Cyclone Les (1998)
Tropical Cyclone Les was a Category 2 storm in the 1997–98 Australian region cyclone season, which affected the Northern Territory of Australia in January 1998.
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
|---|---|
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 Tropical Cyclone Les on 24 January 1998 | |
| Formed | 19 January 1998 |
| Dissipated | 1 February 1998 |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 110 km/h (70 mph) 1-minute sustained: 95 km/h (60 mph) Gusts: 140 km/h (85 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 976 hPa (mbar); 28.82 inHg |
| Fatalities | 3 direct |
| Damage | $64.7 million (1998 USD) |
| Areas affected | Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia |
| Part of the 1997–98 Australian region cyclone season | |
Meteorological history
On 19 January 1998, an area of low pressure developed over the Gulf of Carpentaria. Little development occurred as the system traveled initially towards the southwest and later towards the east. Late on 21 January, the low moved over the Cape York Peninsula and began to strengthen.[1] A surge of moisture from a northwest monsoon and a tightening pressure gradient due to an area of high pressure located over the Great Australian Bight, allowed the system to develop. The first warning published by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology was issued on 23 January, after the storm had moved back over the Gulf of Carpentaria.[2][3]
Storm and impact
The intense rainfall also occurred during "king high tides" in the Timor Sea that pushed water from the lower reaches upstream, as a result, floodwater drainage was impeded. Flooding was most severe in Katherine, Northern Territory, where flooding began 24 January. Many residents were evacuated to cyclone shelters, while several others were stranded on rooftops. On Australia Day, 26 January, roads north and south from Katherine were closed due to rising floodwaters, and Royal Australian Air Force personnel from RAAF Base Tindal joined local police and emergency services to assist with sandbagging critical infrastructure. Some 5000 residents were evacuated as an estimated 500 businesses and 1200 homes were inundated by floodwaters, including the Katherine District Hospital.[4] On 27 January, a state of emergency was declared for Katherine as the Katherine River reached a level of 20.3 m (66.6 ft). The floodwaters peaked at 20.4 m (67 ft) at the Katherine railway bridge, passing the previous record of 19.3m during major flooding in 1957.[4] Two days later, 392 residents were evacuated from the Daly River region, approximately 200 km (120 mi) downstream from Katherine, where floodwaters had risen above 11.5m and would continue to rise to a peak of 16.8 m (55 ft) on 3 February.[3]
The cyclone dumped over 380mm of rainfall in the area within a 48-hour period, leaving water up to 2 m (6.5 ft) through much of the town. The flooding forced at least 2,000 people out of their homes, and killed 3 people.[5] Total damages from the storm amounted to at least A$100 million (US$64.7 million).[1] Additionally, local infrastructure was severely damaged by the storm. During the flood emergency, the only road access between Darwin and the rest of Australia was impassable for five days.[6] Drainage and sewerage systems failed, leading to an outbreak of gastroenteritis.[7] When the flood waters receded, priority was given to making critical facilities such as the hospital operational once again, with 300 additional Australian Defence Force personnel arriving to assist with the clean-up.[8]
Aftermath
Through the Appropriation (Flood Relief) Bill (1998) the Northern Territory Government released $10 million of funds for immediate flood relief. It was estimated at this time that at least $30 million would be required for capital works reconstruction, and a similar amount to be allocated to supporting business and individuals. It was expected this amount would be met by the Commonwealth Government.[9] The Northern Territory Government conducted studies in the area in the years following the disaster to learn how better to prepare for major flood events, and now makes flood maps and information brochures available to the public[10] as well as other early warning systems such as flood sirens and live webcams monitoring the river.
On 30 January, Prime Minister of Australia John Howard visited Katherine,[4] announcing measures including disaster relief payments of $1000 for each adult and $200 for each child affected by the flooding, the creation of a taskforce to investigate problems faced by those who were not insured for flooding as well as $5 million in funding for repairs and improvements to the Stuart Highway.[8]
The economic impact of the disaster on the town of Katherine was significant. Of the estimated $200 million damages, only $70 million was insured and many local businesses were forced to close. The pastoral industry, worth over $60 million[7] annually to the region was badly affected by the loss of whole herds of livestock to the rising waters.[11]
A study conducted by the School for Social and Policy Research at Charles Darwin University in 2008 analysed trends in census data before and after the disaster and found that the population had not yet recovered to pre-flood levels ten years after the event, and the demographics in the town had shifted significantly.[12]
In 2008, the Katherine Town Council submitted to Infrastructure Australia documents outlining the approximate costing and importance of relocating the town's hospital and ambulance station to a less flood-prone area following the total evacuation and inundation of both facilities during the 1998 and 2006 flood events.[13]
References
- "Tropical Cyclone Les". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2009. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- Gary Padgett (14 May 1998). "Monthly Tropical Weather Summary for January 1998". Typhoon 2000. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- "Climate Education: Katherine floods, January 1998". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 17 March 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- Skertchly, A; Skertchly, K (1998–99). "The Katherine-Daly flood disaster 1998" (PDF). Australian Journal of Emergency Management. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- Staff Writer (2007). "No Stranger to Floods". Relief in Sight. Archived from the original on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- "Tropical Cyclone Les". Bureau of Meteorology.
- "Hazards, Disasters and Your Community – Seventh edition" (PDF). Emergency Management Australia (Australian Government). 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- "Floods claim second life". The Sunday Age. 1 February 1998. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- "Appropriation (Flood Relief) Bill 1998". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- "Floodsafe Katherine Brochure". Northern Territory Government. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- Curtain, C (29 January 2008). "Remembering the Katherine flood of 1998". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- "Demographic Change, Katherine and Cyclone Les" (PDF). Charles Darwin University. 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- "Katherine Hospital and Ambulance Station" (PDF). Infrastructure Australia. 14 October 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
