1980–81 Australian region cyclone season
| 1980–81 Australian region cyclone season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | 3 November 1980 |
| Last system dissipated | 30 May 1981 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Mabel |
| • Maximum winds | 205 km/h (125 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 930 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Tropical lows | 14 |
| Tropical cyclones | 14 |
| Severe tropical cyclones | 10 |
| Total fatalities | Unknown |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Related articles | |
The 1980–81 Australian region cyclone season was an above average tropical cyclone season. It officially started on 1 November 1980 and officially ended on 30 April 1981.
Systems
Severe Tropical Cyclone Alice-Adelaide
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | 3 November – 10 November (Crossed 80°E) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 195 km/h (120 mph) (10-min); 940 hPa (mbar) |
Formed on 3 November, just south of Selat Mentawai then moved southwestward before reaching a peak intensity of 110 knots (125 mph, 205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940.0 hectopascals (27.76 inHg) on 8 November. On 12 November the storm began to move northwestward and two days later dissipated over the open Indian Ocean.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Bert-Christelle
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | 24 November – 3 December (Crossed 80°E) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min); 965 hPa (mbar) |
The origins of Cyclone Bert-Christelle can be traced to a quasistationary convergence zone that spread across Indonesia to north of the Cocos Islands. Bert-Christelle was slow to organize but began to show signs of organization on November 26. Later on that day, the disturbance gained sufficient organization, noted by curved cloudbands, to be classified as Cyclone Bert. The cyclone moved to the southwest, gradually intensifying and attained a peak intensity of 150km/h (80kt, 90 mph) and 965 hPa (28.49 inHg) on November 29. Bert continued the same westerly motion and exited the basin on December 3. It was subsequently named Christelle by Météo France[1].
Severe Tropical Cyclone Carol
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | 12 December – 22 December |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 205 km/h (125 mph) (10-min); 940 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Dan
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | 14 December – 18 December |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min); 985 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Edna
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | 20 December – 27 December |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min); 994 hPa (mbar) |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Felix
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | 22 December – 31 December |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 185 km/h (115 mph) (10-min); 940 hPa (mbar) |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Mabel
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | 12 January – 21 January |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 205 km/h (125 mph) (10-min); 930 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Eddie
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | 8 February – 13 February |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min); 980 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Cliff
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | 13 February (Crossed 160°E) – 15 February |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min); 980 hPa (mbar) |
After ravaging the South Pacific islands, Cyclone Cliff struck Queensland on 14 February 1981. The effects of the cyclone was felt from Noosa to Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast. One person died in the storm.[2]
Severe Tropical Cyclone Neil
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | 24 February – 7 March |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 195 km/h (120 mph) (10-min); 940 hPa (mbar) |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Freda
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | 24 February – 3 March (Crossed 160°E) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min); 972 hPa (mbar) |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Max
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | 9 March – 19 March |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min); 960 hPa (mbar) |
Cyclone Max developed from a low pressure system into a Category 1 cyclone in Van Diemen Gulf, off the Northern Territory Coast, on 11 March 1981. Moving west-southwest, it crossed over Darwin, Australia later that day, causing tree damage and flooding but minimal structural damage. It subsequently moved west into the Timor Sea and the Indian Ocean, and although intensifying to Category 3 and reaching a lowest pressure of 960.0 hectopascals (28.35 inHg), did not approach land again.[3] Max was notable for being the first cyclone to pass over Darwin since the city was destroyed by Cyclone Tracy 6 years earlier. The name Max was not retired from the Northern Australia naming list.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Olga
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | 5 April – 15 April |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min); 940 hPa (mbar) |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Paddy
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | 24 May – 30 May |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min); 973 hPa (mbar) |
See also
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1980, 1981
- Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1980, 1981
- Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1980, 1981
- North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1980, 1981
References
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Bert". www.bom.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
- ^ "Noosa to Burleigh Heads, Qld: Cyclone (incl. Storm Surge)". Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
- ^ [1]
![[1]](http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1981/bom/max.gif){kind=link}