Tropical Cyclone Tasha

Queensland Regional Office


Track of Tropical Cyclone Tasha

Tropical Cyclone Tasha was initially analysed as a tropical low in the northern Coral Sea, southeast of Papua New Guinea on the 20th December. The low maintained a southwesterly track towards the north Queensland coast over the forthcoming days. The low eventually moved into a very favourable environment for development on the 24th December and subsequently intensified to reach tropical cyclone intensity during the early hours of Christmas Day.

Tropical Cyclone Tasha remained as a category 1 system for only a matter of hours prior to its landfall along the North Tropical Coast near Gordonvale. Widespread rainfall in the order of 150-250mm was experienced on the southern side of the system as it moved onto the coast.

***All information relating to intensity and track is preliminary information based on operational estimates and subject to change following post analysis***

Tasha was the first tropical cyclone in the Queensland area of responsibility during the 2010/11 season.



Coastal Crossing Details
Crossing time:5am EST Saturday 25 December 2010
Crossing location:Gordonvale
 20km SSE of Cairns
Category when crossing the coast:1


Extreme values during cyclone event (estimated)
Note that these values may be changed on the receipt of later information
Maximum Category:1
Maximum sustained wind speed:70 km/h
Maximum wind gust:100 km/h
Lowest central pressure:993 hPa