1977–78 Australian region cyclone season

1977–78 Australian region cyclone season
Season summary map
First system formed 6 November 1977
Last system dissipated 11 April 1978
Strongest storm1 Alby – 930 hPa (mbar),
Tropical lows 9
Tropical cyclones 5
Severe tropical cyclones 2
Total fatalities Unknown
Total damage Unknown
1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure
Australian region tropical cyclone seasons
1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80
Related articles

The 1977–78 Australian region season saw normal activity.

Storms

Cyclone Tom

Clockwise vortex
Duration 6 November – 11 November
Peak intensity Winds unknown  990 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Depression Sam-Celimene

Tropical low (Australian scale)
Clockwise vortex
Duration 13 December – 14 December (exited basin)
Peak intensity 45 km/h (30 mph) (10-min)  1003 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Trudy

Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration 10 January – 20 January
Peak intensity 175 km/h (110 mph) (1-min)  954 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Vern

Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration 27 January – 3 February
Peak intensity 150 km/h (90 mph) (1-min)  964 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Gwen

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration 25 February – 27 February
Peak intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min)  987 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Winnie

Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration 16 March – 29 March
Peak intensity 205 km/h (125 mph) (1-min)  945 hPa (mbar)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Alby

Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration 27 March – 5 April
Peak intensity 205 km/h (125 mph) (10-min)  930 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Cyclone Alby

On 27 March, a tropical depression developed in the eastern Indian Ocean between Indonesia and Australia. It drifted to the southwest, and slowly strengthened into a tropical storm on 29 March. Alby continued slowly southwestward, and attained cyclone status on 30 March. The rate of intensification, which was slower earlier in its life, became more steady towards strengthening, and reached the equivalent of Category 3 status on 1 April. Tropical Cyclone Alby turned more to the south, and quickly reached a peak of 135 mph (217 km/h) later on 1 April. After maintaining its strength for 30 hours, Alby weakened as it turned to the southeast. Its forward momentum increased over the southeast Indian Ocean, and Alby was only an 85 mph (137 km/h) cyclone as it passed off the southwest coast of Australia on 4 April. It continued rapidly to the southeast, and became extra-tropical on 5 April while south of the continent.

On 4 April, Tropical Cyclone Alby passed close to the southwest corner of Western Australia, killing five people and causing widespread but mostly minor damage to the southwest. The damage bill was estimated to be $39 million (2003 dollars). A man was blown from the roof of a shed and a woman was killed by a falling pine tree. Another man was killed when a tree fell on the bulldozer he was operating and two men drowned when their dinghy overturned at Albany. Storm surge and destructive waves caused coastal inundation and erosion from Perth to Busselton, damaging the Busselton Jetty and Fremantle Harbour. Fires fanned by the strong winds burned an estimated 1,140 km2 (440 sq mi) of forest and farming land.

Tropical Cyclone Brenda

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration 5 April – 14 April
Peak intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (1-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Hal

Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration 6 April – 11 April
Peak intensity 240 km/h (150 mph) (10-min)  985 hPa (mbar)

See also

References

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