Tropical Cyclone Tina

25 - 28 January 1990

Summary

Although when Tina was fully developed it had a central pressure of 975 hPa and its centre was surrounded by gales, it remained a very weak system that did not exhibit a typical tropical cyclone structure and the gales were far from the surface-level pressure minimum.

The system was first detected near 14.8°S, 114.0°E with a central pressure of 995 hPa at 0001 UTC, 25 January. The general area of convection was distant from the surface pressure minimum and no low-level inflow could be detected.

The low developed during 25 January while it moved in a southeast direction and gales had developed by 0600 UTC when the pressure was about 993 hPa. It accelerated to the south and deepened during 26 January, and by 27 January the system could be detected by radar at Learmonth. Tina passed very close to Learmonth at 1315 UTC, 27 January when the central pressure was 975 hPa.

The low continued to track south and to maintain its intensity over land; by 0700 UTC it was near Carnarvon with a central pressure of 977 hPa. By 28 January the low had continued south and was weakening but had developed a very strong press- ure gradient over the south of Western Australia. Gales, heavy rain and local flooding caused the deaths of thousands of newly shorn sheep.

The low finally became absorbed into a complex prefrontal trough ahead of a strong cold front.

Track and intensity

Best Track of Tropical Cyclone Tina