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Cyclone Lam in 2015 was the strongest storm to strike Australia's Northern Territory since Cyclone Monica in 2006. It formed from the monsoon trough on February 12 in the Coral Sea. For much of its duration, the system moved westward due to a ridge to the south. The system crossed over the Cape York Peninsula and moved into the Gulf of Carpentaria, whereupon it gradually organized due to warm waters and favorable outflow. On February 16, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) classified it as a Category 1 on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and gave it the name ''Lam''. The storm intensified further while drifting toward the Wessel Islands, developing an eye and strengthening to the equivalence of a minimal hurricane on February 18. It strengthened to reach maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) early on February 19 before turning to the southwest, making it a Category 4 cyclone. That day, it made landfall on Northern Territory between Milingimbi and Elcho Island at peak intensity, and it rapidly weakened over land. About six hours after Lam moved ashore, Cyclone Marcia struck Queensland as a Category 5 cyclone, marking the first time on record that two storms of Category 4 intensity struck Australia on the same day. In its formative stages, Lam produced heavy rainfall and flooding in Far North Queensland. Later, the cyclone's rainfall set daily precipitation records in Northern Territory. However, the winds caused the most damage, with gusts estimated as high as 230 km/h (145 mph). The highest gust was at Cape Wessel on Rimbija Island. Lam caused considerable destruction, particularly affecting local aboriginal communities. Total damage in the Northern Territory reached at least A$82.4 million (US$64.4 million). ==Meteorological history== On February 12, the monsoon trough extended through the Coral Sea, developing a weak tropical low in the northern portion of the sea, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). The system had a persistent area of convection, or thunderstorms, around a consolidating circulation. Conditions were moderately favorable for further development, including the presence of some wind shear and favorable outflow to the south. The system moved slowly westward into the Cape York Peninsula without much development, entering the Gulf of Carpentaria on February 15,〔 as it was steered by a ridge to the south. Thereafter, the convection consolidated and organized while the mid- and low-level circulations aligned. As a result, the BoM began classifying it as Tropical Low 13U at 06:00 UTC on February 16 while the system was about 235 km (145 mi) northwest of Weipa, Queensland. On the same day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert, noting the decreasing wind shear and warm water temperatures of over . Within six hours of its classification as Tropical Low 13U, the system developed a central dense overcast, which is an organized area of convection around the center. At 18:00 UTC on February 16, the BoM upgraded the low to a Category 1 on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale, naming it ''Lam''. At that time, the BoM anticipated the cyclone would intensify to peak 10 minute sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) within 72 hours, which proved very accurate.〔 Also at 18:00 UTC on February 16, the JTWC began classifying the system as Tropical Cyclone 12P. Early on February 17, an eye feature began forming within the convection. That day, Lam moved quicker to the west-northwest and slowed its rate of strengthening as it approached the Wessel Islands.〔 Early on February 18, the eye became better defined, moving over Cape Wessel. At 06:00 UTC that day, the BoM upgraded Lam to a Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone with 10 minute winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), equivalent to a minimal hurricane.〔 When Lam was passing near Cape Wessel, the lower and middle level circulations were slightly displaced, although the center was embedded within the deepest convection. The eyewall became smaller and more defined over time as the outflow strengthened, indicating that the cyclone was undergoing rapid deepening late on February 18. Around the same time, Lam turned to the southwest as the ridge to the south weakened. At 12:00 UTC on February 19, the BoM upgraded Lam to a Category 4 cyclone, estimating peak 10 minute winds of 185 km/h (115 mph); this was based on the well-defined eye and rainbands on satellite imagery. At the same time, the JTWC estimated the same intensity, only in 1 minute winds. At around 16:30 UTC (2:00 a.m. local time) on February 19, Lam made landfall – moved ashore – along Northern Territory between Milingimbi Island and Elcho Island at peak intensity.〔 The eye quickly deteriorated as the cyclone moved through the Top End.〔 The storm weakened rapidly over land, deteriorating into a tropical low about 12 hours after landfall. The JTWC continued tracking Lam until February 22, when the weak circulation was located in the northeastern portion of Western Australia.〔 About six hours after Lam moved ashore, Cyclone Marcia made landfall along Queensland, making it the first time on record that two storms of at least Category 4 intensity struck Australia on the same day. Lam was the first severe tropical cyclone to strike Northern Territory since Cyclone Monica in April 2006.〔 In addition, Lam's landfall on February 19 marked the third latest date for Australia to receive its first landfall, and the latest since 1988. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cyclone Lam」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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