CLARE

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Clare developed from a weak low-pressure system in the Arafura Sea on 4 January 2006, drifting westward through the Timor Sea over the following days. The Bureau of Meteorology formally named the system Clare on 7 January, at which point it was situated roughly 426 km north of Broome. The cyclone steadily intensified as it tracked southwest, reaching Category 3 status on the Australian scale with sustained 10-minute winds of 140 km/h and a central pressure of 964 hPa. Clare made landfall along the Pilbara coast west of Dampier at 1600 UTC on 9 January, then rapidly weakened and dissipated on 10 January.

At landfall, wind gusts reached 142 km/h at Karratha, and rainfall totals along the central Pilbara coast frequently exceeded 200 mm, with 215 mm recorded at Wickham. Storm surge was limited because it coincided with low tide and caused no known damage. Flooding forced the closure of roads including part of the North West Coastal Highway, and tens of thousands of residents lost power and telephone services. Around 2,000 people had been evacuated from the Karratha region prior to landfall. Heavy rain extended well beyond the immediate impact zone; Lake Grace in the state's south received 230 mm on 13 January and was declared a disaster zone. The Greenough River broke its banks, though sandbagging protected the town of Walkaway. No fatalities or significant injuries were recorded, and property damage was generally minor. The name Clare was subsequently retired by the Bureau of Meteorology.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia