Summary
Tropical Cyclone Dylan crossed the Queensland east coast near Bowen between Townsville and Mackay at category 2 intensity.
Dylan initially formed as a broad tropical low in the northeast Coral Sea on 27 January. The circulation took a general west south-west track under the influence of a high pressure system situated to the south over following days. Gales in the monsoon flow to the north and in the east south-east flow to the south preceded the development to tropical cyclone intensity on 29 January. Dylan eventually formed into a tropical cyclone, approximately 240 km northeast of Townsville on 30 January and quickly intensified further into a category 2 system. Dylan took a turn to the south prior to crossing the Queensland east coast, near Bowen, early on 31 January.
Tropical Cyclone Dylan combined with a ridge of high pressure situated to the south of the system to cause strong to gale force winds along a large stretch of the Queensland east coast in the days leading up to Dylan's landfall. The onshore gales combined with the astronomical high tides that were close to the highest tides of the year to cause flooding and beach erosion along parts of the coast. Several houses in Townsville and Mackay sustained minor damage from seawater inundation associated with the unusually high tides, while well to the south on Great Keppel Island, a beachside resort sustained severe damage to many structures after the beach gave way, washing several buildings into the sea.
Dylan also caused heavy rainfall along parts of the central Queensland coast and about adjacent inland areas as the system moved over the interior of the state.
For more information see the TC Dylan Report (doc).
Track and Intensity(Time in AEST)
