CHARLIE
1987-88 season · AU198788_04U
History
Severe Tropical Cyclone Charlie developed from a tropical low that formed over the Coral Sea early on 21 February 1988. The system organised steadily and was upgraded to tropical cyclone status at 18:00 UTC on 22 February, when it received the name Charlie.
Charlie strengthened for roughly the next day as it curved towards the south, but this initial intensification was short-lived and the cyclone soon began to weaken. After a period of slight decline it levelled off, holding a steady intensity while drifting slowly westward across the Coral Sea. Renewed strengthening began early on 27 February, and Charlie maintained its westward course for a further 36 hours before turning south towards the north Queensland coast.
The cyclone made its first landfall near Cape Bowling Green and reached its peak strength as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone during 29 February, before moving back offshore briefly and making a second landfall in Upstart Bay. Once inland it decayed quickly, dissipating on 1 March.
Because the affected stretch of coast was sparsely settled, structural damage was limited, but agricultural losses were substantial, with crop damage estimated at about $15 million.
Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia
View full track data (41 observations)
| Date/Time (UTC) | Category | Position | Pressure | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-02-21 00:00:00 | 1 | -12.8, 159.1 | 997 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1988-02-21 06:00:00 | 1 | -14.0, 158.4 | 997 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1988-02-21 12:00:00 | 1 | -14.2, 158.1 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1988-02-21 18:00:00 | 1 | -14.3, 157.9 | 995 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1988-02-22 00:00:00 | 1 | -14.4, 157.6 | 995 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1988-02-22 06:00:00 | 1 | -14.6, 156.9 | 995 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1988-02-22 12:00:00 | 1 | -14.6, 156.5 | 993 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1988-02-22 18:00:00 | 1 | -14.6, 156.2 | 992 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1988-02-23 00:00:00 | 1 | -14.5, 155.7 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1988-02-23 06:00:00 | 1 | -14.5, 155.2 | 989 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 1988-02-23 12:00:00 | 1 | -14.7, 154.7 | 988 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 1988-02-23 18:00:00 | 1 | -14.9, 154.6 | 986 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1988-02-24 00:00:00 | 1 | -15.2, 154.5 | 985 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1988-02-24 06:00:00 | 1 | -15.5, 154.5 | 987 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1988-02-24 12:00:00 | 1 | -16.2, 155.1 | 992 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1988-02-24 18:00:00 | 1 | -16.9, 154.9 | 993 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1988-02-25 00:00:00 | 1 | -17.4, 154.6 | 993 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1988-02-25 06:00:00 | 1 | -17.6, 154.1 | 995 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 1988-02-25 12:00:00 | 1 | -17.5, 153.7 | 996 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 1988-02-25 18:00:00 | 1 | -17.5, 153.3 | 996 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 1988-02-26 00:00:00 | 1 | -17.5, 152.8 | 995 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 1988-02-26 06:00:00 | 1 | -17.2, 152.3 | 992 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1988-02-26 12:00:00 | 1 | -16.9, 152.2 | 995 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1988-02-26 18:00:00 | 1 | -16.8, 152.0 | 995 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1988-02-27 00:00:00 | 1 | -17.0, 152.0 | 996 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1988-02-27 06:00:00 | 1 | -17.5, 151.7 | 994 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1988-02-27 12:00:00 | 1 | -17.8, 150.9 | 992 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1988-02-27 18:00:00 | 1 | -18.0, 150.0 | 990 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 1988-02-28 00:00:00 | 1 | -18.1, 149.0 | 990 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 1988-02-28 06:00:00 | 1 | -18.2, 148.4 | 985 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1988-02-28 12:00:00 | 1 | -18.4, 148.0 | 985 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1988-02-28 18:00:00 | 1 | -18.9, 147.7 | 985 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1988-02-29 00:00:00 | 1 | -19.2, 147.5 | 985 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1988-02-29 06:00:00 | 1 | -19.4, 147.5 | 982 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1988-02-29 12:00:00 | 1 | -19.6, 147.6 | 972 hPa | 41 km/h |
| 1988-02-29 16:00:00 | 1 | -19.7, 147.7 | 972 hPa | 41 km/h |
| 1988-02-29 18:00:00 | 3 | -19.8, 147.7 | 980 hPa | 41 km/h |
| 1988-03-01 00:00:00 | 2 | -20.4, 147.9 | 993 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1988-03-01 06:00:00 | 2 | -21.0, 147.6 | 996 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1988-03-01 12:00:00 | 2 | -20.9, 147.5 | 999 hPa | 10 km/h |
| 1988-03-01 18:00:00 | 2 | -20.9, 147.5 | 1000 hPa | 10 km/h |