1979–80 Australian region cyclone season#Severe Tropical Cyclone Enid

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{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|Image=Tony Aug 27 1979 0924Z.png

|10-min winds=50

|1-min winds=45

|Track=Tony 1979 track.png

|Pressure=990

|Formed=26 August

|Dissipated=30 August (Exited basin)

}}

On 26 August, TCWC Perth reported that a tropical low had developed on a shear line about 1300 km (810 mi) to the northwest of Cocos Island.{{cite web|year=2010|title=Tropical Cyclone Tony 1979-80|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/tony.shtml|author=Unattributed|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=14 June 2011}} Over the next couple of days the depression gradually developed further before at 1800 UTC on 27 August, TCWC Perth estimated that it had become a tropical cyclone and named it Tony. During the next couple of days, the system moved towards the west-southwest before on 29 August it reached its peak intensity of {{convert|95|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} and a peak pressure of {{convert|990|hPa|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} as it approached the edge of TCWC Perth's area of responsibility. During the next day, Tony moved into the South West Indian Ocean and weakened gradually before it dissipated during 31 August. Neither the Mauritius or Reunion meteorological services monitored Tony as a tropical cyclone while it was active, while it was not included in the JTWC's analysis of the season.{{cite journal|title=La saison cyclonique 1979-1980 a Madagascar|publisher=Direction de la Meteorologie Service de La Réunion|volume=38|access-date=14 June 2011|issue=Janv-Juin 1981|pages=115–120|first=G.|journal=Madagascar Rev. De Geo|language=fr|last=Donque|url=http://madarevues.recherches.gov.mg/revues/pdfxfiles/rev-geo38%287%29.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722175641/http://madarevues.recherches.gov.mg/revues/pdfxfiles/rev-geo38(7).pdf|archive-date=22 July 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Southern Hemisphere Tropical Cyclone Season 1979-1980|last=Bath|first=Michael|date=23 July 2010|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com/tropical_cyclones/jtwc_1979_1980_southern_hemisphere_tropical_cyclones.htm|publisher=Australian Severe Weather|access-date=14 June 2011}}

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{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|Image=Viola Dec 15 1979 0949Z.png

|Track=Viola-Claudette 1979 track.png

|1-min winds=110

|10-min winds=110

|Pressure=930

|Formed=9 December

|Dissipated=18 December (Crossed 80°E)

}}

The disturbance from which Viola developed formed on 7 December about {{cvt|600|km|round=5}} northwest of Cocos. A tropical depression developed on 9 December, moved slowly southwestward, and strengthened into Cyclone Viola two days later. It then moved westward under the influence of an easterly middle level flow north of the sub-tropical ridge, and attained its maximum intensity on 16 December 1979, with a maximum mean wind speed of about {{cvt|205|km/h|round=5}} and an estimated central pressure of {{convert|930|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4}}. Early on 18 December, Viola crossed 90º E and was renamed Claudette.{{cite report|title=Severe Tropical Cyclone Viola|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|location=Melbourne, Victoria|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/viola.shtml|access-date=19 September 2022}}

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{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|Image=

|Track=Wilf-Danitza 1979 track.png

|1-min winds=70

|10-min winds=70

|Pressure=973

|Formed=23 December

|Dissipated=2 January (Crossed 80°E)

}}The depressional phase of Wilf began about 300 km of the Cocos Island on 23 December 1979. Estimated from satellite pictures, Wilf was recorded as a tropical cyclone early Christmas Day. Wilf began a period of rapid intensification and reached its peak on 28 December. Wilf began to weaken as shear from the northwest began to tear the storm apart. While its convection did weaken a lot, it was still able to maintain tropical cyclone status. The storm crossed into the Southwest Indian Ocean on the first day of 1980, being renamed to Danitza.{{Clear}}

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|Image=Paul Jan 10 1980 0451Z.png

|Track=Paul 1980 track.png

|1-min winds=60

|10-min winds=45

|Pressure=990

|Formed=2 January

|Dissipated=12 January

}}

On 2 January, the BoM reported that a tropical depression had developed in the Southwest Gulf of Carpentaria.{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/paul80.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Paul 1979-80|author=Unattributed|year=2010|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=14 June 2011}} During that day the depression moved towards the southwest and developed early signs of having a cyclonic circulation, however before it could intensify into a tropical cyclone, the system made landfall near the Northern Territory border with Queensland at 135°E. Over the next couple of days the depression weakened slightly, as it moved in a general east-southeast direction across the Carpentaria and Central Coast districts of Queensland. On 7 January, the depression moved out into the Coral Sea just to the south of Sarina with a central pressure of 995 hPa. During that day the depression developed gale-force windspeeds and was named as Paul by TCWC Brisbane. Before later that day, Paul reached its peak intensity as a tropical cyclone with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of {{convert|75|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} and its lowest central pressure of 989 hPa as it moved rapidly towards the southeast. This southeastern movement continued until 1200 UTC on 8 January when it slowed down and started to move to the southwest as it developed a cold core and became extratropical. The extratropical remnants of Paul subsequently lingered in the Australian region and peaked with stronger windspeeds than when it was a tropical cyclone. The US Navy's analysis of this system shows that they would have considered Paul a tropical storm with peak 1-minute sustained windspeeds of {{convert|110|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}. As a tropical depression, Paul forced a strong area of convergence in the moist airstream onto the tropical Queensland coast. As a result of the moisture, very heavy rain caused one of the highest floods of the 20th Century down the Don River through Bowen. In its lower reaches the river changed its course and washed away two homes and caused several million Australian dollars worth of damage to the market garden industry.

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{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|Image=Amy Jan 8 1980 0702Z.png

|Track=Amy 1980 track.png

|1-min winds=140

|10-min winds=115

|Pressure=915

|Formed=4 January

|Dissipated=12 January

}}

What would form into Amy began on 3 January 1980 as a collection of clouds located over the Timor Sea, and would drift west-southwest as it reached tropical cyclone status on 5 January. Amy sped towards the south on the 7th, towards Port Hedland. As it approached landfall, it continued to switch direction. Amy made landfall the morning of 10 January about 110km east of Port Headland. Amy passed close to the town of Goldsworthy and caused extensive damage. In total, Amy caused around $25 million dollars in damages. No injuries or deaths were reported.

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{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|Image=Brian Jan 23 1980 0052Z.png

|1-min winds=120

|10-min winds=100

|Track=Brian 1980 track.png

|Pressure=930

|Formed=18 January

|Dissipated=27 January

}}Brian began as a depression located east of Bathurst Island on 18 January 1980. The system moved west-southwest as it began to rapidly intensify late 19 January. Winds of 110 km/h (70 mph) were recorded 50 km from the eye. Continuing to intensify, Brian reached its peak intensity on 23 January of 185 km/h (115 mph). Brian began to move southwest before dissipating on 27 January.{{clear}}

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|Image=TC Clara 1980.jpg

|1-min winds=60

|10-min winds=60

|Track=Clara 1980 track.png

|Type1=

|Pressure=980

|Formed=21 January

|Dissipated=29 January

}}Clara began as a tropical depression located about 1000 km west-northwest of Cocos Island. Clara moved southwest before being named late on 21 January. However, Clara was located close to Cyclone Brian and rapidly weaken due to shear from Brian. Clara regained tropical cyclone status on 24 January with peak intensity occurring 2 days later on 26 January. Strong winds traveling northwest in the troposphere ripped Clara up, causing her to dissipate on 29 January. {{clear}}

{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|1-min winds=110

|10-min winds=110

|Image=Dean Jan 31 1980 2316Z.png

|Track=Dean 1980 track.png

|Type1=

|Pressure=930

|Formed=28 January

|Dissipated=3 February

}}

Dean was the third tropical cyclone to develop between 19 and 28 January in a persistent monsoonal low pressure trough, extending from northern Australia westward across the Indian Ocean. Late on 26 January, a pre-cyclone cloud cluster and an associated surface low formed near Bathurst Island and slowly moved westward. The system intensified rapidly, and by 28 January, the storm was estimated to have reached tropical cyclone intensity. During the next 36 hours, intensification was slow as Dean moved to the west-southwest at about {{convert|20|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. Late on 30 January, the speed of movement slowed down as the system turned to the south. Dean continued to intensify as it accelerated towards the coast. It reached peak intensity on 31 January, with winds of {{convert|200|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, with the lowest atmospheric pressure recorded at {{convert|930|hPa|inHg|abbr=on}}. Early on 1 February, Dean made landfall {{convert|48|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Port Hedland. It weakened slowly over land, eventually dissipating 2 days later.

In Port Hedland, Western Australia, a wind speed of {{convert|130|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} was recorded, with extensive damage also being reported. Goldsworthy, Marble Bar, and Mt. Newman all reported wind damage, but not as severe as Port Hedland. Flooding between Port Hedland and Mt. Newman caused damage to roads and the railway line. Overall, total damage and industrial losses were estimated at about $20 million.{{Cite report|title=Severe Tropical Cyclone Dean|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/dean.pdf|access-date=2025-04-24}}

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{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|1-min winds=65

|10-min winds=55

|Image=Ruth Feb 12 1980 2033Z.png

|Track=Ruth Aus 1980 track.png

|Type1=

|Pressure=980

|Formed=11 February

|Dissipated=18 February

}}

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{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|Image=

|1-min winds=110

|10-min winds=109

|Track=Enid 1980 track.png

|Type1=

|Pressure=930

|Formed=12 February

|Dissipated=18 February

}}

Enid developed near a weak surface low found near Victoria River Downs, Northern Territory on 12 February. The low deepened as it moved westward, and by 15 February, it had a central pressure of {{convert|990|hPa|inHg|abbr=on}}. Enid intensified rapidly over the warm waters. It made landfall on 17 February {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of Wallal, Western Australia, with its central pressure estimated to {{convert|930|hPa|inHg|abbr=on}}.

Significant damage to windmills and buildings occurred at Wallal. Cattle worth over $200,000 drowned in the ocean. At Shay Gap, Western Australia, severe damage to blocks of flats and houses, which were unroofed, was observed. No deaths were reported, but minor injuries were sustained. {{convert|115|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain was reported at Bonney Downs, Western Australia, {{convert|113|mm|in|abbr=on}} at Marble Bar, Western Australia, and {{convert|99|mm|in|abbr=on}} at Newman, Western Australia. Wind gusts up to {{convert|200|km/h|mph|abbr=on|sigfig=3}} are estimated to have occurred near Wallal.{{Cite report|title=Severe Tropical Cyclone Enid|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/enid.pdf|access-date=2025-05-18}}

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{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|Image=

|1-min winds=120

|10-min winds=105

|Track=Fred 1980 track.png

|Type1=

|Pressure=930

|Formed=20 February

|Dissipated=28 February

}}

On 19 February, TCWC Perth reported that a tropical depression had developed out of an active area of convection that was associated with a monsoonal shear line about midway between the Cocos and Christmas Islands.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

Fred developed from an active area of convection associated with the monsoon shear line about midway between Cocos and Christmas Islands late on 19 February 1980. It reached tropical cyclone strength early on 21 February 1980 and attained its maximum intensity on the afternoon of 24 February 1980 when the central pressure was estimated to be near 930 hPa. Despite the small size of the cyclone it maintained this intensity with minor fluctuations until about 1200 UTC 25 February 1980. Early on 26 February the direction of movement changed from southwestward to southward as Fred came under the influence of a northwesterly upper-level flow. It weakened rapidly as it moved into a strong ridge of high pressure located at about latitude 33°S.{{cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone Fred|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/fred.shtml|publisher=Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology|location=Melbourne, Victoria|access-date=11 January 2022}}

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{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|Image=

|1-min winds=100

|10-min winds=90

|Track=Simon 1980 track.png

|Pressure=950

|Formed=21 February

|Dissipated=28 February (Crossed 160°E)

}}

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{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|1-min winds=110

|10-min winds=90

|Image=Gloria Mar 26 1980 0927Z.png

|Track=Doris-Gloria 1980 track.png

|Type1=

|Pressure=955

|Formed=14 March

|Dissipated=29 March

}}

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{{Infobox tropical cyclone small

|Basin=Aus

|Image=27S Mar 28 1980 2232Z.png

|Track=27P 1980 track.png

|1-min winds=60

|10-min winds=40

|Pressure=998

|Formed=27 March

|Dissipated=30 March

}}

On 27 March, TCWC Darwin reported that a tropical depression had developed in the Gulf of Carpentaria about 300 km (190 mi) to the southwest of Wallaby island. During that day the system intensified enough to produce localized and intermittent gale-force winds, over the northeast Arnhem land as it moved into the Arafura sea. Early on 28 March, TCWC Darwin reported that despite the depression having reached cyclone intensity of {{convert|65|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}, it was not a tropical cyclone as the system had not developed a "deep convective warm cored structure". However, during post storm analysis TCWC Darwin reported that the depression had become a tropical cyclone at 0000 UTC (0800 WST) on 28 March. During 28 March, the system moved towards the north, before during the next day as the cyclone turned towards the west and moved into the Arafura sea it reached its lowest central pressure of {{convert|998|hPa|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}. As the system moved further into the Arafura sea, a very strong amount of vertical windshear and an intrusion of dry air made the cyclone rapidly weaken into a tropical depression before the residual depression dissipated on 31 March just to the north of the Cobourg peninsular. The Cyclone caused no deaths and only minor damage was reported to have occurred.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

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During 9 March the precursor tropical low to Severe Tropical Cyclone Sina, moved south-westwards into the region of the South Pacific.{{cite journal|title=The Australian tropical cyclone season 1979–80|author=Crane, Geoff D|volume=29|journal=Australian Meteorological Magazine|pages=41–53|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/amm/docs/1981/crane.pdf|access-date=1 May 2016}} The system subsequently developed into a tropical cyclone and was named Sina by the BoM, before it moved south-eastwards out of the region early the next day.

{{Australian areas affected (Top)}}

|-

| Tony || {{Sort|0826|26–31 August}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|Aus2}}|{{Sort|2|Category 2 tropical cyclone}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|Aus2}}|{{Sort|095|{{convert|95|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|Aus2}}|{{Sort|990|{{convert|990|hPa|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}}} || None || None || None || None ||

|-

| Simon || {{Sort|19800221|21–28 February 1980}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A4}}|Category 4 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A4}}|{{convert|165|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5|sortable=on}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A4}}|{{convert|950|hPa|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} || Queensland, New Zealand || {{sort|1|Minor}} || {{sort|1|Minor}} || {{sort|0|None}} ||{{cite web|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|year=2010|access-date=11 December 2011|title=Severe Tropical Cyclone Simon|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/simon.shtml}}

|}

{{portal|Tropical cyclones}}

• Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1979, 1980
• Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1979, 1980
• Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1979, 1980
• North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1979, 1980

{{Reflist}}

{{TC Decades|Year=1970|basin=Australian region|type=cyclone|shem=yes}}

{{Tropical cyclone season|1979|split-year=y}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1979-80 Australian region cyclone season}}

Category:Australian region cyclone seasons

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