Cyclone Trevor

Severe Tropical Cyclone Trevor was a powerful and large tropical cyclone that caused major damages across Papua New Guinea, Northern Territory and Queensland during March 2019. The twentieth tropical low, seventh tropical cyclone, and fourth severe tropical cyclone of the 2018-19 Australian region cyclone season, Trevor originated from a tropical low that formed to the east of Papua New Guinea.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Trevor
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Severe Tropical Cyclone Trevor making landfall in Australia, shortly after peak intensity on 23 March 2019
FormedMarch 15, 2019
DissipatedMarch 26, 2019
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 175 km/h (110 mph)
1-minute sustained: 195 km/h (120 mph)
Lowest pressure951 hPa (mbar); 28.08 inHg
FatalitiesNone reported
Damage$700,000 (2019 USD)
Areas affectedIndonesia, Papua New Guinea, Queensland, Northern Territory
Part of the 2018–19 Australian region cyclone season

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

A moderate to strong pulse of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) moved into the Maritime Continent during March 2019. This aided the formation of a weak monsoonal trough to the north of Australia, which would help any tropical cyclone located in the area move southward toward the country.[1] Although, the MJO soon weakened and no longer played an influence of tropical weather. This was due to other climate influences overshadowing the weakening MJO. Global forecasting models came into agreement that the MJO would continue to no longer be discernible over Trevor's lifespan.[2]

On March 11, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) noted that a tropical low had formed over the Solomon Sea near Papua New Guinea.[3] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) first issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) at 1:30 UTC on March 15, while the disturbance was located roughly 270 miles east-northeast of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The agency noted that the system was growing a tightening low-level center and deep convection. Within an area of moderate vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures, the low began to strengthen.[4]

Preparations and impact

New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea, a strong wind warning was put in effect for coastal areas between the Gulf of Papua and the Torres Strait.[5] Due to the wet weather Trevor brought to Port Moresby, the first day of the 2018–19 ICC T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier had to be delayed.[6]

Trevor caused destruction across Goodenough Island. 591 residences were partially damaged, while 463 residences were fully damaged. A primary school was damaged by high winds, forcing classes to be cancelled for several weeks. On the island, 20% of gardens growing food were damaged by Trevor. The staff houses at a clinic in Yauyaula were mangled. In Kilia Ward, a church was destroyed by powerful winds. Fish ponds on the island were demolished by the cyclone.[7]

Australia
Bureau of Meteorology, Australia Twitter
@BOM_au

Not since Marcia/Lam in 2015 have we had 2 severe cyclones in the Aus region at the same time! #CycloneVeronica in northwest WA is currently Category 4 strength, while #CycloneTrevor in the Gulf of Carpentaria is also likely to intensify to Cat 4 today.

22 Mar 2019[8]

Cyclones Joaninha, Savannah, Veronica, and Trevor (from left to right) all active simultaneously on 21 March

As a precaution, roughly 1,400 people were forced to evacuate to shelters in rural parts of the Northern Territory.[9] This was the largest evacuation in the area since Cyclone Tracy in 1974.[10] A state of emergency was issued for the territory on 21 March.[11] The Carpentaria Highway, Roper Highway, Barkly Stock Route, and the Tablelands Highways were shut down.[12]

As the storm made landfall on the Cape York Peninsula, the entire town of Coen lost electricity while nearby Aurukun reported isolated power outages.[13] The Iron Range National Park received extensive damage from the storm with numerous trees being flattened.[14]

Retirement

Due to the impact in Northern Queensland caused by the storm, the name Trevor was retired and will never be used again for an Australian region tropical cyclone. It will be replaced by Trung upon the next list repeat.[15][16]

See also

References
  1. "Weekly Tropical Climate Note". Bureau of Meteorology. March 12, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  2. "Weekly Tropical Climate Note". Bureau of Meteorology. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  3. "Tropical Cyclone Trevor". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  4. "Tropical Cyclone Trevor". Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  5. ECHO (March 19, 2019). "Australia, Papua New Guinea - Tropical Cyclone TREVOR update (GDACS, JTWC, BOM, PNGMET, media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 19 March 2019)". ReliefWeb. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  6. "Sport: Cyclone delays start of cricket qualifiers in PNG". rnz.co.nz. Radio New Zealand. March 21, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  7. "Impacts of Cyclone Trevor on Goodenough Island, Milne Bay Province" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  8. Bureau of Meteorology, Australia [@BOM_au] (22 Mar 2019). "Not since Marcia/Lam in 2015 have we had 2 severe cyclones in the Aus region at the same time! #CycloneVeronica in northwest WA is currently Category 4 strength, while #CycloneTrevor in the Gulf of Carpentaria is also likely to intensify to Cat 4 today" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. "Cyclone Trevor: Eyewitness describes the 'guttural howling roar'". bbc.com. BBC. March 23, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  10. IANS (March 23, 2019). "Cyclone Trevor hits Australia's northern coast". Business Standard India. Business Standard News. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  11. Joshua Berlinger, Taylor Ward (March 21, 2019). "Australia braces for twin cyclones as state of emergency declared in Northern Territory". cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  12. Lisa Martin (March 23, 2019). "Cyclone Trevor lashes Northern Territory coast with destructive winds". The Guardian. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  13. Eric Leister. "Trevor to threaten Northern Territory after causing damage, flooding and power cuts in Cape York". accuweather.com. AccuWeather. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  14. Eric Barker, Brendan Mounter (July 13, 2019). "Cape York community's fight to save Iron Range rainforest devastated by Cyclone Trevor". abc.net.au. ABC. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  15. http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/tropical-cyclone-knowledge-centre/understanding/tc-names/
  16. "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plans | World Meteorological Organization".
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