MARCIA

History

Tropical Cyclone Marcia was a brief and relatively weak system that developed over the eastern Indian Ocean in early March 1989. Its precursor tropical low formed along a weak monsoon trough to the southeast of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands on 2 March. Drifting towards the southwest over warm seas, the low became better organised and was named Marcia by the Bureau of Meteorology's tropical cyclone warning centre in Perth on 3 March, when it reached Category 1 strength on the Australian scale.

Shortly after being named, Marcia recurved southward over open ocean and attained its peak intensity on 3 March, with a central pressure of about 995 hPa and maximum 10-minute sustained winds near 65 km/h, gusting to around 95 km/h. The following day the cyclone moved into an area of strong upper-level wind shear, which stripped the deep convection away from its low-level circulation. Marcia weakened below cyclone strength on 4 March and the remaining circulation dissipated over open water while still tracking south.

Because the system stayed well offshore for its entire life, there were no effects on the Australian mainland or island territories, and no casualties or damage were reported. The only operational consequence was the brief issuing of high-seas gale warnings for shipping in the eastern Indian Ocean.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia