Summary
Following a period of heightened convective activity in the monsoon trough in late February, a clearly defined centre was identified near 17°S, 115°E on 2 March. This low with a central pressure of 997 hPa slowly deepened and moved southwest. It attained tropical cyclone intensity with a central pressure of 993 hPa at 1200 UTC 2 March near 17.8°S, 113.4°E.
Vincent continued to move steadily south to southwest and to intensify. An eye became visible on satellite imagery after 0900 UTC 3 March and peak intensity was reached around 0000 UTC 4 March when the central pressure was estimated to be 966 hPa and the maximum mean wind to be 176 km/h.
By 0000UTC 5 March, an approaching cold front over the eastern Indian Ocean caused Vincent to accelerate first in a southerly and later in a south-easterly direction. Satellite imagery revealed a rapidly decaying cyclone structure with the upper and middle-level cloud being sheared away from the low-level centre.
By 0001 6 March, Vincent was 200 km west-southwest of Cape Leeuwin and moving southeast at 60 km/h. The 991 hPa low-level centre was devoid of cloud but gales were still being reported along the coastal strip.
Vincent rapidly moved over cold water and dissipated
For more details see the TC Vincent Report (pdf)