Cyclone Althea

Severe Tropical Cyclone Althea was a powerful tropical cyclone that

Severe Tropical Cyclone
devastated parts of North Queensland just before Christmas 1971. One of the
Althea
strongest storms ever to affect the Townsville area, Althea was the fourth
system and second severe tropical cyclone of the 1971–72 Australian region Category 4 severe tropical cyclone
cyclone season. After forming near the Solomon Islands on 19 December and (Aus scale)
heading southwest across the Coral Sea, the storm reached its peak intensity Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
with 10-minute average maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h (105 mph) –
Category 4 on the Australian cyclone scale. At 09:00 AEST on Christmas Eve,
Althea struck the coast of Queensland near Rollingstone, about 50 km (30 mi)
north of Townsville. Although early weather satellites provided only
occasional glimpses into the cyclone's formative stages, its landfall was
monitored closely by land-based radar that depicted an ongoing eyewall
replacement cycle. Althea produced copious rainfall over central and western
Queensland as it turned toward the southeast, and on 26 December the cyclone
emerged over open waters. After briefly re-intensifying, the system dissipated
on 29 December.

While moving ashore, Althea generated wind gusts as high as 215 km/h
(134 mph) that wrought significant destruction around Townsville and left
nearby Magnetic Island in a state of ruin; almost all of the buildings on the Satellite image of Cyclone Althea on 23
island were damaged to some degree. A significant 3.66 m (12.0 ft) storm December
surge battered the mainland, while high waves destroyed roads and seawalls. Formed 19 December 1971
Beaches receded by up to 15.8 m (52 ft) due to coastal erosion. In Townsville, Dissipated 29 December 1971
thousands of homes were damaged and many were destroyed. The most
Highest winds 10-minute sustained:
widespread damage was to roofs, which were often poorly or not at all
170 km/h (105 mph)
secured. The damage from Althea prompted Queensland to develop its first
1-minute sustained:
statewide building codes, requiring new homes to be cyclone-resistant.
Townsville was the first community to adopt the enhanced construction
170 km/h (105 mph)
standards. In addition to the coastal effects, Althea triggered extensive river Lowest pressure 952 hPa (mbar); 28.11
flooding in interior Queensland. Most major roads in western portions of the inHg
state were cut off by floodwaters, and hundreds of families had to leave their Fatalities 2 direct, 1 indirect
homes for higher ground. In the aftermath of the cyclone, 600 Australian Damage $120 million (1971
Army soldiers aided recovery efforts in Townsville and Magnetic Island, while AUD)
both state and federal governments contributed disaster relief funds. Three Areas affected Queensland
people were killed and damage totalled $120 million (1971AUD).
Part of the 1971–72 Australian region
cyclone season

Contents
Meteorological history
Preparations
Impact
Magnetic Island
Coastal Queensland
Interior Queensland
 Aftermath
See also
References
External links

Meteorological history
Cyclone Althea originated in an expanding area of thunderstorm activity near the
Solomon Islands in mid-December 1971. Although little is known about the storm's
genesis because of sparse reports and infrequent weather satellite images,[1] the
disturbance is thought to have organised into a tropical low on 19 December as it
tracked slowly southwestward into the Coral Sea.[2] According to the Bureau of
Meteorology's (BoM) Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Brisbane, the
system reached tropical cyclone status around 06:00UTC on 20 December, less than
300 km (200 mi) southwest of Honiara.[3] Just after 23:00 UTC on 21 December,
Map plotting the track and the imagery from the United States ESSA-8 satellite showed the first indications of an
intensity of the storm, according to emerging eye feature. Althea tracked southwest toward the coast of Queensland
the Saffir–Simpson scale
around a subtropical ridge to the south, and steadily strengthened.[4] Near 18:00
UTC on 22 December, it reached its peak intensity with 10-minute maximum
sustained winds of 165 km/h (105 mph); this made it a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale.[3] The cyclone's
central barometric pressure of 952 hPa (28.1 inHg) was estimated using the lowest recorded air pressure, 971.5 hPa (28.69 inHg) at
Townsville Airport, a 32 km (20 mi) radius of maximum wind, and environmental air pressures.[4]

Late on 22 December, the eye remained obscured to satellite imagery by a canopy of

cirrus clouds while the cyclone passed north of Lihou Reef. Early the next day, it
tracked just south of the automated weather station on Flinders Reef.[1][4] Althea
likely continued to organise until landfall, which occurred at 23:00 UTC on 23
December – 09:00 AEST on Christmas Eve – near Rollingstone, about 50 km
(30 mi) north of Townsville.[1][3] The landfall point placed Townsville and nearby
Magnetic Island in the cyclone's powerful left-front quadrant.[1] Because of the tight
pressure gradient between Althea and the high pressure area to the south, gale-force
winds extended well to the south of the cyclone's centre. While the system was
moving ashore, land-based radar imagery identified an ongoing eyewall replacement
cycle, with two distinct, concentric eyewalls – rings of intense thunderstorms
surrounding the centre. The strongest winds were found under the contracting outer Radar image of Althea just before
ring, which shrank from 55 to 39 km (34 to 24 mi) between 21:00 and 23:00 UTC to landfall, showing concentric eyewalls
become the dominant eyewall as the inner ring dissipated. Consequently, extreme
[4]
winds initially extended relatively far from the centre.

The storm quickly weakened as it continued southwest, passing just north of Charters Towers City, though it continued to produce
heavy rainfall over interior Queensland.[1][5] Curving southeastward, Althea re-emerged over open waters between Maryborough and
Double Island Point on 26 December and began to intensify once again.[2] At 00:00 UTC on 28 December, the cyclone reached a
third peak with 10-minute winds of 110 km/h (70 mph), but as it turned more toward the south, increasingly cooler sea surface
temperatures weakened the cyclone. On 29 December, Althea lost its tropical characteristics over theTasman Sea.[1][3]

Preparations
In the hours leading up to landfall, the TCWC in Brisbane issued 17 cyclone warnings for coastal areas.[1] According to the BoM,
residents received 20 hours of advance warning in which to complete preparations.[6] By late on 23 December, police and state
emergency service workers were on alert for the approaching storm.[7] High public preparedness and a relatively low loss of life were
attributed to BoM cyclone awareness initiatives in the wake of 1970's deadly Cyclone Ada.[1] However, storm victims still criticised
the agency and local radio news stations for unclear, untimely, or conflicting broadcasts that caused widespread confusion.[6]
Significant delays between the issuance of warnings from TCWC Brisbane and local broadcast in the Townsville area raised some
question about the need for a warning centre closer toNorth Queensland.[6]

Impact
Total damage from Cyclone Althea amounted to just underA$120 million (1971),[8] and the normalised damage total for 2012, which
accounts for growth and inflation, was estimated at $648 million.[9] Throughout the affected region, 257 people were treated for
storm-related injuries, mostly inflicted by airborne debris;[10] three people were killed.[8] In Townsville, ten people were reported
missing during the cyclone: nine on three boats that were unaccounted for, and one whose car was found in a swollen creek.[11] They
were all found safe.[10]

Magnetic Island
An estimated 90% of the buildings on Magnetic Island were damaged to some degree by 215 km/h (134 mph) wind gusts,[2][4] and
there was "not a tree left with leaves on it".[12] The island's main town of Picnic Bay was hit particularly hard.[13] About 100 people
endured the cyclone in the dining room of a Picnic Bay hotel that ultimately sustained severe structural damage; 65 would remain
sheltered there through Christmas Day.[12] Around 60% of houses in Nelly Bay and 40% in Arcadia were demolished.[13] In the
village of Horseshoe Bay, one woman died in a building collapse, and reportedly only 8 out of 150 houses in the community survived
the cyclone.[14] The island suffered a nearly total power outage, and after the water pipeline from the mainland was damaged, strict
usage rations were put in place until repairs could be made.[11][15] About 30 people on Magnetic Island were treated for injuries
sustained during the storm,[16] and damage reached $2 million.[12]

Coastal Queensland
At the time, Althea was one of the strongest tropical cyclones to strike
the coast of Queensland; it still stands as the most intense ever in the
Townsville area.[2] Gusts as high as 196 km/h (122 mph) and sustained
winds of 139 km/h (86 mph) were recorded at Townsville Airport,
though the anemometer was somewhat sheltered by upwind Castle
Hill, so stronger winds may have occurred.[4] The storm bent large
steel utility poles and lifted houses off their foundations, while entirely
stripping trees of their leaves. Dislodged debris acted as projectiles,
penetrating fibre cement walls. In some cases, entire roofs crashed
down on vehicles and other property.[1] Power outages were
Damage to a hotel in Townsville extensive.[17] One post-storm survey of 6,000 houses in Townsville
found around 0.7% totally demolished, 1.7% with critical but
repairable damage, and 13.3% with minor damage.[18] Other estimates
placed the share of damaged or destroyed houses at 60%.[17] Several months after the storm, the Townsville City Council reported
that about 200 houses had been leveled – about 1 in every 100 – with 600 more rendered uninhabitable, and as many as 4,000
damaged.[19] Among the structures damaged or destroyed were 200 Queensland Housing Commissionhomes and roughly 500 of the
700 War Service Homes Commission dwellings in Townsville.[1][20] Overall, Althea wrought at least $6 million in damage to
government-owned buildings.[20] The cyclone killed two people in Townsville: one man was crushed when his home collapsed, and
another suffered a stress-related heart attack.[14]
Although the worst of the storm struck near low tide, the combination of a large storm surge and high waves caused widespread
damage along the coast.[1] Storm surge values reached 2.9 m (9.5 ft) in Townsville Harbour;[2] the Ross River experienced a 2.7 m
(9 ft) water level rise that submerged streets in the city.[1] Shipping interests in the river suffered extensively when a barge broke free
of its moorings and collided with numerous smaller vessels.[13] An estimated peak storm surge of 3.66 m (12.0 ft) occurred at
Toolakea.[2] In addition to the surge, wave action was highly destructive.[4] Seawalls and coastal roadways were crushed by the
pounding surf in places such as the Strand and Cape Pallarenda.[1][2] The violent onshore flow generated severe beach erosion from
Townsville to Toolakea, while north of the storm's center, in the Greater Palm group of islands, substantial erosion resulted from
southwesterly winds.[4] Beaches receded by as much as 15.8 m (52 ft) between Pallarenda and Rowes Bay, and by up to 12 m (39 ft)
at Balgal Beach near the cyclone's landfall point.[17] Storm surge values tapered off sharply to the north of the storm centre, but
Mackay.[21]
remained high well to the south, with above-normal water levels extending as far south as

At Pallarenda, the storm surge swept vehicles off roads and inundated homes;[1] around 40% of dwellings were rendered
uninhabitable. Trees and power lines in the community were mangled, nearly every building was unroofed, and damage amounted to
approximately $1 million.[12][22] In Saunders Beach, wind-blown sand debarked trees and buffeted paint from houses.[17] Althea
generally dropped 145 to 200 mm (5.7 to 7.9 in) of rain in the Townsville area, much of it falling after the cyclone moved inland.[5]
As so many roofs had been damaged, many home interiors were left exposed to the elements. As a result, the deluge caused
significant water damage to interior walls, electrical wiring, and personal belongings. Storage facilities at RAAF Garbutt were
seriously damaged by the combined wind and rain,[1] and four helicopters at the base were destroyed.[17] In the weeks following the
cyclone's passage, further downpours plagued Townsville and triggered flooding when storm drains clogged with debris were unable
to handle the runoff.[23] Severe flooding from Althea in the Burdekin River delta was exacerbated by rainfall from Cyclone Bronwyn
in early January.[24]

Interior Queensland
Farther inland, up to 250 mm (9.8 in) of rain fell in 12 hours, the most substantial rainfall in 15 years. In some drought-stricken parts
of the state, the rain proved beneficial to farmers,[11][16] but there was also widespread flash flooding over western and southern
Queensland. Numerous communities were isolated by rising floodwaters, and hundreds of families were forced to evacuate their
homes.[1][22] In some cases, residents had to be moved to higher ground by boat, along with any food and provisions they were able
to salvage. The overflowingWarrego River washed out parts of the Mitchell and Warrego highways near Charleville,[25] and most of
[26] Several hundred homes inSouth West Queensland were
the major roads in western portions of the state were blocked by flooding.
inundated. In addition to damaging highways, the cyclone disrupted rail and air transportation.[25] Railroads traveling out of
Townsville were submerged under as much as 1.5 m (5 ft) of water, while several airfields were forced to close.[11][26] Later, as the
storm approached open water once again, it dropped over 200 mm (7.9 in) of precipitation along the southern coast of Queensland.[5]
As runoff from the heavy rains traveled downstream, southern areas continued to experience flooding into early January.[27] Two
tornadoes embedded within the cyclone's outer bands touched down in Bowen, causing damage to buildings and vegetation.[2]
Damaging thunderstorms in the suburbs ofSydney, New South Wales, on 25 December were broadly attributed to the weather pattern
associated with Althea.[28]

Aftermath
A state of emergency was declared for the Townsville area, making an initial $7,000 in emergency aid available for distribution
among 84 individuals left homeless.[14][29] Immediately after the storm, the Salvation Army began collecting and distributing
donated clothing, while providing hot meals to hundreds of destitute storm victims.[30] Australian Prime Minister William McMahon
soon traveled to Townsville to assess the damage and authorise the distribution of emergency grants for affected residents.[22][31] At
the end of December, officials announced that the state and federal governments would jointly issue individual rebuilding grants,
ranging from $1,000 to as high as $4,000 for pensioners;[32] for the latter, higher allocations to cover the full cost of rebuilding
homes were soon considered.[20] The Townsville City Council received a special $25,000 grant with the goal of repairing schools for
the start of the new academic year.[32] By 27 December, $150,000 in private donations had arrived as organisations and radio stations

[16]
throughout Queensland sought assistance for the disaster area.[16]
Western Australia provided $72,000 of relief funding,[20] while
Tasmania contributed $2,000.[32] The Australian federal government
reimbursed Queensland for an estimated $5.5–6 million spent by the
state on recovery.[33]

About 600 Australian Army soldiers, including 130 engineers, were

recalled from Christmas leave and stationed at Lavarack Barracks in
Townsville for relief efforts around the area.[11][14][31] The troops
were then split into 30 crews and assigned to different parts of the A house in Townsville lifted off its foundation and
disaster area.[10] In response to a request by Premier of Queensland dropped on a vehicle by the winds
Joh Bjelke-Petersen, the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
spent 10 days on Magnetic Island assisting in cleanup and
recovery.[14][30] Emergency vehicles, specialised personnel, electric generators, refrigerators, food rations, and other critical supplies
were ferried to the island,[31] and medical officers rushed there to limit the spread of gastroenteritis after several cases were
reported.[34] To recognise the efforts of the Australian Army in the aftermath of Althea, a commemorative plaque was later erected in
Townsville's Anzac Memorial Park.[35] Initial recovery work was delayed by persistent flooding of roadways,[22] but within a few
days of the cyclone, residents received around 2,000 tarpaulins to protect their damaged homes and building materials to begin
repairs.[29] By early January, the Royal Australian Air Force had airlifted 225,000 kg (500,000 lb) of emergency supplies into the
Townsville area.[36] Isolated instances of looting were reported after the disaster,[16] and multiple local merchants were investigated
for alleged price gouging.[15] After the season ended, the name Althea was retired from the Australian tropical cyclone naming list
due to the cyclone's severe impact.[37]

Many of the damaged houses were of poor construction,[12] and in the wake of Althea, engineering studies of the destruction resulted
in a new understanding of the structural design loads necessary to withstand severe winds.[38][39] In particular, inadequate roof
cladding and fastening systems were among the primary points of failure.[40] Consequently, much stricter building codes were
explored in Queensland and Australia as a whole.[41] Three years later, Cyclone Tracy's devastation in Darwin, Northern Territory,
bolstered the trend of more rigorous construction specifications in the country.[38] Many of the buildings destroyed by Tracy were
government housing units constructed according to new guidelines based on findings after Althea, showing the need for further
study.[40] The severe cyclones prompted Queensland to develop its first statewide building regulations in 1975; the new Queensland
Home Building Code was fully adopted in the mid-1980s.[40] Under the new regulations, roofs had to be more securely anchored
than before using bolts and reinforced fastenings.[13][42] Having seen the dangers of deficient construction first-hand, Townsville was
the first community to enact the enhanced building standards, and served as a testing ground for further revisions.[40][43] The
Cyclone Testing Station, a wind damage research organisation housed within James Cook University's Townsville campus, was
racy.[44]
established in 1977 in response to cyclones Althea and T

See also
1998 Townsville floods
Climate of Australia
Cyclone Tessi
Cyclone Yasi
List of tropical cyclones

References
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External links
 Footage of Cyclone Althea in Townsville – via YouTube
Photographs of storm damage– via Trove

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