VIVIENNE

History

Tropical Cyclone Vivienne was a short-lived and weak system of the 2004–05 Australian region cyclone season, a season rated slightly below average overall. It began as a tropical low that formed within the monsoon trough on 4 February 2005, roughly 550 kilometres to the north-west of Broome, Western Australia, in waters off the Kimberley coast.

The low drifted slowly towards the south-west over the following days and gradually became better organised, although this process was unhurried and the system showed little sign of strengthening for much of its life. It was not until 8 February, four days after first being identified, that the low acquired sufficient organisation and wind strength to be classified as a tropical cyclone and given the name Vivienne.

Vivienne's period as a named cyclone was brief. It reached a peak intensity of 65 km/h in terms of sustained winds, placing it at the lowest end of the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale, and remained essentially stationary rather than tracking towards land. Having failed to intensify further, the cyclone weakened and dissipated later on the same day it was named.

Because Vivienne stayed well offshore and never approached or crossed the Australian coastline, there were no coastal or inland impacts, and no damage or casualties were associated with the system. Its principal effect was on offshore industry: oil and gas operations in the Timor Sea were disrupted while the cyclone was in the area, a consequence also experienced later in the same season when Severe Tropical Cyclone Willy affected the region in March 2005.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia