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Cyclone Marcia
Cyclone Marcia
Cyclone Marcia
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Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia
Cyclone Marcia prior to peak intensity on 19 February
Meteorological history
Formed15 February 2015
Remnant low26 February 2015
Dissipated1 March 2015
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (BOM)
Highest winds205 km/h (125 mph)
Highest gusts285 km/h (180 mph)
Lowest pressure932 hPa (mbar); 27.52 inHg
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds230 km/h (145 mph)
Lowest pressure929 hPa (mbar); 27.43 inHg
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone
Damage$587 million (2015 USD)
Areas affectedQueensland
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata / [1]
Part of the 2014–15 Australian region cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia was a powerful tropical cyclone that made landfall at its peak strength over central Queensland, near Shoalwater Bay on 20 February 2015.[2] The cyclone went on to affect various areas including Yeppoon and Rockhampton. It passed just to the west of Yeppoon as a Category 5 system, then traversed over the regional city of Rockhampton as a Category 3 system on the same day. Eventually, the cyclone weakened, moved southeast out to sea, before dissipating. Marcia caused at least A$750 million (US$587 million) worth of damage.

Meteorological history

[edit]
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) started to monitor a tropical low which developed within the monsoon trough to the southeast of Papua New Guinea on 15 February.[3][4] The system drifted generally eastwards and developed slowly under moderate vertical wind shear, until the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert early on 17 February when deep convection wrapping tightly into a well-defined centre.[5] Late on the same day, the BoM began to issue technical bulletins and designated the tropical low as 14U, although the bureau initially forecasted that it would only intensify into a category 1 cyclone prior to landfall.[6] The JTWC upgraded the partially exposed system to a tropical cyclone and designated it as 13P early on 18 February, which also forecasted that it would intensify slightly.[7] At 09Z, the BoM reported that the tropical low intensified into a category 1 tropical cyclone and named it Marcia, as it had started to track southwestwards along the northwestern periphery of a low- to mid-layered subtropical ridge.[7][8]

When Marcia intensified into a category 2 tropical cyclone at 00:00 UTC on 19 February, it had developed a central dense overcast with a consolidating eyewall because of weakening vertical wind shear.[9][10] Thanks to very good poleward outflow into the westerlies, Marcia dramatically underwent rapid intensification and formed a clear eye, becoming a category 3 severe tropical cyclone at 05:00 UTC and a category 4 system at 08:00 UTC.[11][12][13] Soon afterwards, it turned southwards along the western periphery of a subtropical ridge and reached peak intensity at 18:00 UTC as a category 5 severe tropical cyclone with 10-minute maximum sustained winds at 205 km/h (125 mph), featuring a very well-defined 35 km (20 miles) eye.[14][15] Maintaining strength, Marcia made landfall over the coast near Shoalwater Bay at 22:00 UTC (08:00 AEST on 20 February).[16]

On 20 February, despite good poleward outflow, Marcia began to track southeastwards along the western periphery of the subtropical ridge and rapidly weakened due to land interaction and increasing vertical wind shear, yet the JTWC issued the final warning during sunset.[17] The system weakened into a category 3 cyclone at 13:00 AEST (03:00 UTC), lost the severe tropical cyclone intensity at 17:00 AEST (07:00 UTC) and even weakened into a category 1 cyclone at 20:00 AEST (10:00 UTC).[18][19][20] The BoM's final technical bulletin of Marcia indicated that the cyclone had eventually weakened into a tropical low at 15:00 UTC (01:00 AEST on 21 February), with the asymmetric wind structure and unimpressive observations.[21]

The ex-tropical cyclone arrived in the Coral Sea from the southeast coast of Queensland on 21 February. The JTWC monitored Marcia again on 22 February and claimed that the system had become subtropical with gale-force sustained winds, when sea surface temperature (SST) was approximately 25 °C; moreover, satellite imageries also revealed a broad, exposed low-level circulation centre (LLCC) with deep convection displaced over the southeast periphery of the LLCC.[22] Although it drifted northwards over warmer SST later, it was failed to intensify but weakened further. On 27 February, Marcia entered the responsible area of the Fiji Meteorological Service as a weak low-pressure system.[23][24] The remnants were completely absorbed into a trough on 1 March.[25][26]

Storm statistics

[edit]
Marcia making landfall over Queensland, Australia
Recorded windspeeds[27]
Station location Time (AEST) 10-minute sustained winds
(km/h)		 3-second gust
(km/h)		 Pressure
(hPa)
Creal Reef 18:00, 19 February 146 189 977.8
Middle Percy Island 04:00, 20 February 156 208 970.2
Samuel Hill 98 170 977.3
Yeppoon 12:00, 20 February 120 156 985.4
Rockhampton 15:00, 20 February 82 113 985.5

Preparations

[edit]

Queensland

[edit]

Prior to the category 5 storm making landfall the Premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, stated that South East Queensland should not expect a repeat of January 2011. Additionally, Flood rescue specialists and the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) teams assisted with storm preparations and were placed on standby. Local Councils offered sandbags to residents who were likely to be affected by flooding. After landfall, the Queensland Disaster Recovery Committee convened.[28] More than 800 people bunkered down in the Yeppoon Cyclone Shelter, the most southerly located cyclone shelter in Queensland, located within the grounds of the Yeppoon State High School. Nearby towns and hamlets took their own precautions to protect themselves.[29][30] The heaviest rainfall was recorded over the Don and Dee Rivers and Callide Creek in the Fitzroy River area where up to 300 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in a 6–8-hour period during the afternoon and evening of 20 February.[31]

Impact and aftermath

[edit]
Satellite image of Lam (top-center) and Marcia (right) making near-simultaneous landfalls

The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System issued an advisory at 06:00 UTC on 20 February stating that up to 92,000 people had been affected by Category 1 winds or higher.[32]

Over 60 000 homes were left without power in Yeppoon, Rockhampton and Bundaberg as the storm moved south. Almost 3000 people requested assistance from the SES – including 800 in central Queensland. Significant structural damage occurred in the Yeppoon area and along the Capricorn Coast, with a number of houses having roofs blown off and walls torn down. Months later, houses are still permanently damaged. Structural damage also occurred across Rockhampton and in the townships of Marmor and Mount Larcom.[33] Heavy rain fell across several regions and authorities evacuated residents from the small town of Jambin, south-west of Rockhampton, as localised flooding took place, which also affected Biloela.[34] Total damage in Queensland reached A$750 million (US$587 million).[35]

The observed windspeeds were lower than the analyzed maximum sustained winds, which had been estimated using the Advanced Dvorak Technique. The Bureau was criticised for continuing to report the ADT estimates after lower actual windspeeds had been recorded, by biologist and blogger Jennifer Marohasy of Central Queensland University.[36] The International Wind Hazard Damage Assessment Group also expressed concern, saying "A community that receives an over-represented wind speed report may have potential for complacency in preparation or building standards in the future."[27] BOM rejected the criticism, stating that Middle Percy Island was not located in the region of highest windspeed. The equipment there had also been destroyed by the storm, cutting off the data flow. Bureau chief Robb Webb also rejected claims BOM had relied solely on modelling, noting that the bureau worked with the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center to predict the storm's strength. The cyclone is still officially classified by the bureau as a Category 5.[37]

Retirement

[edit]

Due to its impact, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology retired the name Marcia. It was later replaced with Mingzhu in October 2016.[citation needed]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Cyclone Marcia

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia was a powerful and rapidly intensifying storm that developed in the Coral Sea and made landfall as a Category 5 near in , , on 20 February 2015, bringing destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding to the region. Formed from a tropical low on 15 February 2015, Marcia was named on 18 February and underwent , escalating from Category 2 to Category 4 in just 12 hours before reaching its peak as a Category 5 system with maximum sustained winds of 205 km/h and gusts up to 295 km/h, alongside a minimum central of 930 hPa. The tracked southwestward after an initial eastward movement, crossing the coast at approximately 8:00 a.m. Eastern about 90 km north-northwest of , weakening to a Category 4 upon impacting and a Category 3 near before degenerating into a tropical low by 21 February and fully dissipating later that week. Marcia's impacts were severe across , including major structural damage to nearly 2,000 properties in areas such as , , Byfield, and , alongside widespread destruction to pine plantations, beach erosion, and a notable . Heavy rainfall, reaching up to 300 mm in 6–8 hours in the Fitzroy River catchment and surrounding rivers like the Don, Dee, and Callide Creek, triggered extensive flooding that affected multiple communities and infrastructure. Economically, the cyclone resulted in insured losses of approximately $403.6 million, with the providing $13.77 million in financial assistance through 12 Relief and Recovery Arrangements across 14 regions to support recovery efforts. Despite the intensity—making Marcia one of only six recorded Category 5 cyclones in since reliable records began—no fatalities were reported, highlighting effective evacuations and preparations.

Meteorological History

Formation and Early Development

In mid-February 2015, a broad area of low pressure began organizing within the Coral Sea, southeast of , amid typical activity that often spawns tropical disturbances during the Australian . This pre-existing weather pattern featured enhanced and convergence, setting the stage for as the system slowly consolidated over February 13–14. The disturbance was officially designated as Tropical Low by the (BoM) on February 15, 2015, centered approximately 650 km east-northeast of Cairns in . At that time, the low was moving eastward at about 15 km/h, temporarily drifting away from the Australian coast with minimal organizational changes and sustained winds near 25 km/h. Over the following days, it meandered slowly, maintaining its tropical low status until environmental influences prompted a westward turn toward by February 17. Favorable conditions in the Coral Sea supported the system's early development, including sea surface temperatures of around 30°C that supplied substantial heat and moisture to fuel , low vertical of less than 10 knots that permitted vertical alignment of , and high mid-level exceeding 70% that inhibited dry air . These factors, common to the region during El Niño-influenced summers but amplified by localized warming, enabled persistent shower and activity around the low's center. Initial BoM forecasts from indicated the tropical low had moderate potential to strengthen into a within 48 hours and possibly reach severe status by February 18, based on model guidance showing improving organization and a track curving southwest toward the coast. This outlook proved prescient as the system began shortly thereafter.

Rapid Intensification and Peak Intensity

Following its initial organization as a tropical low, the system strengthened sufficiently to be classified as Marcia on the afternoon of February 18, 2015, reaching Category 1 intensity on the Australian tropical cyclone scale with estimated 10-minute sustained winds of around 65 km/h. By that evening, Marcia had intensified further to Category 2 status, as indicated by satellite estimates of deepening convection and improving organization. On February 19, Marcia tracked southwestward while undergoing a period of extremely , escalating from Category 2 to Category 4 within approximately 12 hours—a rate well above the climatological average for such developments. This explosive strengthening phase was marked by enhanced activity and structural consolidation, with the reaching Category 3 intensity by the evening and Category 4 overnight. Late on February 19, a sharp southward turn in the storm's track, influenced by steering patterns in the upper atmosphere, allowed Marcia to intensify even further, achieving Category 5 status by 4:00 a.m. on February 20. At its peak intensity early on , Marcia exhibited maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 205 km/h, just meeting the Category 5 threshold on the Australian scale, accompanied by a minimum central pressure of 930 hPa. observations during this phase revealed a well-defined eye embedded within robust convective bands, with TRMM Radar imagery capturing towering hot towers—intense updrafts exceeding 14 km in height—within the eyewall structure, a hallmark feature associated with such rapid strengthening. These environmental conditions, including low vertical and access to warm waters exceeding 29°C, provided the thermodynamic fuel for the cyclone's unprecedented growth prior to .

Landfall and Dissipation

Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia made as a Category 5 system near in around 8:00 a.m. AEST on February 20, 2015, with estimated maximum wind gusts reaching 295 km/h. The cyclone's center crossed the coast at approximately 22°25'S, 150°25'E, marking one of the most intense in the region's recorded history. Just prior to impact, Marcia's small but compact structure featured a well-defined eye, maintaining peak intensity until friction from the began to disrupt its circulation. Following , Marcia tracked southward through , steered primarily by mid-level steering currents associated with a subtropical ridge to the west and south. The system weakened rapidly over land due to increasing surface and reduced availability, dropping to Category 4 intensity within about one hour of crossing the coast. By midday on February 20, it had further degraded to Category 3 strength near , with sustained winds decreasing significantly as the core interacted with rugged terrain. That evening, around 8:00 p.m. AEST, Marcia passed near as a Category 1 before being downgraded to a tropical low by 2:00 a.m. AEST on February 21 south of . The overall track spanned approximately 1,500 km from formation in the Coral Sea to its inland progression. As the remnant tropical low, Marcia continued southeastward, re-emerging into the Coral Sea near the Sunshine Coast around 3:00 p.m. AEST on February 21. The remnants moved south-east out to sea and dissolved on 26 February 2015, concluding the cyclone's lifecycle.

Preparations and Warnings

Government and Agency Responses

The Bureau of Meteorology issued its initial cyclone watch for the developing low in the Coral Sea on February 18, 2015, naming it Marcia later that day as it reached tropical cyclone intensity. By February 19, as the system rapidly intensified to Category 4 and then Category 5, warnings were escalated to describe it as a "very destructive" , with coverage extending to coastal regions of from Sarina to Agnes Water. The responded by activating the (SES) to support preparations and response efforts across . On February 19, it also declared a natural disaster situation for affected areas, enabling the activation of disaster relief and recovery arrangements under the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement (NDRRA). Federal involvement included coordination between Prime Minister and Premier to allocate resources ahead of landfall, with the Australian Defence Force placed on standby for potential deployment to assist emergency operations. Authorities issued specific advisories, including evacuation orders for residents in low-lying areas of and Gladstone shires due to risks of and flooding. operation centers were activated in Mackay and to coordinate local responses and monitor the cyclone's track.

Public Safety Measures

In anticipation of Cyclone Marcia's landfall, authorities distributed sandbags in areas including Yeppoon and Rockhampton to help residents protect properties from potential flooding and storm surge. By the evening of February 19, 2015, several evacuation centers had been established across central Queensland, with more than 600 people sheltering in Yeppoon, particularly in vulnerable coastal communities like Yeppoon where temporary shelters saw significant use. The (SES) mobilized 1,200 volunteers throughout to assist with securing properties, distributing resources, and managing traffic control in high-risk zones ahead of the storm. Public efforts were intensified through radio broadcasts and platforms, advising residents to secure outdoor items, stockpile essential supplies such as water and non-perishable food, and steer clear of coastal and low-lying areas prone to inundation. These campaigns emphasized personal preparedness to minimize risks from high winds and heavy rainfall. Schools in affected regions, including parts of , were closed starting February 19, 2015, to ensure the safety of students and staff as the cyclone approached, with over 100 educational facilities shuttered by the following day. Tourism-related measures included the preemptive closure of airports in and Gladstone, disrupting regional travel, while cruise ships such as the were diverted from their routes near the coast to avoid the intensifying storm.

Impacts

Meteorological Effects

Cyclone Marcia produced intense winds during its approach to the coast, with maximum sustained winds of 205 km/h and gusts reaching 295 km/h near landfall at on 20 February 2015. These extreme winds extended inland, affecting areas up to 200 km from the coast, where gusts of 150 km/h were recorded in as the cyclone's core passed nearby around midday. Heavy rainfall accompanied the cyclone, delivering 200–300 mm across the Capricornia within 24 hours, contributing to significant flooding in the Fitzroy River basin. The peak accumulation reached 342 mm at Upper Dee TM over the event duration. The storm generated a substantial surge along the , with heights of up to 2 m above normal tide levels recorded at Port Alma, accompanied by offshore wave heights up to 7 m. Overall, Marcia's track featured a minimum central pressure of 930 hPa, a radius of gale-force winds extending to 150 km, and an average forward speed of 15 km/h as it progressed southward.

Structural and Economic Damage

Cyclone Marcia caused significant structural damage primarily along the Capricorn Coast, including and Emu Park, with effects extending inland to and Gladstone. Nearly 2,000 properties sustained damage, including widespread roof failures and structural impacts to over 1,000 homes due to the cyclone's intense winds. In , numerous buildings experienced severe roof loss and wall breaches, while in , hundreds of residences reported similar issues, though many were able to due to timely evacuations. Infrastructure disruptions were extensive, with over 1,800 power lines downed across the affected regions, leading to outages impacting more than 60,000 homes and businesses. Approximately 89% of properties in and most of lost , with many remaining without power for several days as restoration efforts prioritized critical services. Minor flooding from the cyclone's heavy rainfall closed sections of the , including stretches north and south of , isolating communities and complicating access for emergency response and supply deliveries. Agricultural infrastructure also suffered, with fencing destroyed over hundreds of kilometers and irrigation systems damaged, contributing to broader sector losses. The cyclone inflicted heavy agricultural losses, particularly in crop devastation and livestock impacts in , with total sector damages estimated at A$30 million. Flooding associated with Marcia washed away portions of mungbean, , and crops across thousands of hectares, while individual reports highlighted missing herds, including one instance of 100 head lost to floodwaters. No human fatalities occurred, though minor injuries were reported amid the widespread disruption. Economically, Cyclone Marcia resulted in total damages of A$750 million in 2015 values, driven largely by property and repairs in the Capricornia region. Insurance claims exceeded A$400 million, with the processing over 29,000 submissions focused on commercial and residential properties, underscoring the event's financial burden on households and businesses. Government assistance totaling A$13.77 million supported initial recovery, but the overall cost highlighted vulnerabilities in coastal .

Environmental Consequences

Cyclone Marcia generated a significant that caused of dunes and beaches along approximately 100 km of the Capricorn Coast, from to Rosslyn Bay. This resulted in cliff-like scarps up to 2 meters high in several inspected areas, though the overall impact was moderated by the region's high dunes. At , where the cyclone made , minor inundation occurred, but the high dunes largely prevented widespread flooding of adjacent low-lying areas, classifying the surge impact as primarily a collision regime rather than extensive overwash. Heavy rainfall associated with Marcia produced flood plumes that transported sediments and nutrients into coastal waters, raising concerns for water quality near the (GBR). These plumes affected inshore areas of the southern GBR, potentially increasing and nutrient levels that could stress beds and algal communities, though monitoring indicated no substantial direct damage to structures from this event. Some studies suggested potential benefits from Marcia's upwelling effects, where cyclone-induced mixing brought cooler deep waters to the surface, possibly reducing and risks in southern GBR sections during the 2015 warm season. This cooling mechanism, observed in post-event analyses, was noted to mitigate warming trends in the Keppel Islands region, aligning with broader on cyclonic influences in the area. On land, the cyclone uprooted mangroves and coastal vegetation across the Capricornia region, contributing to heightened long-term erosion risks in vulnerable estuarine and shoreline habitats. Widespread tree fall and vegetation damage were evident near landfall sites, exacerbating exposure to future tidal and wave action. No major wildlife casualties were reported in environmental assessments following the event.

Aftermath and Recovery

Immediate Response and Cleanup

Following the landfall of Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia on 20 February 2015 near Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, immediate response efforts focused on search-and-rescue operations, debris clearance, and essential service restoration across affected regions including Rockhampton and Yeppoon. The State Emergency Service (SES) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) initiated deployments in the afternoon of 20 February, with hundreds of ADF personnel, including a 100-person Emergency Support Force from the 3rd Brigade, arriving to support local teams in assessing damage and conducting search-and-rescue missions amid reports of structural collapses and isolated individuals. SES volunteers handled over 8,114 assistance requests between 18 February and 6 March, primarily for urgent rescues and initial debris removal, with more than 96% of tasks completed by 19 March; thousands of personnel from SES, ADF, Queensland Police Service, and local councils were involved in the first week, scaling up to facilitate safe access to impacted areas. Power outages, which affected 63,700 customers at peak due to fallen lines and widespread infrastructure damage, prompted prioritized restoration by . Within five days of , crews reconnected 27,300 customers through targeted repairs and temporary generation support, achieving full network restoration in a record 10 days despite challenging terrain and ongoing weather threats. Ergon's efforts involved hundreds of field workers and contractors, focusing on critical facilities like hospitals before residential areas. The announced immediate financial aid on 21 February, including a $1 million donation to charities for frontline relief, contributing to broader Relief and Recovery Arrangements totaling $13.77 million across 14 regions for personal hardship grants and clean-up support. The Australian Red Cross played a key role, distributing food vouchers valued at almost $5 million to over 22,000 affected individuals through community recovery centers in and , alongside essential supplies to address immediate needs. For health and welfare, deployed mobile referral services and support teams to treat minor injuries from debris and falls, reporting hundreds of cases in the initial days; water boiling advisories were issued in the region due to potential contamination from stormwater overflows and sewerage disruptions during the 2014-15 period encompassing Marcia.

Long-Term Effects and Legacy

The long-term recovery from Cyclone Marcia highlighted significant challenges in housing reconstruction, particularly in the Yeppoon and Rockhampton areas where 14 homes were totally destroyed and 238 severely damaged, with around 350 left uninhabitable, necessitating extensive rebuilds. The Queensland government's Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia Recovery Plan, released in March 2015, allocated resources for repairing 129 social housing properties by May 2015 and provided temporary accommodation in the interim, emphasizing resilience in future construction. Ten years later, in 2025 reflections, residents noted ongoing emotional and structural legacies, with personal accounts underscoring the enduring impact on community rebuilding efforts. Economically, the cyclone prompted reforms in insurance and building standards across to enhance cyclone resilience. Total insured losses were finalized at A$403.6 million in 2015 reports from the Insurance Council of Australia, driven largely by claims and affecting over 29,000 submissions in regions like and . In response, the state developed the Cyclone Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes in 2019, offering practical advice for wind-resistant upgrades in cyclone-prone areas, while broader policy discussions led to incentives like premium reductions for resilient features. Tourism on the Capricorn Coast experienced an initial dip due to media coverage deterring visitors and damaging key attractions, placing thousands of jobs at risk, though recovery efforts restored operations within months. Community impacts included lasting psychological effects, with residents reporting symptoms such as anxiety attacks triggered by storm warnings, as observed in the and regions shortly after the event. By the 10-year anniversary in 2025, anniversary stories from affected individuals highlighted growing resilience and improved community preparedness, reflecting on the event's role in fostering stronger support networks. Broader lessons from Marcia's —from Category 2 to Category 5 in under 24 hours—influenced enhancements in forecasting, including the Bureau of Meteorology's adoption of advanced models like the Australian Community Climate and Earth-System Simulator (ACCESS) for better track and intensity predictions, alongside access to Japanese satellite imagery for improved monitoring.

Name Retirement

Following the impacts of Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) conducted a detailed reanalysis of the event, confirming its landfall as a Category 5 system near Shoalwater Bay on 20 February 2015, with sustained winds of 205 km/h and gusts up to 295 km/h, marking it as one of Australia's strongest landfalling cyclones since 2006. This assessment, completed in post-season reviews by April 2015 in collaboration with international meteorological bodies including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), highlighted Marcia's rapid intensification and exceptional intensity for a landfall so far south along Queensland's coast. Due to the cyclone's severe effects, including total economic damages estimated at over A$750 million and a significant threat to life despite no fatalities, the name "Marcia" met the criteria for under WMO guidelines for particularly deadly or costly storms. These standards, applied regionally by the BoM as the designated warning center, prioritize removal of names associated with events causing extensive disruption, aligning with global practices to avoid insensitivity and confusion in future communications. Marcia's damages exceeded thresholds often cited for such decisions, such as impacts over A$500 million, underscoring its role in destruction and community evacuation across . The retirement was formally announced in October 2016 during deliberations by the WMO's regional committees, where "Marcia" was removed from the rotating list of names for the region and replaced by "Mingzhu" to maintain alphabetical and gender balance. This decision was part of ongoing updates to the four-year cycle of names managed by the BoM in coordination with WMO, ensuring standby lists provide suitable alternatives. In historical context, Marcia represented only the second Category 5 cyclone to make landfall in since 1918, following in 2011 and emphasizing the rarity of such intense systems in the region during the modern observational era. This scarcity reinforces the rationale for retiring impactful names, contributing to improved public awareness and preparedness for future events.

References

  1. https://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/marcia.shtml
  2. https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/cyclone-cyclone-marcia-queensland-2015/
  3. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/85335/cyclones-lam-and-marcia
  4. https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/19c20822-f29e-494c-880a-113ccd13a04b/resource/c766e002-aae6-400e-87d0-4f3cdbbf0d4a/download/stc-marcia-post-cyclone-coastal-field-investigation-reduced.pdf
  5. https://www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood/fld_reports/TC_Marcia_floods.pdf
  6. https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:92f7a37/tc_scenarios_yr_3_technical_note_final.pdf
  7. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-trmm-satellite-rapid-intensification-category-.html
  8. https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/aus/2015/
  9. https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/19c20822-f29e-494c-880a-113ccd13a04b/resource/0a75e16c-3499-4207-9ae1-84b7f4a20bb0/download/stc-marcia.pdf
  10. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-20/category-five-cyclone-expected-to-hit-central-queensland/6151198
  11. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-27/tropical-cyclone-marcia-ses-crews-go-the-extra-mile/6265152
  12. https://www.qra.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-10/v10_activation_summary_tc_marcia_and_trough_19-22_feb_15.pdf
  13. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/pm-offers-cyclone-assistance/jawgzdmnd
  14. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-05/annastacia-palaszczuk-calls-on-tony-abbott-for-more-support/6284508
  15. https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2015-02-22/minister-defence-australian-defence-force-support-following-queenslands-cyclone-marcia-update
  16. https://au.news.yahoo.com/cyclone-marcia-weather-updates-clean-up-begins-after-cyclone-marcias-destruction-26349120.html
  17. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/cyclone-marcia-families-evacuated-30000-5195918
  18. https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/AboutCouncil/News-and-announcements/Latest-News/Recovery-begins-across-Rockhampton-Region
  19. https://www.standard.net.au/story/2897488/tropical-cyclone-marcia-leaves-trail-of-destruction/
  20. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/schools-too-close-as-marcia-moves-in/pk5rdvv54
  21. https://www.disaster.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/338313/SDCC-Report-Jan-June-2015.pdf
  22. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/feb/20/cyclone-marcia-wreaks-damage-along-queensland-coast
  23. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-24/thousands-remain-without-power-after-cyclone-marcia/6244076
  24. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/feb/21/cyclone-marcia-damage-central-queensland-begins-post-storm-clean-up
  25. https://betterburnett.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cyclone-Marcia_Flood-DamageReport.pdf
  26. https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/central-queensland/farmers-hit-hard-by-marcia/news-story/95ec3f7ad5419e110df9881dcc751da3
  27. https://www.fugro.com/expertise/case-studies/power-restoration-record-time-severe-tropical-cyclone-fugro
  28. https://www.artemis.bm/news/cyclone-marcia-insured-losses-rise-above-400m/
  29. https://elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au/jspui/bitstream/11017/3049/1/MMP_Summary_Report_14-15_FINAL.pdf
  30. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322338469_Coral_bleaching_in_the_southern_inshore_Great_Barrier_Reef_A_case_study_from_the_Keppel_Islands
  31. https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2015-02-23/minister-defence-australian-defence-force-support-following-queenslands-cyclone-marcia
  32. https://cabinet.qld.gov.au/documents/2015/mar/tc%20marcia%20recoveryplan/Attachments/tc-marcia-recovery-plan.pdf
  33. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-23/army-helping-clean-up-after-cyclone-marcia/6211472
  34. https://utilitymagazine.com.au/power-restored-after-cyclone-marcia/
  35. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-26/%241m-in-funding-from-qld-government-for-cyclone-maria-recovery/6265828
  36. https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/75592
  37. https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/2/regional-services/frw/frw-business-publications/rrc-dwqmp-august-2016.pdf
  38. https://carinity.org.au/marcia-marcia-marcia-storm-stress-lingers/
  39. https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/8895151/cyclone-marcia-a-decade-of-lasting-impacts-in-australia/
  40. https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/rockhampton/huge-pic-gallery-looking-back-10-years-to-devastating-cyclones-trail-of-destruction/news-story/f44756702fe8ea9270760c229075e129
  41. https://www.qra.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-12/cyclone_resilience_building_guidelines_-_dec19.pdf
  42. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-03/tourism-fears-aired-for-central-qld-after-cyclone/6276586
  43. https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mackay/damage-bill-for-cyclone-marcia-reaches-750-million/news-story/09bbada5341dabfc92ad78e3418c958b
  44. https://wmo.int/tropical-cyclone-naming
  45. https://wmo.int/resources/wmo-fact-sheets/tropical-cyclone-naming
  46. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/weather/tropical-cyclones/names
  47. https://www.bom.gov.au/resources/learn-and-explore/tropical-cyclone-knowledge-centre/naming-tropical-cyclones
  48. https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/cyclone-cyclone-yasi-queensland-2011/
  49. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/science-environment/2016/02/australias-most-destructive-cyclones-a-timeline/
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