Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica was a large and powerful tropical cyclone which brought major impacts to the Pilbara region of Western Australia during March 2019. The nineteenth tropical low, eighth tropical cyclone and fifth severe tropical cyclone on the 2018–19 Australian region cyclone season, Veronica first appeared as a tropical low near East Timor on 18 March 2019. The system was slow to develop initially while tracking southwestwards through the Timor Sea, but began to consolidate the following day. The storm was upgraded by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale at 18:00 UTC on 19 March, by which time a steady development trend had begun. Upon attaining Category 2 status at 06:00 UTC on 20 March, Veronica underwent a period of explosive intensification. The system became a severe tropical cyclone six hours later, and Category 4 just six hours after that. Veronica reached peak intensity at 06:00 UTC the following day as a high-end Category 4 severe tropical cyclone, with ten-minute sustained winds estimated at 195 km/h, and a central barometric pressure of 938 hPa. The United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center estimated that the system was generating one-minute sustained winds of 230 km/h, equivalent to a mid-range Category 4 major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Veronica proceeded to weaken very gradually over the following few days as it turned towards Western Australia's Pilbaracoastline. The system weakened to Category 3 while located just off the Pilbara coast, where it became almost stationary for 24 hours. Veronica began to weaken more quickly as it accelerated westwards on 25 March, tracking parallel to the coast. The system was downgraded below tropical cyclone intensity on 26 March, and after making landfall on North West Capelater that day, the system began to track away from the Australian mainland. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Veronica dissipated on 31 March over the eastern Indian Ocean. When Veronica struck Australia in March 2019, it flooded major areas and caused about AUS$1.7 billion in economic losses, primarily from disruptions to iron ore exports. This storm formed near the time when Cyclone Trevor made landfall in Queensland. Most of the coastal regions of Pilbara suffered some level of damage.
Meteorological history
On 18 March, a tropical low formed to the southeast of East Timor. At 03:00 AWST on the morning of 20 March, the Bureau of Meteorology assessed the developing tropical low as having attained tropical cyclone strength, and named the system Veronica. Experiencing extremely favourable atmospheric conditions and very warm sea surface temperatures, Tropical Cyclone Veronica proceeded to intensify rapidly throughout the day, attaining Category 3 status on the Australian scale just 18 hours later. In preparation for passage of Veronica, major shipping ports on the Pilbara coastline were forced to cease operations in the interests of safety. The port of Port Hedland, the most valuable export hub in Australia and one of the largest iron ore loading ports in the world, was closed on 22 March, with operations only resuming nearly four days later. As a result of the disruption to the mining and export operations, Rio Tinto estimated that its iron ore production would suffer reductions of approximately 14 million tonnes during 2019. Rio Tinto's Cape Lambert port wharf also sustained damage from waves generated by the cyclone, and repairs to the company's Robe River sorting facility following a fire earlier in the year were delayed during the event. Fortescue Metals reported that exports of up to 2 million tonnes of its own iron ore were disrupted during the cyclone. In total, economic costs associated with the mining disruptions and damage caused by Veronica reached A$1.7 billion in Rio Tinto.
Preparations and impact
Iron Ore Exporters
As a result of the disruption to the mining and export operations, Rio Tinto estimated that its iron ore production would suffer reductions of approximately 14 million tonnes during 2019. Rio Tinto’s largest iron ore stockpile was damaged with A$1 million in damages to the ore. The Port of Cape Lambert was also damaged by waves generated by the cyclone. The repairs to Robe River sorting facility were delayed by Veronica. Fortescue Metals reported much of their iron were disrupted by Veronica. Rio Tinto had A$1.6 billion in the city.
The Port of Port Hedland had operations closed with remaining operations lasting for the next four days in the preparations of Veronica. Ships and resident evacuated the area in case of emergency. Port Hedland was impacted by major flooding and roofs from homes were thrown across the area causing up to 45 Million dollars in damage. Winds in nearby South Hedland were estimated at 100 mph gusts and 90 mph winds knocked down a few limbs from trees.
Pilbara
Businesses in the Pilbara were forced to evacuate the coastline and cease operations in the interests of safety. Residents were also forced to evacuate the area. The Pilbara had also been affected by other cyclones in the following year, namely Cyclones Blake and Damien. Parts of the Pilbara observed high Category 3 winds and gusts. Veronica downed trees and damaged homes there. Thousands of people were affected.
