What has been called Australia's worst natural disaster befell Darwin onChristmas Day, 1974.The unusually small Tropical Cyclone Tracy took its name late on the 21st northof Melville Island in the Arafura Sea. Tracy tracked west of Melville andBathurst islands, then veered sharply southeastward bound for Darwin, capitalof Northern Territory.
Tracy strengthened markedly right up to landfall, then hurled its 110-mphhighest sustained winds against the small city of lightly built homes.
The anemometer at Darwin Airport reached 217 km/hr, or 135 mph, before beingtrashed by the fearsome blow. Official estimates are that gusts reached 240km/hr (150 mph); unofficial estimates tell of 300 km/hr (185 mph).
Reports say that 80 percent of the homes of Darwin were destroyed leaving30,000 residents homeless. The homeless had to be evacuated to cities inelsewhere in Australia.
In the end, at least 65 people (some reports say 71) died in the storm. Ofthese, 49 died in the city; the others were lost at sea.
At the time, Tracy was the most compact hurricane-strength tropical cycloneknown, world wide. It was ousted from this spot in 2008 by the AtlanticHurricane Marco.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews
