Cyclone Glenda

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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
Disc Plain black.svg Tropical cyclone
Solid black.svg Subtropical cyclone
ArrowUp.svg Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On 15 March, a tropical disturbance developed in the south-western Gulf of Carpentaria. It moved westward, drifting across Top End, and it exited into the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf on 22 March. [1] The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) office in Darwin, which is the local Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, began issuing advisories on the system late on 23 March while it was located about 85 km (53 mi) east-south-east of Wyndham, Western Australia. Environmental conditions favored intensification as an anticyclone developed over the storm, which provided good outflow and low vertical wind shear. Initially, the primary inhibiting factor was land interaction. [2] After executing a small loop over water, the disturbance continued westward, crossing over the northern portion of Western Australia before emerging into the Indian Ocean on 26 March. [3] It began tracking west-southwestward just offshore of the Kimberley coastline, and its convection quickly concentrated. At 0000  UTC on 27 March, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classified it as Tropical Cyclone 20S. Three hours later, the BoM office in Perth upgraded the storm to Tropical Cyclone Glenda about 260 km (160 mi) north of Derby, Western Australia. [2]

Upon reaching open waters, Glenda quickly intensified, and midday on 27 March the BoM upgraded it to tropical cyclone status, or the equivalence of a minimal hurricane. [2] Shortly thereafter, the JTWC followed suit by upgrading it to cyclone status just 12 hours after first warning on the storm. [4] A wind gust of 113 km/h (70 mph) was reported on Adele Island as the cyclone passed nearby. [1] The track turned south westward around a steering ridge over Australia, aided by a mid-latitude trough. By 27 March, Glenda had developed a banding eye, and subsequently began rapid deepening, with warm water temperatures of over 30 °C (86 °F) and a very favourable upper-level environment. [4] At 1200 UTC on 28 March, the JTWC classified Glenda with peak winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) about 235 km (146 mi) west-north-west of Broome, or about 455 km (283 mi) north-north-east of Port Hedland; [4] however, in a subsequent analysis, the JTWC lowered their intensity estimate to 220 km/h (140 mph). [5] At the same time the BoM estimated the cyclone attained peak winds of 205 km/h (125 mph) with gusts to 295 km/h (185 mph), or a Category 5 on the Australian cyclone scale. [3] Its peak intensity of 910  mbar was tied for the fifth most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Australian basin. [6]

Initially, Cyclone Glenda was forecast to intensify further. However, a gradual increase in vertical shear caused the eye to become disorganised, [4] with land interaction contributing to further weakening. The BoM maintained Glenda as a Category 5 cyclone until 29 March, [3] and initially it was forecast to turn southward to move ashore near the populated region of Karratha at high tide. [7] It retained its south west track and passed over several weather stations, one of which recorded sustained winds of 176 km/h (109 mph). [1] Glenda made landfall near the less populated town of Onslow at around 10pm WST (1400 UTC) on 30 March. [8] The cyclone had weakened to a marginal Category 3 at the time of landfall. [8] The JTWC issued its final warning on Glenda shortly after it moved ashore. The cyclone turned south and south-south-eastward and rapidly weakened over land in an area of increasing wind shear, and early on 31 March the BoM downgraded Glenda to a tropical low. [2]

Preparations, impact and aftermath

Severe Tropical Cyclone Glenda
Glenda 28 mar 2006 0200Z.jpg
Glenda prior to peak intensity on 28 March
Most intense Australian cyclones
RankCycloneYearMin. pressure
1 Gwenda 1999 900  hPa (26.58  inHg)
Inigo 2003
3 George 2007 902 hPa (26.64 inHg)
4 Orson 1989 905 hPa (26.72 inHg)
Marcus 2018
6 Theodore 1994 910 hPa (26.87 inHg)
Vance 1999
Fay 2004
Glenda 2006
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology [9]
Cyclone Glenda near landfall on 30 March STC Glenda 30 mar 2006 0610Z.jpg
Cyclone Glenda near landfall on 30 March

The precursor system dropped heavy rainfall on 23 March in the eastern Kimberley in the state of Western Australia. The rainfall led to record flooding in the area; the flooding washed out several roads near Kununurra, including a portion of the Great Northern Highway. Six people were evacuated due to the flooding. [10]

Offshore, the threat of Glenda prompted officials to close oil, representing a lack of production of 154,000 barrels of oil. Additionally, natural gas fields were closed, and several ports along the coastline were shut down during the passage of the storm. [11] Prior to the storm's landfall, officials issued a Red Alert for several communities. Storm shelters were opened in Karratha and Onslow, [10] while a few hundred people evacuated along the coastline. [12]

Glenda made landfall near Onslow, where sustained winds reached 117 km/h (73 mph). There, the storm produced a 24‑hour rainfall total of 206 mm (8.1 in), which is the sixth greatest daily precipitation on record in the town. Several other locations reported over 200 mm (7.9 in), though overall precipitation was less than a usual landfalling tropical cyclone. [1] The rainfall flooded several roads. [10] The winds downed several trees and power lines, [13] which left about 2,000 people in Karratha without electricity; [12] the power outage was quickly repaired. [13] Several windows at the hospital in Onslow were broken, resulting in some minor water damage. [13] Overall damage was minor, [3] and no deaths or injuries were reported, [13] which was credited to the storm's weakening and preparations in the landfall area. [3] In all, damages from the storm amounted to A$1.2 million (US$965,000). [14] The disruption to shipping companies resulted in economic losses of A$30 million (US$24.1 million). [15] Oil companies reported a loss of 500 tonnes during the economic quarter due to the cyclone. [16] The Onslow Salt company reported upwards of A$20 million (US$16 million) in lost revenue. [14]

Following the storm, residents and companies affected by the storm were allowed to file insurance claims. About A$240,000 (US$193,000) was filed in repair claims for council buildings and A$69,000 (US$55,000) in airport insurance. About A$99,000 (US$79,000) and A$300,000 (US$241,000) was provided in financial support for television and broadcasting infrastructure and aerodrome infrastructure respectively. [14]

The Bureau of Meteorology retired the name Glenda following its usage. [17]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Significant Weather — March 2006" (PDF). Bureau of Meteorology. 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gary Padgett (2006). "March 2006 Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Summary". Australia Severa Weather. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (2006). "Severe Tropical Cyclone Glenda" (PDF). Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2006). "Warnings on Cyclone Glenda". Australia Severe Weather. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  5. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2007). "Best Track for Cyclone Glenda". United States Navy. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
  6. ↑ "Australian Region Best Track 1907-2006" (Zip). Bureau of Meteorology. 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2007.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ "WA Tropical Cyclone Season Summary 2005-06". Bureau of Meteorology. 2006. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  8. 1 2 "Severe Tropical Cyclone Glenda" (PDF). Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Australian Tropical Cyclone Database" (CSV). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023. A guide on how to read the database is available here.
  10. 1 2 3 Fire and Emergency Services Authority (2007). "2005-06 Cyclones in Western Australia" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  11. ↑ Bloomberg (29 March 2006). "Cyclone Glenda Shuts Ports, Oil Fields in Australia". Bloomberg News . Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  12. 1 2 Impact Forecasting (2006). "Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report: 2006" (PDF). Retrieved 15 April 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  13. 1 2 3 4 Australian Associated Press (31 March 2006). "Pilbara unscathed by cyclone Glenda". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  14. 1 2 3 Shire of Ashburton (19 June 2007). "Ordinary Council Meeting". Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  15. ↑ Staff Writer (30 March 2006). "Cyclone Glenda makes landfall". ABC News. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  16. ↑ Staff Writer (26 April 2006). "Activities Report for the Period Ended 31 March 2006" (PDF). Minara Resources Limited. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  17. ↑ RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee (2024). Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-East Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean 2024 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 14 October 2024.

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