Summary
Severe Tropical Cyclone Olga developed rapidly into a category 5 system north of the West Australian coast and weakened to below cyclone strength before passing close to the west Pilbara coast
A low developed south of the island of Sumba on 4 April and moved south. The environment was very favourable for development and Olga reached tropical cyclone strength by 0000 UTC 6 April. The system intensified rapidly and peaked at a category 5 system with a maximum 10-minute mean wind of 110 kn (205 km/h) between 1200 and 1800 UTC 7 April.
From 1800 UTC 7 April increased vertical wind shear combined with the entrainment of dry air into the core of the cyclone caused Olga to weaken. The low-level centre became completely exposed and Olga weakened to below tropical cyclone strength by 1800 UTC 9 April. The remnant low moved southwest parallel to the west Pilbara coast and caused a period of gale force winds and heavy rainfall to coastal communities.
For more information see the TC Olga Report (docx).
Track and Intensity
