraded the tropical low to a tropical cyclone and named it "Nicholas".[43] On February 16, Nicholas was upgraded to a Severe Tropical Cyclone,[44] but it was downgraded back to a tropical cyclone on February 18.[45] Nicholas squirmed around Western Australia before finally making landfall north of Carnarvon on February 20.[46] Once inland, TCWC Perth discontinued advisories.[47] Tropical Cyclone Ophelia
On February 27, 2008 the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Darwin identified a Tropical Low near the Northern Territory, and began issuing tropical cyclone advices on the system.[48] On February 29, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the developing system.[49] On March 1, the JTWC issued their first warning on Tropical Cyclone 21S.[50] The low moved into TCWC Perth's area of responsiblity during the day. The low strengthened as it moved off the Kimberley coast, and was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Ophelia by TCWC Perth.[51] Ophelia intensified to a Category 2 cyclone on the Australian scale early on March 2. The JTWC briefly upgraded Ophelia to a Category 1 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale later that day, but was downgraded to a tropical storm on the next advisory. Other stormsTropical Cyclone 20P
On February 28, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on an area of disturbed weather northeast of Australia.[52] The next day, the JTWC issued its first advisory on the Tropical Cyclone 20P.[53] Later that day, the JTWC issued its final advisory on the system noting the storm was becoming extratropical.[54]. Tropical Cyclone Warning Center Brisbane noted this system as a Tropical Low with a central pressure of 999 hPa but no Shipping Warnings were released. [55] Timeline of recent eventsFebruary
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