Tropical cyclones in the northeastern Australian region - 1959/60 season

The cyclone season commenced in December with a cyclone which moved from the Solomons and devastated Vila. At Christmas-time a second cyclone originated near Darwin and later also devastated Vila. Late in February a major cyclone formed in the Coral Sea and was the subject of a successful aerial reconnaissance by a R.A.A.F. bomber on 2nd March. This cyclone was followed by an energetic rain depression which was found by Townsville radar to possess an eye. Then in March also came a cyclone which, originating in the Coral Sea, crossed the Gulf of Carpentaria and Arnhem Land, intensified in West Australian waters and ended up south of Albany. Finally a small cyclone in April was photographed by the “Tiros” satellite. In the paper the case histories of these storms are presented with particular discussipn of the factors underlying their development and subsequent movement.