 Cyclone Peter was the rainiest tropical cyclone on record in Australia . The third system and first severe tropical cyclone of the 1978 – 79 season , Peter developed on 29 December from a weak low pressure area over the Gulf of Carpentaria . Peter moved southeastward and deepened while brushing Arnhem Land . Initially a tropical low , it strengthened into a Category 1 cyclone by 12 : 00 UTC on 29 December . Peter intensified further on 30 December and became a Category 2 cyclone . On the following day , the cyclone peaked with maximum sustained winds of 110 km / h ( 70 mph ) . Peter weakened to a Category 1 cyclone before making landfall near the mouth of the Edward River in Queensland . While crossing the Cape York Peninsula , the storm weakened slowly . After reaching Pacific Ocean near Cooktown , the storm decelerated and meandered offshore , but dissipated just offshore on 4 January . 
