2012–13 Australian region cyclone season
The 2012–13 Australian region cyclone season was a slightly below average tropical cyclone season event in the ongoing cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started on 1 November 2012, and officially ended on 30 April 2013, despite Cyclone Zane being an active system at the time. The regional tropical cyclone operational plan defines a "tropical cyclone year" separately from a "tropical cyclone season"; the "tropical cyclone year" began on 1 July 2012 and ended on 30 June 2013.
The scope of the Australian region is limited to all areas south of the equator, east of 90°E and west of 160°E. This area includes Australia, Papua New Guinea, western parts of the Solomon Islands, East Timor and southern parts of Indonesia. Tropical cyclones in this area are monitored by five Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres : the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane; TCWC Jakarta in Indonesia; and TCWC Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center issues unofficial warnings for the region, designating tropical depressions with the "S" suffix when they form west of 145°E, and the "P" suffix when they form east of 145°E.
Seasonal forecasts
During each tropical cyclone year, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology National Climate Centre, the Guy Carpenter Asia-Pacific Climate Impact Centre, New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and partners issue seasonal forecasts for the Australian region and its various subregions. Since a tropical cyclone can move through a region, the actual number of tropical cyclones in a region include any that form in or move into a region from another.Bureau of Meteorology
In October 2012, ahead of the season starting on 1 November, the BoM issued seasonal forecasts for the whole Australian region, one for each of the subregions Western, North-Western, Northern and Eastern Australia with each one covering the whole tropical cyclone year. For each forecast they took into account, the current neutral ENSO conditions and the near El Nino conditions that had been observed during that summer. For the whole region they predicted that the season would be below average, with a 63% chance that it would be below average and a 37% chance that it would be above average. For the Western region between 90°E and 125°E, the BoM forecast that the area would see activity near to or slightly below the average, with a 43% chance of a below average cyclone activity. For the North-Western subregion between 105°E and 130°E, it was predicted that there was a 58% chance of below average tropical cyclone activity, while TCWC Perth noted that there was a likelihood of two tropical cyclones and one severe tropical cyclone impacting Western Australia. There was no tendency towards an above or below average tropical cyclone season for the Northern Territory which was defined as being between as being 125°E and 142.5°E, while the Eastern region had a 57% chance of having a below average tropical cyclone season.The BoM also issued seasonal forecasts for the South Pacific region 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 noted that the current neutral ENSO conditions would historically suggest the South Pacific region as a whole would experience near average tropical cyclone activity during the coming season. However, because of the warmer than average sea surface temperatures that were experienced in the central equatorial Pacific during July, August and September 2012, the western Southern Pacific had a 65% chance for average to below average tropical cyclone activity. For the Eastern part of the region the BoM predicted that it had a 55% chance of above average tropical cyclones, while for the overall region, they predicted that the region would experience a near average amount of tropical cyclones with a 53% chance of having an above average number of tropical cyclones.
Others
During October 2012, the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and its partners issued a tropical cyclone outlook, for the South Pacific region between 135°E and 120°W. The outlook predicted that the region would see a near average or slightly above average amount of tropical cyclones with between 9 and 12 systems predicted to develop or move into the region. NIWA also predicted that countries west of the International Date Line, including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji were likely to experience an average to slightly above normal risk of a tropical cyclone.During December 2012, the Guy Carpenter Asia-Pacific Climate Impact Centre, issued a seasonal forecast for the whole basin and one each for the regions to the east and west of 135°E. This season the GCACIC predicted that tropical cyclone activity in the entire Australian region and the western Australian region was likely to be near-normal and predicted 12 and 9 tropical cyclone respectively. For the eastern Australian region, the GCAIC predicted that tropical cyclone activity would be below average and only predicted 4 tropical cyclones to develop.
Seasonal summary
ImageSize = width:800 height:200
PlotArea = top:10 bottom:80 right:20 left:20
Legend = columns:3 left:30 top:58 columnwidth:270
AlignBars = early
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/12/2012 till:01/06/2013
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMinor = grid:black unit:month increment:1 start:01/12/2012
Colors =
id:canvas value:gray
id:GP value:red
id:TL value:rgb legend:Tropical_Low_=_<63_km/h_
id:C1 value:rgb legend:Category_1_=_63-87_km/h_
id:C2 value:rgb legend:Category৳_2_=_88-142_km/h_
id:C3 value:rgb legend:Category_3_=_143-158-km/h_
id:C4 value:rgb legend:Category_4_=_159-204_km/h_
id:C5 value:rgb legend:Category_5_=_≥205_km/h_
Backgroundcolors = canvas:canvas
BarData =
barset:Hurricane
bar:Month
PlotData=
barset:Hurricane width:11 align:left fontsize:S shift: anchor:till
from:18/12/2012 till:21/12/2012 color:TL text:"02U "
from:28/12/2012 till:01/01/2013 color:C1 text:"Mitchell "
from:29/12/2012 till:29/12/2012 color:C2 text:"Freda "
from:05/01/2013 till:15/01/2013 color:C4 text:"Narelle "
from:13/01/2013 till:16/01/2013 color:TL text:"06U "
from:17/01/2013 till:29/01/2013 color:C1 text:"Oswald "
from:20/01/2013 till:23/01/2013 color:C1 text:"Peta "
barset:break
from:06/02/2013 till:09/02/2013 color:TL text:"Gino "
from:18/02/2013 till:28/02/2013 color:C4 text:"Rusty "
from:22/02/2013 till:28/02/2013 color:TL text:"11U "
from:05/03/2013 till:09/03/2013 color:C3 text:"Sandra "
from:10/03/2013 till:20/03/2013 color:C2 text:"Tim "
from:17/03/2013 till:23/03/2013 color:TL text:"15U "
from:28/03/2013 till:02/04/2013 color:TL text:"16U "
barset:break
from:07/04/2013 till:12/04/2013 color:C3 text:"Victoria "
from:27/04/2013 till:02/05/2013 color:C3 text:"Zane "
bar:Month width:6 align:center fontsize:S shift: anchor:middle color:canvas
from:01/12/2012 till:31/12/2012 text:December
from:01/01/2013 till:01/02/2013 text:January
from:01/02/2013 till:01/03/2013 text:February
from:01/03/2013 till:01/04/2013 text:March
from:01/04/2013 till:01/05/2013 text:April
from:01/05/2013 till:01/06/2013 text:May
TextData =
pos:
text:""
Systems
Tropical Cyclone Mitchell
On 27 December, Tropical Low 04U developed within a monsoon trough about north-northwest of Karratha. The following day, a significant central dense overcast developed over the low and banding features began forming to the northwest of the center. Development was further aided by an anticyclone situated just to the east, providing dual outflow channels. Later on 28 December, the JTWC classified the system as a tropical storm as the banding features consolidated around the low's center and a scatterometer pass revealed winds of 55 to 65 km/h. Some intensification was expected as the storm tracked generally southward along the edge of a subtropical ridge before moving over cooler waters. On 29 December, TCWC Perth classified the system as Tropical Cyclone Mitchell, the first named storm in the western region for the season. The storm ultimately attained peak winds of 75 km/h and a pressure of 990 mb before weakening below tropical cyclone strength on 30 December. The system persisted for two more days off the coast of Western Australia before dissipating well to the west of Perth on 1 January 2013.Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle
On 4 January, a tropical low developed within a monsoon trough over the Timor Sea. Over the following several days, the system gradually tracked westward and intensified, being classified Tropical Cyclone Narelle on 8 January. Turning southward into a region of low wind shear, Narelle intensified into a severe tropical cyclone on 9 January. Over the following two days, the cyclone's structure fluctuated, temporarily featuring an eye, before it maintained its organization and intensified further on 11 January. The storm attained its peak intensity later on 11 January as a Category 4 cyclone with winds of 195 km/h. Around the same time, the JTWC assessed Narelle to have been a Category 4-equivalent storm on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale with winds of 215 km/h. The following day, Narelle passed approximately northwest of Exmouth as it moved on a south-southwesterly course. The system steadily weakened and ultimately fell below tropical cyclone strength on 15 January well to the west of Geraldton.Early in the storm's existence, Narelle brought strong winds, heavy rain, and high winds to many areas in Indonesia. More than 10,000 homes were flooded and many others were damaged by thunderstorms. A total of 14 people were killed by the storm, and 17 others were listed as missing. In Western Australia, scattered strong thunderstorms caused minor damage and produced a possible tornado. Moisture from the storm spread into South Australia, producing light rain and bringing relief to areas suffering from a severe drought.
Tropical Low 06U
On 12 January, a weak tropical low formed over the Arafura Sea. The system was last noted the following day, having a pressure no lower than 1004 mb. The United States Navy continued monitoring the system until it was last noted on 16 January.Tropical Cyclone Oswald
On 17 January, an area of low pressure developed over the Gulf of Carpentaria. Situated within a region of low wind shear and high sea surface temperatures, conditions were favorable for gradual development of the system. The following day, TCWC Darwin began monitoring the system as a tropical low. Early on 19 January, the system made landfall southwest of Borroloola. By 20 January, the system completed a clockwise loop before re-emerging into the Gulf of Carpentaria. Once back over water, the system quickly organized and strengthened into a tropical cyclone early on 21 January. Radar imagery from Mornington Island depicted a well-defined low-level circulation with defined banding features wrapping into the center. Situated in a very moist air mass and over the warm waters of the Gulf, some intensification was expected before Oswald struck the Cape York Peninsula. Approximately 12 hours after being named, the storm made its second landfall north of Kowanyama with winds of 65 km/h and the final advisory was issued by TCWC Brisbane. Although over land, the system was able to maintain a defined circulation and gradually reorganized as it moved southwestward. By 23 January, deep convection redeveloped over the circulation and a strong monsoonal flow became established to its north.Although a relatively weak storm, Oswald produced torrential rains over much of Queensland. Rainfall peaked in Tully where approximately of rain fell, with falling over a 48‑hour span. The township of Scherger received a record-breaking in just 24 hours. These rains caused widespread flooding in the state that shut down many roads and isolated communities. The town of Ingham was completely cut off due to high waters. Residents in the town were advised to stock up on emergency supplies as the Herbert River rose rapidly after of rain fell in the town in just three hours. In Cairns, winds up to left many homes without power and waves up to prompted the cancellation of most coastal activities. Additionally, a brief tornado or waterspout with winds of touched down near Hay Point. Across the affected region, damage from severe weather and flooding amounted to at least A$2.4 billion. The name Oswald was retired and was replaced with Oran.
Tropical Cyclone Peta
On 20 January, a weak low formed over the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Partially overland, convection persisted mainly on the western half of the low as it took in moisture from the Indian Ocean. Tracking west-southwestward in response to a weak mid-level ridge to the southeast, the system gradually intensified and was designated as Tropical Low 08U later on 21 January by TCWC Perth as it moved offshore. Throughout the day, radar imagery from Broome depicted increasing banding features around the low. Following further convective development of the storm, the JTWC issued a TCFA late on 21 January. Approximately 24 hours later, the JTWC followed up on this alert with the first advisory on Tropical Cyclone 12S, classifying it as a tropical depression. Early on 23 January, surface observations from Cape Lambert and Roebourne indicated that the low had attained gale-force winds, prompting TCWC Perth to upgrade the system to Tropical Cyclone Peta; however, the system may not have met the technical definition of a tropical cyclone as gales did not extend more than halfway around the circulation. Upon being named, Peta had turned due south and subsequently made landfall near Point Samson with winds of 75 km/h. Hours after moving onshore, Peta rapidly weakened and the final advisory was issued during the afternoon of 23 January.On 22 January, Port Hedland shut down all shipping. Across much of western Pilbara, Peta dropped heavy rains that caused widespread flooding. The highest 24‑hour total at Hooley Station, which marked the station's highest daily total since 1972. Several other areas recorded more than of rain from the cyclone, including Port Hedland. The rains also added 28 billion litres at the Harding Dam, raising its storage from 40 to 80 percent. Flooding prompted officials to shut down parts of the Great Northern Highway.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty
On 22 February, a tropical low formed northwest of Kuri Bay. Two days later, the low reached Tropical Cyclone strength and was named Rusty as it moved very slowly south towards the coast of Western Australia. A cyclone watch was declared for a large area of the Pilbara/Kimberley coastline between Broome and Mardie extending inland to Marble Bar. Rusty remained relatively stationary off the Western Australian coastline, reaching category 4 strength on 27 February with winds gusting to 230 km/h. Rusty made landfall on 27 February near Pardoo, 100 km East of Port Hedland.Due to the slow-moving nature of the cyclone, Port Hedland experienced 39 hours of winds of at least gale-force strength, something not seen since 1942. The highest rainfall was recorded at Pardoo Station with an unconfirmed total of 482.5 mm. Confirmed falls of over 300 mm were also reported at De Grey Station and at Yarrie mine.
The effects of Rusty were far reaching, with areas of Southern WA and the Goldfields experiencing heavy rains. For example, the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the surrounding areas have had non-stop rains for over 15 hours, with totals amounting to about 88 mm for the city itself.
Tropical Low 11U
Early on 22 February, TCWC Perth started to monitor Tropical Low 11U, that had formed within the Indian Ocean, about to the east-southeast of Cocos Island. Over the next few days the low moved slowly towards the northwest and then to the south and passed about to the east of Cocos Island.Situated near the Cocos Islands for a prolonged period of time, the low produced record-breaking rains across the island. Between 23 and 25 February, of rain fell on the island, of which fell on 25 February. This greatly contributed to the island breaking its monthly rainfall record, with being measured during February. Significant flooding took place as a result of the rains, especially on Home Island where some people called the floods the worst in 100 years. The Cocos Islands Airport was also temporarily shut down due to "bubbling" on the airstrip. Gale-force winds associated with the system downed several trees and cut power to many homes across Home and West Island.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Sandra
A tropical low formed on 5 March in the Queensland region, and was named 19P by the JTWC. The low was renamed Sandra on the 8 March as it rapidly intensified in the Coral Sea. It then moved into the South Pacific region as a Category 3 system. Upon reaching Category 4 and threatening New Caledonia, it hit Lord Howe Island as a Category 2 storm on the 15 March, despite weakening to Category 1 the day before.Tropical Cyclone Tim
On 10 March 2013, the JTWC started tracking a tropical low approximately west south-west of the tip of Cape York Peninsula in the Gulf of Carpentaria. As the system began to move north-east, a subtropical ridge located to the south provided a good outflow channel, while vertical windshear continued to improve in the area. By the 12 of March, the JTWC upgraded the low's chance of developing into a tropical cyclone over the next 24 hours to medium. On the 13 of March, banding features began to wrap around the lows center, and the JTWC warned the system had a high chance of forming into a tropical cyclone over the next 24 hours, as it continued to move north-east. Early on the 14 of March, the tropical low crossed Cape York and moved into the northern Coral Sea, encountering an area of warmer sea surface temperatures and high windshear. At 10:25am EST, the TCWC Brisbane named the storm Tropical Cyclone Tim, as it intensified into a Category 1 storm with 10 minute wind speeds of. Located approximately north-east of Cairns, Tropical Cyclone Tim began to move in an east south-easterly direction towards Willis Island. It passed directly over the island, where the automated weather station recorded 10 minute wind gusts of before the station stopped recording. By late on the 14 of March, Tim rapidly intensified into a Category 2 storm on the Australian Scale, with maximum 10 minute wind gusts of and a barometric pressure of 985 hPa, equal to a Tropical Storm on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale.By the 15 of March, Tim began to swing towards the south-east, rather than continue its south-westerly track, and was expected to make landfall on the Queensland as a weak Category 1 or Tropical Low by the 19 of March. A pocket of dry air formed to the west of the storm, and caused Tim to rapidly weaken, falling back to a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone on the 15 of March. However, the storm managed to maintain its strength until the 17 of March, when the dry air finally began to erode Tims core and the Bureau of Meteorology reported that it weakened into a Tropical Low late on the 17 of March. The low persisted for several days in the eastern Coral Sea, moving north-west along the Queensland coast, and on the 20 of March, it dissipated east north-east of Cardwell on the north Queensland Coast. The remnants of the system crossed the coast near Innisfail on the 21 of March, bringing light winds and showers, however no significant totals were recorded, apart from an isolated fall of of rain at Innisfail. Minor damage was also sustained at the Willis Island Weather station, however it was repaired shortly after Tim's passage over the island.
Tropical Low 15U
A weak tropical low formed near the Cocos Islands on the 17 of March and moved south-west without any further intensification.Tropical Low 16U
On 1 April, heavy rains, peaking at in Edith Farms Road, over the Katherine Region triggered localised flooding. Several roads were temporarily closed as rivers rose up to overnight; however, waters receded later that day.Severe Tropical Cyclone Victoria
On 6 April, TCWC Perth started to monitor a weak tropical low 17U that had developed within TCWC Jakarta's area of responsibility, about to the north-northeast of the Cocos Islands. Over the next two days, the system moved towards the south-southeast and slightly developed further, before it entered TCWC Perth's area of responsibility during 9 April. By the morning of the 10 of April, Victoria had intensified into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian Scale, as it moved south-southesast. However, Victoria began to weaken rapidly as it moved over an area of cool sea surface temperatures and weakened to a category 1 by April 11. Late on April 12, the system rapidly dissipated, without affecting the Australian mainland. The remnants of Victoria bought a bit of rain in Perth.Severe Tropical Cyclone Zane
On 27 April, the TCWC Brisbane reported that a tropical low had formed east-southeast of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Late on 29 April it was upgraded to Category 1 Tropical Cyclone Zane, as it headed towards the coast of Queensland. A cyclone watch was issued for the Queensland coast between Thursday Island and Cooktown by the Bureau of Meteorology as Zane began to intensify. On the 30 of April, the watch was upgraded to a warning for the whole of Cape York peninsula, as Zane rapidly intensified, reaching Category 2 on the Australian scale late on the 30 of April, while moving south-west toward the Queensland coast. Initially forecast to reach Category 3, Zane began to deteriorate as it moved north-west, and began to dissipate rapidly, dropping from Category 2 to a Tropical Low in less than 24 hours. Late on May 2, the remnant low crossed the coast near Lockhart River, causing minimal rain of less than in the Torres Strait.Zane was shown to have reached marginal Category 3 severe tropical cyclone status in the best track data post-analysis of the storm, with sustained winds of 120 km/h.