Cyclone Craig (2003)
Encyclopedia
Cyclone Craig was a moderate tropical cyclone
that impacted northern Australia
in March 2003. The storm formed on 8 March from an area of disturbed weather that originated in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf
. Intensifying as it tracked eastward, Craig impacted the Northern Territory
before entering the Gulf of Carpentaria
on 11 March. A disorganized cyclone, the storm came ashore in Queensland
the next day and quickly deteriorated. Despite the relatively large area affected, damage was generally minimal and limited to gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and downed trees.
developed in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf
and drifted northward as it organized itself. On 8 March, the Bureau of Meteorology
in Darwin began to monitor the system. With conditions favorable for continued intensification, the maturing low pressure area
completed a clockwise loop to the west of Bathurst Island
. At around 0500 UTC on 9 March, the storm had attained tropical cyclone status while situated to the northwest of Cape Fourcroy
; as such, it was assigned the name Craig. The storm drifted eastward, then southeastward, strengthening as it did so. On 10 March the storm had entered the Timor Sea
, and shortly thereafter, Craig made landfall on the northeastern end of Melville Island with estimated 10-minute sustained winds of 95 km/h (60 mph).
Upon emerging into the Van Diemen Gulf
, Tropical Cyclone Craig attained its peak intensity, packing winds of 100 km/h (65 mph; 10-minute sustained) and a minimum barometric pressure reading of 976 mbar. It then struck the Coburg Peninsula and began to slowly deteriorate due to its interaction with land. Skirting eastward along the Northern Territory
coast, Craig began to pick up forward speed. At the same time, increasingly strong vertical wind shear
took its toll on the cyclone, leading to further weakening. However, it retained tropical cyclone status until reaching the Gulf of Carpentaria
late on 11 March.
Once over open waters, the storm system continued to accelerate as it turned southeastward and eventually east-southeastward. Due to relentless wind shear, the storm had difficulty in regaining organization and the circulation structure had become asymmetric. As Craig approached the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria, the apparent center visible on radar continued tracking southeastwards. However, the low-level center slowed and remained stationary for around 12 hours. On 12 March at 0600 UTC, the cyclone made its final landfall, south of Kowanyama. On moving ashore, the storm quickly weakened and slowed. Shortly thereafter, wind shear caused it to dissipate that night.
. The local government of the Tiwi Islands
evacuated some residents to shelters. In and around Darwin, certain schools were closed temporarily as a precaution. However, the city and surrounding regions were spared severe conditions.
Damage from the storm was generally insignificant due to the sparse population in the areas affected, and no casualties were reported. At Ramingining, 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain fell in just 24 hours. Storm surge ran 2 to 2.5 m (6.6 to 8.2 ft) on Goulburn Island and the Cobourg Peninsula
, while tides were estimated at 1.5 m (4.9 ft) at Nhulunbuy. McCluer Island reported sustained winds of about 75 km/h (46.6 mph) with gusts up to 96 km/h (59.7 mph). At Maningrida, following a brief lull, southeasterly winds picked up in intensify, downing numerous trees. Elcho Island
recorded 87 km/h (54.1 mph) gusts, and at Nhulunbuy winds of similar force were reported on 11 March.
Craig inflicted minor damage to small craft in the northwestern Gulf of Carpentaria
. Craig impacted, to some extent, the Tiwi Islands, Melville Island, and the Northern Territory
; however, its effects along the Queensland
coast were minimal. An uprooted tree at Kowanyama damaged one house, and the winds downed several others trees and tree limbs nearby. Throughout the region, roads were cut by the cyclone. Weipa recorded significant wave height
s of 3 m (9.8 ft).
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
that impacted northern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in March 2003. The storm formed on 8 March from an area of disturbed weather that originated in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf
Joseph Bonaparte Gulf
Joseph Bonaparte Gulf is a large body of water off the coast of the Northern Territory, Australia and Western Australia. It was named after Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon and King of Naples and then Spain by French explorer and naturalist Nicholas Baudin in 1803...
. Intensifying as it tracked eastward, Craig impacted the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
before entering the Gulf of Carpentaria
Gulf of Carpentaria
The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea...
on 11 March. A disorganized cyclone, the storm came ashore in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
the next day and quickly deteriorated. Despite the relatively large area affected, damage was generally minimal and limited to gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and downed trees.
Meteorological history
By 7 March 2003, an area of disturbed weather associated with the monsoon troughMonsoon trough
The monsoon trough is that portion of the Intertropical Convergence Zone which extends into or through a monsoon circulation, as depicted by a line on a weather map showing the locations of minimum sea level pressure, and as such, is a convergence zone between the wind patterns of the southern and...
developed in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf
Joseph Bonaparte Gulf
Joseph Bonaparte Gulf is a large body of water off the coast of the Northern Territory, Australia and Western Australia. It was named after Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon and King of Naples and then Spain by French explorer and naturalist Nicholas Baudin in 1803...
and drifted northward as it organized itself. On 8 March, the Bureau of Meteorology
Bureau of Meteorology
The Bureau of Meteorology is an Executive Agency of the Australian Government responsible for providing weather services to Australia and surrounding areas. It was established in 1906 under the Meteorology Act, and brought together the state meteorological services that existed before then...
in Darwin began to monitor the system. With conditions favorable for continued intensification, the maturing low pressure area
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
completed a clockwise loop to the west of Bathurst Island
Bathurst Island
A member of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Bathurst Island is one of the Queen Elizabeth Islands in Nunavut Territory, Canada. The area of the island is estimated at , making it the 54th largest island in the world and Canada's 13th largest island. It is uninhabited.The island is low-lying with...
. At around 0500 UTC on 9 March, the storm had attained tropical cyclone status while situated to the northwest of Cape Fourcroy
Cape Fourcroy
Cape Fourcroy is located at the western tip of Bathurst Island. Cyclone Tracy passed through here. It is the location of Cape Fourcroy Light, an active lighthouse....
; as such, it was assigned the name Craig. The storm drifted eastward, then southeastward, strengthening as it did so. On 10 March the storm had entered the Timor Sea
Timor Sea
The Timor Sea is a relatively shallow sea bounded to the north by the island of Timor, to the east by the Arafura Sea, to the south by Australia and to the west by the Indian Ocean....
, and shortly thereafter, Craig made landfall on the northeastern end of Melville Island with estimated 10-minute sustained winds of 95 km/h (60 mph).
Upon emerging into the Van Diemen Gulf
Van Diemen Gulf
Van Diemen Gulf is a gulf between Arnhem Land, of the attached Cobourg Peninsula and Melville Island in northern Australia. It is connected to the Timor Sea in the west by the Clarence Strait , and to the Arafura Sea in the north by Dundas Strait...
, Tropical Cyclone Craig attained its peak intensity, packing winds of 100 km/h (65 mph; 10-minute sustained) and a minimum barometric pressure reading of 976 mbar. It then struck the Coburg Peninsula and began to slowly deteriorate due to its interaction with land. Skirting eastward along the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
coast, Craig began to pick up forward speed. At the same time, increasingly strong vertical wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
took its toll on the cyclone, leading to further weakening. However, it retained tropical cyclone status until reaching the Gulf of Carpentaria
Gulf of Carpentaria
The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea...
late on 11 March.
Once over open waters, the storm system continued to accelerate as it turned southeastward and eventually east-southeastward. Due to relentless wind shear, the storm had difficulty in regaining organization and the circulation structure had become asymmetric. As Craig approached the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria, the apparent center visible on radar continued tracking southeastwards. However, the low-level center slowed and remained stationary for around 12 hours. On 12 March at 0600 UTC, the cyclone made its final landfall, south of Kowanyama. On moving ashore, the storm quickly weakened and slowed. Shortly thereafter, wind shear caused it to dissipate that night.
Preparations and impact
In advance of the storm, tropical cyclone advisories were declared for communities between Weipa and Mornington IslandMornington Island
Mornington Island is the northern most of 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group. The island is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria at and is part of the Gulf Country region in the Australian state of Queensland. The Manowar and Rocky Islands Important Bird Area lies about 40 km to...
. The local government of the Tiwi Islands
Tiwi Islands
The Tiwi Islands are part of Australia's Northern Territory, north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea joins the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island and Bathurst Island, with a combined area of ....
evacuated some residents to shelters. In and around Darwin, certain schools were closed temporarily as a precaution. However, the city and surrounding regions were spared severe conditions.
Damage from the storm was generally insignificant due to the sparse population in the areas affected, and no casualties were reported. At Ramingining, 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain fell in just 24 hours. Storm surge ran 2 to 2.5 m (6.6 to 8.2 ft) on Goulburn Island and the Cobourg Peninsula
Cobourg Peninsula
The Cobourg Peninsula is located 350 kilometres east of Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is deeply indented with coves and bays, covers a land area of about 2,100 km², and is virtually uninhabited with a population ranging from about 20 to 30 in five family outstations, but...
, while tides were estimated at 1.5 m (4.9 ft) at Nhulunbuy. McCluer Island reported sustained winds of about 75 km/h (46.6 mph) with gusts up to 96 km/h (59.7 mph). At Maningrida, following a brief lull, southeasterly winds picked up in intensify, downing numerous trees. Elcho Island
Elcho Island
Elcho Island is an island off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. It is located at the southern end of the Wessel Islands group located in the East Arnhem Region. The island's largest community is the settlement of Galiwin'ku....
recorded 87 km/h (54.1 mph) gusts, and at Nhulunbuy winds of similar force were reported on 11 March.
Craig inflicted minor damage to small craft in the northwestern Gulf of Carpentaria
Gulf of Carpentaria
The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea...
. Craig impacted, to some extent, the Tiwi Islands, Melville Island, and the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
; however, its effects along the Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
coast were minimal. An uprooted tree at Kowanyama damaged one house, and the winds downed several others trees and tree limbs nearby. Throughout the region, roads were cut by the cyclone. Weipa recorded significant wave height
Significant wave height
In physical oceanography, the significant wave height is defined traditionally as the mean wave height of the highest third of the waves , but now usually defined as four times the standard deviation of the surface elevation...
s of 3 m (9.8 ft).