 Marcus at record-peak intensity off the Western Australian coast on 22 March | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 14 March 2018 (2018-03-14) |
| Post-tropical | 24 March 2018 (2018-03-24) |
| Dissipated | 27 March 2018 (2018-03-27) |
| 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); 26.72 inHg (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); 26.75 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | None |
| Damage | $75 million (2018USD) |
| Areas affected | Northern Territory,Western Australia |
Part of the2017–18 Australian region cyclone season | |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcus was a very powerfultropical cyclone that struck Australia'sNorthern Territory and theKimberley region of Western Australia in March 2018. It was the strongest tropical cyclone of the2017–18 Australian region cyclone season, the strongest tropical cyclone in the Australian region basin sinceGeorge in 2007, the fifth most intense cyclone in the Australian basin, and is tied withCyclone Monica as the strongest cyclone in the Australian Region in terms of 10-minutemaximum sustained winds. It was also considered the worst cyclone to hitDarwin sinceTracy in 1974.[1] It was also the strongest tropical cyclone since Tracy to hit Darwin, makinglandfall there 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]
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionOn 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 scale early 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 became post-tropical on March 25, though Marcus' remnant would continue moving southeastward for another couple of days. On March 27, the remnant low of Marcus dissipated off the southwest coast of Australia.[8]
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 asBatchelor andAdelaide 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 | 900 hPa (26.58 inHg) |
| Inigo | 2003 | ||
| 3 | George | 2007 | 902 hPa (26.64 inHg) |
| 4 | Orson | 1989 | 904 hPa (26.70 inHg)[14] |
| 5 | Marcus | 2018 | 905 hPa (26.72 inHg) |
| 6 | Theodore | 1994 | 910 hPa (26.87 inHg) |
| Vance | 1999 | ||
| Fay | 2004 | ||
| Glenda | 2006 | ||
| Source: AustralianBureau of Meteorology[15] | |||
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.[16] The insurance loss were overA$85 million (US$65.6 million).[17] In all, Marcus caused an estimated total of A$97.46 million (US$75 million) in damages.[18]
The Palmerston City Council election, scheduled for 17 March, was postponed by a week until 24 March because of Marcus.[19]
The cleanup response was coordinated by the Northern Territory Emergency Services and included soldiers from the5th Battalion and the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment of theAustralian Army. The USMarine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) also contributed to the cleanup effort.[20]
Due to the damage caused by the cyclone in Darwin and its subsequent intensification, the nameMarcus was retired and was replaced withMarco.[21]
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