TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION SERVICE Prepared by Coastal Services Unit, Environmental Sciences Division

Interim report on severe Ingrid Issued April 2005.

• Category 5 cyclone with wind gusts to 320 kilometres per hour near the centre. • Cyclone crossed the east coast as category 4, 57km south east of Lockhart River. • Estimated peak water level reached 4.0 metres above Australian height Datum (AHD) near Voaden Point (at the southern end of the Lockhart River Aboriginal Reserve). • Extensive environmental damage in vicinity of landfall location. • Cyclone recrossed Queensland west coast into 70km south of . • Storm tide exceeded the Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) at Cooktown by 0.28m. • National Disaster Relief Funding activated by Queensland Emergency Services Minister.

Figure 1 –Track of severe tropical cyclone Ingrid (based on Tropical Cyclone Advices from Bureau of Meteorology). Summary Severe tropical cyclone Ingrid formed in the some time around 14:00 (AEST) on Sunday 6 March 2005 after drifting eastwards across Cape York along a monsoon trough line extending through northern . The first Tropical Cyclone Advice was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology in Brisbane at 15:56 (AEST) on Monday 7 March, at which time Ingrid had deepened into a Category 3 cyclone (on a scale of 1 to 5). The timing of the cyclone corresponded to high spring tides, at or near the Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT), along the east coast of , between and Thursday Island. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) storm tide advisers reported to the Department of Emergency Services, State Disaster Coordination Centre at 13:00 (AEST) on Tuesday 8 March.

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The EPA’s storm tide gauges at Cairns, Cooktown, Weipa and Karumba, and its wave recording buoys at Cairns and Weipa, were used to monitor water levels and increased wave conditions due to the presence of the tropical cyclone. Selected records from the period of monitoring are included in this report. The peak surge recorded on a tide gauge was 0.28m at Cooktown (about 310km south of where the cyclone crossed the coast) at 09:10 (AEST) on Wednesday 9 March, with the storm tide exceeding Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) by 0.24m. Interestingly, the Cooktown tide gauge also recorded a negative surge of 0.33m below predictions at 07:20 (AEST) on Thursday 10 March (see figure 7). Unfortunately, no instrumented water levels were obtained near the cyclone’s track.

Figure 1 –Satellite image of tropical cyclone approaching Queensland coast. Courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC Cyclone activities for Queensland and parts of the According to Bureau of Meteorology tropical cyclone advices issued during the event, the cyclone moved in a general westerly direction (at speeds of between 6–22km/h) across Cape York Peninsula and into the Gulf of Carpentaria, before continuing on this path to move along the northern coastline of the Northern Territory. Ingrid was classed as a category 5 cyclone with a central pressure of 930hPa, and maximum wind gusts of 290km/h on 7–8 March (while in the Coral Sea). It had eased slightly to a category 4 cyclone when it made landfall at Voaden Point on the Queensland east coast approximately 57km south southeast of the Aboriginal community at Lockhart River sometime between 05:00 and 06:00 (AEST) on Tuesday 10 March 2005.

At landfall, the central pressure of the cyclone was reported at 960hPa, and maximum wind gusts of 240km/h, however the cyclone was quite compact, with destructive winds extending only 50km from the cyclone centre. Ingrid then weakened to a category 1 cyclone as it moved across Cape York Peninsula before passing into the Gulf of Carpentaria, approximately 70km south of Weipa, near the Aboriginal community at Aurukun at 19:00 (AEST) on 10 March 2005. The cyclone then re-intensified as it continued west, out of Queensland and into the Northern Territory where it again strengthened into a category 5 cyclone with a central pressure of 925hPa, and maximum wind gusts of 320km/h.

A summary of the tropical cyclone advices issued by the Bureau of Meteorology during the cyclone event in Queensland and parts of the Northern Territory is contained in Table 2.

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Wave recording The Environmental Protection Agency operates a network of wave monitoring stations along the Queensland coastline. The stations at Cairns and Weipa recorded large waves during the passage of tropical cyclone Ingrid (see figures 4 and 5).

The Cairns station has been operating since May 1975. The wave recording buoy is 1.7km north east of Double Island in 14.0m of water (reduced to Lowest Astronomical Tide). A peak significant wave height of 1.34m was recorded at 22:30 (AEST) on the 8 March 2005 (the 22nd highest significant wave height recorded at the site). The significant wave height is the average of the one- third highest waves in a 26.6 minute record and is a standard wave parameter. A peak maximum wave height of 2.80m was recorded at 00:00 (AEST) on 11 March 2005 (the 7th highest maximum wave height recorded at the site). Peak wave periods greater than 8 seconds were recorded between 17:30 (AEST) on 7 March and 08:00 (AEST) on 9 March 2005. During this period Ingrid moved from 390km northeast of the station to 350km north of the station. It was also a category 5 cyclone at this time, with winds to 290km/h.

The Weipa station has been operating since December 1978. The wave recording buoy is 11km west of Lorim Point in 6.6m of water (reduced to Lowest Astronomical Tide). A peak significant wave height of 1.74m was recorded at 19:00 (AEST) on the 10 March 2005 (the 46th highest significant wave height recorded at the site). A peak maximum wave height of 2.89m was recorded also at 19:00 (AEST) on 10 March 2005 (the 47th highest maximum wave height recorded at the site). Peak wave periods were less than 8 seconds as the cyclone moved across the Gulf of Carpentaria towards the Northern Territory.

Storm tide recording The EPA storm tide system (comprising 21 storm tide gauges along the Queensland coastline) allows real-time access to storm tide data via the public telephone network during cyclone events. Water level data were obtained from the EPA storm tide gauges at Cairns, Cooktown, Weipa and Karumba (Figures 6–9). Table 1 summarises the peak surge and peak storm tide recordings from these sites.

As noted above, at Cooktown, a positive storm surge of 0.28m was recorded at 09:10 (AEST) on 9 March when the cyclone was about 220km to the north (and 210km from its landfall site), while at Weipa, a positive storm surge of 0.25m was recorded at 21:30 (AEST) on 10 March when the cyclone was in the Gulf of Carpentaria, about 61km southwest of the tide gauge.

While the storm tide exceeded Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) at Cooktown, the storm tide at Weipa was about 0.7m below HAT. The timing of the sea-to-land crossing of the cyclone corresponded to about two hours past low tide, based on predictions from Night Island (near Lockhart River). The land-to-sea crossing was about two hours past high tide, based on predictions from Archer River (near Aurukun). Tides at Cairns and Karumba appear to have been unaffected by the cyclone.

Where the cyclone crossed the east coast, it is estimated that the storm surge was less than two metres. From the preliminary inspection of debris lines in the area, a total water level of 4.0m above AHD was estimated. This water level would have included surge, wave set-up and wave run-up.

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Figure 3 shows the typical surface wind pattern at a height of 10m produced by tropical cyclone Ingrid as obtained by NASA/JPL’s SeaWinds Scatterometer aboard the QuikSCAT satellite on 9 March 2005. This also identifies the compact nature of the cyclone, as the intense onshore winds are not apparent in this image. This also helps to explain why the effects of the storm surge were confined to a relatively small stretch of the coastline.

Tide station Time & date (AEST) Storm surge1 Storm tide2 HAT3 recorded (metres) (AHD4) (AHD) Cooktowna 09:10 9 March 2005 0.28 1.89 1.65 Weipaa 21:30 10 March 2005 0.25 0.24 1.63

Table 1 - Summary of storm surge events during tropical cyclone Ingrid 1 The storm surge represents the rise (or fall) in the level of the sea above (or below) predictions caused by a combination of wind strength, reduced atmospheric pressure. 2 The storm tide represents the actual water level recorded for a particular site during the event and is a combination of the astronomical tide and the storm surge. (and in some cases freshwater runoff). 3 The Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) refers to the highest tide level predicted to occur under average meteorological conditions, and any combination of astronomical conditions. These levels will not necessarily be reached every year. The HAT values quoted here were obtained from the 2005 Queensland Tide Tables. 4 Australian Height Datum (AHD) is the datum adopted by the National Mapping Council of Australia as the datum to which all vertical control for mapping is to be referred. AHD is approximately mean sea level (MSL). a This table reports the peak water levels achieved during the storm tide event and the storm surge associated with these peak levels. At Cooktown the recorded water levels were slightly higher just before the event with a measured level of 1.93m (AHD) at 08:20 9 March 2005. At Weipa the recorded water levels were considerably higher four hours before the event with a measured level of 1.30m (AHD) at 17:20 10 March 2005.

Figure 2 – QuikSCAT ocean surface winds for 9 March 2005 (see http://manati.orbit.nesdis.noaa.gov/quikscat/).

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Coastal conditions Reports from Counter Disaster and Rescue Services officers suggest that there was some damage to roads as a result of flooding, with only minimal structural damage reported. An aerial inspection of the east coast, in the vicinity of the cyclone crossing point, was carried out on 22–23 March. This inspection revealed extensive damage to the dune and foreshore systems in the area between Cape Sidmouth (Latitude 13° 24′ South and Longitude 143° 35′ East) and First Red Rocky Point (Latitude 13° 04′ South and Longitude 143° 30′ East), with flooding of the low-lying wetland areas beyond. Extensive foliage damage to trees in the area was also evident. A number of basic dwellings in the Voaden Point area (Latitude 13° 16′ South and Longitude 143° 31′ East) were also destroyed (see figures 10 and 11).

The Cairns Post (9 March 2005) reported that, in the morning of 8 March, Clifton Beach seafront homeowners woke to find the ocean lapping at their doors and more than 0.46m of sand in their gardens. A temporary sandbag wall did little to stop heavy seas generated by cyclone Ingrid (see figure 12).

Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements In a media statement dated 23 March 2005, Queensland Emergency Services Minister Chris Cummins announced that he has activated the joint Federal and State Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements following an estimated $2 million worth of damage from Tropical Cyclone Ingrid. “The Cook Shire Council has estimated that damage of up to $1 million has occurred to shire roads, while the Douglas Shire reports road damage totalling $300,000,” Mr Cummins said.

“It is also expected that damage to Main Roads and National Parks will see the total damage bill top the $2 million mark.

“The Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements will help meet the cost of damage to Local Government assets, State Government public assets and counter disaster operations.

“The disaster relief measures come into effect immediately and provide a mechanism for the Queensland Government to receive Commonwealth funding to offset the cost of relief measures.

“These national arrangements provide for the Commonwealth and State to cost share a range of pre- agreed disaster relief measures immediately when a need has been established,” he said.

Other sources on information on Ingrid The Bureau of Meteorology has produced a report on Ingrid for the period 6–17 March 2005, see: http://www.bom.gov.au/inside/services_policy/tc_ingrid/index.shtml

NASA's Earth Observatory has also prepared a brief report on Ingrid, see: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=12776

Department of Emergency Services media statement about Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements: http://www.disaster.qld.gov.au/news/view.asp?id=1024

Freelance photographer and storm chaser Geoff Mackley captured some interesting images, see: http://www.rambocam.com/archive/ingrid.html

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Central Max. Advice Speed Date (AEST) Category pressure Latitude Longitude Movement wind No. (Km/h) (hPa) (Km/h) 1 07/03/2005 15:00 3 950 -14.30 148.60 West Southwest 8 - 2 07/03/2005 17:00 4 930 -14.30 148.50 West Southwest 8 - 3 07/03/2005 22:00 4 935 -14.30 148.40 West 6 - 4 08/03/2005 05:00 5 930 -14.00 147.90 West Northwest 6 - 5 08/03/2005 07:00 5 930 -13.90 147.70 West Northwest 8 290 6 08/03/2005 10:00 5 930 -13.90 147.40 West 8 290 7 08/03/2005 13:00 5 930 -13.90 147.20 West 8 290 8 08/03/2005 16:00 5 930 -14.00 146.90 West 10 290 9 08/03/2005 19:00 5 930 -14.00 146.70 West 10 290 10 08/03/2005 22:00 5 930 -14.00 146.50 West 8 290 11 09/03/2005 01:00 5 930 -13.80 146.30 West 8 290 12 09/03/2005 04:00 4 935 -13.60 146.10 West 9 280 13 09/03/2005 07:00 4 935 -13.60 145.90 West 7 280 14 09/03/2005 10:00 4 935 -13.50 145.50 West 11 280 15 09/03/2005 13:00 4 945 -13.50 145.20 West 10 260 16 09/03/2005 16:00 4 950 -13.60 144.80 West Southwest 8 250 17 09/03/2005 19:00 3 960 -13.60 145.00 West Southwest 8 220 18 09/03/2005 22:00 3 970 -13.50 144.50 West 10 190 19 10/03/2005 01:00 3 965 -13.20 144.00 West Northwest 15 220 20 10/03/2005 03:00 3 965 -13.20 143.80 West Northwest 15 220 21 10/03/2005 04:00 4 960 -13.20 143.80 West Northwest 10 230 22 10/03/2005 04:00 4 960 -13.20 143.70 West Northwest 10 230 23 10/03/2005 05:00 4 960 -13.20 143.60 West Northwest 10 240 24 10/03/2005 06:00 4 955 -13.20 143.50 West 10 240 25 10/03/2005 07:00 3 965 -13.20 143.30 West 10 220 26 10/03/2005 10:00 3 975 -13.00 143.00 West 16 170 27 10/03/2005 13:00 2 980 -13.30 142.40 West 20 140 28 10/03/2005 16:00 1 990 -13.40 141.90 West Southwest 18 120 29 10/03/2005 19:00 1 992 -13.30 141.80 West 11 100 30 10/03/2005 22:00 1 992 -13.10 141.50 Northwest 10 100 31 11/03/2005 01:00 1 992 -12.90 140.70 Northwest 20 100 32 11/03/2005 04:00 2 978 -12.90 140.30 West 20 140 33 11/03/2005 07:00 2 978 -12.60 139.70 West Northwest 22 140 34 11/03/2005 10:30 2 978 -12.50 139.50 West Northwest 15 150 35 11/03/2005 13:30 3 972 -12.50 139.10 West Northwest 15 175 36 11/03/2005 16:30 3 970 -12.40 138.70 West Northwest 15 185 37 11/03/2005 18:30 3 965 -12.30 138.30 West Northwest 15 195 38 11/03/2005 22:30 4 955 -12.20 137.80 West Northwest 20 230 39 12/03/2005 00:00 4 955 -12.10 137.40 West Northwest 20 230 40 12/03/2005 01:00 4 955 -12.00 137.30 West Northwest 20 230 41 12/03/2005 02:00 4 950 -12.00 137.10 West Northwest 20 260 42 12/03/2005 03:00 4 950 -11.90 136.90 West Northwest 20 260 43 12/03/2005 04:00 4 950 -11.90 136.80 West 15 260 44 12/03/2005 05:00 4 950 -11.90 136.60 West 20 260 45 12/03/2005 06:00 4 950 -11.90 136.50 West 15 260 46 12/03/2005 07:00 4 950 -11.80 136.30 West Northwest 20 260 47 12/03/2005 08:00 4 950 -11.70 136.10 West Northwest 20 260 48 12/03/2005 09:00 4 950 -11.70 136.00 West Northwest 20 260 49 12/03/2005 10:00 5 938 -11.60 135.90 West Northwest 20 290 50 12/03/2005 11:00 5 938 -11.60 135.70 West Northwest 20 290 51 12/03/2005 13:30 5 938 -11.60 135.30 West Northwest 20 290 52 12/03/2005 16:30 5 925 -11.60 134.90 West 20 320 53 12/03/2005 19:30 5 925 -11.50 134.40 West 20 320

Table2 - Information extracted from tropical cyclone advices for tropical cyclone Ingrid (shaded rows denote over-land).

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3 Hmax 2.5 Hsig

2

1.5

1 Wave Height(m)

0.5

0

12 Tp Tz

8

Wave period (s) period Wave 4

0 05-Mar 06-Mar 07-Mar 08-Mar 09-Mar 10-Mar 11-Mar 12-Mar 13-Mar Figure 4 – Cairns wave data 5–12 March 2005 3 Hmax 2.5 Hsig

2

1.5

1 Wave Height(m)

0.5

0

12 Tp Tz

8

Wave period (s) period Wave 4

0 05-Mar 06-Mar 07-Mar 08-Mar 09-Mar 10-Mar 11-Mar 12-Mar 13-Mar Figure 5 – Weipa wave data 5–12 March 2005

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4 Predictions Observed HAT = 3.42m above LAT Non-tidal residuals

3

2

1

0 05-Mar 06-Mar 07-Mar 08-Mar 09-Mar 10-Mar 11-Mar 12-Mar 13-Mar Figure 6 – Cairns tide data 5–12 March 2005

4 Predictions Observed Non-tidal residuals

HAT = 3.13m above LAT

3

2

1

0

05-Mar 06-Mar 07-Mar 08-Mar 09-Mar 10-Mar 11-Mar 12-Mar 13-Mar

Figure 7 – Cooktown tide data 5–12 March 2005

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4 Predictions Observed Non-tidal residuals HAT = 3.38m above LAT

3

2

1

0 05-Mar 06-Mar 07-Mar 08-Mar 09-Mar 10-Mar 11-Mar 12-Mar 13-Mar Figure 8 – Weipa tide data 5–12 March 2005

5 HAT = 4.78m above LAT

Predictions Observed Non-tidal residuals

4

3

2

1

0

05-Mar 06-Mar 07-Mar 08-Mar 09-Mar 10-Mar 11-Mar 12-Mar 13-Mar Figure 9 – Karumba tide data 5–12 March 2005

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Coastline just south of Cape Sidmouth.

Trees destroyed by tropical cyclone Ingrid.

Shed near Voaden Point, destroyed by tropical cyclone Ingrid

Figure 10 – Cyclone damage, observed during visual inspection 22 March 2005.

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Floats in tree, near Voaden Point.

Wind damage to trees.

Damage to foreshore vegetation.

Figure 11 – Cyclone damage, observed during visual inspection 22 March 2005 (courtesy of Bureau of Meteorology).

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Waves overtopping frontal dunes.

Seawater on Esplanade

Seawater on Esplanade

Figure 12 – Clifton Beach (near Cairns), 8 March 2005.

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