1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season

1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season
First storm formed November 23, 1996
Last storm dissipated June 17, 1997
Strongest storm Gavin – 925 hPa (mbar), 195 km/h (120 mph) (10-minute sustained)
Total depressions 13
Tropical cyclones 12 official, 1 unofficial
Severe tropical cyclones 4
Total fatalities 7 direct, 2 indirect, 18 missing
Total damage $44 million (1997 USD)
South Pacific cyclone seasons
1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99
Related articles

The 1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the most active tropical cyclone seasons on record, with 12 tropical cyclones officially occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W. The season officially started on November 1, 1997 with the first tropical cyclone developing on November 23 while the season ended later than normal on June 17, when Cyclone Keli dissipated. The strongest tropical cyclones during the season was Cyclone Gavin which had a minimum pressure of 925 hPa (27.32 inHg). After the season had ended 4 tropical cyclone names were retired from the naming lists, after the cyclones had caused significant impacts to South Pacific islands.

During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) in Nadi, Fiji and the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington, New Zealand. Throughout the season the United States Navy also monitored the basin and issued unofficial warnings, through its Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (NPMOC). Tropical cyclones that were located between 160°E and 120°W as well as the Equator and 25S were monitored by TCWC Nadi while any that were located to the south of 25S between 160°E and 120°W were monitored by TCWC Wellington. During the season the JTWC issued warnings on any tropical cyclone that was located between 160°E and the 180° while the NPMOC issued warnings for tropical cyclones forming between 180° and the American coast. RSMC Nadi and TCWC Wellington both used the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale, and measured windspeeds over a 10-minute period, while the JTWC and the NPMOC measured sustained windspeeds over a 1-minute period.

Contents

Season summary

Average Tropical Cyclone Activity
Source Date TC STC
Average (1970/71 – 2007/08) 9 4.5[1][2]
Record high activity 16 7[3][4]
Record low activity 3[3][4] 0
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Actual activity 12 5


Storms

Tropical Cyclone Cyril

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration November 23 – November 26
Intensity 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min),  987 mbar (hPa)

23 to 26 November 1996

The storm produced heavy rains and high winds over New Caledonia before dissipating.[5]

Tropical Cyclone Fergus

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration December 20 – December 30
Intensity 150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min),  955 mbar (hPa)

Cyclone Fergus brought torrential rain and damaging winds to parts of the North Island of New Zealand. There was no loss of life, in part because of timely warnings about the ferocity of the storm.[6] Damages from the storm were at least $2 million.[7]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Drena

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration January 3 – January 10
Intensity 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min),  935 mbar (hPa)

3 to 10 January 1997

On January 8, the weakening Cyclone Drena brushed the island of New Caledonia with sustained winds up to 150 km/h (90 mph 10-minute winds).[8] Heavy rains accompanied the storm, peaking at 474 mm (18.7 in) in Dzumac. La Foa also recorded 202 mm (8.0 in) of rain. Wind gusts reached 165 km/h (105 mph) in Koumac. Flooding from the storm caused a total loss of crops and the high winds knocked out power and communication to most of the island.[9][10]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Evan

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (FMS)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration January 10 – January 16
Intensity 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min),  965 mbar (hPa)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Evan formed on January 10 and dissipated on January 16. Evan stayed northeast of New Zealand for its entire lifetime. Sustained winds peaked at 120 km/h (75 mph).

Tropical Cyclone Freda

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration January 26 – February 2
Intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min),  980 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Cyclone Harold

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration February 19 – February 24
Intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min),  985 mbar (hPa)

The storm produced large swells along west-facing coasts of New Caledonia.[11]

Tropical Cyclone 29P

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration February 24 – February 26
Intensity 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min),  975 mbar (hPa)

Early on February 22, the JTWC reported that a Tropical Disturbance had formed about 510 km (320 mi) to the northeast of Tahiti.[12] The disturbance gradually developed over the next few days until February 25 when it was classified as Tropical Storm 29P.[12] Later that day the cyclone reached its 1 minute peak strength of 85 km/h (50 mph), whilst located within TCWC Wellingtons area of responsibility.[12] It stayed at its 1 minute peak strength until its extratropical transition started late on February 26.[12][13] Whilst the Cyclone was active neither RSMC Nadi or TCWC Wellington monitored it as a Tropical Cyclone, however TCWC Wellington reported in their post season analysis that it should have been a Category 2 Cyclone with peak winds of 110 km/h (70 mph).[13]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gavin

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration March 3 – March 12
Intensity 190 km/h (120 mph) (10-min),  925 mbar (hPa)

Damages from the storm in Fiji amounted to $27 million.[14] Seven people were killed and 18 others were listed as missing due to Cyclone Gavin.[15]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Hina

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration March 13 – March 18
Intensity 120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min),  970 mbar (hPa)

Cyclone Hina caused widespread damage in Tonga, leaving roughly $14.5 million in damages.[16] About 320 families were left homeless after the storm.[17]

Tropical Cyclone Ian

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration April 17 – April 19
Intensity 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min),  987 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Cyclone June

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration May 2 – May 5
Intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min),  985 mbar (hPa)

Severe flooding produced by the storm in Fiji left roughly $500,000 in damages.[18]

Tropical Cyclone 37P

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration May 28 – May 30
Intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min),  997 mbar (hPa)

Late on May 26, the JTWC reported that a tropical disturbance had developed about 630 km (390 mi), to the north of Port Villa in Vanuatu.[19] During the next day the disturbance gradually developed further before the JTWC issued a tropical cyclone formation alert.[20] On May 28, the JTWC designated the disturbance as Tropical Cyclone 37P, as they expected it to intensify further with windspeeds expected to become equivalent to a tropical storm.[19][20] Over the next day, the system moved towards the southeast between a mid level ridge of high pressure and a trough of low pressure, before the JTWC reported that the depression had become a tropical storm and reached its peak 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h (40 mph).[19][20] On May 30, the JTWC reported that the cyclone had dissipated over cooler water and encountered stronger vertical windshear.[19][20]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Keli

Main article: Cyclone Keli
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (FMS)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration June 7 – June 17
Intensity 150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min),  955 mbar (hPa)

Early on June 7, RSMC Nadi reported that a tropical depression had formed about 460 kilometers (290 mi) to the north of Tokelau.[21] The depression gradually developed over the next few days whilst moving to the southwest with a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert issued on June 9.[21][22] Before it got designated as Tropical Cyclone Keli by RSMC Nadi and Cyclone 38P by the NPMOC early the next day.[21][22] Cyclone Keli intensified slowly reaching its 10-minute peak windspeeds of 150 km/h, (90 mph), which made it a category three severe tropical cyclone, on the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale early on June 12 with 1-minute peak wind-speeds of 215 km/h (130 mph), also being reported later that day.[21][22] As it came under the influence of strong mid latitude westerlies and moved into an area of strong vertical windshear the cyclone started to weaken with it being declared as extratropical by the JTWC on June 15.[22] However RSMC Nadi continued issuing warnings on Keli until early the next day when they passed primary warning responsibility for the system to TCWC Wellington.[21] TCWC Wellington then monitored the depression until early on June 17 when they issued their final advisory on the system.[21]

Cyclone Keli struck the islands of Tuvalu on June 12 and 13, with extensive damage reported throughout the Islands with trees uprooted by wind and waves.[23] On Nivalakita all buildings except for the church were flattened with an estimated cost to rebuild the houses exactly as they were was estimated at AU$12,000 (US$10,000 1997), while it was estimated that the cost of rebuilding the houses with an improved, cyclone-resistant design would be about AU$84,000 (63,000 USD 1997).[24] Whilst the whole of Tepuka Savilivili was left uninhabitable as coconut trees and other vegetation were swept away with no more than an area of jagged coral left behind.[25][26] In Fiji, Strong winds and rough seas were reported from the cyclone as it was moving to the north of Fiji near to Rotuma, and whilst the Cyclone was weakening 3.76 in (96 mm) of rain was reported on American Samoa.[27][28]

Storm names

In the South Pacific as soon as a tropical depression reaches Cyclone strength it is named by the warning centre which is either the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in Nadi, or the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington, New Zealand. If a tropical depression should become a tropical cyclone in the TCWC Wellington area of responsibility, TCWC Wellington, in consultation with RSMC Nadi, will name the cyclone by using the next name from the list.[29]

  • Cyril
  • Drena
  • Evan
  • Freda
  • Gavin
  • Hina
  • Ian
  • June
  • Keli

Retirement

After the season ended, the names Drena, Gavin, Hina and Keli were retired from the list of names for the South Pacific Ocean.[30] They were replaced by the names Daphne, Garry, Haley and Koko respectively[31]

Season effects

This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific basin, to the east of 160E during the 1996–97 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, areas affected, deaths, and damages. For most storms the data is taken from TCWC Nadi and Wellingtons archives, however data for 37P has been taken from the JTWC archives rather than RSMC Nadi and TCWC Wellingtons archives, and thus the winds are a period of 1-minute sustained as opposed to 10-minutes.

Storm
Name		 Dates active Storm category
at peak intensity		 Peak 10-min
sustained winds		 Pressure Areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
Cyril November 23 – 26 Category 1 tropical cyclone 85 km/h (50 mph) 987 hPa (29.15 inHg) Solomon Islands, New Caledonia
Fergus December 20 – 30 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 150 km/h (90 mph) 955 hPa (28.20 inHg) Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand
Drena January 3 – 10 Category 4 severe tropical cyclone 165 km/h (90 mph) 935 hPa (27.52 inHg) Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand
Evan January 4 – 14 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 130 km/h (80 mph) 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) Fiji, Tonga
Freda January 26 – February 2 Category 2 tropical cyclone 110 km/h (70 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) None None None
Harold February 19 – 24 Category 2 tropical cyclone 95 km/h (60 mph) 985 hPa (29.10 inHg) Melanesia, Australia, New Zealand 7 &10000000027000000000000$27 million
29P February 24 –26 Category 2 tropical cyclone 110 km/h (70 mph) 975 hPa (28.70 inHg) None None None
Gavin March 2 – 14 Category 4 severe tropical cyclone 190 km/h (120 mph) 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) Fiji, New Zealand 7 &10000000027000000000000$27 million
Hina March 13 – 18 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 100 km/h (65 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) Fiji, Tonga None &10000000014500000000000$14.5 million
Ian April 16 – 17 Category 1 tropical cyclone 85 km/h (50 mph) 987 hPa (29.15 inHg) Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga Unknown Unknown
June May 2 – 11 Category 2 Tropical Cyclone 95 km/h (60 mph) 985 hPa (29.10 inHg) Fiji
37P May 28 – 30 Tropical Storm 65 km/h (40 mph) 997 hPa (29.44 inHg) Vanuatu None None
Keli June 7 – 17 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 150 km/h (90 mph) 955 hPa (28.20 inHg) Tuvalu, Fiji, Samoan islands None 10 thousand
Season Aggregates
13 disturbances November 23 – June 17 190 km/h (120 mph) 925 hPa (27.32 inHg)

See also

References

  1. ^ "RSMC Nadi 2008/2009 South Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season Outlook" (PDF). Fiji Meteorological Service. 2008-10-23. http://www.webcitation.org/5bom00daT. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
  2. ^ "Fiji Islands Climate Outlook October 2008" (PDF). Fiji Meteorological Service. 2008-10-13. http://www.webcitation.org/5fVPO0gJW. Retrieved 2009-03-24. 
  3. ^ a b James P. Terry (2007). "4.7 Storm Longevity". Tropical cyclones: climatology and impacts in the South Pacific. Springer. p. 49. ISBN 0387715428, 9780387715421. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=syqPSpliRCwC&printsec=frontcover&client=firefox-a&source=gbs_navlinks_s. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  4. ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Information for the Southern Hemisphere". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2009. http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/silo/cyclones_sh.cgi. Retrieved 2009-07-13. 
  5. ^ Staff Writer (December 1, 1996). "Earthwatch: Tropical Storms". The Spokesman-Review. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=szYSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tfEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2011,484123&dq=cyclone+cyril. Retrieved August 6, 2009. 
  6. ^ "The Ghost of Cyclones Past: Drena, Fergus & the Cyclone of '36". TCWC Wellington. http://www.metservice.co.nz/public/learning/cyclone-36.html. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  7. ^ "Cyclone Fergus". metservice. 2009. http://vaac.metservice.com/default/index.php?alias=1996summer1194182. Retrieved August 6, 2009. 
  8. ^ "1967-2006 Best Tracks for the South Pacific Ocean". Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington, New Zealand. 2009. ftp://eclipse.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/ibtracs/original-bt-data-files/wellington/TC_BT_1967_2006.xls. Retrieved August 5, 2009. 
  9. ^ (French) "Phénomènes tropicaux ayant le plus durement touché la Nouvelle-Calédonie depuis la fin du XIXe siècle". Meteo-France. 2009. http://www.meteo.nc/cyclones/cycl_clim1.php. Retrieved August 5, 2009. 
  10. ^ Staff Writer (January 13, 1997). "Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_t4NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KW8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4966,7909429&dq=cyclone+drena. Retrieved August 5, 2009. 
  11. ^ Staff Writer (February 23, 1997). "Earthwatch: Tropical Storms". The Spokesman-Review. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mkYSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hfEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1869,824115&dq=cyclone+harold. Retrieved August 6, 2009. 
  12. ^ a b c d "JTWC 29P Best Track". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2002-12-17. http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1997/1997s-bsh/bsh291997.txt. Retrieved 2009-08-05. 
  13. ^ a b "Best Track Data for 1996/97 Cyclone Season.". Fiji Meteorological Service, Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2009-05-22. ftp://eclipse.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/ibtracs/original-bt-data-files/nadi/RSMC%20Nadi%209697%20BT%20Data.txt.TXT. Retrieved 2009-08-05. 
  14. ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation (March 26, 1997). "Cyclone Gavin costs Fiji about 27 million dollars". ReliefWeb. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-64CKLL?OpenDocument&rc=5&emid=ST-1997-0039-FJI. Retrieved August 6, 2009. 
  15. ^ United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (March 14, 1997). "Fiji —Cyclone Gavin DHA Situation Report No. 4". ReliefWeb. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-64DK67?OpenDocument&rc=5&emid=ST-1997-0039-FJI. Retrieved August 6, 2009. 
  16. ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation (March 24, 1997). "Cyclone damage in Tonga estimated at more than $14-million". ReliefWeb. http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/ACOS-64D897?OpenDocument&emid=ST-1997-0094-TON. Retrieved August 6, 2009. 
  17. ^ United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (March 25, 1997). "Tonga: Cyclone Hina —Mar 1997 Situation Report No. 2". ReliefWeb. http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/SKAR-65BBZT?OpenDocument&emid=ST-1997-0094-TON. Retrieved August 6, 2009. 
  18. ^ "Pacific Adaption to Climate Change: Fiji Islands" (PDF). Government of Fiji. 2006. http://www.sprep.org/att/publication/000668_FijiReport_NationalPACCReport_Final.pdf. Retrieved August 6, 2009. 
  19. ^ a b c d Unattributed (2002-12-17). "Tropical Cyclone 37P best track anaylsis". Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. United States Navy. http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1997/1997s-bsh/bsh371997.txt. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  20. ^ a b c d Unattributed (1997). "Tropical cyclone 37P advisories". Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1997/199737.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  21. ^ a b c d e f Unattributed (2009-05-22). "TCWC Wellington Best Track Data 1967–2006". Fiji Meteorological Service, Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited, Bureau of Meteorology. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. ftp://eclipse.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/ibtracs/original-bt-data-files/wellington/TC_BT_1967_2006.xls. Retrieved 2011-05-18. 
  22. ^ a b c d Unattributed (1997). "Tropical Cyclone Keli advisories". Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. Australian Severe Weather. http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1997/keli.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-07. 
  23. ^ Unattributed (1997-06-24). "Earthweek: A diary of the planet". The Gainesville Sun. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19970624&id=8wASAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2OoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1481,5373215. Retrieved 2009-08-30. 
  24. ^ McKenzie, Emily; Prasad, Biman; Kaloumaira, Atu (2006-03-17). "Tool One: Guidelines for estimating the economic impact of natural disasters". The University of the South Pacific, South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission. Australian Agency for International Development. http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pdf/impact_pacific_tools.pdf. Retrieved 2010-08-02. 
  25. ^ Paeniu, Bikenibeu (1997-12-07). "Tuvalu and Global Warming". Tuvalu Islands. http://www.tuvaluislands.com/kyoto-panieu.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-30. 
  26. ^ Knox, Angie (2002-08-28). "Sinking feeling in Tuvalu". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2219001.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-30. 
  27. ^ "Asia-Pacific Workshop on Indicators and Indices for Monitoring Trends in Climate Extremes". Bureau of Meteorology. 1998-12-10. p. 43. Archived from the original on June 17, 2004. http://web.archive.org/web/20040617155117/http://www.bom.gov.au/bmrc/csr/apn/papers/APNreport,1998.doc. Retrieved 2009-08-26. 
  28. ^ Roth, David (2009-08-30). "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Maxima". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcmaxima.html. Retrieved 2009-08-30. 
  29. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean". World Meteorological Organization. 1999. http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/doc/Op-pln99.doc. Retrieved 2008-08-15. 
  30. ^ "Retired Tropical Cyclone Names". Hurricane Alley.net. 2005. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080512152408/http://www.hurricanealley.net/retired.htm#Nadi/Fiji_Area_of_Responsibility. Retrieved August 6, 2009. 
  31. ^ "Tropical Cyclone names". Met Office. 2007. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/tropicalcyclone/names.html. Retrieved August 6, 2009. 

External links

Tropical cyclones of the 1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season
South Pacific Tropical Cyclone Scale
TDI TDE 1 2 3 4 5
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