GRAHAM

History

Tropical Cyclone Graham was a short-lived, relatively weak system that developed off the northwest of Australia in late February 2003. Its origins lay in a cluster of convection that had lingered over the Australian landmass for about a week before drifting out over the waters off the northern coast on 23 February. The strengthening of a deep and persistent monsoon trough encouraged cyclogenesis, and a tropical low took shape. By 25 February the low had acquired a distinct banding feature containing its strongest winds, and although vertical wind shear was initially hostile, the Bureau of Meteorology began issuing gale warnings at 0100 UTC on 26 February while the system lay several hundred kilometres north-northeast of Port Hedland.

The low remained almost stationary at first, but as shear eased it became better organised, and at 0700 UTC on 27 February it was classified as Tropical Cyclone Graham, with 10-minute sustained winds estimated at 80 km/h (50 mph). Displaying the broad structure of a monsoonal low, Graham was steered slowly east-southeastward by westerly flow on the northern flank of a mid-level ridge to its south. A deep trough subsequently weakened that ridge, allowing the cyclone to swing towards the south and approach the Western Australian coast. Graham attained its peak strength on 28 February shortly before reaching land, and crossed the coast at Eighty Mile Beach at 1400 UTC that day. Weakening steadily as it tracked inland, the cyclone dissipated on 1 March, with the Bureau's final advisory issued at 0400 UTC; the remnant circulation faded out over the interior desert.

Ahead of landfall, alerts covered Wallal, Sandfire, Punmu and Telfer, with warnings for Bidyadanga, Pardoo and Cotton Creek. Graham's main legacy was rainfall: Telfer recorded 163 mm in a single night and 175 mm in total, more than half its yearly average. Flooding closed roads and raised the river at Fitzroy Crossing, which overtopped its banks only marginally. At nearby Blue Bush Creek, two men were swept away attempting to cross floodwaters; both were recovered, but one died before help arrived. Trees were brought down, though no substantial property damage occurred. The name Graham was later retired.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia