Cyclone Lam

Severe Tropical Cyclone Lam

Cyclone Lam at peak intensity on 19 February
Meteorological history
Formed	12 February 2015
Remnant low	20 February 2015
Dissipated	24 February 2015
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (BOM)
Highest winds	185 km/h (115 mph)
Highest gusts	260 km/h (160 mph)
Lowest pressure	942 hPa (mbar); 27.82 inHg
Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	185 km/h (115 mph)
Lowest pressure	943 hPa (mbar); 27.85 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	None reported
Damage	$78.1 million (2015 USD)
Areas affected	Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia
IBTrACS / [1]
Part of the 2014–15 Australian region cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Lam was the strongest storm to strike Australia's Northern Territory since Cyclone Monica in 2006. It formed from the monsoon trough on February 12, 2015 in the Coral Sea. For much of its duration, the system moved westward due to a ridge to the south. The system crossed over the Cape York Peninsula and moved into the Gulf of Carpentaria, whereupon it gradually organized due to warm waters and favorable outflow. On February 16, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) classified it as a Category 1 on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and gave it the name Lam. The storm intensified further while drifting toward the Wessel Islands, developing an eye and strengthening to the equivalence of a minimal hurricane on February 18. It strengthened to reach maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) early on February 19 before turning to the southwest, making it a Category 4 cyclone. That day, it made landfall on Northern Territory between Milingimbi and Elcho Island at peak intensity, and it rapidly weakened over land. About six hours after Lam moved ashore, Cyclone Marcia struck Queensland as a Category 5 cyclone, marking the first time on record that two storms of Category 4 intensity struck Australia on the same day.

In its formative stages, Lam produced heavy rainfall and flooding in Far North Queensland. Later, the cyclone's rainfall set daily precipitation records in Northern Territory. However, the winds caused the most damage, with gusts estimated as high as 230 km/h (145 mph). The highest gust was 170 km/h (110 mph) at Cape Wessel on Rimbija Island. Lam caused considerable destruction, particularly affecting local aboriginal communities. Total damage in the Northern Territory exceeded A$100 million (US$78.1 million).