MABEL

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Mabel developed from a monsoonal trough well to the north of the Western Australian coastline, officially organising into a tropical cyclone on 13 January 1981. The system initially tracked east-southeast before turning south on 15 January, then adopting a southwestward course that carried it parallel to the northwest coast of Western Australia.

Mabel intensified rapidly as it moved north of Exmouth, reaching Category 5 status on the Australian scale. At its peak on 18 January 1981, the cyclone recorded a minimum central pressure of 930 hPa and maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 205 km/h, making it one of the most intense systems of the 1980–81 Australian region cyclone season. After passing west of North West Cape, the cyclone encountered cooler waters and a less favourable atmospheric environment, leading to rapid weakening. It dissipated completely well west of the Western Australian coast on 21 January 1981.

Mabel did not make landfall on the Australian mainland, sparing coastal communities from direct structural damage, and no casualties were recorded. However, its track carried it through offshore oil and gas production areas, where the powerful winds and heavy swells caused localised damage to drilling facilities. Several platforms were shut down and personnel evacuated, resulting in notable production losses and financial costs to the maritime energy sector.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia