Cyclone Graham

On 23 February 2003, an area of convection that was situated over land for roughly a week emerged over open waters along the northern coast of Australia. The strengthening of a deep, persistent monsoon trough contributed to cyclogenesis, and a low pressure area formed. By 25 February, the low developed a banding feature in which the highest winds were located. Though the storm was located in an area of unfavorable wind shear, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) began to issue gale warnings on the system at 0100 UTC the next day, while the low was located several hundred miles north-northeast of Port Hedland. The disturbance was initially nearly stationary as it showed signs of organization due to relaxed shear, and at 0700 UTC on 27 February, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) designated the storm as Tropical Cyclone Graham, as it had attained 80 km/h (50 mph) 10-minute maximum sustained winds. The first warning was issued on Graham later that day. Initially exhibiting characteristics of a monsoonal low, a mid-level ridge to the south of Graham caused strong westerly winds that moved the storm slowly east-southeastward. However, a deep trough eroded the ridge, allowing the cyclone to move more towards the south. ==Impact==

In advance of the cyclone, the communities of Wallal, Sandfire, Punmu and Telfer were put on alert. A warning was issued for Bidyadanga, Pardoo and Cotton Creek. The storm's landfall in Western Australia brought heavy rainfall and high winds. The storm dropped of rain at Telfer in one night, over half the town's annual average; Near that town, at Blue Bush Creek, while a group of people attempted to cross floodwaters, two men were swept away. Both men were rescued, though one died before emergency services arrived. In addition to the flooding, a number of trees were downed. No significant damages were reported. Following the storm, the name Graham was retired from the Australian region basin. ==See also==