Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
---|---|
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
![]() Cyclone Chris near peak intensity off the
Pilbara coast | |
Formed | 2 February 2002 |
Dissipated | 7 February 2002 |
Highest winds |
10-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph) 1-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph) Gusts: 295 km/h (185 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 915 hPa ( mbar); 27.02 inHg |
Fatalities | 0 |
Damage | Minimal |
Areas affected | Western Australia |
Part of the 2001-02 Australian region cyclone season |
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]
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
---|---|
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
![]() Cyclone Chris near peak intensity off the
Pilbara coast | |
Formed | 2 February 2002 |
Dissipated | 7 February 2002 |
Highest winds |
10-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph) 1-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph) Gusts: 295 km/h (185 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 915 hPa ( mbar); 27.02 inHg |
Fatalities | 0 |
Damage | Minimal |
Areas affected | Western Australia |
Part of the 2001-02 Australian region cyclone season |
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]