Summary
Tropical low 06U did not reach tropical cyclone intensity but was notable for the flooding rains it produced over central Australia.
The low formed in the Timor Sea on 18 December. It then moved south across the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf before crossing the northeast Kimberley coast near Wyndham overnight from 20 to 21 December. It failed to intensify into a tropical cyclone but retained tropical characteristics as it tracked over the Kimberley then over central Australia.
Heavy rainfall caused flooding across widespread areas of northern and central Australia. The community of Walungurru (Kintore) near the Western Australian/Northern Territory border recorded a 24-hour rainfall total of 231.6 mm including 81.6 mm in just one hour. The resulting flash flooding forced many residents to evacuate with an estimated 40 per cent of houses experiencing some damage.
Many roads were deemed impassable for some time.
For more information see the 06U 2016 Report (pdf).
Track and Intensity
