Cyclone Owen

Severe Tropical Cyclone Owen was a long-lived and erratic tropical cyclone that hit Australia in mid-December 2018. Owen was the fourth tropical low, first tropical cyclone, and first severe tropical cyclone of the 2018–19 Australian region cyclone season. Owen formed on November 29 from an area of low pressure that was situated over the Solomon Islands. Owen slowly strengthened, but then degenerated into a tropical low on December 9, as it made landfall in Queensland for the first time, before entering the Gulf of Carpentaria. Owen regenerated into a tropical cyclone on 12 December and rapidly intensified into a Category 3 cyclone that night, with winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) and a pressure of 958 hPa, and circled around the Gulf of Carpentaria. Then, it struck Queensland just north of the mouth of the Gilbert River, near Kowanyama. After this landfall, flash floods from Owen killed one person. After re-entering the Coral Sea on 16 December, which had colder waters than the Gulf of Carpentaria, Owen, already weakened by land, Owen had its final advisory issued on December 17, when Owen was situated between Townsville and Cairns.[1] However, Cyclone Owen's extratropical remnants persisted until December 20.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Owen
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Owen on 13 December at peak intensity
Formed29 November 2018 (29 November 2018)
Dissipated20 December 2018 (20 December 2018)
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 150 km/h (90 mph)
1-minute sustained: 155 km/h (100 mph)
Lowest pressure958 hPa (mbar); 28.29 inHg
Fatalities1
Damage> $25 million (2019 USD)
($35.5 million Australian dollars)
Areas affectedSolomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Queensland, Northern Territory
Part of the 2018–19 Australian region cyclone season

As a tropical low, Owen produced some minor impacts in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The erratic path of Owen was thought to come from a high-pressure area that tracked near the storm. Owen brought to Australia its highest rainfall ever recorded in the month of December, with rainfall in Halifax, Queensland, reaching 661 mm (26 in).

Meteorological history
Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

The area of low pressure that would eventually become Severe Tropical Cyclone Owen was first noted by the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) during 28 November while it was located in the Solomon Sea, about 645 km (400 mi) to the north of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.[2] At this stage the disturbance had a very disorganised low level circulation, while atmospheric convection was displaced to the southwest of the circulation.[2] The system was also located within a very favourable environment for further development, with low levels of vertical wind shear, excellent outflow and high sea surface temperatures of around 30–32 °C (86–90 °F).[2] Over the next day, the system's low level circulation slowly consolidated as it moved south-westwards, before the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) classified it as Tropical Low 04U.[3][4] Over the next few days, the system moved southwards over the Solomon Sea and into the Coral Sea under the influence of a ridge of high pressure, while it gradually developed further with atmospheric convection consolidating near the centre.[4][5] During 2 December, the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 05P, before the BoM named the system Owen, after it had developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian Scale.[6]

However, Owen soon encountered relatively unfavourable conditions, especially some westerly wind shear, and struggled to maintain deep convection.[7] The increasing wind shear, classified by the JTWC as "moderate to high",[8] and other factors caused Owen to weaken slightly early on 3 December.[9] Soon after, Owen gained a burst of convection, but started to appear asymmetrical.[10] Owe[11] By noon on 3 December, conditions became less favourable, and Owen was struggling to maintain convection and could not intensify further.[12] As the day progressed, Owen became increasingly disorganized, due to a central dense overcast nearby.[13]

During 4 December, the BoM reported that the system had rapidly weakened into a tropical low, after its low-level circulation centre had become displaced to the west of the atmospheric convection.[14] Over the next six days, Owen moved westwards towards Queensland as a tropical low.[6] At around 18:00 UTC on 9 December (04:00 AEST, 10 December), Owen's remnant tropical low made landfall on the Cape York Peninsula near Port Douglas in Queensland.[6] Over the next day, the system continued west and emerged into the Gulf of Carpentaria, at about 14:00 UTC on 10 December (00:00 AEST, 11 December).[6] Through 11 December, Owen's intensity remained roughly the same as it continued to move west.[15][16][17][18] By 12 December, Owen was slowly moving west over the Gulf of Carpentaria.[19] Early on 12 December, conditions started to become more favourable, with sea surface temperatures reaching 31°, allowing convection to increase.[20] For these reasons, at about 12:00 UTC on 12 December, Owen reformed as a Category 1 tropical cyclone.[21]

Owen rapidly intensified overnight into a low-end Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, while its outer bands hit areas of Queensland and Northern Territory.[22] Owen made landfall in Northern Territory at about 00:00 UTC on 13 December as a Category 3 cyclone, to an uninhabited stretch of coast northwest of the Port McArthur Tidal Wetlands System.[23] Early on 13 December, Owen developed an eye for the first time.[24] Over the next few hours, Owen intensified even more, until it reached its peak intensity of 150 km/h (90 mph) at 12:00 UTC.[25] Over the next few hours, maintaining Category 3 intensity, Owen approached Queensland,[26][27] with its eye beginning to turn ragged while continuing to move eastward.[28][29] At around 17:00 UTC on 14 December, Owen made landfall as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, on the mouth of the Gilbert River about 85 km (55 mi) to the southwest of Kowanyama in Queensland.[6][30] While over Queensland, for the last time, Owen lost convection and rapidly weakened into a tropical low.[31] The system was last noted by the BoM during December 20, while it was located about 410 km (255 mi) to the northeast of Townsville in Queensland.[4]

Effects


Queensland
Cyclone Owen, as an ex-tropical low, making landfall in Queensland on December 10.

Cyclone Owen made several landfalls in Queensland throughout its duration. Heavy rainfall, flash floods, and storm surge caused $25 million USD worth of damage (35.5 million in Australian dollars).[32] Near dissipation, Owen went out to sea as a subtropical low, and caused some minor damage in the eastern region.[32] The extratropical remnants of Owen caused some more minimal damage, before dissipating entirely.[32] Flash floods from Owen killed one person.[33]

On 17 December, when the rapidly dissipating Subtropical Low Owen approached for a third time, it caused rain to fall at a rate of over 97 mm (3.8 in) per hour.[34] Cyclone Owen brought to Australia the highest rainfall ever recorded in the month of December, with rainfall in Halifax, reaching 661 mm (26 in) on December 16.[35]

Owen's second and most severe landfall left 2,400 residents powerless. Owen caused several hailstorms. Owen's rainfall was catastrophic, and while it did put out several bushfires, Owen caused many landslides, which produced moderate damage. Most of the rest of the damage resulted from flash floods.[36]

Northern Territory

As a post-tropical low, Cyclone Owen made its first destructive landfall in the Northern Territory. Rainfall amounted to about 20 mm (0.79 in) in total.[32] Many of Owen's landfalls in Queensland affected Northern Territory as well. Port Roper, Port McArthur, and Groote Eylandt got hit by floods, heavy rainfall, and high winds repeatedly at various intensities.[37] Cyclone Owen, as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, made landfall just west of the Queensland/Northern Territory border, and caused some moderate damage.[38] Soon, however, Cyclone Owen went to Queensland, and warnings in Northern Territory were lifted.[39]

See also

References
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  2. Significant Tropical Weather Advisory 28 November 2018 20z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 28 November 2018. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018.
  3. Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans: 29 November 2018 06z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 29 November 2018. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  4. "The Australian Tropical Cyclone Database" (CSV). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. A guide on how to read the database is available here.
  5. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 1 December 2018 18z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 1 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  6. Severe Tropical Cyclone Owen (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. December 2018. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  7. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 2 December 2018 12z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2 December 2018. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
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  11. Cyclone Owen Advisory Number 2 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 3 December 2018. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018.
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  13. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 3 December 2018 18z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 3 December 2018. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  14. Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 4 December 2018 04z (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 4 December 2018. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  15. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 11 December 2018 00z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 11 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
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  18. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 11 December 2018 18z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 11 December 2018. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
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  23. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 13 December 2018 00z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 13 December 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  24. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 13 December 2018 06z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 13 December 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  25. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 13 December 2018 12z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 13 December 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  26. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 13 December 2018 18z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 13 December 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  27. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 14 December 2018 00z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 14 December 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  28. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 14 December 2018 06z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 14 December 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
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  31. "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: 15 December 2018 00z". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 15 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  32. "Storm Science Australia: Tropical Cyclone Owen". ausstormscience.com. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  33. "Man swept to his death after ex-cyclone Owen's record rain, as crocs let loose". The New Daily. 16 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  34. Gutro, Rob (17 December 2018). "NASA Finds Tiny Remnants of Tropical Cyclone Owen". blogs.nasa.org. NASA. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  35. "Weekly Tropical Climate Note: Cyclone Owen". Bureau of Meteorology. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  36. Bedo, Stephanie; Ferrier, Tracey; Morgan, Thomas; Whay, Michael (14 December 2018). "Warnings as Cyclone Owen bears down on the Northern Territory and Queensland coasts". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 11 September 2020. Destructive “zombie cyclone” Owen is bearing down on Australia today with coastal residents being told to brace for the worst
  37. "Tropical Cyclone Owen reaches category two, cyclone shelters opened in northeast Top End". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  38. "Tropical Cyclone Owen reaches category three on NT coast, may develop to category four today". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  39. "Ex-Cyclone Owen downgraded to tropical low half a day after crossing Queensland coast". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
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