Misplaced Pages

Category 4 is the second-highest classification on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale which is used to classify tropical cyclones, that have 10-minute sustained winds of at least wind speeds of 86–107 knots (159–198 km/h; 99–123 mph). As of 2019 47 tropical cyclones have peaked Category 4 severe tropical cyclones in the Australian tropical cyclone basin, which is denoted as a part of the Indian and Pacific Oceans to the south of the equator and between 90°E–160°E. The earliest tropical cyclone to be classified as a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone was Gyan which was classified as a Category 4 during 22 December 1981, as it impacted New Caledonia. The latest was Pola as it passed between Fiji and Tonga. This list does include any tropical cyclones that peaked as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone, while in the Australian region.

Background

The Australian region tropical cyclone basin is located to the south of the Equator between 90°E and 160°E. The basin is officially monitored by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology as well as the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG), and the Papua New Guinea National Weather Service. The United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and other national meteorological services such as New Zealand's MetService, Météo-France and the Fiji Meteorological Service, also monitor parts of the basin in an unofficial capacity. Within the basin a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone is defined as a tropical cyclone that has 10-minute mean maximum sustained wind speeds of 86–107 knots (159–198 km/h; 99–123 mph) on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. A named storm can also be classified as a Category 4 tropical cyclone if it is estimated to have 1-minute mean maximum sustained wind speeds of between 113–136 knots (209–252 km/h; 130–157 mph) on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. This scale is not officially used by any of the warning centres for the region, but tropical cyclones are compared to it by various agencies, including NASA. On both scales a Category 5 tropical cyclone is expected to cause widespread devastation if it significantly impacts land at or near its peak intensity.

Systems

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Other systems

• Chris–Damia – Cat 4 in SWIO.
• Walter–Gregoara – Cat 4 in SWIO.
• Harriet–Heather – Cat 4 in SWIO.
• Uriah – Cat 4 in SWIO.

Over the years, the intensity estimates of tropical cyclones have been reanalysed for various reasons and were found to have been underestimated by the various warning centres. In particular, during a database repair project that took place between 2005 and 2007, the BoM discovered that Severe Tropical Cyclone Pam of 1974, had been reanalysed at some point after 1979. This reanalysis showed that Pam had moved out of the South Pacific region and into the Australian region, as a category 5 severe tropical cyclone. However, a later reanalysis by the BoM during 2021 downgraded it to a category 4 severe tropical cyclone, as it was thought that the width of the southern eyewall was too narrow for a category 5 severe tropical cyclone.

Impacts

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (December 2019)

Records and statistics

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (December 2019)

See also

• List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes
• List of Category 4 Pacific hurricanes

References

1. ^ RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee (2024). Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-East Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean 2024 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
2. ^ 2017/2018 Tropical Cyclone Season Summary of Alerts and Warnings Procedures for Fiji (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. October 23, 2017. pp. 3 & 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 13, 2018.
3. ^ Schott, Timothy; Landsea, Christopher; Hafele, Gene; Lorens, Jeffrey; Taylor, Arthur; Thrum, Harvey; Ward, Bill; Willis, Mark; Zaleski, Walt (January 2, 2019). The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
4. "1973 Tropical Cyclone Kerry (1973019S15120)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
5. Tropical Cyclone Madge (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
6. "1974 Tropical Cyclone PAM (1974030S15182)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
7. 1973-1974 dans le pacifique sud-ouest. MetMar (Report). 1976. p. 51. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
8. ^ Courtney, Joseph B; Foley, Gary R; van Burgel, Johannes L; Trewin, Blair; Burton, Andrew D; Callaghan, Jeffrey; Davidson, Noel E (2021). "Revisions to the Australian tropical cyclone best track database". Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science. 71 (2): 219. doi:10.1071/ES21011. S2CID 244220599.
9. "1974 Tropical Cyclone Tracy (1974354S08135)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
10. Courtney, Joe; Shepherd, Ian J (26 October 2010). "The benefit of hindsight: re-examining the maximum winds during Tropical Cyclone Tracy" (PDF). Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal. 60 (3): 159–168. doi:10.22499/2.6003.004. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
11. "1974 Tropical Cyclone Tracy (1974354S08135)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
12. "1976 Tropical Cyclone Watorea (1976113S04156)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
13. "1976 Tropical Cyclone Ted (1976351S13141)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
14. "Severe Tropical Cyclone Simon". Bureau of Meteorology. 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
15. "Severe Tropical Cyclone Elinor". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
16. "Severe Tropical Cyclone Sandy". Bureau of Meteorology. 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
17. Courtney, Joe (16 June 2009). "Severe Tropical Cyclone Billy-Lila" (PDF). Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
18. Kingston, G (1986). "The Australian Tropical Cyclone Season 1985–86" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine. Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
19. Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (2014). Tropical Cyclone Ned (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
20. "1990 Severe Tropical Cyclone Ivor (1990073S13170)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
21. "Severe Tropical Cyclone Ivor". Bureau of Meteorology. 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
22. C. Thurlow (30 March 1990). "Cyclone Ivor Damage Likely to Reach $15M". QNP. Queensland, Australia: Courier-Mail. (Accessed through LexisNexis)
23. "Death Toll Rises to Six, Losses In Hundreds of Millions". Rockhampton, Australia: Associated Press. 12 January 1991. (Accessed through LexisNexis)
24. Greg Roberts (15 January 1991). "Town Prepares for Evacuation". Brisbane, Australia: Sydney Morning Herald. p. 3. – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
25. "1992 Severe Tropical Cyclone Betsy (1992005S07172)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
26. "Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian". Bureau of Meteorology. 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
27. "1992 Severe Tropical Cyclone Esau (1992055S13169)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
28. Tropical Cyclone Esau, February 24 – March 7 (Tropical Cyclone Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on June 26, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
29. Tropical Cyclone Nina, December 21, 1992 – January 4, 1993 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 20 May 1996. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
30. "1992 Tropical Cyclone Nina (1992357S13143)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
31. Severe Tropical Cyclone Oliver. Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Report). Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
32. Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (2014). Severe Tropical Cyclone Sharon (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Report). Government of Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
33. Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (2014). Severe Tropical Cyclone Annette (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Report). Government of Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
34. Severe Tropical Cyclone Bobby. Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Report). Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
35. Tropical Cyclone Agnes. Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Report). Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
36. Tropical Cyclone Barry. Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Report). Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
37. Perth Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (2014). Severe Tropical Cyclone Kirsty (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Report). Government of Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
38. Severe Tropical Cyclone Olivia. Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Report). Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
39. Knapp, Kenneth R; Kruk, Michael C; Levinson, David H; Diamond, Howard J; Neumann, Charles J. 1997 Rhonda (1997125S08079). The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
40. Severe Tropical Cyclone Rhonda (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
41. Tropical Cyclone Katrina. Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Report). Government of Australia. 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
42. "Severe Tropical Cyclone Floyd". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
43. "2010 Severe Tropical Cyclone Ului (2010070S15168)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
44. "2007 Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia (2011013S15151)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
45. Paterson, Linda A (13 April 2011). Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
46. Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. January 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
47. Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
48. Severe Tropical Cyclone Christine (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. August 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
49. "Australian Tropical Cyclone Database" (CSV). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-06-30. A guide on how to read the database is available here.
50. Severe Tropical Cyclone Lam post-event report (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. October 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
51. Severe Tropical Cyclone Nathan (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
52. Severe Tropical Cyclone Ikola (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. October 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
53. Paterson, Linda A (October 2015). Severe Tropical Cyclone Quang (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
54. Tropical Cyclone Debbie Technical Report (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
55. Earl-Spurr, Craig. Severe Tropical Cyclone Savannah (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
56. Severe Tropical Cyclone Trevor (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
57. Clegg, Peter; Paterson, Linda A (August 2022). Severe Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
58. Courtney, Joseph B (April 2022). Severe Tropical Cyclone Vernon (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
59. Prasad, Vikash; Boterhoven de Haan, Matthew (June 2022). Severe Tropical Cyclone Charlotte (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
60. Clegg, Pete; Earl-Spurr, Craig; Paterson, Linda A (19 July 2023). Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
61. "1982 Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Chris:Damia (1982005S10105)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
62. "1990 Gregoara:Walter (1990062S13091)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
63. "1992 Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Harriet:Heather (1992056S11102)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
64. Laurent, Victoire; Varney, Patrick (2014). Historique des Cyclones de Polynesie Francaise [History of Cyclones in French Polynesia] (in French). Meteo France. ISBN 978-2-9522946-1-4.
65. Hoarau, Karl; Chalonge, Ludovic; Pirard, Florence; Peyrusaubes, Daniel (March 2018). "Extreme tropical cyclone activities in the southern Pacific Ocean". International Journal of Climatology. 38 (3): 1409–1420. Bibcode:2018IJCli..38.1409H. doi:10.1002/joc.5254. S2CID 133864648.

External links

• Category 4 Australian region cyclones
• Lists of tropical cyclones by intensity