Marcus

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcus developed from a tropical low over the western Arafura Sea on 15 March 2018, becoming a named cyclone on 16 March as it tracked southeast toward Australia's Northern Territory. It crossed the Northern Territory coastline near Darwin on 17 March as a Category 2 system, making it the strongest cyclone to affect Darwin since Tracy in 1974. After moving offshore, Marcus underwent rapid intensification, reaching Category 5 intensity by 21 March before weakening due to an eyewall replacement cycle, increased wind shear, and cooler sea surface temperatures. The system became post-tropical on 25 March and its remnant low dissipated off southwestern Australia on 27 March.

Marcus was the most intense cyclone in the Australian region since Cyclone George in 2007 and ranked among the five most intense on record for the basin. In Darwin, roughly 26,000 homes lost power, thousands of trees were destroyed — including many African mahogany trees planted after Tracy — and the Palmerston City Council election was postponed by one week. Total damage reached an estimated A$97.46 million, with insured losses exceeding A$85 million. Cleanup efforts involved the Northern Territory Emergency Services, Australian Army units, and US Marine forces stationed in Darwin. Following the destruction it caused, the name Marcus was retired and replaced with Marco.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia