Tropical Cyclone Grace 2003–04 Australian region cyclone season

grace remembered effects prior reaching cyclone status rather during life officially named tropical cyclone. multi-centred tropical low formed adjacent north queensland tropical coast near cooktown 20 march within active monsoon trough stretched across northern coral sea , cape york peninsula toward new caledonia, , had subtropical appearance. on ensuing days, northernmost circulation became dominant , moved east southeast of equatorward ridge. 21/1820 utc became second named tropical cyclone of queensland s , named grace.

grace moved toward southeast @ 15 20 knots (37 km/h). general motion continue remainder of cyclone s life. grace peaked in intensity @ 985 hpa maximum sustained winds of 50 knots (93 km/h) near 20.3s/155.9e @ 22/0000 utc. intensity maintained approximately 6 hours. thereafter, grace began undergo extratropical transition increasingly asymmetric wind field due squeeze surface ridge south. grace rapidly lost entire upper-level structure , downgraded @ 23/1800 utc tropical cyclone status when located approximately 400 nautical miles (740 km) east-northeast of sandy cape (23.6s/162.3e). remnant surface wind field of system meandered east , east-northeast on following days, producing broad area of gales south through tasman sea. highest three-day rainfall amounts grace 759 mm topaz, received 372 mm in 24 hours. strongest winds mainland low isle @ 18/1311 utc when gusts reached 50 knots (93 km/h). cape moreton @ 21 march 2004 2230 utc received gusts 54 knots (100 km/h). widespread flooding , damage roads , property along far north queensland coast, between cooktown , cairns. winds , waves brought tide levels above highest tides of year , particularly evident @ cooktown. floodwaters closed major roads cairns. large section of 1 lane of captain cook highway north of cairns collapsed after landslide consisting of 20 metres of rock , boulders size of cars destroyed ocean-side road. scenic coastal highway , link between cairns , port douglas closed several days. residents evacuated whitfield range area due landslides. estimated $20,000,000 (us) damage cairns region attributed pre-cyclone grace. there no casualties associated tropical cyclone grace. in new caledonia, further strong winds, heavy rains , flooding experienced. massive oil slick threatened popular tourist beach in new caledonia. officials in french pacific territory put barriers around island of amedee, threatened toxic oil slick, estimated cover area of 20 square kilometres. said oil had come boat wrecked several decades ago on coral reef off south province.