| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
|---|---|
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
 Cyclone Chris near peak intensity off the Pilbara coast | |
| Formed | 2 February 2002 |
| Dissipated | 7 February 2002 |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph) 1-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph) Gusts: 295 km/h (185 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 915 hPa (mbar); 27.02 inHg |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Damage | Minimal |
| Areas affected | Western Australia |
| Part of the 2001-02 Australian region cyclone season | |
Storm history edit
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
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionIn late January, a monsoon trough was intensifying off the waters of northern Australia. By 30 January, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) was predicting a tropical low to develop within the trough off the Kimberley coast within four days.[1] The first indication of the low which eventually become Cyclone Chris was identified early on 1 February, from a very weak low pressure area in the Timor Sea. Early on 2 February, the low formed a low-level circulation and deep convection began to develop. The Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Perth initiated warnings for the low later that day as gale-force winds began forming north of its centre. Conditions were favourable for development as the low's deep convection increased, and it was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Chris early on 3 February.[2]
Cyclone Chris rapidly intensified for the next two days, upgrading to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on 4 February, and to a Category 5 late on 5 February, the highest category on the Australian Scale. This rapid intensification was due to the influence of weak vertical wind shear and good outflow.[1] At peak intensity, the central pressure of Chris had fallen to 915 hPa, which ranks as the tenth most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Australian region.[3]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Chris". Special Services Unit, Bureau of Meteorology. 2002. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
- ^ Padgett, Gary (2002). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary February 2002". Retrieved 2008-06-27.
- ^ "Australian Region Tropical Cyclone Best Track: 1906-2005" (Zip). Bureau of Meteorology. 2006. Retrieved 2008-06-27.