{{Short description|1896 Australia cyclone}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2016}} {{infobox weather event | image = | caption = | formed = 25 January 1896 | dissipated = 30 January 1896 }}{{infobox weather event/scale | winds = | pressure = 988 }}{{infobox weather event/Effects | year = 1896 | fatalities = 23 confirmed | missing = 3 | damage = | areas = | refs = }}{{infobox weather event/Footer | season = Pre-1900 Australian region cyclone seasons }} thumb|Sketches of the damage of Cyclone Sigma on Townsville, 1896 '''Cyclone Sigma''' was a deadly tropical cyclone that caused severe damage in North Queensland, Australia on 26–27 January 1896<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = CBoM – History of Townsville Meteorological Office|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/townsville/history.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320214418/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/townsville/history.shtml|archive-date=20 Mar 2011|website = Australian Government. Bureau of Meteorolgy|access-date = 18 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/lifestyle/townsville-150/lives-lost-during-cyclone-sigma-on-australia-day-in-1896/news-story/3533591a948c9055f87b1a250349dda5|title=Lives lost during cyclone Sigma on Australia Day in 1896|date=30 January 2015|publisher=Townsville Bulletin|accessdate=18 January 2016|archive-date=7 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007204615/https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/lifestyle/townsville-150/lives-lost-during-cyclone-sigma-on-australia-day-in-1896/news-story/3533591a948c9055f87b1a250349dda5|url-status=live}}</ref> and the loss of at least 23 lives.

The cyclone caused massive destruction to Townsville and surrounding areas. The cyclone passed to the north-east of the town, creating high seas and dumping up to {{convert|510|mm}} of rain in the area. The Ross River broke its banks, flooding {{convert|3|mi|order=flip}} of the town's suburbs with up to {{convert|2|m}} of water. Ten ships were wrecked in the harbour, 17 people died in the flooding, and one sailor was also killed.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{cite web| website=Harden up: Protecting Queensland| publisher=Green Cross Australia| title=Cyclone Sigma| url=http://hardenup.org/be-aware/weather-events/events/1890-1899/cyclone-sigma-1896-01-26.aspx| access-date=29 October 2016| archive-date=31 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131092310/http://hardenup.org/be-aware/weather-events/events/1890-1899/cyclone-sigma-1896-01-26.aspx| url-status=live}}</ref>

The cyclone then travelled south towards Rockhampton, creating heavy rainfall. At least 23 people died in the cyclone, with three reported as missing.<ref name=":1" />

It was thought that ketch ''Lalla Rookh'' was wrecked during the cyclone;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231642280 |title=The Queensland storm |newspaper=The Australian Star |issue=2496 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 February 1896 |accessdate=25 January 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065146/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231642280 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172420391 |title=Storm Sigma |newspaper=The Telegraph (Brisbane) |issue=7266 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=31 January 1896 |accessdate=25 January 2021 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065120/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/172420391 |url-status=live }}</ref> however, later reports confirmed that she had escaped.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79289025 |title=Sigma" in Towmsville |newspaper=The North Queensland Register |volume=VI |issue=6 |date=5 February 1896 |accessdate=23 January 2021 |page=31 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065119/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/79289025 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article260680070 |title=The cyclone in Queensland |newspaper=Australian Advertiser |volume=VIII |issue=1188 |location=Western Australia |date=4 February 1896 |accessdate=25 January 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065120/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/260680070 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article209056868 |title=The Queensland Cyclone |newspaper=The Express and Telegraph |volume=XXXIII |issue=9,671 |location=South Australia |date=1 February 1896 |accessdate=25 January 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065156/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209056868 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Many buildings were destroyed or badly damaged, including: * Townsville School of Arts<ref name="qhr">{{cite QHR|15700|Townsville School of Arts|600925|accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref> * Tattersalls Hotel<ref name="qhr2">{{cite QHR|15691|Tattersalls Hotel|600916|accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref> * Townsville Showground<ref name="qhr3">{{cite QHR|29022|Townsville Showground|602650|accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref> * Townsville Supreme Court<ref name="qhr4">{{cite QHR|15660|Drystone Wall, Melton Hill, Townsville|600885|accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref> * St John's Anglican Church<ref name="qhr5">{{cite QHR|15655|St John's Anglican Church Precinct|600880|accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref> * Cluden Racecourse and railway station<ref name="qhr6">{{cite QHR|15699|Grandstand, former totalisator building and main entrance gates, Cluden Racecourse|600924|accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{cite journal|url=http://hardenup.org/umbraco/customContent/media/641_Townsville_Cyclone_Sigma_1896.pdf |title=Case Study: Cyclone Sigma, 1896|first= Jeff |last=Callaghan|date=22 September 2011 |publisher=Green Cross Australia|journal=Harden Up Queensland|access-date=19 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621171724/http://hardenup.org/umbraco/customContent/media/641_Townsville_Cyclone_Sigma_1896.pdf|archive-date=21 June 2023}}

== External links == {{Commons category-inline|Cyclone Sigma}}

Category:1896 in Australia Category:Tropical cyclones in 1896 Sigma Category:Disasters in Queensland Category:North Queensland Category:January 1896 in Oceania

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