Weather News

Australia's tropical cyclone season wraps up

Ben Domensino, Monday April 30, 2018 - 10:59 AEST

April marks the conclusion of Australia's six month tropical cyclone season and this one managed to break some records.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology's latest Tropical Climate Note, there were nine tropical cyclones recorded in Australian waters during the season, which is two below the long term average.

In total, seven tropical cyclones were named within Australian waters and five made landfall.

Three of the first four tropical cyclones to form in Australian waters this season brought heavy rain to northern WA. The collective deluge brought on by Hilda, Joyce and Kelvin resulted in Broome Airport breaking its annual rainfall record within the first two months of the calendar year.

March was an active month for tropical cyclones, with Linda, Marcus, Nora and Iris all forming in or near Australian waters within the space of just two weeks.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcus became the strongest system of the season and the most powerful tropical cyclone in Australian waters in 12 years. This powerful system reached category five strength on 21st March and produced estimated wind gusts of up to 325km/h at its peak.

Marcus was also the strongest tropical cyclone to affect Darwin since Tracy in 1974.

The seven names given to tropical cyclones that formed in Australian waters during the 2017/18 season were: Hilda, Irving, Joyce, Kelvin, Linda, Marcus and Nora.

The next tropical cyclone to form in the Australian region will be named Owen, although it may be a several months before this happens.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2018

Enter a postcode or town name for local weather, or text to search the site. » advanced search

Weather News

» all stories

Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro surf forecast

07:00 AEST After an emotional mid-year cut at the Margaret River Pro surf competition in Western Australia last week, surfers that fell below the cut line, along with up-and-coming talent, will be battling it out on the Gold Coast from this weekend onwards. The first stop on the Challenger Series (the lesser format of the Championship Tour) will take place along the Gold Coast’s premier surf point breaks, starting this morning and running to Saturday May 4th.