the then Thuringowa. Minor to moderate flooding in the Haughton River increased to major in the lower reaches with the highest level since the start of records in 1978 being recorded at Giru. Tropical Cyclone Vaughan A tropical low was first identified near New Caledonia on 29 March. The low tracked northwest through the Coral Sea to become Tropical Cyclone Vaughan early on 4 April. The system rapidly intensified to Category 2 during the morning of the 4th and tracked westward toward the north Queensland tropical coast. Cyclone Vaughan weakened a little during 5 April and was downgraded to a Category 1 system before re-intensifying to Category 2 early on 6 April. However, by late morning on the 6th the system again rapidly weakened and was downgraded below cyclone strength during the afternoon. The remnants of Cyclone Vaughan drifted slowly northwest and dissipated during 7 April. There was no evidence of any significant impact on the coast from Vaughan. Severe Tropical Cyclone Paul Paul formed about north of Karratha on 13 April 2000 and moved west, away from the West Australian coastline, thus never posing any threat to coastal communities. The cyclone showed rapid intensification and Severe Tropical Cyclone Paul reached Category 5 status during 15 April, and the lowest central pressure was estimated to have been about 920 hPa the following day. Severe Tropical Cyclone Paul passed about to the south of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands during the 17th and the central pressure was estimated to be about 940 hPa. Wind gusts at Cocos Islands were in the order of around . TC Paul continued to weaken as the system followed a general west-south-west track across the Indian Ocean. The cyclone slowed to be almost stationary on 20 April and weakened to below cyclone strength. Perth issued the final warning for TC Paul on 20 April when the Category 1 cyclone was in the vicinity of latitude 14.7° south and longitude 94.3° east. Severe Tropical Cyclone Rosita Rosita was named on 17 April while located north of Port Hedland. It rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm on 19 April while moving to the east-south-east. Rosita struck the Kimberley coast as a Category 4 at 0100 hours WST on 20 April 2000, south of Broome. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Rosita made landfall as a Category 5 cyclone. Its lowest central pressure was estimated to be 930 hPa