Summary
Tropical cyclone Margot began forming to the southwest of Sunda Strait during 10 April. While deepening, the system moved in a generally southwesterly direction, and became a cyclone at 7.8°S, 102.6°E by 2100 UTC 11 April. After continuing southwest until 0600 UTC 13 April, Margot recurved at 9.8°S, 98.7°E and then maintained a steady southeasterly track until 16 April. During the period 17 to 24 April the system followed an erratic figure-eight path, weakening at the same time. Fluctuations in the central pressure occurred during the final days of the cyclone but by 0000 UTC 21 April, at 18.0°S, 111.0°E, the central pressure had risen to 997 hPa and by 24 April the remnant low had been absorbed into a broad low pressure system covering the northeast Indian Ocean.
The path of Margot was governed by upper-level north-westerly winds until the influence of an intense high pressure system to the south of Western Australia was felt. Low-level easterly winds from this high caused shearing to take place and steered the low-level system to the west. During 19 April slight re-intensification took place, and the cyclone began to again move in an easterly direction. This easterly movement again brought the cyclone into the influence of the dry low-level easterlies and increased the shear. Margot weakened rapidly and began to move in a westerly direction from 20 April.
Estimated minimum pressure of 942 hPa was reached at about 1800 UTC 14 April when the cyclone was located at 13.93°S, 103.1°E. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 165 km/h, while the strongest wind confirmed during the storm was 110 km/h recorded by a ship 30 km from the centre at 0000 UTC 14 April.
For more details see the TC Margot Report (pdf)
Track and intensity
All times in WST - subtract 8 hours to convert to UTC.
