 Cyclone Kirrily near peak intensity on 25 January | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 12 January 2024 |
| Remnant low | 25 January 2024 |
| Dissipated | 5 February 2024 |
| Duration | 3 weeks and 3 days |
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone | |
| 10-minute sustained (BOM) | |
| Highest winds | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Highest gusts | 165 km/h (105 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 978 hPa (mbar); 28.88 inHg |
| Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 978 hPa (mbar); 28.88 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | None |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, New South Wales |
Part of the 2023–24 Australian region cyclone season | |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Kirrily was a long-lived and strong tropical cyclone that affected East Australia and the Northern Territory during January and February 2024. The third named storm and severe tropical cyclone of the 2023–24 Australian region cyclone season, Kirrily developed from a tropical low that formed within the Coral Sea. The system gradually developed, being in a favorable environment for further development with good outflow, low vertical wind shear, and warm sea surface temperatures, resulting in the system becoming a tropical cyclone intensity. The storm peaked on 25 January as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 978 hPa (28.88 inHg). Kirrily made landfall northwest of Townsville, Australia. Kirrily weakened steadily as it tracked northwestward along the coast and was downgraded to a tropical low later that day. However, Kirrily remained traceable, as it moved westwards towards the Queensland region throughout the rest of January. The system only produced near-gale-force winds in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) determined that the low was not expected to redevelop into a tropical cyclone. Kirrily accelerated inland with the rainbands unraveling and warming cloud tops, until it was last noted on the BoM tropical cyclone outlooks on 3 February.
No fatalities resulted from Kirrily; the cyclone caused minimal damage near the area of landfall with some trees lost and minor roof damage. Heavy rainfall was recorded in some areas of Queensland but was low around the area of landfall.[1] However, the remnant low of Kirrily fed severe thunderstorms in Southeast Queensland, prompting a superstorm warning from the BoM.
- ^ Gillespie, Eden (2024-01-26). "'Like a ghost howling': ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily to bring heavy rain to Queensland as Townsville residents survey damage". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-02-05.