New tropical depression forms off the coast of Australia

According to latest report by Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Tropical Depression Tim (20P) was located approximately 240 nm north-northeast of Cairns, Australia, and was moving southeastward at 13 knots. Currently, maximum sustained winds are 45 knots with gusts up to 55 knots.

Animated enhanced infrared imagery depicts deep convection wrapping into a consolidating low-level circulation center. A mosaic of recent microwave satellite imagery reveals a hook of deep convection forming along the southern and western peripheries, further verifying the improved wrapping of convection around the low-level circulation center.

MTSAT Floater visible satellite image of TD Tim on March 14, 2013 (Credit: NOAA/MTSAT)

 

Upper air analysis indicates TD 20P is south of a near equatorial ridge axis, providing good speed and directional divergence to promote outflow. Some data suggests a point source is forming overhead. The vertical wind shear is currently moderate, at 15-20 knots.

TD Tim forecast track (Credit: JTWC)

 

Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reported  system’s central pressure of  991 hPa moving southeast at about 26 kilometres per hour. According to BoM, tropical depression system is  located over the northwest Coral Sea near 14.2S and  148.5E, about 420 km northeast of Cairns and 285 km northwest of Willis Island. Tropical cyclone Tim is expected to continue moving east-southeast across the Coral Sea over the next few days and is likely to slowly strengthen.

Tropical disdturbances in Western South Pacific Ocean (Credit: JTWC/SATOPS)

 

Satellite Animations

• Storm-Centered Infrared (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement) (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Water Vapor (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Visible (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Visible (Colorized) (MTSAT; NOAA/SSD)

• Southwest Pacific Infrared (MTSAT; NOAA)
• Southwest Pacific Enhanced Infrared (MTSAT; NOAA)
• Southwest Pacific Water Vapor (MTSAT; NOAA)

 

Sources: JTWC, BoM

Featured image: East Australia region infrared colored satellite image (Credit: MTSAT/CIMSS)