Cyclone Mahina

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Cyclone Mahina
Meteorological history
FormedUnknown
Dissipated10 March 1899 (1899-03-11)
Unknown-strength storm
Lowest pressure880 hPa (mbar); 25.99 inHg
(Lowest recorded pressure in the Southern Hemisphere)
Overall effects
Fatalities307–410
DamageUnknown
Areas affectedFar North Queensland
[1]
Part of the Pre-1900 Australian region cyclone seasons

Cyclone Mahina was the deadliest cyclone in recorded Australian history, and also potentially the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. Mahina struck Bathurst Bay, Cape York Peninsula, colonial Queensland, on 4 March 1899, and its winds and enormous storm surge combined to kill more than 300 people.[1][2][3]

While the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, which is the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre of the basin, estimates Mahina's peak central pressure to be 914 hPa (26.99 inHg), the World Meteorological Organization is currently considering an application from Queensland scientists and researchers to have this value upgraded to 880 hPa (25.99 inHg), based on data from post-storm analysis. This would officially make Mahina the most intense cyclone recorded to have hit the Australian mainland, and the most intense tropical cyclone recorded making landfall anywhere in the world,[1] as well as the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, a title currently held by Cyclone Winston. Cyclone Mahina also produced the largest storm surge on record, generating a 13-metre-high (43-foot) surge.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Kerr, Jack (26 December 2014). "Tropical Cyclone Mahina: Bid to have deadly March 1899 weather event upgraded in record books". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Natural Disasters". Australia's cultural portal. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Australia's deadliest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).