Cyclone George
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
|---|---|
| Category 3 (Saffir–Simpson scale) | |
Severe Tropical Cyclone George on 8 March, a few hours before landfall.
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| Formed | 26 February 2007 |
| Dissipated | 10 March 2007 |
| Highest winds |
10-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph) 1-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph) Gusts: 285 km/h (180 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 902 hPa (mbar); 26.64 inHg |
| Fatalities | 5 total |
| Damage | $15.7 million (2007 USD) |
| Areas affected | Northern Territory, Western Australia |
| Part of the 2006–07 Australian region cyclone season | |
Severe Tropical Cyclone George was one of the most powerful Australian tropical cyclones on record, attaining a minimum barometric pressure of 902 mbar (hPa; 26.64 inHg). The cyclone formed on 2 March in the Northern Territory's Top End late in February, and intensified when it entered the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, before crossing the northern coast of the Kimberley. It moved over the Indian Ocean, intensifying to a Category 4 cyclone, and eventually crossed the Pilbara coast just east of Port Hedland at peak intensity. After further analysis from the Bureau of Meteorology Cyclone George was reclassified to Category 5. It caused significant damage to the town of Port Hedland and numerous isolated mining camps around the town. Losses in Northern Territory amounted to at least A$12 million (US$9.5 million). Two people died and more than a dozen others were infected in a melioidosis outbreak following the Northern Territory floods. Insured damage in Western Australia amounted to A$8 million (US$6.2 million), and there were 3 fatalities.
On 24th of February 2007, an area of low pressure began consolidating over the Arafura Sea. By 26 February, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warning centre in Darwin classified the system as a tropical low with its centre situated 230 km (140 mi) northwest of Nhulunbuy. Over the following days, the system meandered around the Top End region and showed signs of gradual organization. Initial forecasts depicted the low as moving gradually eastward and becoming a significant cyclone over the Gulf of Carpentaria; however, after approaching Milingimbi Island on 1 March, the system doubled back to the west in response to a subtropical ridge over central Australia. Though overland, the cyclone remained well-organized (a typical occurrence for tropical lows over Top End). Deep convection blossomed on 2 March as it approached the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf. Owing to favourable upper-level outflow and decreasing wind shear, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the system that day. The agency estimated the formation of a tropical depression, assigning it the identifier 17S, by 00:00 UTC (9:30 a.m. ACST) on 3 March while it was still over land. Hours later, the low emerged over the Gulf and acquired gale-force winds while situated 75 km (47 mi) south-southeast of Oenpelli. In light of this, the Darwin warning centre initiated advisories on Tropical Cyclone George, marking the first time since Cyclone Fay in 2004 that the Darwin office named a storm.
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