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Severe Tropical Cyclone Ita was the strongest tropical cyclone in the Australian region by central pressure since Cyclone George in 2007, and by wind speed since Cyclone Monica in 2006. The system was first identified over the Solomon Islands as a tropical low on 1 April 2014, and gradually moved westward, eventually reaching cyclone intensity on 5 April. On 10 April, Ita intensified rapidly into a powerful Category 5 system on the Australian Scale, but it weakened to a Category 4 system in the hours immediately preceding landfall the following day. At the time of landfall at Cape Flattery at 12 April 22:00 (UTC+10), the cyclone's Dvorak technique was approximately T5.0, consistent with a weak Category 4 system, and considerably lower than the T6.5 observed when the system was at its peak intensity. Meteorologists noted the system had, at that time, begun an eyewall replacement cycle; as a result, the system was considerably less powerful than various intensity scales had predicted. As a result, Ita's impact on terrain was lessened.
Owing to the rapid degradation of the cyclone before landfall, structural damage was relatively low at A$8.4 million (US$7.9 million). However, the agricultural industry suffered extensive impacts and total losses reached A$1.1 billion (US$1 billion).
After moving away from Papua New Guinea, Ita underwent Rapid deepening and attained its peak intensity as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone early on 11 April. Winds were estimated to have reached 220 km/h (140 mph) alongside a minimum central pressure of 922 mbar (hPa; 27.23 inHg). Turning to the south-southeast, the storm weakened somewhat before making landfall near Cape Flattery as a Category 4 later on 11 April. An automated weather station on Lizard Island, roughly from the storm's centre, recorded a pressure of 954 mbar (hPa; 28.17 inHg). Once onshore Ita weakened dramatically to a Category 1 within 18 hours. Maintaining gale-force winds the storm turned southwest and accelerated, eventually moving offshore north of Mackay on 13 April. The following day Ita transitioned into an extratropical cyclone as it moved away from Australia and towards New Zealand. Ita's extratropical remnants combined with a low pressure system to the south and re-intensified. On 17 April, the low-level circulation center of the storm collapsed, as Ita affected New Zealand, bringing heavy rainfall and powerful winds. On 18 April, Ita's remnants curved to the west and the south, before dissipating offshore of New Zealand later on the same day.
| + Deaths and damage by country | ||
| $1 billion | ||
| $42.9 million | ||
| $107.8 million | ||
| Sources cited in text. | ||
Nearly two days of continuous heavy rains from the storm caused in the Solomon Islands. Over a four-day span, more than fell at the Gold Ridge mine in Guadalcanal, with falling in a 24‑hour span. The Matanikau River, which runs through the capital city Honiara, broke its banks on 3 April and devastated nearby communities. Thousands of homes along with the city's two main bridges were washed away, stranding numerous residents. The national hospital had to evacuate 500 patients to other facilities due to flooding. Graham Kenna from Save the Children stated that, "the scale of destruction is like something never seen before in the Solomon Islands." According to Permanent Secretary Melchoir Mataki, the majority of homes destroyed in Honiara were built on a flood plain where construction was not allowed.
Severe flooding took place on Guadalcanal.
Throughout the Solomon Islands, 22 people were killed while an estimated 50,000 people were affected by the floods. Approximately 9,000 were left homeless. Total economic losses from the disaster were tremendous, amounting to SI$787.3 million (US$107.8 million) or roughly 9.2 percent of the country's gross domestic product.
The storm brought unusually heavy rains and strong winds to Milne Bay Province and the National Capital District. The hardest hit areas were the islands of Rossell, Misima Island, Samarai, Woodlark Island, Sau, and Vanatinai. Unconfirmed reports of casualties were received from these areas. On Ware Island, 54 homes and 1 classroom were destroyed. Along the mainland, Alotau experienced strong winds that downed trees and power lines, leaving many without power, and flooding that destroyed homes. Throughout Milne Bay, an estimated 62,000 people were affected by the storm. Some flooding was reported in Port Moresby. Further north in Jiwaka Province, the a bridge along the Highlands Highway crossing the Tuman River was washed away. Officials in Milne Bay Province stated that 1,159 homes were destroyed by the storm; however, local authorities claimed thousands more collapsed.
Though a weakened storm at landfall, Ita brought damaging winds to coastal areas around Cape Flattery where gusts peaked at . An automated weather station on Lizard Island recorded gusts up to before the anemometer failed. Cooktown, the closest populated area to where the storm moved ashore, experienced winds up to . Gale-force winds affected areas as far south as the Northumberland Islands, with Mackay recording gusts up to . A minor storm surge accompanied the cyclone; however, it coincided with low-tide and had limited effects. Minor flora damage was reported at Mackay, in the heart of city the top of a palm tree was blown off by the high winds. In Shoal Point minor damage was reported with some branches fell with one damaging a fence.
The greatest impact from Ita resulted from heavy rains, with many areas receiving up to in 24 hours. Cardwell reported an April record of rain in 24 hours, while in Tully of rain fell over two days, causing moderate flooding in both towns. In Bowen, fell in one-hour, triggering a flash flood through the towns main street. Cooktown received of rain over a three-day span. The Daintree River, Mulgrave River, Haughton River, and Herbert River rivers all experienced major flooding. Townsville reported of rain and wind gusts of up to causing only minor damage. The outer bands of the Ita caused heavy rain and thunderstorm as far south as the Wide Bay–Burnett region as it tracked back out to sea again, Kingaroy recorded in less than an hour from a severe thunderstorm, while The Town of 1770 received .
Cooktown experienced the greatest structural damage from winds, with 200 homes affected, of which 16 were severely damaged or destroyed. Many buildings, including a 140‑year‑old hotel in the town centre, lost their roof. Power was cut to the whole town and many trees were uprooted and destroyed; however, no injuries were reported as the majority of the towns residents were safe in the towns community cyclone shelter.
Heavy rain caused moderate flooding throughout most of North Queensland, five people were rescued from floodwaters between Cooktown and Cairns and flooding in the Daintree River threatened several properties in Mossman, while further south a few low-lying houses were inundated in Ingham. Several houses were also flooded from a minor storm surge in Cairns, however damage was limited.
Total economic damage from Cyclone Ita amounted to A$1.1 billion (US$1 billion). The greatest losses took place in the agricultural sector, with a stretch of sugarcane country suffering damage. Roughly 80 percent of the sugarcane crop in the Herbert River District was destroyed with the remaining crops damaged. Insurance companies initially estimated that claims could match those from Cyclone Oswald in 2013; however, insured losses only reached A$8.4 million (US$7.9 million).
Entire hillsides reportedly collapsed in rural areas of Clarence and Ward. Agricultural damage in parts of the South Island were compared to Cyclone Bola in 1988, a storm regarded as one of the worst to ever strike New Zealand. Throughout the Grey District, 39 homes were rendered uninhabitable while at least 60 other structures sustained varying degrees of damage. Losses in the district were estimated to be in excess of NZ$20 million (US$17.1 million). Throughout New Zealand, insured losses amounted to NZ$55.3 million (US$42.9 million).
New Zealand offered an immediate NZ$300,000 in funds and deployed a C-130 Hercules with supplies and emergency response personnel. Australia donated A$250,000 on 6 April and sent engineers and response teams to aid in relief efforts. On 8 April, Australia increased its aid package to A$3 million while New Zealand provided an additional NZ$1.2 million. Papua New Guinea and Taiwan provided PGK 1 million and US$200,000 in funds, respectively.
In the immediate aftermath of the floods, there were fears that the flooding could worsen an already ongoing dengue fever outbreak and cause outbreaks of diarrhea and conjunctivitis. Over the following two months, a widespread rotavirus outbreak unfolded in Honiara, Guadalcanal, and Gizo, with more than 1,000 people falling ill. Severe cases of diarrhea became common among children, with 18 dying as a result in early June. By mid-July, the outbreak was fully contained with no further cases of the disease. Additionally, 24 people contracted leprosy in Honiara within a shelter.
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