{{short description|none}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox hurricane season | Basin=Aus | Year=1998 | Track=1997-98 Australian region cyclone season summary.png | First storm formed=19 November 1997 | Last storm dissipated=19 April 1998 | Strongest storm name=Tiffany | Strongest storm pressure=940 | Strongest storm winds=92.5 | Average wind speed=10 | Total depressions=11 | Total storms=9 official, 1 unofficial<!--number of storms of at least TS strength--> | Total hurricanes=<!--number of Severe Tropical Cyclones >63 knots--> | Total intense=4<!--not used in this basin--> | Fatalities= | Damages= | Inflated= | five seasons=1995–96, 1996–97, '''1997–98''', 1998–99, 1999–00 | South Indian season=1997–98 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season | South Pacific season=1997–98 South Pacific cyclone season }} The '''1997–98 Australian region cyclone season''' was a slightly below average tropical cyclone season. It ran from 1 November 1997 to 30 April 1998. The regional tropical cyclone operational plan also defines a ''tropical cyclone year'' separately from a ''tropical cyclone season'', and the "tropical cyclone year" ran from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998.
Tropical cyclones in this area were monitored by four Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs): the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane; and TCWC Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. __TOC__ {{clear}}
== Systems == <div style="text-align: center;"> <timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:200 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:80 right:20 left:20 Legend = columns:3 left:30 top:58 columnwidth:270 AlignBars = early
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/11/1997 till:01/05/1998 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMinor = grid:black unit:month increment:1 start:01/11/1997
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Backgroundcolors = canvas:canvas
BarData = barset:Hurricane bar:Month
PlotData= barset:Hurricane width:10 align:left fontsize:S shift:(4,-4) anchor:till from:19/11/1997 till:21/11/1997 color:C2 text:"Nute (C2)" from:24/12/1997 till:29/12/1997 color:C1 text:"Sid (C1)" from:26/12/1997 till:02/01/1998 color:C3 text:"Selwyn (C3)" from:01/01/1998 till:24/01/1998 color:C4 text:"Katrina (C4)" from:22/01/1998 till:31/01/1998 color:C4 text:"Tiffany (C4)" from:22/01/1998 till:01/02/1998 color:C2 text:"Les (C2)" barset:break from:08/02/1998 till:17/02/1998 color:C3 text:"Victor (C3)" from:25/02/1998 till:26/02/1998 color:C1 text:"May (C1)" from:07/03/1998 till:09/03/1998 color:TL text:"Elsie (TL)" from:20/03/1998 till:26/03/1998 color:C2 text:"Nathan (C2)" from:16/04/1998 till:19/04/1998 color:TL text:"35S (TL)"
bar:Month width:5 align:center fontsize:S shift:(0,-20) anchor:middle color:canvas from:01/11/1997 till:30/11/1997 text:November from:01/12/1997 till:31/12/1997 text:December from:01/01/1998 till:31/01/1998 text:January from:01/02/1998 till:28/02/1998 text:February from:01/03/1998 till:31/03/1998 text:March from:01/04/1998 till:30/04/1998 text:April
TextData = pos:(568,24) text:"(From the" pos:(617,24) text:"Australian tropical cyclone scale)" </timeline> </div>
=== Tropical Cyclone Nute === {{Infobox Hurricane Small |Basin=Aus |Image=Nute 1997-11-19 2031Z.png |Track=Nute 1997 path.png |Formed=19 November <small>(Entered basin)</small> |Dissipated=21 November |10-min winds=60 |1-min winds=70 |Pressure=975 }}
On 19 November, Tropical Cyclone Nute moved into the basin on 19 November, at its peak intensity as a category 2 tropical cyclone with 10-minute sustained winds of {{convert|60|kn|km/h mph|round=5|abbr=on|order=out}}, while located around {{convert|300|nmi|km mi|round=5|abbr=on|order=out}} to the south of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.<ref name="GP1197">{{cite report|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary November 1997 |url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1998/summ9711.htm |access-date=11 November 2012 |author=Padgett, Gary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203013712/http://www.australiasevereweather.com.au/cyclones/1998/summ9711.htm|archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="IBTRACS-Nute">{{cite web|url={{IBTRACS url|id=1997319S09180}}|publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|title=1997 Tropical Cyclone Nute (1997319S09180)|access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref> As it moved into the region, the JTWC estimated that Nate had peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of {{convert|70|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|round=5|order=out}}, which made it equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.<ref name="IBTRACS-Nute"/><ref>{{cite web|date=19 November 1997|access-date=15 October 2023|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com.au/tropical_cyclones/1997_1998/warnings/tropical_cyclone_nute_jtwc_advisories.htm |publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|title=Tropical Cyclone 05P Warning No 4 November 19, 1997 21z|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608082955/http://www.australiasevereweather.com.au/tropical_cyclones/1997_1998/warnings/tropical_cyclone_nute_jtwc_advisories.htm |archive-date=8 June 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Over the next couple of days, Nute weakened significantly as it encountered dry air and an increasing amount of vertical wind shear, which caused its low-level circulation to become fully exposed.<ref>{{cite report|date=20 November 1997|access-date=15 October 2023|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com.au/tropical_cyclones/1997_1998/warnings/tropical_cyclone_nute_jtwc_advisories.htm |publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|title=Tropical Cyclone 05P Warning No 5 November 20, 1997 09z|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608082955/http://www.australiasevereweather.com.au/tropical_cyclones/1997_1998/warnings/tropical_cyclone_nute_jtwc_advisories.htm |archive-date=8 June 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, the JTWC issued its final advisory on the system during 20 November, before the BoM reported that Nute had dissipated during the following day.<ref>{{cite report|date=20 November 1997|access-date=15 October 2023|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com.au/tropical_cyclones/1997_1998/warnings/tropical_cyclone_nute_jtwc_advisories.htm |publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|title=Tropical Cyclone 05P Warning No 6 November 20, 1997 21z|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608082955/http://www.australiasevereweather.com.au/tropical_cyclones/1997_1998/warnings/tropical_cyclone_nute_jtwc_advisories.htm |archive-date=8 June 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="96-98 Aus">{{cite conference|title=Final Report of the Seventh Session: Appendix VI-1: Australia: Tropical Cyclones in the Eastern Region during the 1997/1998 Tropical Cyclone Season|conference=RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee for the South Pacific and the South-East Indian Ocean Seventh Session|date=September 1998|publisher=World Meteorological Organization}}</ref>
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=== Tropical Cyclone Sid === {{Infobox Hurricane Small |Basin=Aus |Image=Sid dec 28 1997 0526Z.jpg |Track=Sid 1997 path.png |Formed=24 December |Dissipated=29 December |10-min winds=45 |1-min winds=40 |Pressure=985 }} A low-pressure system formed over the Northern Territory in late December and moved into the Timor Sea as the monsoon trough developed near Australia. A tropical depression had formed on 26 December near Darwin, Australia.<ref name="sid"/> The storm reached gale force six hours after developing and was named Sid by the BoM. Sid moved to the east, affecting the Northern Territory. Sid turned southeastward, crossing the Northern Territory. Sid moved fully southward, in which it weakened due to wind shear. By 28 December, Sid had weakened to below gale-status and residual low meandered around for a few days.<ref name="sid">[http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1998/summ9712.htm#9808 Sid Report]</ref>
By 3 January, the low re-entered the Western Gulf and the BoM began to re-issue advisories on the low, which was forecast to re-intensify. The low became a depression and drifted around for another day. On 4 January, scatterometer data at 1330 UTC indicated the presence of 30-35 mph winds over the water. The depression weakened back into a low on 5 January and advisories were stopped again. However, on 7 January, the TCWC in Darwin re-issued advisories for a third time and the cyclone was forecast to re-intensify, but this did not occur. The last warning was issued on the depression at 1800 UTC. The remnant low moved into the Gulf of Carpentaria and across Queensland. The TCWC in Brisbane, Australia issued bulletins on 10 January for the low which was once Sid. The low remained quasi-stationary to a couple of days near Townsville, causing major flooding in the area. The bulletins were discontinued the next day. Heavy rains fell and several rivers flooded due to the remnant low on 11 January.<ref name="Low">[http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1998/summ9801.htm#9808 Tropical Depression (formerly TC Sid - 08S) 3-11 January]</ref> {{clear}}
=== Severe Tropical Cyclone Selwyn === {{Infobox Hurricane Small |Basin=Aus |Image=Selwyn tir.gif |Track=Selwyn 1997 path.png |Formed=26 December |Dissipated=2 January |10-min winds=76 |1-min winds=65 |Pressure=960 }} Tropical Cyclone Selwyn formed 650 kilometers east-southeast of Christmas Island within the monsoon trough.<ref name="SelwynTCR">[http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1998/summ9712.txt Tropical Cyclone Selwyn (TC-09S)26 December-2 January]</ref> Selwyn rapidly strengthened into a tropical cyclone on 27 December and reached its maximum intensity of 70 mph (110 km/h) on 28 December. Selwyn went at a west-southwesterly motion, bringing it to a position almost {{convert|1000|nmi|km|-3}} west of Broome by mid-day 29 December.<ref name="SelwynTCR"/> After this point, Selwyn began to weaken rapidly as it moved west-northwesterly slowly. Warnings were discontinued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Perth, Australia on 31 December because winds were forecast to fall below gale-force. The remnant low drifted westward and then to the southwest with convection flaring up once in a while. Warnings were re-issued in early January due to forecasts that Selwyn would re-intensify, but this did not occur. The remnant low (formerly known as Selwyn) was tracked until 3 January.<ref name="SelwynTCR"/> {{clear}}
=== Severe Tropical Cyclone Katrina === {{Infobox Hurricane Small |Basin=Aus |Image=Katrina 1998-01-15 0631Z.png |Track=Katrina 1998 path.png |Formed=1 January |Dissipated=24 January<br><small>(Out of basin from 7–11 January)</small> |10-min winds=90 |1-min winds=90 |Pressure=940 }} {{main|Cyclone Katrina}} During 1 January, TCWC Brisbane started to monitor a tropical low, that had developed within the monsoon trough about {{convert|630|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the east-northeast of Cairns in Queensland, Australia.<ref name="1997-98 BoM">{{cite journal|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology |title=The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season 1997–98 |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jshess/docs/2000/chappel.pdf|access-date=21 January 2015 |author2=Bate P W |author=Chappel L C |volume=49 |pages=121–138 |journal=Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605113928/http://www.bom.gov.au/amm/docs/2000/chappel.pdf |archive-date=5 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="GP Jan 98">{{cite report|author=Padgett, Gary|url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1998/summ9801.htm|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary January 1998|access-date=21 January 2015}}</ref> Katrina became a tropical storm on 3 January and was moving slowly to the east-northeast. The cyclone was affected by Cyclone Susan which was {{convert|1000|nmi|km|-2}} east of Katrina. On 7 January, Susan moved further south allowing Katrina to intensify as it neared the Solomon Islands, this proved to be the northernmost point of Katrina's track as the storm turned east-southeast and then southeast, fluctuating in hurricane strength. On 9 January, Cyclone Katrina threatened Vanuatu when it stalled about {{convert|200|nmi|km|-1}} west-northwest of Port Vila and reversed direction and moved west due a high pressure system. On 11 January, Katrina moved south of Rennell Island and then crossed back into the Brisbane area six hours later where it crossed the 160E on its eastward journey, then the storm turned west where it maintained that course until 15 January.<ref name="katrinatc">[http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1998/summ9801.htm#9812 Katrina report]</ref> On the 15th, the storm moved south-southwest where it reached Category 2 strength with a barometric pressure of 940 mbar. Katrina weakened rapidly and slowed before making a tight loop on 17 and 18 January.<ref name="katrinatc"/> After completing the loop, Cyclone Katrina moved east for 12 hours before moving east-southeast for three days. During that time, Katrina briefly reached Category 1 strength once more before slowing down and being affected by wind shear. By 24 January, Katrina had weakened to a tropical depression.{{fact|date=March 2026}} {{Clear}}
=== Severe Tropical Cyclone Tiffany === {{Infobox Hurricane Small |Basin=Aus |Image=Tiffany Jan 27 1998 0638Z.png |Track=Tiffany 1998 path.png |Formed=22 January |Dissipated=31 January |10-min winds=100 |1-min winds=120 |Pressure=940 }} Tropical Cyclone Tiffany began as a tropical low about {{convert|1000|nmi|km|-3}} northeast of Broome.<ref name="TiffanyTCR">[http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1998/summ9801.htm Tropical Cyclone Tiffany (TC-15S) 24-31 January]</ref> TCWC in Perth, Australia started issuing advisories on the low 24 January. The system was of land origin and had entered the ocean. A brief surge of southeasterly flow helped the system strengthen and was given the name Tiffany the next day. Tiffany was a small system and strengthened rapidly with an estimated {{convert|40|mi/h|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} gain in a 12-hour period on 26 January.<ref name="TiffanyTCR"/> Hurricane-status was reached at 1200 UTC about {{convert|125|nmi|km|0}} north of Port Hedland. The peak intensity of 930 millibars was recorded on 27 January with the maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (130 by the JTWC). Tiffany remained at {{convert|105|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}} for 18–24 hours before beginning to weaken. The cyclone went to the west-southwest, farther and farther away from the Australian coastline. By 29 January, the system fell below hurricane-status and Perth issued its last warning the next day. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center followed the next day. No damage was reported with the system.<ref name="TiffanyTCR"/> * [http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/1998.shtml Australian Report for Tiffany] {{clear}}
=== Tropical Cyclone Les === {{Infobox Hurricane Small |Basin=Aus |Image=Les Jan 24 1998 0531Z.png |Track=Les 1998 path.png |Formed=22 January |Dissipated=1 February |10-min winds=60 |1-min winds=50 |Pressure=976 }} {{Main|Cyclone Les (1998)}} Les formed on 23 January 1998 near Darwin, Australia. The storm moved westward reaching Category 1 status before making landfall on the eastern gulf coast of the Northern Territory. Moving back out over the Timor Sea, Les hugged the coast and regained strength before making a second landfall and dissipating. Les caused extensive flooding and damage in the town of Katherine and there was one death.<ref>[http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1998/summ9801.htm#9812 Les Report]</ref> {{clear}}
=== Severe Tropical Cyclone Victor–Cindy === {{Infobox Hurricane Small |Basin=Aus |Image=Cyclone_Victor-Cindy_1998.png |Track=Victor-Cindy 1998 path.png |Formed=8 February |Dissipated=17 February <small>(Exited basin)</small> |10-min winds=85 |1-min winds=90 |Pressure=975 }}
The tropical low that was to become Severe Tropical Cyclone Victor-Cindy was first noted over Australia's Top End by the BoM on 5 February 1998 and was presumed to have formed out of the remnants of Severe Tropical Cyclone Katrina.<ref name="Victor IBTRACS">{{cite web|publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url={{IBTRACS url|id=1998002S14151}}|title=1998 Tropical Cyclone Victor-Cindy (1998002S14151)|access-date=20 April 2023}}</ref><ref name="BoM Victor">{{cite report|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/victor.pdf|title=Tropical Cyclone Victor|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=20 April 2023}}</ref> Over the next couple of days, the system moved westwards over the Top End under the influence of a subtropical ridge of high pressure and emerged into the Indian Ocean to the north of Western Australia's Kimberley region.<ref name="Victor IBTRACS"/><ref name="BoM Victor"/>
However, its organization improved significantly on 9 February, as it moved west-southwest away from the north Kimberley coast. An LNG tanker reported 40-knot winds near the center during the late afternoon of 10 February, and the storm was named ''Victor'' that night. It continued to move westward and remained weak during 11 February, but intensified during 12 February. An eye became visible during the morning of 13 February, as Victor reached peak intensity. Victor continued west-southwestward but then progressively weakened. By the morning of 15 February, the cyclone was sheared, with a fully exposed low-level center apparent on satellite imagery.<ref name="SWIO ACTR">{{cite journal|author=RSMC La Reunion Tropical Cyclone Center|title=Tropical Depression D1|journal=Saison Cyclonique 1997-1998|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/archives/publications/data/cSaisoncyclonique19971998.pdf|accessdate=17 August 2012|publisher=Meteo France}}</ref> Victor was a small cyclone for its whole lifetime and was surrounded by very high environmental pressures.
As Victor accelerated towards a west-southwest direction on the edge of a subtropical high, it crossed the 90th meridian east early on 16 February, subsequently being briefly renamed by Mauritius as Tropical Cyclone ''Cindy''.<ref name="SWIO ACTR"/> Later that day, the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in Réunion (RSMC La Reunion) downgraded Cindy to a tropical disturbance.<ref name="SWIO ACTR"/> Cindy continued to lose its convection and vorticity until 19 February, when RSMC La Reunion reported that the cyclone dissipated, after having recurved to the south towards a polar trough.<ref name="SWIO ACTR"/>
The time period from the initial formation of the low in the Coral Sea, until it could no longer be identified as a low in the south-central Indian Ocean was 51 days.<ref>{{cite report|title=Western Australia Tropical Cyclone Season Summary 1997-98|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|accessdate=23 February 2014|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/1998.shtml}}</ref> {{Clear}}
=== Tropical Cyclone May === {{Infobox Hurricane Small |Basin=Aus |Image=May Feb 26 1998 0300Z.png |Track=May 1998 path.png |Formed=25 February |Dissipated=26 February |10-min winds=40 |1-min winds=35 |Pressure=990 }} May formed from an area of low pressure on 25 February 1998 near the Australian coast. May moved southward before making landfall near Mornington Island on 26 February. After that the storm dissipated while moving inland.<ref>[http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1998/summ9802.htm#9825 May report]</ref> There were no reports of deaths or damage from Tropical Cyclone May. {{clear}}
=== Tropical Low Elsie === {{Infobox Hurricane Small |Basin=Aus |Image=Elsie tir.gif |Track=Elsie 1998 path.png |Formed=7 March |Dissipated=9 March (Exited basin) |10-min winds=20 |1-min winds= |Pressure= }} A low pressure area was spotted west of the Cocos Islands on 7 March. The system tracked westward and then southwestward over the next few days, remaining poorly organized. It crossed 90°E in the night of 8–9 March and left the Australian basin.<ref name="report">{{cite report|author=Philippe Caroff|year=1997|publisher=Météo-France|title=1997-1998 Cyclone Season in the South-West Indian Ocean|access-date=2014-05-03|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/archives/publications/data/cSaisoncyclonique19971998.pdf}}</ref> {{clear}}
=== Tropical Cyclone Nathan === {{Infobox Hurricane Small |Basin=Aus |Image=Nathan vis.gif |Track=Nathan 1998 path.png |Formed=20 March |Dissipated=26 March |10-min winds=50 |1-min winds=65 |Pressure=990 }} Tropical Cyclone Nathan formed from a tropical low embedded weak monsoon trough that had formed when Tropical Cyclone Yali had reached cyclone intensity. Upper-level outflow was favorable, but wind shear made it restricted for rapid development. Nathan started off developing rapidly, the first warning, issued on 21 March, classified the system as a {{convert|45|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}} tropical cyclone. Nathan was a small system in an environment of weak steering flow, causing the storm to move erratically but slowly to the east. Nathan turned southward, coming to within {{convert|100|nmi|km|-1}} of Cooktown, Australia on 23 March. The TCWC in Brisbane kept Nathan's wind speed at 50-60 mph, whereas the Joint Typhoon Warning Center boosted it up to hurricane-strength on 23 March.
After approaching the coast of Queensland, Nathan came under the influence of the monsoon flow from Tropical Cyclone Yali. The storm moved east-northeasterly very rapidly and became more easterly on 25 March. By the morning of 26 March, the circulation was becoming sheared. The shear was possibly coming from an extratropical system (formerly known as Yali). Nathan turned to the south and the Brisbane TCWC downgraded the system into a tropical low, ceasing advisories. By 1200 UTC on 27 March, Nathan showed signs of redevelopment near the Chesterfield Islands. The JTWC reissued advisories and upped the winds to {{convert|50|mi/h|km/h|-1|abbr=on}}. Nathan moved westward and approached Australia again, weakening slowly.
A scatterometer pass on 29 March indicated a small circulation with winds of about {{convert|40|mi/h|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} and a Willis Island report the next day indicated that Nathan only had {{convert|35|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}} easterly winds. The JTWC kept Nathan as a minimal tropical cyclone until 31 March when it was downgraded into a weakening low. {{clear}}
=== Tropical Low 35S === {{Infobox Hurricane Small |Basin=Aus |Image=35S Apr 19 1998 0640Z.png |Track=35S 1998 path.png |Type1=low |Formed=16 April |Dissipated=19 April |10-min winds=35 |1-min winds=40 |Pressure=1002 }} A low formed off the coast of Australia on 16 April 1998. The depression moved southwestward before making landfall in Western Australia on the 19th.<ref name="WA 1997-98">{{cite report|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=3 June 2022|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/1998.shtml|archivedate=18 March 2012|title=Western Australia Tropical Cyclone Season Summary 1997-98|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318214745/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/1998.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="March 1998">{{cite report|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary March 1998|access-date=11 August 2018|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com.au/cyclones/1998/summ9803.htm|author=Padgett, Gary}}</ref> There were reports of heavy rain but no report of damage or deaths from the unnamed storm. {{clear}}
=== Other systems === During 25 March the JTWC, RSMC Nadi and TCWC Brisbane reported that Cyclone Yali had moved into the Australian region from the South Pacific basin.<ref name="JTWC">{{cite web|url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1998/yali.htm|title=Tropical Cyclone Yali Warnings|work=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=Australian Severe Weather|access-date=10 November 2012}}</ref> However, RSMC Nadi and TCWC Brisbane both treated the system as a post tropical cyclone, after an upper cut-off low had captured the cyclone had caused Yali to lose its tropical characteristics.<ref name="1997-98 BoM"/>
== Storm names == Tropical cyclones are assigned names by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology or Papua New Guinea. Tropical cyclones are named if they are non-frontal low pressure systems of synoptic scale developing over warm waters, or if Dvorak intensity analysis indicate the presence of gale force or stronger winds near the centre. Therefore, tropical systems with gales in one or more quadrants, but not near the centre, are not named.<ref name="BoMTCFAQ">{{cite web|title=Tropical Cyclones: Frequently Asked Questions|access-date=15 August 2008|publisher=Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/cyclone/faq/index.shtml}}</ref> All names assigned in the Australian region are selected sequentially. Only the names used during this cyclone season are listed below. The complete list of names for each basin are found in the World Meteorological Organization's official lists.<ref name="Op-pln99">{{cite web|year=1999|title=Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean|access-date=15 August 2008|publisher=World Meteorological Organization|url=http://www.wmo.ch/pages/prog/www/Peng/tcp/documents/doc/Op-pln99.doc}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Each Australian Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane) maintains a list of names arranged alphabetically and alternating male and female. Tropical cyclones that develop in the South-East Indian Ocean are assigned names by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Perth. This region includes the areas east of 90°E, south of the Equator, and west of 125°E. Tropical cyclones that develop south of the Equator between 125°E and 141°E are assigned names by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Darwin, Northern Territory. This area includes most of the cyclones that form in the Arafura Sea and Western Gulf of Carpentaria. Tropical cyclones in the Coral Sea and Eastern Gulf of Carpentaria between 141°E and 160°E and south of 10°S are assigned names by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Brisbane, Queensland.<ref name="Op-pln99" />
'''Perth''' * Selwyn – Tiffany – Victor
'''Darwin''' * Sid
'''Brisbane''' * Katrina – Les – May – Nathan
The Bureau of Meteorology retired the names ''Katrina'' and ''Sid'', replacing them with ''Kitty'' and ''Samuel'' respectively.<ref name="TROPICAL CYCLONE NAMES">{{cite web|author=Bureau of Meteorology |year=2005 |title=TROPICAL CYCLONE NAMES |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |accessdate=16 June 2006 |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/catalogue/warnings/cyclone_names.shtml |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615131914/http://www.bom.gov.au/catalogue/warnings/cyclone_names.shtml |archivedate=15 June 2006 }}</ref> However, neither name was retained when the naming lists were combined in 2008.
== Season effects == {{Pacific areas affected (Top)}} |- | Nute || {{Sort|19971119|19 – 21 November}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A2}}|{{Sort|2|Category 2 tropical cyclone}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A2}}|{{convert|60|kn|km/h mph|round=5|order=out|abbr=on|sortable=on}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A2}}|{{convert|975|hPa|inHg|round=5|abbr=on|sigfig=4|sortable=on}} || None || {{sort|0|None}} || {{sort|0|None}} ||<ref>{{cite web|url={{IBTRACS url|id=1997319S09180}}|publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|title=1997 Tropical Cyclone Nute (1997319S09180)|access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref> |- | Sid || {{Sort|19981224|24 – 29 December}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A1}}|{{Sort|1|Category 1 tropical cyclone}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A1}}|{{convert|45|kn|km/h mph|round=5|order=out|abbr=on|sortable=on}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A1}}|{{convert|985|hPa|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|sortable=on}} || Northern Territory || {{ntsp|100000000||$}} || {{nts|1}} ||<ref>{{cite web|publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url={{IBTRACS url|id=1997319S09180}}|title=1997 Tropical Cyclone Sid (1997359S12129)|access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclone Sid|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/sid.shtml|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref> |- | Les || {{sort|19980121|21 January – 2 February}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A2}}|{{Sort|2|Category 2 tropical cyclone}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A2}}|{{convert|60|kn|km/h mph|round=5|order=out|abbr=on|sortable=on}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A2}}|{{convert|976|hPa|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on|sortable=on}} || Northern Australia || {{sort|1|Unknown}} || {{sort|1|Unknown}} ||<ref>{{cite web|publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url={{IBTRACS url|id=1998022S15143}}|access-date=25 May 2022|title=1998 Tropical Cyclone Les (1998022S15143)}}</ref>{{CN|reason=Impacts|date=May 2022}} |- | May || {{Sort|19981007|7 – 10 February}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A1}}|{{Sort|1|Category 1 tropical cyclone}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A1}}|{{convert|40|kn|km/h mph|round=5|order=out|abbr=on|sortable=on}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A1}}|{{convert|990|hPa|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on|sortable=on}} || Northern Territory || {{sort|1|Unknown}} || {{sort|1|Unknown}} ||<ref>{{cite web|publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url={{IBTRACS url|id=1998056S14139}}|title=1998 Tropical Cyclone May (1998056S14139)|access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref> |- | Nathan || {{sort|19980319|19 – 30 March}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A2}}|{{Sort|2|Category 2 tropical cyclone}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A2}}|{{convert|50|kn|km/h mph|round=5|order=out|abbr=on|sortable=on}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|A2}}|{{convert|990|hPa|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on|sortable=on}} || Queensland || {{sort|0|None}} || {{sort|0|None}} ||<ref>{{cite report|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|title=Tropical Cyclone Nathan|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/nathan.shtml|access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url={{IBTRACS url|id=1998079S10145}}|access-date=25 May 2022|title=1998 Severe Tropical Cyclone Nathan (1998079S10145)}}</ref> |- | 35S || {{Sort|19980416|16 – 19 April 1998}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|TL}}|{{Sort|0|Tropical low}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|TL}}|{{sort|20|Not Specified}} || bgcolor=#{{storm colour|TL}}|{{sort|1020|Not Specified}} || Western Australia || {{sort|1|Unknown}} || {{sort|1|Unknown}} ||<ref name="WA 1997-98"/><ref name="March 1998"/> |} </div>
== See also == {{Portal|Tropical cyclones}} * List of Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons * Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1997, 1998 * Pacific hurricane seasons: 1997, 1998 * Pacific typhoon seasons: 1997, 1998 * North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1997, 1998
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301105349/http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC |date=1 March 2010 }}. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080723222148/http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/cyclone/index.shtml Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology]. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070421094952/http://www.wmo.int/index-en.html World Meteorological Organization] * [http://ftp.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/Peng/TCP_vO/Reports/7RAVTCC.doc RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee Final Report] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110607042009/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1998atcr/pdf.html Joint Typhoon Warning Center 1998 ATCR] * [ftp://ftp.bom.gov.au/anon2/home/ncc/cyclone/cyclones_newformat.zip Raw cyclone track data]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} * [http://www.bom.gov.au/inside/services_policy/public/sigwxsum/sigwmenu.shtml BoM Monthly Significant Weather Summaries] * [http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/1998.shtml 1997-98 Annual Summary (Western Australia)] * [http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/tropical_cyclones_1998_summaries_and_track_data.htm September 1997 to June 1998 Tropical Cyclone Summaries and Operational Track Data]
{{1997–98 Australian region cyclone season buttons}} {{Tropical cyclone season|1997|split-year=y}} {{TC Decades|Year=1990|basin=Australian region|type=cyclone|shem=yes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1997-98 Australian Region Cyclone Season}} Category:1997–98 Australian region cyclone season Category:Australian region cyclone seasons