Tracy revisited: historical perspective, synoptics, track, and winds

Abstract

Tropical cyclone Tracy is revisited from the perspective of its historical significance, the meteorological conditions, and its landfall impact. Tracy was one of a long line of Darwin cyclones, some of which had also left widespread damage and disruption in their wake. However, this cyclone arose from a remarkable combination of natural circumstances, which included low latitude development, small size, slow movement and a ‘perfect track’ past the Tiwi Islands. These combined to bring Tracy into Darwin as an intense system with an oscillatory track that could have easily missed Darwin altogether, but instead brought it along a path of maximum destruction. Although Tracy was a natural phenomenon, we suggest that its impact on Darwin was largely a ‘man-made’ disaster, arising from inadequate building construction and community responses. Despite all the attention that Tracy has been given, evidence is provided that there remain some important secrets in its passage over Darwin.