Cyclones in Australia most commonly impact the northern regions of the country, particularly the northern coast of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. These areas are more prone to cyclones due to their proximity to warm ocean waters that provide the energy needed for cyclone formation.
Northern Australia and the waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans generate ideal conditions for the development of cyclones. Cyclones need warm cean temperatures of 26.5 degrees or higher to form. The sea currents around northern Australia, the Indian Ocean to its northwest and the Coral Sea to the northeast have these warmer sea currents. Not all of Australia has cyclones, because regions further south do not have warm enough waters to generate the conditions needed.
Queensland and Western Australia are the two states in Australia most likely to be affected by tropical cyclones due to their proximity to the warm waters of the Coral Sea and the Indian Ocean, respectively. These states experience cyclone seasons each year, typically running from November to April.
In Australia, a cyclones winds travel in a clockwise direction. In the northern hemisphere, the winds travel in a counterclockwise direction.
Many parts of Australia's eastern half and the north are flood-prone due to the numerous river systems and low plains throughout the region. The northern and eastern coasts are also prone to summer cyclones (which bring heavy rains) and seasonal monsoonal rains. These rains can send large amounts of water across the northern plains, through Queensland's "channel country", which floods huge areas of land in north western Queensland. Another particularly flood-prone region is the Hunter Valley in New South wales.
Tropical cyclones move in a westerly direction due to the trade winds blowing from east to west in the tropics. The Coriolis effect also influences the cyclone's direction, causing it to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. These combined effects result in the overall westward movement of tropical cyclones.
The huge winds needed to cause cyclones requires very warm water, so hurricanes and cyclones mainly occur during the summer (hurricane season). As global warming grows, it is very possible that water temperatures increase enough to cause more strong winds. More strong winds cause more cyclones which can develop into hurricanes.
Cyclones typically form in tropical regions, such as the northern part of Australia, due to warm ocean waters. Sydney is located in a region that is less prone to cyclones because it is outside the typical cyclone formation zone and is generally sheltered by the landmass that lies to its north. However, Sydney can still experience strong winds and heavy rain from weather systems that are not classified as cyclones.
When it is summer in the UK it is winter in Australia, because they are in opposite hemispheres. When it is spring in the northern hemisphere, it is autumn in the southern hemisphere, and vice-versa. This is due to the inclination of the Earth's axis, which changes the angle of sunlight from season to season.
No, cyclones do not occur on the moon. Cyclones are large-scale rotating storms that are driven by temperature differences in the Earth's atmosphere, which the moon lacks due to its lack of atmosphere.
Cyclones are more frequent in India due to its geographical location along the Indian Ocean, where warm ocean waters provide energy for cyclone formation. The Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are particularly prone to cyclones due to their warm waters and favorable atmospheric conditions. Additionally, climate change may be contributing to an increase in the intensity and frequency of cyclones in the region.
The city in Australia most remembered for the devastating effects after a cyclone hit is Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory. On Christmas Day 1974, Cyclone Tracy hit the city, demolishing two-thirds of the houses and businesses there. As a consequence, many changes were made regarding building codes in cyclone-prone areas, resulting in much higher quality buildings that can better withstand future cyclones.