Cyclone Marcia
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | 15 February 2015 |
Remnant low | 26 February 2015 |
Dissipated | 1 March 2015 |
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone | |
10-minute sustained (BOM) | |
Highest winds | 205 km/h (125 mph) |
Highest gusts | 285 km/h (180 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 932 hPa (mbar); 27.52 inHg |
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 230 km/h (145 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 929 hPa (mbar); 27.43 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | None |
Damage | $587 million (2015 USD) |
Areas affected | Queensland |
IBTrACS / [1] | |
Part of the 2014–15 Australian region cyclone season |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia was a powerful tropical cyclone that made landfall at its peak strength over central Queensland, near Shoalwater Bay on 20 February 2015.[2] The cyclone went on to affect various areas including Yeppoon and Rockhampton. It passed just to the west of Yeppoon as a Category 4 system, then traversed over the regional city of Rockhampton as a Category 2 system on the same day. Eventually, the cyclone weakened, moved southeast out to sea, before dissipating. Marcia caused at least A$750 million (US$587 million) worth of damage.
Meteorological history
The
When Marcia intensified into a category 2 tropical cyclone at 00:00
On 20 February, despite good poleward outflow, Marcia began to track southeastwards along the western periphery of the subtropical ridge and rapidly weakened due to land interaction and increasing vertical wind shear, yet the JTWC issued the final warning during sunset.[17] The system weakened into a category 3 cyclone at 13:00 AEST (03:00 UTC), lost the severe tropical cyclone intensity at 17:00 AEST (07:00 UTC) and even weakened into a category 1 cyclone at 20:00 AEST (10:00 UTC).[18][19][20] The BoM's final technical bulletin of Marcia indicated that the cyclone had eventually weakened into a tropical low at 15:00 UTC (01:00 AEST on 21 February), with the asymmetric wind structure and unimpressive observations.[21]
The ex-tropical cyclone arrived in the Coral Sea from the southeast coast of Queensland on 21 February. The JTWC monitored Marcia again on 22 February and claimed that the system had become subtropical with gale-force sustained winds, when sea surface temperature (SST) was approximately 25 °C; moreover, satellite imageries also revealed a broad, exposed low-level circulation centre (LLCC) with deep convection displaced over the southeast periphery of the LLCC.[22] Although it drifted northwards over warmer SST later, it was failed to intensify but weakened further. On 27 February, Marcia entered the responsible area of the Fiji Meteorological Service as a weak low-pressure system.[23][24] The remnants were completely absorbed into a trough on 1 March.[25][26]
Storm statistics
- Recorded windspeeds[27]
Station location | Time ( AEST ) |
10-minute sustained winds (km/h) |
3-second gust (km/h) |
Pressure (hPa) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Creal Reef | 18:00, 19 February | 146 | 189 | 977.8 |
Middle Percy Island | 04:00, 20 February | 156 | 208 | 970.2 |
Samuel Hill | 98 | 170 | 977.3 | |
Yeppoon | 12:00, 20 February | 120 | 156 | 985.4 |
Rockhampton | 15:00, 20 February | 82 | 113 | 985.5 |
Preparations
Queensland
Prior to the category 5 storm making landfall the
Impact and aftermath
The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System issued an advisory at 06:00 UTC on 20 February stating that up to 92,000 people had been affected by Category 1 winds or higher.[32]
Over 60 000 homes were left without power in Yeppoon, Rockhampton and Bundaberg as the storm moved south. Almost 3000 people requested assistance from the SES – including 800 in central Queensland. Significant structural damage occurred in the Yeppoon area and along the Capricorn Coast, with a number of houses having roofs blown off and walls torn down. Months later, houses are still permanently damaged. Structural damage also occurred across Rockhampton and in the townships of Marmor and Mount Larcom.[33] Heavy rain fell across several regions and authorities evacuated residents from the small town of Jambin, south-west of Rockhampton, as localised flooding took place, which also affected Biloela.[34] Total damage in Queensland reached A$750 million (US$587 million).[35]
The observed windspeeds were lower than the analyzed maximum sustained winds, which had been estimated using the Advanced Dvorak Technique. The Bureau was criticised for continuing to report the ADT estimates after lower actual windspeeds had been recorded, by biologist and blogger Jennifer Marohasy of Central Queensland University.[36] The International Wind Hazard Damage Assessment Group also expressed concern, saying "A community that receives an over-represented wind speed report may have potential for complacency in preparation or building standards in the future."[27] BOM rejected the criticism, stating that Middle Percy Island was not located in the region of highest windspeed. The equipment there had also been destroyed by the storm, cutting off the data flow. Bureau chief Robb Webb also rejected claims BOM had relied solely on modelling, noting that the bureau worked with the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center to predict the storm's strength. The cyclone is still officially classified by the bureau as a Category 5.[37]
Retirement
Due to its impact, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology retired the name Marcia. It was later replaced with Mingzhu in October 2016.
See also
References
- ^ "Australian Tropical Cyclone Database" (CSV). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023. A guide on how to read the database is available here.
- ^ Williams, Brian (19 February 2015). "Cyclone Marcia to bring high winds, flooding to southern Queensland". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ^ Queensland Regional Office (24 February 2015). Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Coral Sea on 16 February 2015". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin at 1904 UTC 17/02/2015". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone 13P (Thirteen) Warning Nr 001". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 4". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin at 0104 UTC 19/02/2015". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone 13P (Marcia) Warning Nr 003". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 11". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 13". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone 13P (Marcia) Warning Nr 004". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin at 1812 UTC 19/02/2015". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone 13P (Marcia) Warning Nr 005". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin at 0005 UTC 20/02/2015". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone 13P (Marcia) Warning Nr 006". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 32". Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 36". Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 39". Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin at 1610 UTC 20/02/2015". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans 220600Z-230600Z Feb 2015". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Coral Sea on 27 February 2015". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Marine Weather Bulletin for Islands Area Feb 270800 UTC". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Marine Weather Bulletin for Islands Area Feb 010800 UTC". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Marine Weather Bulletin for Islands Area Feb 012000 UTC". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ a b Smith, Daniel J. (20 February 2015). "CTS Preliminary Damage Assessment Report: Tropical Cyclone Marcia" (PDF). Cyclone Testing Station. Queensland, Australia: James Cook University. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ Cleanup begins as ex-cyclone Marcia weakens and heads south
- ^ Cyclone Marcia: Central Queensland residents hunker down, southeast shores up
- ^ Cyclone Shelters, Department of Housing & Public Works, Queensland Government (accessed 24 February 2015)
- ^ Commonwealth of Australia 2016, Bureau of Meteorology. "Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia". Retrieved 8 April 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Green Tropical Cyclone alert for MARCIA-15 in Australia from 18/02/2015 12:00 UTC to 20/02/2015 06:00 UTC, Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System, 20 February 2015, retrieved 24 February 2015
- ^ "Cyclone Marcia: Central Queensland residents hunker down, southeast shores up". Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone Marcia: Gympie businesses begin to flood with water from Mary River
- ^ Frost, Pamela (23 March 2015). "Damage bill for Cyclone Marcia reaches $750 million". Fraser Coast Chronicle. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ Sam Phillips (23 February 2015), "Climate researcher questions Cyclone Marcia's category 5 status", Courier Mail, retrieved 24 February 2015
- ^ Nicholas McCallum (24 February 2015), Biologist questions Bureau of Meteorology's 'category 5' modelling on Cyclone Marcia, 9 News, retrieved 24 February 2015
External links
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia Impacts by the Queensland Regional Office
- 13P.MARCIA Archived 16 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine from the US Naval Research Laboratory