North Queensland, March 1997

Cyclone Justin, 1997

Quick Statistics

37 Fatalities
20 Injured
$205 million Insurance Costs

Tropical cyclone Justin developed on 7 March 1997 after two lows merged in a very active monsoon trough in the Coral Sea. Justin sat in the Coral Sea for three days, causing high winds and huge swells. Maximum intensity was recorded on 9 March; the cyclone was downgraded to a tropical low on 13 March. Justin then drifted north and re-intensified to tropical cyclone strength on 14 March, reaching peak intensity on 18 March before weakening and crossing the coast north-west of Cairns on 22 March.

The cyclone caused damage between Townsville and Cairns; bringing heavy rainfall, large seas and gale to storm-force winds. One person was killed in a landslide at Paluma, near Townsville; another person died from electrocution due to a fallen power line at Innisfail, 70 kilometres south-south-east of Cairns. 

Thirty people died in Papua New Guinea earlier in the life cycle of the cyclone event. A further five people died when their yacht was destroyed. As a result of the cyclone, the agricultural industry reportedly suffered losses of around $150 million with a total cost of $205 million. 

Sources

AAP General News Wire, ‘QLD: Australia's worst recent cyclones’, viewed on ProQuest website (ID 2253782701), 29 April 2011.
ABC Premium News, ‘Factbox: Australia's worst cyclones’, viewed on ProQuest website (ID 2257551071), 29 April 2011.
Bureau of Meteorology, Severe Tropical Cyclone Justin 6 - 24 March 1997, website viewed 29 April 2011.
Sydney Morning Herald, ‘Science Writer Reef may take 50 years to recover from cyclone’, 16 May 1997, p 6, viewed on ProQuest website (ID 713901171), 29 April 2011.