page_title: Cyclone Lili (2019)
section_title: Impacts
hierarchical_section_title: Cyclone Lili (2019) / Impacts
caption_attribution_description: English: Ex-Tropical Cyclone Lili making landfall on the northestern coast of East Timor on 11 May 2019, just prior to dissipation. Sustained winds are at approximately 45 km/h (30 mph).
context_page_description: Tropical Cyclone Lili was a small and relatively weak off-season tropical cyclone that brought moderate impacts to the Maluku Islands and East Timor, and mild impacts to other parts of eastern Indonesia and far-northern Australia. It was the latest tropical cyclone to exist in the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's northern tropical cyclone region on record, surpassing Severe Tropical Cyclone Verna of 1977. Lili was the tenth tropical cyclone of the 2018–19 Australian region cyclone season, and the second of which to be named by the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics. Lili originated from a tropical low that formed over the Banda Sea on 4 May 2019. The system gradually organised as it tracked slowly southwards, and strengthened into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale on 9 May. Lili reached peak intensity later that day, with ten-minute sustained winds of 75 km/h and a central barometric pressure of 997 hPa. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center estimated one-minute mean winds at this time to be at 85 km/h. Weakening commenced soon thereafter, and the system fell below cyclone intensity on 10 May after turning to the west.
context_section_description: Prior to development into a tropical cyclone, Lili's precursor tropical low tracked southwards across the southern Banda Sea, bringing the storm near Indonesia's Maluku Islands. Heavy rainfall and strong winds were experienced on the islands for several days, with impacts peaking at around 12:00 UTC on 8 May. The prolonged rainfall caused significant flooding in numerous places across the region, with the most severe effects occurring in the Southeast Maluku Regency. In particular, the villages of Laitutun on Leti Island; Tounwawan in Moa Lakor; and Luang Timur in Mdona Hiera, experienced major inundation to an average depth of 1.5 m (4.9 ft). The flooding and strong winds resulted in widespread damage in the villages. Many houses and numerous public facilities sustaining damage, causing many residents to be displaced. Lili's strong winds also generated dangerous sea conditions, reportedly causing a ship to sink.
  Despite not making landfall at tropical cyclone strength, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Lili caused significant impacts in East Timor. Protracted periods of heavy rainfall, with widespread 24-hour totals of 100–150 mm (3.9–5.9 in), led to river level rise and subsequent flooding. Many roads, bridges and other pieces of infrastructure were damaged by flooding, especially in the eastern half of the country. Other roads and bridges were also cut off or threatened by floodwaters. The primary road link from Lospalos to the national capital Dili was covered by mud and water, severely impeding the passage of traffic. Damage was sustained in the Baucau municipality from riverine flooding. A truck was also submerged in a swollen stream in the south of the country. Damaging winds were experienced on the eastern tip of East Timor, with gusts of approximately 75–100 km/h (45–65 mph).
  Mild impacts were also experienced across large areas of eastern Indonesia and sections of exposed coastline in the Northern Territory, northern Kimberley, and nearby islands. Strong winds and enhanced rainfall occurred throughout the region, as well as large waves and strong tides. McCluer Island, situated 30 km (20 mi) off the northern coast of the Top End; and Troughton Island, located 15 km (10 mi) off Western Australia's far-northern coast, both experienced sustained winds exceeding 50 km/h (31 mph), with gusts reaching 63 km/h (39 mph). Strong winds and moderate rainfall were also observed in the Indonesian provinces of West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara, and in parts of Sulawesi. At peak intensity, the BMKG reported that Lili's winds were generating waves of up to 6.0 m (20 ft) in height in parts of the Timor and Arafura Seas. Waves of up to 4.0 m (13 ft) in height were also generated in the ocean and waterways surrounding several islands further to the west.
caption: Ex-Tropical Cyclone Lili making landfall in northeastern East Timor on 11 May 2019, just prior to dissipation
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