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Cyclone Tasha

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Tropical Cyclone Tasha
Cyclone Tasha several hours after moving inland on 25 December
Meteorological history
Formed24 December 2010
Dissipated25 December 2010
Category 1 tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained(BOM)
Highest winds75 km/h (45 mph)
Lowest pressure993hPa(mbar); 29.32inHg
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained(SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds75 km/h (45 mph)
Overall effects
Fatalities1
DamageUnknown
Areas affectedQueenslandandNew South Wales
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the2010–11 Australian region cyclone season

Tropical Cyclone Tashawas a short-lived, but devastatingtropical cyclonethat exacerbated widespread floods inQueensland,Australiaduring the 2010Christmasholiday.

Meteorological history[edit]

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
triangleExtratropical cyclone,remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Tropical Cyclone Tasha was first identified on 24 December 2010 by theJoint Typhoon Warning Centre(JTWC) as a weakarea of low pressureaccompanied by increasing deepconvection.At the surface, the structure of the storm's circulation was uncertain asfeeder bandsprovided a clear indication of its centre; however, the lack of westerly winds at the surface refuted this. Situated roughly 370 kilometres (230 mi) east-northeast ofCairns, Queensland,favourable environmental conditions, such as lowwind shear,would allow for further development of the low.[1]Later on 24 December, theAustralian Bureau of Meteorology(BOM) classified the system as a tropical low.[2]Shortly thereafter, the systemrapidly consolidatedas deep convection formed around a well-defined low-level circulation. This prompted the JTWC to issue aTropical Cyclone Formation Alertas they anticipated the system to intensify into atropical cyclonewithin the following 24 hours.[3]At 16:00UTC,the BOM upgraded the low to a Category 1 cyclone, assigning with the name Tasha.[4]

Within hours of the BoM declaring Tasha a tropical cyclone, the JTWC followed suit and issued their first advisory on the storm, designating it as Tropical Cyclone 04P. Situated along the northwestern edge of asubtropicalridge,Tasha tracked southwestward towardsQueensland,Australia and intensified.[5]The storm attained its peak intensity on 24 December with winds of 75 km/h (45 mph) and abarometric pressureof 993mbar(hPa;29.32inHg).[6]Hours later, the centre of Tasha madelandfallbetweenCairnsandInnisfailat this intensity.[7]Later that day, the BOM issued their final advisory on Tasha as it weakened to a tropical low over Queensland;[8]the JTWC followed suit shortly thereafter.[9]The remnants of Tasha persisted in the region for several more days, bringing heavy rains to much of Queensland.[10]

Impact and aftermath[edit]

See also:2010–11 Queensland floods

Following the Bureau of Meteorology's first advice for the tropical low on 24 December, acyclone warningwas declared for areas betweenPort DouglasandLucinda,Queensland. Some parts of Queensland were already suffering from flooding and additional rainfall was expected to worsen the situation.[2]

Although a relatively weak storm, Tasha produced widespread torrential rains in Queensland, amounting to more than 250 mm (9.8 in) in some areas.[10]Thousands of hectares of cropland were inundated by floods and many towns and cities were underwater. InTheodore,much of the area was flooded after theDawson Riverreached its highest level in 50 years, cresting around 14 m (46 ft).[11]This surpassed the previous record by more than 50 cm (1.6 ft).[12]Efforts to evacuate the entire town of 300 were made as water levels continued to rise.[12]Thousands of people were evacuated by local authorities using military helicopters.[11]The town ofInghamwas isolated as theHerbert Riverreached a level of 12.2 m (40 ft).[10]The town ofDalbywas split in two by the swollen Myall Creek, leaving more than 100 homes flooded.[13]One fatality took place inMareeba,near where Tasha made landfall, where a man drowned after being swept off a footbridge.[14]

Areas as far south asBrisbanewere affected by Tasha.[citation needed]InNew South Wales,175 people were evacuated to emergency shelters as the flooding spread south. An additional 800 people were isolated in the towns of Urbenville and Bonalbo on 28 December as flood waters blocked off roads.[12]

By 28 December, nearly half of Queensland was flooded and preliminary damage estimates exceeded A$1.4 billion. Total economic losses also reached A$6 billion, roughly 0.5% of the nation'sgross domestic product.[15]In response to the severe flooding, the Government of Queensland declared numerous towns as disaster areas, allowing for federal funds to be used. By 27 December, flood waters began to recede in Babinda and Gordonvale, leaving behind debris and thick black mud.[10]The following day, Prime MinisterJulia Gillardannounced that additionalBlackhawk helicopterswould be sent to assist in evacuation efforts.[11]

Retirement[edit]

The nameTashawas retrospectively retired after the2022–23 seasonand it will never be used to name another storm in that basin again. It was replaced byTaliahfor future seasons.[16]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Significant Tropical Weather Outlook for the Western and South Pacific Oceans".Joint Typhoon Warning Centre.United States Navy. 24 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 8 August 2010.Retrieved26 December2010.
  2. ^ab"Tropical Cyclone Advice Number One".Queensland Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre.Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 24 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 22 May 2024.Retrieved26 December2010.
  3. ^"Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert".Joint Typhoon Warning Centre.United States Navy. 24 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 3 December 2010.Retrieved26 December2010.
  4. ^"Tropical Cyclone Advice Two".Queensland Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre.Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 24 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 22 May 2024.Retrieved26 December2010.
  5. ^"Tropical Cyclone 04P (Tasha) Advisory 001".Joint Typhoon Warning Centre.United States Navy. 24 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 3 December 2010.Retrieved27 December2010.
  6. ^"Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin 1853 UTC 24 December 2010".Queensland Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre.Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 24 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 2 July 2010.
  7. ^"Tropical Cyclone Advice Number Three".Queensland Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre.Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 24 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 22 May 2024.Retrieved28 December2010.
  8. ^"Tropical Cyclone Advice Four".Queensland Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre.Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 24 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 22 May 2024.Retrieved28 December2010.
  9. ^"Tropical Cyclone 04P (Tasha) Advisory 002".Joint Typhoon Warning Centre.United States Navy. 25 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 3 December 2010.Retrieved28 December2010.
  10. ^abcdJosh Robertson, Andrew MacDonald and Peter Michael (27 December 2010)."Cyclone Tasha leaves Queensland waterlogged and facing $1b damages bill".The Courier-Mail.The Australian National News. Archived fromthe originalon 29 December 2010.Retrieved28 December2010.
  11. ^abcStaff Writer (28 December 2010)."Flooding Forces Mass Evacuations in Australia".RTT News. Archived fromthe originalon 6 June 2022.Retrieved28 December2010.
  12. ^abcStaff Writer (28 December 2010)."Australians evacuate flood-hit Queensland towns".BBC News.Archived fromthe originalon 28 December 2010.Retrieved28 December2010.
  13. ^Australian Associated Press (28 December 2010)."More Qld evacuations as floods rage on".The Sydney Morning Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 22 May 2024.Retrieved28 December2010.
  14. ^"Man found dead in flooded creek".29 December 2010.
  15. ^David Uren and Andrew Fraser (28 December 2010)."Floods deal $6bn blow to economy as 1000 evacuated in Queensland deluge".The Australian.Archived fromthe originalon 19 January 2011.Retrieved28 December2010.
  16. ^http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/tropical-cyclone-knowledge-centre/understanding/tc-names/

External links[edit]


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