Cyclone Sigma

{{Short description|1896 Australia cyclone}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}

{{Use Australian English|date=October 2016}}

{{infobox weather event

| image =

| caption =

| formed = 25 January 1896

| dissipated = 30 January 1896

}}{{infobox weather event/scale

| winds =

| pressure = 988

}}{{infobox weather event/Effects

| year = 1896

| fatalities = 23 confirmed

| missing = 3

| damage =

| areas =

| refs =

}}{{infobox weather event/Footer

| season = Pre-1900 Australian region cyclone seasons

}}

File:Sketches of the damage of Cyclone Sigma on Townsville, 1896.jpg

Cyclone Sigma was a deadly tropical cyclone that caused severe damage in North Queensland, Australia on 26–27 January 1896{{Cite web|title = CBoM – History of Townsville Meteorological Office|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/townsville/history.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320214418/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/townsville/history.shtml|archive-date=20 Mar 2011|website = Australian Government. Bureau of Meteorolgy|access-date = 18 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/lifestyle/townsville-150/lives-lost-during-cyclone-sigma-on-australia-day-in-1896/news-story/3533591a948c9055f87b1a250349dda5|title=Lives lost during cyclone Sigma on Australia Day in 1896|date=30 January 2015|publisher=Townsville Bulletin|accessdate=18 January 2016|archive-date=7 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007204615/https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/lifestyle/townsville-150/lives-lost-during-cyclone-sigma-on-australia-day-in-1896/news-story/3533591a948c9055f87b1a250349dda5|url-status=live}} and the loss of at least 23 lives.

The cyclone caused massive destruction to Townsville and surrounding areas. The cyclone passed to the north-east of the town, creating high seas and dumping up to {{convert|510|mm}} of rain in the area. The Ross River broke its banks, flooding {{convert|3|mi|order=flip}} of the town's suburbs with up to {{convert|2|m}} of water. Ten ships were wrecked in the harbour, 17 people died in the flooding, and one sailor was also killed.{{cite web| website=Harden up: Protecting Queensland| publisher=Green Cross Australia| title=Cyclone Sigma| url=http://hardenup.org/be-aware/weather-events/events/1890-1899/cyclone-sigma-1896-01-26.aspx| access-date=29 October 2016| archive-date=31 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131092310/http://hardenup.org/be-aware/weather-events/events/1890-1899/cyclone-sigma-1896-01-26.aspx| url-status=live}}

The cyclone then travelled south towards Rockhampton, creating heavy rainfall. At least 23 people died in the cyclone, with three reported as missing.

It was thought that ketch Lalla Rookh was wrecked during the cyclone;{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231642280 |title=The Queensland storm |newspaper=The Australian Star |issue=2496 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 February 1896 |accessdate=25 January 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065146/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231642280 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172420391 |title=Storm Sigma |newspaper=The Telegraph (Brisbane) |issue=7266 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=31 January 1896 |accessdate=25 January 2021 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065120/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/172420391 |url-status=live }} however, later reports confirmed that she had escaped.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79289025 |title=Sigma" in Towmsville |newspaper=The North Queensland Register |volume=VI |issue=6 |date=5 February 1896 |accessdate=23 January 2021 |page=31 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065119/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/79289025 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article260680070 |title=The cyclone in Queensland |newspaper=Australian Advertiser |volume=VIII |issue=1188 |location=Western Australia |date=4 February 1896 |accessdate=25 January 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065120/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/260680070 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article209056868 |title=The Queensland Cyclone |newspaper=The Express and Telegraph |volume=XXXIII |issue=9,671 |location=South Australia |date=1 February 1896 |accessdate=25 January 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065156/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209056868 |url-status=live }}

Many buildings were destroyed or badly damaged, including:

• Townsville School of Arts{{cite QHR|15700|Townsville School of Arts|600925|accessdate=1 August 2014}}
• Tattersalls Hotel{{cite QHR|15691|Tattersalls Hotel|600916|accessdate=1 August 2014}}
• Townsville Showground{{cite QHR|29022|Townsville Showground|602650|accessdate=1 August 2014}}
• Townsville Supreme Court{{cite QHR|15660|Drystone Wall, Melton Hill, Townsville|600885|accessdate=1 August 2014}}
• St John's Anglican Church{{cite QHR|15655|St John's Anglican Church Precinct|600880|accessdate=1 August 2014}}
• Cluden Racecourse and railway station{{cite QHR|15699|Grandstand, former totalisator building and main entrance gates, Cluden Racecourse|600924|accessdate=1 August 2014}}