# Cyclone Imogen

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cyclone_Imogen
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cyclone_Imogen.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Imogen
> Source revision: 1355931100
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Category 1 Australian region cyclone in 2021

Tropical Cyclone Imogen Tropical Cyclone Imogen over the Gulf of Carpentaria, a few hours before landfall, on 3 January Meteorological history Formed 1 January 2021 Dissipated 6 January 2021 Category 2 tropical cyclone 10-minute sustained (BOM) Highest winds 95 km/h (60 mph) Highest gusts 130 km/h (80 mph) Lowest pressure 985 hPa (mbar); 29.09 inHg Tropical storm 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) Highest winds 85 km/h (50 mph) Lowest pressure 995 hPa (mbar); 29.38 inHg Overall effects Fatalities None reported Damage >$10 million (2021 USD) Areas affected Northern Territory, Far North Queensland IBTrACS Part of the 2020–21 Australian region cyclone season

**Tropical Cyclone Imogen** was a weak but damaging [tropical cyclone](/source/Tropical_cyclone) that affected parts of northern [Queensland](/source/Queensland). The sixth tropical low, and the first cyclone of the [2020–21 Australian region cyclone season](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_Australian_region_cyclone_season), Imogen originated from a tropical low that formed in the western [Gulf of Carpentaria](/source/Gulf_of_Carpentaria).

Imogen caused minimal destruction on the northern part of [Queensland](/source/Queensland) as a Category 2 cyclone, causing "Tens of millions" in damage.[1]

## Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Map key

**[Saffir–Simpson scale](/source/Saffir%E2%80%93Simpson_scale)**

   Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
   Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
   Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
   Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
   Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
   Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
   Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
   Unknown

**Storm type**

 [Tropical cyclone](/source/Tropical_cyclone)

 [Subtropical cyclone](/source/Subtropical_cyclone)

 [Extratropical cyclone](/source/Extratropical_cyclone), remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On 1 January, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) reported that a tropical low had formed near [Groote Eylandt](/source/Groote_Eylandt) in the western [Gulf of Carpentaria](/source/Gulf_of_Carpentaria), located about 635 km (395 mi) east-southeast of [Darwin](/source/Darwin%2C_Northern_Territory).[2] The system was assigned the identifier code 05U by the BOM.[3] Environmental conditions were assessed as being favourable for tropical cyclogenesis, characterised by very warm [sea surface temperatures](/source/Sea_surface_temperature) of up to 31 °[C](/source/Celsius) (88 °[F](/source/Fahrenheit)), low to moderate [vertical wind shear](/source/Wind_shear) and an established poleward [outflow](/source/Outflow_(meteorology)) channels in the upper levels.[4] Flaring [convection](/source/Atmospheric_convection) began to develop around the consolidating low-level circulation centre as the system tracked southeastward over the Gulf of Carpentaria, and at 00:00 UTC on 2 January, the BOM issued a tropical cyclone watch for parts of the northwestern [Queensland](/source/Queensland) coast.[4][5] The tropical low continued to strengthen as convective [rainbands](/source/Rainband) began to wrap into the system's centre, with moist northwesterly cross-equatorial flow from over [Indonesia](/source/Indonesia) feeding the system in the low to mid [troposphere](/source/Troposphere).[3] By 18:00 UTC, vertical wind shear values had decreased further as the tropical low moved underneath an upper-level [ridge](/source/Ridge_(meteorology)); however, despite the highly favourable environmental conditions, intensification was limited somewhat by the broad and elongated nature of the low-level circulation center.[6] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a [tropical cyclone formation alert](/source/Tropical_Cyclone_Formation_Alert) for the system at 20:00 UTC.[7]

Tropical Low 05U made landfall on the western coast of [Mornington Island](/source/Mornington_Island) at around 02:00 UTC on 3 January, with [maximum sustained winds](/source/Maximum_sustained_wind) near the centre of 55 km/h (34 mph).[8] Intensification proceeded as the system re-emerged over the Gulf of Carpentaria a few hours later, with spiral rainbands continuing to develop around the centre of the system and deep convection becoming more concentrated. At 06:00 UTC, the tropical low was upgraded to a [Category 1 tropical cyclone](/source/Tropical_cyclone_scales#Australia_and_Fiji) by the BOM, and was named *Imogen*, becoming the first tropical cyclone of the [2020–21 Australian region cyclone season](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_Australian_region_cyclone_season).[9][10] At the same time, the JTWC indicated that maximum one-minute sustained winds had increased to 65 km/h (40 mph), making Imogen equivalent to a tropical storm on the [Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale](/source/Saffir%E2%80%93Simpson_scale).[11] In combination with the low-level northwesterly flow, an upper-tropospheric [trough](/source/Trough_(meteorology)) situated to the south of the system began to gradually accelerate Imogen towards the southeast. Deep convection continued to concentrate over the centre of the cyclone; however, due to the system's proximity to land, limited time was available for further intensification.[12] Tropical Cyclone Imogen made [landfall](/source/Landfall) just to the north of [Karumba, Queensland](/source/Karumba%2C_Queensland), at 11:00 UTC on 3 January.[13][14] At the time of landfall, maximum 10-minute sustained winds were estimated at 65 km/h (40 mph), with [gusts](/source/Wind_gust) to 100 km/h (62 mph) and a minimum [atmospheric pressure](/source/Atmospheric_pressure) of 994 [hPa](/source/Pascal_(unit)) (29.35 [inHg](/source/Inch_of_mercury)).[12] The JTWC reported that maximum one-minute sustained winds had reached 85 km/h (53 mph) by this time.[15]

Despite the centre of the system tracking over land, Imogen maintained its organisation for several hours, assisted by the flat terrain that had been saturated by heavy rainfall generated by the cyclone.[14] The BOM reported that maximum 10-minute sustained winds peaked at 85 km/h (53 mph), with gusts to 110 km/h (68 mph), at 15:00 UTC on 3 January—about four hours after landfall—as the cyclone was passing to the northeast of [Normanton](/source/Normanton%2C_Queensland).[16] At this time, the [automatic weather station](/source/Automatic_weather_station) at the town's airport recorded a minimum atmospheric pressure of 989.3 hPa (29.21 inHg).[17]

Imogen later accelerated North-East before finally dissipating on January 6.[18]

## Preparations and impact

The BOM maintained cyclone warnings for the inland [Gulf Country](/source/Gulf_Country) including [Croydon](/source/Croydon) due to Cyclone Imogen.[19]

As Cyclone Imogen blasted portions of north-west [Queensland](/source/Queensland), it left extensive damage behind. It brought extreme torrential [rain](/source/Rain), massive waves and massive high tides as it made landfall.[18] A house in [Queensland](/source/Queensland) shaked nearly 5 hours due to the [tropical cyclone](/source/Tropical_cyclone). It dumped more than 200 millimetres of [rain](/source/Rain) at many places and left 1400 without power. [Normanton Airport](/source/Normanton_Airport) recorded 186mm of [rain](/source/Rain) in less than 3 hours.[20] A resident in [Karumba](/source/Karumba) described it as if it was an earthquake. Most of the damage was limited to damages from flooding and several uprooted trees.[21][20] In [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)), extreme [rain](/source/Rain) fell over [Gippsland](/source/Gippsland) and flood warnings was in place.[22] The cyclone caused at least $10 million of damages.[23]

## See also

- [Tropical cyclones in 2021](/source/Tropical_cyclones_in_2021)

- [Cyclone Damien](/source/Cyclone_Damien)

- [Cyclone Ita](/source/Cyclone_Ita)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [2021 Weather, Climate and Catastrophe Insight](https://web.archive.org/web/20220125140845/https://www.aon.com/getmedia/1b516e4d-c5fa-4086-9393-5e6afb0eeded/20220125-2021-weather-climate-catastrophe-insight.pdf.aspx). *AON Benfield* (Report). January 25, 2022. Archived from [the original](https://www.aon.com/getmedia/1b516e4d-c5fa-4086-9393-5e6afb0eeded/20220125-2021-weather-climate-catastrophe-insight.pdf.aspx) (pdf) on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Tropical Cyclone Outlook for the Northern Region"](http://www.bom.gov.au/nt/forecasts/tcoutlook.shtml). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:24_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:24_3-1) ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Technical Bulletin #1 (06Z)"](http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:23_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:23_4-1) ["Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans (15Z)"](https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwweb.txt). *Joint Typhoon Warning Center*. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Forecast Track Map #1 (00Z)"](http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Technical Bulletin #3 (18Z)"](http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Formation Alert (20Z)"](https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh9721web.txt). *Joint Typhoon Warning Center*. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. 2 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Forecast Track Map #6 (03Z)"](http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Forecast Track Map #7 (06Z)"](http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Technical Bulletin #5 (06Z)"](http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Warning #1 (06Z)"](https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh0921web.txt). *Joint Typhoon Warning Center*. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:25_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:25_12-1) ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Technical Bulletin #6 (12Z)"](http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Forecast Track Map #9 (12Z)"](http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:26_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:26_14-1) ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Technical Bulletin #7 (18Z)"](http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20018.txt). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Warning #2 (12Z)"](https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh0921web.txt). *Joint Typhoon Warning Center*. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen Forecast Track Map #10 (15Z)"](http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Normanton Airport Weather Observations"](http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ60801/IDQ60801.94266.shtml). *Australian Bureau of Meteorology*. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bom.gov.au_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bom.gov.au_18-1) ["Tropical Cyclone Imogen"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210907051849/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/imogen21.shtml). Archived from [the original](http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/imogen21.shtml) on 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2026-05-24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Australia: Tropical Cyclone Imogen makes landfall in northern Queensland late Jan. 3 /Update 1"](https://crisis24.garda.com/insights-intelligence/intelligence/risk-alerts/wip1001254232/australia-tropical-cyclone-imogen-makes-landfall-in-northern-queensland-late-jan-3-update-1).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-abc.net.au_20-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-abc.net.au_20-1) ["Queensland's north on alert for flash flooding after cyclone brings heavy falls to region"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-04/tropical-cyclone-imogen-brings-rain-gulf-qld/13029072). *ABC News*. 3 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Cyclone Imogen shakes Queensland homes 'like an earthquake'"](https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/cyclone-imogen-shakes-queensland-homes-like-an-earthquake-20210104-p56rof.html). 4 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Dangerous flooding in wake of Cyclone Imogen for north Queensland as heavy rains lash Victoria and NSW"](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/05/dangerous-flooding-in-wake-of-cyclone-imogen-for-north-queensland-as-heavy-rains-lash-victoria-and-nsw). *[TheGuardian.com](/source/TheGuardian.com)*. 5 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Global Catastrophe Recap 2021"](https://web.archive.org/web/20211121125642/http://thoughtleadership.aon.com/documents/20210209_analytics-if-january-global-recap.pdf) (PDF). *AON Benfield*. Archived from [the original](http://thoughtleadership.aonbenfield.com//Documents/20210209_analytics-if-january-global-recap.pdf) (PDF) on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Cyclone Imogen](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cyclone_Imogen).

- [Bureau of Meteorology](http://www.bom.gov.au/?ref=hdr/)

v t e Tropical cyclones of the 2020–21 Australian region cyclone season TL Bongoyo TL 02U TL TL TL 03U TL 04U 2 Imogen TL 06U 1 Joshua TL 08U 2 Kimi TL 10U 2 Lucas TL 12U TL 13U TL TL 3 Marian 5 Niran TL 18U TL 19U TL 20U TL 21U 1 Odette 3 Seroja TL 24U TL 13F TL TL TL TL Category

v t e Category 2 Australian region tropical cyclones 1970s Dawn (1970) Aggie (1971) Gertie (1971) Ida (1971) Lena (1971) Carlotta (1972) Wendy (1972) Belinda (1972) Leila-Gertrude (1973) Roma (1973) Annie (1973) Una (1973) Erica (1973–74) Fiona-Gwenda (1974) Vera (1974) Wanda (1974) Yvonne (1974) Jenny (1974) Marcia (1974) Norah (1974) Penny (1974) Gloria (1975) Shirley (1975) Wilma (1975) Vida (1975) Clara (1975) Alice (1976) Dawn (1976) Harry (1976) Tom (1977) Sam-Celimene (1977) Gwen (1978) Brenda (1978) Hal (1978) Greta (1979) Ivan (1979) Jane (1979) Kevin (1979) Tony (1979) 1980s Clara (1980) Ruth (1980) Unnamed (1980) Dan (1980) Eddie (1981) Cliff (1981) Bruno (1982) Daphne-Fifi (1982) Errol (1982) Graham (1982) Harriet (1982) Esther (1983) Sharon (1983) Tim (1984) Harvey (1984) Ferdinand (1984) Lance (1984) Monica (1984) Nigel (1985) Gertie (1985) Pierre (1985) Kirsty (1985) Tanya (1985) Gretel (1985) Pancho (1986) Selwyn (1986) Tiffany (1986) Alison-Krisostoma (1986) Irma (1987) Damien (1987) Kay (1987) Agi (1988) Barisaona (1988) Delilah (1988–89) Meena (1989) Pedro (1989) 1990s Tina (1990) Nancy (1990) Walter – Gregoara (1990) Hilda (1990) Chris (1991) Daphne (1991) Kelvin (1991) Elma (1991) Fifi (1991) Lisa (1991) Mark (1992) Lena (1993) Roger (1993) Monty (1993) Willy (1994) Ethel (1996) Jenna (1996) Fergus (1996) Ophelia (1996) Phil (1996–97) 18S (1997) Harold (1997) Nute (1997) Les (1998) Nathan (1998) Cathy (1998) Pete (1999) Hamish (1999) Ilsa (1999) 2000s Steve (2000) Olga (2000) Hudah (2000) Vaughan (2000) Terri (2001) Vincent (2001) Alistair (2001) Alex – Andre (2001) Bessi – Bako (2001) Bernie (2001–02) Des (2002) Bonnie (2002) Unnamed (2003) Craig (2003) Linda (2004) Fritz (2004) Nicky – Helma (2004) Grace (2004) Sally (2005) Daryl (2006) Kate (2006) Hubert (2006) Nelson (2007) Lee – Ariel (2007) Melanie (2007–08) Helen (2007–08) Ophelia (2008) Rosie (2008) Durga (2008) Anika (2008) Dominic (2009) Jasper (2009) 2010s Olga (2010) Robyn (2010) Sean (2010) Abele (2010) Anthony (2011) Grant (2011–12) Iggy (2012) Jasmine (2012) Koji – Joni (2012) Tim (2013) Dylan (2014) 09U (2014) Bakung (2014) Stan (2016) Uriah (2016) Tatiana (2016) Alfred (2017) Blanche (2017) 22U (2017) Dahlia (2017) Hilda (2017) Iris (2018) Penny (2018–19) Oma (2019) Wallace (2019) Ann (2019) 2020s Imogen (2021) Lucas (2021) Odette (2021) Ruby (2021) Seth (2021) Tiffany (2022) Anika (2022) Billy (2022) Karim (2022) Paul (2024) Robyn (2024) Dianne (2025) Grant (2025) Koji (2026) Luana (2026) Category Tropical cyclones portal

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cyclone Imogen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Imogen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Imogen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.