DAMAN

History

Tropical Cyclone Daman originated as a shallow tropical depression near Tokelau on 11 February 1992. Steered west-southwestward beneath a subtropical ridge, the weak system tracked across Tuvalu over the following days while slowly becoming better organised. On 15 February, with convection consolidating around a defined centre roughly 300 km to the northeast of Vanuatu's Banks Islands, the disturbance was upgraded and given the name Daman.

In its early named stage Daman remained comparatively weak as it brushed the northern islands of Vanuatu, passing close to Espiritu Santo and delivering squally winds and periods of heavy rain. It then moved out into the Coral Sea, where warm sea surface temperatures and a favourable environment allowed steadier intensification as the cyclone recurved towards the southwest. Daman reached its peak on 17 February as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, with a minimum central pressure near 950 hPa, maximum ten-minute sustained winds of about 130 km/h (70 knots) and gusts estimated to 180 km/h. At peak strength the system was positioned well offshore from the Queensland coast, and it never threatened a landfall on the Australian mainland.

The intensity was short-lived. Strengthening upper-level wind shear eroded the cyclone's structure late on 17 February as it accelerated to the south-southeast, and Daman lost its tropical characteristics near latitude 30°S on 18 February. The resulting extratropical low was drawn into the mid-latitude westerlies and swept rapidly eastward towards New Zealand.

Damage in the tropics was minimal, with no significant structural destruction and no direct fatalities reported. Along the Australian coast the cyclone's broad circulation generated rough seas and elevated swell on beaches in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. The most severe effects came from the post-tropical remnant, which brought damaging gales and heavy rain to New Zealand's North Island on 21 February; Manukau Heads near Auckland recorded gusts to 205 km/h, bringing down trees and power lines.

Daman was one of eleven tropical cyclones recorded in an active, El Niño-influenced 1991–92 South Pacific season.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia