Hurricane/Cyclone/Typhoon Journal Entry

Category 5 Cyclone Smacks Australia (April 26, 2006)

Cyclone Monica, a powerful maximum Category 5 storm, slammed the northern coast of Australia this week packing fierce winds of up to 200 miles per hour (320 kilometers/hour).

The storm blasted islands off northeast Amhem Land with pounding rains and howling winds. Thousands of people living in coastal areas fled to the safety of shelters as Monica approached. The storm triggered widespread floods and damaged Aboriginal villages along the coast.

Then, the storm took aim at Darwin, home to 100,000 people. Luckily, it lost much of its punch and shifted to a more southerly, inland track to the east of Darwin. The city breathed a huge sigh a relief after it was spared a direct hit. Many Darwin residents remember the damage inflicted by Cyclone Tracy over thirty years ago.

Monica is the second Category 5 cyclone to hit Australia this season. Last month, Cyclone Larry pounded the eastern Queensland coast.