SID

History

A low-pressure system developed over the Northern Territory in the closing days of December 1997, forming as the monsoon trough became established near northern Australia before drifting into the Timor Sea. The Bureau of Meteorology identified a tropical depression on 26 December in the vicinity of Darwin, and the system intensified quickly, reaching gale force only about six hours after developing, at which point it was named Sid.

Sid tracked eastward across the Northern Territory before curving to the southeast and then turning fully southward. Increasing vertical wind shear undermined the system, and by 28 December it had fallen below gale strength. The residual low then wandered over northern Australia for several days without reorganising.

The remnant circulation proved unusually persistent. On 3 January it moved back into the western Gulf region, prompting the Bureau to resume advisories on expectations of redevelopment. The low briefly regained depression status, and scatterometer data at 1330 UTC on 4 January indicated winds of roughly 30–35 mph over the water. It weakened again on 5 January and advisories ceased, only for TCWC Darwin to reissue them a third time on 7 January in anticipation of renewed intensification that never eventuated. The final warning was issued at 1800 UTC that day.

The surviving low subsequently crossed the Gulf of Carpentaria and moved into Queensland, where TCWC Brisbane began issuing bulletins on 10 January. The system became almost stationary near Townsville for a couple of days, producing very heavy rainfall that caused major flooding in the district, with several rivers breaking their banks on 11 January. Bulletins were discontinued the following day.

Sid was one of a number of systems during the slightly below-average 1997–98 Australian region cyclone season.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia