ALBY

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Alby originated on 27 March 1978 as a disorganised area of low pressure approximately 800 kilometres north-northwest of Karratha. Over the following days it tracked southwestward, gradually organising and intensifying. Between 1 and 2 April it reached its peak intensity as a Category 5 system on the Australian scale, with a central pressure of 930 hPa and estimated winds of 205 km/h. The cyclone then turned southeast, accelerating rapidly due to interaction with a cold front, and underwent extratropical transition. On 4 April it passed within 100 kilometres of Cape Leeuwin, still carrying winds around 120 km/h, before losing its identity the following day over the Great Australian Bight.

Alby is considered the most destructive tropical cyclone to affect southwestern Western Australia on record. Its fast forward speed amplified wind speeds across a wide area northeast of the centre, while the lack of rainfall — generally under 20 mm along the coast — intensified existing bushfires. Around 92 fires spread across roughly 114,000 hectares, destroying the towns of Jarrahwood and Yornup and killing more than 10,000 sheep and hundreds of cattle. Structural damage was severe, particularly in Albany where most homes suffered partial or complete roof loss. Coastal flooding struck Busselton and Bunbury, with surges inundating homes and damaging Busselton Jetty. Five people died in total, and overall losses reached A$50 million. Following the disaster, the name Alby was retired from the cyclone naming list.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia