Tag Archives: Northern Territory

Tropical Cyclone Nathan Making Landfall in Northern Australia

The center of Tropical Cyclone Nathan is moving inland near Nhulunbuy, Australia.  At 9:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Nathan was located at latitude 12.6°S and longitude 136.8°E which put it about 25 miles south of Nhulunbuy and about 90 miles north-northeast of Alyangula, Australia.  Nathan was moving toward the northwest at 8 m.p.h.  The maximum wind speed was 75 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 90 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.

The atmospheric environment around Tropical Cyclone Nathan is favorable for intensification.  The upper level winds are light.  The circulation is well organized and there is upper level outflow pumping out mass.  Outflow channels extend to the northwest and southeast.  However, as the center moves over land, the circulation will weaken.  The center is expected to cross the northeastern corner of Arnhem Land and move back over water in a few hours.  The potential for re-intensification will depend on how far away from the coast the center moves.

A subtropical ridge located southwest of Nathan is steering it toward the northwest.  The ridge is expected to continue to steer the tropical cyclone in that direction for another day or so.  After that time Nathan is expected to start moving more toward the west and eventually toward the southwest and make another landfall on the northern coast of Australia,

Nathan is strong enough to cause some wind damage.  It could also produce a significant storm surge near where the center is making landfall.  Locally heavy rainfall could create possible flooding at inland locations.

Tropical Cyclone Nathan Crossing Cape York Peninsula

Tropical Cyclone Nathan made landfall in Queensland and it is now crossing the Cape York Peninsula.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Nathan was located at latitude 14.4°N and longitude 142.2°E which put it about 75 miles west-southwest of Coen, about 80 miles north-northeast of Kowanyama and about 530 miles east-southeast of Alyangula, Australia.  Nathan was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 80 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 984 mb.

Nathan has been weakening as it moves across the Cape York Peninsula in Northern Queensland.  However, it is approaching the Gulf of Carpentaria and the center of circulation will soon be back over water.  The circulation is still mostly intact and it has well developed upper level outflow.  The water at the surface of the Gulf of Carpentaria is very warm.  In addition, the upper level winds around Nathan are very light and there is very little vertical wind shear.  So, the environment around Nathan is quite favorable for intensification and it is possible that a period of rapid re-intensification could occur.

A subtropical ridge is expected to steer Nathan in a west-northwesterly direction during the next several days.  The projected track would have Nathan making another landfall in the Northern Territory between Port Roper and Nhulunbuy in 24 to 36 hours.  If Nathan does reintensify it could bring strong winds and a storm surge to the coast.  It will also be capable of producing locally heavy rainfall and flooding in inland locations.

 

Tropical Cyclone Lam Moving Farther Inland and Weakening

Tropical Cyclone Lam made landfall earlier today just to the southwest of Elcho Island on the north coast of Australia.  Lam is continuing to move farther inland in the Northern Territory.  At 9:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Lam was located at latitude 13.1°S and longitude 134.4°S which put it 40 miles north of Bulman and about 75 miles south-southwest of Milingimbi, Australia.  It was moving toward the southwest at 10 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 90 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 985 mb.

Lam will continue to weaken as it moves farther into the interior of Australia.  The weakening will occur slowly because the circulation is moving over relatively flat terrain.  Lam could produce locally heavy rainfall and the potential for flooding along its path.  The winds and waves along the coast should continue to lessen and the water levels should decrease.

Lam and Marcia Equivalent of Major Hurricanes As They Affect Australia

Both Severe Cyclone Lam and Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia intensified rapidly during the past few hours and both storms are now the equivalent of major hurricanes.  Lam is making landfall on the north coast of Australia just to the southwest of Elcho Island.  The motion of Marcia has slowed, but it is approaching the coast of Queensland.

At 8:00 a.m. EST on Thursday the center of Lam was located at latitude 12.0°S and longitude 135.4°E which put it about 12 miles west-northwest of Galiwinku and about 35 miles east-northeast of Milingimbi, Australia.  Lam was moving toward the southwest at 5 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h., which makes Lam the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.  It was estimate that there were wind gusts to 160 m.p.h. and the minimum surface pressure was 963 mb.

At 8:00 a.m. EST on Thursday the center of Marcia was located at latitude 20.8°S and longitude 150.6°S which put it about 150 miles east of Mackay and about 160 miles north of Yeppoon, Australia.  Lam was moving toward the west-southwest at 7 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h., which makes Marcia the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.  It was estimated that there were wind gusts to 165 m.p.h. and the minimum surface pressure was 956 mb.

Both tropical cyclones are capable of causing significant wind damage.  They are also capable of generating a significant storm surge near where the center makes landfall.  Locally heavy rainfall and the potential for flooding exists, as the storms move inland.

 

Severe Cyclone Lam Approaching North Coast of Australia

Severe Cyclone Lam is located just to the west of the Wessel Islands.  It is moving slowly southwestward toward the north coast of Australia.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Severe Cyclone Lam was located at latitude 11.5°S and longitude 135.9°E which put it about 40 miles north-northeast of Elcho Island and about 75 miles northwest of Nhulunbuy, Australia.  Lam was moving toward the southwest at 5 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 120 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

Lam is moving over Sea Surface Temperatures that are warmer than 30°C.  The upper level winds are relatively light and there is little vertical wind shear.  Since the environment is favorable, some further intensification is possible before Lam makes landfall in about 12 hours.

Lam is expected to make landfall on the north coast of Australia just to the southwest of Elcho Island.  It is a strong tropical cyclone capable of causing wind damage.  A weather station near Cape Wessel measured a sustained wind speed of 80 m.p.h. and wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. when the eyewall passed over the station.  The intensity and slow movement of Lam are also creating the potential for a significant storm surge near where the center makes landfall.  The slow motion will also create the potential for locally heavy rainfall and flooding as Lam moves inland.

 

Severe Cyclone Lam Reaches Hurricane Intensity Near Wessel Islands

Tropical Cyclone Lam reached hurricane intensity near the northern coast of Australia and was upgraded to Severe Cyclone status.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Severe Cyclone Lam was located at latitude 11.1°S and longitude 137.0°E which put it near the Wessel Islands, about 80 miles north of Nhulunbuy and about 110 miles northeast of Elcho Island, Australia.  Lam was moving toward the west at 8 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 100 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 976 mb.

Lam remains over very warm Sea Surface Temperatures and the vertical wind shear is modest.  So, it has the potential to intensify further as long as the center remains over water.  A subtropical ridge is steering Lam westward and that motion is expect to continue for another 8 to 16 hours.  When it reaches the western edge of the ridge, Lam is expected to turn toward the southwest and it could make a landfall west of Elcho Island in 24 to 36 hours.  Lam is strong enough to pose a risk of a significant storm surge and it could also produce locally heavy rainfall and flooding as it moves inland.