The 2002–03 Australian region cyclone season included Cyclone Inigo, which tied with Cyclone Gwenda in 1999 as the most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Australian region tropical cyclone, Australian basin. It began on 1 November 2002 and ended on 30 April 2003. The regional tropical cyclone operational plan also defines a ''tropical cyclone year'' separately from a ''tropical cyclone season'', which runs from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Australian region, which is defined as in the southern hemisphere between 90th meridian east, 90°E and 180th meridian east, 180°E. The season's ten tropical depressions existed within these dates, with the first, designated as Tropical Cyclone 07S, entering the basin on 27 December 2002. The last system, Cyclone Epi, dissipated on 6 June 2003. Tropical cyclones in this area were monitored by four Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs): the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia), Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) in Perth, Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin, and Brisbane and one in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Tropical cyclogenesis in the season began when a tropical low developed in the Arafura Sea on 5 January and last until 24 January, after meandering over northern and Western Australia. On 1 February, weakening Cyclone Beni entered the Australian region and brought severe flooding to Queensland, before dissipating on 5 February. Severe Tropical Cyclone Fiona formed north of Western Australia on 3 February and later peaked as a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone on the Tropical cyclone scales#Australia and Fiji, Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. Cyclone Graham developed offshore Western Australia on 24 February and made landfall in a rural area of that state on 28 February, producing flooding in the area. Tropical Cyclone Harriet existed offshore of Western Australia from 1 to 11 March. On 1 March, Cyclone Erica formed offshore Queensland and strengthened as it moved in a parabolic path, before leaving the Australian region on 12 March. Erica caused only minor damage in Queensland. Cyclone Craig originated offshore Northern Territory on 8 March. The system subsequently struck the territory and eventually made another landfall in Queensland on 12 March, after crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria. Impact from Craig was generally minor. Cyclone Inigo formed on 30 March and caused severe impact in Indonesia, especially in Flores, Sumba, and West Timor. Inigo later deepened into the most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Australian region, tied with Cyclone Gwenda in 1999. Inigo weakened significantly before striking Western Australia on 8 April and dissipating shortly thereafter. The final system, Tropical Cyclone Epi developed east of Papua New Guinea on 5 June and dissipated on the following day. Overall, the tropical cyclones of this season caused 60 deaths and about $12 million (2003 United States dollar, USD) in damage.

Seasonal summary

ImageSize = width:800 height:200 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:80 right:20 left:20 Legend = columns:3 left:30 top:58 columnwidth:270 AlignBars = early DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/2003 till:01/07/2003 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMinor = grid:black unit:month increment:1 start:01/01/2003 Colors = id:canvas value:gray(0.88) id:GP value:red id:TL value:rgb(0.43,0.76,0.92) legend:Tropical_Low_=_<63_km/h_(<39_mph) id:C1 value:rgb(0.3,1,1) legend:Category_1_=_63–88_km/h_(39-55_mph) id:C2 value:rgb(0.75,1,0.75) legend:Category_2_=_89–117_km/h_(55-73_mph) id:C3 value:rgb(1,0.85,0.55) legend:Category_3_=_118–159_km/h_(73-99_mph) id:C4 value:rgb(1,0.45,0.54) legend:Category_4_=_160–199_km/h_(99-124_mph) id:C5 value:rgb(0.55,0.46,0.9) legend:Category_5_=_≥200_km/h_(≥124_mph) Backgroundcolors = canvas:canvas BarData = barset:Hurricane bar:Month PlotData= barset:Hurricane width:11 align:left fontsize:S shift:(4,-4) anchor:till from:05/01/2003 till:24/01/2003 color:C2 text:"01U (C2)" from:01/02/2003 till:05/02/2003 color:C1 text:"Cyclone Beni, Beni (C1)" from:03/02/2003 till:08/02/2003 color:TL text:"Isha (TL)" from:03/02/2003 till:13/02/2003 color:C4 text:"Fiona (C4)" from:24/02/2003 till:01/03/2003 color:C1 text:"Cyclone Graham, Graham (C1)" from:01/03/2003 till:11/03/2003 color:C1 text:"Harriet (C1)" barset:break from:01/03/2003 till:12/03/2003 color:C3 text:"Cyclone Erica, Erica (C3)" from:08/03/2003 till:13/03/2003 color:C2 text:"Craig (C2)" from:30/03/2003 till:08/04/2003 color:C5 text:"Cyclone Inigo, Inigo (C5)" from:05/06/2003 till:06/06/2003 color:C1 text:"Epi (C1)" barset:break bar:Month width:6 align:center fontsize:S shift:(0,-20) anchor:middle color:canvas from:01/01/2003 till:31/01/2003 text:January from:01/02/2003 till:28/02/2003 text:February from:01/03/2003 till:31/03/2003 text:March from:01/04/2003 till:30/04/2003 text:April from:01/05/2003 till:01/06/2003 text:May from:01/06/2003 till:01/07/2003 text:June TextData = pos:(569,23) text:"(For further details, please see" pos:(713,23) text:"Tropical_cyclone_scales#Comparisons_across_basins, scales)"

The season began on 1 November 2002 and ended on 30 April 2003, while the regional tropical cyclone operational plan also defines a ''tropical cyclone year'' from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003. Eight cyclones entered or formed in the Australian region, which was below the 1970–71 to 2001–02 average of 13 per season. There was a major shift in tropical cyclone activity from the Australian region to the South Pacific, because of a moderate El Niño event. Only two cyclones occurred between 125°E and 150°E, which is east of Australia, and six formed between 150°E and 160°E. All of the tropical cyclone developed during Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) pulses or Equatorial Rossby wave, Equatorial Rossby (ER) pulses. Overall, the tropical cyclones of this season resulted in 60 deaths and slightly less than $12 million in damage. Activity began in December 2002, when Tropical Cyclone 07S entered the Australian region from the southwestern Indian Ocean basin on 27 December. In January, an unnamed tropical cyclone existed for more than three weeks over the Arafura Sea, Northern Territory, and Western Australia. The basin became more active in February, with South Pacific Cyclone Beni entering the area on 1 February. This was followed by the development of Fiona on 3 February and Cyclone Graham, Graham on 24 February; both formed north of Western Australia. Two tropical cyclones – Harriet and Cyclone Erica, Erica – both originated on 1 March; the former developed northwest of Western Australia and the latter formed east of Queensland. About a week later, 8 March, Cyclone Craig developed near the coast of Northern Territory. The strongest tropical system of the season, Cyclone Inigo, originated over the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia on 30 March. At peak intensity, Inigo had a minimum barometric pressure of , making the most intense tropical cyclone in the Australian region on record, tied with Cyclone Gwenda in 1999. Activity remained dormant until the development of Cyclone Epi on 5 June, which dissipated on the following day.

Systems

Tropical Cyclone 01U

A tropical low developed over the Arafura Sea on 4 January and strengthened into a tropical cyclone before passing near Elcho Island, Northern Territory. The storm then made landfall in Arnhem Land on 5 January. At 09:00 UTC, the system peaked with winds of . It meandered over Northern Territory and the Gulf of Carpentaria for a few weeks. The system remained inland until moving offshore Kimberley (Western Australia), Kimberley on 21 January. A Trough (meteorology), deep trough generated wind shear, which inhibited significant intensification. However, deep convection began to develop late on 24 January as it approached the north coast of Western Australia. Around 0300 UTC on 25 January, the storm made landfall near Port Hedland, Western Australia, Port Hedland with winds of . The system quickly weakened and dissipated by 12:00 UTC. Gale-force winds caused damage vegetation, trees, vehicles, and buildings in Elcho Island, Gapuwiyak, Northern Territory, Gapuwiyak, Maningrida, Northern Territory, Maningrida, and Ramingining, Northern Territory, Ramingining. Wind-driven waves at the mouth of the Rose River inundated workshops near Numbulwar, Northern Territory, Numbulwar. Torrential rains fell in the Roper River, Roper–McArthur River district, peaking at at Wollogorang Station, Wollogorang. A temporary evacuation occurred along the Waterhouse River at Beswick. Other rivers that overflowed inundated portions of highways such as the Carpentaria Highway and Tablelands Highway. After regenerating into a tropical cyclone, the storm brought up to of rainfall in a 24-hour period in the Port Hedland area. This caused the Yule River to overflow its banks, which flooded the North-West Highway. Operationally, the storm was thought to have been two separate systems and to have remained below tropical cyclone intensity.

Tropical Cyclone Beni

Beni originated from the South Pacific region in late January and its remnants crossed into the Australian region by 1 February. Upon reaching the Coral Sea, the remnants of Beni slowly began to redevelop. After strong convective bands formed, Brisbane TCWC initiated gale warnings. Located offshore Queensland on 4 February, the remnants of Beni regenerated into a tropical cyclone. However, strong vertical wind shear caused Beni to dissipated on 5 February, while situated offshore of Queensland near the city of Mackay, Queensland, Mackay. Heavy rainfall accompanied Beni and its remnants, reaching near Gladstone, Queensland, Gladstone. One person drowned due to the flooding rains. Runoff on the Fitzroy River (Queensland), Fitzroy River caused by Cyclone Beni resulted in a moderate flood with an estimated return period of four years at Rockhampton. The cyclone's heavy rains helped ease drought problems in Queensland. Nine shires in Central Queensland were declared disaster areas. Additionally, strong winds left power outages in Agnes Water, Queensland, Agnes Water and 1770, Queensland, 1770. Overall, Beni resulted in damages of at least Australian dollar, A$10 million (US$6 million) in Queensland.

Tropical Low Isha

Severe Tropical Cyclone Fiona

An area of convection began developing into a tropical low on 3 February, while located about north of Karratha, Western Australia. Poorly-defined convection was noted as well as good outflow (meteorology), outflow and a weak atmospheric circulation, circulation. The system drifted westward with minimal development until late on 4 February, when satellite imagery showed increasing convection near the center. Subsequently, the JTWC issued a TCFA for the system. With the developing low located in an environment of weak to moderate wind shear, TCWC Perth issued a warning. At 0700 UTC on 5 February, Perth named the system ''Fiona''. The JTWC issued their first advisory on Fiona about five hours later. Fiona strengthened steadily and reached tropical cyclone intensity at 0600 UTC on 6 February. Continuing to intensify, TCWC Perth upgraded the storm to severe tropical cyclone status early on 7 February. Early on 8 February, an eye became embedded within partial concentric convective bands. Later that day, TCWC Perth reported a peak intensity of at 1000 UTC. Shortly thereafter, the storm began weakening as dry air increased. By 1000 UTC on 9 February, TCWC Perth reduced the intensity of Fiona to . Deep convection weakened somewhat and the eye had become cloud-filled. Although the eye briefly redeveloped, water vapor imagery showed cooler and drier air entering the southern portion of the storm. Fiona began to turn southwestward as it neared the 90th meridian east, 90°E longitude. By late 12 February, Fiona weakened below gale force intensity. Moving steadily southward, it then re-curved south-southeastward along the 91st meridian east, 91°E. With the storm rapidly weakening, JTWC issued their final warning early on 13 February and Perth followed suit four hours later. The remnants of Fiona moved into the Great Australian Bight, leading to significant amounts of rainfall. The Eyre Peninsula and Adelaide recorded more rain in 24 hours than they had in 2002 and 2001 combined. The New South Wales saw major flooding events in towns such as Tamworth, New South Wales, Tamworth. Flooding also closed the Pacific Highway (Australia), Pacific Highway. Over 100 houses along the Gold Coast were damaged due to the torrential rains.

Tropical Cyclone Graham

In late February, an area of convection situated inland for roughly a week emerged over open waters along the northern coast of Australia. A tropical low formed on 24 February, and developed a Tropical cyclone#Background, banding feature by 25 February. Despite strong wind shear, the BOM began issuing warnings while the low was located several hundred kilometers north-northeast of Port Hedland. The disturbance was initially nearly stationary. At 0700 UTC on 27 February, the JTWC designated the storm as Tropical Cyclone Graham. According to the JTWC, the storm had intensified late on 28 February, though the BOM noted the slight weakening of the storm. Graham reached its peak intensity that day with winds of , while nearing the coast. The storm made landfall at Eighty Mile Beach, Western Australia at 1400 UTC on 28 February. Graham weakened and dissipated on 1 March. The storm dropped rainfall in Western Australia, with recorded at Telfer, Western Australia, Telfer. The heavy rain caused flooding and road closures, and swelled a river passing through Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, Fitzroy Crossing, though the river only topped its banks slightly. In nearby Blue Bush Creek, two men drowned as their group of people attempted to cross floodwaters. Both men were rescued, though one died before emergency services arrived. In addition to the flooding, a number of trees were downed.

Tropical Cyclone Harriet

A tropical low developed southwest of Christmas Island on 28 February. Perth TCWC issued a TWO on 1 March, which indicated an eastward-moving low. At 0600 UTC on 2 March, the JTWC initiated warnings on Tropical Cyclone 21S, estimating winds of . The system maintained a well-defined circulation, although deep convection diminished somewhat on 2 March. Later that day, Perth began issuing gale warnings on the low as it was expected to develop into a tropical cyclone. Moving eastward, convection increased near the center, though dry air inhibited much development. At 0400 UTC on 4 March, the TCWC Perth named the system Tropical Cyclone Harriet. On 5 March, JTWC briefly decreased the intensity of Harriett to , as deep convection diminished, probably due to persistent dry air. By late on 5 March, convection increased in coverage. Based on this, TCWC Perth upped their intensity to . Late on 5 March, Harriet moved slowly southward and curved west-southwestward. Although convection fluctuated, the cyclone maintained its intensity. After deep convection decreased slightly, the JTWC lowered the intensity of Harriett to . However, TCWC Perth suggested otherwise and on 8 March, Harriet peaked with winds of , while located over north-northwest of Carnarvon, Western Australia, Carnarvon. Early on 9 March, JTWC issued their final advisory on Harriet. The storm became extratropical cyclone, extratropical at 1000 UTC on 9 March, while located about west-northwest of Carnarvon. Strong winds from Harriet contributed to a large bushfire near Walpole, Western Australia.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Erica

A monsoon trough strengthened into a tropical low on 1 March. The low then significantly organized and was named Erica on 4 March, just offshore Queensland. Early on 5 March, the JTWC began classifying the system as Tropical Cyclone 22S. Moving slowly southeastward and then northward under the influence of a weak mid-level ridge to the east, Erica attained 10-minute sustained winds of . However, Erica soon weakened due to strong wind shear. On 7 March, the cyclone degenerated into a tropical low. After the remnants curved eastward and then southeastward, wind shear abated and became favorable for tropical cyclogenesis. As a result, the low regenerated into a tropical cyclone. After attaining the equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, Erica entered the South Pacific basin on 12 March. Severe Tropical Cyclone Erica was a powerful cyclone that severely affected New Caledonia and was considered the worst to affect the country since Cyclone Beti (1995), Cyclone Beti in 1996. Early in its existence while just offshore Queensland, the predecessor to Erica brought strong winds to the coast. Several trees were uprooted, and others were defoliated. Power lines were also damaged.

Tropical Cyclone Craig

TCWC Darwin began monitoring a tropical low that developed west of Darwin on 5 March. Early on 8 March, the JTWC classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 24S. At 0300 UTC on 9 March, the storm became Tropical Cyclone Craig, while situated northwest of Cape Fourcroy. The storm deepened and drifted eastward and then southeastward. On 10 March, Craig made landfall on Melville Island (Northern Territory), Melville Island with winds of . Upon emerging into the Van Diemen Gulf on 10 March, Craig peaked with sustained winds of . Craig struck the Coburg Peninsula and began to slowly weaken inland. The storm reached the Gulf of Carpentaria on 11 March, where it accelerated southeastward. On 12 March at 0600 UTC, the cyclone made landfall south of Kowanyama. After moving inland, the storm quickly weakened and dissipated later that day. In advance of the storm, tropical cyclone advisories were issued for communities between Weipa and Mornington Island. The government of the Tiwi Islands evacuated some residents to shelters. In the Darwin area, certain schools were closed temporarily as a precaution. Impact from Craig was generally minor. At Ramingining, of rain fell in just 24 hours. Storm surge ran on Goulburn Island and the Cobourg Peninsula, while tides were estimated at at Nhulunbuy. Strong winds at Maningrida and Kowanyama downed numerous trees, with one striking a house in the latter. Craig inflicted minor damage to small craft in the northwestern Gulf of Carpentaria. Throughout the region, roads were cut by the cyclone.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Inigo

An area of disturbed weather was located within the near-equatorial trough near Papua New Guinea in late March. Despite easterly wind shear, a tropical low developed on 30 March, shortly before crossing the island of Flores. Decreasing wind shear allowed the low to strengthen into a tropical cyclone while crossing the Savu Sea on 1 April. Later that day, the JTWC initiated advisories on Tropical Cyclone 26S. On 2 April, BOM classified the low as Tropical Cyclone Inigo. An eye (cyclone), eye feature gradually organized as winds increased to early on 3 April. As a result, the BOM began classifying Inigo as a severe tropical cyclone. Later on 3 April, low wind shear and strong divergence allowed the cyclone to undergo rapid deepening, rapid intensification as the eye became well-defined. At 0600 UTC 4 April, Inigo peaked with sustained winds of , according to BOM. Based on the pressure-wind relationship, it was estimated that Inigo reached a minimum barometric pressure of . Thus, the storm tied with Cyclone Gwenda as the most intense tropical cyclone in the Australian cyclone region. Simultaneously, JTWC indicated the Inigo peaked with sustained winds of . However, later on 4 April, increasing wind shear began to weaken Inigo. On the following day, the eye became cloud-filled and by 7 April, Inigo weakened to Category 2 status. Inigo made landfall in the Pilbara region of Western Australia on 8 April with winds of . The circulation dissipated within 12 hours after moving ashore. The precursor tropical disturbance dropped heavy rainfall in eastern Indonesia. In Kupang on West Timor, the system destroyed hundreds of homes and large fields of corn, bean, and rice crop. Heavy damage was reported near Ende, Indonesia, Ende, where flooding and mudslides destroyed 20 houses and destroyed the roads connecting to East Flores. In Ende, a total of 294 animals were killed. In East Flores Regency in eastern Flores, Flores Island, the system left 75 destroyed houses, along with 77 severely damaged and a further 56 receiving light damage. Damage in Indonesia totaled less than $6 million, and 102 injuries were reported. In addition, 58 fatalities were reported. In Australia, the storm dropped of rain in 80 minutes.

Tropical Cyclone Epi

In early June, an area of fairly persistent convection stretched from Papua New Guinea to just north of Fiji. Around 0630 UTC on 5 June, Epi developed near Woodlack Island, unusually close to the Equator. Initially, the storm appeared to be undergoing rapid deepening, prompting the JTWC to issue a TCFA. However, strong wind shear caused the system to quickly become less organized and the TCFA was soon cancelled. A very short lived cyclone, a Papua New Guinea warning during the late morning hour of 5 June placed Epi's center about northeast of Woodlack Island. Never recognized as a tropical cyclone by the JTWC, the third and final warning was issued later that day after winds fell below gale force.

Other systems

Tropical Cyclone 07S developed in the southwestern Indian Ocean on 25 December, while located about west-northwest of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cocos Islands. It initially drifted southwest and then turned eastward on 27 December. Around this time, 07S entered Perth's Area Of Responsibility (AOR). The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimated that 07S peaked with 1-minute maximum sustained winds of and a minimum barometric pressure of . The storm drifted erratically and by 1800 UTC on 28 December, the JTWC issued its final warning on 07S, while situated about west-northwest of Cocos Islands. However, TCWC Perth continued Tropical Weather Outlooks (TWOs) on the system until 3 January.

Storm names

TCWC Perth * Fiona * Graham * Harriet * Inigo TCWC Darwin * Craig TCWC Brisbane * Erica

Season effects

This is a table of all of the storms that have formed in the 2002–03 Australian region cyclone season. It includes their duration, names, landfall(s)–denoted by bold location names – damages, and death totals. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 2003 USD. , - , Unnamed , , , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , Northern Territory, Western Australia , , , , , , , - , Beni , , , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , Queensland, Solomon Islands
Vanuatu, New Caledonia , , , , 1 , , , - , Fiona , , , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , None , , , , , , , - , Cyclone Graham, Graham , , , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , Western Australia , , , , , , , - , Harriet , , , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , Western Australia , , , , , , , - , Cyclone Erica, Erica , , , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , New Caledonia , , , , , , , - , Craig , , , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , Northern Territory, Queensland , , Unknown , , None , , , - , Inigo , , , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , Indonesia, Western Australia , , , , 58 , , , - , Epi , , , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , bgcolor=#, , , Papua New Guinea , , , , , , , -

Notes

References

External links

Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)
.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology

{{DEFAULTSORT:2002-03 Australian Region Cyclone Season 2002–03 Australian region cyclone season, Australian region cyclone seasons Tropical cyclones in 2002, 2002 Aus Tropical cyclones in 2003, 2003 Aus