HARVEY

History

Tropical Cyclone Harvey developed in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria in early February 2005, emerging from a cluster of weak low pressure systems that had been drifting across the Gulf and the Timor Sea. Because no single dominant circulation was evident among these lows, forecasters initially held back on escalating alert levels: the Bureau of Meteorology moved to Low Key Standby on 3 February, with High Key Standby deferred until the following day as the pattern became better organised.

By 5 February the Brisbane Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre had issued advice for communities along the southern rim of the Gulf, placing the region in the Watch Phase. Conditions consolidated quickly thereafter, and on 6 February the system was upgraded to a Category 1 cyclone and named Harvey, prompting the start of the Warning Phase. Intensification continued rapidly over the warm, shallow waters of the Gulf, and Harvey reached Category 3 severe tropical cyclone status on 7 February. At its strongest the system had an estimated central pressure of 967 hPa and produced maximum wind gusts near 220 km/h. Harvey then turned towards the coastline and crossed the southern Gulf shore later the same day, close to its peak strength, before weakening inland.

Warnings covered a broad stretch of coast from Mornington Island in Queensland westward to Port McArthur, Borroloola and the Robinson River in the Northern Territory, with residents advised to expect damaging winds, abnormally high tides and flooding. The heaviest consequences were felt at Robinson River, where the river rose by almost 16 metres and came within a metre of inundating the community's power station. Flood waters caused severe damage to roads, estimated at around A$1 million, and trees were brought down with minor structural damage to buildings. At Pungalina Station, strong winds uprooted or snapped numerous trees and about 60 mm of rain was recorded. No deaths were attributed to the cyclone.

The name Harvey was subsequently withdrawn from the Australian region naming lists.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia