JASON

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Jason developed from a tropical low over the northern Cape York Peninsula on 6 February 1987. The system moved west-southwest into the Gulf of Carpentaria, reaching tropical cyclone intensity on 7 February. It made its first landfall near Caledon Bay in north-eastern Arnhem Land on 8–9 February as a Category 1 or 2 system before weakening as it crossed the Top End. Jason re-emerged over the western Gulf north of Groote Eylandt on 11 February and rapidly intensified into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone. It peaked on 12 February with a central pressure of 970 hPa and maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h, then made a second landfall approximately 40 kilometres north-east of Burketown, Queensland on 13 February before decaying into a rain depression.

Burketown recorded wind gusts of up to 158 km/h as the eye passed nearby, and a storm surge of 2.04 metres was recorded at Karumba. Widespread coastal flooding was narrowly avoided because the surge peaked around five hours before the astronomical high tide. Approximately 20 buildings were damaged or unroofed across the affected region, and heavy rainfall cut roads across the southern Gulf country. No fatalities were recorded. Jason is also scientifically notable for developing entirely within the observation network of the Australian Monsoon Experiment, providing researchers with high-resolution data on monsoon-driven cyclogenesis in a shallow gulf environment.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia