User:ChocolateTrain/Cyclone Damien (2020)
A strong tropical cyclone that made landfall in Western Australia in February 2020. / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Severe Tropical Cyclone Damien was a strong tropical cyclone that brought significant impacts to Western Australia during February 2020. It was the fifth tropical low, third tropical cyclone, second severe tropical cyclone and most intense tropical cyclone of the 2019–20 Australian region cyclone season. It was also the strongest system to make landfall in mainland Western Australia since Severe Tropical Cyclone Christine in December 2013. Damien began as a weak inland tropical low that formed within a monsoon trough over the Northern Territory on 2 February. Over the following days, the tropical low tracked westwards with little development, before emerging over the eastern Indian Ocean on 5 February. Once over water, the system began to intensify steadily in a highly favourable environment. The tropical low strengthened into a tropical cyclone at 06:00 UTC on 6 February, and was named Damien by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). Damien became a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone less than 24 hours later, and continued to intensify while turning southwards towards the Pilbara coast of Western Australia. Damien made landfall in the small town of Dampier at 07:30 UTC on 8 February at peak intensity, with estimated 10-minute sustained winds of 155 km/h (100 mph) and gusts to 220 km/h (140 mph).
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
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Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
![]() Damien at peak intensity, about two hours prior to making landfall in Dampier, Western Australia | |
Formed | 2 February 2020 |
Dissipated | 11 February 2020 |
Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 155 km/h (100 mph) 1-minute sustained: 175 km/h (110 mph) Gusts: 220 km/h (140 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 955 hPa (mbar); 28.2 inHg |
Fatalities | 0 |
Damage | > $500 million (USD) |
Areas affected | Northern Territory Western Australia |
Part of the 2019–20 Australian region cyclone season | |