Jason crossed the NT coast near Groote Eylandt. It destroyed most of the buildings in the NT community of Baniyalla (100 km SW of Nhulunbuy). The 60 residents sheltered in the school as all houses were destroyed. Some houses lost roofs at Gapuwiyak (20 km W of Baniyalla). Gove radar showed an eye of around 20 km diameter on the 8th and 9th. It then moved back into the Gulf and crossed the Qld coast about 40 km ENE of Burketown.

An anemometer at Burketown recorded a 10 min average wind of 64 knots with gusts to 85 knots (from the SSE). The cyclone was moving S at 17 km/hr (9 knots) so that winds on the eastern side of the cyclone were stronger. Lowest pressure at Burketown was 983 hPa at 3pm 13th (at the time of the strongest winds). The bar dropped to 981 hPa (10 min max wind 50 knots) at Mornington Island.

There was structural damage at Burketown and Mornington Island and tree damage throughout the SE Gulf Country. A 2.04 metre storm surge was measured at Karumba at 0500 UTC 13th. The maximum storm tide was 4.7 metres (lowest astronomical tide datum) at 0700 UTC which was 0.11 metres above highest astronomical tide.

Rockhampton Regional Council in partnership with the Queensland a…