1918 Mackay cyclone

The 1918 Mackay cyclone struck the city of Mackay, Queensland, Australia on January 21, 1918. It remains one of the most destructive cyclones to strike a populated centre in Australia.

The eye of the storm passed to the north of the city just after sunrise. During the height of the storm, barometric pressure was recorded at 932.6 hPa, one of the lowest recordings in Australia. However, the pressure was probably a lot lower, as the barometer would not go beyond 932.6 hPa, and the eye of the storm did not cross directly over Mackay where the measurement was taken. The meteroligist at the time stated that the barometer was at its maximam low reading for at least 30 minutes before the cyclone moved inland and away, allowing the pressure to finally rise. Few buildings in the centre of Mackay escaped without significant structural damage. The accompanying storm surge resulted in a sea-level-rise of 2.36 metres above the highest spring tide level, with one witness later recalling waves of 2–3 metres breaking in the main street.

Communication links into Mackay were destroyed. The outside world did not learn of the Mackay cyclone until five days after impact, leading to some speculation the city had been completely destroyed.

Record amounts of rainfall were recorded in Mackay, the totals to 9 a.m. are as follows:

*22nd Jan - 627mm
*23rd Jan - 438mm
*24th Jan - 346mm
* Total rainfall for January - 2161mm

The rainfall resulted in the Pioneer River's highest flood level at the time, which took 2 weeks to subside.

Damage wasn't limited to Mackay. In Rockhampton, over 200km south of Mackay, houses lost their roofs and solid jacaranda trees were uprooted. Extensive structural damage was also reported in Yeppoon and Mt Morgan. Rainfall associated with the cyclonic system was responsible for the big Rockhampton Flood of 1918 in February.

A total of thirty people perished in the disaster, including two in Rockhampton and another in Yeppoon.

External links

* [http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/cyclone2.htm Queensland 1918: A devastating couplet — by the Bureau of Meteorology Australia]
* [http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/qh/treasures/timewalks/other/mackay/cyclone State Library of Queensland notes]