1976–77 Australian region cyclone season

The 1976–77 Australian region cyclone season was a slightly above average tropical cyclone season.

1976–77 Australian region cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	15 December 1976
Last system dissipated	3 May 1977
Strongest storm
Name	Ted
• Maximum winds	185 km/h (115 mph) (10-minute sustained)
• Lowest pressure	945 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Tropical lows	13
Tropical cyclones	13
Severe tropical cyclones	6
Total fatalities	>2
Total damage	$49 million (1977 USD)
Related articles
1976–77 South Pacific cyclone season 1976–77 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
Australian region tropical cyclone seasons 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79

Systems

Tropical Cyclone Harry

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	15 December – 21 December
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min); 985 hPa (mbar)

Harry formed on 15 December near the Sunda Strait, and moved west-southwest through its existence. Its maximum intensity was reached as the cyclone passed north of the Cocos-Keeling Islands. The system then weakened and dissipated well east of Madagascar.^[1]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ted

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	15 December – 20 December
Peak intensity	185 km/h (115 mph) (10-min); 945 hPa (mbar)

Ted made landfall in Queensland on 19 December 1976. The storm killed 2 people and left $49 million in damage.^[2]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Irene

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	6 January – 13 January
Peak intensity	150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min); 970 hPa (mbar)

Irene was the second storm of the season, and remained over the open waters, too far away to affect the coast. Its track was abnormal in its early stages, moving in a southeast direction. It eventually recurved and moved parallel to the northwest coast.^[3]

Tropical Cyclone June

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	16 January – 19 January (Crossed 160°E)
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min); 994 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Keith

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	29 January – 1 February
Peak intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min); 992 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Lily

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	8 February – 12 February
Peak intensity	65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min); 996 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Miles

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	9 February – 13 February
Peak intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min); 994 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Nancy

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	12 February – 13 February
Peak intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min); 998 hPa (mbar)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Jack-Io

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	13 February – 20 February (Crossed 80°E)
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min); 975 hPa (mbar)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Karen

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	2 March – 9 March
Peak intensity	150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min); 970 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Otto

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	6 March – 10 March
Peak intensity	85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min); 984 hPa (mbar)

Otto made landfall near Bowen, Queensland in March 1977. The storm caused minimal wind damage but caused extensive beach erosion.^[4]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Leo

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	24 March – 28 March
Peak intensity	165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min); 955 hPa (mbar)

Leo affected Port Hedland around March 1977.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Verna

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration	28 April – 3 May
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min); 973 hPa (mbar)

See also

• Tropical cyclones portal

• Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1976, 1977
• Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1976, 1977
• Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1976, 1977
• North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1976, 1977