How strong was the wind in Cyclone Tracy?

How strong was the wind in Cyclone Tracy?

Cyclone Tracy

How far did Cyclone Tracy travel?

Cyclone Tracy is the most compact hurricane or equivalent-strength tropical cyclone on record in the Australian basin, with gale-force winds extending only 48 km (30 mi) from the center, and was the most compact system worldwide until 2008 when Tropical Storm Marco broke the record, with gale-force winds extending only …

What damage did Cyclone Tracy cause?

Cyclone Tracy killed 71 people and caused A$837 million in damage (equivalent to around A$4.45 billion in 2014 value). Approximately 30,000 of Darwin’s residents were evacuated, mostly to Adelaide and Sydney, and many never returned to the city.

Why was Cyclone Tracy so devastating?

The damaging impacts of Cyclone Tracy were the result of a ‘direct hit’ on Darwin. Damage to buildings was worsened because Tracy was a slow moving storm resulting in extended periods of exposure to high winds. The community, government and emergency management team did very little to prepare for Cyclone Tracy.

When did Cyclone Tracy dissipate?

December 26, 1974
Cyclone Tracy/Dissipated

Was Darwin unprepared for the effects of the Cyclone Tracy?

Despite this, its effect on Darwin was devastating. By the following morning, the majority of Darwin had been destroyed. Although it had survived major cyclones in 1897 and 1937, the city was unprepared for an incident of this magnitude (Cyclone Tracy Exhibition 2007).

How long did Cyclone Tracy last for?

December 21, 1974 – December 26, 1974
Cyclone Tracy/Dates

What happened after Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin?

In the days and weeks following the disaster, most of the traumatised population left the city. On 28 February 1975 the Whitlam government established the Darwin Reconstruction Commission, which effectively rebuilt the city within three years.

What category was Cyclone Tracy when it hit Darwin?

Category 4
Tropical Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin in the early hours of 25 December 1974; Tracy was rated Category 4. Before the instruments failed, wind gauges registered speeds of 217 kilometres per hour. The damage to buildings and infrastructure was massive; Tracy impacted all power, water, sanitation and communications.

What was the wind speed of the Cyclone Tracy?

The passage of Tracy over Darwin resulted in a recorded surface wind speed of 217 km/h, which has been exceeded in Australia only by extreme gusts at Onslow, WA, of 232 km/h on 7 February 1963 and 246 km/h on 19 February 1975 (cyclone Trixie). The broad track of the cyclone is shown in Fig 1 and rainfall at various places is listed in Table 1.

Was Cyclone Tracy the most destructive ever recorded in Australia?

However, Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin in the small hours of Christmas Day 1974, was among the most destructive ever recorded in Australia. Its vital statistics make for frightening reading:

What happened when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin in 1974?

Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin in the small hours of Christmas Day 1974, killed 71 people and devastated 80 per cent of the city. In the days and weeks following the disaster, most of the traumatised population left the city.

What happened to the anemometer in Hurricane Tracy?

The anemometer (wind speed instrument) failed at around 3:10 a.m, with the wind vane (wind direction) destroyed after the cyclone’s eye. The Bureau of Meteorology’s official estimates suggested that Tracy’s gusts had reached 240 km/h (150 mph).