INGRID

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ingrid was a compact but exceptionally powerful system that developed from a low-pressure area north of the Gulf of Carpentaria on 4 March 2005, becoming a named cyclone on 6 March. It is notable for being one of only two recorded tropical cyclones to make landfall across three Australian states and territories — Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia — while maintaining severe tropical cyclone intensity.

Ingrid rapidly intensified to Category 5 by 8 March as it tracked westward through the Coral Sea. It crossed the Cape York Peninsula on 10 March, weakening to Category 2 over land before reintensifying to Category 5 as it crossed the Gulf of Carpentaria toward Nhulunbuy. It then struck the Cobourg Peninsula and the Tiwi Islands before moving into the Timor Sea. On 15 March it made final landfall near Kalumburu in the Kimberley region of Western Australia as a Category 4 storm, quickly dissipating inland. Its minimum central pressure reached 924 hPa.

Impacts were widespread. Five people died when rough seas capsized a boat off Papua New Guinea. Damage in Queensland totalled approximately A$5.3 million, with significant harm to the northern Great Barrier Reef. The Northern Territory sustained around A$15 million in combined damages, with Croker Island and the Tiwi Islands particularly badly affected. In Western Australia, a resort northeast of Kalumburu was destroyed and communities were isolated by flooding.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia