Cyclone John

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For the 1989 storm, see
Cyclone John (1989)
.

Severe Tropical Cyclone John
1999–00 Australian region cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone John was an intense

Whim Creek
early on 15 December. Increasingly unfavourable conditions further inland resulted in the cyclone's rapid weakening, before it dissipated during the next day.

Cyclone John extensively affected areas of Western Australia, but damage was not as bad as expected. Widespread

retired
from the Australian tropical cyclone naming list.

Meteorological history

A map of a path across the eastern Indian Ocean near Australia. Most of the country can be seen in the right side of the image. Some of the Indonesian islands are visible at the top.
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

In early December, a

subtropical ridge to the east over Australia, Cyclone John was forecast to generally move in a south-southwestward direction.[4]

Steadily intensifying, the cyclone attained Category 3 cyclone intensity on the

barometric pressure of 915 mbar (27.0 inHg).[5]

However, after peak intensity, dry air began to become wrapped into the northwestern quadrant of the system. Moving towards the Australian coastline, radar imagery from

landfall near Whim Creek, Western Australia at 0030 UTC on 15 December with a minimum central pressure between 930 and 940 mbar (27.46–27.46 inHg),[6] and around 30 minutes later had maximum 10–minute sustained winds of 85 knots (155 km/h; 100 mph). The entirety of the cyclone's eye crossed the coast by 0200 UTC as the storm moved further inland into an area of wind shear and dry air, which caused it to rapidly weaken. The cyclone was last noted by TCWC Perth and the JTWC on 16 December as it dissipated overland.[1]

Preparations and impact

Picture of a red, pentagonal building.
The Whim Creek pub in 2008, which was damaged by Cyclone John

Prior to Cyclone John's landfall, hundreds of people were evacuated from homes, primarily in

Point Samson, 500 people evacuated to shelters in Wickham, Western Australia.[9] TCWC Perth began issuing hourly warnings for potentially affected areas beginning at 1400 UTC on 14 December.[4] As the storm made landfall, some residents of Whim Creek took refuge in a shipping container.[9]

Strong winds from the cyclone caused widespread

palm trees due to strong winds.[8] In Whim Creek, where the cyclone had made landfall, the top floor of a 113-year-old pub and hotel was destroyed.[4] A temporary roof made up of tarpaulins later collapsed in a flood event the following month.[10] 140 windmills between Whim Creek and Newman were destroyed by the cyclone.[11]

Offshore, 220 

retired from the Australian tropical cyclone naming list.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Paterson, Linda A.; Bate, Peter W. (2001). "The South Pacific and southeast Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season 1999-2000" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine. 50. Australian Bureau of Meteorology: 127. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Western Australia Tropical Cyclone Season Summary 1999-2000". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 1 January 2013. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "SH02 Best Track". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Smith, Carl; Padgett, Gary. "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary December 1999". Australiansevereweather.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Tracks December 1999". Australiansevereweather.com. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Center. "Tropical Cyclone John" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Cyclone John lashes Australia". BBC News. 15 December 1999. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Record cyclone batters northwestern Australia". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Perth, Australia. Associated Press. 16 December 1999. p. A6. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  9. ^
    Independent Online
    . 15 December 1999. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Historic hotel flooded". Nationwide News Pty Limited. 25 January 2000. (accessed via Lexis Nexis on 1 January 2013)
  11. ^ "$300,000 for windmill loss". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Nationwide News Pty Limited. 23 December 1999. (accessed via Lexis Nexis on 1 January 2013)
  12. ^ "Inquiry into cattle ship". Northern Territory News. Nationwide News Pty Limited. 11 January 2000. (accessed via Lexis Nexis on 1 January 2013)
  13. ^ "Second Quarter Activities Report". Australian Associated Press. 31 January 2000. (accessed via Lexis Nexis on 1 January 2013)
  14. ^ "Stop dreaming of a wet Xmas". Northern Territory News. Nationwide News Pty Limited. 20 December 1999. (accessed via Lexis Nexis on 1 January 2013)
  15. Sunday Territorian
    . Nationwide News Pty Limited. 19 December 1999. (accessed via Lexis Nexis on 1 January 2013)
  16. ^ RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee (12 December 2012). "List of Tropical Cyclone Names withdrawn from use due to a Cyclone's Negative Impact on one or more countries" (PDF). Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-East Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean 2012 (Report). World Meteorological Organization. pp. 2B-1–2B-4 (23–26). Retrieved 13 February 2013.

External links

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