Cyclone Debbie

Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie

Debbie approaching Queensland shortly after peak intensity on 28 March
Meteorological history
Formed	23 March 2017
Remnant low	30 March 2017
Dissipated	7 April 2017
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (Aus)
Highest winds	175 km/h (110 mph)
Lowest pressure	949 hPa (mbar); 28.02 inHg
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS)
Highest winds	215 km/h (130 mph)
Lowest pressure	937 hPa (mbar); 27.67 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	14 total
Damage	$2.73 billion (2017 USD) (Second-costliest tropical cyclone in the Australian region basin)
Areas affected	Queensland, New South Wales, New Zealand
IBTrACS
Part of the 2016–17 Australian region cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017 was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike Queensland since Marcia in 2015, and was the costliest tropical cyclone in Australia since Yasi in 2011. Forming as a tropical low on 23 March, the low gradually intensified into a named tropical cyclone on 25 March. After steadily strengthening offshore to a Category 4 system, Debbie eventually made landfall near Airlie Beach, at 12:40 AEST on 28 March.^[1] Afterwards, Debbie rapidly weakened into a tropical low by late 28 March, but continued to travel south, causing significant damage and flooding in the populous areas of South East Queensland and Northern Rivers.^[1] In total, the storm caused A$3.5 billion (US$2.67 billion) in damage and fourteen deaths across Australia, primarily as a result of extreme flooding. This makes Debbie the deadliest cyclone to hit Australia since Fifi in 1991.^[2]