Systems 2003–04 Australian region cyclone season

1 systems

1.1 severe tropical cyclone jana
1.2 severe tropical cyclone debbie
1.3 tropical low ken
1.4 monsoon depression
1.5 tropical cyclone linda
1.6 tropical cyclone fritz
1.7 severe tropical cyclone monty
1.8 tropical cyclone evan
1.9 subtropical storm
1.10 tropical cyclone nicky–helma
1.11 severe tropical cyclone fay
1.12 tropical cyclone grace
1.13 severe tropical cyclone oscar–itseng

systems
severe tropical cyclone jana

formed on 6 december , dissipated on 12 december.

severe tropical cyclone debbie

formed on 16 december , dissipated on 23 december. crossed northern territory coast category 3.

tropical low ken

formed on 1 january 2004 , dissipated on 6 january. operationally monitored ken have reached tropical cyclone intensity 24 hours, post-analysis revealed ken never tropical cyclone.

monsoon depression

existed between 10 , 17 january. caused heavy rainfall across western queensland , new south wales.

tropical cyclone linda

formed on 28 january , dissipated on 1 february.

tropical cyclone fritz

a tropical low developed on 10 february in northern coral sea, within active monsoon trough. system developed rapidly , becoming tropical cyclone fritz when northeast of cooktown. fritz moved rapidly west, , made landfall on northern queensland coast winds of 75 km/h. storm lost tropical character crossed cape york peninsula , entered gulf of carpentaria on 11 february. low reintensified on favourable conditions in gulf, , reached peak 95 km/h winds near mornington island. radar imagery showed evidence of eye storm passed on island on 12 february. crossed on coast onto mainland australian , degenerated overland. remnant travelled on northern territory , western australia, before merging cold front south of perth.

cyclone fritz brought 309 mm of rain cairns area. led number of landslides, 1 of caused severe property damage in yorkeys knob. there flash flooding near innisfail when 74 mm of rain fell in 1 hour. fritz uprooted number of trees on mornington island, there no other damage there. there no casualties storm.

severe tropical cyclone monty

cyclone monty small cyclone formed off kimberley coast around 27 february 2004. monty strengthened category 4 cyclone moved parallel pilbara coast. cyclone made landfall near mardie station category 3 cyclone on 1 march. monty damaged several boats , caused isolated flooding.

tropical cyclone evan

formed on 27 february , dissipated on 4 march. crossed groote eylandt , northern territory mainland, causing flooding.

subtropical storm

a subtropical cyclone formed on 2 march , crossed coast in southeast queensland on 5 march, bringing heavy rain , strong winds. storm surge caused inundation along coasts.

tropical cyclone nicky–helma

formed on 8 march, moved west of region on 10 march, , renamed helma.

severe tropical cyclone fay

a low pressure system formed in gulf of carpentaria , moved westward timor sea; named tropical cyclone fay on 16 march. fay 400 km north of wyndham , 330 kilometres west northwest of darwin. there reports along kimberley coast of gale-force winds. on 21 march, cyclone fay intensified further storm approached scott reef significant damage occurred. looping towards kimberley coast, fay - category 3 system - approached within 90 km of broome on 25 march, before turning south-west. broome experienced strong winds gale-force gusts, heavy rain , heavy seas escaped serious damage.

fay headed further away coast on 25th before resuming general southerly track on 26th. fay crossed pilbara coast between pastoral stations of pardoo , wallal between 8 , 9 wst on 27 march category 4 storm estimated maximum wind gusts of around 235 km/h near center.

the cyclone weakened moved inland. little wind damage reported storm despite intensity made landfall in remote part of wa coast , consequently impacted sparsely populated pastoral , mining areas. system passed close yarrie mine translation speed reduced , 200 workers locked down 8 hours in 2 squash courts accommodation units overturned, water tanks shredded , power lines cut. fay appears have weakened below cyclone strength on sunday evening (28 march) between nullagine , telfer.

cyclone fay caused extensive flooding , considerable damage. fortunately, there no deaths.

tropical cyclone grace

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.

severe tropical cyclone oscar–itseng

formed on 21 march, moved out of region on 27 march south-west indian ocean region, renaming itseng.