2008–09 Australian region cyclone season
The 2008–09 Australian region cyclone season was a near average tropical cyclone season. It officially started on 1 November 2008, and officially ended on 30 April 2009. This season was also the first time that the BoM implemented a "tropical cyclone year." The regional tropical cyclone operational plan defines a "tropical cyclone year" separately from a "tropical cyclone season"; the "tropical cyclone year" began on 1 July 2008 and ended on 30 June 2009.
| 2008–09 Australian region cyclone season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | 17 November 2008 |
| Last system dissipated | 18 May 2009 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Hamish |
| • Maximum winds | 215 km/h (130 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 924 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Tropical lows | 24 |
| Tropical cyclones | 10 |
| Severe tropical cyclones | 3 |
| Total fatalities | 4 direct, 1 indirect |
| Total damage | $103.3 million (2008 USD) |
| Related articles | |
The scope of the Australian region is limited to all areas south of the equator, east of 90°E and west of 160°E. This area includes Australia, Papua New Guinea, western parts of the Solomon Islands, East Timor and southern parts of Indonesia.
Tropical cyclones in this area are monitored by five Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs): the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane; TCWC Jakarta in Indonesia; and TCWC Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center issues unofficial warnings for the region, designating tropical depressions with the "S" suffix when they form west of 135°E, and the "P" suffix when they form east of 135°E.