Summary
Tropical Cyclone Nelson (14U) crossed the Queensland Gulf of Carpentaria coast in a sparsely populated area between Karumba and Kowanyama at category 2 intensity.
Tropical low 05U formed just off the northeast Arnhem land coast late on 31 January. It initially moved to the southeast then turned to the south southwest, moving close to the southern Gulf of Carpentaria NT coast on 5 February. The system then turned to the east and developed, reaching tropical cyclone intensity early on 6 February before it peaked at category 2 intensity (10-minute mean wind peak intensity of 75 kn (140 km/h)), prior to crossing the sparsely populated region of the Queensland coast near Gilbert River Mouth between Kowanyama and Kurumba early on 7 February. Nelson weakened quickly as it tracked over the Cape York Peninsula on 7 February.
Large waves and high tides were recorded along the Queensland coast. Rough seas caused the mineral barge MV Wunma, a 113m vessel, to be disabled around 45 km north of Karumba and all 10 people on board were winched to safety via helicopter. A couple were winched to safety by rescue helicopter from Dina station, 150 km north of Karumba after a tree fell on their homestead and floodwaters forced them to higher ground.
For more information see the TC Nelson Report (doc).
Track and Intensity
