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 So*lk in Jr^,,. 0 to*,
Classificetlon
/ 1,L73
lt is customary to distinguish between the stages of
intensity of a tropical depression according to the skength
of the wind in the circulation as follows:
Tropical depression - winds up to force 7.
Tropical storm - winds force 8 to 11.
Cyclone - winds force 12 (also known as hurricane or
typhoon in other parts of the world).
z In tbe region covered by this book tbe terms used in
waming messages to describe storms at different slages of
intensity vary from one counky to another. Thus, a tropical
storm (winds force 8 to 11) may be described as a
"modetate", "sfrong" ot "severe" depression in wamings
issued from Mauritius or I-a Rdunion. But aII authorities
use "cyclone" or "intense cyclone" for a storm with
hunicane force 12 winds.
"Super-cyclone" is a term sornetimes used to describe a
slorm with winds exceeding 130 kn which cao occasionally
develop.
P;t*t
subsequcntly change direction (re-cuwe) tracking S or SE
and increase their speed as they do so. Recurvature tends
/ to take place near iO"S early in the season and 15'S in
later months. Some storms follow extremely erratie tracks
and may change direction unexpectedly.
z A few slorms reach the Mozambique Channel before
re-curving and may cross Madagascar. To the N of the
chaunel, in the vicinity of Comores, storms can be very
violent though still small in extenr. An occasional storm
continues W to the African coast; this is most likely early
or late in the season.
s Cyclones rarely affect Scychelles Group or Chagos
fuchipelago but Mauritius, Ia Rdunion and Rodriguez
Island are very vulnerable and are tikely to be struck by
storms as they re-curve. The occurrence of cyclones over
the various islands is, however, variable. An individual
location may not be affected for several years and then two
or more storms may strike within a ycar or cvcn r month.
Diagram L.175 shows some typical cyclone tracks.

y' Occurrence Fronts

r,r74
I Storms may affect atry part of the region ftom about 4o
Cold honts
to 30"S; they may reach higher latitudes but they then
L.176
become progessively extra-tropical in character, though
still large and dangerous depressiors. No month may be t Cold fronts bringing cool air are a common feature of
the region. Frontal troughs are usually associated with, atrd
regarded as entirely free from possible storm development,
trailing NW from, the major depressions moving E to thc S
but the period wheu occurrence is most likely extends from
of 50'S. They advance E or NE and may reach as far N as
November to April with maximum frequency from
15o-20os in winter but in summer rarely progress farther
Decembcr to March. The following table gives the average
monthly frequency of tropical storms and cyclones in the than 25'S.
SW part of the Indian Ocean. The table is a usefut guide; 2 Frontal belts may be very well marked with large
cumulus cloud, squalls and rain especially over the more
however, storm frequency varies greatly from year to year
mountainous islands, but fronts became progressively
and tbe number of storms in any one month may differ
sigrrificantly from these average figures.
weaker and of diminishing sigaificance as they move
towards the tropics,

Average occurrence of tropical stomrs and cyclones in

Ihe Intertropical Convergence Zone
tbe SW Indian Occan 1.t77
Month Tropical Cyclones This zone, also known as the Doldrums, is active from
storms November to April. This zone marks the boundary between
the SE wind and the NE monsoon winds (1.180) of the N
,/ J*u ry 3-4 per yr 1-2 per yr part of the Indian Ocean which back to N or NW as they
February 3-4 per yr 1 per yr cf,oss the equator.
The ITCZ moves S of the equator in October. It
March 2-3 per yr 1 peryr farthest S in late Jaauary to about l0' to 1Z'S in mid
extends

April 1 per yr 1 every 2-3 yrs ocean, thus covering ComoreS, the N end of Madagascar,
Seychelles Group and Chagos Archipelago. The zone
May levery5yrs Rare
moves N to the vicinity of the equator once more in April
June, July, August, Rare Rare or May.
September Although not strictly a front the ITCZ does have some
frontal characteristics. Its features are light variable winds
October I every 2-3 yrs Rare
with extensive cloud and arcas or belts of massive
November L every 3 yrs Rare cumulo-nimbus, heavy thundery showers and squalls.
December l-2 per yr 1 every 2 yrs Activity varies greatly from one locality to another and
from day to day, being diffuse and insignificant in some
ANNUALLY 11 per yr 4 per yr parts and very well marked in others. Movement is erratic
ard inconsistent, often with a tendency for cloud and
associated weather to disperse in one locality and
re-develop some distance away.
Movement Disturbances frequently originate in thc vicinity of the
1.175 ITCZ. Thcy generally move slowly W and dissipate after a
Thc movement of storns initially is nearly always in a short period of initial development, but a few intensify to
SW to W direction at speeds of about 10 to 15 kn; most becoruc tropical storms or cyclones.

u
Typlcal cyclone tracks (1 .175)

29
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Mean sea surface ternperature ("C) - FEBRUARY (f .159.1)

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Average baromelric pressure al mean eea level (hPa) - FEBRUARY (1.165.1)

25
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z
J Tbopical Origin. One or two dcpressions of tropical
origin reach this area annually, mainly between January and
April. Thcy may track to the W of Australia or take a land
route. Where these deprcssions reach tbe sea again thcy can
All such depresions have the potential
reintensi$ rapidly.
to bring hurricane force winds, very heavy rain and
mountainous seas. The cloud bands associated with the
frontal ttoughs and Southern Ocean dopressions give
considcrable, depcndable, and sometimes heavy rain as far
N as Pertb and Geraldton. The degree of activity dccreases
markedly witb lower latitude The affects of land heating
NE
produce enduring areas of low pressure over Cloncurry
Australia and Pilbara NW Australia'
/ TFopical cyclones
1.153
t Tropical cyclones form over Timor and Arafura Seas,
mainly between November and April, with most frequent
occurence in January, Febn:ary and March' Isolated cases
have been rocordcd in other months. No time of year
should be considercd cyclone free.
Tropical cyclones often form as minor clockwise
circulations, in low latitudes, in the vicinity of the
intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). They usually move
in a WSW direction. Where conditions are favourablc, the
cyclone will deepen and develop; others become trapped in
unfavourable areas and dissipate as weak feahrres. Some
can deepen to develop winds in excess of 64 kn. A
significant but small number will develop to contain winds
in the circulation in excess of 125 kn.
In the Australian rogion tropical cyclones are rated in
two categories. Tropical cyclones have winds in their
circulation of between 34 kn and 63 kn and severe tropical
cyclones have winds of 64kn and above.
Hurricane strength is reached by 30Vo of Australian
tropical cyclones. They are often accompanied by torrential
rain, mountainous seas and they may cause abnormal water
levcls and tsunami waves, They tend 10 travel W or SW
off the N and NW coasts of Australia at speeds of about 5
to lOkn and often re-curye towards the SE or S to cross
the coast of NW Australia between Onslow and Broomc.
Others continue to run S off the W coast of Australia
and tum SE in the vicinity of Cape Lreuwin.
Tropical cyclones usually weaken rapidly over land' but
may regen€rate quickly on return to a sea track. They may
persist for a few hours to 3 wccks but normally last for
about 6 days. Isolated cyclones move inland, across the
i;.i
coa.st of NW Australi4 and then track SE across Westem
'i Australiato Grert Australian Bight.
;i Tropical cyclones seem to occur closer lo the coast
.! during ENSO (El Nifio - southern oscillation) conditions
't than at other times. Cyclonc frequency is also linked to
ii near two yearly cycle of upper air pattems with pcak
:i
I numbcrs occuning every 2 to 3 Years'
Information showing thc favoured location for tropical
i! cyclones and some typical tracks is provided in Diagrams
ii.+ 1.153.t to 1.153.8. An indication of the occurrence of
tropical cyclones is given at Diagrams 1.153.9 to 1.153.14.
'i
i!
1l Tornadoes
1.1s4
ii Tornadoes ate rate but are most oflen found between
Fremantle and Cape l-reuwin with an average of 2 per year.
ir
They can lower pressure by 100 hPa, move at around
:! 30 kn, be accompanied by rain and lightning and may last
i
for 5 mhutes.
il
,I
,l
$
!t
:il
O{APTER I
Frnnts
Northern area
1.155
r The ITCZ is located whcre the NW monsoon,
originating in the N hemisphere, meets SE lrade winds on
ths N flank of the Australian high pressure belt. fie ITCZ
is not strictly a front but it does have some frontal
characteristics within the converging and upward movement
of air. This zone is also known as the Doldrums because of
the light and variable winds.
Thundery showers, squalls and torrential rain are
' with the high convective cloud along the zone.
associated
The ITCZ moves S across Arafura and Timor Seas as the
Australian high pressure belt migrates S in summer. The
approach of the ITCZ to the N coast of the Nortbern
Territory in October weakens the SE trade winds; calm or
light winds prevail and it becomes very hot.
J There is an increase in number and severity of thundery
showers and by the end of November thess occur almost
daily. The NW monsoon becomes fully established in
January, with plentifrrl cloud, rain and hot humid weather.
The ITCZ generally moves as far S as about 21'S in this
region and is in its most S position in January and
February.
In March and April the ITCZ again movos N wjth its
associated calms, variable winds and thundcry squally
showers. Whcn the ITCZ lcaves N Australia, coolcr, drier
SE trade winds arrive with fine weather.
Southern area
1.156
Warm and cold fronts associated with depressions are
frequent and active in both wintcr and summer, particularly
in the S of thc area. They bring extensive belts of cloud
and rain. To the N, frontal activity is much weaker,
although cold fronts introduce colder and moister air from
the S and inclement weather to the S coast of Australia in
winter. The winds can be strong,
Frontal activity is lower and rainfall consequently
meagrc in the central part of Great Australian Bight. In
summer the preceding very dry air ahead of frontal troughs
severely limits rainfall to the E of the Bight. The N winds
preceding the ftontal trough are often hot and dry along the
S coast of Austalia.
The pressure trough, moving E between succcssive
anticyclones, is marked by a wind change, from generally
N winds on the W flank of thc leading anticyclone to S,
often coldcr winds, on the E flank of thc second high.
Winds
Wind rrses
a 1.157
Wind roses showing occurrcnce of wind for selectcd
dircctions and spceds for January, April, July and Octobcr
are given in Diagrams 1.157.1 to 1-157-4. Furthcr guidance
on thc frcquency of winds grealer than Beaufort force 6 is
shown in diagrams 1.157.5 to 1-L57.6.
Northern area
1.158
South-east trnde wlnds (also known as the SE
monsoon) blow from E and S on thc N flank of the
Australian high pressure bclt. From May to October, they
are predominate over the area N of 25'S and E of 105'E.
Over the ocean N of 25oS and W of 105'E they prevail
throughout the year. Thc shength is markedly steady at
about force 4 to 5,
39
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Troplcal CycloneTracks - Oecember t9&3-2002 (1.163.g)

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Troplcal CycloneTracks - January 198$2(Xn (1.163.4)
Average barometric p.e$sure at mean gea level (hpa) JANUABY (1.161.1)

32