1984–85 Australian region cyclone season

none December 2022 Aus 1985 1984-85 Australian region cyclone season summary.png 3 December 1984 15 April 1985 Kirsty 925 120 10 20 18 10 >25 43.5 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 1984–85 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 1984–85 South Pacific cyclone season The 1984–85 Australian region cyclone season was one of the most active seasons on record. It officially started on 1 November 1984, and officially ended on 30 April 1985. __TOC__ Seasonal summary Systems Severe Tropical Cyclone Emma Aus 3 December 13 December Emma dec 10 1984 0932Z.jpg Emma 1984 track.png 65 80 967 A Category 3 tropical cyclone, Emma struck Western Australia on 12 December 1984, as a Category 1 tropical cyclone.Cyclones 1985 Australia Severe Weather. Retrieved 26 December 2022 Tropical Storm 04S Aus HSK0485 dec 12 1984 0725Z.jpg 04S 1984 track.png 8 December 13 December 35 996 Due to its minimal intensity, 04S was designated only as a tropical storm strength cyclone by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). The storm remained unnamed by the warning center in Darwin. Severe Tropical Cyclone Frank Aus Frank dec 24 1984 0817Z.jpg Frank 1984 track.png 19 December 28 December 85 95 950 Tropical Cyclone Frank was a significant tropical cyclone which formed off the western coast of Australia. It peaked as a Category 1 storm on the Saffir–Simpson scale according to the JTWC. Perth assessed it as a category 3 on the Australian scale. After it turned to the south-east on 25 December, it made landfall as a Category 2 two days later near Port Hedland, Western Australia. Tropical Cyclone Monica Aus Monica dec 28 1984 0544Z.jpg Monica 1984 path.png 25 December 28 December (Exited basin) 55 70 985 Monica peaked as a category 2 storm, tracking roughly south-eastward, passing into the South Pacific basin on 28 December. Tropical Cyclone Nigel SPac Nigel Jan 16 1985 1456Z.png Nigel 1985 path.png 14 January 16 January (Exited basin) 60 50 996 Cyclone Nigel During the middle of January, an ill-defined tropical low formed within the Intertropical Convergence Zone, near the Cape York Peninsula and moved eastwards into the Coral Sea.Australian Bureau of Meteorology 14 December 2022 http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/nigel.shtml 6 July 2022 live Tropical Cyclone Nigel https://web.archive.org/web/20220706023830/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/nigel.shtml Over the next few days, the system moved eastwards into the Coral Sea, before its circulation became better defined during 14 January. The system continued to move eastwards over the next couple of days, before the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 13P on 16 January. Later that day, as the system approached 160°E and the South Pacific basin, TCWC Brisbane reported that the low had become a tropical cyclone and named it Nigel.1985 Tropical Cyclone Nigel (1985014S16151) International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 1985014S16151 14 December 2022 The newly named system subsequently moved out of the Australian region later that day, with 10-minute sustained winds of 60 kn km/h mph on 5 out, which made it a Category 2 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale. Nigel caused no damage while located within the Australian region, however, the system later caused significant impacts to Fiji and Vanuatu. Severe Tropical Cyclone Odette Aus Odette Jan 19 1985 0614Z.png Odette 1985 path.png 16 January 19 January (Exited basin) 100 110 930 Odette was a powerful cyclone. It lasted for 4 days. Tropical Cyclone Gertie Aus Gertie 1985 track.png 26 January 3 February 60 70 973 Gertie made landfall in Western Australia before dissipating. Tropical Low 18P Aus 2 February 6 February 30 35 996 This system remained weak. Severe Tropical Cyclone Hubert Aus Hubert 1985 track.png 10 February 19 February 80 95 954 Hubert had major differences in peak intensity from BOM and JTWC, but did not touch land. Severe Tropical Cyclone Isobel Aus Isobel 1985 track.png 11 February 22 February 75 50 960 Isobel failed to affect land. Severe Tropical Cyclone Jacob Aus Jacob 1985 track.png 15 February 28 February 75 100 950 Jacob was a Category 3 system on the Australian scale. Tropical Cyclone Pierre Aus Pierre 1985 track.png 18 February 24 February 50 45 986 On 17 February the BoM reported that an ill-defined tropical low had developed within the intertropical convergence zone, near the tip of the Cape York Peninsula.Australian Bureau of Meteorology 14 December 2022 http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pierre85.shtml 5 July 2022 Tropical Cyclone Pierre live https://web.archive.org/web/20220705100734/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pierre85.shtml The system became more defined over the next few days, as it moved out into the Coral Sea and slowly moved south-eastwards parallel to the Queensland coast.1985 Tropical Cyclone Pierre (1985049S12143) International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 1985049S12143 14 December 2022 During 20 February TCWC Brisbane reported that the low had become a tropical cyclone and named it Pierre, while it was located about 160 km mi 5 on to the east of Cooktown. At around the same time, the JTWC initiated advisories and designated the system as Tropical Cyclone 26P, before they reported that Pierre had peaked as a tropical storm with 1-minute sustained winds of 45 kn km/h mph on 5 out later that day.United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: 1985 https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/atcr/1985atcr.pdf 14 December 2022 10 August 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180810042017/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/atcr/1985atcr.pdf live The system subsequently accelerated south-eastwards, before the BoM reported that Pierre had peaked as a Category 2 tropical cyclone with 10-minute sustained winds of 50 kn km/h mph on 5 out during 21 February. Later that day, the system made landfall in Shoalwater Bay and weakened below tropical cyclone intensity, before it moved back into the Coral Sea near Yeppoon. Pierre subsequently moved almost due eastwards, before it was last noted during 24 February as it moved out of the Australian region and into the South Pacific basin. As Pierre moved south-eastwards parallel to the Queensland coast, it produced high seas, gale-force winds, minor flooding and minimal damage.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122485281 Late News: Cyclone nears Qld coast The Canberra Times 22 February 1985 15 December 2022 1 National Library of Australia Tropical Cyclone Rebecca Aus Rebecca 1985 track.png 20 February 23 February 40 994 During the middle of February, a cloud mass persisted for several days in the Arafura sea, to the north of the Arnhem Land in northern Australia.Australian Bureau of Meteorology 12 December 2022 http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/rebecca.shtml 19 March 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20110319192543/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/rebecca.shtml Tropical Cyclone Rebecca During 20 February the BoM reported that the cloud mass had developed a surface circulation and classified it as a tropical low, while it was located around 750 km mi 5 on to the north of Galiwin'ku. During that day the system gradually intensified as it moved north-eastwards, before it gradually started to move south-eastwards and entered the Gulf of Carpentaria. During 21 February, the low continued to move south-eastwards and gradually intensify as it moved south-eastwards through the Gulf of Carpentaria, before TCWC Brisbane reported that it had become a tropical cyclone and named it Rebecca. The newly named system peaked during 22 February as a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, with 10-minute sustained winds of 40 kn km/h mph on 5 out.1985 Tropical Cyclone Rebecca (1985051S11135) International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 1985051S11135 13 December 2022 Later that day, Rebecca made landfall on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula just to the north of Weipa and weakened into a tropical low, before it dissipated during 23 February about 300 km mi 5 on to the west of Cairns.Callaghan, Jeffery Greencross Australia 12 December 2022 http://hardenup.org/umbraco/customContent/media/1155_Gulf_GulfImpactsTropicalCyclones_%201885-2007.pdf 27 November 2022 live https://web.archive.org/web/20221127022308/http://hardenup.org/umbraco/customContent/media/1155_Gulf_GulfImpactsTropicalCyclones_%201885-2007.pdf Archive: Known Impacts of Tropical Cyclones, Gulf of Carpentaria, 1885 – 2007 5 August 2011 The initial tropical low produced a moderate amount of rainfall over the Arnhem Land, with a 24-hour rainfall total of 129 mm in on reported at Warruwi on 19 February.Australian Bureau of Meteorology 12 December 2022 http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/nt/Rebecca.shtml 31 March 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20110331043931/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/nt/Rebecca.shtml Tropical Cyclone Rebecca There was no significant damage associated with Rebecca in the Northern Territory, while some damage to trees was reported in Weipa. Severe Tropical Cyclone Kirsty Aus Kirsty 1985-03-09 0900Z.jpg Kirsty 1985 track.png 1 March 7 March 120 130 920 Although powerful, Kirsty failed to make landfall. Severe Tropical Cyclone Lindsay Aus Lindsay Mar 9 1985 0616Z.png Lindsay 1985 track.png 6 March 11 March 80 100 950 Cyclone Lindsay formed on 6 March 1985. The storm moved south-southeast reaching Category 3 status before making landfall near Broome, Western Australia.Cyclones 1985 Australia Severe Weather. Retrieved 26 December 2022 Severe Tropical Cyclone Sandy Aus 19 March Sandy Mar 24 1985 0517Z.png Sandy 1985 track.png 3 April 105 120 953 Sandy formed on 19 March in the Gulf of Carpentaria and strengthened rapidly into a Category 4 cyclone, before it made landfall near Sir Edward Pellew Group of Islands as a Category 2 cyclone on 24 March. Over the next days, Sandy moved into the Indian Ocean and dissipated on 3 April. Similar to Cyclone Kathy, the storm was not as intense as Kathy. Two trawlers were devastated by Sandy, where swells of 12 m ft on were measured. Storm surges were measured at 3 to 3.5 m ft on at Centre Island. Flooding was extensive along the southern gulf coast. A total of 860 mm in on 5 of rain recorded in the island during a four-day time span.Bureau of Meteorology 2010 17 September 2012 Severe Tropical Cyclone Sandy http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/sandy.shtml Tropical Cyclone Tanya Aus Tanya Mar 29 1985 0423Z.png Tanya 1985 track.png 27 March 1 April 55 60 982 During 27 March, the BoM started to monitor a tropical low that had developed within the Intertropical Convergence Zone, about 700 km mi 5 on to the southeast of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.Australian Bureau of Meteorology 14 December 2022 http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/tanya.shtml 5 July 2022 Tropical Cyclone Tanya live https://web.archive.org/web/20220705111125/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/tanya.shtml1985 Tropical Cyclone Tanya (1985086S13152) International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 1985086S13152 14 December 2022 Over the next couple of days, the system moved westwards and gradually developed further, before the JTWC initiated advisories on the low and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 32P during 29 March. The BoM subsequently reported that the system had developed into a tropical cyclone and named it Tanya, as it continued to develop further and moved westwards towards the Cape York Peninsula. During 30 March, the BoM reported that Tanya had peaked with 10-minute sustained winds of 55 kn km/h mph on 5 out and a minimum pressure of 982 hPa inHg 4 on, which made it a category 2 tropical cyclone on the modern day Australian scale. At around the same time, the JTWC reported that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of 60 kn km/h mph on 5 out and a minimum pressure of 979 hPa inHg 4 on. Tanya maintained its peak intensity for around 24 hours, before it started to weaken as it approached Cape York during 31 March. The system subsequently made landfall near Coen on the Cape York Peninsula, at around 14:00 AEST (0400 UTC) on 1 April and rapidly weakened below tropical cyclone intensity.Callaghan, Jeffery Greencross Australia 12 December 2022 http://hardenup.org/umbraco/customContent/media/1155_Gulf_GulfImpactsTropicalCyclones_%201885-2007.pdf 24 March 2022 live Archive: Known Impacts of Tropical Cyclones, East Coast, 1858 – 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20220324022950/http://hardenup.org/umbraco/customContent/media/1150_EastCoastImpactsofTropicalCyclones_1858-2008.pdf 13 October 2011 Tanya's remnant tropical low was last noted by the BoM later that day as it moved towards the centre of Cape York. However, over the next couple of days, the JTWC continued to monitor Tanya's remnants as they moved across the Gulf of Carpentaria, before they made landfall and dissipated over the Arnhem Land during 4 April. Tanya caused some minor damage to vegetation, while there were no deaths or structural damage reported. Severe Tropical Cyclone Margot Aus Margot Apr 15 1985 0300Z.png Margot 1985 track.png 11 April 21 April 85 105 942 Cyclone Margot was a tropical cyclone that stayed out to sea during its entire duration. It was first identified on 10 April, off the coast of Sunda Strait. Margot then traveled to the southwest during 12 April, gradually intensifying to a tropical cyclone. In the noon hours of 13 April, it began to move to the southeast, under the influence of an intense high-pressure area to the south. The cyclone reached a peak intensity on 14 April, as a category three cyclone using the Australian scale, with winds of 155 km/h mph on 5. This intensity was based on satellite estimates, but the strongest report was from a ship eighteen hours earlier. After peak intensity Margot gradually weakened up until the 19, when it briefly underwent intensification, and turned west. This was short lived however, as dry, easterly low-level winds and wind shear began to influence the cyclone. Margot began to rapidly weaken and move in an easterly direction on 20 April. On the 21 Margot had become a remnant low after completing a figure-eight path. On the 25 the remnant low was absorbed by a broad low-pressure system located in the northeast Indian Ocean.Severe Tropical Cyclone Margot Australian Bureau of Meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/margot.pdf 14 December 2012 Tropical Cyclone Gretel Aus Gretel Apr 12 1985 0517Z.png Gretel 1985 track.png 9 April 14 April 50 45 984 On 9 April, the BoM started to monitor a weak tropical low that had developed within the Gulf of Papua, to the west of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.Australian Bureau of Meteorology 14 December 2022 http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/gretel.shtml 6 July 2022 live Tropical Cyclone Gretel https://web.archive.org/web/20220706235833/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/gretel.shtmlCyclone Gretel threatens Northern Territory News 13 April 1985 1 Over the next couple of days, the system moved south-westwards through the Torres Strait and over the southern Arafura Sea, however, it remained poorly organised, which made it hard for the BoM to track the system and assess its intensity.1985 Tropical Cyclone Gretel (1985101S10136) International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 1985101S10136 15 December 2022 During 11 April, the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 34S, before they reported that the system had peaked as a tropical storm with 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 45 kn km/h mph on 5 out. During the following day, TCWC Darwin reported that the system had become a tropical cyclone and named the system Gretel, after they had received various reports of gale-force winds from ships. The newly named system subsequently passed over the Cobourg Peninsula into the Van Diemen Gulf, where it started to moved south-westwards and passed just to the north-west of Darwin at about 06:50 ACST on 13 April (21:20 UTC, 12 April). The BoM subsequently reported that Gretel had peaked as a category 2 tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained winds of 50 kn km/h mph on 5 out, after sustained winds of 84 km/h mph on were recorded at Darwin Airport. Over the next couple of days, Gretel moved south-westwards parallel to the coastline of the Northern Territory, as upper-level windshear caused the systems low-level circulation centre to become displaced from the surrounding atmospheric convection. During 14 April the system weakened into a tropical low, while it was located near Port Keats, before it dissipated over the Northern Territory.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122473162 Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology Weather The Canberra Times 16 April 1985 16 December 2022 17 National Library of Australia Overall Gretel had a minimal impact on Darwin and the Northern Territory, with damages estimated at AU$3 million, while no deaths were reported.http://www.ema.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/c85916e930b93d50ca256d050020cb1f/a604dbd52be76571ca256d3300057c8b?OpenDocument Darwin, NT: Cyclone 22 April 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20120402033842/http://www.ema.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/c85916e930b93d50ca256d050020cb1f/a604dbd52be76571ca256d3300057c8b?OpenDocument 2 April 2012 dead The majority of the damage was caused by gale force winds uprooting hundreds of trees, which fell onto roads and power lines and caused power outages across the territory.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122472779 Cyclone Gretel blacks out Darwin The Canberra Times 14 April 1985 16 December 2022 3 National Library of Australia The system produced significant rainfall over the Northern Territory, with a rainfall total of 480 mm in on 3 recorded at the Nabarlek Uranium Mine.Supervising Scientist for the Alligator Rivers Region: 7th Annual Report 1984-85 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2141198541 The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia 15 December 2022 20 February 1986 Gretel produced significant rainfall over the Top End, with rainfall totals of 480-749 mm in on 3 recorded over the territory.Supervising Scientist for the Alligator Rivers Region: 7th Annual Report 1984-85 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2141198541 The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia 15 December 2022 20 February 1986Long-term Darwin residents may remember this day in 1985 when Cyclone Gretel hit Darwin. https://www.facebook.com/LibraryArchivesNT/posts/long-term-darwin-residents-may-remember-this-day-in-1985-when-cyclone-gretel-hit/1564429040367766/ Library & Archives NT Facebook A large number of trees were brought down in Darwin, which fell onto power lines and caused power outages across the territory.Cyclone Gretel blacks out Darwin http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122472779 The Canberra Times 14 April 1985 16 December 2022 3 National Library of Australia It was later reported by the NT News that 95% of Darwin's overhead power connections were brought down by Gretel. Season effects This table lists all the storms that developed in the Australian Region during the 1984–85 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian Tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, areas affected, deaths, and damages. |- | 02 Monica || 1229 28 December – 3 January || bgcolor=#A2|2 Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|60 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|975 hPa inHg 4 on on || New Caledonia || 00 None || 00 None || December 2023 |- | 03 Drena || 0109 9–16 January || bgcolor=#A1|1 Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|45 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|987 hPa inHg 4 on on || || || || December 2023 |- | Nigel || 19850114 14 – 16 January 1985 || bgcolor=#A2|3 Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|60 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|996 hPa inHg on 4 on || Queensland || 0 None || 0 None || |- | 06 Odette || 0119 19–21 January || bgcolor=#A3|3 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A3|90 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A3|960 hPa inHg 4 on on || Vanuatu || Minor || 00 None || December 2023 |- | 07 Freda || 0126 25–30 January || bgcolor=#A3|3 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A3|80 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A3|955 hPa inHg 4 on on || || || || December 2023 |- | Pierre || 19850218 18 – 24 February 1985 || bgcolor=#A2|2 Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|50 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|986 hPa inHg on 4 on || Queensland || Minimal || 0 None || |- | Rebecca || 19850220 20 - 23 February 1985 || bgcolor=#A1|2 Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|40 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|994 hPa inHg 4 on on || Arnhem Land, Cape York Peninsula || 2 Minimal || 1 Unknown || |- | Sandy || 19850320 20 – 24 March 1985 || bgcolor=#A4|5 Category 4 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A4|105 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A4|953 hPa inHg on 4 on || Northern Territory, Western Australia || || 0 None ||Australian Bureau of Meteorology 2010 17 September 2012 Severe Tropical Cyclone Sandy http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/sandy.shtml |- | Tanya || 19850327 27 March – 4 April 1985 || bgcolor=#A2|2 Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|55 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|982 hPa inHg on 4 on || Cape York Peninsula || Minimal || 0 None || |- | Margot || 19850410 10 – 25 April 1985 || bgcolor=#A3|4 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A3|85 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A3|942 hPa inHg on 4 on || Western Australia || || 0 None || December 2023 |- | Gretel || 19850409 9 – 14 April 1985 || bgcolor=#A2|2 Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|50 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|984 hPa inHg on 4 on || Northern Territory || || 0 None || |-  systems 26 December – 25 April 1985 120 kn km/h mph 5 out on on 910 hPa inHg 4 on $40000000 37 See also Atlantic tropical cyclone seasons: 1984, 1985, Eastern Pacific tropical cyclone seasons: 1984, 1985 Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1984, 1985 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1984, 1985 References 1980 Australian region cyclone yes 1984 y Category:Australian region cyclone seasons Category:Tropical cyclones in 1984 Category:Tropical cyclones in 1985