Cyclone Althea
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Tropical Cyclone Althea was a category 4 cyclone when it hit Magnetic Island and Townsville in North Queensland on December 24 1971. Althea produced peak gust wind speeds between 123 and 145 miles per hour (197 and 233 km/h). Three people died and property damage was estimated at AU$115 million loss (1990 value). On Magnetic Island 90% of the houses were damaged or destroyed. In Townsville houses were lifted from their stumps and most trees stripped of foliage. Althea was also notable at the time, as it had struck a major city. Townsville at the time however, had a smaller population base than Darwin, which was hit by Tropical Cyclone Tracy on christmas day, 1974.
Although there was a dangerous storm surge associated with TC Althea (between 2.8 and 3.6 metres) little flooding occurred because the cyclone made landfall on a low tide. However, the combination of storm surge and wave action demolished The Strand sea wall and houses in low-lying areas were inundated with up to 0.6 metres of water.
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