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{{Short description|Category 1 Australian region cyclone in 2003}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Tropical Cyclone Graham
| image = Tropical Cyclone Graham 2003.jpg
| caption = Cyclone Graham
| formed = {{start-date|27 February 2003}}
| dissipated = {{end-date|1 March 2003}}
}}{{Infobox weather event/Aus
| winds = 40
| pressure = 985
}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 40
| pressure = 994
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| deaths = 1 total
| affected = [[Western Australia]]
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[2002–03 Australian region cyclone season]]
}}

'''Cyclone Graham''' of the [[2002–03 Australian region cyclone season]] was a weak tropical storm that affected Australia during late February and early March 2003. Graham originated from an area of [[Atmospheric convection|convection]] that emerged onto water after sitting over Australia on 23 February. The interaction with a [[monsoon trough]] formed an [[low pressure area|area of low pressure]] that developed into Tropical Cyclone Graham on 27 February. The storm moved slowly to the east-southeast, and after turning to the south it peaked as a tropical storm and made landfall on [[Western Australia]] the next day. The cyclone weakened as it moved inland, and dissipated on 1 March. The storm dropped heavy rainfall and caused high winds, which produced flooding and downed trees. One fatality occurred, though no significant damages were reported.

==Meteorological history==
{{storm path|Graham 2003 track.png}}
On 23 February 2003, an area of [[Atmospheric convection|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.<ref name="bom">{{cite web|author=Bureau of Meteorology Special Services Unit |year=2003 |title=Tropical Cyclone Graham (27 February - 1 March) |publisher=Government of Australia |access-date=2008-09-07 |url=http://ssu1.bom.gov.au/wa/cyf/reports/Graham/Graham.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827142902/http://ssu1.bom.gov.au/wa/cyf/reports/Graham/Graham.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2006-08-27 }}</ref> By 25 February, the low developed a [[Tropical cyclone#Background|banding feature]] in which the highest winds were located. Though the storm was located in an area of unfavorable [[wind shear]], the [[Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)|Australian Bureau of Meteorology]] (BoM) began to issue [[gale warning]]s on the system at 0100 UTC the next day, while the low was located several hundred miles north-northeast of [[Port Hedland, Western Australia|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.<ref name="gp">{{cite web|author=Gary Padgett|year=2003|title=April 2003 Worldwide Tropical Weather Summary|access-date=2008-09-07|url=http://www.australiansevereweather.com.au/cyclones/2003/summ0302.htm|publisher=Australian Severe Weather}}</ref>

Initially exhibiting characteristics of a [[monsoon|monsoonal low]], a mid-level [[High pressure area|ridge]] to the south of Graham caused strong westerly winds that moved the storm slowly east-southeastward. However, a deep [[Trough (meteorology)|trough]] eroded the ridge, allowing the cyclone to move more towards the south.<ref name="bom"/> According to the JTWC, the storm had intensified late on 28 February, though at the same time the BoM noted the slight weakening of the storm.<ref name="gp"/> Graham reached its peak intensity that day while nearing the coast.<ref name="bom"/>

The storm made landfall at [[Western Australia]]'s [[Eighty Mile Beach]] at 1400 UTC on 28 February, and began to weaken. The storm had dissipated on 1 March; the BoM issued their last advisory on the cyclone at 0400 UTC that day, while similarly, the JTWC issued their last advisory just two hours later.<ref name="gp"/> The storm's remnants died out in the country's [[desert]].<ref>{{cite web|title=WA: Cyclone Graham winds down out in the desert|year=2003|access-date=2008-09-06|url=http://www.highbeam.com/Search?searchTerm=WA+Cyclone+Graham+winds+down+out+in+the+desert&searchType=Article&currentPage=0&orderBy=|publisher=AAP General News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021113935/http://www.highbeam.com/Search?searchTerm=WA+Cyclone+Graham+winds+down+out+in+the+desert&searchType=Article&currentPage=0&orderBy=|archive-date=2012-10-21|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Impact==
In advance of the cyclone, the communities of Wallal, [[Sandfire, Western Australia|Sandfire]], Punmu and [[Telfer, Western Australia|Telfer]] were put on alert. A warning was issued for Bidyadanga, Pardoo and Cotton Creek.<ref name="age">{{cite web|author=AAP General News|title=Cyclone Graham hits WA|year=2003|publisher=The Age|access-date=2008-09-07|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/01/1046407795104.html}}</ref> The storm's landfall in Western Australia brought heavy rainfall and high winds. The storm dropped {{convert|163|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain at Telfer in one night, over half the town's annual average;<ref name="age"/> total rainfall reached {{convert|175|mm|in|abbr=on}} there.<ref name="gp"/> The heavy rain caused [[flooding]] and road closures, and swelled a river passing through [[Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia|Fitzroy Crossing]], though the river only topped its banks slightly.<ref name="age2">{{cite web|author=AAP General News|title=Cyclone Graham winds down|year=2003|publisher=The Age|access-date=2008-09-07|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/01/1046407799918.html}}</ref> 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.<ref name="age3">{{cite web|title=WA: Man drowns during aftermath of cyclone Graham |year=2003|publisher=AAP General News|access-date=2008-09-07|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-72172523.html}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In addition to the flooding, a number of trees were downed.<ref>{{cite web|author=Staff Writer|title=WA cyclone warning downgraded|year=2003|work=ABC News|access-date=2008-09-07|url=http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200303/s795810.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103210040/http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2Fnewsitems%2F200303%2Fs795810.htm|archive-date=2014-01-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> No significant damages were reported.

Following the storm, the name Graham was [[List_of_retired_Australian_cyclone_names|retired]] from the Australian region basin.<ref>{{cite web|year=2006|title=Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean|publisher=World Meteorological Organization Tropical Cyclone Programme|access-date=2008-01-08|url=http://www.wmo.ch/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/TCP-24OP-PLN2006edition-english.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717054641/http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/TCP-24OP-PLN2006edition-english.pdf|archive-date=2012-07-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
*[[Cyclone Inigo]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{2002–03 Australian region cyclone season buttons}}
{{Retired Australian cyclones}}

{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham (2003)}}
[[Category:2002–03 Australian region cyclone season]]
[[Category:Category 1 Australian region cyclones]]
[[Category:Retired Australian region cyclones]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in 2003|Graham]]

Cyclone Graham - Revision history

imported>Iune: Replacing with Infobox weather event