1974–75 Australian region cyclone season

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 formed17 October 1974
Last system dissipated25 May 1975
Strongest storm
NameTrixie
 • Maximum winds215 km/h (130 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure925 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Tropical lows16
Tropical cyclones16
Severe tropical cyclones5
Total fatalitiesUnknown
Total damageUnknown
Related articles

Systems

Tropical Cyclone Marcia
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationOctober 17 – October 25
Peak intensity95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)  988 hPa (mbar)

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 (50 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]

Tropical Cyclone Norah
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationOctober 28 – November 4
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  981 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Norah existed over the eastern Indian Ocean from October 28 to November 4.

Tropical Cyclone Penny
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationNovember 6 – November 16
Peak intensity110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min)  981 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Penny also existed over the eastern Indian Ocean from November 6 to November 16.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Selma
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationDecember 1 – December 9
Peak intensity130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Selma was predicted to impact Darwin, but instead, the system turned westward out to sea and eventually dissipated over open water.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Tracy
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationDecember 19 – December 25
Peak intensity175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min)  950 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Cyclone Tracy

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
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 12 – January 22
Peak intensity85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Flora existed from January 12 to January 22.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Robyn-Deborah
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 14 – January 28
Peak intensity150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min)  964 hPa (mbar)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Robyn-Deborah existed from January 14 to January 28.

Tropical Cyclone Gloria
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 14 – January 23
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  976 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Gloria existed from January 14 to January 23.

Tropical Cyclone Shirley
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 3 – February 12
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  981 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Shirley existed from February 3 to February 12.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Trixie
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 15 – February 22
Peak intensity215 km/h (130 mph) (10-min)  925 hPa (mbar)

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
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 10 – March 14
Peak intensity110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Wilma existed from March 10 to March 14.

Tropical Cyclone Vida
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 30 – April 12
Peak intensity95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)  982 hPa (mbar)

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]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Beverley
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 22 – April 3
Peak intensity205 km/h (125 mph) (10-min)  929 hPa (mbar)

Tropical cyclone Beverley affected Exmouth, Western Australia and the west coast in March 1975.

Tropical Cyclone Amelia
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationApril 6 – April 8
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Amelia existed from April 6 to April 8.

Tropical Cyclone Clara
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationApril 20 – April 26
Peak intensity95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)  985 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Clara existed from April 20 to April 26.

Tropical Cyclone Denise
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMay 18 – May 25
Peak intensity85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min)  992 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Denise existed from May 18 to May 25.

Other systems

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]

See also
  • Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1974, 1975
  • Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1974, 1975
  • Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1974, 1975
  • North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1974, 1975

References
  1. "Tropical Cyclone Marcia". Bureau of Meteorology. 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  2. "Tropical Cyclone Marcia 1974 Track". Bureau of Meteorology. 2011. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  3. "FAQ : HURRICANES, TYPHOONS, AND TROPICAL CYCLONES". Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  4. "Tropical Cyclone Structure". JetStream. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 19 October 2005. Archived from the original on 2013-06-03. Retrieved 24 March 2006.
  5. "International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (HURDAT format)". ncdc.noaa.gov. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  6. "NT coroner hands down finding on Cyclone Tracy deaths". ABC News. 18 March 2005. Retrieved 24 March 2006.
  7. "Tropical Cyclone Extremes". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  8. "Event – Cyclone Tracy". Attorney-General’s Department Disasters Database. Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  9. Stannard, Bruce (28 December 1974). "Mr. Whitlam on the spot". The Age. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  10. BoM - Tropical Cyclones affecting Onslow
  11. BoM - Tropical Cyclones affecting Perth
  12. Joe Courtney and Miriam Middelmann (2003). "Meteorological Hazards" (PDF). Government of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  13. "Tropical Cyclone Vida" (PDF). Bureau of Meteorology. 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  14. "Saison des perturbations tropicales: 1974-1975 dans le pacifique sud-oues". Météorologie Maritime (in French). No. 137. 1976. pp. 43–46. ISSN 2107-0830.
  15. "1974 Not Named (1974324S24156)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  16. "1974 Tropical Cyclone (Gale) Not Named (1974325S24166)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
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