Cyclones Rona and Frank

Severe Tropical Cyclone Rona (JTWC designation: 20P) and Severe Tropical Cyclone Frank (JTWC designation: 22P; RSMC Nadi designation: 16F) were a pair of tropical cyclones that affected Queensland and New Caledonia during the 1998–99 Australian region cyclone season and the 1998–99 South Pacific cyclone season. Rona originated from a low that developed on 9 February about 225 km (140 mi) to the northeast of Cairns. Over the next couple of days, the low slowly developed further before it was upgraded into a Category 1 cyclone on the Australian intensity scale by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology on 10 February as it started to move towards the southwest. Subsequently, Rona rapidly intensified just before making landfall near the Cape York Peninsula. While the low-level circulation became difficult to locate on 12 February, the upper-level circulation eventually emerged into the Coral Sea and later regenerated into Tropical Cyclone Frank. The system rapidly intensified before making landfall on New Caledonia as a Category 2 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale in the early morning hours of 20 February. Frank was re-classified as an extratropical cyclone the next day.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Rona
Severe Tropical Cyclone Frank
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Cyclone Frank at peak intensity nearing landfall on New Caledonia on February 19
FormedFebruary 9, 1999 (Rona)
February 16, 1999 (Frank)
DissipatedFebruary 12, 1999 (Rona)
February 27, 1999 (Frank)
(Extratropical after February 21, 1999)
Highest winds10-minute sustained:
Rona: 85 mph (140 km/h)
Frank: 150 km/h (90 mph)
1-minute sustained:
Rona: 65 mph (100 km/h)
Frank: 175 km/h (110 mph)
Lowest pressureRona: 970 mbar (hPa); 28.64 inHg
Frank: 955 hPa (mbar); 28.2 inHg
Fatalities7
Damage$150 million (1999 USD)
Areas affectedEastern Australia and New Caledonia
Part of the 1998–99 Australian region and the South Pacific cyclone seasons

Seven deaths were reported from Rona and a state of disaster was declared. Over 2,000 fled their homes due to flooding and many residents were caught off-guard for the storm. Significant crop damage was reported. Overall, Rona brought $150 million (1999 USD) in damage to Queensland. Minor damage was reported in New Caledonia. After the season, the name "Rona" was retired from the list of tropical cyclone names.

Meteorological history
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On 9 February 1999, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) started to monitor a tropical low, that had developed within the monsoon trough about 225 km (140 mi) to the northeast of Cairns, in Queensland, Australia.[1][2] At this time strong westerly winds persisted around the northern side of the low, however, a weak pressure gradient and light winds existed to the south of the system and the monsoon trough.[1][2] This was because of a deep area of low pressure near south-eastern Queensland, had an intense pressure gradient to its south, which prevented the trade winds extending up to the monsoon trough.[3] Throughout 9 February the tropical low moved eastwards under the influence of a middle-to upper-level trough over eastern Australia, however, over the next day the trough dissipated along with the deep area of low pressure.[2][3] As a result, an area of strong ridging developed to the south of the system, while the trade winds rapidly extended northwards to the monsoon trough.[1][2][3] The upper level pattern also became favorable for further development, with an outflow channel forming on the equator-ward side of the system.[1][4] The low subsequently rapidly intensified during 10 February, with atmospheric convection surrounding the system dramatically improving.[2][5] The system was subsequently named Rona by the BoM later that day, after it had developed into a category one tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale.[1] At around the same time the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) initiated advisories and designated the system as Tropical Cyclone 20P, after it had become equivalent to a tropical storm.[5][6] As it was named the system was located about 310 km (195 mi) to the east of the northern Queensland coast, and had started to move towards the southwest under the influence of the subtropical ridge of high pressure.[2][4][7]

After the system had been named the system continued to intensify, and became a category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale early on 11 February.[1][3] The system subsequently moved rapidly west-northwest towards the Queensland coast as the ridge strengthened.[1] Just before Rona made landfall the JTWC estimated that the system had peak 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 120 km/h (75 mph), this made it equivalent to a category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. However, during their post system analysis they lowered their estimate, to between 100–110 km/h (60–70 mph) which made it equivalent to a tropical storm.[6][8][9] The BoM subsequently estimated that the system had peak 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 130 km/h (80 mph) when it made landfall on the Queensland coast, at around 1300 UTC (2300 EST) on 11 February just to the north of Cow Bay near the mouth of the Daintree River.[1][2] The system maintained its west-northwest movement as it tracked over land, and according to the BoM maintained cyclone intensity until later that day after it had become difficult to track a definite low level centre.[1] Over the next 24 hours the JTWC continued to track Rona as a tropical cyclone as it moved through the Great Dividing Range. Late on 12 February, the JTWC issued their final advisory on Rona after the system had weakened below cyclone intensity and deep convection, associated with the system had dissipated despite fair upper-level outflow.[10] The JTWC subsequently tracked Rona's remnants into the Gulf of Carpentaria, however over the next few days the BoM tracked the systems remnant low to mid-level circulation as it moved southward.[10][11]

During 16 February, the system's low to mid-level circulation moved off Queensland's east coast, and tracked eastwards across the Coral Sea within the monsoon trough to the south of the subtropical ridge of high pressure.[11][12][13] Early on February 17, the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 22P, while it was located about 550 km (340 mi) to the east-northeast of Rockhampton, Australia.[2][13] Later on 18 February, RSMC Nadi remarked that Tropical Depression 16F had moved east of 160°E and into their area of responsibility. Meanwhile, they also noted that 16F had intensified into a category one tropical cyclone and was thus named Frank. At the time of the upgrade, the storm was centered 690 km (430 mi) west-northwest of Nouméa, New Caledonia.[14] By this time, an upper-level trough over eastern Australia moved into the Tasman Sea. The poleward outflow of Frank improved; as a result, Frank rapidly intensified over the next 24 hours.[14] Frank made landfall near the northern tip of New Caledonia at peak intensity with winds of 145 km/h (90 mph) at 0000 UTC on 20 February. Even though the JTWC operationally assessed the peak intensity at 185 km/h (115 mph),[15] this was lowered to 175 km/h (110 mph) during post-storm analysis.[16]

After making landfall on New Caledonia, Frank maintained peak intensity for 18 hours.[16] Soon afterwards, northwesterly wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures caused Frank to weaken rapidly. During the morning of 21 February, RSMC Nadi passed warning responsibility to Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited (TCWC Wellington) as the cyclone had moved south of 25°S.[17] Roughly 18 hours later, Frank merged with a trough to form an intense extratropical cyclone,[14] which eventually made landfall on the South Island of New Zealand near Westport. The system was last noted by MetService during 27 February while it was located about 490 km (305 mi) to the southeast of Wellington, New Zealand.

Impact and aftermath
Wettest tropical cyclones and their remnants in Australia
Highest-known totals
Precipitation Storm Location Ref.
Rank mm in
11,947 76.65Peter 1979Mount Bellenden Ker[18]
21,870 73.62Rona 1999Mount Bellenden Ker[18]
31,318 51.89Wanda 1974Mount Glorious[19]
41,256.8 49.48Fletcher 2014Kowanyama[20][21]
51,082 42.60Aivu 1989Dalrymple Heights[22]
61,065 41.93May 1998Burketown[23]
71,000 39.37Justin 1997Willis Island[24]
71,000 39.37Ellie 2009[25]
71,000 39.37Oswald 2013Tully[26]
8986 38.82Debbie 2017Clarke Range[27]
Satellite image of Severe Tropical Cyclone Rona near landfall on Queensland.

Australia

Initially, the system was not considered a major threat to Queensland. A day prior to landfall, the system was only considered a tropical low and was not expecting to intensify. Most residents did not know a powerful storm was coming until four hours before landfall. However, once officials realized that Rona was a serious threat, they started taking precautions. In fact, they feared that if the storm struck at high tide, Townsville would be devastated.[28] All air travel was cancelled about a day before landfall.[29]

Upon making landfall in Queensland, Cyclone Rona a maximum storm surge of 1.4 m (4.6 ft) was noted at the mouth of the Mossman River while a 1 m (3.3 ft) storm surge was recorded in Port Douglas. The highest rains associated with Rona, 1,870 millimetres (73.6 in), were measured at Bellenden Ker in Northern Queensland.[30] Cyclone Rona was responsible for the worst flooding in northern Queensland in 30 years. As a result, 2,000 people fled their homes.[28] Strong winds and flooding caused significant crop and infrastructure damage from Cape Kimberly to Cape Tribulation.[14][31] In the former, some trees were toppled.[14] Near Daintree, two homes were destroyed, while 12 others were damaged. In addition, a car was crushed by a falling tree.[32] Many workers were unable to get home due to flooding[28] and travel was disrupted throughout the region.[29] In all, seven deaths were attributed to the storm[33] and damage estimates from Cyclone Rona totaled $150 million (1999 USD) in Queensland[34] with roughly $100 million of that coming from crop damage.[35]

On February 12, a disaster area was declared for Cairns and Innisfail due to the severity of damage caused by the storm.[36] Platypuses were spotted along the banks of flooded rivers.[37] Both the names Frank and Rona were retired from the lists of tropical cyclone names after the system had dissipated.[38]

New Caledonia

Cyclone Frank affected two thirds of New Caledonia's Grande Terre island between 20–21 February.[39] Several townships within the north-western parts of the archipelago suffered from power outages, disruption to water supply and telecommunications, while some landslides were reported on coastal roads. Despite the systems center passing about 30 km (20 mi) to the west of Noumea, the city experienced relatively light winds as the system possessed a very small radius of damaging winds.

Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion and the Royal Australian Air Force launched a search and rescue mission during 22 February, after three men whose yacht had sunk went missing. The men were subsequently found by the Orion during the next day, while located about 547 km (340 mi) to the southwest of Nouméa just outside the search zone. The French Navy vessel Jacques Cartier, subsequently picked the sailors up later that day.[40]


See also

References
  1. Brisbane Tropical Cyclone Warning Center. Severe Tropical Cyclone Rona (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  2. Oates, Sue (3 September 2000). "The South Pacific and southeast Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season 1998-99" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine. Australian: Bureau of Meteorology (49): 235–237. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  3. Callaghan, Jeff (22 September 2011). Case Study: Tropical Cyclone Rona, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Green Cross: Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  4. Padgett, Gary (1999). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary: February 1999". Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  5. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (10 February 1999). "Tropical Cyclone 20P (Rona) Warning 1: 10 February 1999 2100z". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  6. Joint Typhoon Warning Center. "JTWC Tropical Cyclone 20P (Rona) Best Track Analysis". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  7. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (11 February 1999). "Tropical Cyclone 20P (Rona) Warning 2 11 February 1999 0900z". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  8. Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (1999). "2. South Pacific and South Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclones". 1999 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report (PDF). United States Navy, United States Air Force. p. 161. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  9. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (11 February 1999). "Tropical Cyclone 20P (Rona) Warning 3 11 February 1999 2100z". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  10. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (12 February 1999). "Tropical Cyclone 20P (Rona) Warning 5 12 February 1999 2100z". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  11. RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (29 August 2007). RSMC Nadi Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Summary 1998-99 (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  12. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (16 February 1999). "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert 16 February 1999 2300z". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  13. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (17 February 1999). "Tropical Cyclone 22P Warning 1 17 February 1999 0300z". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  14. Oates, Sue (3 September 2000). "The South Pacific and southeast Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season 1998-99" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine. Australian: Bureau of Meteorology (49): 235–237. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  15. "Tropical Cyclone Frank: JTWC Advisories". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Australian Severe Weather. 1999. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  16. "JTWC Best Track Data for Tropical Cyclone 22P (Frank)". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  17. "Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Summary 1998-99" (PDF). RSMC Nadi. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  18. "Climate Education: Flood". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 17 March 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  19. Bureau of Meteorology. Tropical Cyclones in Queensland. Retrieved on 17 July 2015.
  20. "Tropical Cyclone Fletcher Impacts". Bureau of Meteorology. Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  21. "Kowanyama, Queensland February 2014 Daily Weather Observations" (PDF). Bureau of Meteorology. Government of Australia. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  22. "Report on Severe Tropical Cyclone Aivu: Rainfall" (PDF). Bureau of Meteorology. Government of Australia. 6 June 1990. p. 17–18. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  23. "Tropical Cyclone May". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  24. Queensland Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (2014). "Tropical Cyclone Justin" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  25. "Tropical Cyclone Ellie". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  26. Williams, Brian; Michael, Peter (24 January 2013). "Ex-cyclone Oswald heads south with heavy rain tipped for long weekend". The Courier Mail. Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  27. "Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie Queensland Regional Office". Australia BOM. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  28. Sasha Rudenstine, Sandro Galea (2012). The Causes and Behavioral Consequences of Disasters: Models informed by the Global experience 1950-2005. Columbia University. pp. 69–70. ISBN 9781461403173.
  29. Bill Bryson (2000). In a Sunburned Country. National Library of Canadian Cataloging in Publishing Data. ISBN 9780385674539.
  30. "Australian Bureau of Meteorology Climate Education "Flood"". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 17 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  31. Padgett, Gary (1999). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary March 1999". Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  32. Padgett, Gary (1999). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary February 1999". Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  33. "Cyclones - Rona (damage from storm)". European Space Agency. February 1999. Archived from the original on 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  34. "CYCLONES TO HAVE IMPACTED ON QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA FROM 1864". Windworker.com.au. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  35. David C. Mercer (200). A Question of Balance: Natural Resources Conflict Issues in Australia. The Federation Press. p. 64. ISBN 9781862873421.
  36. Staff Writer (1999-02-12). "Qld Cyclone Rona disaster". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  37. Tom Grant (2007). Platypus. National Library of Australia Cataloging. ISBN 9780643093706.
  38. "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan — 2006" (PDF). World Meteorological Organization. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  39. New Caledonia Meteorological Office. "Cyclone Passes: Frank". Météo-France. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  40. "Orion helps rescue trio in liferaft — National — NZ Herald News". The New Zealand Herald. 23 February 1999. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
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