Cyclone Rosita
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | 15 April 2000 |
Dissipated | 21 April 2000 |
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone | |
10-minute sustained (Aus) | |
Highest winds | 220 km/h (140 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 930 hPa (mbar); 27.46 inHg |
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 230 km/h (145 mph) |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | None |
Damage | Unknown |
Areas affected | Western Australia (especially Broome) |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1999–2000 Australian region cyclone season |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Rosita was a
Meteorological history
A weak low in the Timor Sea formed on 14 April, initially moving west south-west and turned southward during 16 April and 17 April. The low slowly strengthened and was named Rosita on 17 April, while located approximately 670 kilometres (420 mi) to the north of Port Hedland at about 6 p.m. WST (1000 UTC). On the morning of 18 April, a ship reported a relatively high pressure of 997 hPa while passing very close to the centre of Cyclone Rosita, however, near-storm-force winds were reported.
Rosita then entered a very favourable environment which allowed rapid development to occur. On 19 April, Rosita turned to the east-southeast and intensified rapidly to a Category 5 severe cyclone, with an estimated central pressure of 930 hPa. Wind gusts near the centre were estimated at 290 km/h (180 mph). Rosita turned slightly to the southeast, crossing the coast at peak intensity, 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of Broome at around 1 a.m. WST on 20 April (1700 UTC 19 April). Cyclone Rosita was a small cyclone, but nevertheless was very intense and powerful. Its radius of gale-force winds was just half the average for cyclones in Australia, and its core of very destructive winds extended just 25 kilometres (16 mi) from its centre. This meant that Rosita's region of very destructive winds missed Broome by only 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the south. Once over land, Rosita accelerated to speeds of up to 30 km/h (19 mph) into the Great Sandy Desert, only weakening gradually. Rosita passed close to the community of Balgo at around 10 p.m. WST (1400 UTC) on 20 April, about 700 kilometres (430 mi) from the coast. Rosita was still estimated to be at Category 1 intensity when it passed near the community. Rosita's remnants continued to bring flooding rains to central Australia.[1][3][4]
Preparations
The Bureau of Meteorology predicted Rosita to hit near Broome at around midnight WST on 20 April (1600 UTC 19 April). Towns around the area were warned to prepare for one of the most powerful cyclones ever to threaten Australia. Very destructive winds with gusts to 260 km/h near the cyclone's centre were expected. Residents of coastal towns were warned to expect dangerous storm tides – local emergency officials said an 8-metre (26 ft) high tide was expected at that night. Tourists in the area were warned not to try to reach Broome. Chevron Australia said a tanker due to arrive on 18 April was asked to delay its arrival till 22 April because of the cyclone. Iron ore miners in Port Hedland and Dampier monitored Rosita's approach.[5]
Blue Alert warnings, which indicate that a cyclone may affect the warning area within 48 hours, were issued for Cyclone Rosita on the morning on 19 April. They were upgraded to a Yellow Alert – an indication that a cyclone appears inevitable to affect the warning area in 12 hours – at 1 pm, then to a Red Alert – meaning the cyclone is imminent – at 8 pm. In general, residents were well informed of the warnings through the radio. Residents from the low-lying downtown areas evacuated to homes in more elevated locations. Two of the three available evacuation shelters were opened and co-ordinated by the Department of Family and Children's Services. 280 people took shelter in schools, while 78 residents from
Impact
The largest impact occurred near the core of very destructive winds about 40 km (25 mi) south of Broome. The main homestead on the Thangoo station, 28 km (17 mi) to the south-southeast of Broome, received only minor structural damage, however the station was in the region of the dangerous storm surge. Reports from the Thangoo station, situated 2.5 km (1.6 mi) inland from coastal mangroves, showed that the station's front gate had debris laid up to the second shoreline, about a metre (3.3 ft) above mean ground level. Another station homestead, 7 km (4.3 mi) west, was covered by coastal dunes but escaped major damage to its structure.[1]
The most severe structural damage occurred near Cape Villaret, 40 km (25 mi) south-southwest of Broome. The Eco-beach tourist resort and the Yardoogarra station were devastated. The area around the homestead was totally devastated. A caravan parked nearby was blown away and crumbled, and a semi trailer was blown to its side. The vegetation, which used to be very lush, was stripped of all leaves by the destructive winds which carried airborne salt and sand.[3] The damage to the vegetation seemed to be worse than the tree damage seen in Exmouth caused by Cyclone Vance in March 1999. About 60 km (37 mi) of fencing was pushed over, all windmills were destroyed, and about 200 head of cattle were lost, mostly due to drowning from the storm surge. However, the path of destruction to the vegetation was estimated to be just 15 to 20 km wide, reflecting Rosita's small size.[1]
The Eco Beach tourist resort was only built to resist wind gusts of Category 3 strength. Only about 10 of the 40 accommodation huts were left standing. Some of the huts were removed from their concrete foundations, and were carried by the winds and smashed into other buildings. Showing how strong Rosita's winds were, a sea container weighing 2.5 tonnes (5500 lb) and filled with 2 to 3 tonnes (4400 to 6600 lb) of equipment was blown 700 m (0.4 mile) across sand dunes. The magnitude of the devastation to the vegetation in this area resembled a place being destroyed by bushfires.[1]
In the town of Broome, the maximum wind gust recorded was 153 km/h (95 mph), recorded at the Broome aerodrome, as well as recording 163.8 mm (6.45 in) of rain for the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. WST (0100 UTC) on 20 April. Vegetation in this area were badly damaged, particularly the African Mahogany trees which were either snapped off or uprooted. Parts of Cable Beach were severely eroded. An area which used to be covered with sand was completely covered by rocks. The eastern side of Roebuck Bay had evidence of severe erosion of the coastal terrain.[1] At Broome's only banana plantation, almost all crops were completely lost, with 10 out of 18,000 plants left surviving.[6] Fortunately, most buildings in the town of Broome remained unharmed, although power supplies were cut to many parts of Broome for several days.[4] The Broome power station was initially shut down at approximately midnight on 20 April amid fears of damage to the power reticulation infrastructure.
Some damages to trees and property were reported in the community of
Aftermath
The extended period of power outage was a major problem for the residents in
The
The damage from Rosita made a large impact on the tourist industry. The time of impact happened just before the
The impact of Rosita has alerted residents to prepare for any cyclones that may threaten the town in the future. Many people were surprised that Cyclone Rosita was going to hit, as cyclones are rare in Broome, and many thought the cyclone season was already over. However, many residents also thought that the cyclone's impact strengthened the community as a whole and "brought people closer together".[2]
Retirement
The name Rosita was removed from the official
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Bureau of Meteorology. "BoM — Severe Tropical Cyclone Rosita". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 7 July 2006.
- ^ a b c d e f Linda Anderson-Berry. "Cyclone Rosita, Broome W.A. 20 April 2000 - Post Disaster Report" (PDF). Centre for Disaster Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2006.
- ^ a b Bureau of Meteorology. "SIGNIFICANT WEATHER — APRIL 2000". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 7 July 2006.
- ^ a b c Bureau of Meteorology. "BoM — WA Tropical Cyclone Season Summary 1999-00". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 7 July 2006.
- ^ Cable News Network (19 April 2000). "CNN.com — Powerful cyclone upgraded, nears Australia coast". Cable News Network. Retrieved 13 July 2006.
- ^ Gary Padgett (2000). "MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY — APRIL 2000". Archived from the original on 16 March 2006. Retrieved 28 June 2006.
- ^ Hurricane Alley (2005). "Retired Tropical Cyclone Names". Hurricane Alley Inc. Archived from the original on 19 June 2006. Retrieved 26 August 2006.
- ^ Bureau of Meteorology (2005). "TROPICAL CYCLONE NAMES". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 15 June 2006. Retrieved 16 June 2006.
External links
- Cyclone Rosita from the Bureau of Meteorology
- Cyclone Rosita Report from Centre for Disaster Studies
- Track of Rosita from Australian Severe Weather
- Track of Rosita from Unisys