From Grok
“Cyclone Mahina was a devastating tropical cyclone that struck Bathurst Bay, Cape York Peninsula, in colonial Queensland, Australia, on March 4, 1899. It remains the deadliest cyclone in recorded Australian history, with estimates of over 300 deaths, though the exact number is uncertain due to incomplete records. The storm likely claimed between 307 and 410 lives, primarily affecting pearl divers and seamen from South-East Asia, the Torres Strait, and Pacific islands who were part of the Thursday Island pearling fleet anchored in the area. Many deaths went unrecorded, including around 100 Aboriginal Australians who were not counted in official tallies at the time.
Classified as a Category 5 cyclone, Mahina is considered one of the most intense tropical cyclones ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. Its peak central pressure is estimated by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology at 914 hPa, but ongoing research suggests it could have been as low as 880 hPa, potentially making it the most intense cyclone to hit the Australian mainland if confirmed. The cyclone generated a massive storm surge, reported at 13 meters (43 feet), the largest on record, which swept inland, destroying ships and leaving debris like dolphin carcasses far from the shore.
Named by Queensland Government Meteorologist Clement Lindley Wragge, who pioneered the practice of naming storms, Mahina hit a fleet of over 100 vessels, sinking or wrecking more than half and leaving survivors to swim for days to safety. The storm’s ferocity was compounded by its collision with another weather system, “Nachon,” amplifying its destructive power. After crossing Cape York Peninsula, it moved into the Gulf of Carpentaria and dissipated by March 10.
Mahina’s rarity is notable—research indicates such super-cyclones occur in the region only once every two or three centuries. Its impact lingers in memorials, like the one at Cape Melville for “The Pearlers,” and in historical accounts, despite debates over its exact pressure and surge height. Today, it stands as a stark reminder of nature’s power, long before modern climate debates.”
According NASA, 1899 was a cold year and the water which Mahina passed over was unusually cold.
Global Temperature | Vital Signs – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet
