List of cyclones in Western Australia

Australian tropical cyclone
intensity scale
Category Sustained
winds
Gusts
Five >107 kt
>200 km/h
>151 kt
>279 km/h
Four 86–107 kt
160–200 km/h
122–151 kt
225–279 km/h
Three 64–85 kt
118–159 km/h
90–121 kt
165–224 km/h
Two 48–63 kt
89–117 km/h
68–89 kt
125–164 km/h
One 34–47 kt
63–88 km/h
49–67 kt
91–125 km/h

This is a list of cyclones that have significantly affected or made landfall over the coast of Western Australia.

Name Year Date of landfall Peak intensity[nb 1][nb 2] Deaths Damage (A$) Remarks
Winds Pressure
N/A 1870 24 December N/A 956 hPa (28.23 inHg) 0 Unknown A severe storm caused extensive defoliation and debarking of trees in Roebourne.[1]
N/A 1875 24 December N/A N/A 69 Unknown Cyclone hovered in Exmouth Gulf for nearly two weeks; 69 lives lost, mostly on ships at sea in the area.
N/A 1881 6 January N/A N/A 16 Unknown Many schooners sank or were washed ashore by a cyclone that struck Roebourne. A large storm surge caused dramatic changes to coastal landscapes as well.[1]
N/A 1881 7 March N/A 942 hPa (27.82 inHg) 0 Unknown A severe storm struck Roebourne and Cossack, damaging nearly every structure.[1]
N/A 1884 1 April N/A N/A 140 Unknown Forty vessels of a pearling fleet sunk with 140 lives lost in Lagrange Bay
N/A 1889 1 March N/A N/A 1 Unknown A cyclone struck Cossack at high tide, causing considerable flooding.[1]
N/A 1894 4–9 January N/A N/A 40 Unknown Two consecutive cyclones struck the Pilbara coastline and caused extensive damage in Roebourne and Cossack. The second storm destroyed the seawall in Cossack. All fatalities took place offshore due to the sinking of twelve luggers and the steamer Anne. Damage was estimated at £15,000.[1]
N/A 1898 2 April N/A N/A 0 Unknown Severe damage, described as the worst ever seen, took place in Cossack. Infrastructure was devastated and losses reached £30,000. A record-breaking 747 mm (29.4 in) of rain was measured in 24 hours at Whim Creek.[1]
N/A 1903 8 January N/A N/A 0 Unknown Storm dropped 637 mm (25.1 in) of rain in Wyndham over a five-day span causing unprecedented flooding and severe stock losses.[2]
N/A 1908 12 January N/A N/A 50 Unknown Struck Broome; most deaths at sea
N/A 1910 19 November 175 km/h (110 mph)[nb 3]965 hPa (28.50 inHg) 40 Unknown Storm caused severe damage in and around Broome. Twenty homes were destroyed while seventy more were damaged, with losses amounting to £20,000. Offsore, 67 pearling vessels were blown ashore while 34 more sank.[3]
N/A 1912 21 March 102 km/h (63 mph)[nb 3] N/A 150 Unknown The coal steamer Koombana sank after sailing into the eye of this storm with all hands lost. The storm made landfall near Balla Balla and caused severe damage.[4]
N/A 1914 9 January <65 km/h (<40 mph) N/A 0 Unknown Tropical low caused record-breaking floods along the Fitzroy and Lennard rivers; many cattle were swpet away.[5]
N/A 1925 11 January 102 km/h (63 mph)[nb 3] N/A 0 Unknown Severe flooding took place along the Cossack River and every building was damaged in Roebourne.[1]
N/A 1925 26 February N/A N/A 0 Unknown All homes in Marble Bar were damaged and some were destroyed. Extensive damage also took place in Nullagine.[6]
N/A 1926 22 January 160 km/h (100 mph)[nb 3]982 hPa (29.00 inHg) 40 Unknown Extensive damage took place in Broome.[3]
N/A 1930 28 December N/A N/A 0 Unknown Considerable damage in and around Marble Bar and Nullagine.[6]
N/A 1935 26 March 130 km/h (80 mph)[nb 3]995 hPa (29.39 inHg) 141 Unknown Storm caused severe damage in Derby. A pearling fleet near the Lacepede Islands was devastated by the storm, resulting in 141 fatalities.[3][5]
N/A 1939 11 January 200 km/h (124 mph)[nb 3] N/A 9 Unknown A storm surge of 9.8 m (32 ft) caused extensive damage in Port Hedland and left 30 percent of the town homeless.[4] The Nicol Bay sank along the Ashburton River and some damage took place in Roebourne.[1]
N/A 1941 1 March N/A N/A 0 Unknown Homes flattened in Comet Mine and heavy rain caused significant flooding.[6]
N/A 1942 11 January 230 km/h (145 mph)[nb 3]938 hPa; (27.70 inHg) 2 Unknown All homes in Port Hedland sustained some degree of damage.[4]
N/A 1956 18–26 February N/A N/A 0 Unknown The Fitzroy River exceeded flood levels set during the 1914 flood, with the river spanning 24 km (15 mi) across in some areas. The town of Derby was entirely cut off from surrounding areas.[5]
N/A 1957 14 February 161 km/h (101 mph)[nb 3]964 hPa (28.47 inHg) 2 Unknown Many homes sustained significant damage; losses reached £80,000.[3]
N/A 1959 April N/A N/A 0 Unknown Cyclone dropped 440 mm (17 in) of rain over two days in Wyndham, causing flooding.[2]
Alby 1978 4 April200 km/h (125 mph)930 hPa (27.46 inHg) 5 $39 million Caused the most widespread cyclone damage in Western Australia's history. Destroyed a large portion of the Busselton Jetty. Affected Perth with the 3rd highest recorded wind gust in the city's history, 130 km/h (81 mph), and Fremantle with a 143 km/h (89 mph) gust. Fueled bushfires which killed 2 more people indirectly.[7]
Jane 1983 9 January 170 km/h (105 mph) 947 hPa (27.96 inHg) 0 Minor Made landfall east of Port Hedland causing moderate damage, particularly in Pardoo Station.
Lena 1983 8 April 110 km/h (70 mph) 980 hPa (28.93 inHg) 0 Minor Lena passed directly over Port Hedland as a category two. Moderate damage was reported, one poorly-built house and several fishing boasts were destroyed.
Quenton 1983 30 November 170 km/h (105 mph) 955 hPa (28.20 inHg) 0 Minor The earliest recorded landfalling severe tropical cyclone in Western Australia. Caused minor damage at the Sandfire Roadhouse.
Chloe 1984 29 February 170 km/h (105 mph) 955 hPa (28.20 inHg) 0 Unknown (severe) Made landfall as a category four, severe structural damage occurred in Roebourne with some houses completely destroyed. Severe wind damage was also reported at Dampier, Whim Creek and Port Hedland while a flash flood damaged much of Wickham.
Frank 1984 27 December 175 km/h (110 mph) 952 hPa (28.11 inHg) 0 Minor Frank made landfall over Port Hedland causing minor wind damage.
Connie 1987 19 January 155 km/h (100 mph) 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) 0 Minor Connie passed over Port Hedland on the 19 of January, causing moderate infrastructure damage. The roof of the historic Whim Creek Pub was also torn off in the storm.
Elsie 1987 25 February 175 km/h (110 mph) 940 hPa (27.75 inHg) 0 Unknown (severe) Elise passed directly over Mandora Station as a category four resulting in catastrophic damage. Almost all of the stations buildings were destroyed, including the main homestead. Mandora was completely rebuilt with buildings constructed to withstand severe tropical cyclone winds.
Herbie 1988 21 May 75 km/h (45 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) 0 $20 million Herbie made landfall over Denham as a category one storm. Severe damage was reported in the town, with some roofs torn off and fences blown over. Flash-flooding was reported from Carnarvon to Geraldton. The storm crossed the coast on the 21 of May, the latest known date of landfall for a tropical cyclone in Australia.
Ned 1989 1 April 165 km/h (105 mph) 941 hPa (27.78 inHg) 0 Unknown Ned crossed the coast just south of Perth as a category one on the 1 of April. Moderate wind damage was reported in the Rockingham. Ned is the most southerly landfalling tropical cyclone recorded in Australia and the only storm ever to directly affect Perth city at cyclone strength.
Orson 1989 23 April 250 km/h (155 mph) 925 hPa (27.31 inHg) 5 $25 million Orson made landfall near Dampier as a strong category five however damage was minimal due to the storms fast speed and small wind field. Severe damage was however reported on an offshore drilling rig and five people drowned after their boat capsized in rough seas. Before landfall, Orson was the fourth most intense cyclone ever recorded in Australian waters.
Ian 1992 3 March 210 km/h (130 mph) 930 hPa (27.46 inHg) 0 Minor Ian made landfall near Mardie Station as a category three. Minor damage occurred to mining operations in the Montebello Islands and on Barrow Island.
N/A 1993 February <65 km/h (<40 mph) N/A 0 Unknown Twin tropical lows brought rainfall in excess of 500 mm (20 in) to the Kimberley region, causing severe flooding. Extensive damage to infrastructure occurred.[5]
Annette 1994 18 December 195 km/h (120 mph) 925 hPa (27.31 inHg) 0 Minor Annette made landfall over Mandora Station as a category four causing severe damage to the homestead and surrounding area and killing several hundred cattle.
Bobby 1995 25 February 195 km/h (120 mph) 925 hPa (27.31 inHg) 8 Unknown Bobby crossed the coast as a category three near Onslow on the 25 February causing severe flooding across the north-west. Eight people were killed in total, seven who were in a boat that capsized off the coast of Onslow and an eighth person drowned in floodwaters near Carnarvon.
Chloe 1995 7 April 200 km/h (125 mph) 920 hPa (27.16 inHg) 0 None Crossed the coast east of Derby as a severe tropical cyclone in early April 1995.
Frank 1995 13 December 130 km/h (80 mph) 965 hPa (28.49 inHg) 0 Minor Frank crossed the coast near Carnarvon as a tropical low causing minor property damage at Exmouth.
Gertie 1995 20 December 130 km/h (80 mph) 965 hPa (28.49 inHg) 0 Minor Crossed the coast near Mandora Station causing only minor damage.
Kirsty 1996 12 March 175 km/h (110 mph) 935 hPa (27.61 inHg) 0 Unknown Made landfall as a severe cyclone near Port Hedland. Many structures were damaged in that town while severe damage was reported at nearby Pardoo Station, with some buildings completely demolished.
Olivia 1996 10 April 195 km/h (120 mph) 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) 0 Unknown Olivia crossed the coast near Pannawonica causing moderate damage to structures in that town. Before making landfall, a world record wind gust of 408 km/h (253 mph) was recorded on Barrow Island.
Phil 1997 28 December 110 km/h (70 mph) 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) 0 None Phil crossed the coast in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf as a weak cyclone.
Rachel 1997 8 December 130 km/h (80 mph) 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) 0 Unknown Rachel made landfall near Port Hedland on 8 of January 1997.
Tiffany 1998 25 December 170 km/h (105 mph) 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) 0 None Tiffany brushed the Pilbara coastline, causing heavy rain and some flooding from Broome to Karratha.
Billy 1998 6 December 130 km/h (80 mph) 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) 0 None Billy made landfall near Onslow and caused minor flooding.
Thelma 1998 11 December 220 km/h (140 mph) 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) 1 Unknown Thelma made landfall near Kuri Bay as a category three cyclone after weakening from a strong category five, causing flooding throughout the Kimberley. One man drowned in floodwaters near Kalumburu.
Vance 1999 22 March 215 km/h (130 mph) 910 hPa (26.87 inHg) 0 $100 million Cyclone Vance made landfall over Exmouth as a strong category five, one of the strongest landfalling cyclones recorded in Australia. Exmouth was devastated, with the whole town badly damaged and many houses destroyed. It was also the costliest cyclone on record to hit Western Australia with damage totaling over $100 million Aud.
Elaine 1999 20 March 165 km/h (105 mph) 945 hPa (27.90 inHg) 0 Minor Elaine made landfall near Kalbarri as a category one causing torrential rain and flash flooding in the northern Wheatbelt region. The town of Moora was most badly affected, with the majority of the town flooded.
Gwenda 1999 7 April 225 km/h (140 mph) 900 hPa (26.58 inHg) 0 Minor Gwenda made landfall as a category two near Port Hedland. Damage was only minor and significantly less than expected. Before making landfall, Gwenda was one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded in the Australian region.
John 1999 15 December 205 km/h (125 mph) 915 hPa (27.02 inHg) 0 Unknown John made landfall as a category five near Whim Creek, causing severe damage in that town but most surrounding areas were relatively unscathed.
Ilsa 1999 17 December 100 km/h (60 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) 0 None Made landfall as a weak cyclone near the Sandfire Roadhouse causing heavy rain.
Steve 2000 6 & 9 March 150 km/h (95 mph) 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) 0 $100 million Steve made two landfalls in Western Australia, once near Karratha and again near Carnarvon. Damage was severe from flooding in Gascoyne River and flooding rains extended as far south as Esperance.
Rosita 2000 20 April 185 km/h (115 mph) 930 hPa (27.46 inHg) 0 Unknown (severe) Rosita made landfall 40 km (25 mi) south of Broome as a category five. Vegetation damage was extreme with almost all trees destroyed within the landfall area. Yardoogarra station and a nearby tourist resort were completely flattened with many buildings torn from their foundations. Fortunatley, there were no deaths apart from 200 cattle.
Sam 2000 8 December 175 km/h (110 mph) 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) 0 Unknown (severe) Sam made landfall as a category four west of Broome, causing severe damage to a few isolated cattle stations and indigenous communities. Almost all buildings on the Anna Plains Station were flattened and the town of Bidyadanga was also severely damaged. Both locations had been evacuated beforehand so there were no deaths as a result of the storm.
Terri 2001 31 January 110 km/h (70 mph) 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) 0 None Made landfall near Pardoo Station as a weak cyclone causing no damage.
Vincent 2001 14 February 100 km/h (65 mph) 981 hPa (28.97 inHg) 0 None Made landfall west of Broome causing no damage.
Alistair 2001 19 April 110 km/h (70 mph) 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) 0 Unknown Brushed the Kimberley coast as a category one and then made landfall near Carnarvon as a tropical low causing significant damage to fruit plantations.
Chris 2002 5 February 205 km/h (125 mph) 915 hPa (27.02 inHg) 0 $1 million Chris crossed the coast in a remote area roughly half way between Broome and Port Hedland as a category five. Structural damage was minor, however many thousands of cattle were killed, amounting to $1 million in damages.
N/A 2003 25 January 095 km/h (60 mph) 988 hPa (29.17 inHg) 0 Minor Made landfall near Port Hedland causing heavy rain and minor flooding.
Graham 2003 28 February 095 km/h (60 mph) 985 hPa (29.09 inHg) 1 Minor Graham made landfall as a slow moving, weak cyclone, therefore causing negligible wind damage but widespread flooding. One person was swept away by floodwaters and killed near Fitzroy Crossing.
Inigo 2003 8 April 240 km/h (150 mph) 900 hPa (26.58 inHg) 0 Minor Cyclone Inigo was the most intense cyclone recorded off the coast of Western Australia however had weakened significantly to a category one at landfall and caused little to no damage, apart from localized flash flooding.
Monty 2004 1 March 185 km/h (115 mph) 935 hPa (27.61 inHg) 0 Minor Made landfall west of Karratha as a category 3. Major flooding was observed with 24 hour rainfall totals of up to 400 mm (15.74 in), and several people were stranded by floodwaters and had to be rescued near Pannawonica.
Fay 2004 27 March 215 km/h (130 mph) 910 hPa (26.87 inHg) 0 Minor Cyclone Fay made landfall as a category four on a remote section of the Pilbara coast, therefore causing little damage.
Raymond 2005 2 January 85 km/h (50 mph) 985 hPa (29.09 inHg) 0 None Made landfall near Kalumburu causing no damage.
Ingrid 2005 15 March 230 km/h (145 mph) 924 hPa (27.29 inHg) 0 Unknown Made landfall near Kalumburu as a category five. Structural damage was minor, however environmental damage was severe with hundreds of kilometers of forest destroyed.
Clare 2006 9 January 140 km/h (85 mph) 960 hPa (28.35 inHg) 0 $2.4 million Made landfall near Karratha causing extremely heavy rain and widespread flooding.
Emma 2006 28 February 75 km/h (45 mph) 988 hPa (29.17 inHg) 0 $1 million A large and slow moving storm caused heavy rain and flooding across almost the entire length of Western Australia.
Glenda 2006 30 March 75 km/h (45 mph) 988 hPa (29.18 inHg) 0 $1.2 million Made landfall over Onslow as a category three storm causing moderate damage (severe economic damage however). 206 mm (8.11 in) of rain was recorded in 24 hours, causing flash flooding.
Hubert 2006 7 April 95 km/h (60 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) 0 None Crossed the coast near Onslow as a weak category one.
Isobel 2007 3 January 85 km/h (50 mph) 982 hPa (29.00 inHg) 0 None Crossed the coast near Broome.
George 2007 8 March 205 km/h (125 mph) 902 hPa (26.64 inHg) 3 $8 million George made landfall just east of Port Hedland as a category five causing severe destruction. Many houses were flattened, mining camps were completely demolished and the town was labeled a disaster zone. Overall three people were killed and damage totaled $8 million. George was one of the most intense cyclones on record to strike the Pilbara region.
Jacob 2007 12 March 130 km/h (80 mph) 960 hPa (28.35 inHg) 0 Minor Made landfall as a tropical low near Port Hedland, causing minor flooding.
Helen 2008 1 January 95 km/h (60 mph) 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) 0 None Brushed the coastline of the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf.
Nicholas 2008 20 February 150 km/h (90 mph) 948 hPa (27.99 inHg) 0 Minor Category three cyclone caused heavy rain but little damage in the Carnarvon district.
Billy 2008 20 December 175 km/h (110 mph) 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) 0 Minor Made landfall as a category two near Wyndham, causing minor flooding. Further intensified to a category four after moving out to sea.
Dominic 2008 27 January 100 km/h (65 mph) 976 hPa (28.82 inHg) 1 Minor Dominic made landfall as a category two near Onslow, causing minor wind and flooding damage. A crane worker was killed due to high winds in Port Hedland.
Laurence 2009 16 & 21 December 205 km/h (125 mph) 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) 0 $9 million Laurence made landfall twice, once near Cockatoo Island and again at Eighty Mile Beach. Wind damage was severe and some houses were demolished, however it was not widespread due to the isolated areas where the storm made landfall.
Magda 2010 21 January 130 km/h (80 mph) 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) 0 Minor Made landfall near Kuri Bay in the Kimberley as a category three with only minor damage.
03U 2010 18 December 55 km/h (35 mph) 989 hPa (29.20 inHg) 0 $100 million A weak tropical low, however caused extreme flooding and severe damage in the Gascoyne River region of Western Australia.
Bianca 2011 25 January 175 km/h (110 mph) 949 hPa (28.02 inHg) 2 Minor Was expected to make landfall however moved parallel to the Pilbara coastline and caused little damage.
Carlos 2011 19 February 120 km/h (75 mph) 969 hPa (28.61 inHg) 0 $16 million Carlos brushed the Pilbara coast causing heavy rainfall and high winds from Broome all the way to Exmouth. Building damage was severe in Karratha.
Heidi 2012 12 January 120 km/h (75 mph) 968 hPa (28.59 inHg) 0 None Heidi made landfall near Port Hedland with minor impacts.
Iggy 2012 2 February 100 km/h (65 mph) 970 hPa (28.64 inHg) 0 None Igga made landfall as a tropical low near Jurien Bay causing heavy rainfall and some flooding.
Lua 2012 17 March 165 km/h (105 mph) 930 hPa (27.46 inHg) 0 $230 million Cyclone Lua caused severe damage across isolated cattle stations in the Pilbara as a category four.
Peta 2013 23 January 65 km/h (40 mph) 992 hPa (29.30 inHg) 0 None Cyclone Peta was a weak cyclone that made landfall near Port Hedland with limited effects.
Rusty 2013 27 February 165 km/h (105 mph) 945 hPa (27.91 inHg) 0 $478 million Made landfall as a category four at Pardoo Station with only minor structural damage however severe economic damage through loss of revenue of mining companies.
Alessia 2013 23 November 65 km/h (40 mph) 997 hPa (29.44 inHg) 0 None Alessia brushed the Kimberley region with minor effects.[8][9]
Christine 2013 30 December 155 km/h (100 mph) 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) 0 Unknown Christine made landfall in the Pilbara. Caused heavy damage in the towns of Roebourne and Wickham with many roofs torn off and smaller structures destroyed.
Olwyn 2015 13&14 March 150 km/h (90 mph) 950 hPa (28.05 inHg) 0 none Olwyn made landfall in Carnarvon. It caused heavy of Carnarvon, Western Australia one person had sustained life-threatening injuries in a related car incident.

See also

References

Notes
  1. If multiple landfalls took place along the storm's track, the highest intensity is listed.
  2. Listings in italics denote storms that did not make landfall but had impact on land.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Estimated maximum wind gusts.
General
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Tropical Cyclones Affecting the Karratha/Dampier/Roebourne region". Bureau of Meteorology. Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Tropical Cyclones Affecting Wyndham". Bureau of Meteorology. Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Tropical Cyclones Affecting Broome". Bureau of Meteorology. Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "Tropical Cyclones Affecting Port Hedland". Bureau of Meteorology. Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Tropical Cyclones Affecting Derby". Bureau of Meteorology. Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 "Tropical Cyclones Affecting Pilbara". Bureau of Meteorology. Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  7. "Tropical Cyclone Alby". Bureau of Meteorology. Australian Government. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  8. Tropical Cyclone Alessia Impacts. Bureau of Meteorology (Report) (Government of Australia). 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  9. Perth Regional Forecasting Centre (23 November 2013). Tropical Cyclone Alessia Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin. Bureau of Meteorology (Report) (Government of Australia). Archived from the original on 23 November 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
Specific

External links

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