The 1971–72 Australian region cyclone season was a very active tropical cyclone season.
Season summary
Systems Tropical Cyclone Rhoda
Tropical Cyclone Rhoda existed from October 20 to October 26.
Tropical Low Kitty
Tropical Low Kitty existed from 2 to 5 December 1971 in the Arafura Sea.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Sally
Severe Tropical Cyclone Sally existed from 3 to 13 December and crossed coast near Broome, Western Australia.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Althea
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 24 December. 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. 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 Tropical Cyclone 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
Bronwyn formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria and made landfall in Queensland on 7 January north of Weipa. Half of Queensland received more than of rain, with Paluma, Queensland receiving in 48 hours. Serious flooding occurred during the storm. The Burdekin River flooded Ayr and Home Hill.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Carlotta
Severe Tropical Storm Carlotta existed from 5 to 11 January well off Queensland.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Wendy
Severe Tropical Cyclone Wendy existed from 6 February to 9 February.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Daisy
Severe Tropical Cyclone Daisy existed from 6 to 14 February off Queensland, and caused some flooding near Brisbane.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Tessie-Gigi
Severe Tropical Cyclone Tessie existed from 20 to 27 February in the central Indian Ocean
Severe Tropical Cyclone Vicky
Severe Tropical Cyclone Vicky existed from 24 February to 4 March, and crossed Western Australian coast at Cockatoo Island.
Tropical Cyclone Angela
Tropical Cyclone Angela existed from 29 February to 3 March near Cocos Island and Christmas Island.
Tropical Cyclone Belinda
Severe Tropical Cyclone Belinda existed from 20 to 29 March near Christmas Island.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Emily
Severe Tropical Cyclone Emily existed from 27 March to 2 April off Queensland, and while it went through the ocean, eight lives were lost.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Carol
Severe Tropical Cyclone Carol existed from 6 to 14 April in the central Indian Ocean.
Tropical Cyclone Faith
Tropical Cyclone Faith existed from 11 to 23 April in the Torres Strait and the Coral Sea off Queensland.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Gail
Severe Tropical Cyclone Gail existed from 11 to 14 April well off of Queensland.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hannah
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hannah existed from 8 to 11 May near Papua New Guinea.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ida
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ida existed from 30 May to 1 June near the 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
External links
Australian Bureau of Meteorology Joint Typhoon Warning Center Tropical Cyclone Warning Center Jakarta Papua New Guinea National Weather Service