Wylva was crossed the southern Gulf of Carpentaria coastline on the 16 February 2001 just west of the Northern Territory-Queensland border as a weak Category 1 cyclone. The cyclone decayed into a tropical LOW which moved steadily across the Northern Territory for the next few days, finally decaying over the Pilbara region of Western Australia on the 22nd.

Like Winsome before it and Abigail afterwards, Wylva maintained its cloud structure quite well over the Australian continent. The strongest winds at Centre Island AWS were 0100 UTC 16th 260/30 knots QNH 998.6, 0200 UTC 16th 270/29 knots QNH 998. Lowest QNH 994.6 hPa 0700 UTC 16th. The strongest winds at the buoy 52625 moored near 14.6S 138.5 E were at 1851 UTC 15th and were 280/28 knots (10 min) with the lowest bar there 995.3 hPa from 1736 UTC to 1809 UTC on15 February 2001. The lowest bar at Mornington Is was 997.1 at 1800 UTC 15th Quikscat satellite data showed 40 knot westerlies north of Centre Island near 15S at 2100 UTC 15th.

Heavy rain from ex- Wylva produced a record flood in the upper Victoria River which inundated the Kalkarindji, Daguragu, Mistake Creek and Pigeon Hole communities. Around 700 people were evacuated to a tent city in Katherine for several weeks. Damage estimated at $13 million was caused to infrastructure, including access roads and bridges, many houses and the power station, police station and health clinic at Kalkarindji. Many areas were isolated by the floods requiring food drops.

Rockhampton Regional Council in partnership with the Queensland a…

Cyclone Wylva track and intensity (BOM)