Summary
Tropical Cyclone Lucas originated in the Gulf of Carpentaria moved east into the Coral Sea where it became a cyclone and reached category 2 intensity over open waters.
A tropical low began to develop in the western Gulf of Carpentaria on 24 January. The low moved eastwards and intensified slowly on 25 and 26 January. The low remained below tropical cyclone strength as it made landfall on western Cape York Peninsula coast at 1200 Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) 26 January or at 2200 Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) 26 January (AEST = UTC + 10 hours).
The low took two days to cross the Cape York Peninsula, during which it lost all its structure and cloud signatures. Once it moved over the northwest Coral Sea region, it began redeveloping due to favourable environment. The low reached tropical cyclone strength at 0000 UTC 31 January.
Lucas intensified quickly to a category two system that evening while continuing to move eastwards across the Coral Sea, south of the Solomon Islands. Lucas maintained category two intensity as it moved out of the Eastern Region [Longitude 160 degrees East] on 1 February.
The system began to weaken the next day as it turned south-eastwards across southern Vanuatu and crossed the southern tip of New Caledonia at 0000 UTC 3 February. Immediately, after encountering land, Lucas weakened below cyclone strength at 1800 UTC 3 February.
There was no impact from Tropical Cyclone Lucas to the Australian mainland or to coastal or island communities.
For more information see the Tropical Cyclone Lucas report (pdf).
Track and Intensity
