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Cyclone Jasper

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This article is about the 2023 Australian region tropical cyclone. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Jasper.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Jasper
Cyclone Jasper at peak intensity on 8 December
Meteorological history
Formed2 December 2023
Remnant low13 December 2023
DissipatedCurrently active
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (BOM)
Highest winds195 km/h (120 mph)
Highest gusts270 km/h (165 mph)
Lowest pressure938 hPa (mbar); 27.70 inHg
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds220 km/h (140 mph)
Highest gusts270 km/h (165 mph)
Lowest pressure937 hPa (mbar); 27.67 inHg
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone
DamageUnknown
Areas affectedSolomon Islands, Far North Queensland
Part of the 2023–24 South Pacific and Australian region seasons

Severe Tropical Cyclone Jasper is a tropical cyclone currently impacting northern Queensland as a remnant low. The third disturbance of the 2023–24 South Pacific cyclone season and the first named storm and severe tropical cyclone of the 2023–24 Australian region cyclone season, Jasper originated from an area of low pressure located in the South Pacific Ocean. The system was initially slow to develop while tracking southwestwards through the South Pacific Ocean in Fiji's area of responsibility but began to consolidate the following day. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) upgraded the system to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale and name it Jasper. The storm quickly intensified and became a Category 4 tropical cyclone on 7 December; the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimated sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph). Jasper soon entered an environment of increasing wind shear, causing the system to steadily weaken. Its low-level circulation centre became totally exposed and it maintained a poorly defined convective structure as it approached northern Queensland. Jasper later reintensified, and on 13 December, made landfall as a Category 2 tropical cyclone off the eastern coast of the Cape York Peninsula near Wujal Wujal.

Throughout Jasper's existence, moderate to locally intense rainfall accompanied the system, with a maximum of 803 mm (31.6 in) occurring on Wujal Wujal and Daintree Village. A total damage figure from the storm has yet to be released.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On 2 December, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) began to monitor Tropical Disturbance 03F—which was re-designated as Tropical Low 02U—in the South Pacific Ocean in Fiji's area of responsibility.[1][2] At this stage, the system was located within a favorable environment for further development with radial outflow in the upper troposphere, low vertical wind shear, and warm (30–31 °C) sea surface temperatures.[3] During 4 December, the system subsequently crossed 160°E, where it exited the South Pacific basin and entered the Australian region—which prompted the FMS to pass the primary warning responsibility to the BoM.[4][5] The low was in a favorable environment, evident by excellent radial outflow, deep convective banding and very low shear, resulting the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) later that day, projecting a high likelihood of a significant tropical cyclone developing.[6]

Later the next day, the JTWC subsequently initiated advisories on the system and classified it as Tropical Cyclone 03P.[7] The BoM followed suit at 06:00 UTC on 5 December—officially upgrading the system to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale and assigning the name Jasper.[8] The cyclone started to track southward under the steering influence of a near equatorial ridge to the east.[9] During the next day, the cyclone core's center continued to organize, with deep convective bands starting to wrap around the center, prompting the JTWC to upgrade the system to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS).[10] Jasper rapidly intensified into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, fueled by warm sea surface temperatures and low wind shear.[11] Convective banding blossomed around the storm, and a formative eye appeared on satellite imagery.[12] Late on the next day, the BoM reported that Jasper had peaked in intensity around 06:00 UTC as a high-end Category 4 severe tropical cyclone,[13] with estimated maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (120 mph), and a central barometric pressure of 938 hPa (27.70 inHg). Around the time, the JTWC stated that Jasper peaked with one-minute sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph)—equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.[14][15]

Shortly thereafter, Jasper began weakening, with its eye becoming cloud-filled and the deep convection eroding due to dry air entrainment.[16] Jasper managed to maintain its intensity while battling unfavorable conditions, but soon significantly weakened due to strong (20–25 km/h (12–16 mph) vertical wind shear.[17] Early on 9 December, increasing wind shear severely disrupted the convection,[18] with deep convection persisting along the southern periphery and weakening the cyclone back to tropical storm status.[19][20] The system's low-level circulation center became totally exposed,[21] with strong wind shear eroding the entire system.[22] Jasper turned westward on the morning of 11 December and accelerated toward the Queensland coast as deep convection re-developed near the center.[23][24] Despite that, Jasper retained a poorly defined convective structure to its southwest which was wrapped into the convective banding.[25] An eye-like feature developed in the center of the storm on 13 December, indicative of an intensifying storm.[26] The storm maintained a banding eye, surrounded by a symmetric ring of cold, −67–149 °F (−55–65 °C) cloud tops around the eyewall.[27] Jasper further strengthened before making landfall off the eastern coast of the Cape York Peninsula near Wujal Wujal at 12:00 UTC with sustained winds of 95 km/h (60 mph).[28] The JTWC discontinued warnings on the system later that day.[29] By 14:00 UTC that day, the BoM reported that Jasper had weakened to an ex-tropical low.[30]

Preparations

Queensland SES volunteers tarping a roof in Trinity Park after the impact of Jasper.

Solomon Islands

During 6 December, warnings were issued by the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service for parts of Rennell and Bellona Province in the Solomon Islands, after it became apparent that Jasper was moving towards the southernmost islands of New Georgia.[31] They warned that the system was expected to produce gale-force winds, rough seas, moderate to heavy swells of 2.5–4.5 metres (8.2–14.8 ft) and coastal flooding over the islands.[31] Ships across the country were to be suspended.[32] Operations at Solomon Airlines were suspended throughout 5 December.[33]

Australia

In anticipation of the possibility of Jasper making landfall on the Queensland coast at tropical cyclone intensity, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued a number of official warnings to the public in advance of the system's arrival. Upon weakening to Category 1 strength at 12:00 UTC on 11 December, several storm warnings and a cyclone watch were issued for coastal and inland areas between Cooktown and Townsville.[34] In preparation for Jasper, the Queensland police sent several people to help local councils.[35] In the city of Cairns, all flights for 13 December were postponed.[36] Evacuation centers were also set up in Cairns, Port Douglas, and Cooktown in preparation for the storm.[37]

Services Australia temporarily closed some of its Medicare and Centrelink offices in Far North Queensland.[38] Meteorology staff on Willis Island, about 450 kilometres (280 mi) from the coast were evacuated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) before the cyclone passed through the area on 11 December.[39] Tourists towns prepared for flooding as they were in the firing line of the cyclone, while homeless people were offered shelter through local charities before Jasper arrived. Additionally, the mayor of Douglas Shire, Michael Kerr, urged tourists in the region to have a plan to bunker down during the cyclone.[40]

Impact

Australia

Wettest tropical cyclones and their remnants in Australia
Highest-known totals
Precipitation Storm Location Ref.
Rank mm in
1 2,252 88.66 Jasper 2023 Bairds [41]
2 1,947 76.65 Peter 1979 Mount Bellenden Ker [42]
3 1,870 73.62 Rona 1999 Mount Bellenden Ker [42]
4 1,318 51.89 Wanda 1974 Mount Glorious [43]
5 1,256.8 49.48 Fletcher 2014 Kowanyama [44][45]
6 1,082 42.60 Aivu 1989 Dalrymple Heights [46]
7 1,065 41.93 May 1998 Burketown [47]
8 1,000 39.37 Justin 1997 Willis Island [48]
9 1,000 39.37 Ellie 2009 [49]
10 1,000 39.37 Oswald 2013 Tully [50]

In Far North Queensland, Jasper caused thousands of properties to lose power.[51] Authorities rescued twelve people and a dog in Mossman who were stranded due to flooding.[52] Officials sent authorities to monitor areas affected by Jasper after looters raided homes and businesses.[53] The Queensland State Emergency Service received 846 calls for help within Far North Queensland due to Jasper.[54] Numerous roads remained closed after the storm passed, including the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas.[55]

Jasper produced torrential rain throughout Northern Queensland, with five day totals of 2,166 mm (85.3 in) reported at Black Mountain and 2,025 mm (79.7 in) at Myola, both near the town of Kuranda. If verified, these will make Jasper the wettest tropical cyclone to impact Australia on record.[56] 24-hour totals includde the Daintree catchment recording 624 mm (24.6 in) of rain, while the town of Diwan recorded exactly 500 mm (20 in).[57] It also brought brief heavy rainfall accumulations in the Bloomfield River, averaging from 625–796 mm (24.6–31.3 in) with rainfall pushing 803 mm (31.6 in) in Wujal Wujal and Daintree Village.[58]. On 17 December, the Bureau of Meteorology announced that 21 stations had received over 1,000 mm (39 in) since Jasper made landfall.[59]

See also

  • Tropical cyclones in 2023
  • Weather of 2023
  • Cyclone Katrina (1998) – an erratic severe tropical cyclone which also significantly weakened before reaching northern Queensland
  • Cyclone Tasha (2010) – a weak tropical cyclone that brought significant impacts to Queensland
  • Cyclone Yasi (2011) – a powerful and destructive severe tropical cyclone which also originated from the South Pacific Ocean before impacting Queensland

References

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  2. ^ Tropical cyclone forecast 7 day forecast map (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2 December 2023. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023.
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