1996–97 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
The 1996-97 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season ran year-round from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, reaching its peak mid-February to early March.
Australian region
Timeline of season
Storms
| Storm name | JTWC number | Active dates | Storm classification at peak intensity | Max. winds
(mph) |
Min. pressure
(hPa) |
Storm track map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lindsay | 01S | July 9 – July 13 | Category 1 tropical cyclone (BoM) | 45
(10-minute) |
990 | |
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | ||||||
| Melanie | 05S | October 28 – November 1 | Category 2 tropical cyclone (BoM) | 60
(10-minute) |
990 | |
| Tropical Storm (SSHS) | ||||||
| Nicholas | 10S | December 12 – December 15 | Category 1 tropical cyclone (BoM) | 50
(10-minute) |
985 | |
| Tropical Storm (SSHS) | ||||||
| Ophelia | 11S | December 13 – December 19 | Category 2 tropical cyclone (BoM) | 65
(10-minute) |
980 | |
| Tropical Storm (SSHS) | ||||||
| Fergus | 13S | December 23 – December 25 | Category 2 tropical cyclone (BoM) | 60
(10-minute) |
975 | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | ||||||
| Phil | 12S | December 26 – January 3 | Category 2 tropical cyclone (BoM) | 70
(10-minute) |
975 | |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | ||||||
| Rachel | 15S | January 2 – January 10 | Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (BoM) | 80
(10-minute) |
965 | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | ||||||
| Drena | 16S | January 4 – January 6 | Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (BoM) | 90
(10-minute) |
935 | |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | ||||||
| Unnamed | 18S | January 7 – January 12 | Category 1 tropical cyclone (BoM) | 50
(10-minute) |
Unknown | |
| Tropical Storm (SSHS) | ||||||
| Pancho | 19S | January 18 – February 4 | Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (BoM) | 125
(10-minute) |
915 | |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | ||||||
| Gillian | 24S | February 10 – February 12 | Category 1 tropical cyclone (BoM) | 45
(10-minute) |
995 | |
| Tropical Storm (SSHS) | ||||||
| Harold | 26S | February 16 – February 21 | Category 2 tropical cyclone (BoM) | Unknown Winds
(10-minute) |
975 | |
| Tropical Storm (SSHS) | ||||||
| Ita | 28S | February 23 – February 24 | Category 1 tropical cyclone (BoM) | 50
(10-minute) |
996 | |
| Tropical Storm (SSHS) | ||||||
| Justin | 32S | March 3 – March 29 | Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (BoM) | 95
(10-minute) |
955 | |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | ||||||
| Rhonda | 36S | May 10 – May 16 | Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (BoM) | 115
(10-minute) |
935 | |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHS) |
Storm Images
South Indian Ocean
Severe Tropical Storm Antoinette
| Severe tropical storm (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | October 17 – October 21 | ||
| Intensity | 115 km/h (75 mph) (10-min), 965 mbar (hPa) | ||
Intense Tropical Cyclone Melanie-Bellamine
| Intense tropical cyclone (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | November 2 – November 11 | ||
| Intensity | 175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min), 925 mbar (hPa) | ||
On the morning of November 2, Tropical Cyclone Melanie from the Australian region crossed in with winds of 55 knots (65 miles per hour) and was designated Severe Tropical Storm Bellamine by RSMC La Reunion as it continued to intensify.[1]. At the same time, the JTWC assessed Melanie-Bellamine with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) [2]. On the morning of November 3, the storm was upgraded to tropical cyclone intensity by RSMC La Reunion.[1] The next morning, Bellamine was upgraded to intense tropical cyclone status, becoming the first intense tropical cyclone of the year.[1] That day, Bellamine reached its peak intensity of 110 mph (180 km/h) and 925 hPa (mbar). The system kept that peak for only 12 hours before deteriorating to a tropical cyclone as it turned southwest.[1] Bellamine unexpectedly re-intensified back to its peak intensity on November 7.[1] This time, the storm kept this strength for 18 hours before weakening back to tropical cyclone strength for the last time on the 8th.[1] The system quickly weakened becoming a severe tropical storm on the 9th and a moderate tropical storm later that same day. Bellamine weakened into a tropical disturbance on November 11 and the final advisory was issued. Melanie-Bellamine caused no reported damage or deaths.
Severe Tropical Storm Chantelle
| Severe tropical storm (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | November 20 – December 1 | ||
| Intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min), 980 mbar (hPa) | ||
Intense Tropical Cyclone Daniella
| Intense tropical cyclone (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | December 1 – December 10 | ||
| Intensity | 185 km/h (115 mph) (10-min), 915 mbar (hPa) | ||
Moderate Tropical Storm Elvina
| Moderate tropical storm (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | December 3 – December 16 | ||
| Intensity | 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min), 985 mbar (hPa) | ||
Severe Tropical Storm Fabriola
| Severe tropical storm (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | January 2 – January 9 | ||
| Intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min), 985 mbar (hPa) | ||
Tropical Cyclone Gretelle
| Tropical cyclone (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | January 18 – January 31 | ||
| Intensity | 140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min), 950 mbar (hPa) | ||
Cyclone Gretelle affected over half a million people and killed 140 in southern Madagascar.[3]
Intense Tropical Cyclone Pancho-Helinda
| Intense tropical cyclone (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | January 18 – February 4 | ||
| Intensity | 185 km/h (115 mph) (10-min), 915 mbar (hPa) | ||
It existed from January 18 to February 4[4]
Severe Tropical Storm Iletta
| Severe tropical storm (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | January 23 – January 28 | ||
| Intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min), 975 mbar (hPa) | ||
Tropical Cyclone Josie
| Tropical cyclone (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | February 8 – February 17 | ||
| Intensity | 140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min), 950 mbar (hPa) | ||
Severe Tropical Storm Karlette
| Severe tropical storm (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | February 16 – February 25 | ||
| Intensity | 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min), 970 mbar (hPa) | ||
Severe Tropical Storm Lisette
| Severe tropical storm (MFR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
|
|
|||
| Duration | February 27 – March 2 | ||
| Intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min), 980 mbar (hPa) | ||
Tropical Cyclone Lisette struck the east coast of Mozambique killing 87 people. [1]
South Pacific
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f RSMC La Reunion (1996). "TC Melanie Best Track". RSMC La Reunion. http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/base_cyclone/nom_annee/BELLAMINE_1996.html. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
- ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (1996). "TC Melanie JTWC Advisories". JTWC. http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/1997/melanie.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
- ^ http://www.cidi.org:8080/disaster/97a/0013.html
- ^ http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/pancho97.pdf