The 1983–84 Australian region cyclone season was the most active season on record. It officially started on 1 November 1983, and officially ended on 30 April 1984.
Seasonal summuary
Systems
Cyclone 01S
Cyclone 01S existed over the northwestern areas of the Australian region basin from 11 July to 15 July.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Oscar
Oscar developed from a low-pressure area to the northwest of the Cocos Islands on 22 October. The storm moved generally southward for several days before dissipating on 1 November.
Tropical Low Pearl
A low pressure developed into Pearl on 11 November. The system tracked southeastward and ceased to exist on 14 November. It was classified as a tropical cyclone at the time until post-analysis indicated it remained a tropical low.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Quenton
Quenton developed on 26 November from a low pressure situated south of Java. Making landfall in Western Australia on 29 November, Quenton was the first tropical cyclone to strike Australia in the month of November since Ines in 1973. The cyclone dissipated on the following day.
Tropical Cyclone Fritz
On 9 December, Fritz developed from a low-pressure area to the northwest of Willis Island. Fritz meandered erratically until dissipating on 13 December.
Tropical Cyclone Esther
A small, weak tropical low, later named Esther, developed over the Banda Sea on 19 December. Esther struck Babar Island and then dissipated on 21 December.
Tropical Cyclone 06U
Operationally, this cyclone was considered to have been the redeveloped remnants of Esther. The storm developed from a cloud cluster near the southern tip of Timor on 21 December. The system moved west-northward and dissipated on 24 December.
Tropical Cyclone Sharon
A low-pressure area rapidly developed into Tropical Cyclone Sharon on 25 December. Sharon existed west of 90°E, which is now the western boundary of the Australian region basin. The storm dissipated on 31 December.
Tropical Cyclone Tim
Tim formed from a low-pressure area to the southeast of Christmas Island on 2 January 1984. After moving northwest, Tim turned southward on 6 January. The cyclone decayed to a tropical low by 10 January.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Grace
A weak area of low pressure developed east of Queensland on January 11. The tropical disturbance moved northeastward over the Coral Sea and gradually became better organized. On January 13 it turned to the south and intensified into a tropical cyclone the next day. In a favorable environment for intensification, Grace strengthened on January 15 and 16, developing a ragged eye as seen on the satellite images. On January 16 became a severe tropical cyclone and reached its lowest estimated pressure of 970 mb. Also on January 16, a weather station on Frederick Reef reported maximum winds of 130 km/h. On January 17, upper-level shear increased over the circulation and Grace became exposed as the tropical cyclone turned to the east. Weakening continued during the next few days and Grace decayed into a remnant low on January 21 while located southeast of Nouméa.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Vivienne-Fanja
The origins of Vivienne-Fanja are unclear as a result of sparseness of data, due to a disruption in satellite imagery coverage. It is estimated that a tropical low formed on January 23 west of Christmas Island in the Australian basin. The Bureau of Meteorology named the storm Vivienne, which gradually intensified while moving to the west. On January 27, the cyclone crossed 80° E into the southwest Indian Ocean, at which time it was renamed Fanja.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Willy
A weak area of low pressure developed south of Java along the monsoon trough on February 2. The system meandered for a few days while becoming better organized. Late on February 5, the Bureau of Meteorology upgraded the low pressure to tropical cyclone intensity. Willy moved southwestward starting on February 6 and continued to intensify. On February 7, Willy was upgraded to a severe tropical cyclone with an estimated central pressure of 975 mb. On February 8, Willy reached its peak with an estimated central pressure of 960 mb. Satellite images showed a well-organized tropical cyclone and an eye was intermittently visible. Strong wind shear caused Willy to quickly lose strength and it weakened below tropical cyclone intensity late on February 9. Early on February 11, Willy dissipated.