2019–20 Australian region cyclone season#Tropical Low 09U

{{Short description|Tropical cyclone season}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

{{Infobox tropical cyclone season

| Track = 2019-2020 Australian region cyclone season summary.png

| Basin = Aus

| Year = 2020

| First storm formed = 4 January 2020

| Last storm dissipated = 23 May 2020

| Strongest storm name = Ferdinand

| Strongest storm pressure = 951

| Strongest storm winds = 95

| Average wind speed = 10

| Total depressions = 19

| Total hurricanes = 7

| Total intense = 3

| Fatalities = 28

| Damages = 4.3

| five seasons = 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22

| South Indian season = 2019–20 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season

| South Pacific season = 2019–20 South Pacific cyclone season

}}

The 2019–20 Australian region cyclone season was a below average tropical cyclone season for the waters surrounding Australia between longitudes 90°E and 160°E. The season officially began on 1 November 2019 and ended on 30 April 2020; however, tropical cyclones can form at any time of year, as evidenced by Tropical Cyclone Mangga during May 2020. As such, any system existing between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020 would count towards the season total. The season featured the region's second-latest start on record (behind only the 2002–03 season), with the formation of the first tropical low only occurring on 4 January 2020. A total of eight tropical cyclones formed during the season, which represents the region's least active season since the 2016–17 season. Three systems intensified further into severe tropical cyclones, and three systems made landfall within the region at tropical cyclone intensity. A total of 28 fatalities were caused, either directly or indirectly, as a result of impacts from the season's systems. Cyclone Ferdinand was the strongest of the season reaching Category 4 in late February 2020. However, it was the second-strongest storm, Cyclone Damien, that was the most damaging. Damien was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike Western Australia's Pilbara Region since Cyclone Christine in 2013, making landfall directly over the town of Dampier.

During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), and the National Weather Service of Papua New Guinea. The United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and other national agencies such as the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), the Meteorological Service of New Zealand (MetService), and Météo-France at La Réunion also monitored parts of the basin during the season.

__TOC__

{{Clear}}

Seasonal forecasts

class="wikitable" style="float:right"
colspan=2|Source/Record

! Tropical
Cyclone

! Severe
Tropical Cyclone

! Ref

colspan=2|Record high:2112
colspan=2|Record low:30
colspan=2|Average (1969–70 – 2018–19):9-13 —{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/cyclones/australia/archive/20191011.archive.shtml|title=Australian Tropical Cyclone Outlook for 2019 to 2020|date=11 October 2019|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014004703/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/cyclones/australia/archive/20191011.archive.shtml|archive-date=14 October 2019|access-date=14 October 2019}}
colspan=2|NIWA October (135°E—120°W)9-124{{cite report|url=https://www.niwa.co.nz/climate/southwest-pacific-tropical-cyclone-outlook/southwest-pacific-tropical-cyclone-outlook-october-2019|title=Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook - October 2019 |publisher=National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research |date=11 October 2019 |access-date=11 October 2019 }}
Region

!Average
number

!Chance
of more

!Chance
of less

!Actual
activity

Overall
(90°E–160°E)

|style="text-align:center;"|11

|style="text-align:center;"|35%

|style="text-align:center;"|65%

|style="text-align:center;"|9

Western region
(90°E–125°E)

|style="text-align:center;"|7

|style="text-align:center;"|43%

|style="text-align:center;"|57%

|style="text-align:center;"|5

Northwestern sub-region
(105°E–130°E)

|style="text-align:center;"|5

|style="text-align:center;"|39%

|style="text-align:center;"|61%

|style="text-align:center;"|4

Northern region
(125°E–142.5°E)

|style="text-align:center;"|3

|style="text-align:center;"|36%

|style="text-align:center;"|64%

|style="text-align:center;"|2

Eastern region
(142.5°E–160°E)

|style="text-align:center;"|4

|style="text-align:center;"|43%

|style="text-align:center;"|57%

|style="text-align:center;"|2

Western South Pacific
(142.5°E—165°E)

| style="text-align:center;"|4

| style="text-align:center;"|54%

| style="text-align:center;"|46%

| style="text-align:center;"|0

Eastern South Pacific
(165°E—120°W)

| style="text-align:center;"|7

| style="text-align:center;"|41%

| style="text-align:center;"|59%

| style="text-align:center;"|0

colspan="5"|Source: BOM's Season Outlooks for Tropical Cyclones{{cite web|title=South Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook for 2019 to 2020|access-date=11 October 2019|date=11 October 2019|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/cyclones/south-pacific/archive/20191011.archive.shtml}}

Ahead of the cyclone season formally starting on 1 November, the BoM, Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), New Zealand's MetService and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and various other Pacific Meteorological services, all contributed towards the Island Climate Update tropical cyclone outlook that was released during October 2019. The outlook called for a near-average number of tropical cyclones for the 2019–20 season, with nine to twelve named tropical cyclones, predicted to occur between 135°E and 120°W, compared to an average of just over 10. At least four of the tropical cyclones were expected to intensify further and become severe tropical cyclones, while it was noted that a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone could occur during the season.

In addition to contributing towards the Island Climate Update outlook, the BoM issued seven seasonal forecasts for various parts of the Australian region and South Pacific basin. For the entire Australian region between 90°E–160°E, the BoM predicted that the season would feature, a below-average amount of systems with only a 35% chance of more tropical cyclones. The BoM also thought that their self defined Western and Eastern regions, would both have a 57% chance of fewer tropical cyclones than normal developing. Their northern region and northwestern subregion would also see fewer tropical cyclones than normal, with only a 36% and 39% chance of more tropical cyclones than average. The BoM also issued two seasonal forecasts for their self-defined eastern and western regions of the South Pacific Ocean. They predicted that the Western region between 142.5°E and 165°E, had a 54% chance of seeing activity above its average of 4 tropical cyclones. The BoM also predicted that the Eastern Region between 165°E and 120°W, had a 41% chance of seeing activity above its average of 7 tropical cyclones.

The outlooks accounted for the effects of various major Australian climate drivers, namely the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). The BOM noted that sea surface temperature anomalies across the equatorial Pacific Ocean had been characteristic of a neutral ENSO phase since April. The international climate models utilised by the BOM also indicated that the neutral conditions would likely persist until at least February. A neutral ENSO phase typically has little influence on the Australian climate.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/|title=ENSO Wrap-Up: Overview|date=15 October 2019|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016151648/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/|archive-date=16 October 2019|access-date=17 October 2019}} Warmer than average sea surface temperatures in the central and western tropical Indian Ocean and cooler waters near Indonesia and northern Australia, indicating a positive IOD phase, had also persisted since May.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/|title=ENSO Wrap-Up: Indian Ocean|date=1 October 2019|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014171623/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/#tabs=Indian-Ocean|archive-date=14 October 2019|access-date=14 October 2019}} The temperature difference increased throughout the year, and at the beginning of October, the BOM noted that the sea surface temperature anomaly of +1.76 °C was the highest observed value on record (since 2001).{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/|title=ENSO Wrap-Up: Overview|date=1 October 2019|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016151648/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/#tabs=Overview|archive-date=16 October 2019|access-date=17 October 2019}} The anomaly continued to increase rapidly after this, with the value reaching +2.15 °C a fortnight (two weeks or fourteen days) later. The record-strength positive IOD contributed to the development of a region of higher than normal atmospheric pressure across northern Australia during September, after having remained near neutral throughout winter. The BOM noted that these factors also contributed to the tropical cyclone season outlook.

{{Clear}}

Season summary

ImageSize = width:850 height:260

PlotArea = top:10 bottom:80 right:20 left:20

Legend = columns:3 left:30 top:58 columnwidth:270

AlignBars = early

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/2020 till:01/06/2020

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

ScaleMinor = grid:black unit:month increment:1 start:01/01/2020

Colors =

id:canvas value:gray(0.88)

id:GP value:red

id:TL value:rgb(0.43,0.76,0.92) legend:Tropical_Low_=_<63_km/h_(<39_mph)

id:C1 value:rgb(0.3,1,1) legend:Category_1_=_63–88_km/h_(39-55_mph)

id:C2 value:rgb(0.75,1,0.75) legend:Category_2_=_89–117_km/h_(55-73_mph)

id:C3 value:rgb(1,0.85,0.55) legend:Category_3_=_118–159_km/h_(73-99_mph)

id:C4 value:rgb(1,0.45,0.54) legend:Category_4_=_160–199_km/h_(99-124_mph)

id:C5 value:rgb(0.55,0.46,0.9) legend:Category_5_=_≥200_km/h_(≥124_mph)

Backgroundcolors = canvas:canvas

BarData =

barset:Hurricane

bar:Month

PlotData=

barset:Hurricane width:11 align:left fontsize:S shift:(4,-4) anchor:till

from:04/01/2020 till:08/01/2020 color:C1 text:"Blake (C1)"

from:05/01/2020 till:18/01/2020 color:C3 text:"Claudia (C3)"

from:23/01/2020 till:30/01/2020 color:TL text:"04U (TL)"

from:31/01/2020 till:04/02/2020 color:TL text:"TL"

from:03/02/2020 till:09/02/2020 color:C3 text:"Damien (C3)"

from:04/02/2020 till:05/02/2020 color:TL

barset:break

barset:skip

barset:skip

barset:skip

barset:skip

barset:skip

from:13/02/2020 till:14/02/2020 color:TL text:"Uesi (TL)"

from:06/02/2020 till:08/02/2020 color:TL text:"TL"

from:13/02/2020 till:13/02/2020 color:TL text:"TL"

from:15/02/2020 till:17/02/2020 color:TL text:"08F (TL)"

from:21/02/2020 till:05/03/2020 color:C1 text:"Esther (C1)"

barset:break

from:22/02/2020 till:01/03/2020 color:C4 text:"Ferdinand (C4)"

from:09/03/2020 till:13/03/2020 color:TL text:"09U (TL)"

from:10/03/2020 till:14/03/2020 color:C1 text:"Gretel (C1)"

from:31/03/2020 till:03/04/2020 color:TL text:"11U (TL)"

from:01/04/2020 till:03/04/2020 color:C1 text:"Harold (C1)"

from:06/04/2020 till:06/04/2020 color:TL text:"Irondro (TL)"

from:10/04/2020 till:13/04/2020 color:TL text:"Jeruto (TL)"

from:03/05/2020 till:10/05/2020 color:TL text:"TD (TL)"

from:19/05/2020 till:23/05/2020 color:TL text:"Mangga (TL)"

bar:Month width:5 align:center fontsize:S shift:(0,-20) anchor:middle color:canvas

from:01/01/2020 till:01/02/2020 text:January

from:01/02/2020 till:01/03/2020 text:February

from:01/03/2020 till:01/04/2020 text:March

from:01/04/2020 till:01/05/2020 text:April

from:01/05/2020 till:01/06/2020 text:May

TextData =

pos:(569,23)

text:"(For further details, please see"

pos:(713,23)

text:" scales)"

The season had an unusually late start with the first system, Blake, forming in early January, well after the official start of the season. Blake would later make landfall in northwestern Australia and soon degenerate afterwards. At the same time, Claudia, another tropical cyclone, formed. It persisted for two weeks and reached category 3 on the Australian tropical cyclone scale before dissipating west of Australia. Later that month, a tropical low formed and lasted for a week before dissipating in late January without been named. Three other tropical lows formed in late January and early February. One of them dissipated later. Another one of them has been moving in and out of the Australian region. It was designated 06F by the Fiji Meteorological Service. The third one intensified into Cyclone Damien. In late February, 2 new tropical lows formed, and were named Esther and Ferdinand. Esther didn't strengthen much, but Ferdinand went on to become a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, equivalent to a Category 2 Atlantic Hurricane. Then in the month of March and April, two cyclones namely Gretel and Harold formed in the Coral Sea and both of them exited the basin towards the South Pacific Ocean where it intensified further. The season continued into May where two lows formed in the region of TCWC Jakarta where the latter one was named as Mangga which became the strongest Extratropical cyclone to hit Western Australia such late in the season. The season concluded on 23 May with the Extratropical transition of Cyclone Mangga.

Systems

= Tropical Cyclone Blake =

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = Blake 2020-01-06 0537Z.jpg

| Track = Blake 2020 track.png

| Formed = 4 January

| Dissipated = 8 January

| 10-min winds = 45

| 1-min winds = 55

| Pressure = 986

}}

During 4 January, the BOM reported that Tropical Low 02U had started to develop within a monsoon trough, about {{convert|750|km|mi|abbr=on}} north-northwest of Broome.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=4 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104062353/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=4 January 2020|access-date=4 January 2020}} Citing considerable rotation extending into the mid troposphere, well-established dual-channel outflow and warm sea surface temperatures, the JTWC assessed the system as having a moderate chance of attaining tropical cyclone intensity within the following 24 hours.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abioweb.txt|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean (91S)|date=4 January 2020|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104063202/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abioweb.txt|archive-date=4 January 2020|access-date=4 January 2020}} The system gradually gathered strength in the favourable environment as it tracked slowly towards the south-southwest,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Tropical Low 02U Forecast Track Map #4 (00Z)|date=5 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105004641/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=5 January 2020|access-date=5 January 2020}} leading the JTWC to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert at 03:30 UTC the following day.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9120web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (06S)|date=5 January 2020|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105065010/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9120web.txt|archive-date=5 January 2020|access-date=5 January 2020}} The BOM indicated that sustained gale-force winds had developed on the western side of the tropical low at 15:00 UTC,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Tropical Low 02U Forecast Track Map #8 (15Z)|date=5 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105160308/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=5 January 2020|access-date=5 January 2020}} and the system was designated as Tropical Cyclone 06S by the JTWC a few hours later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh0620web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 06S Warning #1 (18Z)|date=5 January 2020|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105215539/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh0620web.txt|archive-date=5 January 2020|access-date=5 January 2020}} Gales fully encircled the system by 00:00 UTC on 6 January, prompting the BOM to upgrade the low to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, the first of the season. The system was given the official name Blake by the BOM.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Blake Forecast Track Map #11 (00Z)|date=6 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106010530/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=6 January 2020|access-date=6 January 2020}}

Blake began to intensify steadily after being upgraded into a tropical cyclone, attaining 10-minute sustained winds of {{convert|75|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} and one-minute sustained winds of {{convert|105|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} within a few hours.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Blake Forecast Track Map #13 (06Z)|date=6 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106070933/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=6 January 2020|access-date=6 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh0620web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 06S Warning #3 (06Z)|date=6 January 2020|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106085348/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh0620web.txt|archive-date=6 January 2020|access-date=6 January 2020}} Soon afterwards, however, the system's development stalled due to land interaction with the nearby coastline of Western Australia. The cyclone made landfall on Dampier Peninsula just before 09:00 UTC, approximately {{convert|85|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Broome.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Blake Forecast Track Map #14 (09Z)|date=6 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106100347/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=6 January 2020|access-date=6 January 2020}} Blake turned to the southwest and re-emerged over the Indian Ocean at 15:00 UTC; however, the system's structure had deteriorated significantly while the centre was over land.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Blake Forecast Track Map #16 (15Z)|date=6 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106161641/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=6 January 2020|access-date=6 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Blake Technical Bulletin #3 (18Z)|date=6 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106220048/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|archive-date=6 January 2020|access-date=6 January 2020}} As the weakened cyclone continued over water towards the southwest, paralleling the coastline, low vertical wind shear allowed an area of deep convection to gradually redevelop over the system on 7 January.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Blake Technical Bulletin #4 (00Z)|date=7 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107020210/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|archive-date=7 January 2020|access-date=7 January 2020}} Blake made its final landfall just to the west of the Wallal Downs cattle station on Eighty Mile Beach at approximately 17:00 UTC at minimal Category 1 intensity. Within an hour of crossing the coast, the system weakened to a tropical low.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Blake Forecast Track Map #25 (18Z)|date=7 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107190102/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=7 January 2020|access-date=7 January 2020}} The JTWC discontinued advisories at 00:00 UTC on 8 January as the system moved farther inland;{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh0620web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 06S Warning #10 (00Z)|date=8 January 2020|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108024111/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh0620web.txt|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020}} however, the system maintained tropical storm intensity until 12 hours later.

{{clear}}

= Severe Tropical Cyclone Claudia =

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = Claudia 2020-01-13 0530Z.jpg

| Track = Claudia 2020 track.png

| Formed = 5 January

| Dissipated = 18 January

| 10-min winds = 80

| 1-min winds = 85

| Pressure = 963

}}

On 4 January, the BOM noted the formation of a weak tropical low over Indonesia's Maluku Islands.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml|title=Northern Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=4 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104054928/http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml|archive-date=4 January 2020|access-date=4 January 2020}} In the ensuing days, the tropical low tracked slowly southeastwards across the Arafura Sea, towards the Gulf of Carpentaria. Significant development was hampered by strong vertical wind shear; however, very warm sea surface temperatures of up to 32 °C (90 °F) allowed the low to gradually increase in organisation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwweb.txt|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Pacific Ocean (06Z)|date=6 January 2020|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106072437/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwweb.txt|archive-date=6 January 2020|access-date=6 January 2020}} On 7 January, shortly after the low passed near Cape Wessel in the Northern Territory, the BOM published their first forecast track map for the system, and issued a tropical cyclone watch for the northern coastline of Arnhem Land.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDD65012.shtml|title=Tropical Low 03U Forecast Track Map #1 (00Z)|date=7 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107015339/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDD65012.shtml|archive-date=7 January 2020|access-date=7 January 2020}} On the next day, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the system as it began to organize just northwest of the Gove Peninsula.{{Cite web|url= https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9220web.txt|date=8 January 2020|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|url-status=live|title=Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (07S)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108235126/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9220web.txt |archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020}} As the system remained disorganized, the JTWC cancelled the first Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert, but later issued another one on 10 January as it re-organized itself, following land interaction with the Top End. {{citation needed|date=January 2020}} It was later upgraded to a tropical cyclone by the BOM as it was northeast of Kalumburu, receiving the name Claudia on 11 January.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW24100.html|title=Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 31|date=11 January 2020|website=Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111163431/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW24100.html|archive-date=11 January 2020|access-date=11 January 2020}} On the next day, the system was upgraded to a category 2 tropical cyclone. Several hours later, following a decrease in wind shear, Claudia's structure quickly improved, with the storm acquiring hurricane-force winds. It was then upgraded by the BOM to a severe tropical cyclone, during this intensification spell.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Severe Tropical Cyclone Claudia Forecast Track Map|date=12 January 2020|website=Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112201746/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=12 January 2020|access-date=12 January 2020}}

The storm continued intensifying, indicated by an improvement of the storm's structure over the proceeding hours. The storm eventually reached its peak intensity with 1-minute sustained winds of {{convert|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}} and 969 millibars with a small, ragged eye forming on microwave imagery on 13 January. Despite this, a decrease in sea surface temperatures as it quickly accelerated eastwards caused the storm to rapidly weaken throughout 14 January, indicated by a loss of deep convection near the storm's center. The next evening on 15 January, the BOM issued their last advisory on Claudia as it began to weaken.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Ex-TC Claudia Forecast Track|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115223503/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=15 January 2020|access-date=15 January 2020}} Claudia dissipated as a tropical low on 17 January.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|title=Western Area High Seas Forecast|date=17 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118073400/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|archive-date=18 January 2020|access-date=18 January 2020}}

When the system was still a tropical low on 10 January, portions of the Top End received unusually large amounts of rainfall due to the system's slow movement. Darwin received {{convert|45|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain, Noonamah received {{convert|56|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain, Pirlangimpi received {{convert|80.8|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain, Charles Point received {{convert|151|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain, and Dum In Mirrie Island received a staggering {{convert|410|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain as a result of the system.{{Cite news|url=https://ntnews.com.au/news/low-to-bring-wild-weather-and-up-to-200mm-of-rain-to-darwin/news-story/4a0802cfac60063b3a959892fa9aa564|title=Darwin cops a drenching as the Big Wet arrives ... and there may still be more to come|last1=Aisthorpe|first1=Judith|date=10 January 2020|work=Northern Territory News|access-date=11 January 2020|last2=Perera|first2=Alicia}}

{{Clear}}

= Tropical Low 04U =

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = TL 98P 2020-01-27 0441Z.jpg

| Track = TL 98P Jan 2020 track.png

| Formed = 23 January

| Dissipated = 30 January

| 10-min winds =

| 1-min winds =

| Pressure = 998

| Type1 = low}}

On 24 January, the BOM noted that a weak tropical low had formed inland over the northeastern Northern Territory, near Cresswell Downs. Embedded in a low-pressure trough stretching across northern Australia and into the South Pacific Ocean, the tropical low remained slow-moving over the ensuing days.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|title=Australian Region MSLP Analysis Chart (00Z)|date=26 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128095352/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|archive-date=28 January 2020|access-date=28 January 2020}} After meandering just south of the Gulf of Carpentaria, the system moved offshore at about 12:00 UTC on 27 January, just to the southeast of Mornington Island.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|title=Australian Region MSLP Analysis Chart (12Z)|date=27 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128095352/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|archive-date=28 January 2020|access-date=28 January 2020}} This allowed atmospheric convection to develop, and the central atmospheric pressure deepened to 998 hPa (29.47 inHg) at 18:00 UTC.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|title=Australian Region MSLP Analysis Chart (18Z)|date=27 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128095352/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|archive-date=28 January 2020|access-date=28 January 2020}} The system's period over water proved short-lived, however, and the tropical low moved into the Gulf Country of northern Queensland a few hours later.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml|title=Northern Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=28 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128120401/http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml|archive-date=28 January 2020|access-date=28 January 2020}} On 29 January, the tropical low began to track rapidly southwestwards towards central Australia,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|title=Australian Region MSLP Analysis Chart (18Z)|date=29 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128095352/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|archive-date=28 January 2020|access-date=31 January 2020}} causing the system's convection to degrade due to interaction with the dry Australian outback. The tropical low dissipated near Alice Springs in the southern Northern Territory the following day.

Persisting thunderstorms associated with the low brought long-lived heavy rainfall throughout much of Gulf Country in northern Queensland, due to the storm's abnormally slow movement. The city of Townsville received over {{convert|320|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain, breaking the previous daily rainfall record in the city of {{convert|190|mm|in|abbr=on}}. An apartment building was reported to have "severely flooded" near the same town.{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-29/record-breaking-rain-soaks-queensland-warnings-for-north-west/11907366|title=Rain record broken near Townsville as a monsoonal low tracks across Queensland's north-west|date=28 January 2020|work=ABC News (Australia)|access-date=1 February 2020}} A peak {{convert|475|mm|in|abbr=on}} rainfall total was recorded at the Ayr DPI Research Station in northern Queensland, as a result of the low.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/rainfall/|title=Weekly Rainfall Update for 7 days to 9 am 28 January 2020|date=28 January 2020|website=Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)|access-date=1 February 2020}}

{{clear}}

= Severe Tropical Cyclone Damien =

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = Damien 2020-02-08 0619Z.jpg

| Track = Damien 2020 track.png

| Formed = 3 February

| Dissipated = 9 February

| 10-min winds = 85

| 1-min winds = 95

| Pressure = 955

}}

{{Main|Cyclone Damien}}

As a monsoon trough began to develop over parts of central northern Australia on 2 February 2020, the BOM noted that an inland tropical low had formed over the Northern Territory, within the monsoon trough.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml|title=Northern Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=2 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200202084554/http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml|archive-date=2 February 2020|access-date=2 February 2020}} On 4 February, it emerged over the eastern Indian Ocean, and the JTWC labelled the system as Invest 92S. A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was promptly issued early the following day by the JTWC as convection began to steadily develop near the centre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9220web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|access-date=5 February 2020}} The next day, the JTWC issued its first advisory on the system as a tropical storm. Several hours later, the BOM followed suit, upgrading the storm to a Category 1 tropical cyclone and giving it the name Damien. Damien strengthened into a Category 3 (Australian scale) cyclone and within 48 hours hit western Australia. At that time, it was of equal intensity to a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. On February 9, it dissipated.

In preparation for Damien, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a red alert from Whim Creek to Mardie stretching south to Millstream, and a yellow alert from Port Hedland to Whim Creek extending southwards to Wittenoom. Evacuation centres were set up in Karratha and South Hedland. An urban search and rescue team was also stationed in Port Hedland.{{cite news |title=Cyclone Damien intensifies off WA coast as Karratha braces for impact on Saturday |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-07/cyclone-damien-intensifies-off-wa-as-karratha-braces-for-impact/11942984 |access-date=9 February 2020 |work=ABC News |date=8 February 2020}} Damien brought gale-force winds, torrential rain, and floods to Western Australia when it made landfall near Karratha on 8 February. Wind gusts exceeding {{convert|205|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} were recorded near the landfall point. Over {{convert|230|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain fell in Karratha and Roebourne from 8–9 February.{{cite news |last1=Moussalli |first1=Isabel |last2=Shine |first2=Rhiannon |title=Tropical Cyclone Damien brings flooding, gale-force winds and storm surges to WA's north |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-09/cyclone-damien-brings-flooding-gale-force-winds-tracks-inland/11947348 |access-date=9 February 2020 |work=ABC News |date=9 February 2020}} The Department of Fire and Emergency Services received more than 100 calls for assistance.{{cite news |title=Tropical Cyclone Damien brings rain, gale force winds to WA's Pilbara |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-08/tropical-cyclone-damien-wa-brings-rain-gale-force-winds/11946362 |access-date=9 February 2020 |work=ABC News |date=9 February 2020}} Around 9,500 customers in the Pilbara region lost power. Besides downing power lines, strong winds also toppled several trees and caused some buildings to lose their roofs.{{cite news |last1=Hickey |first1=Phil |title=Cyclone Damien: Pilbara residents survey damage as cyclone tears off roofs, uproots trees |url=https://thewest.com.au/news/severe-weather/cyclone-damien-pilbara-residents-survey-damage-as-cyclone-tears-off-roofs-uproots-trees-ng-b881457038z |access-date=9 February 2020 |work=The West Australian |date=9 February 2020}} Karratha Airport was forced to close on the morning of 10 February after the terminal sustained damage and lost power; the airport reopened in the afternoon.{{cite news |title=Karratha Airport damaged by Cyclone |url=https://australianaviation.com.au/2020/02/karratha-airport-damaged-by-cyclone/ |access-date=13 February 2020 |work=Australian Aviation |date=10 February 2020}} It was the strongest tropical cyclone to cross the Western Australia coast since Cyclone Christine in 2013.

{{Clear}}

= Ex-Tropical Cyclone Uesi=

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = Uesi 2020-02-13 2343Z.jpg

| Track = Uesi 2020 track.png

| Formed = 4 February

| Dissipated = 14 February (Exited basin)
(Out of basin on 5–13 February)

| 10-min winds = 50

| 1-min winds = 55

| Pressure = 976

| Type1 = low

| Type2 = subtropical

}}

On 26 January, a low-pressure system formed to the east of the Solomon Islands, centred within a very long low-pressure trough stretching from Western Australia to the central South Pacific Ocean.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|title=Australian Region MSLP Chart (00Z)|date=26 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207033822/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|archive-date=7 February 2020|access-date=3 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/pacific_ocean.shtml|title=Pacific Ocean MSLP Chart (00Z)|date=26 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203092021/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/pacific_ocean.shtml|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=3 February 2020}} The low-pressure system tracked generally towards the west over the following days, moving into the Australian region from the South Pacific basin on 27 January.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|title=Australian Region MSLP Analysis Chart (12Z)|date=27 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207033822/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|archive-date=7 February 2020|access-date=3 February 2020}} On 3 February, a few days after the low-pressure trough had evolved into a monsoon trough,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|title=Australian Region MSLP Analysis Chart (06Z)|date=31 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207033822/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|archive-date=7 February 2020|access-date=3 February 2020}} the BOM noted that the low-pressure system had developed into a tropical low.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml|title=Eastern Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=3 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203091636/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=3 February 2020}} At the time, the atmospheric environment was assessed as being unfavourable for tropical cyclogenesis; however, the BOM indicated that conditions were likely to become more conducive over the following week. The system moved eastwards onto the boundary of the region—the 160th meridian east—at approximately 06:00 UTC on 4 February,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/nehighseas.shtml|title=North Eastern Area High Seas Forecast (06Z)|date=4 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204114249/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/nehighseas.shtml|archive-date=4 February 2020|access-date=4 February 2020}} before returning to the Australian region proper later that day.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/nehighseas.shtml|title=North Eastern Area High Seas Forecast (18Z)|date=4 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200205041605/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/nehighseas.shtml|archive-date=5 February 2020|access-date=5 February 2020}} By 06:00 UTC on 5 February, however, the system had moved eastwards out of the Australian region once again.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/nehighseas.shtml|title=North Eastern Area High Seas Forecast (06Z)|date=5 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205182516/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/nehighseas.shtml|archive-date=5 February 2020|access-date=5 February 2020}} The system later intensified into a tropical cyclone while tracking southwards in the South Pacific basin, and was named Uesi by the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS). Uesi reached peak intensity as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone to the northwest of New Caledonia.

After it began to weaken on 12 February, the FMS passed official responsibility for Uesi back to the BOM at 12:00 UTC, despite the system still being located in the South Pacific basin.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Uesi Technical Bulletin #3 (12Z)|date=12 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212134114/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|archive-date=12 February 2020|access-date=12 February 2020}} At this time, Uesi adopted a south-southwestwards track towards the Australian region, and began to experience an increase in northwesterly vertical wind shear. The cyclone's convective structure rapidly deteriorated in the increasingly hostile environment, and Uesi's low-level circulation centre soon became exposed from the central dense overcast. However, despite the decreasing sea surface temperatures and the effects of wind shear and strong upper-level winds, Uesi maintained strong winds in its low-level core.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Uesi Technical Bulletin #5 (00Z)|date=13 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213012652/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|archive-date=13 February 2020|access-date=13 February 2020}} At 00:00 UTC on 13 February, the tropical cyclone commenced extratropical transition while approaching the Australian region, and was downgraded to a storm-force tropical low.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/sehighseas.shtml|title=South Eastern Area High Seas Forecast (06Z)|date=13 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213165605/http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/sehighseas.shtml|archive-date=13 February 2020|access-date=13 February 2020}} Ex-Tropical Cyclone Uesi re-entered the Australian region just before 15:00 UTC with sustained winds of {{convert|95|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} and a central barometric pressure of 979 hPa (28.91 inHg).{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65231.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Uesi Forecast Track Map #15 (15Z)|date=13 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213161522/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65231.shtml|archive-date=13 February 2020|access-date=13 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|title=Australian Region MSLP Analysis Chart (12Z)|date=13 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209015046/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|archive-date=9 February 2020|access-date=13 February 2020}}

The BOM issued a tropical cyclone warning for Australian Tasman Sea territory of Lord Howe Island at 06:00 UTC on 12 February in anticipation of Uesi generating destructive winds while passing nearby.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Uesi BOM Forecast Track Map #4 (06Z)|date=12 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212070435/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|archive-date=12 February 2020|access-date=12 February 2020}} A BOM forecaster noted that the island could conceivably experience winds of up to {{convert|155|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} in association with the system, a fact he described as "quite extraordinary", given that winds of {{convert|120|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} are only observed on the island once every ten years on average.{{Cite news|last1=Hair|first1=Jonathan|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-13/cyclone-uesi-to-hit-lord-howe-island/11957886|title=Cyclone Uesi set to hit Lord Howe Island, bringing 150kph gale-force winds and large swells|date=13 February 2020|work=ABC News|access-date=13 February 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213082643/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-13/cyclone-uesi-to-hit-lord-howe-island/11957886|archive-date=13 February 2020|last2=Kidd|first2=Jessica|last3=Thomas|first3=Sarah}} The system made its closest approach to the island at 18:00 UTC on 13 February, passing just {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the southeast as a storm-force extratropical cyclone.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65231.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Uesi Forecast Track Map #16 (18Z)|date=13 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213185443/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65231.shtml|archive-date=13 February 2020|access-date=13 February 2020}} A few hours prior, a maximum wind gust of {{convert|154|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} was observed at Windy Point and a gust of {{convert|124|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} was recorded at Lord Howe Island Airport.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/IDCJDW2190.latest.shtml|title=Lord Howe Island (Windy Point) Daily Weather Observations|date=15 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215122809/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/IDCJDW2190.latest.shtml|archive-date=15 February 2020|access-date=15 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/IDCJDW2077.latest.shtml|title=Lord Howe Island Airport Daily Weather Observations|date=15 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215122536/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/IDCJDW2077.latest.shtml|archive-date=15 February 2020|access-date=15 February 2020}} Minor damage to buildings and vegetation was reported across the island; however, no substantial losses were incurred.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/feb/14/storms-to-hit-sydney-over-weekend-as-lord-howe-island-endures-ex-cyclone-uesi|title=Storms to hit Sydney over weekend as Lord Howe Island endures ex-cyclone Uesi|date=14 February 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 February 2020}} As Uesi tracked further south, the BOM cancelled the tropical cyclone warning for the island at 06:00 UTC on 14 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65231.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Uesi Forecast Track Map #20 (06Z)|date=14 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214065100/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65231.shtml|archive-date=14 February 2020|access-date=14 February 2020}} Uesi generated powerful waves and swells along the coast of southeastern Australia while tracking through the Tasman Sea, with hazardous surf warnings issued by the BOM for beaches along the entire New South Wales coast, as well as for the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Fraser Island in Queensland.{{Cite news|last1=Ward|first1=Mary|url=https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/destructive-winds-floods-predicted-as-cyclone-uesi-nears-lord-howe-island-20200213-p540g5.html|title='Quite calm': Lord Howe Island residents await Uesi's arrival|date=13 February 2020|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=13 February 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213080917/https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/destructive-winds-floods-predicted-as-cyclone-uesi-nears-lord-howe-island-20200213-p540g5.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=true|archive-date=13 February 2020|publisher=Nine Entertainment Co.|last2=Bungard|first2=Matt}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.mygc.com.au/hazardous-surf-bureau-issues-warning-as-cyclone-uesi-edges-closer-to-the-coast/|title=HAZARDOUS SURF {{!}} All Gold Coast beaches closed today|last=Dakin|first=Rebecca|date=13 February 2020|website=myGC.com.au|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213172524/http://www.mygc.com.au/hazardous-surf-bureau-issues-warning-as-cyclone-uesi-edges-closer-to-the-coast/|archive-date=13 February 2020|access-date=13 February 2020}} On 15 February, a man drowned and a woman was hospitalised with laceration injuries after they were overcome by the dangerous surf conditions at Bondi Beach in Sydney.{{Cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/news/swimmer-drowns-at-bondi-beach/news-story/06f7a43432f39c9f2c31a0a2afb80ca1|title=Swimmer drowns at Bondi Beach|date=15 February 2020|work=news.com.au|access-date=15 February 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215115719/https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/news/swimmer-drowns-at-bondi-beach/news-story/06f7a43432f39c9f2c31a0a2afb80ca1|archive-date=15 February 2020}} Uesi exited the Australian region for the final time on 15 February,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/sehighseas.shtml|title=South Eastern Area High Seas Forecast (18Z)|date=15 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216064314/http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/sehighseas.shtml|archive-date=16 February 2020|access-date=16 February 2020}} and tracked towards the South Island of New Zealand.

{{Clear}}

= Tropical Cyclone Esther =

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = Esther 2020-02-24 0441Z.jpg

| Track = Esther 2020 track.png

| Formed = 21 February

| Dissipated = 5 March

| 10-min winds = 35

| 1-min winds = 50

| Pressure = 985

}}

A tropical low was reported to have formed by the BOM in the Gulf of Carpentaria on 21 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml|title=Northern Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=21 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221060214/http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml|archive-date=21 February 2020|access-date=21 February 2020}} The tropical low quickly organized over the pursuing days, showing significant bursts of convection to the north of its centre. The low was eventually upgraded into a Category 1 tropical cyclone, being given the name Esther on 23 February. Moving quickly south, Esther eventually made its first landfall on Mornington Island around 20:30 UTC, where a peak 988 mb pressure reading was recorded.{{Cite news|url=https://7news.com.au/news/weather/bom-weather-warning-for-queensland-nt-cyclone-esther-to-make-landfall-in-gulf-of-carpentaria-after-developing-from-tropical-low--c-712446|title=Cyclone Esther hits Australia, making landfall between Queensland, Northern Territory|date=23 February 2020|work=7News (Australia)|access-date=26 February 2020}} Esther retained its intensity despite the land interaction, and make its second and final landfall near the Northern TerritoryQueensland border 6 hours later at 2:00 UTC, 24 February.{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-24/tropical-cyclone-esther-starting-to-slowly-cross-coast/11994326|title=Tropical Cyclone Esther makes landfall in Gulf of Carpentaria|date=24 February 2020|work=ABC News (Australia)|access-date=26 February 2020}} Weakening below tropical storm intensity quickly after landfall. Esther was declared to have become an Ex-Tropical Cyclone about 2 hours later.{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}} Continuing to move further inland under the influence of a subtropical ridge, Esther's remnants shifted in a more westerly direction. Esther's convection and structure however stayed consistent far inland and led to the JTWC noting a low possibility of regeneration as it moved west towards the Eastern Indian Ocean.{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/hurricanes/2020/02/26/esther-southern-pacific-ocean-2/|title=Feb. 26, 2020 – NASA Tracking Ex-Tropical Cyclone Esther's March|website=NASA Blogs|access-date=26 February 2020}} Over the proceeding days, Esther's remnant low was given a medium chance of re-development over land. As a result of the brown ocean effect, Esther's convection steadily re-developed over land on 27 February as it drew moisture from the nearby water. A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was then issued for the system's remnants that same day as it was now likely to briefly emerge over the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf. However, by the next day, Esther was deemed not likely to emerge overseas contrary to forecast and the TCFA was cancelled while its convection weakened yet again. On 29 February, the TCFA was re-issued as Esther's center skirted the northeastern Kimberley coast. On 1 March, the TCFA was once again cancelled as the system began moving further inland. As it did so, convection decreased rapidly. The remnants persisted for 4 days, before finally dissipating in the Australian desert.

Rainfall from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Esther caused much welcome rainfall to normally dry areas across the Northern Territory, where some flooding was reported. As much as {{convert|258|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain fell at the cattle stations Eva Downs Station and {{convert|107|mm|in|abbr=on}} at Anthony Lagoon Station.{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-02-26/bom-says-ex-tropical-cyclone-esther-could-reintensify/12001432|title=Ex-cyclone Esther bringing heavy rains to the north and could loop towards the middle of Australia, says BOM|work=ABC News (Australia)|access-date=27 February 2020}} In preparation for severe thunderstorms associated with the cyclone's remnants, Flood Warnings and Watches were issued across much of the Top End (including Darwin) throughout Esther's passage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/extropical-cyclone-esther-brings-damaging-wind-and-rain-to-darwin-australia/video/1c49803c1da00095bb9c9ceef9e2e891|title=Ex-Tropical Cyclone Esther Brings Damaging Wind and Rain to Darwin, Australia|website=news.com.au|access-date=28 February 2020|archive-date=28 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228053112/https://www.news.com.au/national/extropical-cyclone-esther-brings-damaging-wind-and-rain-to-darwin-australia/video/1c49803c1da00095bb9c9ceef9e2e891|url-status=dead}}

{{Clear}}

= Severe Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand=

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = Ferdinand 2020-02-26 0605Z.jpg

| Track = Ferdinand 2020 track.png

| Formed = 22 February

| Dissipated = 1 March

| 10-min winds = 95

| 1-min winds = 100

| Pressure = 951

}}

At around 23:00 UTC on 22 February, the BOM reported that a tropical low had developed within a low-pressure trough over the far-eastern Indian Ocean.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook (23Z)|date=22 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223012841/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=23 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020}} Located approximately {{convert|285|km|mi|abbr=on}} south-southwest of Indonesia's Sumba island, the system remained slow-moving initially, before adopting a track towards the southwest on 23 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Forecast Track Map #1 (00Z)|date=23 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223021142/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=23 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Technical Bulletin #4 (18Z)|date=23 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223234617/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|archive-date=23 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020}} The tropical low developed rapidly in a favourable environment for intensification characterised by abundant atmospheric moisture, sea surface temperatures in excess of 30 °C (86 °F), low vertical wind shear and strong outflow in the upper troposphere.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 20S (Ferdinand) Warning #1 (18Z)|date=23 February 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223234428/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|archive-date=23 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020}} The tropical low's convective structure improved considerably during the night, and the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical storm on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS) at 18:00 UTC. The BOM followed suit at 00:00 UTC on 24 February, officially upgrading the system to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale and assigning the name Ferdinand.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Forecast Track Map #5 (00Z)|date=24 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224022657/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=24 February 2020|access-date=24 February 2020}}

Ferdinand continued to track slowly southwestwards while gradually intensifying, before turning towards the south at 12:00 UTC.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Forecast Track Map #9 (00Z)|date=25 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200225005632/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=25 February 2020|access-date=25 February 2020}} Despite deep convection continuing to develop near the centre of the cyclone throughout the day and into the evening, the system was not able to consistently maintain cold cloud top temperatures.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Technical Bulletin #8 (18Z)|date=24 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200225005447/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|archive-date=25 February 2020|access-date=25 February 2020}} In the diurnally favourable overnight period, however, increased deep convection began to wrap around the centre, and an intermittent eye feature emerged on enhanced infrared satellite imagery. The small size of Ferdinand's wind field allowed the system to strengthen rapidly into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale at 00:00 UTC on 25 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Technical Bulletin #9 (00Z)|date=25 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200225034634/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|archive-date=25 February 2020|access-date=25 February 2020}} Ferdinand was also upgraded to Category 1 on the SSHWS by the JTWC at this time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020.gif|title=Tropical Cyclone 20S (Ferdinand) Forecast Track Map #6 (00Z)|date=25 February 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224225440/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020.gif|archive-date=24 February 2020|access-date=25 February 2020}} [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/6/6f/20200225103424%212020_JTWC_20S_forecast_map.sh2020.gif Alt URL] The rapid intensification phase continued throughout the day as deep convection bloomed around the system's warming eye and rapidly consolidating eyewall structure. Ferdinand strengthened to Category 2 intensity on the SSHWS just six hours later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 20S (Ferdinand) Warning #7 (06Z)|date=25 February 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200225091044/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|archive-date=25 February 2020|access-date=25 February 2020}} The BOM reported that Ferdinand peaked in intensity at around 18:00 UTC as a high-end Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, with estimated maximum 10-minute sustained winds of {{convert|155|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} and a central barometric pressure of 960 hPa (28.35 inHg).{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Technical Bulletin #12 (18Z)|date=25 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200225224831/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|archive-date=25 February 2020|access-date=25 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Technical Bulletin #13 (00Z)|date=26 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200226030945/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|archive-date=26 February 2020|access-date=26 February 2020}} At the time, the JTWC assessed the system as a maximal Category 2 tropical cyclone on the SSHWS, with estimated one-minute sustained winds of {{convert|175|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 20S (Ferdinand) Warning #9 (18Z)|date=25 February 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200225224518/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|archive-date=25 February 2020|access-date=25 February 2020}} Despite being a strong tropical cyclone, no rain or wind impacts were observed in Western Australia due to Ferdinand's highly compact wind field, with sustained gale-force winds extending only {{convert|95|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the circulation centre.

Around this time, Ferdinand's equatorward outflow channel began to be affected by outflow from the approaching Ex–Tropical Cyclone Esther, located approximately {{convert|1890|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the east, over the Northern Territory. During 26 February, a layer of peripheral dry air in the lower troposphere also started becoming entrained into the system's circulation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 20S (Ferdinand) Warning #11 (06Z)|date=26 February 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200226113359/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|archive-date=26 February 2020|access-date=26 February 2020}} The combined effects of these atmospheric changes caused Ferdinand to begin to weaken quickly. The previously well-defined eye became indiscernible on satellite imagery, and deep convection began to reduce in coverage around the system.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Technical Bulletin #16 (18Z)|date=26 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200226191442/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|archive-date=26 February 2020|access-date=26 February 2020}} Ferdinand weakened to Category 1 on the SSHWS at 00:00 UTC the following day, and the BOM downgraded the system to Category 2 on the Australian scale six hours later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 20S (Ferdinand) Warning #14 (00Z)|date=27 February 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200227053043/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|archive-date=27 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Technical Bulletin #18 (06Z)|date=27 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200227120924/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|archive-date=27 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020}} Under the steering influence of a mid-level ridge located to the southeast, Ferdinand began tracking towards the west-northwest, and then westwards, on 27 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Forecast Track Map #20 (18Z)|date=27 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200228004335/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60281.shtml|archive-date=28 February 2020|access-date=28 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 20S (Ferdinand) Warning #15 (06Z)|date=27 February 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200227121119/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|archive-date=27 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020}} After being downgraded to a tropical storm on the SSHWS at 12:00 UTC,{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020.gif|title=Tropical Cyclone 20S (Ferdinand) Forecast Track Map #16 (12Z)|date=27 February 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227043542/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020.gif|archive-date=27 February 2020|access-date=27 February 2020}} [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/6/6f/20200227223415%212020_JTWC_20S_forecast_map.sh2020.gif Alt URL] Ferdinand's rate of weakening slowed considerably, with the system maintaining a relatively constant intensity throughout the overnight period despite dry air wrapping entirely around the cyclone.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 20S (Ferdinand) Warning #17 (18Z)|date=27 February 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200228004659/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2020web.txt|archive-date=28 February 2020|access-date=28 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand Technical Bulletin #21 (00Z)|date=28 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200228010921/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|archive-date=28 February 2020|access-date=28 February 2020}} Post-storm analysis in August 2022 would later upgrade Ferdinand to a low-end Category 4 system. {{cite web |title=Severe Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/Ferdinand.shtml |website=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=13 April 2023}}

{{Clear}}

= Tropical Low 09U =

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = TL 09U 2020-03-11 0620Z.jpg

| Track = 09U 2020 track.png

| Formed = 9 March

| Dissipated = 13 March

| 10-min winds = 40

| 1-min winds = 45

| Pressure = 997

| Type1 = low

}}

During early March, a monsoon trough began to develop over the eastern Indian Ocean as a pulse of the Madden–Julian Oscillation moved into the Maritime Continent, bringing increased cloudiness and convective activity to Australian longitudes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/darwin_MSLP_00z.shtml|title=South East Asia MSLP Analysis Chart (00Z)|date=6 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305051019/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/darwin_MSLP_00z.shtml|archive-date=5 March 2020|access-date=9 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/tropical-note/|title=Weekly Tropical Climate Note|date=3 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309210318/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/tropical-note/|archive-date=9 March 2020|access-date=9 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIbrZ4UgL4M|title=Severe Weather Update: Monsoon trough and tropical low, 8 March 2020.|date=8 March 2020|website=YouTube|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|type=Video|access-date=9 March 2020}} On 9 March, the BOM reported that a tropical low had begun to form to the south of Java, embedded within the monsoon trough.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=9 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200309061718/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=9 March 2020|access-date=9 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/glw_00z.shtml|title=South East Asia Gradient Level Wind Analysis (00Z)|date=9 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227151450/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/glw_00z.shtml|archive-date=27 February 2020|access-date=9 March 2020}} The atmospheric environment was assessed as being broadly unfavourable for tropical cyclogenesis; however, the BOM noted that there was a small possibility of the system briefly reaching tropical cyclone strength over the following days. The tropical low steadily organised as it tracked southwards, with deep convection developing over the low-level circulation centre and the minimum atmospheric pressure falling to 999 hPa (29.50 inHg) by 18:00 UTC on 10 March.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|title=Western Area High Seas Forecast (18Z)|date=10 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200311001351/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|archive-date=11 March 2020|access-date=11 March 2020}} Around the same time, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert, citing the system's improving structure, sustained winds near gale force detected by a satellite's scatterometer instrument, and environmental conditions they assessed as being favourable for intensification.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9420web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (16Z)|date=10 March 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200311003645/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9420web.txt|archive-date=11 March 2020|access-date=11 March 2020}}

At 06:00 UTC on 11 March, the JTWC determined that a small area of sustained gale-force winds had developed under the deep convection in the southern semicircle of the circulation, and hence classified the system as Tropical Storm 21S. Low vertical wind shear, warm sea surface temperatures and a good poleward outflow channel were forecast to remain sufficient to support the system's intensity in the short term.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2120web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 21S Warning #1 (06Z)|date=11 March 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200311112243/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2120web.txt|archive-date=11 March 2020|access-date=11 March 2020}} Weakening soon commenced, however, as the limited deep convection became sheared to the east, leaving the low-level circulation centre fully exposed. The entrainment of cold, dry air into the circulation contributed further to the weakening trend,{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2120web.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 21S Warning #3 (18Z)|date=11 March 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200311220649/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2120web.txt|archive-date=11 March 2020|access-date=11 March 2020}} and the central atmospheric pressure began to rise.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|title=Western Area High Seas Forecast (18Z)|date=11 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200311221347/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|archive-date=11 March 2020|access-date=11 March 2020}} The system fell below tropical storm intensity by 00:00 UTC on 12 March as it tracked southwestwards towards the coast of Western Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://science.nrlmry.navy.mil/geoips/tcdat/tc20/SHEM/21S.TWENTYONE/trackfile.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone 21S Operational Track File|date=12 March 2020|website=United States Naval Research Laboratory|access-date=12 March 2020}} Despite classifying the system as a tropical low, the BOM issued a severe weather warning for a small coastal stretch of the Pilbara and Gascoyne regions, warning of the possibility of sustained gale-force winds and heavy rainfall from the system.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW21037.shtml|title=Severe Weather Warning for Damaging Winds and Heavy Rainfall (15Z)|date=12 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200312145555/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW21037.shtml|archive-date=12 March 2020|access-date=12 March 2020}} The tropical low made landfall on the eastern coast of the Exmouth Gulf in the early hours of 13 March (local time), and began tracking towards the south.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW21037.shtml|title=Severe Weather Warning for Damaging Winds and Heavy Rainfall (21Z)|date=12 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313013335/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW21037.shtml|archive-date=13 March 2020|access-date=13 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/gascoyne.shtml|title=Gascoyne District Forecast (21Z)|date=13 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200314032821/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/gascoyne.shtml|archive-date=14 March 2020|access-date=14 March 2020}} The system moved generally parallel to the western coast of Western Australia until dissipating as a tropical system by 21:00 UTC on 14 March,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/lower-west.shtml|title=Lower West District Forecast (21Z)|date=14 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200315030658/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/lower-west.shtml|archive-date=15 March 2020|access-date=15 March 2020}} roughly {{convert|400|km|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of Perth.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|title=Australian Region MSLP Analysis Chart (18Z)|date=14 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314050523/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|archive-date=14 March 2020|access-date=15 March 2020}}

During 11 March, the tropical low passed to the west of Rowley Shoals, a group of coral reefs centred approximately {{convert|315|km|mi|abbr=on}} west-northwest of Broome. Imperieuse Reef recorded maximum 10-minute sustained winds of {{convert|59|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and a gust to {{convert|74|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at around 02:00 UTC as the system was located nearby.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60801/IDW60801.94207.shtml|title=Rowley Shoals Weather Observations|date=11 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200311114410/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60801/IDW60801.94207.shtml|archive-date=11 March 2020|access-date=11 March 2020}} Sustained gale-force winds were later observed on the far western Pilbara coast and nearby islands as the tropical low approached on 12 March. Barrow Island recorded 10-minute sustained winds of {{convert|76|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and a gust to {{convert|91|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at 09:00 UTC,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60801/IDW60801.95304.shtml|title=Barrow Island Airport Weather Observations|date=12 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200312142724/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60801/IDW60801.95304.shtml|archive-date=12 March 2020|access-date=12 March 2020}} and Thevenard Island experienced sustained winds of up to {{convert|74|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and a gust of {{convert|102|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60801/IDW60801.94303.shtml|title=Thevenard Island Weather Observations|date=13 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313013653/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60801/IDW60801.94303.shtml|archive-date=13 March 2020|access-date=13 March 2020}} The town of Onslow also recorded a short period of sustained gales, reaching {{convert|67|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60801/IDW60801.95305.shtml|title=Onslow Airport Weather Observations|date=13 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313014310/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60801/IDW60801.95305.shtml|archive-date=13 March 2020|access-date=13 March 2020}}

{{Clear}}

= Tropical Cyclone Gretel =

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = Gretel 2020-03-14 2350Z.jpg

| Track = Gretel 2020 track.png

| Formed = 10 March

| Dissipated = 14 March (Exited basin)

| 10-min winds = 40

| 1-min winds = 40

| Pressure = 993

}}

On 8 March, the BOM noted that a strong pulse of the Madden–Julian Oscillation was located in the Maritime Continent, generating increased rainfall and cloudiness, and elevating the risk of tropical cyclone formation in the waters to the north of Australia. A monsoon trough developed across the Arafura Sea the following day,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|title=Australian Region MSLP Analysis Chart (12Z)|date=9 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314050523/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|archive-date=14 March 2020|access-date=10 March 2020}} and by 00:00 UTC on 10 March, the BOM reported that a tropical low had formed in the area.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml|title=Northern Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=10 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200310053701/http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml|archive-date=10 March 2020|access-date=10 March 2020}} Originally located approximately {{convert|250|km|mi|abbr=on}} west-northwest of Weipa, the tropical low began tracking southeastwards over the following days, making landfall at Aurukun on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula as a very weak system on the morning of 11 March.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Gretel Forecast Track Map #1 (06Z)|date=11 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200311120246/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|archive-date=11 March 2020|access-date=11 March 2020}} The tropical low re-emerged over water by 12:00 UTC on 11 March, and began to track east-southeastwards across the Coral Sea.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Gretel Forecast Track Map #2 (12Z)|date=11 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200311131844/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|archive-date=11 March 2020|access-date=11 March 2020}}

Initially forecast to develop steadily and reach tropical cyclone strength near Willis Island by the evening of 13 March, the system instead struggled to form a defined centre of circulation within a broad and complex area of low pressure.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Gretel Technical Bulletin #1 (00Z)|date=13 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313012219/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|archive-date=13 March 2020|access-date=13 March 2020}} Eventually, a dominant circulation centre began to coalesce underneath a bloom of deep convection on the northern side of the low-pressure area, at which time the tropical low began to accelerate towards the east-southeast. The system intensified steadily thereafter, acquiring sustained gale-force winds in the northern semicircle by 12:00 UTC on 14 March. The BOM upgraded the system to a tropical cyclone three hours later, and named the storm Gretel.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Gretel Forecast Track Map #15 (15Z)|date=14 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200314160133/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|archive-date=14 March 2020|access-date=14 March 2020}} By this time, however, the system was quickly approaching the eastern boundary of the Australian cyclone region, leaving only a short period of time for further intensification within the basin. Gretel crossed into the South Pacific cyclone region just after 18:00 UTC on 14 March as a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, with maximum 10-minute sustained winds of {{convert|75|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} and a central barometric pressure of 990 hPa (29.23 inHg).{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Gretel Technical Bulletin #8 (18Z)|date=14 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200314225257/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|archive-date=14 March 2020|access-date=14 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65253.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Gretel Forecast Track Map #17 (00Z)|date=15 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200315021516/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65253.shtml|archive-date=15 March 2020|access-date=15 March 2020}}

The interaction between the developing tropical low and a high-pressure ridge positioned along the Queensland east coast generated a strong pressure gradient on the western side of the system. As a result, exposed sections of North Queensland's east coast and the nearby reefs and islands experienced strong winds, despite being located a considerable distance from the tropical low itself. In particular, the airport on Hamilton Island recorded several days of sustained near-gale to gale-force winds, peaking at {{convert|78|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at 17:40 UTC on 12 March, with a maximum gust of {{convert|104|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} observed one hour prior.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ60801/IDQ60801.94368.shtml|title=Hamilton Island Airport Weather Observations|date=13 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313134218/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ60801/IDQ60801.94368.shtml|archive-date=13 March 2020|access-date=13 March 2020}} Hamilton Island also received {{convert|175.0|mm|in}} of rainfall in the 72 hours to 23:00 UTC on 12 March, including {{convert|46.0|mm|in}} in a 46-minute period on the morning of 11 March.{{Clear}}

= Tropical Low 11U =

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = TL 11U 2020-04-01 0032Z.jpg

| Track = 11U 2020 track.png

| Formed = 31 March

| Dissipated = 3 April

| 10-min winds = 30

| 1-min winds =

| Pressure = 999

| Type1 = low

}}

A low-pressure trough developed to the north of Australia during late March, associated with an increase in easterly winds from the Coral Sea.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/tropical-note/|title=Weekly Tropical Climate Note|date=24 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318092720/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/tropical-note/|archive-date=18 March 2020|access-date=29 March 2020}} On 29 March, the BOM noted that a tropical low had begun to form within the trough, centred over the Torres Strait, near the southwestern coast of Papua New Guinea.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml|title=Eastern Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=29 March 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200329153512/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml|archive-date=29 March 2020|access-date=29 March 2020}} Upon its formation, the tropical low was given the identifier code 11U by the BoM. The system meandered slowly towards the east-northeast over the ensuing days, passing into the area of responsibility of the Papua New Guinea National Weather Service.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml|title=Eastern Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=2 April 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200402052903/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml|archive-date=2 April 2020|access-date=2 April 2020}} Despite tracking through a favourable environment, land interaction prevented any significant intensification from occurring, with the tropical low's circulation remaining broad and the deep convection fragmented.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwweb.txt|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Pacific Ocean (06Z)|date=2 April 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200402131822/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwweb.txt|archive-date=2 April 2020|access-date=2 April 2020}} The system attained its peak intensity on the morning of 2 April, with maximum 10-minute sustained winds of {{convert|55|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}, and a minimum central pressure of {{convert|999|hPa|inHg|abbr=on}}. The tropical low dissipated on 3 April while over water in the Gulf of Papua.{{Cite web|date=22 September 2020|title=Tropical Cyclone Best Track Database|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/tropical-cyclone-knowledge-centre/databases/|access-date=22 September 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology}}

{{Clear}}

= Tropical Cyclone Harold =

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = 90P 2020-04-02 0255Z.jpg

| Track = Harold 2020 track.png

| Formed = 1 April

| Dissipated = 2 April (Exited basin)

| 10-min winds = 35

| 1-min winds = 35

| Pressure = 998

}}

{{main|Cyclone Harold}}

On 1 April, a tropical low formed within a monsoon trough, centered between the Solomon Islands and the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Harold Forecast Track Map #1 (03Z)|date=2 April 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200402051458/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|archive-date=2 April 2020|access-date=2 April 2020}} The environment was highly conducive for intensification, with the presence of dual-channel upper outflow, low vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwweb.txt|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Pacific Ocean|date=1 April 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200402052603/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwweb.txt|archive-date=2 April 2020|access-date=2 April 2020}} The tropical low organised rapidly as it tracked towards the east-southeast over the Solomon Sea, developing tightly curved convective banding and exceeding intensity estimates from several sources, including numerical weather prediction products, the Dvorak technique and some satellite-based analyses.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Harold Technical Bulletin #1 (06Z)|date=2 April 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200402093746/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|archive-date=2 April 2020|access-date=2 April 2020}} The BOM upgraded the system to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale at 06:00 UTC on 2 April, and named it Harold.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Harold Forecast Track Map #2 (06Z)|date=2 April 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200402093538/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|archive-date=2 April 2020|access-date=2 April 2020}} Development slowed over the following hours, with the system maintaining low-end Category 1 winds while approaching the eastern border of the Australian cyclone region.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|title=Tropical Cyclone Harold Technical Bulletin #4 (00Z)|date=3 April 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705114026/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt|archive-date=5 July 2013|access-date=3 April 2020}} At around 21:00 UTC, Harold crossed into the South Pacific cyclone region just to the south of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, and the Fiji Meteorological Service assumed responsibility for the system.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Harold Forecast Track Map #4 (00Z)|date=3 April 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200403053844/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml|archive-date=3 April 2020|access-date=3 April 2020}}

{{Clear}}

= Tropical Low Jeruto=

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = 15U 2020-04-13 0415Z.jpg

| Track = Jeruto 2020 track.png

| Formed = 10 April

| Dissipated = 13 April (Exited basin)

| 10-min winds = 25

| 1-min winds =

| Pressure = 1006

}}

On 9 April, satellite scatterometer data indicated the presence of a broad low pressure circulation in the central Indian Ocean, near the western edge of the Australian region.{{Cite web|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202004101013.pdf|title=Tropical Cyclone Activity Bulletin for the South-West Indian Ocean|date=10 April 2020|website=Météo-France La Réunion|language=fr|access-date=11 April 2020}} The following day, the BOM reported that the system had developed into a weak tropical low, centred within a low pressure trough.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=10 April 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200410055310/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=10 April 2020|access-date=10 April 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/darwin_MSLP_00z.shtml|title=South East Asia MSLP Analysis Chart (00Z)|date=10 April 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413113027/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/darwin_MSLP_00z.shtml|archive-date=13 April 2020|access-date=10 April 2020}} The system remained mostly stationary for the next several days as low vertical wind shear, warm sea surface temperatures and good divergence in the upper troposphere allowed convection to develop over the tropical low.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=13 April 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200413183645/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=13 April 2020|access-date=13 April 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abioweb.txt|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean (11Z)|date=12 April 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200412130823/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abioweb.txt|archive-date=12 April 2020|access-date=12 April 2020}} The low-level circulation began to consolidate into a more circular structure by 12 April,{{Cite web|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202004121114.pdf|title=Tropical Cyclone Activity Bulletin for the South-West Indian Ocean|date=12 April 2020|website=Météo-France La Réunion|language=fr|access-date=12 April 2020}} centred approximately {{convert|515|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the west-northwest of the Cocos Islands. Around this time, the tropical low assumed a more consistent course towards the southwest, and crossed over the 90th meridian east into the South-West Indian Ocean cyclone region late on 13 April.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|title=Western Area High Seas Forecast (18Z)|date=13 April 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200414060839/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|archive-date=14 April 2020|access-date=14 April 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202004140600_1_12_20192020.pdf|title=Tropical Depression 12 Analysis Bulletin #1 (06Z)|date=14 April 2020|website=Météo-France La Réunion|access-date=14 April 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=14 April 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200414060916/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=14 April 2020|access-date=14 April 2020}} The system was classified as Tropical Depression 12 by Météo-France's La Réunion office shortly thereafter, and later strengthened into Moderate Tropical Storm Jeruto.{{Cite web|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202004150600_JERUTO.pdf|title=Tropical Cyclone Jeruto Analysis Bulletin #3 (06Z)|date=15 April 2020|website=Météo-France La Réunion|access-date=15 April 2020}}

The tropical low and its associated low-pressure trough generated light rainfall in the Cocos Islands while located nearby. The airport on West Island received {{convert|17.6|mm|in}} of rain on 10–13 April.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=136&p_display_type=dailyDataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=200284|title=Cocos Islands Airport Daily Rainfall Data|date=14 April 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200414064758/http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=136&p_display_type=dailyDataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=200284|archive-date=14 April 2020|access-date=14 April 2020}} Maximum 10-minute sustained winds of {{convert|44|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, gusting to {{convert|57|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, were also observed for a short period on 14 April.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60801/IDW60801.96996.shtml|title=Cocos Islands Airport Weather Observations|date=14 April 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200414114836/http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60801/IDW60801.96996.shtml|archive-date=14 April 2020|access-date=14 April 2020}}

{{Clear}}

= Tropical Depression=

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Type1 = spdepression

| Image = TD 96S 2020-05-07 0706Z.jpg

| Track = TD 96S 2020 track.png

| Formed = 3 May

| Dissipated = 10 May

| 10-min winds = 30

| Pressure = 1004

}}

{{See also|List of off-season Australian region tropical cyclones}}

During late April, a strong pulse of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) tracked eastwards across the equatorial Indian Ocean, and approached Australian longitudes by early May. The presence of the MJO enhanced convective activity in the region, generating areas of increased cloudiness and rainfall across the Maritime Continent.{{Cite web|title=Weekly Tropical Climate Note|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/tropical-note/|date=28 April 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502115732/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/tropical-note/|archive-date=2 May 2020|access-date=3 May 2020}} On 1 May, a low-pressure system formed west of Indonesia's Mentawai Islands, centred within a low-pressure trough near the Equator.{{Cite web|title=South-East Asia MSLP Analysis Chart (00Z)|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/darwin_MSLP_00z.shtml|date=1 May 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504133923/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/darwin_MSLP_00z.shtml|archive-date=4 May 2020|access-date=3 May 2020}} The system tracked east-southeastwards towards Sumatra over the following days, and on 3 May, the BOM reported that it had developed into a tropical low.{{Cite web|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|date=3 May 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200503100507/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=3 May 2020|access-date=3 May 2020}} Situated approximately {{convert|305|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of the Sumatran coastal city of Bengkulu, the system was located within the area of responsibility of TCWC Jakarta, who classified it as a tropical depression.{{Cite web|title=Tropical Depression 96S Forecast Track Map (06Z)|url=http://tcwc.bmkg.go.id/data/tc/IDJ22000.html|date=5 May 2020|website=Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200505171315/http://tcwc.bmkg.go.id/data/tc/IDJ22000.html|archive-date=5 May 2020|access-date=5 May 2020}} The depression began to track southwards on 4 May, and soon began to show signs of organisation, with intermittent deep convection developing over the low-level circulation centre.{{Cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (0230Z)|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9620web.txt|date=5 May 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200505172933/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9620web.txt|archive-date=5 May 2020|access-date=5 May 2020}} Citing a favourable environment for intensification, including very low vertical wind shear, anomalously warm sea surface temperatures and a good poleward outflow channel, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the system on 5 May. This was later cancelled as the depression tracked westwards into an area of increasing vertical wind shear.{{Cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone 96S Formation Alert Cancellation (00Z)|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9620web.txt|date=6 May 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200506161807/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9620web.txt|archive-date=6 May 2020|access-date=6 May 2020}} The depression continued westwards over the following days without intensification, passing to the north of the Cocos Islands, and dissipated by 10 May.{{Cite web|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|date=9 May 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200509183120/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=9 May 2020|access-date=9 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|date=10 May 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200510112603/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=10 May 2020|access-date=10 May 2020}}

As the system developed near Indonesia as a tropical depression on 5 May, TCWC Jakarta issued an extreme weather warning for southern Sumatra, western Java, the Bangka Belitung Islands and other nearby islands. The areas were warned to expect moderate to heavy rainfall and strong winds, as well as wave heights reaching {{convert|4|m|ft|abbr=on}} in Indian Ocean waters off the south coast and in the Sunda Strait.{{Cite web|title=Tropical Depression 96S Information Bulletin (06Z)|url=http://tcwc.bmkg.go.id/data/tc/IDJ21030.txt|date=5 May 2020|website=Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics|language=id|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200505175257/http://tcwc.bmkg.go.id/data/tc/IDJ21030.txt|archive-date=5 May 2020|access-date=5 May 2020}}

{{Clear}}

=Tropical Low Mangga=

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

| Basin = Aus

| Image = Mangga 2020-05-21 1850Z.jpg

| Track = Mangga 2020 track.png

| Formed = 18 May

| Dissipated = 23 May

| Type1=low

| 10-min winds = 35

| 1-min winds = 40

| Pressure = 996

}}

{{See also|List of off-season Australian region tropical cyclones}}

After being mostly indiscernible for the preceding week, the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) redeveloped over the central equatorial Indian Ocean during mid May, and began to track towards the Maritime Continent. The return of an active pulse of the MJO led to an increase in cloudiness and convective activity across the region, and also contributed to the formation of twin cyclones, with the other being Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan in the Bay of Bengal.{{Cite web|title=Weekly Tropical Climate Note|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/tropical-note/|date=19 May 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525213813/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/tropical-note/|archive-date=25 May 2020|access-date=20 May 2020}} On 19 May, the BOM noted that a low-pressure system centred with a low-pressure trough in the far northwestern part of the basin had developed into an off-season tropical low.{{Cite web|title=South-East Asia MSLP Analysis Chart (00Z)|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/darwin_MSLP_00z.shtml|date=19 May 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603175028/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/darwin_MSLP_00z.shtml|archive-date=3 June 2020|access-date=20 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|date=19 May 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200519180815/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=19 May 2020|access-date=19 May 2020}} Situated approximately {{convert|790|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Padang in Sumatra, the system was located within the area of responsibility of TCWC Jakarta. Environmental conditions were assessed as favourable for tropical cyclogenesis by Météo-France and the JTWC, with warm sea surface temperatures, low vertical wind shear, sufficient moisture in the mid troposphere, and a good poleward outflow channel.{{Cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone Activity Bulletin for the South-West Indian Ocean|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202005191053.pdf|date=19 May 2020|website=Météo-France La Réunion|language=fr|access-date=20 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean (18Z)|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abioweb.txt|date=19 May 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200520011036/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abioweb.txt|archive-date=20 May 2020|access-date=20 May 2020}} Citing these conditions, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the system early on 20 May.{{Cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone 27S (Mangga) Formation Alert (03Z)|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9820web.txt|date=20 May 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200520031556/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9820web.txt|archive-date=20 May 2020|access-date=20 May 2020}}

As the tropical low tracked slowly towards the southwest, the previously fragmented deep convection began to consolidate over the centre of the broad low-level circulation.{{Cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone 27S (Mangga) Warning #1A (Corrected) (03Z)|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2720web.txt|date=21 May 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200521062752/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2720web.txt|archive-date=21 May 2020|access-date=21 May 2020}} Owing to the development of gale-force westerly winds to the north of the system by the afternoon of 20 May, the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical storm at 03:00 UTC the following day. The tropical low soon adopted a track towards the south-southeast under the influence of a high-pressure ridge to the northeast.{{Cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone 27S (Mangga) Warning #2 (06Z)|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2720web.txt|date=21 May 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200521102810/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2720web.txt|archive-date=21 May 2020|access-date=21 May 2020}} Despite being located within an otherwise favourable environment for development, the system's low level circulation remained broad and weakly defined as moderate easterly vertical wind shear hampered the development of persistent deep convection near the centre. Supported by strong upper-level outflow, a burst of deep convection began to bloom near the centre of the struggling tropical low at around 12:00 UTC,{{Cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone Mangga Technical Bulletin #3 (18Z)|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|date=21 May 2020|website=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200521202915/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW27600.txt|archive-date=21 May 2020|access-date=21 May 2020}} at which point TCWC Jakarta upgraded the system to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, assigning the name Mangga.{{Cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone Mangga Track and Impact Map #3 (12Z)|url=http://tcwc.bmkg.go.id/data/tc/IDJ22000.html|date=21 May 2020|website=Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200521194512/http://tcwc.bmkg.go.id/data/tc/IDJ22000.html|archive-date=21 May 2020|access-date=21 May 2020}}

Due to the potential of the tropical low to generate for moderate to heavy rainfall, TCWC Jakarta issued an extreme weather warning for the southwestern coast of Sumatra and the westernmost part of Java on 21 May.{{Cite web|title=Tropical Low 17U Technical Bulletin (00Z)|url=http://tcwc.bmkg.go.id/data/tc/IDJ21020.txt|date=21 May 2020|website=Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics|language=id|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200521064720/http://tcwc.bmkg.go.id/data/tc/IDJ21020.txt|archive-date=21 May 2020|access-date=21 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Tropical Low 17U Track and Impact Map (00Z)|url=http://tcwc.bmkg.go.id/data/tc/IDJ22000.html|date=21 May 2020|website=Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200521064401/http://tcwc.bmkg.go.id/data/tc/IDJ22000.html|archive-date=21 May 2020|access-date=21 May 2020}} Wave heights were also forecast to reach {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}} in Indian Ocean waters near the Mentawai Islands and the southwestern coasts of Sumatra and Java, and up to {{convert|4|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the Sunda Strait and other areas. Severe weather warnings were later issued for the entire western area of Western Australia as the remnants of the low combined with a passing cold front to bringing damaging winds, raised dust and heavy rain in what was described as a "once in a decade" storm.{{cite web |title=WA super storm clean-up continues as hundreds still without power |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/severe-weather/wa-super-storm-clean-up-continues-as-hundreds-still-without-power-ng-b881558191z |website=PerthNow |date=25 May 2020 |access-date=27 May 2020}} Over 60,000 properties lost power in south-western Western Australia, particularly in Perth, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and Margaret River. A wind gust of 132 km/h was reported at Cape Leeuwin.{{cite news |last1=Kaur |first1=Herlyn |title=Storm hits Perth as ex-Tropical Cyclone Mangga delivers wild weather across WA, power cut to thousands |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-25/massive-storm-hits-perth-as-ex-tropical-cyclone-mangga-strikes/12281886 |newspaper=ABC News |date=24 May 2020 |access-date=27 May 2020}}

{{clear}}

=Other systems=

A weak tropical low began to develop over the eastern Indian Ocean within a low-pressure trough on 31 January, approximately {{convert|460|km|mi|abbr=on}} east-northeast of the Cocos Islands and {{convert|500|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of Christmas Island.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=31 January 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131064510/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=31 January 2020|access-date=31 January 2020}} The system tracked slowly towards the south-southwest over the following days with little development.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=3 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204023148/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=4 February 2020|access-date=4 February 2020}} The system began to gradually decay as it neared the Cocos Islands, and it dissipated as a tropical low by 4 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=4 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205035652/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=5 February 2020|access-date=5 February 2020}}

Increased winds were observed in the vicinity of the tropical low in the Cocos Islands, with a maximum wind gust of {{convert|44|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} recorded at the local airport at 01:29 UTC on 2 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/IDCJDW6027.latest.shtml|title=Cocos Islands Airport Recent Weather Observations|date=4 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204023826/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/IDCJDW6027.latest.shtml|archive-date=4 February 2020|access-date=4 February 2020}} In addition, {{convert|28.8|mm|in}} of rainfall fell on Christmas Island from 31 January to 2 February on the eastern side of the tropical low.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/wData/wdata?p_nccObsCode=136&p_display_type=dailyDataFile&p_stn_num=200790&p_startYear=|title=Christmas Island Aerodrome Daily Rainfall Data|date=3 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204025444/http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/wData/wdata?p_nccObsCode=136&p_display_type=dailyDataFile&p_stn_num=200790&p_startYear=|archive-date=4 February 2020|access-date=4 February 2020}}

Late on 6 February, the BOM noted that a tropical low had developed within a low-pressure trough near the Australian region's western border, approximately {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of the Cocos Islands.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|title=Western Area High Seas Forecast (18Z)|date=6 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206222832/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|archive-date=6 February 2020|access-date=6 February 2020}} The tropical low remained nearly stationary over the central Indian Ocean for the next few days with little development,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|title=Western Area High Seas Forecast (06Z)|date=8 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208084146/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|archive-date=8 February 2020|access-date=8 February 2020}} before dissipating late on 8 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|title=Western Area High Seas Forecast (18Z)|date=8 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209010257/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|archive-date=9 February 2020|access-date=9 February 2020}}

The Cocos Islands received {{convert|34.4|mm|in}} of rainfall during the 48 hours to 03:00 UTC on 8 February when the tropical low was located nearby, as well as a maximum wind gust to {{convert|39|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at 01:44 UTC on 8 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=136&p_display_type=dailyDataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=200284|title=Cocos Islands Airport Daily Rainfall Data|date=14 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214083753/http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=136&p_display_type=dailyDataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=200284|archive-date=14 February 2020|access-date=14 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/IDCJDW6027.latest.shtml|title=Cocos Islands Airport Daily Weather Observations|date=14 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214084440/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/IDCJDW6027.latest.shtml|archive-date=14 February 2020|access-date=14 February 2020}} An extended rainfall total of {{convert|108.0|mm|in}} was recorded on the islands during the five days to 03:00 UTC on 10 February as a result of the slow-moving low-pressure system and its associated trough.

The BOM indicated that a tropical low had developed on the western border of the Australian region over the central Indian Ocean at 06:00 UTC on 13 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|title=Western Area High Seas Forecast (06Z)|date=13 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213154617/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|archive-date=13 February 2020|access-date=13 February 2020}} The tropical low was located in a concentrated area of convection being enhanced by the monsoon trough established across the South-West Indian Ocean cyclone region.{{Cite web|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202002131124.pdf|title=Cyclonic Activity and Tropical Meteorology Bulletin for the South-West Indian Ocean (12Z)|date=13 February 2020|website=Météo-France La Réunion|language=fr|access-date=13 February 2020}} Within twelve hours, the tropical had moved westwards out of the Australian region,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|title=Western Area High Seas Forecast (18Z)|date=13 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214060436/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|archive-date=14 February 2020|access-date=14 February 2020}} where Météo-France's office on La Réunion assessed the system as having a low probability of intensification into a tropical cyclone.

In the midst of an active pulse of the Madden–Julian oscillation over the tropical western Pacific Ocean, the BOM noted that a tropical low had formed within a low-pressure trough over the northeastern Coral Sea on 15 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/tropical-note/|title=Weekly Tropical Climate Note|date=11 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207090501/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/tropical-note/|archive-date=7 February 2020|access-date=15 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml|title=Eastern Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=15 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215073605/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml|archive-date=15 February 2020|access-date=15 February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|title=Australian Region MSLP Analysis Chart (06Z)|date=15 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219094310/http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml|archive-date=19 February 2020|access-date=15 February 2020}} The slow-moving system was assessed as having a very low probability of developing into a tropical cyclone in the short term. The tropical low attained a minimum barometric pressure of 1002 hPa before moving into the South Pacific cyclone region by 17 February,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml|title=Eastern Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=17 February 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217072110/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/cyclone.shtml|archive-date=17 February 2020|access-date=17 February 2020}} where the system was designated as Tropical Disturbance 08F by the Fiji Meteorological Service.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Irondro entered the Australian region at 06:00 UTC on 6 April, located approximately {{convert|2,575|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the west-northwest of Perth.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|title=Western Region Tropical Cyclone Outlook|date=6 April 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200406080000/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/nwcyclone.shtml|archive-date=6 April 2020|access-date=6 April 2020}} Upon entering the region, the Bureau of Meteorology estimated the system's central pressure as 993 hPa (29.32 inHg).{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|title=Western Area High Seas Forecast (06Z)|date=6 April 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200406093248/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|archive-date=6 April 2020|access-date=6 April 2020}} At this time, the JTWC assessed the system as a low-end tropical storm, with maximum one-minute sustained winds of {{convert|75|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}. The system had commenced extratropical transition around the time of entering the region due to the effects of hostile vertical wind shear and sea surface temperatures decreasing below 25 °C (77 °F).{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2420web.txt|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200406083529/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2420web.txt|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2020|title=Tropical Cyclone 24S (Irondro) Warning #9 (06Z)|date=6 April 2020|website=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command|access-date=6 April 2020}} Ex-Irondro was downgraded to a remnant low by 18:00 UTC.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|title=Western Area High Seas Forecast (18Z)|date=6 April 2020|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200407044549/http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/whighseas.shtml|archive-date=7 April 2020|access-date=7 April 2020}}

{{Clear}}

Storm names

= Bureau of Meteorology =

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology monitors all tropical cyclones within the region, and assigns names to tropical cyclones that form outside of the areas of responsibility of TCWC Jakarta and TCWC Port Moresby. The names for the 2019–20 season are listed below:

width="1000"

|

|

= TCWC Jakarta =

The tropical cyclone warning centre in Jakarta monitors tropical cyclones from the Equator to 11°S and between the longitudes 90°E and 145°E. If a tropical depression reach tropical cyclone strength within TCWC Jakarta's area of responsibility, it will be assigned the next name from the following list:{{cite web|url=http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/TCP24_RAVOpPlan_Revised_final.pdf|publisher=WMO|title=Tropical Cyclone Operational plan for the South Pacific & Southeast Indian Ocean, 2014 Edition|access-date=12 June 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://meteo.bmkg.go.id/siklon/name|title=Cyclone Names|website=Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617080747/http://meteo.bmkg.go.id/siklon/name|archive-date=17 June 2019|access-date=17 June 2019}}

width="1000"

|

  • Mangga

= TCWC Port Moresby =

Tropical cyclones that develop between the Equator and 11°S, between 151°E and 160°E, are assigned names by the tropical cyclone warning centre in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Tropical cyclone formation in this area is rare, and no cyclones have been named in it since 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2008/summ0713a.htm|author=Gary Padgett|publisher=Australian Severe Weather|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary October|year=2008|access-date=1 July 2013|archive-date=4 July 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130704162247/http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2008/summ0713a.htm|url-status=dead}} As names are assigned in a random order the whole list is shown below:

width="1000"

|

  • {{tcname unused|Alu}}
  • {{tcname unused|Buri}}
  • {{tcname unused|Dodo}}
  • {{tcname unused|Emau}}
  • {{tcname unused|Fere}}

|

  • {{tcname unused|Hibu}}
  • {{tcname unused|Ila}}
  • {{tcname unused|Kama}}
  • {{tcname unused|Lobu}}
  • {{tcname unused|Maila}}

= Others =

If a tropical cyclone enters the Australian region from the South Pacific basin (east of 160°E), it will retain the name assigned to it by the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) or MetService. Similarly, if a tropical cyclone enters the Australian region from the South-West Indian Ocean cyclone region (west of 90°E), it will retain the name assigned to it on behalf of Météo-France La Réunion by the Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centres in Mauritius or Madagascar. This season, the following systems were named in this manner:

  • Uesi (named by FMS)
  • Irondro (named by Météo-France)
  • Jeruto (named by Météo-France)

Notably, Irondro was the next named cyclone to appear in the region after Harold with the alphabetical sequencing purely coincidental in nature.

=Retirement=

{{main|List of retired Australian region cyclone names}}

Later in 2020, the Bureau of Meteorology retired the names Damien and Harold, replacing them and Declan and Heath respectively due to the damage caused by both systems in Western Australia and the South Pacific respectively.{{RA V Tropical cyclone operational plan}} The name Mangga was also retired from the Jakarta TCWC and replaced with the name Melati for the next list, also due to damage caused in Western Australia.{{RA V Tropical cyclone operational plan}}

Season effects

{{Australian cyclone season effects (top)|Season start year=2019|Season end year=2020|Basin=Aus}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=Blake|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=4|Formation month=January|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=8|Dissipation month=January|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=1|Winds=40|Pressure=986|Areas=Western Australia|Damage prefix=|Damage=Minor|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=Claudia|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=5|Formation month=January|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=18|Dissipation month=January|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=2|Category=3|Winds=75|Pressure=969|Areas=Northern Territory, Western Australia|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=04U|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=23|Formation month=January|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=30|Dissipation month=January|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=TL|Winds=Not specified|Pressure=998|Areas=Northern Territory, Queensland|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=TL|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=31|Formation month=January|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=4|Dissipation month=February|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=TL|Winds=Not specified|Pressure=1007|Areas=Cocos Islands, Christmas Island|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=Damien|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=3|Formation month=February|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=9|Dissipation month=February|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=3|Winds=85|Pressure=955|Areas=Northern Territory, Western Australia|Damage prefix=$|Damage=6000000|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References={{cite news |last1=Standen |first1=Susan |title=Karratha faces a $6m clean-up bill after Tropical Cyclone Damien |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-04/pilbara-faces-$6m-clean-up-bill-after-cycloine-damien/12481084 |website=ABC News |date=3 August 2020 |access-date=2 September 2020}}}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=Uesi|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=4|Formation month=February|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=14|Dissipation month=February |Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=TL|Winds=50|Pressure=976|Areas={{Nowrap|Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia,}} {{Nowrap|Lord Howe Island, South East Queensland,}} {{Nowrap|New South Wales, New Zealand}}|Damage prefix=|Damage=Minor|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=1|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=TL|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=6|Formation month=February|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=8|Dissipation month=February|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=TL|Winds=Not specified|Pressure=1007|Areas=Cocos Islands|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=TL|System active=No|Single-day system=Yes|Formation day=13|Formation month=February|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=13|Dissipation month=February|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=TL|Winds=Not specified|Pressure=1009|Areas=None|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=08F|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=15|Formation month=February|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=17|Dissipation month=February|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=TL|Winds=Not specified|Pressure=1002|Areas=Solomon Islands|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=Esther|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=21|Formation month=February|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=5|Dissipation month=March|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=1|Winds=40|Pressure=988|Areas=Australia|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=Ferdinand|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=22|Formation month=February|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=1|Dissipation month=March|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=4|Winds=95|Pressure=951|Areas=None|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=None|References={{cite web |title=Severe Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/Ferdinand.shtml |website=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=13 April 2023}}}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=09U|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=9|Formation month=March|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=13|Dissipation month=March|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=TL|Winds=40|Pressure=997|Areas=Western Indonesia, Western Australia|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=Gretel|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=10|Formation month=March|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=14|Dissipation month=March|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=1|Winds=40|Pressure=990|Areas=Top End, New Guinea, Queensland,
New Caledonia|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=11U|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=31|Formation month=March|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=3|Dissipation month=April|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=TL|Winds=30|Pressure=999|Areas=New Guinea, Cape York Peninsula|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=Harold|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=1|Formation month=April|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=2|Dissipation month=April|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=1|Winds=35|Pressure=997|Areas=Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands|Damage prefix=|Damage=Unknown|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=27|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=Irondro|System active=No|Single-day system=Yes|Formation day=6|Formation month=April|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=6|Dissipation month=April|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=1|Winds=35|Pressure=994|Areas=None|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=Jeruto|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=10|Formation month=April|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=13|Dissipation month=April|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=TL|Winds=30|Pressure=1006|Areas=Cocos Islands|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=TD|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=3|Formation month=May|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=10|Dissipation month=May|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=TD|Winds=30|Pressure=1004|Areas=Western Indonesia, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands|Damage prefix=|Damage=None|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (cyclone)|Name=Mangga|System active=No|Single-day system=No|Formation day=19|Formation month=May|Formation year=2020|Dissipation day=23|Dissipation month=May|Dissipation year=2020|Date tiebreak=1|Category=1|Winds=35|Pressure=995|Areas=Western Indonesia, Cocos Islands, Christmas Island, Western Australia|Damage prefix=|Damage=Minor|Deaths prefix=|Deaths=0|References=}}

{{Australian cyclone season effects (bottom)|Systems=19|Season ongoing=No|Start day=4|Start month=January|Start year=2020|End day=23|End month=May|End year=2020|Highest winds=85|Lowest pressure=955|Damage prefix=|Total damage=Unknown|Deaths prefix=|Total deaths=28}}

See also

{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}

References

{{reflist|2}}