JANA

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Jana developed from a tropical low in the Indian Ocean during the 2003–04 Australian cyclone season, forming on 6 December 2003. The system organised quickly and was named Jana on 7 December as it tracked eastward. By 8 December it had intensified into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, reaching peak intensity in the vicinity of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The storm then curved southward before turning westward as it encountered less favourable atmospheric conditions. Increasing wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures caused Jana to weaken progressively, and it dissipated over open water on 12 December 2003.

Jana remained entirely at sea throughout its existence and did not make landfall. Although it developed close enough to the Cocos Islands to prompt the Bureau of Meteorology to issue cyclone warnings for the territory, the storm's centre passed sufficiently far to the east that the islands avoided destructive winds. No damage to infrastructure was recorded and there were no casualties associated with the cyclone. Jana's entire lifecycle was confined to the open waters of the southeast Indian Ocean, making it a meteorologically notable but otherwise consequence-free event for the 2003–04 season.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia