Cyclone Marcus
![]() Marcus at record-peak intensity off the Western Australian coast on 22 March | |
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | 14 March 2018 |
Extratropical | 24 March 2018 |
Dissipated | 27 March 2018 |
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone | |
10-minute sustained(Aus) | |
Highest winds | 250 km/h (155 mph) |
Highest gusts | 350 km/h (220 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 905hPa(mbar); 26.72inHg (Fifth-lowest pressure in Australian basin) |
Category 5-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
1-minute sustained(SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 280 km/h (175 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 906hPa(mbar); 26.75inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | None |
Damage | $75 million |
Areas affected | Northern Territory,Western Australia |
Part of the2017–18 Australian region cyclone season |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcuswas a very powerfultropical cyclonethat struck Australia'sNorthern Territoryand theKimberley region of Western Australiain March 2018. It was the strongest tropical cyclone of the2017–18 Australian region cyclone season,the strongest tropical cyclone in the Australian region basin sinceGeorgein 2007 and is tied withCyclone Monicaas the strongest cyclone in the Australian Region in terms of 10-minutemaximum sustained winds.It was also considered the worst cyclone to hitDarwinsinceTracyin 1974.[1]It was also the strongest tropical cyclone since Tracy to hit Darwin, makinglandfallthere as a Category 2 tropical cyclone.[2]Marcus formed on March 14 from a tropical low situated over the northeast Timor Sea, which quickly moved southeast and strengthened into a tropical cyclone the next day.[2]
Meteorological history
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Marcus_2018_track.png/275px-Marcus_2018_track.png)
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
![triangle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/ArrowUp.svg/18px-ArrowUp.svg.png)
On 15 March 2018, a tropical low formed in the westernArafura Sea.[3]Drifting east-southeastwards north of theTiwi Islands,the tropical low strengthened into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on theAustralian scaleearly on 16 March, and was accordinglygiven the nameMarcus.[4]In a generally favourable environment for intensification, Cyclone Marcus reached Category 2 status in the hours before it crossed the Northern Territory coastline, on 17 March.[5]On 16 March, Marcus moved down towards the Australian coast, and rapidly intensified before making landfall in Darwin as a weak Category 2 tropical cyclone.[2]
Marcus intensified markedly upon moving away from the coast. Soon, the storm started torapidly intensify,and by 21 March, Marcus reached Category 5 tropical cyclone intensity.[6]However, after doing so, the storm began to rapidly weaken due to a combination of aneyewall replacement cycle,stronger wind shear, and cooler waters.[7]Marcus continued to rapidly weaken as it moved southward. The system soon transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on March 25, though Marcus' remnant would continue moving southeastward for another couple of days. On March 27, the extratropical remnant of Marcus dissipated off the southwest coast of Australia.[8]
Preparation and impact
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Cyclone_Marcus_in_Darwin_%E2%80%93_Large_tree_blocking_Stuart_Highway_04.jpg/220px-Cyclone_Marcus_in_Darwin_%E2%80%93_Large_tree_blocking_Stuart_Highway_04.jpg)
Before the storm, on 15 March, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued cyclone warnings for Darwin, the Tiwi Islands, and parts of the northwestTop End.[9]Major events and flights in and out of Darwin were cancelled.[10]Approximately 26,000 homes were affected by electricity outages as a result of the destructive winds, even in areas as far south asBatchelorandAdelaide River.[11]Thousands of trees were destroyed across the Greater Darwin region including many African mahoganies planted after Cyclone Tracy for their fast growing and expansive shade qualities.[12][13]
Rank | Cyclone | Year | Min. pressure |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Gwenda | 1999 | 900hPa(26.58inHg) |
Inigo | 2003 | ||
3 | George | 2007 | 902 hPa (26.64 inHg) |
4 | Orson | 1989 | 905 hPa (26.72 inHg) |
Marcus | 2018 | ||
6 | Theodore | 1994 | 910 hPa (26.87 inHg) |
Vance | 1999 | ||
Fay | 2004 | ||
Glenda | 2006 | ||
Source: AustralianBureau of Meteorology[14] |
Public schools and non-essential public service agencies were closed while the clean-up efforts continued and tree trunks removed from roads.[11]Cyclone Marcus was the most destructive storm to hit Darwin since Cyclone Tracy caused devastation on Christmas Eve of 1974.[15]The insurance loss were overA$85 million (US$65.6 million).[16]In all, Marcus caused an estimated total of A$97.46 million (US$75 million) in damages.[17]
The Palmerston City Council election, scheduled for 17 March, was postponed by a week until 24 March because of Marcus.[18]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Tree_and_power_line_damage_in_Parap.jpg/220px-Tree_and_power_line_damage_in_Parap.jpg)
The cleanup response was coordinated by the Northern Territory Emergency Services and included soldiers from the5th Battalionand the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment of theAustralian Army.The USMarine Rotational Force – Darwin(MRF-D) also contributed to the cleanup effort.[19]
Retirement
[edit]Due to the damage caused by the cyclone in Darwin and its subsequent intensification, the nameMarcuswas retired and was replaced withMarco.[20]
See also
[edit]- Weather of 2017and2018
- Tropical cyclones in 2017and2018
- 1897 Darwin cyclone– a cyclone that also caused severe damage in Darwin
- Similarly intense tropical cyclones in the Australian Region:
- Cyclone Inigo(2003)
- Cyclone Gwenda(1999)
- Cyclone Orson(1989)
References
[edit]- ^"Cyclone Marcus the worst since Tracy".NT News. 20 March 2018.Retrieved21 March2018.
- ^abc"Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcus".Bureau of Meteorology.BOM.Retrieved15 June2020.
- ^Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin at 1430 UTC 15/03/2018(Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology.Archivedfrom the original on 22 May 2024.Retrieved22 March2018.
- ^Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin at 0202 UTC 16/03/2018(Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology.Archivedfrom the original on 16 March 2018.Retrieved22 March2018.
- ^"Media Release - Bureau of Meteorology Newsroom".media.bom.gov.au.
- ^"Cyclone Marcus has hit category five and is heading for Perth, but you don't need to panic".ABC News.21 March 2018.
- ^"Tropical Cyclone Marcus".Storm Science Australia.Retrieved25 May2018.
- ^"Tropical Cyclone Marcus Impacts".bom.gov.au.Australian Bureau of Meteorology.Retrieved15 January2019.
- ^"Media Release - Bureau of Meteorology Newsroom".media.bom.gov.au.
- ^Butt, Phillippa; Dunlop, Craig (16 March 2018)."Cyclone Marcus causes NTFL Grand Final to be postponed".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved21 March2018.
- ^ab"Tropical Cyclone Marcus - Update #12 | NTPFES".pfes.nt.gov.au.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-03-21.Retrieved2018-03-21.
- ^"Tropical Cyclone Marcus – Clean up – Update #11 | NTPFES".pfes.nt.gov.au.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-03-21.Retrieved2018-03-21.
- ^Palin, Megan (13 January 2015)."Post-cyclone plantings now wreaking havoc".NT News.Retrieved21 March2018.
- ^"Australian Tropical Cyclone Database"(CSV).Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2023-06-30.Retrieved2023-06-30.A guide on how to read the database is availablehere.
- ^Breen, Jacqueline; Vanovac, Neda; Wellington, Shanhi (21 March 2018)."Ants, snakes, and bone-chilling howls: Cyclone Marcus questions answered".ABC News.
- ^"Cyclone Marcus to cost more than $85 million".Insurance & Risk Professional. 8 May 2018.Retrieved18 May2018.
- ^"Global Catastrophe Recap April 2018"(PDF).thoughtleadership.aonbenfield.Aon Benfield. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 June 2019.Retrieved12 May2018.
- ^"City of Palmerston Election DEFERRED".City of Palmerston.
- ^Smith, Emily; Vanovac, Neda (19 March 2018)."Tropical Cyclone Marcus clean-up continues, residents remains without power".Australia Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News.Retrieved21 March2018.
- ^"REVIEW OF THE 2016/2017 AND 2017/2018 CYCLONE SEASONS"(PDF).World Meteorological Organization.26 July 2018.Retrieved16 September2018.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Category 5 Australian region cyclones
- Tropical cyclones in the Northern Territory
- 2017–18 Australian region cyclone season
- 2018 natural disasters
- Disasters in the Northern Territory
- 2010s in the Northern Territory
- Tropical cyclones in 2018
- Tropical cyclones in Western Australia
- Retired Australian region cyclones