Tropical Cyclone Lincoln

Tropical Cyclone Lincoln was a long-lasting system that briefly reached tropical cyclone intensity as it crossed the southern Gulf of Carpentaria coast. It then moved west over northern Australia, emerging into waters off the Kimberley coast but failed to redevelop before turning south to cross the Gascoyne coast of Western Australia.

A tropical low (07U) formed in the western Gulf of Carpentaria on February 14 2024. The low developed to tropical cyclone intensity and was named Tropical Cyclone Lincoln on February 16. Soon afterwards Lincoln made landfall over the remote Northern Territory coast between Port McArthur and the Queensland border.

Lincoln weakened below tropical cyclone intensity late on February 16 inland from Borroloola. It then tracked to the west southwest across the Northern Territory, then into the Kimberley (Western Australia) on February 20. The system brought daily rainfall totals of 100 to 200 mm near its path from Queensland's Gulf Country, through the Northern Territory to the Kimberley. Floodwaters isolated some communities and closed roads including the Stuart Hwy (NT) and the Great Northern Highway (WA) for a period.

The low moved off the west Kimberley coast during February 21 and remained as a tropical low over water north of the Pilbara coast over following days. On February 24 it turned towards the south and crossed the Gascoyne coast north of Carnarvon late that night before weakening overland during February 25. A narrow strip of rainfall with falls over 50 mm, that included Carnarvon, was generally welcomed in a region that had been under drought conditions.

Tropical Cyclone Lincoln was the fourth tropical cyclone of the Australian 2023-24 season and the third to cross the Australian coast.

From www.bom.gov.au