The 2005–06 Australian region cyclone season was an above average tropical cyclone season. It began on 1 November 2005 and ended on 30 April 2006. The regional tropical cyclone operational plan also defines a tropical cyclone year separately from a tropical cyclone season, which runs from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006.
Tropical cyclones in this area are monitored by four Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs): the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane; and TCWC Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.http://www.wmo.ch/web/www/TCP/TCP24-English2004.pdf __TOC__
Systems
Tropical Low 02S
An area of convection persisted on 4 November about north of the Cocos Islands, associated with a tight low-level circulation. With good outflow and moderate but decreasing wind shear, conditions favored development. By early on 5 November, the system consisted of a partially exposed circulation with deep convection on its western side, tracking southwestward. At 0400 UTC that day, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Perth issued a gale warning in association with the disturbance. Later in the day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classified it as Tropical Cyclone 02S, and both the JTWC and TCWC Perth anticipated further strengthening.
Throughout its duration, TCWC Perth maintained the system as a tropical low. However, the JTWC assessed the storm as reaching peak winds of , based on observations indicating the consolidation of convection over the center. The agency forecast the storm to strengthen further; however, by late on 6 November it had begun weakening. Around the same time, the storm crossed into the area of responsibility of Météo-France in Réunion (MFR); as such, it was re-designated as Tropical Depression 04. The depression continued southwestward as it slowly weakened. Early on 8 November, the JTWC issued its final warning, and six hours later, the MFR discontinued advisories while it was located about southeast of Diego Garcia.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Bertie–Alvin
A weak tropical low persisted on 17 November at a low latitude about west-southwest of the Indonesia island of Sumatra. Early on 18 November, the TCWC Perth issued a gale warning on the system; at the time, the system consisted of cycling convection in association with several small circulations. The circulations organized into a well-defined center of circulation, and at 0000 UTC on 19 November it was classified as Tropical Cyclone Bertie about northwest of the Cocos Islands. The storm tracked southwestward around the western periphery of a mid-level ridge between Australia and Indonesia. Environmental conditions generally favored further strengthening, with good outflow though moderate wind shear, and late on 19 November the JTWC initiated advisories on Bertie.
Tropical Cyclone Bertie gradually strengthened and became a Severe Tropical Cyclone on 21 November. The next day, TCWC Perth issued its last advisory on the cyclone, as it was expected to cross 90ºE, which separates the TCWC Perth and the Météo-France (MFR) areas of responsibility. However, Bertie turned due southward, and the MFR issued advisories for 30 hours as the cyclone remained just east of 90ºE, during which the MFR estimated Bertie attained peak winds of . Early on 23 November, the JTWC assessed the cyclone as reaching winds of , which is the equivalent to a marginal Category 4 on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. On 24 November, the cyclone crossed into the area of responsibility of the MFR, and it was renamed Intense Tropical Cyclone Alvin. Shortly thereafter the storm turned to the northwest and weakened as it encountered unfavourable conditions The JTWC issued its last advisory on 26 November after it weakened to a tropical depression, and two days later the MFR discontinued advisories. The remnants of the storm continued northwestward until turning west-southwestward and dissipating on 3 December.
Tropical Low 04S
A tropical low persisted on 19 December just west of 90ºE, which is just outside the area of responsibility of TCWC Perth. The system initially consisted of pulsating convection in association with an elongated and partially exposed low-level circulation. TCWC Perth began issuing gale warnings on the system on 22 December as the low tracked southeastward. Moderate wind shear persisted over the system, preventing immediate development The low turned southwestward, and on 23 December it entered the area of responsibility of Météo-France in Réunion (MFR).
Upon entering the South-West Indian Ocean, the MFR classified the system as Tropical Depression 06. Convection increased and organized, and the JTWC initiated advisories on Tropical Cyclone 04S on 24 December. However, wind shear increased shortly thereafter, and the system weakened. On 25 December, the JTWC discontinued advisories, and a day later the MFR followed suit. The remnants tracked southwestward, and the MFR again issued advisories starting on 27 December. After passing near Rodrigues, the system weakened again due to persistent vertical wind shear, and on 29 December the MFR again issued the final warning on the system.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Clare
A tropical low formed north of Northern Territory and tracked roughly parallel to the coast. On 7 January, TCWC Perth started issuing tropical cyclone advisories on this system. The low became Tropical Cyclone Clare when it was located 250 km north of Cape Leveque or 430 km north of Broome. A steady strengthening trend continued and Clare peaked as a storm, or a Category 3 cyclone on the Australian scale, with a minimum pressure of 960 hPa at the centre of the system. On 9 January the cyclone made landfall near Karratha and Dampier next day, and dissipated on the 10th as it continued inland. On 12 December 2006, the Bureau of Meteorology announced that the name "Clare" would be retired, and will never be used for an Australian Cyclone ever again.Tropical Cyclone names
In preparation of the storm, 1,500 people were evacuated, while incoming flights and mining operations were closed.ESA - European Space Agency Although sustained wind speeds of 131 km/h and gusts of up to 142 km/h were recorded, the towns affected by TC Clare escaped with only minor structural damage. The precipitation associated with Ex-Tropical Cyclone Clare caused extensive flooding in the towns of Walkaway and Lake Grace over the weekend of 14–15 January. Because it made landfall at low tide, storm surge damage was negligible.Current Tropical Cyclones Overall, damage was estimated to be at least A$5 million (US$3.2 million), and Clare was responsible for no deaths.
Tropical Cyclone Daryl
On 17 January, TCWC Perth started issuing tropical cyclone advisories for a tropical low overland. The low tracked into Kuri Bay next day and developed into Tropical Cyclone Daryl. It continued to strengthen, and on 21 January briefly became a Severe Tropical Cyclone operationally but was downgraded to a 55kt Tropical Cyclone following the end of season analysis. Over the next two days, Daryl tracked parallel to the West Australian coast, mostly as a Category 2 system. Daryl continued tracking in a south-westerly direction before being downgraded to a low-pressure system on 23 January. The cyclone did not cross the coast.
Tropical Low 07U
A tropical low developed off the north coast of the Top End in late January. It made landfall in the Darwin area and drifted down the western border of the Northern Territory. The low brought heavy rainfall to many parts of the western Northern Territory. The low continued to move south through the Victoria River District and into the Tanami Desert. The Victoria Highway was cut by floodwaters, isolating Timber Creek and the Victoria River Crossing. On 31 January, the low deepened producing near gale-force winds. Significant Weather Summaries from Australian Bureau of Meteorology of the low An animated satellite picture loop for the week 26 January to 1 February
Severe Tropical Cyclone Jim
On 24 January, a broad area of low pressure developed near the coast of Queensland after a monsoonal trough passed through the region. Northeasterly winds flowing into the system quickly increased convection, resulting in heavy rainfall over coastal regions of Queensland. The slow movement of the developing low continued through 26 January before turning northeast in response to a mid-level ridge to the north. On 28 January, the JTWC began monitoring the system as Tropical Storm 10P and shortly after, the Bureau of Meteorology classified the storm as a Category 1 cyclone and gave it the name Jim.
Jim continued to intensify as it steadily tracked east-northeastward. Upper-level outflow associated with the storm gradually improved as the cyclone neared the edge of the Bureau of Meteorology's warning area. Shortly before crossing 160°E on 30 January, Jim intensified into a Category 3 cyclone, with winds reaching 10-minute sustained). At the same time, the JTWC assessed the system to have become a Category 1 equivalent with winds of 1-minute sustained). After crossing 160°E, warning responsibility of the cyclone was given to the RSMC in Nadi, Fiji. Upon entering their area of responsibility, Jim sharply turned southeast, attaining a peak intensity with winds of 10-minute sustained) as it brushed New Caledonia. By 1 February, the storm had transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, dissipating a few days later.
As the storm was developing, torrential rainfall affected portions of coastal Queensland between 26 and 27 January. In a 24-hour span, of rain fell in Home Hill, leading to minor flooding. On 28 January, the cyclone brushed Flinders Reef, Willis Island and Lihou Reef, bringing winds up to to all three areas.
Tropical Cyclone Kate
Cyclone Kate originated from an area of low pressure that was first identified on 22 February 2006, within a monsoonal trough. The system rapidly intensified throughout the day, with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology issuing their first advisory on the system that evening. Upon being classified, the system was immediately declared Tropical Cyclone Kate. At the same time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also began issuing advisories on the system, designating it as Tropical Cyclone 13P. The system remained nearly stationary over the northwestern Coral Sea. Early on 23 February, the storm attained its peak intensity with winds of 10-minute sustained) and a barometric pressure of 985 hPa (mbar). However, the JTWC assessed the system to have been slightly weaker, attaining peak winds of 1-minute sustained). Kate stalled shortly thereafter and began to weaken due to increasing wind shear. Rapid weakening took place throughout the day, and JTWC declared the system dissipated early on 24 February. The Bureau of Meteorology downgraded Kate to a tropical low around the same time, although they continued to monitor the storm for several more hours before reporting that it had dissipated over open waters.
Upon the cyclone's formation, the Bureau of Meteorology warned vessels to avoid the storm in anticipation of rough seas and winds gusting to . Although the storm did not pose much of a threat to Queensland, officials urged residents to ensure their disaster kits were ready and that preparations for a moderate storm, such as storing lose outdoor objects and clearing gutters, had been completed. While the storm had no direct impact on land, large swells affected most of the Queensland coastline. In the Shire of Noosa, six surfers sustained serious injuries after wading into turbulent waters. Waves up to tossed the six surfers, leaving them with injuries ranging from broken noses and fractured ankles to head wounds from surfboards. The waves also caused additional beach erosion to parts of Papua New Guinea previously impacted by Cyclone Ingrid.
Tropical Cyclone Emma