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The 1974–75 Australian region cyclone season was an above average tropical cyclone season.
| 1974–75 Australian region cyclone season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | 17 October 1974 |
| Last system dissipated | 25 May 1975 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Trixie |
| • Maximum winds | 215 km/h (130 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 925 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Tropical lows | 16 |
| Tropical cyclones | 16 |
| Severe tropical cyclones | 5 |
| Total fatalities | >71 |
| Total damage | $645.7 million (1975 USD) |
| Related articles | |
The first named storm of the season developed as a small depression out over the open waters of the southern Indian Ocean. Over the following three days, the system gradually developed into a tropical cyclone as it tracked towards the southeast. On 18 October, a ship named Alkuwait encountered the storm and reported winds near hurricane-force; however, the satellite presentation of the system was not supportive of these winds. Later named Marcia, the storm is estimated to have attained peak winds around 85 km/h (55 mph) on 20 October.[1] Around this time Marcia also attained a barometric pressure of 989 mbar (hPa; 29.2 inHg).[2] The following day, as the storm was situated 320 km (200 mi) west-southwest of the Cocos Islands, the outer bands of Marcia brought unsettled weather to the islands.[1] On 22 October, the storm slowed and began tracking towards the west. A weakened system, the remnants of Marcia crossed 90°E into the South-West Indian Ocean basin.[2]
Cyclone Norah existed over the eastern Indian Ocean from October 28 to November 4.
Cyclone Penny also existed over the eastern Indian Ocean from November 6 to November 16.
Cyclone Selma was predicted to impact Darwin, but instead, the system turned westward out to sea and eventually dissipated over open water.
Cyclone Tracy devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, 1974. It is the most compact cyclone or equivalent-strength hurricane on record in the Australian basin, with gale-force winds extending only 48 kilometres (30 mi) from the centre and was the most compact system worldwide until Tropical Storm Marco of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season broke the record, with gale-force winds extending only 19 kilometres (12 mi) from the centre.[3][4] After forming over the Arafura Sea, the storm moved southwards and affected the city with Category 4 winds on the Australian cyclone intensity scale, while there is evidence to suggest that it had reached Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale when it made landfall.[5]
Tracy killed 71 people, caused A$837 million in damage (1974 dollars) and destroyed more than 70 percent of Darwin's buildings, including 80 percent of houses.[6][7] Tracy left more than 41,000 out of the 47,000 inhabitants of the city homeless prior to landfall and required the evacuation of over 30,000 people.[8] Most of Darwin's population was evacuated to Adelaide, Whyalla, Alice Springs and Sydney, and many never returned to the city. After the storm passed, the city was rebuilt using more modern materials and updated building techniques. Bruce Stannard of The Age stated that Cyclone Tracy was a "disaster of the first magnitude ... without parallel in Australia's history."[9]
Tropical Cyclone Flora existed from January 12 to January 22.
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | January 14 – January 16 (Exited basin) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min); 985 hPa (mbar) |
Intense Tropical Cyclone Robyn–Deborah existed from January 14 to January 16, when it moved into the South-West Indian Ocean as Tropical Cyclone Robyn–Deborah.
Tropical Cyclone Gloria existed from January 14 to January 23.
Tropical Cyclone Shirley existed from February 3 to February 12.
Wind gusts of 259 kilometres per hour (161 mph) at Mardie and 246 kilometres per hour (153 mph) at Onslow were measured during cyclone Trixie on 19 February 1975. The Onslow anemometer was destroyed after measuring its maximum gust during this storm. The gust at Mardie is the second-highest recorded on the Australian mainland, although the figure given was the limit of the anemometer, so the actual gusts may have been higher.[10]
Tropical Cyclone Wilma existed from March 10 to March 14.
On 20 March 1975 winds were recorded to 128 km/h at Fremantle, Western Australia and 109 km/h in neighbouring Perth. There was some damage including St George's Cathedral and Perry Lakes Stadium. At Rockingham a 7m-yacht sank, a 6m cabin cruiser was destroyed and many other craft were damaged.[11] Near Perth, the remnants of Vida produced strong winds, recorded up to 126 km/h (78 mph), damaged several structures.[12] Some homes lost their roofs and a few buildings had their walls collapse.[13] Offshore, several vessels were damaged by rough seas.[12] Relatively little rain was associated with the storm as only 17 mm (0.67 in) was measured in Cape Leeuwin. Overall losses from the storm reached A$1 million ($700,000 USD).[13]
Tropical cyclone Beverley affected Exmouth, Western Australia and the west coast in March 1975.
Cyclone Amelia existed from April 6 to April 8.
Cyclone Clara existed from April 20 to April 26.
Cyclone Denise existed from May 18 to May 25.
During 19 November, a tropical disturbance was first noted, while it was located within the Australian region about 500 km (310 mi) to the north of Brisbane, Australia.[14][15] Over the next couple of days, the system moved north-westwards into the South Pacific basin towards New Caledonia, before it recurved south-eastwards and was last noted during 25 November after it had moved back into the Australian region.[14][16]
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