Cyclone Owen

Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

The area of low pressure that would eventually become Severe Tropical Cyclone Owen was first noted by the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) during 28 November while it was located in the Solomon Sea, about 645 km (400 mi) to the north of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.[2] At this stage the disturbance had a very disorganised low level circulation, while atmospheric convection was displaced to the southwest of the circulation.[2] The system was also located within a very favourable environment for further development, with low levels of vertical wind shear, excellent outflow and high sea surface temperatures of around 30–32 °C (86–90 °F).[2] Over the next day, the system's low level circulation slowly consolidated as it moved south-westwards, before the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) classified it as Tropical Low 04U.[3][4] Over the next few days, the system moved southwards over the Solomon Sea and into the Coral Sea under the influence of a ridge of high pressure, while it gradually developed further with atmospheric convection consolidating near the centre.[4][5] During 2 December, the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 05P, before the BoM named the system Owen, after it had developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian Scale.[6]

However, Owen soon encountered relatively unfavourable conditions, especially some westerly wind shear, and struggled to maintain deep convection.[7] The increasing wind shear, classified by the JTWC as "moderate to high",[8] and other factors caused Owen to weaken slightly early on 3 December.[9] Soon after, Owen gained a burst of convection, but started to appear asymmetrical.[10] Owe[11] By noon on 3 December, conditions became less favourable, and Owen was struggling to maintain convection and could not intensify further.[12] As the day progressed, Owen became increasingly disorganized, due to a central dense overcast nearby.[13]

During 4 December, the BoM reported that the system had rapidly weakened into a tropical low, after its low-level circulation centre had become displaced to the west of the atmospheric convection.[14] Over the next six days, Owen moved westwards towards Queensland as a tropical low.[6] At around 18:00 UTC on 9 December (04:00 AEST, 10 December), Owen's remnant tropical low made landfall on the Cape York Peninsula near Port Douglas in Queensland.[6] Over the next day, the system continued west and emerged into the Gulf of Carpentaria, at about 14:00 UTC on 10 December (00:00 AEST, 11 December).[6] Through 11 December, Owen's intensity remained roughly the same as it continued to move west.[15][16][17][18] By 12 December, Owen was slowly moving west over the Gulf of Carpentaria.[19] Early on 12 December, conditions started to become more favourable, with sea surface temperatures reaching 31°, allowing convection to increase.[20] For these reasons, at about 12:00 UTC on 12 December, Owen reformed as a Category 1 tropical cyclone.[21]

Owen rapidly intensified overnight into a low-end Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, while its outer bands hit areas of Queensland and Northern Territory.[22] Owen made landfall in Northern Territory at about 00:00 UTC on 13 December as a Category 3 cyclone, to an uninhabited stretch of coast northwest of the Port McArthur Tidal Wetlands System.[23] Early on 13 December, Owen developed an eye for the first time.[24] Over the next few hours, Owen intensified even more, until it reached its peak intensity of 150 km/h (90 mph) at 12:00 UTC.[25] Over the next few hours, maintaining Category 3 intensity, Owen approached Queensland,[26][27] with its eye beginning to turn ragged while continuing to move eastward.[28][29] At around 17:00 UTC on 14 December, Owen made landfall as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, on the mouth of the Gilbert River about 85 km (55 mi) to the southwest of Kowanyama in Queensland.[6][30] While over Queensland, for the last time, Owen lost convection and rapidly weakened into a tropical low.[31] The system was last noted by the BoM during December 20, while it was located about 410 km (255 mi) to the northeast of Townsville in Queensland.[4]

• Tropical cyclones in 2018

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cyclone Owen.

• BOM Tropical Cyclone Report