User:Jason Rees/Cyclone Megan

On 4 March, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) noted the formation of a tropical low over south of Indonesia's Sumatra or Java, designating it as 09U.^[1] Over the next couple of days, the BoM reported that it was developing over the western Timor Sea within the trough.^[2] Analysis from the JTWC indicated that the disturbance was in a favourable environment for development—featuring sea surface temperatures of 29 to 31 °C (84 to 88 °F), and low to moderate wind shear.^[3] By 15 March, the JTWC issued a TCFA on the tropical low and warned that there was a high potential for the disturbance to develop into a tropical cyclone.^[4] The tropical low moved into the Gulf of Carpentaria,^[5] whereupon it gradually organised and began to intensify.^[6] The same day, the JTWC upgraded the system to Tropical Cyclone 19S, approximately 367 km (230 mi) east of Darwin, Northern Territory.^[7] Later the next day, the BoM reported that the tropical low had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone and assigned the name Megan.^[8] Rapid intensification began the same day, with Megan reaching Category 2 tropical cyclone.^[9] The BoM upgraded the storm to a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone at 12:00 UTC,^[10] Operationally, the BoM classified Megan a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone with winds of 155 km/h (100 mph), but during post-cyclone reanalysis concluded a peak wind speed of 165 km/h (105 mph) based on Synthetic-aperture radar measurements.^[11][12] Gradually approaching the southwestern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria,^[13] the JTWC indicated that one-minute sustained winds had reached 185 km/h (115 mph), equivalent to a Category 3 major hurricane on the SSHWS.^[14] Megan made landfall on the southwestern Gulf of Carpentaria coast just after 06:00 UTC on 18 March.^[15] Shortly after the landfall, the JTWC discontinued warnings on the system.^[16] After moving ashore, the cyclone turned generally southeast and tracked along the inland of Borroloola.^[17][18] The following day, the system was downgraded to a tropical low by the BoM as it approached the inland coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria.^[19] Ex-Tropical Cyclone Megan moved inland, tracking across the Northern Territory, before the BoM stopped monitoring the low on 21 March.^[20][21]

A planned evacuation in Borroloola was cancelled as planes were not able to land.^[22]

Groote Eylandt got 600 mm (25 in) of rain.^[22]