Magda

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Magda developed from a tropical low near the Indonesian island of Roti on 18 January 2010, forming as the third named storm of the 2009–10 Australian region cyclone season. The Bureau of Meteorology upgraded the system to tropical cyclone status on 20 January, and it reached severe tropical cyclone intensity on 21 January as it approached Western Australia. Magda was a compact system, with gale-force winds extending only around 85 km from its centre, earning it the classification of a "midget" cyclone.

The storm made landfall near Kuri Bay in the remote Kimberley region at peak intensity, with ten-minute sustained winds of 130 km/h and a central pressure of 975 hPa. After briefly moving back offshore, it made a second landfall east of the Buccaneer Archipelago before passing over Derby, where winds remained below gale force, prompting its downgrading to a tropical low. The remnant system dissipated east of Port Hedland on 24 January.

Despite initial forecasts suggesting the system could reach Category 4 strength, Magda struck a sparsely populated area and caused limited damage. Rainfall at Kuri Bay reached 185 mm over three days, and wind gusts near landfall were estimated at up to 185 km/h, causing significant defoliation and minor roof damage to a handful of homes. No injuries were recorded. A mining company evacuated 228 workers from Koolan Island as a precaution. Following the storm, the name Magda was retired and later replaced with Megan.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia