ALEX
1989-90 season · AU198990_11U
History
Severe Tropical Cyclone Alex developed from a tropical low in the Timor Sea around 15 March 1990 during the 1989–90 Australian region cyclone season. The system tracked westward into the South-East Indian Ocean, moving away from the Western Australian coast throughout its lifetime. Conditions favoured rapid intensification, with a well-defined eye becoming visible on satellite imagery by 18 March. Alex reached its peak intensity on 19 March, achieving Category 5 status on the Australian scale with a minimum central pressure of 927 hPa and maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 190 km/h. After peaking, the cyclone turned southwestward into cooler waters, where increasing vertical wind shear caused it to weaken below cyclone strength by around 23 March. The system executed an unusual looping track ahead of an approaching frontal system before dissipating on 26 March 1990, having been active for approximately twelve days.
Alex did not make landfall at any point, and the Australian mainland experienced no structural damage or coastal impacts as a result. However, the storm was associated with a maritime tragedy during its early development phase, when an Indonesian fishing vessel was capsized by heavy seas near 12.8°S, 110.0°E, resulting in the loss of all crew members aboard. Despite its exceptional intensity, Alex caused no significant damage onshore and is notable primarily as a powerful open-ocean system.
Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia
View full track data (45 observations)
| Date/Time (UTC) | Category | Position | Pressure | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-03-15 00:00:00 | 1 | -12.3, 114.1 | 1002 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 1990-03-15 06:00:00 | 1 | -12.3, 113.5 | 1002 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 1990-03-15 12:00:00 | 1 | -12.3, 113.1 | 1000 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1990-03-15 18:00:00 | 1 | -12.3, 112.8 | 998 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1990-03-16 00:00:00 | 1 | -12.3, 112.4 | 998 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 1990-03-16 06:00:00 | 1 | -12.4, 111.8 | 991 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1990-03-16 12:00:00 | 1 | -12.4, 111.2 | 988 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1990-03-16 18:00:00 | 1 | -12.6, 110.6 | 986 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1990-03-17 00:00:00 | 1 | -12.8, 110.0 | 984 hPa | 41 km/h |
| 1990-03-17 06:00:00 | 1 | -13.0, 109.6 | 980 hPa | 41 km/h |
| 1990-03-17 12:00:00 | 1 | -13.4, 109.0 | 972 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 1990-03-17 18:00:00 | 1 | -13.5, 108.6 | 962 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 1990-03-18 00:00:00 | 1 | -13.6, 108.2 | 952 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1990-03-18 06:00:00 | 1 | -14.2, 107.5 | 947 hPa | 51 km/h |
| 1990-03-18 12:00:00 | 1 | -14.9, 106.4 | 941 hPa | 51 km/h |
| 1990-03-18 18:00:00 | 1 | -15.0, 105.8 | 938 hPa | 54 km/h |
| 1990-03-19 00:00:00 | 1 | -15.0, 105.0 | 934 hPa | 57 km/h |
| 1990-03-19 06:00:00 | 1 | -15.6, 103.9 | 930 hPa | 62 km/h |
| 1990-03-19 12:00:00 | 1 | -16.2, 102.7 | 927 hPa | 62 km/h |
| 1990-03-19 18:00:00 | 1 | -16.5, 101.5 | 927 hPa | 59 km/h |
| 1990-03-20 00:00:00 | 1 | -16.7, 100.6 | 927 hPa | 54 km/h |
| 1990-03-20 06:00:00 | 1 | -17.4, 99.2 | 941 hPa | 51 km/h |
| 1990-03-20 12:00:00 | 1 | -18.4, 97.6 | 945 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1990-03-20 18:00:00 | 1 | -19.0, 96.6 | 950 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 1990-03-21 00:00:00 | 1 | -19.6, 95.6 | 954 hPa | 44 km/h |
| 1990-03-21 06:00:00 | 1 | -20.4, 94.3 | 960 hPa | 39 km/h |
| 1990-03-21 12:00:00 | 1 | -21.2, 93.0 | 966 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1990-03-21 18:00:00 | 1 | -21.6, 92.6 | 972 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1990-03-22 00:00:00 | 1 | -22.0, 92.1 | 976 hPa | 28 km/h |
| 1990-03-22 06:00:00 | 1 | -22.6, 91.5 | 980 hPa | 28 km/h |
| 1990-03-22 12:00:00 | 1 | -24.0, 91.0 | 984 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1990-03-22 18:00:00 | 1 | -25.0, 91.2 | 987 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1990-03-23 00:00:00 | 1 | -25.8, 91.6 | 991 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 1990-03-23 06:00:00 | 1 | -26.5, 92.3 | 994 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1990-03-23 12:00:00 | 1 | -27.4, 92.9 | 997 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 1990-03-23 18:00:00 | 1 | -27.1, 94.3 | 999 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1990-03-24 00:00:00 | 1 | -26.6, 96.1 | 1000 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 1990-03-24 06:00:00 | 1 | -26.3, 97.6 | 1001 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 1990-03-24 12:00:00 | 1 | -25.5, 98.5 | 1003 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 1990-03-24 18:00:00 | 1 | -24.9, 99.2 | 1004 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 1990-03-25 00:00:00 | 1 | -22.0, 99.5 | 1004 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 1990-03-25 06:00:00 | 1 | -20.2, 99.0 | 1005 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 1990-03-25 12:00:00 | 1 | -19.4, 98.0 | 1006 hPa | — |
| 1990-03-25 18:00:00 | 1 | -18.8, 96.6 | 1007 hPa | — |
| 1990-03-26 00:00:00 | 1 | -18.2, 94.9 | 1008 hPa | — |