AIVU

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Aivu developed from a tropical disturbance near the Solomon Islands on 29 March 1989, tracking west-northwest before turning south-southeast and being named Aivu on 1 April as it intensified over the Coral Sea. Rapid intensification on 2–3 April brought the system to its peak as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone, with winds of 205 km/h and a central pressure of 935 hPa — the highest classification on the Australian intensity scale. Aivu made landfall between Home Hill and Inkerman, Queensland, at 0300 UTC on 4 April 1989 (local time), subsequently passing over Ayr before weakening quickly inland and dissipating by 5 April northwest of Longreach.

The cyclone produced destructive winds, a storm surge of 2.5–3 metres along Upstart Bay, and exceptional rainfall. Orographic enhancement along the Clarke Range produced a remarkable 1,082 mm at Dalrymple Heights, representing roughly a 1-in-100-year rainfall event. The Pioneer River crested at 12.2 metres at Mirani, its third-highest level in 30 years. Landslides near Eungella isolated the town for weeks, and six sugar mills were severely damaged or destroyed. Crop losses extended into New South Wales. Earlier in its track, Aivu brought heavy flooding to eastern Papua New Guinea. Three people were killed in total — one in Queensland and two in New South Wales — and damage was estimated at A$200 million.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia