1979–80 Australian region cyclone season
The 1979–80 Australian region cyclone season was an above average tropical cyclone season. The season featured 15 total cyclones, with 9 of them attaining severe tropical cyclone status. The strongest of these was Cyclone Amy, which ended up making landfall in the north-western portion of Western Australia.
Seasonal summary
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from:26/08/1979 till:30/08/1979 color:C2 text:"Tony "
from:09/12/1979 till:18/12/1979 color:C5 text:"Viola "
from:23/12/1979 till:02/01/1980 color:C3 text:"Wilf "
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from:08/01/1980 till:12/01/1980 color:C1 text:"Paul "
from:04/01/1980 till:12/01/1980 color:C5 text:"Amy "
from:18/01/1980 till:27/01/1980 color:C4 text:"Brian "
from:21/01/1980 till:29/01/1980 color:C2 text:"Clara "
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from:27/01/1980 till:04/02/1980 color:C5 text:"Dean "
from:11/02/1980 till:18/02/1980 color:C2 text:"Ruth "
from:12/02/1980 till:18/02/1980 color:C5 text:"Enid "
from:20/02/1980 till:28/02/1980 color:C4 text:"Fred "
from:21/02/1980 till:28/02/1980 color:C4 text:"Simon "
from:09/03/1980 till:11/03/1980 color:C1 text:"Sina "
from:14/03/1980 till:29/03/1980 color:C4 text:"Doris–Gloria "
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from:01/08/1979 till:31/08/1979 text:August
from:01/09/1979 till:30/09/1979 text:September
from:01/10/1979 till:31/10/1979 text:October
from:01/11/1979 till:30/11/1979 text:November
from:01/12/1979 till:31/12/1979 text:December
from:01/01/1980 till:31/01/1980 text:January
from:01/02/1980 till:28/02/1980 text:February
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Systems
Tropical Cyclone Tony
On 26 August, TCWC Perth reported that a tropical low had developed on a shear line about 1300 km to the northwest of Cocos Island. Over the next couple of days the depression gradually developed further before at 1800 UTC on 27 August, TCWC Perth estimated that it had become a tropical cyclone and named it Tony. During the next couple of days, the system moved towards the west-southwest before on 29 August it reached its peak intensity of and a peak pressure of as it approached the edge of TCWC Perth's area of responsibility. During the next day, Tony moved into the South West Indian Ocean and weakened gradually before it dissipated during 31 August. Neither the Mauritius or Reunion meteorological services monitored Tony as a tropical cyclone while it was active, while it was not included in the JTWC's analysis of the season.Severe Tropical Cyclone Viola–Claudette
The disturbance from which Viola developed formed on 7 December about northwest of Cocos. A tropical depression developed on 9 December, moved slowly southwestward, and strengthened into Cyclone Viola two days later. It then moved westward under the influence of an easterly middle level flow north of the sub-tropical ridge, and attained its maximum intensity on 16 December 1979, with a maximum mean wind speed of about and an estimated central pressure of. Early on 18 December, Viola crossed 90º E and was renamed Claudette.Severe Tropical Cyclone Wilf–Danitza
The depressional phase of Wilf began about 300 km of the Cocos Island on 23 December 1979. Estimated from satellite pictures, Wilf was recorded as a tropical cyclone early Christmas Day. Wilf began a period of rapid intensification and reached its peak on 28 December. Wilf began to weaken as shear from the northwest began to tear the storm apart. While its convection did weaken a lot, it was still able to maintain tropical cyclone status. The storm crossed into the Southwest Indian Ocean on the first day of 1980, being renamed to Danitza.Tropical Cyclone Paul
On 2 January, the BoM reported that a tropical depression had developed in the Southwest Gulf of Carpentaria. During that day the depression moved towards the southwest and developed early signs of having a cyclonic circulation, however before it could intensify into a tropical cyclone, the system made landfall near the Northern Territory border with Queensland at 135°E. Over the next couple of days the depression weakened slightly, as it moved in a general east-southeast direction across the Carpentaria and Central Coast districts of Queensland. On 7 January, the depression moved out into the Coral Sea just to the south of Sarina with a central pressure of 995 hPa. During that day the depression developed gale-force windspeeds and was named as Paul by TCWC Brisbane. Before later that day, Paul reached its peak intensity as a tropical cyclone with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of and its lowest central pressure of 989 hPa as it moved rapidly towards the southeast. This southeastern movement continued until 1200 UTC on 8 January when it slowed down and started to move to the southwest as it developed a cold core and became extratropical. The extratropical remnants of Paul subsequently lingered in the Australian region and peaked with stronger windspeeds than when it was a tropical cyclone. The US Navy's analysis of this system shows that they would have considered Paul a tropical storm with peak 1-minute sustained windspeeds of. As a tropical depression, Paul forced a strong area of convergence in the moist airstream onto the tropical Queensland coast. As a result of the moisture, very heavy rain caused one of the highest floods of the 20th Century down the Don River through Bowen. In its lower reaches the river changed its course and washed away two homes and caused several million Australian dollars' worth of damage to the market garden industry.Severe Tropical Cyclone Amy
What would form into Amy began on 3 January 1980 as a collection of clouds located over the Timor Sea, and would drift west-southwest as it reached tropical cyclone status on 5 January. Amy sped towards the south on the 7th, towards Port Hedland. As it approached landfall, it continued to switch direction. Amy made landfall the morning of 10 January about 110km east of Port Headland. Amy passed close to the town of Goldsworthy and caused extensive damage. In total, Amy caused around $25 million in damages. No injuries or deaths were reported. The lowest central pressure was 915 hPa.Severe Tropical Cyclone Brian
Brian began as a depression located east of Bathurst Island on 18 January 1980. The system moved west-southwest as it began to rapidly intensify late 19 January. Winds of 110 km/h were recorded 50 km from the eye. Continuing to intensify, Brian reached its peak intensity on 23 January of 185 km/h. Brian began to move southwest before dissipating on 27 January.Tropical Cyclone Clara
Clara began as a tropical depression located about 1000 km west-northwest of Cocos Island. Clara moved southwest before being named late on 21 January. However, Clara was located close to Cyclone Brian and rapidly weaken due to shear from Brian. Clara regained tropical cyclone status on 24 January with peak intensity occurring 2 days later on 26 January. Strong winds traveling northwest in the troposphere ripped Clara up, causing her to dissipate on 29 January.Severe Tropical Cyclone Dean
Dean was the third tropical cyclone to develop between 19 and 28 January in a persistent monsoonal low pressure trough, extending from northern Australia westward across the Indian Ocean. Late on 26 January, a pre-cyclone cloud cluster and an associated surface low formed near Bathurst Island and slowly moved westward. The system intensified rapidly, and by 28 January, the storm was estimated to have reached tropical cyclone intensity. During the next 36 hours, intensification was slow as Dean moved to the west-southwest at about. Late on 30 January, the speed of movement slowed down as the system turned to the south. Dean continued to intensify as it accelerated towards the coast. It reached peak intensity on 31 January, with winds of, with the lowest atmospheric pressure recorded at. Early on 1 February, Dean made landfall east of Port Hedland. It weakened slowly over land, eventually dissipating 2 days later.In Port Hedland, Western Australia, a wind speed of was recorded, with extensive damage also being reported. Goldsworthy, Marble Bar, and Mt. Newman all reported wind damage, but not as severe as Port Hedland. Flooding between Port Hedland and Mt. Newman caused damage to roads and the railway line. Overall, total damage and industrial losses were estimated at about $20 million.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Enid
Enid developed near a weak surface low found near Victoria River Downs, Northern Territory on 12 February. The low deepened as it moved westward, and by 15 February, it had a central pressure of. Enid intensified rapidly over the warm waters. It made landfall on 17 February west of Wallal, Western Australia, with its central pressure estimated to.Significant damage to windmills and buildings occurred at Wallal. Cattle worth over $200,000 drowned in the ocean. At Shay Gap, Western Australia, severe damage to blocks of flats and houses, which were unroofed, was observed. No deaths were reported, but minor injuries were sustained. of rain was reported at Bonney Downs, Western Australia, at Marble Bar, Western Australia, and at Newman, Western Australia. Wind gusts up to are estimated to have occurred near Wallal.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Fred
On 19 February, TCWC Perth reported that a tropical depression had developed out of an active area of convection that was associated with a monsoonal shear line about midway between the Cocos and Christmas Islands.Fred developed from an active area of convection associated with the monsoon shear line about midway between Cocos and Christmas Islands late on 19 February 1980. It reached tropical cyclone strength early on 21 February 1980 and attained its maximum intensity on the afternoon of 24 February 1980 when the central pressure was estimated to be near 930 hPa. Despite the small size of the cyclone it maintained this intensity with minor fluctuations until about 1200 UTC 25 February 1980. Early on 26 February the direction of movement changed from southwestward to southward as Fred came under the influence of a northwesterly upper-level flow. It weakened rapidly as it moved into a strong ridge of high pressure located at about latitude 33°S.