2014–15 Australian region cyclone season

Tropical cyclone season March 2017 2014-2015 Australian region cyclone season summary.png Aus 2015 3 December 2014 5 July 2015 (record latest) Marcia 930 110 10 17 9 7 2 total 798.4 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17 2014–15 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 2014–15 South Pacific cyclone season The 2014–15 Australian region cyclone season was a slightly below average tropical cyclone season, though it featured numerous intense cyclones. The season officially ran from 1 November 2014, to 30 April 2015, however, a tropical cyclone formed at any time between 1 July 2014, and 30 June 2015 would count towards the season total. During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored, by one of the five Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs) that are operated in this region. Three of the five centres are operated by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) in Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane, while the other two are operated by the National Weather Service of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby and the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics in Jakarta, Indonesia. The United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and other national meteorological services, including Météo-France, also monitored the basin during the season. __TOC__ Seasonal forecasts Region Chance ofmore Averagenumber Actualactivity Whole34%118 Western 43%73 North-Western 38%50 Northern 46%32 Eastern 42%43 Southern Pacific48%159 Western South Pacific56%87 Eastern South Pacific47%112 Source: BOM's Seasonal Outlooks for Tropical Cyclones.2014–2015 Australian Tropical Cyclone Season Outlook National Climate Centre http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/tc.shtml Australian Bureau of Meteorology 13 October 2014 13 October 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131007061251/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/tc.shtml 7 October 2013 2014–2015 South Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season Outlook Australian Bureau of Meteorology National Climate Centre http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/south-pacific/tc.shtml 15 October 2014 15 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20131105080550/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/south-pacific/tc.shtml 5 November 2013 dead dmy Ahead of the cyclone season, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and various other Pacific Meteorological services, all contributed towards the Island Climate Update tropical cyclone outlook that was released during October 2014.http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1410/TCforecast.docx Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook: Near-average tropical cyclone numbers for the region is likely, with increased activity from February onward The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research 15 October 2014 22 October 2014 The outlook took into account the ENSO neutral conditions that had been observed across the Pacific and analogue seasons that had ENSO neutral and weak El Niño conditions occurring during the season. The outlook called for a near average number of tropical cyclones for the 2014–15 season, with eight to twelve named tropical cyclones, to occur between 135°E and 120°W compared to an average of 10. At least four of the tropical cyclones were expected to become category 3 severe tropical cyclones, while three could become category 4 severe tropical cyclones, they also noted that a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone was unlikely to occur. In addition to contributing towards the Island Climate Update outlook, the BoM issued eight seasonal forecasts during October 2014, for the Australian region and the Southern Pacific with each forecast covering the whole tropical cyclone year. Each forecast issued took into account the near El Niño conditions that had developed over the region and the El Niño episode that was expected to develop during the season. For the basin as a whole, they predicted that there was a 34% chance, that the season would be near its average of around 11 tropical cyclones. For the Western region between 90°E and 125°E, the BoM forecast that the area would see activity near to the average of 7, with a 43% chance of an above-average cyclone season. TCWC Perth also noted that there was a likelihood of two tropical cyclones and a significant likelihood of at least one severe tropical cyclone impacting Western Australia.Australian Bureau of Meteorology Western Australia Seasonal Tropical Cyclone Outlook http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/outlooks/seasonal/wa.shtml 13 October 2014 Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre https://web.archive.org/web/20141012211822/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/outlooks/seasonal/wa.shtml 12 October 2014 13 October 2014 live dmy For the North-Western subregion between 105°E and 130°E, it was predicted that activity would be below average, with a 38% chance of above average tropical cyclone activity. The Northern Territory which was defined as being between as being 125°E and 142.5°E had a 46% chance of an above average season, with TCWC Darwin noting that all of the climate drivers were pointing towards a typical tropical cyclone season for Northern Australia.Australian Bureau of Meteorology Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Outlook for the Northern Territory http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/outlooks/seasonal/nt.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20140116010101/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/outlooks/seasonal/nt.shtml 16 January 2014 Darwin Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre 16 January 2014 14 October 2013 dead The Eastern region between 142.5°E and 160°E was predicted to have a near normal tropical cyclone season, though it was noted that there was a possibility of a delayed start to the season.Australian Bureau of Meteorology Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Outlook for The Coral Sea http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/outlooks/seasonal/qld.shtml 13 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141011023939/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/outlooks/seasonal/qld.shtml 11 October 2014 13 October 2014 live dmy The BoM also issued 3 seasonal forecasts for the Southern Pacific between 142.5°E and 120°W, one for the Western Southern Pacific region between 142.5°E and 165°E and one for the Eastern Southern Pacific region between 165°E and 120°W. They predicted that the region as a whole would experience near average tropical cyclone activity during the coming season with a 55% chance of it being above average. The Western region was predicted to have 39% chance of being above average while the Eastern region had a 55% chance of being above average. An updated Island Climate Update tropical cyclone outlook was issued during February 2015, which suggested that near normal activity was still possible.http://www.niwa.co.nz/news/southwest-pacific-tropical-cyclone-outlook-update Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook Update 9 February 2015 28 March 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150328225850/http://www.niwa.co.nz/news/southwest-pacific-tropical-cyclone-outlook-update National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research 18 March 2015 live dmy The outlook took into account Tropical Cyclones Niko and Ola as well as the weak El Niño conditions, that were predicted to persist over the region. As a result, the update predicted that an additional six to eight named tropical cyclones would develop over the basin, which would bring the overall total to between eight and ten tropical cyclones. The update also predicted that at least four tropical cyclones would intensify into category three severe tropical cyclones, of which three could intensify and become either a category four or five severe tropical cyclones. Seasonal summary Systems Tropical Low 01U Aus 3 December 4 December 01U_2014_track.png 30 1000 On 3 December, TCWC Perth reported that Tropical Low 01U had developed over open water to the southwest of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, after various applications of the Dvorak technique had produced results between T2.0 and T3.0.Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: Australia: Western Region: 3 December 2014: 19:00 UTC https://archive.today/20240521205846/https://www.webcitation.org/6UZ7z0JoN?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/AXAU01-APRF_201412031900.htm 21 May 2024 http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDD20020.txt 1 January 2015 Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre Australian Bureau of Meteorology 3 December 2014 live dmy They also reported that the low could develop into a tropical cyclone during the following six to twelve hours, however, TCWC Perth issued its final advisory on the system during the next day as the system was not likely to develop into a tropical cyclone and had started weakening.High Seas Weather Warning for Metarea 10: 3 December 2014: 18:58 UTC https://archive.today/20240521205721/https://www.webcitation.org/6UZ7wofen?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTAU05-APRF_201412031858.htm 21 May 2024 Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDD20020.txt 1 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 3 December 2014 live dmy Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: Australia: Western Region: 4 December 2014: 07:10 UTC https://archive.today/20240521205803/https://www.webcitation.org/6UZ7yc2Xm?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/AXAU01-APRF_201412040710.htm 21 May 2024 Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDD20020.txt 1 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 4 December 2014 live dmy Tropical Cyclone Bakung Aus 10 December 13 December Bakung Dec 11 2014 0650Z.jpg Bakung 2014 track.png 50 40 991 During 10 December, a tropical low developed about 535 km mi 5 on to the north-east of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Western Region 10 December 2014 https://archive.today/20240521205645/https://www.webcitation.org/6UwpkFYz6?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/IDW10800_201412100610.htm http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml 10 December 2014 1 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 21 May 2024 live dmy The system had developed within a favourable environment for further development, with low to moderate vertical wind shear and a good poleward outflow which was being enhanced by a trough of low pressure.http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/ab/abioweb.txt https://archive.today/20240521205302/https://www.webcitation.org/6Uwmlu7Kx?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTXS21-PGTW_201412110230.htm Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert 11 December 2014 02:30z United States Navy, United States Airforce Joint Typhoon Warning Center 1 January 2015 dead 21 May 2024 Over the next day, the system gradually intensified/developed further, with atmospheric convection deepening near the centre of the system.RSMC La Réunion Tropical Cyclone Center 1 January 2015 Bulletin for Cyclonic Activity and Significant Tropical Weather in the Southwest Indian Ocean 11 December 2014 12:06 UTC 2015 Météo-France https://web.archive.org/web/20150101195458/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_201412111127.pdf http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_201412111127.pdf 11 December 2014 1 January 2015 dead dmy-all TCWC Jakarta subsequently named the low Bakung during 11 December, as it was thought that the system had become a Category 2 tropical cyclone on the Australian Scale.Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics https://archive.today/20240521210046/https://www.webcitation.org/6VGEWhm3a?url=http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/WIIX/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20141211/144600/A_WTID01WIIX111446_C_RJTD_20141211144705_78.txt Jakarta Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre http://meteo.bmkg.go.id/data/tc/IDJ21030.txt Ocean Gale and Storm Warning 11 December 2014 14:46 UTC 11 December 2014 1 January 2015 21 May 2024 live dmy RSMC La Réunion Tropical Cyclone Center Météo-France Bulletin for Cyclonic Activity and Significant Tropical Weather in the Southwest Indian Ocean 12 December 2014 12:06 UTC http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_201412121207.pdf 12 December 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20150101185544/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_201412121207.pdf 1 January 2015 1 January 2015 dead dmy-all At the same time, TCWC Jakarta reported that Bakung had peaked with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h mph on 5 before the JTWC initiated advisories on the system later that day and designated it Tropical Cyclone 03S.United States Navy, United States Airforce Tropical Cyclone 03S (Bakung) Warning 11 December 2014 21:00z http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/raw/wt/wtxs31.pgtw..txt https://archive.today/20240521205433/https://www.webcitation.org/6Uwn2eYDS?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTXS31-PGTW_201412112100.htm Joint Typhoon Warning Center 1 January 2015 21 May 2024 dead 11 December 2014 On 12 December, TCWC Jakarta reported that the system had weakened into a Category 1 tropical cyclone, while the JTWC reported that the system had intensified slightly and reached its peak intensity with 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h mph on 5.Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics https://web.archive.org/web/20150102001507/http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/WIIX/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20141212/013000/A_WTID01WIIX120130_C_RJTD_20141212013018_24.txt Jakarta Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre 12 December 2014 Ocean Gale and Storm Warning 12 December 2014 01:29 UTC http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/WIIX/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20141212/013000/A_WTID01WIIX120130_C_RJTD_20141212013018_24.txt 1 January 2015 2 January 2015 dead dmy-all United States Navy, United States Airforce Tropical Cyclone 03S (Bakung) Warning 12 December 2014 09:00z 12 December 2014 http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/raw/wt/wtxs31.pgtw..txt https://archive.today/20240521205521/https://www.webcitation.org/6Uwn2L9XY?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTXS31-PGTW_201412120900.htm Joint Typhoon Warning Center 1 January 2015 dead 21 May 2024 Early the next day as Tropical Cyclone Bakung continued to move westwards, it moved out of the Australian region and into the South-West Indian Ocean.RSMC La Réunion Tropical Cyclone Center 1 January 2015 Bulletin for Cyclonic Activity and Significant Tropical Weather in the Southwest Indian Ocean 13 December 2014 12:06 UTC Météo-France https://web.archive.org/web/20150101224308/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_201412131209.pdf http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_201412131209.pdf 13 December 2014 1 January 2015 dead dmy-all Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics https://web.archive.org/web/20150102001505/http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/WIIX/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20141213/020200/A_WTID01WIIX130202_C_RJTD_20141213020246_91.txt Jakarta Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre 13 December 2014 1 January 2015 2 January 2015 http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/WIIX/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20141213/020200/A_WTID01WIIX130202_C_RJTD_20141213020246_91.txt Ocean Gale and Storm Warning 13 December 2014 02:02 UTC dead dmy-all However, during that day the system's low-level circulation centre became exposed and displaced about 280 km mi 5 on from the deep convection.RSMC La Réunion Tropical Cyclone Center 21 May 2024 Tropical Cyclone Forecast Warning 13 December 2014 05:59 UTC Météo-France https://archive.today/20240521210004/https://www.webcitation.org/6VGcwNXe0?url=http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/FMEE/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20141213/055900/A_WTIO30FMEE130559_C_RJTD_20141213061204_62.txt 13 December 2014 http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/d/o/FMEE/Alphanumeric/Warning/Tropical_cyclone/20141213/061300/A_WTIO20FMEE130613CCA_C_RJTD_20141213061404_77.txt 1 January 2015 live dmy As a result, TCWC Jakarta and the JTWC issued their final warnings on the system, while RSMC La Réunion declared it to be a remnant low in their only warning on the system.http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/raw/wt/wtxs31.pgtw..txt https://archive.today/20240521205343/https://www.webcitation.org/6Uwn1EQNw?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTXS31-PGTW_201412130900.htm Tropical Cyclone 03S (Bakung) Warning 13 December 2014 09:00z United States Navy, United States Airforce Joint Typhoon Warning Center 1 January 2015 21 May 2024 dead 13 December 2014 Severe Tropical Cyclone Kate Aus 21 December 30 December (Exited basin) Kate 2014-12-27 0405Z.jpg Kate 2014 path.png 86 105 967 On 21 December, TCWC Perth reported that Tropical Low 04U had developed within the monsoon trough to the southeast of Sumatra, Indonesia.http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/sevwx/wa/watc20141221.shtml Western Australian Regional Office Severe Tropical Cyclone Kate https://web.archive.org/web/20150923194041/http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/sevwx/wa/watc20141221.shtml 1 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 1 January 2015 23 September 2015 live dmy Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Western Region 22 December 2014 http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW10800.shtml https://archive.today/20240521205923/https://www.webcitation.org/6V2Br1jaf?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/IDW10800_201412220551.htm 22 December 2014 1 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 21 May 2024 live dmy Over the next few days, the system gradually developed further as it moved south-eastwards before it started to move towards the southwest, passing on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands during 23 December. Early the next day, it intensified into a Category 1 tropical cyclone, as BOM named the system Kate. The next day, Kate continued to intensify as an eye developed and reached peak intensity as a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone. On 27 December, it weakened as it underwent an eyewall replacement cycle. On 30 December, the BoM reported that Kate had moved out of the Australian region and into the South-West Indian Ocean basin with 10-minute sustained winds of 80 kn km/h mph 5 out on on.Severe Tropical Cyclone Kate Australian Bureau of Meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/kate14.pdf Patterson, Linda A 2 June 2022 May 2015 107.6mm of rain was recorded in a 24-hour period on the islandAugust 2021 which island?. Flooding was reported from Home and West Islands. Some trees were damaged and there was some property damage.Reliable source(s) needed for the whole paragraph August 2021 January 2015 Tropical Low 05U Aus 2 January 10 January 05U Jan 7 2015.jpg 05U 2015 track.png low On 2 January, TCWC Perth and Darwin started to monitor Tropical Low 05U, that had developed within the monsoon trough near Wyndham in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Western Region 2 January 2015 http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW10800.shtml https://archive.today/20240521210244/https://www.webcitation.org/6VHbgVUuv?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/IDW10800_201501020600.htm 2 January 2015 2 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 21 May 2024 live dmy Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Northern Region 2 January 2015 2 January 2015 http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW10800.shtml https://archive.today/20240521210328/https://www.webcitation.org/6VHQLi6YG?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/IDD10610_201501020445.htm 2 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 21 May 2024 live dmy Over the next few days, the low moved slowly towards the southwest and passed to the southeast of Derby during 6 and 7 January. On 8 January, the low began a southward track before tracking to the east on 9 January. During the same day, the low moved south of Fitzroy Crossing and south of Halls Creek later in the evening. The system crossed into the Northern Territory early on 10 January before dissipating later that day. In total, over 1000mm of rain was recorded over inland communities due to 05U.Microsoft Word – 05U web summary http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/sevwx/wa/watc20150110_web_summary.pdf 21 May 2017 Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Tropical Low 06U Aus 10 January 13 January 06U_2015_track.png low On 10 January, TCWC Brisbane reported that Tropical Low 06U had developed within the monsoon trough, within an unfavorable environment for further development to the northeast of Queensland.Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Coral Sea 10 January 2015 http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ10810.shtml https://archive.today/20240522203116/https://www.webcitation.org/6VUs6iKoh?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/IDQ10810_201501100430.htm 10 January 2015 24 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 22 May 2024 live dmy Over the next couple of days, the system moved southeastwards and may have influenced the track of Tropical Low 07U, before it was last noted during 13 January.Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin: Australia: Eastern Region: 11 January 2015 07:17z https://archive.today/20240521210451/https://www.webcitation.org/6VUrkfPR7?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/AXAU21-ABRF_201501110717.htm Australian Bureau of Meteorology 21 May 2024 12 January 2015 http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml Brisbane Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre live dmy Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Coral Sea 13 January 2015 http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ10810.shtml https://archive.today/20240521210410/https://www.webcitation.org/6VogsBNO6?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/IDQ10810_201501130447.htm 13 January 2015 24 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 21 May 2024 live dmy Tropical Low 07U Aus 10 January 13 January 07U Jan 12 2015.jpg 07U 2015 track.png 30 998 low On 10 January, the BoM started to monitor a tropical low south of the Solomon Islands. It gradually moved on the south, passing just east of Australia, before it was last noted on the 13th of the same month as it dissipated to the northwest of New Caledonia. It peaked at 55 km/h (35 mph) on its lifetime, with 998 hPa (mbar). Tropical Low 08U Aus 16 January 20 January 17 1003 low During 17 January, a tropical low that had been monitored by the BoM for a few days, moved into the Northern Kimberley region from the Northern Territory.Western Australian Regional Office http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/sevwx/wa/watc20150120_05U_part_2_web_summary_final.pdf Tropical Low https://web.archive.org/web/20150923194043/http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/sevwx/wa/watc20150120_05U_part_2_web_summary_final.pdf January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 17 February 2015 23 September 2015 live dmy Over the next couple of days, the system moved south-westwards over land before it moved offshore and into the Indian Ocean near Broome during 19 January. As computer models were predicting conditions surrounding the low to be marginally favourable for further development, TCWC Perth expected the system to develop into a tropical cyclone and issued tropical cyclone advice for coastal areas from Kuri Bay to Exmouth. However, as the system spent more time over land than had been forecasted and vertical wind shear did not weaken as much as forecasted. As a result, the system failed to develop into a tropical cyclone as it moved south-westwards towards the Pilbara coast before it dissipated near Port Hedland during 20 January. Tropical Low 09U Aus 30 January 30 January low Tropical Low 12U Aus 13 February 16 February low On 13 February, a tropical low developed roughly 700 km (430 mi) southwest of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The BoM stopped warning on it late on 16 February as it moved in a southerly direction. Severe Tropical Cyclone Lam Cyclone Lam Aus 12 February 20 February Lam 2015 track.png Lam Feb 19 2015 0435Z.jpg 100 100 942 Cyclone Lam was the strongest storm to strike Australia's Northern Territory since Cyclone Monica in 2006. It formed from the monsoon trough on 12 February in the Coral Sea. For much of its duration, the system moved westward due to a ridge to the south. The system crossed over the Cape York Peninsula and moved into the Gulf of Carpentaria, whereupon it gradually organized due to warm waters and favorable outflow. On 16 February, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) classified it as a Category 1 on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and gave it the name Lam. The storm intensified further while drifting toward the Wessel Islands, developing an eye and strengthening to the equivalence of a minimal hurricane on 18 February. It strengthened to reach maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h mph on 5 early on 19 February before turning to the southwest, making it a Category 4 cyclone. That day, it made landfall on Northern Territory between Milingimbi and Elcho Island at peak intensity, and it rapidly weakened over land. About six hours after Lam moved ashore, Cyclone Marcia struck Queensland as a Category 5 cyclone, marking the first time on record that two storms of Category 4 intensity struck Australia on the same day. In its formative stages, Lam produced heavy rainfall and flooding in Far North Queensland. Later, the cyclone's rainfall set daily precipitation records in Northern Territory. However, the winds caused the most damage, with gusts estimated as high as 230 km/h mph on 5. The highest gust was 170 km/h mph on 5 at Cape Wessel on Rimbija Island. Lam caused considerable destruction, particularly affecting local aboriginal communities. Total damage in the Northern Territory reached at least A$82.4 million (US$64.3 million). Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia Cyclone Marcia Aus 15 February 26 February Marcia 2015 track.png Marcia 2015-02-19 Suomi NPP.jpg 110 125 932 On 16 February, the BoM started to monitor a weak tropical disturbance in the Coral Sea. It quickly developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on 18 February, earning the name Marcia. It was upgraded to Category 2 the following day when it was approximately 555 km mi north of Bundaberg and again upgraded to Category 3 severe tropical cyclone when approximately 290 km mi north of Yeppoon. On 19 February, due to a developing, clear eye, the JTWC upgraded Marcia to a Category 2 whilst the BoM upgraded it as a Category 4. Due to explosive intensification, Marcia became a Category 5 according to the BoM early on 20 February. It affected Queensland, and last noted on 26th of the same month as it dissipated, west-southwest of New Caledonia. The boat of two fishermen traveling to Fraser Island sank due to rough seas on the morning of 19 February, however, they were found safe and well on nearby Moon Boom Island the next morning.https://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/02/20/06/50/men-missing-in-boat-off-fraser-island Missing fisherman found 'safe and well' on Moon Boom island after search 20 February 2015 9News 20 January 2019 The storm wrought extensive damage in Queensland, with losses amounting to A$750 million (US$590.5 million).Pamela Frost Noosa News 23 March 2015 24 March 2015 Damage bill for Cyclone Marcia reaches $750 million http://www.noosanews.com.au/news/damage-bill-cyclone-marcia-reaches-750-million/2583226/ Severe Tropical Cyclone Olwyn Cyclone Olwyn Aus 8 March 14 March Olwyn Mar 13 2015 0250Z.jpg Olwyn 2015 track.png 75 85 955 On 8 March, the BoM started to monitor a weak tropical low over Western Australia. The system was later designated as 16U a few days later. Due to an increase in convection, both the BoM and JTWC upgraded the system to a Category 1 tropical cyclone, naming it Olwyn on 11 March. Just before 12 March, Olwyn rapidly developed a ragged eye, as the BoM upgraded the system to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone. Early on 13 March, Olwyn reached its peak strength of 140 km/h (85 mph) as the JTWC classified it as a Category 2 cyclone. However, after a few hours, the JTWC downgraded it to a Category 1 cyclone as it weakened from land interaction. On the same day, Olwyn made landfall over southwestern Australia as a weakening cyclone. Rapidly weakening inland, it emerged on the Southern Ocean as a decaying remnant low. It dissipated onwards. Olwyn caused extensive damage along the coast of Western Australia, from Onslow to Kalbarri. In preparation for the storm, the Pilbara Ports authority closed the ports of Dampier and Ashburton.http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/cyclone-olwyn-live-updates/story-fnhocxo3-1227262071011 https://web.archive.org/web/20150314063843/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/cyclone-olwyn-live-updates/story-fnhocxo3-1227262071011 dead 14 March 2015 Cyclone Olwyn: Live updates 21 March 2015 14 March 2014 Perth Now The entire workforce on Barrow Island was evacuated to the island's cyclone shelter.Daily Observations Weatherzone 12 March 2015 22 March 2015 Barrow Island 24 Hour Observations http://www.weatherzone.com.au/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=5094&dt=12%2F03%2F2015 Upon landfall, a maximum wind gust of 180 km/h on was recorded at Learmonth.Daily Observations Weatherzone 13 March 2015 22 March 2015 Learmonth 24 Hour Observations http://www.weatherzone.com.au/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=5007&dt=13%2F03%2F2015 Trees were uprooted and power was cut for several days.Daniel Smith and Geoff Boughton James Cook University 16 March 2015 22 March 2015 Cyclone Olwyn Rapid Damage Assessment Report https://www.jcu.edu.au/cts/publications/content/cyclone-olwyn-rapid-damage-assessment-report/view 2 April 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114822/https://www.jcu.edu.au/cts/publications/content/cyclone-olwyn-rapid-damage-assessment-report/view dead Damage was more severe further south at Carnarvon where most houses are not built to cyclone standards, unlike in Exmouth. Olwyn passed over the town at category 3 status, unroofing and severely damaging multiple houses, while many sheds and outbuildings were totally destroyed.http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/health-fears-as-carnarvon-counts-the-cost-of-tropical-cyclone-olwyn/story-fnhocxo3-1227263581764 https://web.archive.org/web/20150315184224/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/health-fears-as-carnarvon-counts-the-cost-of-tropical-cyclone-olwyn/story-fnhocxo3-1227263581764 dead 15 March 2015 Health fears as Carnarvon counts the cost of Tropical Cyclone Olwyn 22 March 2015 15 March 2014 Perth Now One person was killed in a storm-related car accident. Total damage in Carnarvon was estimated to be in excess of A$100 million (US$76.3 million),Kate Emery, Aiden Boyham and Natalie Brown The West Australian 16 March 2015 17 March 2015 Carnarvon counts the cost https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/26676155/carnarvon-counts-the-cost/ 29 March 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150329220150/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/26676155/carnarvon-counts-the-cost/ live dmy and Olwyn has been noted as the most severe cyclone to have hit the town since 1950. On 15 March Olwyn's remnants brought severe storms to the Southern Western Australia. Olwyn was the first ex-tropical cyclone to affect Geraldton, the Wheatbelt region and Perth since Cyclone Iggy in 2012.Daily Summaries Weatherzone 22 March 2015 22 March 2015 Perth Daily Summaries http://www.weatherzone.com.au/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=9225&list=ds Due to the extensive damage, the name Olwyn was retired. Severe Tropical Cyclone Nathan Cyclone Nathan (2015) Aus 9 March 25 March Nathan Mar 19 2015 1550Z.png Nathan 2015 track.png 80 100 969 Shortly after Cyclone Pam was classified on the South Pacific, the outer rainbands of Pam led to the formation of a tropical low near Australia on 9 March. Later that day, the BoM designated the system as 17U and intensified into Tropical Cyclone Nathan several hours later. It slowly executed a cyclonic loop over the next few days, moving across Arnhem Land.Purtill James Cyclone Nathan: Cyclone-ready Northern Territory town of Nhulunbuy hit harder than ever before http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-22/prepared-nhulunbuy-community-weathers-cyclone-nathan/6339396 23 March 2015 ABC News After intensifying to an initial peak intensity of 165 km/h mph on 5, Nathan weakened while crossing the Cape York Peninsula and reintensified over the Gulf of Carpentaria. It impacted Arnhem Land as an equivalent of a Category 1 cyclone, before hitting Darwin, Northern Territory the same day. It dissipated afterwards. The remnants of Nathan brought 106 mm in on of rainfall to Onslow, Western Australia on 30 March. Cyclone Nathan hit the Arnhem Land one month after Cyclone Lam. March 2021 Total damage in northern Queensland were about A$74.8 million (US$57 million).Masters Jeff Category 3 Tropical Cyclone Debbie Pounding Queensland, Australia https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/category-3-tropical-cyclone-debbie-pounding-queensland-australia 27 March 2017 30 March 2017 Weather Underground Severe Tropical Cyclone Ikola Aus 6 April (Entered basin) 8 April Ikola 2015-04-07 0425Z.jpg Ikola 2015 path.png 95 115 953 On 6 April, the BoM had reported that Ikola had entered the basin as a severe tropical cyclone from the Southwest Indian Ocean basin and was designated as 19U. Ikola rapidly weakened due to moving into a region of increasing wind shear, becoming a category 3 tropical cyclone by the evening of 7 April. Along with decreasing sea surface temperatures and further increases of wind shear caused Ikola to weaken more to a tropical low on the afternoon of 8 April. The low then proceeded to become a trough system, bringing heavy rainfall to the southwestern parts of Western Australia and severe storms to the southeast of Western Australia. Ikola soaked Central Western Australia and affected Perth from 6–12 April. Ikola was also the first cyclone to move into the Australian basin from the Southwest Indian Ocean basin since Cyclone Alenga in 2011. Severe Tropical Cyclone Quang Aus 27 April 1 May Quang Apr 30 2015 0250Z.jpg Quang 2015 track.png 100 120 950 List of off-season Australian region tropical cyclones On 27 April, the BoM started to monitor a tropical low over Western Australia that had formed from a monsoon trough. Later that day, the system gradually intensified as it was designated as 21U. The next day, 21U intensified into Tropical Cyclone Quang. Quang proceeded to intensify rapidly during 29 and 30 April, reaching a maximum intensity of a category 4 severe tropical cyclone. Quang was located 600 km northwest of the North West Cape region before turning in a southeast direction. Quang moved southeast during 1 May while rapidly weakening due to an increase of wind shear, disrupting the cyclones structure in the process. Quang was downgraded to a category 3 severe tropical cyclone in the morning of 1 May and continued to weaken during the course of the day, becoming a Category 1 before making landfall near the Exmouth coast on the night of 1 May and quickly weakened to a tropical low after it hit Exmouth. It dissipated thereafter. Quang did minimal damage to Exmouth, Western Australia.Bureau of Meteorology 25 May 2017 Tropical Cyclone Quang http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/quang.shtml Tropical Low 22U Aus 12 May 14 May low Tropical Cyclone Raquel Aus 30 June (Entered basin) 5 July Raquel 2015-06-30 2340Z.jpeg Raquel 2015 track.png 35 45 996 Cyclone Raquel List of off-season Australian region tropical cyclones Late on 30 June, Tropical Depression 17F moved into the Australian region from the South Pacific and intensified gradually into Tropical Cyclone Raquel. After drifting for the next two days, it exited the basin, moving back into the South Pacific. However, Raquel re-entered the basin early on 4 July as a weakening depression. The next day, Raquel was declared a remnant low. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, it is the only known instance of a tropical cyclone during July in the region since the satellite era began (since at least 1970) until Tropical Cyclone 01U in 2022.Bureau of Meteorology 19 March 2016 Tropical Cyclone Raquel Impacts http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/sevwx/qld/qldtc20150630.shtml As a byproduct of becoming a tropical cyclone on the first day of the new cyclone year, it marked the earliest start to a season in the basin on record.Peter Hannam The Sydney Morning Herald 1 July 2015 2 July 2015 Cyclone Raquel forms as earliest big storm recorded off Australia's north-east http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/cyclone-raquel-forms-as-earliest-big-storm-recorded-off-australias-northeast-20150701-gi23c7.html Other systems On 13 December, TCWC Perth reported that a tropical low had developed, to the south of the Indonesian island of Java.Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Western Region 13 December 2014 http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW10800.shtml https://archive.today/20240521205605/https://www.webcitation.org/6UwpiOZ0j?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/IDW10800_201412130659.htm 13 December 2014 1 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 21 May 2024 live dmy Conditions surrounding the system were unfavourable for further development over the next few days, however, TCWC Perth thought that there was a small chance that conditions could improve.Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Western Region 14 December 2014 http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW10800.shtml https://archive.today/20240521210125/https://www.webcitation.org/6VGRHXE95?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/IDW10800_201412140600.htm 14 December 2014 1 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 21 May 2024 live dmy Over the next few days, the system moved south-westwards, before it was last noted on 15 December, as it was not expected to develop further.Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Western Region 15 December 2014 http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW10800.shtml https://archive.today/20240521210206/https://www.webcitation.org/6VGRPTaEG?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/IDW10800_201412150548.htm 15 December 2014 1 January 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 21 May 2024 live dmy Storm names During the season a total of 7 tropical cyclones received a name from BoM, either by TCWC Perth, Darwin, or Brisbane, when the system was judged to have 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h mph 5 on. There has only been one list that the Bureau of Meteorology have assigned names to tropical cyclones since the 2008–09 season. Moreover, TCWC Jakarta named its first cyclone since 2010, and used the name Bakung. Tropical cyclones named by the TCWC Port Moresby are rare, with the last named cyclone occurring during 2007. Kate Lam Marcia NathanOlwyn Quang Raquel Four cyclone names would be replaced this season, with Lam, Marcia, Olwyn and Quang being retired and replaced with Laszlo, Mingzhu, Oriana and Quincey respectively. Season effects This is a table of all storms in the 2014–15 Australian region cyclone season. It mentions all of the season's storms and their names, duration, peak intensities, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all the damage figures are in 2014 USD. |- | 01 01U || 141203 3–4 December || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical low || bgcolor=#TD|055 55 km/h mph on 5|| bgcolor=#TD|1000 1000 hPa inHg 4 on || None || None || None || None || |- | 02 Bakung || 141210 10–13 December || bgcolor=#Aus2|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#Aus2|50 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#Aus2|991 hPa inHg 4 on on || Indonesia || 0 None || 0 None || || |- | 03 03U || 141213 13–15 December || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical low || bgcolor=#TD|000 Not specified|| bgcolor=#TD|1020 Not specified || None || None || None || None || |- | Kate || 20141221 21 - 30 December || bgcolor=#Aus3|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#Aus3|80 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#Aus3|967 hPa inHg 4 on on || None || 0 None || 0 None || ||Severe Tropical Cyclone Kate Australian Bureau of Meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/kate14.pdf Patterson, Linda A 2 June 2022 May 2015 |- | 05 05U || 150102 2–10 January || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical low || bgcolor=#TD|000 Not specified|| bgcolor=#TD|1020 Not specified || Western Australia || Minimal || Minimal || None || |- | 06 06U || 150110 10–13 January || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical low || bgcolor=#TD| 000 Not specified|| bgcolor=#TD|1020 Not specified || None || None || None || None || |- | 07 07U || 150110 10–13 January || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical low || bgcolor=#TD|055 55 km/h mph on 5|| bgcolor=#TD|998 hPa inHg 4 on on || Solomon Islands || None || None || None || |- | 08 08U || 150116 16–20 January || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical low || bgcolor=#TD|030 30 km/h mph on 5|| bgcolor=#TD|1003 hPa inHg 4 on on || Western Australia || None || None || None || |- | 09 12U || 150213 13–16 February || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical low || bgcolor=#TD|000 Not specified|| bgcolor=#TD|1020 Not specified || None || None || None || None || |- | 10 Lam || 150213 13–20 February || bgcolor=#Aus4|Category 4 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#Aus4|185 185 km/h mph on 5|| bgcolor=#Aus4|943 hPa inHg 4 on on || Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia || 100000000 $ || 78100000 $ || None ||http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/sevwx/nt/nttc20150217.shtml Western Australian Regional Office Severe Tropical Cyclone Lam https://web.archive.org/web/20150923193919/http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/sevwx/nt/nttc20150217.shtml 27 February 2015 Australian Bureau of Meteorology 27 February 2015 23 September 2015 dead dmy |- | 11 Marcia || 150215 15–26 February || bgcolor=#Aus5|Category 5 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#Aus5|205 205 km/h mph on 5|| bgcolor=#Aus5|930 hPa inHg 4 on on || Queensland || 750000000 $ || 587000000 $ || None || |- | 12 Olwyn || 150308 8–14 March || bgcolor=#Aus3|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#Aus3|140 140 km/h mph on 5|| bgcolor=#Aus3|955 hPa inHg 4 on on || Western Australia || 100000000 $ || 76300000 $ || 1 || |- | 13 Nathan || 150309 9–25 March || bgcolor=#Aus4|Category 4 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#Aus4|165 165 km/h mph on 5|| bgcolor=#Aus4|963 hPa inHg 4 on on || Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia || 74800000 $ || 57000000 $ || None || |- | 14 Ikola || 150406 6–8 April || bgcolor=#Aus4|Category 4 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#Aus4|175 175 km/h mph on 5|| bgcolor=#Aus4|953 hPa inHg 4 on on || None || None || None || None || |- | 15 Quang || 150428 27 April – 1 May || bgcolor=#Aus4|Category 4 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#Aus4|185 185 km/h mph on 5|| bgcolor=#Aus4|950 hPa inHg 4 on on || Western Australia || Minimal || Minimal || None || |- | 16 22U || 150512 12–14 May || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical low || bgcolor=#TD|045 Not specified|| bgcolor=#TD|1016 Not specified || Solomon Islands || None || None || None || |- | Raquel || 20150630 30 June – 5 July || bgcolor=#A1|Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|35 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|996 hPa inHg 4 on on || Solomon Islands || Minimal || Minimal || 1 || |- 17 systems 3 December – 5 July 205 205 km/h mph on 5 930 hPa inHg 4 on 1024800000 $ 798400000 $ 2 See also Tropical cyclones Australian region tropical cyclone Tropical cyclones in 2014 and 2015 List of Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons Atlantic hurricane seasons: 2014, 2015 Pacific hurricane seasons: 2014, 2015 Pacific typhoon seasons: 2014, 2015 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2014, 2015 2014–15 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 2014–15 South Pacific cyclone season South Atlantic tropical cyclone References External links Australian Bureau of Meteorology Joint Typhoon Warning Center https://web.archive.org/web/20150809201922/http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC/ 9 August 2015 Tropical Cyclone Warning Center Jakarta id Digital Typhoon 2014 y 2010 Australian region cyclone yes Category:Australian region cyclone seasons 2014 Aus 2015 Aus