Olwyn

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Olwyn developed from a weak tropical low in the monsoon trough off the Western Australian coast on 8 March 2015. The system initially moved eastward before turning south and was upgraded to a tropical cyclone on 11 March. Olwyn reached peak intensity near North West Cape on 12 March, with sustained winds of 75 knots and gusts recorded at Learmonth Airport of up to 97 knots, classifying it as a Category 3 system. The cyclone tracked southward along the coast before crossing the shoreline over Shark Bay at midday UTC on 13 March, weakening below cyclone strength by the following day inland of Geraldton.

Significant impacts were felt along a broad stretch of coastline from Onslow to Kalbarri. At Exmouth, wind gusts of 180 km/h were recorded, homes were flooded, and the Exmouth Yacht Club sustained heavy damage. Carnarvon suffered more severe destruction, with numerous houses unroofed or badly damaged, the entire local banana crop wiped out, and water and power supplies disrupted for days. The Gascoyne River experienced its worst flooding since 2010. One person died after sustaining injuries in a storm-related vehicle accident. Total damage in Carnarvon alone was estimated at over A$100 million, and Olwyn was considered the most damaging cyclone to strike the town since 1950. The name Olwyn was subsequently retired and replaced with Oriana.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia