Amendments made to tropical cyclone database The following amendments have been made to the tropical cyclone database following scrutiny of the data in June and October 1999. Cyclone numbers There is no cyclone numbered 621, 632 or 762. In addition, both Phil and Selwyn, two separate cyclones, are listed under number 865. In order to produce a sequential set of cyclone numbers, the following amendments have been made to cyclone numbers in the following ranges: 622-631 reduced by 1 633-761 reduced by 2 763-863 reduced by 3 865-873 reduced by 4 Some observations from cyclone 855 (Phil) were listed under the name Phil at number 865. These observations have been combined under a single number. 865 (Selwyn) is not affected. Observations from Rachel were listed under both 856 and 864. These have been consolidated into a single cyclone under the number 853 (former 856). All cyclone numbers in the remainder of this document refer to the revised set of numbers Spurious observations deleted The following spurious observations have been deleted from the database: 444 (Selma) last data point removed 452 (Beverley) last data point removed 489 (Winnie) observation at 0600 29/3/1978 removed (it is a repeat of obs. at 0600 28/3/1978) 531 (unnamed) observation at 1099 20/12/1981 removed (time makes no sense) 563 (unnamed) last data point removed 643 observation at 0600 19/11/1956 removed 712 (Chris) last data point removed Amended names A number of cyclone names through the record were truncated to six letters. These have been restored to their full length. Amended locations The following locations have been amended: 405 (Althea) 23/12/1971 2000 lon 147.0 (was 148.1 - source: map in Bureau report on Cyclone Althea) 405 (Althea) 23/12/1971 2300 lon 146.4 (was 149.4) 472 (Harry) 16/12/1976 0000 lon 100.3 (was 108.3) 490 (Alby) 29/3/1978 1600 lat 16.9 (was 15.9) 528 (Amelia) 1/12/1981 0200 lon 138.5 (was 128.5) 531 (unnamed) 20/12/1981 2000 lon 135.6 (was 165.6) 2300 lon 134.0 (was 164.0) 538 (Oscar) 26/10/1986 1800 lon 86.6 (was 68.6) 664 15/2/1958 0400 lon 87.5 (was 76.5 - estimated from extrapolation of forward movement) 708 (Bessi) 9/11/1981 1800 lon 83.3 (was 88.3) 711 (Graham) 31/1/1982 0000 lat 19.2 (was 10.2) 762 (Charlie) 22/2/1988 0600 lon 156.9 (was 146.9) 794 (Daphne) 25/2/1991 0000 lon 112.4 (was 122.4) 811 (Polly) 27/2/1993 0600 lon 159.5 (was 155.9) 814 (Ken) 19/12/1992 0900 lon 96.6 (was 99.6) Amended land/water designations The following observations have been amended from land to water or vice versa, as their co-ordinates were on land when they were coded as being on water (or vice versa). In most cases, this involves amendment from water to land. All time ranges are inclusive. 9 9/2/1912 1000 - 10/2/1912 0100 401 (Mavis) 27/3/1971 2100 - 29/3/1971 0000 405 (Althea) 22/12/1971 2300 - 23/12/1971 2300 414 (Emily) 2/4/1972 2300 - 3/4/1972 2000 442 (Jenny) 22/3/1974 1500 28/3/1974 0100 452 (Beverley) 2/4/1975 1300 - 3/4/1975 0100 465 (Wally) 27/2/1976 1000-1600 529 (Bruno) 16/1/1982 0700-0800 540 (Bertha) 21/2/1968 0000 - 26/2/1968 1200 549 (Gisele) 29/12/1965 0000 - 30/12/1965 0000 553 9/2/1966 1200 - 10/2/1966 1800 564 4/2/1968 2300 - 5/2/1968 0500 568 14/2/1968 1400 - 16/2/1968 2000 593 (Marcelle) 8/5/1973 0000-0600 597 5/3/1956 1700 - 6/3/1956 1100 600 7/3/1955 2300 - 14/3/1955 2300 16/3/1955 2300 - 18/3/1955 2300 602 9/1/1951 2300 - 17/1/1951 2300 21/1/1951 2300 - 23/1/1951 2300 605 all observations 607 21/3/1926 2300 - 24/3/1926 2300 610 1/1/1917 2300 - 3/1/1917 2300 612 12/3/1908 2300 - 13/3/1908 2300 614 18/1/1907 2300 - 21/1/1907 2300 23/1/1907 2300 - 26/1/1907 2300 616 4/1/1953 0100 621 all observations 623 all observations 625 15/1/1926 0100 - 19/1/1926 0100 23/1/1926 0100 628 18/2/1956 0200-2300 629 7/2/1956 0500 - 10/2/1956 1100 632 12/1/1958 2300 - 15/1/1958 0500 638 3/3/1957 2300 - 4/3/1957 2300 6/3/1957 1100 - 7/3/1957 2300 642 (primary) 18/12/1956 0500 - 19/12/1956 2300 21/12/1956 0500-2300 652 25/3/1963 0500 654 27/3/1963 1700 - 30/3/1963 1700 655 all observations 679 20/2/1938 0100688 21/12/1983 0600-0900 Wind speed corrections Due to an error in processing, the maximum wind speeds for WA cyclones in 1997-98 were incorrectly divided by 3.6. They have now been restored to their correct values. This affects cyclones 861 (Selwyn), 862 (Tiffany) and 863 (Victor). Unresolved problems and comments 634 jumps longitude from 171.5 to 155.0 between 1100 and 1700 on 18/3/1958. It is not clear whether the co-ordinates are in error or whether there are two separate systems listed under the same number. No alteration has been made at present. The definition of a tropical cyclone has changed over the years; many early systems are listed well beyond the point at which they would be graded as extratropical today. On the other hand, many cyclones at sea undoubtedly went undetected prior to the development of satellite observations in the late 1960s. Some Queensland cyclones around 1980 are known to be missing from the list. A number of duplicate observations for 853 (Rachel), 876 (Vance) and 878 (Gwenda) have been deleted. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following amendments have been made to the tropical cyclone database in August 2000. The track of the 1916 Clermont storm (CY0033) has been amended. Some missing Queensland cyclones from 1980 have been added to archive: 897 (Paul) 898 (Ruth) 899 (Simon) 900 (Sina) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- February 2006 Updated with corrected 2004-2005 data - note that two cyclones (Kerry and Harvey) are not included. These will be added in due course once processing is completed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 2006 This contains a number of corrections , in some cases going back a few years , which have been done by Severe Weather Section in WA and also includes cyclone Harvey from Queensland. This leaves only data for cyclone Kerry which is being worked on by Qld as time permits and which will be added when it is received. After due consideration, it has been decided to discontinue providing the cyclone data in the "old format" and provide only the "new format data". -------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 2006 - cyclone added. --------------------------------------------------------------------------