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Powerful Tropical Cyclone Debbie Makes Landfall in Queensland

Powerful Tropical Cyclone Debbie made landfall in Queensland on Monday night.  At 9:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Debbie was located at latitude 20.2°S and longitude 148.7°E which put it about 30 miles (50 km) east-southeast of Bowen, Australia.  Debbie was moving toward the southwest at 7 m.p.h. (12 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 943 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie intensified rapidly on Monday into the equivalent of a major hurricane.  A symmetrical eye developed at the center of circulation and a ring of strong thunderstorms surrounded the eye.  Bands of thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Cyclone Debbie.  Winds to hurricane force extend out about 40 miles (65 km) from the center.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 140 miles (225 km) from the center.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Debbie was 20.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 16.0 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 36.6.  These indices indicate that Tropical Cyclone Debbie was capable of causing regional major damage.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Debbie made landfall on the coast of Queensland between Bowen and Proserpine.  Debbie will bring strong gusty winds to the portions of Queensland in the path of the tropical cyclone.  Tropical Cyclone Debbie will cause a storm surge along the coast near and to the south of where the center makes landfall.  Debbie will also produce heavy rain as it moves inland and flooding could occur in some areas.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie will weaken after the center moves inland.  The core of Debbie will move across the Clarke Range and those mountains will speed the dissipation of the tropical cyclone.

Strengthening Tropical Cyclone Debbie Nears Queensland

Tropical Cyclone Debbie strengthened on Sunday as it moved nearer to the coast of Queensland.  At 8:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Debbie was located at latitude 19.1°S and longitude 150.4°E which put it about 155 miles (250 km) east-northeast of Bowen, Australia.  Debbie was moving toward the south-southwest at 5 m.p.h. (7 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 972 mb.

The primary rainband finally wrapped entirely around the center of circulation of Tropical Cyclone Debbie on Sunday and an eye formed.  The eye has a diameter of 35 miles (55 km).  A ring of strong thunderstorms surrounds the eye and the strongest winds are occurring in that eyewall.  Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms are revolving around the core of the circulation.  The circulation is symmetrical and well organized.  Thunderstorms around the core of the circulation are producing upper level divergence which is pumping out mass in all directions and the pressure is decreasing.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie will be moving through an environment favorable for intensification until it makes landfall in Australia.  Debbie will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  The winds in the upper levels are weak and there is little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Debbie will intensify until it makes landfall.  Since an eye has formed, Tropical Cyclone Debbie could intensify rapidly on Monday.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie is moving around a ridge over Australia.  The ridge steered Debbie toward the south-southwest on Sunday.  Debbie is expected to start to moving more toward the west-southwest on Monday.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Debbie could reach the coast of Queensland within 24 hours.  The landfall will likely occur between Ayr and Mackay with the highest probability of a landfall near Bowen.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Debbie is 11.5.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 18.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 29.8.  Those indices will increase as Tropical Cyclone Debbie strengthens on Monday.  Tropical Cyclone Debbie will bring strong winds, storm surge and locally heavy rainfall to coastal regions of Queensland.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie Moves Toward Queensland and Strengthens

Tropical Cyclone Debbie moved toward Queensland and strengthened on Saturday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Debbie was located at latitude 18.2°S and longitude 151.2°E which put it about 295 miles (475 km) east-northeast of Townsville, Australia.  Debbie was moving toward the west-southwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (155 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

The circulation of Tropical Cyclone Debbie continued to become better organized on Saturday.  A primary rainband wrapped around the southern and western sides of the center of circulation.  An eyewall appeared to be forming but there were breaks on the east side of the incipient eyewall.  Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of the circulation.  The thunderstorms were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass out in all directions.  The circulation is very symmetrical and winds to tropical storm force extend out about 190 miles (305 km) from the center.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie will be moving through an environment that is very favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Debbie will move moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  The upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Debbie will continue to intensify and it could intensify rapidly once a complete eyewall surrounds the center of circulation.  Tropical Cyclone Debbie will become the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Sunday and it could strengthen into the equivalent of a major hurricane before it reaches the coast of Queensland.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie is moving around the eastern end of a ridge centered over northern Australia.  The ridge is steering Debbie toward the west-southwest and that general motion is expected to continue during the next several days.  On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone Debbie could approach the coast of Queensland in 36 hours.  Tropical Cyclone Debbie could make landfall between Mackay and Rollingstone.  The greatest probability currently is for a landfall between Bowen and Townsville near Ayr.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie will bring destructive winds, storm surge and heavy rain to the coast of Queensland in about 36 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie Develops East of Queensland

The low level circulation of a tropical low east of Queensland continued to organize on Friday and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Debbie early on Saturday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Debbie was located at latitude 17.4°S and longitude 151.9°E which put it about 360 miles (580 km) east-northeast of Townsville, Australia.  Debbie was moving toward the southwest at 6 m.p.h. (9 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

The low level circulation of Tropical Cyclone Debbie continued to consolidate around the center of circulation on Friday.  Numerous bands of thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation and an eye-like feature appeared on satellite imagery at various times.  The structure of the circulation was fairly symmetrical, although there were more bands of showers and thunderstorms in the eastern half of Debbie.  Thunderstorms near the core of the circulation were generating upper level divergence, which was pumping out mass in all directions.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie is moving through an environment that is very favorable for intensification.  Debbie is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  The upper level winds are very weak and there is almost no vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Debbie should continue to intensify and it could intensify very rapidly once a well developed inner core forms around an eye.  Tropical Cyclone Debbie could strengthen into the equivalent of a major hurricane in two or three days.

A subtropical ridge over northern Australia is steering Tropical Cyclone Debbie toward the southwest and a general southwesterly or west-southwesterly motion is expected to continue for the next two or three days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Debbie could approach the coast of Queensland near Townsville in about 72 hours.  Debbie could be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it approaches the coast.