Tag Archives: Tropical Cyclone Ellie

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie Causes Flooding in Western Australia

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie was causing flooding in parts of Western Australia on Wednesday. At 7:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday the center of former Tropical Cyclone Ellie was located at latitude 17.8°S and longitude 123.3°E which put it about 70 miles (110 km) east of Broome, Australia. Ellie was moving toward the west at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie continued to drop heavy rain over parts of Western Australia on Wednesday and major flooding was occurring along the Fitzroy River. Ellie dropped between 5.1 to 20.4 inches (200 to 800 mm) of rain over the Kimberley region during the past seven days. Major flooding was occurring at Fitzroy Crossing where the water level reached 52 feet (15.81 m). The Fitzroy River at Noonkanbah was 40 feet (12.31 m) and moderate flooding was occurring. The Fitzroy River was at 24 feet (7.26 m) at Willare and minor flooding was occurring.

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie was also bringing gusty winds to parts of Western Australia. A weather station at Broome Port reported a sustained wind speed of 39 m.p.h. (63 km/h) and a gust of 49 m.p.h. (74 km/h). The weather station at Broome Port reported a wind gust of 59 m.p.h. (95 km/h) a few hours ago. A weather station in Derby reported a sustained wind speed of 28 m.p.h. (46 km/h) and a wind gust of 32 m.p.h. (52 km/h). The weather station in Derby reported a wind gust of 55 m.p.h. (89 km/h) a few hours ago.

The circulation around former Tropical Cyclone Ellie was still very well organized. The strongest winds were occurring in bands of thunderstorms over water and near the coast of Western Australia. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern and western sides of Ellie’s circulation. Bands in the northern and eastern sides of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Ellie generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the former tropical cyclone. The removal of mass allowed the surface pressure to remain near 990 mb even though the center of circulation was over land.

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie is likely to remain nearly stationary near Broome during the next 24 hours. The bands of thunderstorms are likely to continue to drop locally heavy rain over parts of Western Australia. A Major Flood Warning remains in effect for the Fitzroy River. A Flood Warning is in effect for the West Kimberley District. A Flood Watch is in effect for the Sandy Desert.

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie is likely to maintain its intensity during the next 24 hours. About half of Ellie’s circulation will be over over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will be under the axis of an upper level ridge over northern Australia. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie is forecast to move toward the east-southeast later this week. Ellie is likely to weaken when the entire circulation moves back over land.

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie Meanders over Northwestern Australia

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie was still meandering over northwestern Australia on Monday morning. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of former Tropical Cyclone Ellie was located at latitude 17.8°S and longitude 127.1°E which put it about 320 miles (520 km) east of Broome, Australia. Ellie was nearly stationary. The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 993 mb.

The circulation of former Tropical Cyclone Ellie was still meandering over northwestern Australia more than ten days after it made landfall on the coast southwest of Darwin. The circulation around Ellie was still well organized. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of Ellie’s circulation. Bands in the eastern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. The thunderstorms in the western half of the circulation were dropping heavy rain in some locations. A Major Flood Warning was in effect for the Fitzroy River. A Flood Warning was in effect for the West Kimberley District.

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over Australia. The high pressure system will steer Ellie slowly toward the west during the next 48 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of former Tropical Cyclone Ellie could move back over water near Broome later this week. If the center moves over water, then Ellie will be in an environment favorable for intensification. Ellie will move over over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will be under the axis of an upper level ridge over northern Australia. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Ellie could strengthen back to a tropical cyclone if the center moves back over water later this week.

Tropical Cyclone Darian Intensifies to Nearly Equivalent of Cat. 5 Hurricane

Tropical Cyclone Darian intensified to nearly the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Friday. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Darian was located at latitude 12.4°S and longitude 83.6°E which put it about 850 miles (1375 km) east-southeast of Diego Garcia. Darian was moving toward the west at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 190 m.p.h. (305 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 920 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Darian appeared to go through an eyewall replacement cycle on Thursday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the original eye and eyewall. Two concentric eyewalls were evident on some microwave satellite images. Darian weakened during the eyewall replacement cycle. The original inner eyewall eventually dissipated and Tropical Cyclone Darian intensified rapidly on Friday. The new eyewall contracted around the center of Darian and a small eye was at the center of circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Cyclone Darian. Storm near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.

The size of Tropical Cyclone Darian increased after the eyewall replacement cycle. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Darian. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 185 miles (295 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Darian was 33.3. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 20.7 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 54.0.

Tropical Cyclone Darian will move through an environment favorable for a strong tropical cyclone during the next 24 hours. Darian will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Darian could maintain its intensity during the next 24 hours. If the inner end of a rainband wraps around the existing eye and eyewall, then another eyewall replace cycle could begin. An eyewall replacement cycle would cause Darian to weaken again.

An upper level trough west of Australia will strengthen during the next 36 hours. Northwesterly winds blowing around the western side of the trough will steer Tropical Cyclone Darian toward the south-southeast during that time period. On its anticipated track Darian will move farther away from Diego Garcia.

Elsewhere, Tropical Cyclone Ellie dropped locally heavy rain over parts of the Northern Territory in Australia. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ellie was located at latitude 15.8°S and longitude 131.0°E which put it about 150 miles (240 km) north-northwest of Daly Waters, Australia. Ellie was moving toward the south-southeast at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Ellie Makes Landfall in Northwest Australia

Tropical Cyclone Ellie made landfall on the coast of northwestern Australia on Thursday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ellie was located at latitude 14.6°S and longitude 130.2°E which put it about 130 miles (210 km) south-southwest of Darwin, Australia. Ellie was moving toward the south-southeast at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

A Tropical Cyclone Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Daly River Mouth to the border between the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

A low pressure system over the Timor Sea near the northwest coast of Australia strengthened on Thursday and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Ellie. Tropical Cyclone Ellie made landfall on the coast south-southwest of Darwin within a few hours of being designated as a tropical cyclone. Ellie was the equivalent of a tropical storm at the time of landfall. The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). Winds to tropical storm force extended out 85 miles (135 km/h).

Tropical Cyclone Ellie will move toward the south-southeast during the next 24 hours. Ellie will move farther inland over the western part of the Northern Territory of Australia. Tropical Cyclone Ellie will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the western parts of the Northern Territory. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Flood Watches were in effect for the Carpentaria Coastal Rivers, the Bonaparte Coastal Rivers, the North West Coastal Rivers, and Inland Northern Territory Catchments.

Elsewhere, Tropical Cyclone Darian was moving toward the west over the South Indian Ocean. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Darian was located at latitude 12.8°S and longitude 85.4°E which put it about 985 miles (1590 km) east-southeast of Diego Garcia. Darian was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 145 m.p.h. (235 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 961 mb.