1972–73 Australian region cyclone season  The 1972–73 Australian region cyclone season was an above-average tropical cyclone season, in terms of activity. Additionally, it is also the deadliest tropical cyclone season recorded in the Australian region, with Cyclone Flores killing an estimated 1,650 people alone, making Flores the single-deadliest tropical cyclone recorded in the entire Southern Hemisphere. Tropical Cyclone Ivy developed over the eastern Indian Ocean on December 7. The cyclone entered the southwest Indian Ocean basin after crossing 80°E and was renamed Beatrice. On January 10, Jean developed northwest of Western Australia. It strengthened into a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone, before being last noted on January 17. At Wickham on 21 January 1973 more than 30 houses were partly unroofed and some houses received major damage. There was no damage to buildings in Dampier, Roebourne or Karratha as the cyclone crossed the coast well to the east. Kerry passed close to a number of oil-drilling rigs causing damage and lost productivity time that cost over one million dollars. Maximum recorded gust was 140 km/h at Cape Lambert. Tropical Cyclone Leila formed offshore Western Australia on January 21. Moving generally westward, the storm crossed 80°E on January 23 and was renamed Gertrude. Tropical Cyclone Adeline developed in the Gulf of Carpentaria on January 27. Moving south-southwestward, Adeline made landfall near the Northern Territory-Queensland border, shortly before dissipating on January 29. Tropical Cyclone Maud existed offshore Western Australia from January 28 to January 31. Tropical Cyclone Kristy developed southwest of the Solomon Islands on February 24. Heading generally southward, Kristy dissipated well east of New South Wales on March 1. The next system, Cyclone Leah, formed near the coast of Western Australia on February 27. Moving southwestward, Leah eventually dissipated on March 11. Cyclone Madge originated in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands on February 28. Tracking west-southwestward, Madge struck the Cape York Peninsula early on March 4. By late the following day, the cyclone made landfall near Numbulwar, Northern Territory. Moving across Northern Territory and Queensland, Madge emerged into the Indian Ocean on March 10. The storm headed generally westward for the next several days, until dissipating on March 18.