A low pressure system developed on the monsoon trough off the north tropical coast of Qld north-east of Cairns during the day on Thursday 29 January. This monsoon low moved southwards during Friday 30 January before moving northwards during the evening and deepening. This low hovered to the east north-east of Cairns during Saturday 30 January and developed into Category 1 TC Ellie very early on Sunday 1 February as upper conditions became favourable. Observations from the reef platforms in the area indicated mean winds of at least 40 knots occurred with Ellie. Ellie moved in a slow south-west direction during the morning with movement shifting to the west from the late afternoon onwards. Ellie crossed the coast north of Cardwell near Clump Point close to midnight and then rapidly weakened into a rain depression. As Ellie crossed the coast, a Queensland Environmental Protection Authority barometer at Clump Point, near Mission Beach, indicated a minimum pressure of 991 hpa.
|
