2005–06 Australian region cyclone season

[1] An area of convection persisted on 4 November about 560 km (350 mi) north of the Cocos Islands, associated with a tight low-level circulation.

[2] By early on 5 November, the system consisted of a partially exposed circulation with deep convection on its western side, tracking southwestward.

[5] However, the JTWC assessed the storm as reaching peak winds of 85 km/h (53 mph), based on observations indicating the consolidation of convection over the center.

Early on 8 November, the JTWC issued its final warning, and six hours later, the MFR discontinued advisories while it was located about 1,485 km (923 mi) southeast of Diego Garcia.

[4] Environmental conditions generally favored further strengthening, with good outflow though moderate wind shear,[8] and late on 19 November the JTWC initiated advisories on Bertie.

Early on 23 November, the JTWC assessed the cyclone as reaching winds of 210 km/h (130 mph), which is the equivalent to a marginal Category 4 on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale.

[11] Moderate wind shear persisted over the system, preventing immediate development[13] The low turned southwestward, and on 23 December it entered the area of responsibility of Météo-France in Réunion (MFR).

A steady strengthening trend continued and Clare peaked as a 139 km/h (75 kt) storm, or a Category 3 cyclone on the Australian scale, with a minimum pressure of 960 hPa at the centre of the system.

[15] Although sustained wind speeds of 131 km/h and gusts of up to 142 km/h were recorded, the towns affected by TC Clare escaped with only minor structural damage.

The precipitation associated with Ex-Tropical Cyclone Clare caused extensive flooding in the towns of Walkaway and Lake Grace over the weekend of 14–15 January.

On 24 January, a broad area of low pressure developed near the coast of Queensland after a monsoonal trough passed through the region.

Northeasterly winds flowing into the system quickly increased convection, resulting in heavy rainfall over coastal regions of Queensland.

Upper-level outflow associated with the storm gradually improved as the cyclone neared the edge of the Bureau of Meteorology's warning area.

[19] Upon entering their area of responsibility, Jim sharply turned southeast, attaining a peak intensity with winds of 150 km/h (93 mph) 10-minute sustained) as it brushed New Caledonia.

[24] At the same time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also began issuing advisories on the system, designating it as Tropical Cyclone 13P.

[23] Early on 23 February, the storm attained its peak intensity with winds of 95 km/h (60 mph 10-minute sustained) and a barometric pressure of 985 hPa (mbar).

[25] The Bureau of Meteorology downgraded Kate to a tropical low around the same time, although they continued to monitor the storm for several more hours before reporting that it had dissipated over open waters.

Upon the cyclone's formation, the Bureau of Meteorology warned vessels to avoid the storm in anticipation of rough seas and winds gusting to 125 km/h (78 mph).

Waves up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tossed the six surfers, leaving them with injuries ranging from broken noses and fractured ankles to head wounds from surfboards.

As the system near the Pilbara coastline of Western Australia on 27 February,[30] it intensified into a Category 1 cyclone and attained peak winds of 75 km/h (47 mph) 10-minute sustained).

[31] After moving inland near Mardie, Emma weakened to a tropical low but became exceedingly large, with the cloud cover from the storm encompassing most of Western Australia.

Larry moved towards the Queensland coast and gradually intensified to Category 4 on the Australian scale,[35] making landfall with that strength on 20 March over Innisfail.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Wati originated in the South Pacific region and moved into Brisbane's area of responsibility in late March.

The precursor disturbance drifted over Top End and later across the northeastern portion of Western Australia, and after emerging into the Indian Ocean it strengthened into a tropical storm.

On 30 March, it moved ashore near Onslow as a Category 3 cyclone, and the next day it degenerated into a remnant tropical low over land.

[5][36] The precursor disturbance produced heavy rainfall in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, causing record flooding and some road damage.

Eventually, Hubert was downgraded to a tropical low with maximum sustained winds to 33 knots as it crossed the coast during the night of 7 April (based on AWST).

The final and second most intense storm of the season, Monica originated from an area of low pressure off the coast of Papua New Guinea on 16 April.

[22] Traveling towards the west, the storm intensified into a severe tropical cyclone before making landfall in Far North Queensland, near the Lockhart River, on 19 April.

[42] Early on 22 April, the Bureau of Meteorology assessed Monica to have attained Category 5 status, on the Australian cyclone intensity scale.