MAUD

History

Tropical Cyclone Maud was a short-lived, weak system that developed off the north-western coast of Australia in late January 1973. It formed within an active monsoon trough over the Timor Sea and Joseph Bonaparte Gulf on 28 January, roughly 250 kilometres north-north-east of Wyndham, and was named that same day by the Bureau of Meteorology's tropical cyclone warning centre in Perth. Maud consolidated into a minimal Category 1 cyclone on the Australian scale later on 28 January as it began moving west-south-west.

Guided by a mid-level ridge positioned over northern Australia, Maud ran roughly parallel to the north Kimberley coastline over the following days, remaining offshore throughout its life. It attained peak strength on 29 January while situated off Cape Leveque, with a central pressure of about 990 hPa. Maximum sustained winds (10-minute mean) were estimated at approximately 65–75 km/h, with gusts of around 95–100 km/h over open water.

The cyclone's decline was rapid. Increasing vertical wind shear and the intrusion of dry air eroded the central convection during 30 January, and Maud fell below cyclone intensity off the West Kimberley coast. It degenerated into a remnant low over open water on 31 January, having never crossed the coast.

Impacts on land were minor. Squally monsoonal showers and patchy gales affected the northern and western Kimberley coastal fringe, including Cape Leveque and Broome, but the strongest winds remained well out to sea. Marine gales and raised seas were experienced in shipping lanes off the north-west coast, though commercial vessels reported no significant disruption or damage. No deaths, injuries or structural damage on land were attributed to the system.

Maud was one of the weaker members of the active 1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, which produced several far more destructive storms elsewhere in the region.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia