1998 Katherine Floods
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
|---|---|
| Tropical storm (Saffir–Simpson scale) | |
Tropical Cyclone Les on 24 January 1998
|
|
| Formed | 19 January 1998 |
| Dissipated | 1 February 1998 |
| Highest winds |
10-minute sustained: 110 km/h (70 mph) 1-minute sustained: 95 km/h (60 mph) |
| Highest gust | Gusts: 140 km/h (85 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 976 hPa (mbar); 28.82 inHg |
| Fatalities | 3 direct |
| Damage | $64.7 million (1998 USD) |
| Areas affected | Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia |
| Part of the 1997–98 Australian region cyclone season | |
Tropical Cyclone Les was a Category 2 storm in the 1997–98 Australian region cyclone season, which affected the Northern Territory of Australia in January 1998.
On January 19, 1998, an area of low pressure developed over the Gulf of Carpentaria. Little development occurred as the system traveled initially towards the southwest and later towards the east. Late on January 21, the low moved over the Cape York Peninsula and began to strengthen. A surge of moisture from a northwest monsoon and a tightening pressure gradient due to an area of high pressure located over the Great Australian Bight, allowed the system to develop. The first warning published by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology was issued on January 23, after the storm had moved back over the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The intense rainfall also occurred during "king high tides" in the Timor Sea that pushed water from the lower reaches upstream, as a result, floodwater drainage was impeded. Flooding was most severe in Katherine, Northern Territory, where flooding began January 24th. Many residents were evacuated to cyclone shelters, while several others were stranded on rooftops. On Australia Day, 26 January, roads north and south from Katherine were closed due to rising floodwaters, and Royal Australian Air Force personnel from RAAF Base Tindal joined local police and emergency services to assist with sandbagging critical infrastructure. Some 5000 residents were evacuated as an estimated 500 businesses and 1200 homes were inundated by floodwaters, including the Katherine District Hospital. On January 27, a state of emergency was declared for Katherine as the Katherine River reached a level of 20.3 m (66.6 ft). The floodwaters peaked at 20.4 m (67 ft) at the Katherine railway bridge, passing the previous record of 19.3m during major flooding in 1957. Two days later, 392 residents were evacuated from the Daly River region, approximately 200 km (120 mi) downstream from Katherine, where floodwaters had risen above 11.5m and would continue to rise to a peak of 16.8 m (55 ft) on 3 February.
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