Tropical Cyclone Ellie

Final Posting | Summary
Posting Date: February 3, 2009, 1:19:00 PM

Tropical Cyclone Ellie made landfall south of Cairns shortly after midnight on Monday, February 2 (local time) as a Category 1 storm based on the Australia Bureau of Meteorology (AOB) scale (equivalent to a Tropical Storm on the Saffir-Simpson Scale). The storm is currently moving west at 18 km/h (11 mph). On Friday, a tropical low developed within a “monsoon trough,” a convergence zone between the wind patterns of the southern and northern hemispheres. Tropical cyclones form in the vicinity of a monsoon trough, and consequently each cyclone is capable of producing a year's worth of rainfall in a relatively short time frame. Saturday, Ellie reached its peak winds of 75 km/h (45 mph) but quickly weakened to a tropical low as it crossed the Queensland coast. The AOB has forecast that the storm will move back to the sea and reform, possibly bringing more heavy rain and flooding. Ellie—the fifth cyclone of the season and the first on the east coast of Australia—follows in the wake of Cyclone Dominic, which struck northwest Australia last week. Cyclone Ellie dumped more than 700 mm (27.56 inches) of rain at the Tully Sugar Mill. At least 20 inundated homes have been evacuated after the Herbert River peaked at 12.2 m (40 ft), its highest level in two decades. Flooding has inundated the towns of Cardwell and Bowen. Near Townsville, rain fell at a rate of more than 30 mm (1.18 inches) an hour. Banana farmers are reporting minor damage to their crops, which were located outside a protected levee zone. Cyclone Ellie has caused extensive damage to public infrastructure, including roads and bridges. Local officials have closed more than 20 major highways around Queensland. The state government is planning to evacuate inland towns affected by the floodwaters. Large sections of Queensland have been declared disaster zones and the Australian Army has been called in to help with the clean up. At least one person has been confirmed dead. However, minimal wind damage is anticipated from this event. Some structures are reported to have suffered some roof or wall cladding damage but most structures are expected to perform well under these wind speeds. Meanwhile, a low pressure system is developing off the west Kimberley coast and may strengthen to cyclone intensity tomorrow before moving out to sea. AIR’s tropical cyclone team will continue to monitor both storms closely and post additional information as needed.

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Posting Date: February 3, 2009, 1:19:00 PM