1971–72 Australian region cyclone season
| |
| Season summary map |
| First system formed |
20 October 1971 |
| Last system dissipated |
3 June 1972 |
| Strongest storm |
Emily – 942 hPa (mbar), |
| Tropical lows |
18 |
| Tropical cyclones |
18 |
| Severe tropical cyclones |
10 |
| Total fatalities |
Unknown |
| Total damage |
Unknown |
Australian region tropical cyclone seasons
1969–70, 1970–71, 1971-72, 1972–73, 1973–74 |
| Related articles |
|
|
The 1971-72 Australian region season saw above average activity.
Storms
Tropical Cyclone Rhoda
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 20 – October 26 |
| Peak intensity |
100 km/h (60 mph) (10-min) 980 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Cyclone Rhoda existed from October 20 to October 26.
Tropical Cyclone Kitty
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical depression (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
December 2 – December 5 |
| Peak intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min) 1000 mbar (hPa) |
Kitty, 2 to 5 December 1971 in the Arafura Sea
Severe Tropical Cyclone Sally
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
December 3 – December 11 |
| Peak intensity |
165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min) 950 mbar (hPa) |
Sally, 3 to 13 December 1971 crossed coast near Broome, Western Australia.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Althea
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
December 19 – December 29 |
| Peak intensity |
165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min) 952 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Cyclone Althea was a Category 4 cyclone when it hit the coast some 50 km north of Magnetic Island and Townsville in North Queensland on December 24, 1971.[1] Althea produced peak gust wind speeds between 123 and 145 miles per hour (197 and 233 km/h). Three people died and property damage was estimated at A$115 million loss (1990 value). On Magnetic Island 90% of the houses were damaged or destroyed.[2] In Townsville houses were lifted from their foundations and most trees stripped of foliage. Althea was also notable at the time, as it had struck a major city.
Although there was a dangerous storm surge associated with TC Althea (between 2.8 and 3.6 metres) little flooding occurred because the cyclone made landfall on a low tide. However, the combination of storm surge and wave action demolished The Strand sea wall and houses in low-lying areas were inundated with up to 0.6 metres of water.
Tropical Cyclone Bronwyn
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
January 2 – January 12 |
| Peak intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min) 993 mbar (hPa) |
Bronwyn, 3 to 12 January 1972 in Gulf of Carpentaria
Tropical Cyclone Carlotta
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
January 5 – January 11 (Crossed 160°E) |
| Peak intensity |
105 km/h (65 mph) (10-min) 976 mbar (hPa) |
Carlotta, 5 to 21 January 1972 well off Queensland
Tropical Cyclone Wendy
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
February 6 (Crossed 160°E) – February 9 |
| Peak intensity |
115 km/h (70 mph) (10-min) 976 mbar (hPa) |
Wendy, 30 January to 9 February 1972 very intense off Queensland, possible pressure as low as 890hPa.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Daisy
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
February 6 – February 14 |
| Peak intensity |
150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min) 959 mbar (hPa) |
Daisy, 7 to 14 February 1972 off Queensland, caused some flooding near Brisbane
Severe Tropical Cyclone Tessie-Gigi
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
February 20 – February 27 (Crossed 80°E) |
| Peak intensity |
155 km/h (95 mph) (10-min) 950 mbar (hPa) |
Tessie, 20 to 27 February 1972 in central Indian Ocean
Severe Tropical Cyclone Vicky
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
February 24 – March 4 |
| Peak intensity |
140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min) 961 mbar (hPa) |
Vicky, 24 February to 4 March 1972 crossed Western Australian coast at Cockatoo Island.
Tropical Cyclone Angela
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
February 29 – March 3 |
| Peak intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min) 994 mbar (hPa) |
Angela, 29 February to 3 March 1972 near Cocos Island and Christmas Island
Tropical Cyclone Belinda
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
March 20 – March 29 |
| Peak intensity |
100 km/h (60 mph) (10-min) 980 mbar (hPa) |
Belinda, 20 to 30 March 1972 near Christmas Island
Severe Tropical Cyclone Emily
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
March 27 – April 2 |
| Peak intensity |
170 km/h (105 mph) (10-min) 942 mbar (hPa) |
Emily, 27 March to 4 April 1972 off Queensland, eight lives lost at sea
Severe Tropical Cyclone Carol
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
April 6 – April 14 |
| Peak intensity |
130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min) 965 mbar (hPa) |
Carol, 6 to 14 April 1972 in the central Indian Ocean.
Tropical Cyclone Faith
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
April 10 – April 24 |
| Peak intensity |
75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min) 990 mbar (hPa) |
Faith, 11 to 23 April 1972 in Torres Strait and Coral Sea off Queensland
Severe Tropical Cyclone Gail
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
April 11 – April 14 (Crossed 160°E) |
| Peak intensity |
170 km/h (105 mph) (10-min) 945 mbar (hPa) |
Gail, 11 to 18 April 1972 well off Queensland
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hannah
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
May 8 – May 11 |
| Peak intensity |
130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min) 970 mbar (hPa) |
Hannah, 8 to 11 May near Papua New Guinea
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ida
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
May 30 – May 31 (Crossed 160°E) |
| Peak intensity |
120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min) 970 mbar (hPa) |
Ida, 30 May to 3 June 1972 near Solomon Islands causing $70 million damage.
See also
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1971, 1972
- Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1971, 1972
- Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1971, 1972
- North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1971, 1972
References
