NELSON

History

Tropical Cyclone Nelson developed from a tropical low first noted by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Darwin on 30 January 2007. The low deepened while tracking east just to the north of the Northern Territory coast, prompting forecasters to declare a cyclone watch for eastern parts of the Territory on 31 January. By 1 February, cyclone warnings had been issued for that area and watches had been widened to take in most districts bordering the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center raised a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on 1 February but withdrew it two days later when the system failed to organise.

The low subsequently drifted southwest toward the southern shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria before turning back east in the direction of Queensland. Conditions improved for development, and on 5 February the Brisbane warning centre classified the system as a tropical cyclone and gave it the name Nelson, with cyclone warnings put in place for the Queensland coastline fronting the Gulf. The JTWC reinstated its formation alert the same day. Nelson strengthened further, reaching Category 2 on the Australian scale late on 6 February. It attained its peak strength as it moved onshore, with wind gusts of about 140 km/h recorded.

Forecasters had earlier raised the possibility that Nelson might survive the crossing of Cape York Peninsula and redevelop in the Coral Sea, and as a result a cyclone watch was issued for the east Queensland coast — the first of the 2006–07 season. Instead, Nelson weakened and was declared dissipated over the south-western part of Cape York Peninsula, while a separate tropical low was identified offshore near Cairns on 6 February. That low later absorbed the moisture left behind by Nelson.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia