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User:RaNdOm26/Cyclone

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Severe Tropical Cyclone Chris
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Cyclone Chris near peak intensity off the Pilbara coast
Formed2 February 2002
Dissipated7 February 2002
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph)
1-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph)
Gusts: 295 km/h (185 mph)
Lowest pressure915 hPa (mbar); 27.02 inHg
Fatalities0
DamageMinimal
Areas affectedWestern Australia
Part of the 2001-02 Australian region cyclone season

Storm history

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
  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 late January, a monsoon trough was intensifying off the waters of northern Australia. By 30 January, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) was predicting a tropical low to develop within the trough off the Kimberley coast within four days.[1] The first indication of the low which eventually become Cyclone Chris was identified early on 1 February, from a very weak low pressure area in the Timor Sea. Early on 2 February, the low formed a low-level circulation and deep convection began to develop. The Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Perth initiated warnings for the low later that day as gale-force winds began forming north of its centre. Conditions were favourable for development as the low's deep convection increased, and it was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Chris early on 3 February.[2]

Cyclone Chris rapidly intensified for the next two days, upgrading to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on 4 February, and to a Category 5 late on 5 February, the highest category on the Australian Scale. This rapid intensification was due to the influence of weak vertical wind shear and good outflow.[1] At peak intensity, the central pressure of Chris had fallen to 915 hPa, which ranks as the tenth most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Australian region.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Chris". Special Services Unit, Bureau of Meteorology. 2002. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  2. ^ Padgett, Gary (2002). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary February 2002". Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  3. ^ "Australian Region Tropical Cyclone Best Track: 1906-2005" (Zip). Bureau of Meteorology. 2006. Retrieved 2008-06-27.