Draft:Cyclone Megan (2024)

This page is about the 2024 Australian region tropical cyclone. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Megan.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Megan

Cyclone Megan near peak intensity on 17 March
Meteorological history
Formed	13 March 2024
Remnant low	18 March 2024
Dissipated	21 March 2024
Duration	1 week and 1 day
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (BOM)
Highest winds	155 km/h (100 mph)
Lowest pressure	955 hPa (mbar); 28.20 inHg
Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	185 km/h (115 mph)
Lowest pressure	951 hPa (mbar); 28.08 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	None
Damage	Unknown
Areas affected	Indonesia, Northern Territory, West Australia
Part of the 2023–24 Australian region cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Megan was an intense tropical cyclone which affected the Northern Territory and Western Australia in March 2024. The eight tropical low, fifth tropical cyclone, and fourth severe tropical cyclone of the 2023–24 Australian region cyclone season, Megan was first mentioned by the Bureau of Meteorology on 4 March. After becoming a tropical low (09U) on 13 March, the cyclone entered the Gulf of Carpentaria, steadily intensifying, becoming a tropical cyclone on 16 March. Megan would peak as a severe tropical cyclone just before making landfall near Borroloola two days. Megan rapidly weakened soon after, dissipating on 21 March.

Meteorological History

On 4 March, the BoM noted the formation of a tropical low over south of Indonesia's Sumatra or Java, designating it as 09U. Over the next couple of days, the BoM reported that it was developing over the western Timor Sea within the trough. Analysis from the JTWC indicated that the disturbance was in a favourable environment for development—featuring sea surface temperatures of 29 to 31 °C (84 to 88 °F), and low to moderate wind shear. By 15 March, the JTWC issued a TCFA on the tropical low and warned that there was a high potential for the disturbance to develop into a tropical cyclone. The tropical low moved into the Gulf of Carpentaria, whereupon it gradually organised and began to intensify. The same day, the JTWC upgraded the system to Tropical Cyclone 19S, approximately 367 km (230 mi) east of Darwin, Northern Territory. Later the next day, the BoM reported that the tropical low had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone and assigned the name Megan. Rapid intensification began the same day, with Megan reaching Category 2 tropical cyclone. The BoM upgraded the storm to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone at 09:00 UTC, just after one-minute sustained winds had reached the equivalent of minimal hurricane intensity. Gradually approaching the southwestern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, the JTWC indicated that one-minute sustained winds had reached 185 km/h (115 mph), equivalent to a Category 3 major hurricane on the SSHWS. Megan made landfall on the southwestern Gulf of Carpentaria coast just after 06:00 UTC on 18 March. Shortly after the landfall, the JTWC discontinued warnings on the system. After moving ashore, the cyclone turned generally southeast and tracked along the inland of Borroloola. The following day, the system was downgraded to a tropical low by the BoM as it approached the inland coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Megan moved inland, tracking across the Northern Territory, before the BoM stopped monitoring the low on 21 March.

Preparations and impact

Before Megan made landfall, gusts of 70 mph (115 km/h) were recorded in Arnhem Land. A planned evacuation in Borroloola was cancelled as planes were not able to land. Groote Eylandt got 600 mm (25 in) of rain. The McArthur River zinc mine, a major mine in the region, was evacuated due to the cyclone.