Ilsa

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa developed from a tropical low off the coast of Indonesia on 6 April 2023, influenced by an active Madden–Julian oscillation event. The system tracked southwest over the following days, reaching Category 1 intensity on 11 April after convection became symmetric around its circulation. It then underwent rapid intensification, attaining peak intensity as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone on 12 April, with ten-minute sustained winds of 230 km/h and a central pressure of 915 hPa. An automated station at Bedout Island recorded ten-minute sustained winds of 219 km/h, surpassing the previous record set by Cyclone George in 2007.

Ilsa made landfall approximately 120 kilometres east-northeast of Port Hedland, Western Australia, on 13 April with sustained winds around 215 km/h. It weakened as it moved inland before dissipating over central Australia by 15 April.

The most significant structural damage occurred at Pardoo Station and the Pardoo Roadhouse, where five accommodation sheds were destroyed and the roadhouse roof was torn off, with total damage estimated at around AU$15 million. Authorities evacuated around 700 coastal residents ahead of landfall. Eight people died when two boats carrying 19 illegal fishermen were caught in the cyclone off Western Australia's coast — one vessel sank and the other was wrecked on Bedwell Island. Overall damage exceeded US$10 million, and the name Ilsa was subsequently retired and replaced with Isabella.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia