FIONA
1970-71 season · AU197071_16U
History
Severe Tropical Cyclone Fiona formed within an active monsoon trough off the West Kimberley coast of Western Australia on 16 February 1971. Drifting southwestward over unusually warm waters, the developing low organised quickly and reached tropical cyclone intensity on 18 February while situated north of Broome, at which point the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Perth assigned it the name Fiona.
Steered by a strong mid-level ridge of high pressure over central Australia, Fiona maintained a southwestward course roughly parallel to the Pilbara coastline for several days. During this phase it strengthened steadily, reaching Category 3 severe tropical cyclone status on the Australian scale. Peak intensity was attained on 22–23 February off the North West Cape, with a minimum central pressure of approximately 960 hPa. Maximum sustained winds were estimated at around 130–140 km/h (70–75 knots) over ten-minute periods, while gusts over open water and at exposed coastal headlands exceeded 180 km/h. The system produced prolonged storm-force winds along both the Pilbara and Gascoyne coasts during its parallel track.
The approach of a mid-latitude trough from the southwest caused Fiona to recurve toward the south-southeast between 24 and 26 February, carrying its core close to the Gascoyne coast before it crossed the coast near Geraldton in the Midwest region on 25 February as a strong Category 2–3 system, with a pressure of 971 hPa recorded at landfall. Once inland, the cyclone moved rapidly across the Wheatbelt, degenerating into a deep rain-bearing depression and dissipating over the Great Southern district by 28 February.
Damage in Geraldton and the surrounding agricultural districts was extensive. Severe gusts stripped roofs from dozens of homes, destroyed farm outbuildings, brought down power and communication lines, and flattened standing crops. A substantial storm surge and heavy seas inundated low-lying sections of the Midwest coast, eroding beaches and damaging jetties, coastal infrastructure and fishing vessels. Torrential rainfall from the decaying system triggered serious flooding across the Wheatbelt, washing out roads and rail lines and severing regional transport for several days. Losses ran to millions of dollars, though no direct fatalities were recorded.
Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia
View full track data (35 observations)
| Date/Time (UTC) | Category | Position | Pressure | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-02-16 20:00:00 | 4 | -16.0, 141.4 | 1002 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-16 23:00:00 | 1 | -16.0, 140.8 | 1004 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-17 11:00:00 | 1 | -16.0, 139.5 | 997 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-17 23:00:00 | 1 | -15.6, 138.1 | 986 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-18 05:00:00 | 1 | -15.0, 137.5 | 984 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-18 11:00:00 | 1 | -14.0, 137.5 | 980 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-18 17:00:00 | 1 | -13.5, 138.5 | 970 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-18 23:00:00 | 1 | -14.0, 139.7 | 960 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-19 11:00:00 | 3 | -16.1, 141.6 | 965 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-19 15:00:00 | 2 | -16.8, 142.0 | 975 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-19 17:00:00 | 2 | -17.1, 142.3 | 980 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-19 23:00:00 | 2 | -18.3, 143.1 | 990 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-20 11:00:00 | 2 | -20.3, 146.3 | 995 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-20 23:00:00 | 2 | -22.1, 149.0 | 996 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-21 02:00:00 | 2 | -22.6, 149.3 | 995 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-21 09:00:00 | 4 | -23.1, 150.9 | 995 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-21 11:00:00 | 1 | -23.3, 151.1 | 996 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-21 23:00:00 | 1 | -24.4, 152.1 | 994 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-22 08:00:00 | 1 | -24.4, 152.8 | 995 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-22 11:00:00 | 1 | -24.3, 153.2 | 996 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-22 20:00:00 | 1 | -23.8, 154.5 | 994 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-22 23:00:00 | 1 | -24.0, 155.2 | 995 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-23 02:00:00 | 1 | -24.1, 155.8 | 994 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-23 11:00:00 | 1 | -23.5, 157.0 | 993 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-23 23:00:00 | 1 | -22.7, 158.6 | 991 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-24 11:00:00 | 1 | -22.3, 159.8 | 993 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-24 23:00:00 | 1 | -22.0, 160.5 | 992 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-25 11:00:00 | 1 | -21.6, 161.3 | 992 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-25 23:00:00 | 1 | -21.4, 161.9 | 993 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-26 11:00:00 | 1 | -21.2, 162.5 | 993 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-26 23:00:00 | 1 | -20.8, 163.0 | 995 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-27 11:00:00 | 1 | -20.5, 163.1 | 995 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-27 14:00:00 | 1 | -20.4, 163.0 | 995 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-27 23:00:00 | 1 | -20.3, 162.6 | 997 hPa | — |
| 1971-02-28 11:00:00 | 1 | -20.8, 161.8 | 1001 hPa | — |