Cyclone Carlos
{{other hurricanes|List of storms named Carlos}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{short description|Category 3 Australian region tropical cyclone in 2011}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Severe Tropical Cyclone Carlos
| image = Carlos 24 February 2011.jpg
| caption = Cyclone Carlos on 24 February
| formed = 14 February 2011
| dissipated = 27 February 2011
}}{{Infobox weather event/BOM
| winds = 65
| pressure = 969
}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 65
| pressure =
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 2011
| fatalities = None
| damages = 12300000
| areas = Northern Territory, Western Australia
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = 2010–11 Australian region cyclone season
}}
Severe Tropical Cyclone Carlos was a strong tropical cyclone that made landfall in Australia and resulted in $12.3 million USD in damages. Carlos was first spotted on 14 February near Batchelor and intensified to a Category 3 cyclone on 22 February. The storm affected Australia for most of its life.
Meteorological history
{{Storm path|Carlos 2011 track.png}}
On 14 February, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Darwin reported that a tropical low formed near latitude 13.2S, longitude 130.7E, about {{convert|40|km|miles|abbr=on}} west southwest of Batchelor. A severe weather warning was issued for northwest Darwin-Daly District and the Tiwi Islands.{{cite web|title=TROPICAL CYCLONE WATCH — TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 1 (17U)|url=http://dynasmon.fortunecity.com/Darwin.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906143538/http://dynasmon.fortunecity.com/Darwin.html|archive-date=6 September 2011|access-date=15 February 2011|publisher=Tropical Cyclone Warning Center, Darwin}} Heavy rain pounded the area on 15 February with reports of Marrara recording {{convert|179.4|mm|in|abbr=on}} and Darwin International Airport {{convert|131.0|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain.{{cite web|last=Adlam|first=Nigel|date=15 February 2011|title=Cyclone warning for Darwin and coast|url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/02/15/212791_ntnews.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222180003/http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/02/15/212791_ntnews.html|archive-date=22 February 2011|access-date=15 February 2011|work=Northern Territory News|publisher=News Limited}} This was later followed by {{convert|339.6|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain in just 24 hours, which is the highest 24-hour rainfall for the city on record.{{cite web|title=Cyclone Carlos bears down on Darwin|url=http://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/cyclone-carlos-bears-down-on-darwin/16392|access-date=16 February 2011|publisher=Weatherzone|archive-date=19 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219015325/http://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/cyclone-carlos-bears-down-on-darwin/16392|url-status=dead}}
On 16 February, the slow moving system strengthened into After looping around the Darwin area overnight and back over land the system weakened on 17 February and BOM downgraded it to a Tropical low.{{cite web|date=17 February 2012|title=TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 15 (17U)|url=http://dynasmon.fortunecity.com/Darwin.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906143538/http://dynasmon.fortunecity.com/Darwin.html|archive-date=6 September 2011|access-date=17 February 2012|work=TCWC Darwin|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology}} A record three-day total of {{convert|684.8|mm|in|abbr=on}} rain was recorded at Darwin International Airport due to the lingering of the system.{{cite web|last=Dillon|first=Meagan|date=18 February 2011|title=Wet season almost the wettest wet yet|url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/02/18/213211_ntnews.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706110705/http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/02/18/213211_ntnews.html|archive-date=6 July 2011|access-date=18 February 2011|work=Northern Territory News|publisher=News Limited}}
The system moved slowly southwest on 18 February moving towards the Northern Territory/Western Australian border with a possibility of restrengthening.{{cite web|last1=Heimke|first1=Nadja|last2=Adlam|first2=Nigel|date=19 February 2011|title=Carlos on the move|url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/02/19/213411_ntnews.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706110708/http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/02/19/213411_ntnews.html|archive-date=6 July 2011|access-date=19 February 2011|work=Northern Territory News|publisher=News Limited}} The community of Daly River received {{convert|442|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rainfall. On 19 February the system passed into the Northern Kimberley region. Rainfall totals were not as large as in previous days. Wyndham recorded {{convert|90|mm|in|abbr=on}} while Kalumburu recorded {{convert|80|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rainfall.{{cite web|last=Hickey|first=Paul|date=20 February 2011|title=Cyclone warning for Kimberley coast|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cyclone-warning-for-kimberley-coast/story-e6frg1rc-1226008947756|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222220633/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cyclone-warning-for-kimberley-coast/story-e6frg1rc-1226008947756|archive-date=22 February 2011|access-date=20 February 2011|work=Perth Now|publisher=News Limited}}
In the early hours of 21 February the system returned to the open waters of the Indian Ocean, causing it to redevelop back into a cyclone.{{cite web|date=21 February 2011|title=TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 37 (17U)|url=http://dynasmon.fortunecity.com/Perth.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726132921/http://dynasmon.fortunecity.com/Perth.html|archive-date=26 July 2009|access-date=20 February 2011|work=TCWC Perth|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology}} The system was located {{convert|75|km|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of Broome.{{cite web|last=Hickey|first=Paul|date=21 February 2011|title=Flood, storm warnings as cyclone Carlos reforms|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cyclone-warning-for-kimberley-coast/story-e6frg1rc-1226009223678|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223001048/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cyclone-warning-for-kimberley-coast/story-e6frg1rc-1226009223678|archive-date=23 February 2011|access-date=21 February 2011|work=Perth Now|publisher=News Limited}} The cyclone continued to track southwest at a relatively fast pace and produced a squall line that generated four tornadoes in the mining town of Karratha.{{cite web|author=|date=21 February 2011|title=Karratha town centre hit by tornado|url=http://www.pilbaraecho.com.au/echo/content/view/2847/63/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302153200/http://www.pilbaraecho.com.au/echo/content/view/2847/63/|archive-date=2 March 2011|access-date=21 February 2011|publisher=Pilbara Echo}} It also strengthened steadily to become a category 2 cyclone.{{cite web|date=21 February 2011|title=TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 43 (17U)|url=http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/raw/ax/axau01.aprf..txt|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703004606/http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/raw/ax/axau01.aprf..txt|archive-date=3 July 2010|access-date=21 February 2011|work=TCWC Perth|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology}}
On 22 February the system moved parallel to the Pilbara coast. Varanus Island recorded {{convert|59|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rainfall and the highest wind gust recorded in the area was {{convert|120|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at Bedout Island. The system became more organised and on 23 February the record rainfall amount of {{convert|283|mm|in|abbr=on}} was recorded at Barrow Island. The strongest gusts of {{convert|139|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} recorded at Varanus Island.{{cite web|last1=Rickard|first1=Lucy|date=23 February 2011|title=Cyclone Carlos takes aim at Ningaloo tourist destinations|url=http://www.watoday.com.au/environment/weather/cyclone-carlos-takes-aim-at-ningaloo-tourist-destinations-20110223-1b4po.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225011218/http://www.watoday.com.au/environment/weather/cyclone-carlos-takes-aim-at-ningaloo-tourist-destinations-20110223-1b4po.html|archive-date=25 February 2011|access-date=23 February 2011|work=WAToday|publisher=Fairfax Media}} The cyclone crossed the North West Cape and lashed Onslow and Exmouth with high winds up to {{convert|155|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and rain.{{cite web|last1=Hickey|first1=Paul|last2=AAP|author2-link=Australian Associated Press|date=23 February 2011|title=Onslow, Exmouth blasted by 155 km/h Carlos onslaught|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cyclone-warning-for-kimberley-coast/story-e6frg12c-1226010486514|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224013430/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cyclone-warning-for-kimberley-coast/story-e6frg12c-1226010486514|archive-date=24 February 2011|access-date=23 February 2011|work=Perth Now|publisher=News Limited}}
As Carlos moved away from the western coast of Australia on 24 February it strengthened into a Severe Tropical Cyclone. Carlos also caused a mini tornado to hit Ellenbrook, Perth, Western Australia on 28 February.{{cite web|date=24 February 2011|title=TROPICAL CYCLONE TECHNICAL BULLETIN 24/1815z (17U)|url=http://weather.noaa.gv/pub/data/raw/ax/axau02.aprf..txt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605170344/http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/raw/ax/axau02.aprf..txt|archive-date=5 June 2011|access-date=24 February 2011|work=TCWC Perth|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology}} The system dissipated on February 27.
Impact
Tropical Cyclone Carlos caused localized flooding and damage to homes, with fallen trees, resulting in schools in Darwin being closed, along with Darwin International Airport and East Arm Wharf.{{cite web|last=Adlam|first=Nigel|date=16 February 2011|title=Cyclone Carlos on top of Darwin|url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/02/16/212951_ntnews.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222175652/http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/02/16/212951_ntnews.html|archive-date=22 February 2011|access-date=16 February 2011|work=Northern Territory News|publisher=News Limited}} The tornadoes the system produced damaged 38 homes as well as numerous cars, buildings and a school.{{cite web|last1=Hickey|first1=Paul|last2=AAP|author2-link=Australian Associated Press|date=22 February 2011|title=Cyclone Carlos losing strength after brushing Karratha|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cyclone-warning-for-kimberley-coast/story-e6frg12c-1226009846315|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223065524/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cyclone-warning-for-kimberley-coast/story-e6frg12c-1226009846315|archive-date=23 February 2011|access-date=22 February 2011|work=Perth Now|publisher=News Limited}} Overall, the system caused about $16 million AUS$ ($12.3 USD).
References
External links
{{2010–11 Australian region cyclone season buttons}}
{{Retired Australian cyclones}}
{{Category 3 Australian region tropical cyclones}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carlos}}
Category:Tropical cyclones in 2011
Category:2010–11 Australian region cyclone season
Category:February 2011 in Australia
Category:Tropical cyclones in Western Australia
Category:Category 3 Australian region cyclones
Category:Tropical cyclones in the Northern Territory
Category:2000s in Western Australia