CHRIS
2001-02 season · AU200102_04U
History
Severe Tropical Cyclone Chris developed from a weak low-pressure area over the Timor Sea, first identified by the Bureau of Meteorology on 1 February 2002. The system tracked southwestward before being classified as a tropical cyclone on 2 February, receiving the name Chris on 3 February. Intensifying steadily as it moved toward the Western Australian coast, Chris reached peak intensity with 1-minute sustained winds of 230 km/h and gusts up to 290 km/h, making it a Category 5 storm. It made landfall in the early hours of 6 February near peak intensity, coming ashore between Pardoo Station and Wallal in the Pilbara region.
The cyclone caused widespread damage across the region. Significant structural damage occurred at Pardoo, where a community shelter lost its roof and walls, and several buildings were destroyed. Heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm in parts of the Pilbara triggered serious flooding, isolating communities including Warralong. Along the Nullagine River, 309 mm of rain caused the river to overflow and inundate parts of Nullagine. Livestock losses were severe, with estimates suggesting around A$1 million in cattle deaths. Off the Indonesian coast, two motorboats capsized in rough seas associated with the storm, leaving twelve people missing. The name Chris was subsequently retired and replaced with Clancy due to the cyclone's destructive impact.
Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia
View full track data (56 observations)
| Date/Time (UTC) | Category | Position | Pressure | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-02-02 04:00:00 | 1 | -13.1, 120.8 | 1003 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 2002-02-02 06:00:00 | 1 | -13.2, 121.3 | 1002 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 2002-02-02 10:00:00 | 1 | -13.5, 122.2 | 1001 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 2002-02-02 12:00:00 | 1 | -13.8, 122.1 | 1000 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 2002-02-02 16:00:00 | 1 | -14.4, 122.0 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 2002-02-02 18:00:00 | 1 | -14.6, 121.9 | 997 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 2002-02-02 22:00:00 | 1 | -15.0, 121.6 | 995 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 00:00:00 | 1 | -15.2, 121.5 | 993 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 01:00:00 | 1 | -15.3, 121.4 | 992 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 04:00:00 | 1 | -15.5, 121.2 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 06:00:00 | 1 | -15.6, 121.1 | 988 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 07:00:00 | 1 | -15.7, 121.1 | 988 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 10:00:00 | 1 | -15.9, 120.9 | 985 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 12:00:00 | 1 | -16.0, 120.8 | 981 hPa | 28 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 13:00:00 | 1 | -16.0, 120.8 | 980 hPa | 28 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 16:00:00 | 1 | -16.1, 120.8 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 18:00:00 | 1 | -16.2, 120.9 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 19:00:00 | 1 | -16.2, 120.9 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 2002-02-03 22:00:00 | 1 | -16.4, 121.0 | 970 hPa | 33 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 00:00:00 | 1 | -16.5, 121.1 | 966 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 01:00:00 | 1 | -16.6, 121.1 | 965 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 04:00:00 | 1 | -16.9, 121.0 | 960 hPa | 39 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 06:00:00 | 1 | -17.2, 121.0 | 956 hPa | 41 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 07:00:00 | 1 | -17.3, 121.0 | 955 hPa | 41 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 10:00:00 | 1 | -17.6, 120.9 | 950 hPa | 44 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 12:00:00 | 1 | -17.7, 120.7 | 946 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 13:00:00 | 1 | -17.8, 120.6 | 945 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 16:00:00 | 1 | -17.9, 120.4 | 940 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 18:00:00 | 1 | -18.0, 120.3 | 936 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 19:00:00 | 1 | -18.0, 120.3 | 935 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 2002-02-04 22:00:00 | 1 | -18.1, 120.2 | 930 hPa | 51 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 00:00:00 | 1 | -18.2, 120.2 | 926 hPa | 54 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 01:00:00 | 1 | -18.2, 120.2 | 925 hPa | 54 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 04:00:00 | 1 | -18.4, 120.3 | 925 hPa | 54 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 06:00:00 | 1 | -18.6, 120.3 | 921 hPa | 54 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 07:00:00 | 1 | -18.7, 120.3 | 920 hPa | 54 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 10:00:00 | 1 | -18.9, 120.4 | 920 hPa | 54 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 12:00:00 | 1 | -19.1, 120.4 | 916 hPa | 57 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 13:00:00 | 1 | -19.2, 120.4 | 915 hPa | 57 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 16:00:00 | 1 | -19.5, 120.3 | 915 hPa | 57 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 18:00:00 | 1 | -19.7, 120.2 | 915 hPa | 57 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 19:00:00 | 1 | -19.8, 120.1 | 915 hPa | 57 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 21:00:00 | 3 | -20.0, 120.0 | 915 hPa | 57 km/h |
| 2002-02-05 22:00:00 | 2 | -20.1, 120.0 | 920 hPa | 54 km/h |
| 2002-02-06 00:00:00 | 2 | -20.3, 119.9 | 933 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 2002-02-06 01:00:00 | 2 | -20.4, 119.8 | 940 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 2002-02-06 04:00:00 | 2 | -20.8, 119.7 | 960 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 2002-02-06 06:00:00 | 2 | -21.1, 119.6 | 970 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 2002-02-06 07:00:00 | 2 | -21.2, 119.6 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 2002-02-06 10:00:00 | 2 | -21.6, 119.6 | 985 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 2002-02-06 12:00:00 | 2 | -21.7, 119.5 | 989 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 2002-02-06 16:00:00 | 2 | -22.0, 119.3 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 2002-02-06 18:00:00 | 2 | -22.0, 119.2 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 2002-02-06 22:00:00 | 2 | -22.1, 119.1 | 1000 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 2002-02-07 00:00:00 | 2 | -22.2, 119.1 | 1000 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 2002-02-07 04:00:00 | 2 | -22.3, 119.0 | 1002 hPa | 13 km/h |