List of Australian region cyclones before 1900

Last updated

List of Australian region cyclones before 1900
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed1568
Last system dissipated1899
Seasonal statistics
Total disturbances20
Total fatalities500+
Total damageUnknown
Australian region tropical cyclone seasons
Pre-1900, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s

The following is a list of Australian region tropical cyclones in or before 1900.

Contents

Storms

Unnamed tropical cyclone (1872)

On 20 April 1872, a cyclone struck Roebourne in the Pilbara of Western Australia, effectively destroying the town. [4]

Unnamed tropical cyclone (1875)

On 24 December 1875, a total of 59 lives were lost at sea when the eye of a cyclone passed over Exmouth Gulf. Several schooners were driven ashore and wrecked. [5]

Unnamed tropical cyclone (1880)

On 9 January 1880, a cyclone passed near Yammadery Creek, between Onslow, Western Australia and Fortescue River, where the tidal surge was eight metres over the high-water mark. The Adalia was wrecked near Robe River and some of the crew drowned. [6]

Unnamed tropical cyclone (1882)

On 7 March 1882, a severe cyclone passed Roebourne and Cossack in the evening causing damage to every building in the settlements. Cossack recorded a minimum pressure of 942 hPa. Despite the extensive loss of sheep from surrounding stations, it was considered fortunate that only one person suffered an injury. [7]

Unnamed tropical cyclone (1884)

On 30 January 1884, a severe cyclone hit Bowen in Queensland, causing damage to every building in the settlement and loss of the jetty and all boats and all communication. [8] [9] [10]

Unnamed tropical cyclone (1887)

On 22 April 1887, a cyclone struck the pearling fleet at Ninety Mile Beach near Broome claiming 140 lives. The storm was unexpected since it was so late in the season. [5]

Unnamed tropical cyclone (1889)

On 1 March 1889, flooding was considerable at Cossack where a cyclone coincided with high tide. All crew aboard the Waratah were lost off Cape Preston and one man drowned in the river at Roebourne. [7]

Unnamed tropical cyclones (1894)

On 4 January 1894 and 9 January 1894 – Within the space of five days, two cyclones crossed the Pilbara coast. The first caused damage to many buildings at Roebourne and Cossack. The second cyclone caused more significant damage to the area completely washing away the previously damaged sea wall at Cossack. Over forty lives were believed to have been lost as twelve luggers and the steamer Anne were destroyed. Altogether, the damage was estimated at 15000 pounds and the loss of some 15000 sheep. Flooding was also substantial. [7]

Cyclone Sigma (1896)

Cyclone Sigma was a tropical cyclone that caused severe damage in North Queensland, Australia on 26–27 January 1896. [11] [12] Overall 23 people died in the cyclone with 3 missing. [13]

The Great Hurricane (1897)

On 6 January 1897, a cyclone impacted Darwin, Northern Territory. More than 28 people perished in the event, and much of Darwin was reduced to ruin.

Cyclone Eline (1898)

In January 1898, Cyclone Eline made landfall near Mackay, Queensland. The Cremorne Hotel in northern Mackay sustained damage, as well as the Methodist church on Gregory Street. [14] [15]

Unnamed tropical cyclone (1898)

On 2 April 1898, a cyclone was described as causing more damage at Cossack than had ever been experienced before. Tramway, rails, roads, and bridges were destroyed and telegraph lines are downed. Houses collapsed and all boats slipped their moorings. The damage was estimated at over 30000 pounds. Whim Creek registered 747 mm of rain in 24 hours, the highest daily rainfall ever recorded in Western Australia. [7]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Mahina (1899)

Upon making landfall in Queensland as an extremely powerful Category 5 severe tropical cyclone on March 4, 1899, [16] Severe Tropical Cyclone Mahina produced a 40-foot storm surge, the highest ever recorded. The flooding killed 400–410 people, making it the deadliest cyclone in Australian history.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971–72 Australian region cyclone season</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Ului</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983–84 Australian region cyclone season</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985–86 Australian region cyclone season</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclones Katrina and Victor–Cindy</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Aivu</span>

Severe Tropical Cyclone Aivu was a powerful late-season tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage across parts of Queensland, Australia in April 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Rewa</span> Category 5 South Pacific and Australian region cyclone in 1993 and 1994

Severe Tropical Cyclone Rewa affected six countries and caused 22 deaths on its 28-day journey across the South Pacific Ocean in December 1993 and January 1994. Cyclone Rewa developed from a tropical disturbance on 28 December south of Nauru. After forming, Rewa moved southwest through the Solomon Islands, crossing the 160th meridian east from the South Pacific basin into the Australian region. The cyclone began to strengthen steadily and turned southward, paralleling the eastern Australian coast through 31 December. Rewa reached its initial peak intensity as a Category 4 tropical cyclone on 2 January. It maintained this intensity for about 12 hours before an increase in wind shear induced its weakening by 3 January. The cyclone turned southeastward and moved back into the South Pacific basin on 4 January, before it passed over New Caledonia between 5–6 January. After affecting New Caledonia, Rewa weakened to a tropical depression and turned northwestward before re-entering the Australian basin on 10 January.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 Australian region cyclone season</span> Tropical cyclone season

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Fran</span> South Pacific and Australian region cyclone in 1992

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Beni</span> Category 5 South Pacific and Australian region cyclone in 2003

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Drena</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Namu</span> Category 3 South Pacific and Australian region cyclone in 1986

Severe Tropical Cyclone Namu was considered to be one of the worst tropical cyclones to impact the Solomon Islands on record, after it caused over 100 deaths within the island nations. It was first noted as a weak tropical depression to the north of the Solomon Islands during May 15, 1986. Over the next couple of days, the storm steadily intensified while meandering. After briefly moving west, the storm attained Category 2 intensity on the Australian intensity scale on May 18, as it moved through the island chain on the next day. Cyclone Namu attained peak intensity of 150 km/h (90 mph). After retaining its peak intensity for a day, Namu turned south and weakened steadily. By May 21, the winds of Cyclone Namu had been reduced to only 80 km/h (50 mph). Continuing to weaken, Namu turned east and dissipated on May 22, away from the island chain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Joy</span> Storm that hit Australia in late 1990

Severe Tropical Cyclone Joy struck Australia in late 1990, causing the third highest floods on record in Rockhampton, Queensland. This cyclone began as a weak tropical low near the Solomon Islands, and initially moved westward. On 18 December, it was named Joy, becoming the 2nd named storm of the 1990–91 Australian region cyclone season. After turning southwest, Joy developed a well-defined eye and strengthened to maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h (103 mph) while approaching Cairns in Far North Queensland. Brushing the city with strong winds, the cyclone soon weakened and turned southeast. Joy later curved back southwest, making landfall near Townsville, Queensland on 26 December. It dissipated the next day; remnant moisture continued as torrential rainfall over Queensland for two weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Ita</span> 2014 Australian cyclone

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ita was the strongest tropical cyclone in the Australian region by central pressure since George in 2007, and by wind speed since 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 intensity 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Debbie</span> Category 4 Australian region Tropical cyclone in 2017

Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017 was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike Queensland since Marcia in 2015, and was the costliest tropical cyclone in Australia since Yasi in 2011. Forming as a tropical low on 23 March, the low gradually intensified into a named tropical cyclone on 25 March. After steadily strengthening offshore to a Category 4 system, Debbie eventually made landfall near Airlie Beach, at 12:40 AEST on 28 March. Afterwards, Debbie rapidly weakened into a tropical low by late 28 March, but continued to travel south, causing significant damage and flooding in the populous areas of South East Queensland and Northern Rivers. In total, the storm caused A$3.5 billion (US$2.67 billion) in damage and fourteen deaths across Australia, primarily as a result of extreme flooding. This makes Debbie the deadliest cyclone to hit Australia since Fifi in 1991.

The following is a list of all reported tropical cyclones within the Australian region between 90°E and 160°E, after the start of World War II in September 1939 and before the start of the satellite era during the 1969–70 Season.

The following is a list of all reported tropical cyclones within the Australian region between 90°E and 160°E in the 1950s.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Radford, Deirdre A; Blong, Russell J (1992). "Cyclones in the Solomon Islands". Natural Disasters in the Solomon Islands (PDF). Vol. 1 (2 ed.). The Australian International Development Assistance Bureau. pp. 125–126. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 2, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Padgett, Gary (April 4, 2002). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary: December 2001" . Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  3. d'Aubert, AnaMaria; Nunn, Patrick D (March 2012). "Database 1: Tropical Cyclones (1558–1970)". Furious Winds and Parched Islands: Tropical Cyclones (1558–1970) and Droughts (1722–1987) in the Pacific. pp. 58–171. ISBN   978-1-4691-7008-4.
  4. "Disastrous Cyclone at Roebourne". The Herald . Fremantle, Western Australia. 18 May 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 19 October 2013 via National Library of Australia.
  5. 1 2 Bureau of Meteorology (1998). Tropical Cyclones (A Guide for Mariners in Northwest Australia), Pamphlet, Commonwealth of Australia
  6. Tropical Cyclones Affecting Onslow (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 BoM – Tropical Cyclones affecting Karratha/Dampier
  8. "THE TORNADO IN THE NORTH". The Brisbane Courier . 4 February 1884. p. 5. Retrieved 10 January 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  9. "THE RECENT CYCLONE AT BOWEN". The Brisbane Courier . 6 February 1884. p. 5. Retrieved 10 January 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  10. "THE CYCLONE AT BOWEN". The Brisbane Courier . 9 February 1884. p. 5. Retrieved 10 January 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  11. "CBoM – History of Townsville Meteorological Office". www.bom.gov.au. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  12. "Lives lost during cyclone Sigma on Australia Day in 1896". Townsville Bulletin. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  13. "CYCLONE SIGMA 1896-01-26". Harden Up. Green Cross Australia. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  14. "The Cyclone at Mackay". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton. 29 January 1918. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  15. Unidentified (1918), Remains of the Cremorne Hotel, North Mackay, following the 1918 cyclone, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, retrieved 6 June 2019
  16. Williams, Brian; Brennan, Rose; Honnery, Chris; Fuller, Peta; Akers, Trenton (19 February 2015). "Cyclone Marcia to bring high winds, flooding to southern Queensland". The Courier Mail. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2019.