User:Cyclonebiskit/Tropical Storm Fanele (2009)

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Severe Tropical Cyclone Pancho
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Severe Tropical Cyclone Pancho near peak intensity
Formed25 March 2008
Dissipated29 March 2008
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 175 km/h (110 mph)
1-minute sustained: 185 km/h (115 mph)
Gusts: 250 km/h (155 mph)
Lowest pressure934 hPa (mbar); 27.58 inHg
Fatalities3 indirect
Damage$2.6 million (2008 USD)
Areas affectedWestern Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania
Part of the 2007–08 Australian region cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Pancho was the strongest storm of the 2007–08 Australian region cyclone season and produced hurricane-force winds in southeastern Australia in early April as an extratropical cyclone.

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
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Severe Tropical Cyclone Pancho originated out of an active monsoon trough over the southeast Indian Ocean during mid-March. By 23 March, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Perth began monitoring a tropical low[1] located to the west-southwest of Christmas Island.[2] Strong wind shear caused convection associated with the low to be displaced to the east of the center, preventing intensification.[1] Over the following two days, wind shear lessened and convection redeveloped around the system. Convective banding features gradually developed in addition to good outflow.[3] At 0000 UTC on 25 March, the low was upgraded to a Category 1 cyclone and given the name Pancho.[1] The

While over the Great Australian Bight, the remnants of Pancho explosively deepened as cold air flowed into the system along with increased upper-level winds from the jet stream substantiall improved its outflow. In just 24 hours, the storm's central pressure fell 40 mbar (hPa; 1.18 inHg), bottoming out at 966.3 mbar (hPa; 28.53 inHg) on Maatsuyker Island. The powerful cyclone, regarded as a "historic storm", brought hurricane-force winds to portions of Tasmania, leading to widespread havoc.[4]

Impact[edit]

Western Australia[edit]

The remnants of Poncho produced much needed rains over the drought stricken areas of Western Australia.[5] Heavy rains from the storm reached 200 mm (7.8 in) in some places with 24 hour totals reaching 181 mm (7.1 in) on Barrow Island.[1] and 157 mm (6.1 in) in Minderoo.[6] About 60 mm (2.3 in) of rain fell in Mandurah during a 24 hour span, more than the monthly average for the city during April.[7] Garden Island and Rottnest also recorded high rainfall totals during the event at 49.8 mm (1.96 in) and 49.4 mm (1.94 in) respectively.[8] Up to 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain was recorded as far north as Onslow.[6] The heavy rains caused some flooding along several roads, forcing officials to temporarily shut them down.[5] A lightning strike in Mandurah left 40,000 homes and businesses without power.[7] Large swells from the storm also washed rocks onto the roads near Exmouth.[5] In Northam, 21.6 mm (0.85 in) of rain fell in 19 minutes, triggering local flooding and the evacuation of a nursing home.[1]

Victoria[edit]

Location of Victoria within Australia

After becoming an Extratropical cyclone, Pancho tracked around Australia and struck Victoria with winds up to 130 km/h (80 mph), with the highest being recorded in Colac at 132 km/h (82 mph).[9] The high winds knocked down hundreds of trees and power lines, leaving an estimated 620,000 residences were left without power at the hight of the storm.[10] Numerous highways were either temporarily shut down or had speed restrictions; some of which were around Melbourne were restricted for three hours. At least 300 scheduled train trips were cancelled due to power failures during rush hour.[9][11] The State Emergency Service (SES) received over 5,100 emergency calls by April 3.[11] One woman was killed after a walkway collapsed on her in Florence Street, Mentone.[9] Another man was killed after being electrocuted while trying to repair damaged power lines.[11]

The roof of the Caulfield General Medical Hospital and several other homes in nearby areas sustained severe damage from the high winds. In western Victoria, a dust storm fueled by the storms' winds caused a three car accident which injured ten people.[9] The winds also caused a tree to fall on a power line, sparking a fire near Melbourne.[11] Along the shore, 23 boats were thrown onto rocks along the coast and another sank while the jetty was damaged. Three other people sustained varying injuries from flying debris or being knocked down by the storm. An incident at a construction site, possibly caused by the storm, killed one worker after a scaffold collapsed. Total damages in Victoria were estimated to be over A$2 million ($1.3 million USD).[9] Although the storm produced destructive winds, relatively little rainfall was recored, with the highest peaking at 50 mm (1.9 in). In nearby mountains up to 5 cm (2 in) of snow fell.[12] The Government of Australia granted about A$1,000 for homeowners who suffered significant losses from the storm.[11] About 400 volunteers worked to clean up debris within a day of the event.[13]

Tasmania[edit]

Winds in Tasmania gusted up to 177 km/h (110 mph), knocking down numerous trees and about 200 power lines which left 67,148 residences without power.[14] More than 250 emergency calls were made during the storm, 90 of which came in a single hour.[15] There were also 13 reports of trees falling on homes. Residents in Cambridge Caravan Park were evacuated after a tree fell on a caravan.[16] The high winds tore the roofs off of several homes and caused severe damage to one home. Debris forced officials to shut down a few highways and roads were closed for at least a day.[17] Damages from the storm were estimated to be at least A$2 million ($1.3 million USD).[15] On 3 April, a pressure of 966.2 hPa was recorded in Tasmania, the second lowest pressure ever recorded on the island.[12] Following the widespread power outages in Tasmania, 4,031 customers on the "Aurora distribution network" received a total of A$324,800 in payments as a result of the storm.[14]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Linda Paterson (30 July 2008). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Severe Tropical Cyclone Pancho" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  2. ^ Gary Padgett (31 August 2008). "Monthly Tropical Weather Summary for March 2008". Typhoon 2000. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  3. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advisories for 0000 UTC 25 March 2007". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 25 March 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ Jocelyn Fogagnolo (5 April 2008). "Blow-by-blow account". Hobart Mercury. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  5. ^ a b c Staff Writer (28 March 2008). "Pancho's Rain Down on Exmouth". ABC News. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Pancho Impacts". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  7. ^ a b Kate Hedley (April 2, 2008). "Wild weather hits city". Mandurah Mail. Retrieved 17 March 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ Narelle Towie (31 March 2008). "Rain-starved Perthites rejoice over downpour". Sunday Times (Perth Now). Retrieved 17 March 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ a b c d e Andra Jackson and Dan Oakes (3 April 2008). "Two die as storm fury lashes state". The Age. Retrieved 17 March 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Supply Interruptions Due to the 2 April 2008 Storm" (PDF). Essential Services Commission. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  11. ^ a b c d e Karen Collier (3 April 2008). "Families hit by killer winds eligible for $1000 grants". Herald Sun. Retrieved 17 March 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ a b "Significant Weather - April 2008" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  13. ^ Sarah Wotherspoon, David Hastie, Paul Anderson and Mark Dunn (3 April 2008). "Two killed in 130km/h wild winds". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 March 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ a b Andrew Reeves (10 June 2008). "Application for Relief of Obligation for Single Outage Duration GSL Payments Arisingfrom the Wind-storms of the 2nd and 3rd of April, 2008" (PDF). Office of the Tasmanian Energy Regulator. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  15. ^ a b Andrew John Reeves (10 July 2008). "Statement of Reasons" (PDF). Aurora Energy Pty Ltd. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  16. ^ Staff Writer (3 April 2008). "After the storm: Hurricane winds lash Tasmania". ABC News. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  17. ^ Staff Writer (3 April 2008). "Tasmanian storm damages top $1m". ABC News. Retrieved 17 March 2009.

External links[edit]

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