 Cyclone Damien at peak intensity prior to landfall on February 8 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | February 3, 2020 |
| Dissipated | February 9, 2020 |
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone | |
| 10-minute sustained (Aus) | |
| Highest winds | 155 km/h (100 mph) |
| Highest gusts | 220 km/h (140 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 955 hPa (mbar); 28.20 inHg |
| Category 2-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 175 km/h (110 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 956 hPa (mbar); 28.23 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | None |
| Damage | A$6 million |
| Areas affected | Western Australia |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2019–20 Australian region cyclone season | |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Damien was the strongest cyclone to make landfall on the Western Australian coast since Cyclone Christine in 2013 and the second-strongest cyclone in the 2019–20 Australian region cyclone season after Cyclone Ferdinand. The fifth tropical low, and the third named storm of the 2019–20 Australian region cyclone season, Damien originated from a monsoon trough over Kimberley.
As a monsoon trough began developing over parts of the Kimberley on 2 February 2020, the BOM noted that an inland tropical disturbance formed over the Northern Territory, within the monsoon trough. On 4 February, it exited land and emerged over the eastern Indian Ocean, and the JTWC named the disturbance Invest 92S. A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued early the following day by the JTWC as convection began to steadily develop near the center.[1] The next day, the JTWC issued its first advisory on the system as a tropical storm. Many hours later, the BOM followed suit, upgrading the tropical storm to a Category 1 cyclone and giving it the name Damien.[2]
In preparation for Damien, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a red alert from Whim Creek to Mardie going all the way south to Millstream Chichester National Park and a yellow alert from Port Hedland to Whim Creek stretching southwards to Wittenoom. Evacuation centers were set up in Karratha, and South Hedland. A search and rescue team was also stationed in Port Hedland.[2] Damien brought gale-force winds, heavy-extreme/torrential rain, and extreme floods to Western Australia when it made landfall close to Karratha at February 8, 2020. Wind gusts exceeding 205 km/h (125 mph) were recorded close to the landfall point. Over 230 mm (9.1 in) of rain fell in Karratha and Roebourne from 8–9 February 2020. Around 9,500 people in Pilbara lost power. Besides downed power lines, strong winds also uprooted many trees and caused many buildings to lose their roofs.[3][4] Karratha Airport was forced to close on the morning of 10 February 2020 after the terminal sustained damage and lost power.[5]
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (Invest 92S)". JTWC. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ a b "City in lockdown as Tropical Cyclone Damien looms off WA coast". www.abc.net.au. February 7, 2020.
- ^ "Cyclone Damien downgraded after WA's north hit with flooding, gale-force winds and storm surges". www.abc.net.au. February 8, 2020.
- ^ "Cyclone Damien tears off roofs, uproots trees". The West Australian. February 9, 2020.
- ^ "Karratha Airport damaged by Cyclone".