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Cyclone Tracy began as a tropical low several days before it hit Darwin. Up until a few hours before, it was not expected to affect the town, but unexpectedly turned and headed straight for Darwin on Christmas Eve, making a direct hit in the early hours of Christmas Day. See the Web Link below for more information. The site has a number of other pages, including all the warnings issued in the preceding days.

A cyclone - which is the Australian name for a hurricane - caused Cyclone Tracy. It actually began as a tropical depression in the Arafura Sea, north of Darwin. It developed into a small, but very intense tropical storm, which then developed cyclone status, passing right over Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974. Cyclones are intense low pressure systems which begin rotating and form a central eye. Part of the reason for the high damage level was the unpredictable way that Tracy moved. It had been travelling south-west, but turned 90 degrees to the south-east and headed straight for Darwin, catching many people by surprise.

See the Related Link ' Cyclone Tracy Website' below and follow the links within the site to learn about how all cyclones develop and how Tracy behaved over the hours leading up to and following landfall. Cyclone Tracy intensified from a storm that developed out in the Arafura Sea. Cyclones can only form if certain conditions are present: e.g. the surface temperature of the ocean needs to be 26.5°C or higher, and there must be a tropical low present. The low air pressure system then begins to pull in clouds and rotate.

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Q: How did Cyclone Tracy start in December 1974?
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Related questions

When and where did Cyclone Tracy land?

On 24 December 1974, Cyclone Tracy moved in to Darwin Harbour. On Christmas Day, 25 December 1974, the cyclone left the city in shreds.


Was cyclone Tracy in 1975?

No it was on the night of 24th December 1974.


What caused cylone Tracy in Darwin 1974?

Cyclone Tracy hit the 25 of December


When was cyclone Tracy?

Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia on the 25th of December 1974 but she had formed on the 20th.


Where did Cyclone Tracy hit?

On 24 December 1974, Cyclone Tracy, which had developed as a tropical storm out in the Arafura Sea, moved in to Darwin Harbour. On Christmas Day, 25 December 1974, the cyclone left the city in shreds.


When did Cyclone Tracy strike?

Cyclone Tracy made landfall at Darwin in the early hours of Christmas morning, 25 December 1974.


What day did Cyclone Tracy happen?

Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin shortly after 2am on 25 December 1974 - Christmas Day.


When did cyclone Tracy occur?

Cyclone Tracy formed 21 December 1974. It hit Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia December 24-25, 1974. And dissipated December 26th. Cyclone Tracy killed 71 people. Tracy destroyed over 70% of Darwin's infrastructure. And left almost 90% of the population homeless. It caused $837 million in damage.


When did Cyclone Tracy destroy Darwin?

Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin on Christmas Day, 25 December 1974, destroying three-quarters of the city.


When did Tracy the tornado hit?

There was never a tornado named Tracy as tornadoes are not given names. Cyclone Tracy lasted from December 21-26, 1974, making landfall early on December 25. Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone, which is essentially a hurricane, not a tornado


What events happened on December 1974?

December 1974 was significant in Australia as it was when Cyclone Tracy levelled the city of Darwin on Christmas Day.


What time did Cyclone Tracy start to hit Darwin?

Cyclone Tracy moved in late on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1974. The eye passed directly over Darwin just after midnight, and the cyclone had passed by around 7:00am the next morning.