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[edit] Tropical Cyclone Alex
Tropical Cyclone Alex began on October 24, 2001 when the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) noted an area of convection developing southwest of Sumatra and north of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. On October 25, the JTWC relocated the disturbance further west as it became better organised. The JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the tropical low later that day. On October 26, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Perth issued a gale warning on the system, forecasting further development, and three hours later upgraded the low to Tropical Cyclone Alex, while located about 300 nm (555 km, 345 mi) northwest of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The JTWC issued its first warning on the storm at the same time. It moved slowly westward while upper-level wind shear prevented the storm from intensifying. However, late on October 27, the storm's deep convection had become better organised and Perth raised Alex's estimated 10-min sustained winds to 50 kt. Alex continued to move to the west-southwest, steered by a mid-level ridge to the southeast. Alex moved west of 90°E into La Réunion's area of responsibility early on October 28 and was renamed Severe Tropical Storm Andre by Mauritius. Alex-Andre at this time reached its peak intensity, with Météo-France estimating 10-min sustained winds to be 55 kt, while the JTWC estimated 1-min sustained winds to be 55 kt as well (see 2001-02 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season for the remainder of Alex-Andre's storm history).[1]
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Bessi
An area of convection developed on November 25, 2001 southwest of Sumatra. The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) on November 26 when the low continued to become better organised. At the same time, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Perth began releasing gale warnings for the storm, anticipating further development. Moderate wind shear hindered the low from intensifying, resulting with another TCFA issued by the JTWC on November 27. Shortly after, the JTWC issued their first warning on the storm, designating it 05S, while Perth upgraded the cyclone to Tropical Cyclone Bessi. At this time, the cyclone was located about 650 km (400 mi) northwest of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Bessi was initially moving westwards, but turned to the south as a mid-level trough weakened the subtropical ridge which was steering the cyclone westwards. Bessi reached its first peak intensity of 60 kt (10-min sustained) on November 28 while located 695 km (430 mi) west-northwest of Cocos Islands. It weakened thereafter as it moved into an area of high vertical wind shear. Bessi moved to the south-southeast on November 29, then curved to the west on November 30 while weakening to 40 knots. It moved west of 90°E, entering La Réunion's area of responsibility, and was renamed Tropical Storm Bako. Cyclone Bessi-Bako later reached its peak intensity of 65 knots as estimated by Météo-France (see 2001-02 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season for the remainder of Bessi-Bako's storm history).[2]
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Bernie
A weak tropical low developed in the Arafura Sea northeast of Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory on January 1, 2002. It moved slowly to the south into the Gulf of Carpentaria and intensified to Tropical Cyclone Bernie on January 3. It peaked in intensity early the next day as a Category 2 cyclone,[3] with wind gusts reaching 130 km/h (80 mph).[4] Bernie was moving to the southwest and started to weaken, before crossing the coast near the borderline between Queensland and Northern Territory early on January 5 as a Category 1 cyclone. It weakened to a rain depression shortly after[5] and continued to move southwards into the Barkly district on January 6.[3]
Early on January 4, Bernie was close to making landfall over Mornington Island, and cyclone warnings were declared between the Northern Territory border and Kowanyama in Queensland.[6] However, the cyclone warnings were shifted to the west later in the day for areas between Port McArthur in the Northern Territory and the Gilbert River mouth in Queensland.[7] As the cyclone neared the island, many residents in Mornington Island were moved to a more secure shelter. A few hours later, residents between Port McArthur and Karumba, Queensland were warned of a dangerous storm surge associated with Bernie.[8]
Mornington Island recorded more than 300 mm (12 in) of precipitation in a 24 hour period and experienced gusts of 100 km/h (60 mph).[9] A few houses in the island lost power.[10] However, only light damages occurred, and there were no casualties on the island.[11] The town of Karumba also experienced heavy damage, with the storm surge damaging the beach.[12] The towns Burketown and Doomadgee in Queensland were isolated for two weeks due to flooded roads.[13]
Pastoralists in the Gulf country were anticipating high rainfall from Bernie, but only received low rainfall.[14] Further south in Roma, Queensland, the rains helped lift up the prices in the cattle market.[15] People in inland areas of the Gulf country were hit by bushfires in November and December, 2001 and were anticipating the arrival of Bernie, hoping that it will bring rain to extinguish the fires.[16] However, Bernie delivered very little rain to the area.[10]
[edit] Severe Tropical Cyclone Chris
[edit] Severe Tropical Cyclone Dianne
Tropical Cyclone Dianne was named on April 7, 2002 while located near 12°S 98°E and moved to the southwest. A warning were issued for Cocos (Keeling) Islands when it moved to about 30 km south of the islands, however its winds did not reach gale force intensity. Dianne crossed the boundary at 90°E into La Réunion's areas of responsibility on April 8 and was renamed Tropical Cyclone Jery.[17]
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Bonnie
[edit] Tropical Cyclone Errol
|
Tropical Cyclone Errol
Tropical Cyclone 24S |
TS |
|
|
|
| Duration |
May 9 – May 15, 2002 |
| Intensity |
35 kt (10-min), 995 hPa |
Tropical Cyclone Errol was a late season storm that attained tropical cyclone on May 9, 2002. It did not last long, and weakened early on May 10, located about 600 km north of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Errol was operationally tracked as maintaining tropical cyclone intensity until May 14, however post-analysis indicated that the cyclone's winds were below gale force, therefore, it was not a tropical cyclone during this time. The remaining tropical low passed just east of Cocos Islands on May 15.[17]
[edit] References
