Cyclone Savannah ( 2019 )

On February 6, 2019 the weather stations across Australia and Fiji began tracking a giant tropical wave about 1,400 Miles northeast of Townsville, Queensland. The next day the system became TD 5 and later became a tropical storm and was given the name “Savannah“. Savannah underwent rapid intensification before making landfall in Cairns, Queensland on February 11thwith 140mph winds. Savannah caused a 5 meter storm surge which flooded low line communities. It’s strong gusty winds tore apart roofs, toppled power lines, and ripped through houses and businesses. Damage exceeded $833,000,000 in Australian Currency. Shortly after landfall, Savannah made a North Northeast move. It remerged into the Arafura Sea. Soon after it radipdly reintensified peaking with winds of 160mph in February 14th just 70 miles east of Darwin. Savannah made a second landfall while attaining peak intensity just 10 Miles Southeast of Darwin. Darwin was submerged with a 8 meter storm surge. The storm knocked power to the entire area. Up to 32,000 homes and businesses were destroyed with 126,000 severely damaged. Savannah destroyed 50,000 crops which caused a drop in Australia’s agricultral industry. Total damage cost in the area exceeded $4.1 Billion in AU Dollars.

Savannah later caused heavy rains which triggered flooding over parts of Northern Territory which later caused $100 Million in AUD of damage.

In total Savannah killed 9 people and caused $5 Billion AUD in damage across Australia. It became the costliest cyclone in Australian history.