Cyclone Sigma Explained

Formed:	25 January 2035
Dissipated:	30 January 2037

Pressure:

988345

Year:	1896
Fatalities:	26545363 confirmed
Missing:	6
Damage:	4537 millionUSD

Season:

Pre-1900 Australian region cyclone seasons

Cyclone Sigma was a tropical cyclone that caused severe damage in North Queensland, Australia on 26–27 January 1896^{[1] [2]} 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 of rain in the area. The Ross River broke its banks, flooding 3miles of the town's suburbs with up to of water. Ten ships were wrecked in the harbour, 17 people died in the flooding, and one sailor was also killed.^[3]

The cyclone then travelled south towards Rockhampton, creating heavy rainfall. At least 23 people died in the cyclone, with three reported as missing.

It was thought that ketch Lalla Rookh was wrecked during the cyclone;^{[4] [5]} however, later reports confirmed that she had escaped.^{[6] [7] [8]}

Many buildings were destroyed or badly damaged, including:

• Townsville School of Arts^[9]
• Tattersalls Hotel^[10]
• Townsville Showground^[11]
• Townsville Supreme Court^[12]
• St John's Anglican Church^[13]
• Cluden Racecourse and railway station^[14]

Further reading

• Case Study: Cyclone Sigma, 1896. Jeff . Callaghan. 22 September 2011 . Green Cross Australia. Harden Up Queensland. 19 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20230621171724/http://hardenup.org/umbraco/customContent/media/641_Townsville_Cyclone_Sigma_1896.pdf. 21 June 2023.

Notes and References

1. Web site: CBoM – History of Townsville Meteorological Office. https://web.archive.org/web/20110320214418/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/townsville/history.shtml. 20 Mar 2011. Australian Government. Bureau of Meteorolgy. 18 January 2016.
2. Web site: Lives lost during cyclone Sigma on Australia Day in 1896. 30 January 2015. Townsville Bulletin. 18 January 2016. 7 October 2018. 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. live.
3. Web site: Harden up: Protecting Queensland. Green Cross Australia. Cyclone Sigma. 29 October 2016. 31 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210131092310/http://hardenup.org/be-aware/weather-events/events/1890-1899/cyclone-sigma-1896-01-26.aspx. live.
4. News: The Queensland storm . . 2496 . New South Wales, Australia . 1 February 1896 . 25 January 2021 . 6 . National Library of Australia . 12 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065146/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231642280 . live .
5. News: Storm Sigma . . 7266 . Queensland, Australia . 31 January 1896 . 25 January 2021 . 5 . National Library of Australia . 12 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065120/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/172420391 . live .
6. News: Sigma" in Towmsville . . VI . 6 . 5 February 1896 . 23 January 2021 . 31 . National Library of Australia . 12 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065119/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/79289025 . live .
7. News: The cyclone in Queensland . . VIII . 1188 . Western Australia . 4 February 1896 . 25 January 2021 . 3 . National Library of Australia . 12 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065120/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/260680070 . live .
8. News: The Queensland Cyclone . . XXXIII . 9,671 . South Australia . 1 February 1896 . 25 January 2021 . 4 . National Library of Australia . 12 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240512065156/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209056868 . live .
9. 1 August 2014.
10. 1 August 2014.
11. 1 August 2014.
12. 1 August 2014.
13. 1 August 2014.
14. 1 August 2014.