Cyclone Justin
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
|---|---|
| Category 2 (Saffir–Simpson scale) | |
Justin near peak intensity.
|
|
| Formed | March 3, 1997 |
| Dissipated | March 29, 1997 |
| Highest winds |
10-minute sustained: 150 km/h (90 mph) 1-minute sustained: 165 km/h (105 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 955 hPa (mbar); 28.2 inHg |
| Fatalities | 34 total |
| Damage | $190 million (1997 USD) |
| Areas affected | Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Queensland |
| Part of the 1996–97 Australian region cyclone season | |
Cyclone Justin was a tropical cyclone of the 1996–97 Australian region cyclone season that caused seven deaths and had a major economic impact in northern Queensland, Australia. It had a long 3½-week life from 3 March to 29 March 1997. Peaking as a Category 4 cyclone and making landfall as a Category 2, it caused significant damage in the Cairns region, which it approached on two occasions. Houses were undermined by huge waves, a marina and boats were severely damaged, roads and bridges suffered from flood and landslide damage and huge losses were inflicted on sugar cane, fruit and vegetable crops. The death toll in Queensland was seven including five on a yacht which sank. There were 26 who died in Papua New Guinea, which was also severely affected. Total estimated costs from damages in Australia were $190 million (1997 values).
On 3 March 1997 the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) observed two areas of low pressure, that had developed within the monsoon trough from North-eastern Australia to the Coral Sea. Over the next couple of days, both systems developed further and were classified as tropical depressions during 5 March.
On 7 March, over the Coral Sea, Cyclone Justin began to form. The way in which it formed was as follows. The sea waters were at least 27 °C, and as a result some of this water was evaporated into the air. This water vapour then rose upwards and created large cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds grouped together and caused a current of warm, moist, rapidly rising air to occur. As a result of this current a low-pressure area on the surface of the sea began to develop. This low-pressure area made the trade winds (In the southern hemisphere, where Cyclone Justin formed, they are the east to south-easterly winds) to become much stronger, and indeed, allowed them to impart enough force to rotate the cumulonimbus clouds. As these winds spiralled around the low-pressure area (the ‘eye’) they released heat and moisture which supplied the now cyclone with energy.
...
Wikipedia