Tropical Low Fletcher

Meteorological history

Cyclone Fletcher was first identified as a tropical low on 30 January 2014 over the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf in the Timor Sea. Tracking generally eastward, the well-organized system moved over the Top End region of the Northern Territory of Australia. Westerly monsoonal flow from the north promoted a steady east-southeast track, Early on 2 February, the low emerged over the Gulf of Carpentaria near the Northern Territory–Queensland border. Moderate to strong wind shear produced by an upper-level low to the south initially inhibited development, keeping convective activity limited to isolated bursts around an exposed low-level circulation. Throughout 2 February, environmental conditions quickly turned more favorable for tropical cyclogenesis, with a newly formed anticyclone over the low lessening shear. As a result, convection steadily increased in coverage and organization despite the system's proximity to land. Improved radar presentation and surface observations of near-gale winds prompted the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) to upgrade the system to a tropical cyclone early on 3 February; coincidingly, they assigned the name Fletcher to the storm. At this time, the center of the small storm was located a few dozen kilometres north of Karumba, Queensland. The BOM estimated sustained winds to be 65 km/ (40 mph) and the barometric pressure at 992 mbar (hPa; 29.29 inHg); this became Fletcher's peak intensity.

Contrary to the BOM, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) maintained the system as a tropical disturbance with one-minute sustained winds estimated at 55 km/h (35 mph) and a pressure of 998 mbar (hPa; 29.47 inHg). A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued by the agency on 3 February, but no advisories were ultimately issued. Fletcher only lasted as a tropical cyclone for a few hours before being downgraded to a tropical low as it made landfall in Queensland later on 3 February, between Karumba and the mouth of the Gilbert River. Once onshore, Fletcher's motion became slow and highly erratic as a building mid-level ridge to the south prompted a more westerly track. On 4 February, the storm executed a tight clockwise loop before turning westward back over the Gulf of Carpentaria on 5 February. During this time, convection became displaced to the northwest while the circulation center was left exposed. The former cyclone gradually became more monsoonal in nature, with convection developing along a convergence line rather than in curved banding features. The poorly organized system became difficult to follow, though a small central dense overcast feature along the south side of its center allowed forecasters to discern its location.

Despite moving back over water on 5 February and environmental conditions favoring redevelopment, convection failed to form around the low and instead, continued to flare along the convergence zone to the north. The remnant system then became nearly stationary just offshore for two days before adopting a slow north-northeasterly track. Early on 8 February, Fletcher brushed the Queensland coast just north of the mouth of the Gilbert River before accelerating southwestward. After completing two loops in its track, the system subsequently made its final landfall to the east of Burketown, Queensland on 9 February. As the storm passed close to the town, a pressure of 997 mb (hPa; 29.44 inHg) was observed along with wind gusts up to 65 km/h (40 mph). Maintaining a general westward track, the remnants of Fletcher gradually weakened and were last noted on 12 February over the Alice Springs District in the Northern Territory.

Northern Territory

As the precursor tropical low to Cyclone Fletcher produced heavy rains across much of the Top End region in late January and early February, the BOM issued flood advisories for the Darwin-Daly Districts. Squalls associated with the low raised concerns over abnormally high tides, namely the potential for beach erosion and coastal flooding. The Northern Territory Government launched a trial run of an early-warning phone system during this event. Residents in the Rapid Creek catchment were notified via mobile device about the possibility of flooding from the storm.

Over the Adelaide River catchment, 150 to 200 mm (5.9 to 7.9 in) fell causing the river to exceed major flood level in the town of Adelaide River on 1 February. Rising to 12.5 m (41 ft), the river inundated mostly rural areas, including a cattle farm in Mount Bundy Station where a calf had to be rescued by boat. Along the Douglas River, 247 mm (9.7 in) of rain fell over three days. Minor to moderate flooding also occurred along the Katherine and Daly Rivers. Darwin experienced several days of heavy rains and squally winds from the system, with accumulations reaching 125.8 mm (4.95 in) and gusts peaking at 80 km/h (50 mph) on 31 January.

More than a week later, the remnants produced further rains across southern areas of the state. Roughly 100 to 150 mm (3.9 to 5.9 in) of rain fell across the Roper-McArthur and Victoria river districts, leading to significant water level rise. Moderate flooding took place in Kalkarindji along the Victoria River on 12–13 February while low-lying areas along the McArthur River in Borroloola flooded on both 10 and 13 February. Along the Northern Territory–Queensland border, 214.7 mm (8.45 in) fell in Wollogorang. As the remnants passed near Tennant Creek, wind gusts reached 65 km/h (40 mph), though rainfall was fairly limited with only 17 mm (0.67 in) falling.

Queensland

Owing to a wetter-than-average January, cattle hearders in Queensland moved their herds to higher ground.

During the time in which Fletcher became nearly stationary over the southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria, it produced prolonged and heavy rains across much of western Queensland. Many areas experienced a week of continuous rainfall, with Kowanyama measuring at least 100 mm (3.9 in) for six days straight, including a daily peak of 361.2 mm (14.22 in). Total rains from Fletcher's passage amounted to 1,256.8 mm (49.48 in) over an eight-day span. These rains greatly contributed to making February 2014 the wettest month on record in Kowanyama, with 1,470.6 mm (57.90 in) ultimately recorded. Normanton, situated near where Fletcher made landfall on 3 February, saw considerably less rainfall, with total accumulations of 187 mm (7.4 in). Mornington Island experienced considerably less rainfall, with 189 mm (7.4 in) falling over 11 days. On 2 February, as Fletcher passed south of the island, wind gusts peaked at 63 km/h (39 mph). In Far North Queensland, near-gale to gale-force wind gusts affected coastal areas around Weipa for three days; a maximum gust of 65 km/h (40 mph) was measured on 5 February. A total of 583.2 mm (22.96 in) of rain fell in Weipa as both Fletcher and the nearby monsoon brought continuous moisture to the region. Near where Fletcher made landfall for a final time on 9 February, Burketown experienced gale-force winds on both 9 and 10 February as the remnants of Fletcher tracked westward. Rainfall in the town amounted to 263.1 mm (10.36 in) over a nine-day period.

Flooding in Kowanyama began on 3 February as roads "turned into rivers" and the land around the town turned into a swamp. The mayor of Kowanyama described the town as "its own little island." However, residents were prepared for the storm and had supplies stocked up. Owing to the weak nature of the storm, no wind damage occurred throughout Queensland.