Cyclone Larry: Difference between revisions

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| Name=Tropical Cyclone Larry
| Name=Tropical Cyclone Larry
| Type=cyclone
| Type=cyclone
| Year=1515
| Year=2006
| Basin=Aus
| Basin=Aus
| Image location=Cyclone Larry 19 mar 2006 0025Z.jpg
| Image location=Cyclone Larry 19 mar 2006 0025Z.jpg
Line 9: Line 9:
| Formed=[[March 18]], [[2006]]
| Formed=[[March 18]], [[2006]]
| Dissipated= [[March 21]], [[2006]]
| Dissipated= [[March 21]], [[2006]]
| Gusts=sex
| Gusts=165
| 10-min winds=sex
| 10-min winds=110
| 1-min winds=sex
| 1-min winds=115
| Pressure=sex
| Pressure=915
| Damages=sex
| Damages=800
| Inflated=-1
| Inflated=-1
| Fatalities=0 direct, 1 indirect
| Fatalities=0 direct, 1 indirect

Revision as of 03:35, 25 February 2008

Tropical Cyclone Larry
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Tropical Cyclone Larry at peak intensity on March 19
FormedMarch 18, 2006
DissipatedMarch 21, 2006
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph)
1-minute sustained: 215 km/h (130 mph)
Gusts: 305 km/h (190 mph)
Lowest pressure915 hPa (mbar); 27.02 inHg
Fatalities0 direct, 1 indirect
Damage$800 million (2006 USD)
Areas affectedFar North Queensland
Part of the 2005-06 Australian region cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry (JTWC designation: 17P) was a tropical cyclone that made landfall in Australia during the 2005-06 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season. Larry originated as a low pressure system over the eastern Coral Sea on March 16 and was monitored by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Brisbane, Australia. The low-pressure area formed into a tropical cyclone two days later and quickly strengthened into a Category 5 storm on the Australian tropical cyclone scale. Larry made landfall in Far North Queensland close to Innisfail on March 20 as a Category 4 with wind gusts reaching 240 km/h (150 mph) and dissipated over land soon after. The total effects of Larry were nearly A$1 billion in damage and one fatality.[1]

Storm history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  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

Larry began as a low pressure system over the eastern Coral Sea that was monitored by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology from 16 March. It formed into a tropical cyclone 1150 kilometres (730 miles) off the coast of Queensland, Australia on Saturday March 18, 2006. Larry was a Category 2 cyclone in the Australian intensity scale when the cyclone watch commenced, and gradually intensified to Category 5 on that scale. The eye of Larry crossed the coast near Innisfail between 6:20am and 7:20am AEST on 20th March. According to the preliminary data, the winds near Innisfail may have reached 290 km/h with gusts to 310-320 km/h. However, a reanalysis indicated based on land observations that Cyclone Larry was a Category 4 cyclone during landfall, as wind gusts were estimated to have reached 240 km/h in the area of impact.[2] Apart from Ingrid, Larry is the first severe tropical cyclone to cross the Queensland east coast since Rona in 1999.[3] Queensland was later hit by another severe cyclone, Monica, only a month later.

The Australian intensity scale is based on maximum wind gusts, which are estimated to be 40 percent above 10-minute sustained winds. On this scale, Larry peaked as a Category 5 cyclone. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center's maximum 1-minute wind speed assigned to the cyclone would make it a Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

From an estimate of winds speeds needed to fail simple structures a damage survey of buildings in the Innisfail region estimated the peak gust wind speeds (referenced to flat open country at a height of 10 m) across the study area to range from 180 km/h to 230 km/h. This estimate of peak winds in open terrain correlates with the Bureau of Meteorology’s reanalysis of Cyclone Larry at landfall. Their reviews of data suggest that Larry was a Category 4 system when it crossed the coast.[4] It was confirmed by the Bureau of Meteorology in March 2007 that the cyclone did make landfall as a Category 4 cyclone.[5]

The spectacular destruction of the Mourilyan sugar mill was an iconic image of the Cyclone's aftermath

A 10-minute average wind speed of 108 knots (200 km/h, 125 mph) was reported in Innisfail during landfall.[6][7] This theoretically corresponds to 125 knot 1-minute sustained winds, and maximum wind gusts too are generally consistent with a Saffir-Simpson scale Category 4 storm[8]. (The cyclone's minimum pressure would be more consistent with Category 5 if this were an Atlantic hurricane).

At 1 am AEST on March 21, Larry was downgraded to a Tropical Low pressure system as it moved inland. Ex-tropical cyclone Larry was further tracked as it moved into western Queensland to the north of Mount Isa. Larry's short life as a cyclone is attributed to its speed; the system moved very quickly over the Coral Sea and dissipated soon after, spending nearly 24 hours of being over land. Cyclone Larry is considered to be the worst cyclone to hit the coast of Queensland since 1931. Because of this, the name "Larry" was retired on the 12th of December, 2006.[9]

Impact

False-color image showing the extent of flooding in the area around Normanton and Karumba, Queensland. Green indicates vegetation and blue indicates water. The top image is two weeks after the bottom.

Predictions could not list the level of destruction, devastation and despair that Larry brought in its wake, the most powerful cyclone in almost a century. "This is the most devastating cyclone that we could potentially see on the east coast of Queensland for decades ... there was great destruction," according to Queensland state Counter Disaster Rescue Services executive director Frank Pagano.[10]

The Premier of Queensland at the time, Peter Beattie declared Larry a disaster situation, comparing it to Cyclone Tracy[11] and giving local governments the power to enforce mandatory evacuations.

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard has said of Larry, "this cyclone is of an enormous magnitude" and reserved several UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopters for rescue efforts in the aftermath of the cyclone. He has also promised grants of $10,000 to businesses affected by the cyclone[12].

An appeal fund has been launched by the Queensland Government with an initial donation of $100,000, with the Commonwealth Bank donating $50,000, and then increasing its donation to $1 Million after sighting the devastation. Premier Beattie asked "everyone to dig deep and help people who have suffered in the devastation wreaked by the cyclone"[13].

Cairns airport and harbour were closed, and all flights were suspended. Innisfail suffered severe damage, being the town where Larry made landfall. Babinda, 30 kilometres north of Innisfail, had reports of up to 80% of buildings damaged.[14] The region's banana industry, which employs up to 6000 people, has also suffered extreme losses of crops.[15] These losses account for more than 80% of the total banana crop for Australia [16] The Atherton Tablelands also received a great deal of damage from Cyclone Larry, with damage to buildings and major disruptions to power, water and telephone services.

Other towns to be damaged were Kurrimine Beach with 30% of homes damaged, Silkwood with 99% of homes damaged, and Mission Beach with 30% of homes damaged. Cairns, the largest city closest to the cyclone, sustained minor damage. Mostly falling trees damaging homes and brought down power lines all over the city. Only minor structural damaged occurred in Cairns. Light aircraft were also flipped during the cyclone at Cairns Airport.

A damage survey of buildings in the Innisfail region [1] concluded that the majority of contemporary houses performed well structurally, that is the houses remained structurally intact with many roller doors being smashed to bits by the raging winds. However, the report does note that these structures should have resisted Cyclone Larry's wind loads as the winds impacting the buildings were less than the building standard's regional design wind speed. Older buildings and houses (built before introduction of tighter standards) suffered comparatively more damage.[17]

Preliminary reports estimate the cost of loss and damage to domestic and commercial premises is to be in excess of half a billion dollars.

The remains of Tropical Cyclone Larry moved over north-western Queensland on 22-23 March, dumping heavy rain across the region. Gereta Station, north of Mount Isa, recorded 583mm of rain in the 48 hours to 9am on March 23.[18] As a result of the rains, heavy flooding was reported along the Leichhardt River downstream, resulting in the inundation of some cattle properties.[19]

Aftermath

File:Atherton School.JPG
Trees felled by Cyclone Larry block a road in Atherton, Queensland.
File:Bananas near tolga.JPG
A banana crop, near Tolga on the Atherton Tableland, that had been devastated by Cyclone Larry.
File:115802075 71c36b15ed o.jpg
Photo taken by a resident in Edmonton, an outer suburb of Cairns in the aftermath of the storm, on the 20th March 2006.

Recovery Period

The Governor General of Australia, Michael Jeffery, visited the area several days into the recovery, met with groups of people on the ground, and viewed the devastation from an Army helicopter.

Australian Defence Force

Within a few hours of Larry's immediate effects ending, the Australian Defence Force dispatched elements of the Townsville based 3rd Brigade and the Cairns based 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment, Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force including: 6 Black Hawk helicopters, 3 Iroquois helicopters, 1 Chinook helicopter, 1 Seahawk helicopter, 3 Navy Balikpapan class LCH Landing Craft, 2 Caribou aircraft, 2 C-130 Hercules, and several LARC-V amphibious 4WD vehicles.

A Combat Services Support Battalion coordinated emergency support at Innisfail Showgrounds, providing health care, environmental advice, fresh food and purified water as well as testing local supplies, tarpaulins, bath and shower facilities, and up to 500 beds. [20]

The Cowley Beach Training Area near Mourilyan Harbour some 25km south of Innisfail was significantly affected by Larry and its use as a base by recovery teams was therefore limited.

QLD Rural Fire Service (Thuringowa Group)

An immediate response by Thuringowa Group Rural Fire Brigade volunteers occurred following the impact of the cyclone. Amongst the first on scene and the last to get past flood waters in Tully, the rural fire volunteer task force set up an initial command post at East Palmerston and was in place a number of weeks. A newly acquired and rapidly prepared Emergency Support Unit had it's trial by fire in this disaster.

Leadership by General Peter Cosgrove

Recently retired Chief of Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, agreed to head the recovery efforts, and was directing efforts from Innisfail by 24 March.

Among his first activities was a call for an economic assessment of the effects by the Governments of Queensland and Australia, and a moratorium on businesses' debt repayments by banks for 3 months.

Tradesmen and prisoners

A group of around 150 tradesmen from around Australia arrived in Innisfail around 26 March. These people worked to reopen the schools and other public buildings and reinstate and make habitable private dwellings.

The Queensland Government was also determining how many trusted prisoners could be organised for work-gangs.[21]

Accommodation

The media reported that rental agents were working to find accommodation for displaced persons. An already tight accommodation market had been exacerbated by the severe damage done to homes in the affected areas. Many tenants and owners of severely damaged homes had almost no chance of getting accommodation in the area. As such, many people were expected to move to Cairns for at least several months.

This caused speculation that many young families would move from the region permanently, causing a hollowing out of the current demography of the region. This could make it difficult for local businesses to recruit new workers for many decades to come.

Banana Shortage

The cyclone destroyed 80 to 90% of Australia's banana crop. Australia is relatively free of banana pests and diseases, and therefore does not allow bananas to be imported. Bananas were in short supply and very expensive throughout Australia for the remainder of 2006 which increased prices across the country by 400-500%, with prices rising as high as $13-14/kg.[22]

See also

Template:Tcportal

References

  1. ^ "Banana prices to double after crop devastation". Retrieved 2006-03-25.
  2. ^ WebCite query result
  3. ^ Australian Bureau of Meteorology. "Summary of Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry".
  4. ^ http://eng.jcu.edu.au/cts/newsletter/Oct_06_CTS_Newsletter.pdf
  5. ^ WebCite query result
  6. ^ Australian Bureau of Meteorology (March 20, 2005). "Latest Coastal Weather Observations for Innisfail". Retrieved 2006-03-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Above data archived-reproduced at Wunderground. "History for Innisfail, Queensland on Monday, March 20, 2006". Retrieved 2006-03-29.
  8. ^ BoM - Tropical Cyclone Frequently Asked Questions
  9. ^ Tropical Cyclone names
  10. ^ "Massive cyclone hits Australia". Retrieved 2006-03-20.
  11. ^ "Beattie fears cyclone's power". Retrieved 2006-03-20.
  12. ^ "Government announces grants". Retrieved 2006-03-22.
  13. ^ "Cyclone appeal fund launched". Retrieved 2006-03-20.
  14. ^ "Larry's catastrophic toll". Retrieved 2006-03-21.
  15. ^ "Cyclone 'to ruin farmers'". Retrieved 2006-03-20.
  16. ^ Cyclone devastates banana, sugar crops
  17. ^ http://eng.jcu.edu.au/cts/newsletter/Oct_06_CTS_Newsletter.pdf
  18. ^ Australian Bureau of Meteorology. "Summary of Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry".
  19. ^ "Record breaking flood waters in the Gulf". Retrieved 2006-10-05.
  20. ^ "Australian Troops Rebuilding Far North Queensland". Retrieved 2006-03-29.
  21. ^ "Shops reopen, trains running again in Innisfail". Retrieved 2006-03-29.
  22. ^ A. B. Watkins, H. J. Diamond, and B. C. Trewin. An Australian Season of Extremes: Yes, We Have No Bananas. State of the Climate 2006, page 61. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyclone_Larry&oldid=193849688"