1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season
Encyclopedia
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 (27.3 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.
The storm produced heavy rains and high winds over New Caledonia
before dissipating.
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). Heavy rains accompanied the storm, peaking at 474 mm (18.7 in) in Dzumac. La Foa also recorded 202 mm (8 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.
. The disturbance gradually developed over the next few days until February 25 when it was classified as Tropical Storm 29P. 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. It stayed at its 1 minute peak strength until its extratropical transition started late on February 26. 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).
Damages from the storm in Fiji amounted to $27 million. Seven people were killed and 18 others were listed as missing due to Cyclone Gavin.
Cyclone Hina caused widespread damage in Tonga
, leaving roughly $14.5 million in damages. About 320 families were left homeless after the storm.
Severe flooding produced by the storm in Fiji left roughly $500,000 in damages.
. During the next day the disturbance gradually developed further before the JTWC issued a tropical cyclone formation alert. 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. 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). On May 30, the JTWC reported that the cyclone had dissipated over cooler water and encountered stronger vertical windshear.
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. 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). 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. 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 (9.6 cm) of rain was reported on American Samoa.
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.
They were replaced by the names Daphne, Garry, Haley and Koko respectively
|-
| P || Cyril || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands, New Caledonia ||
|-
| P || Fergus || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=| || Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand ||
|-
| P || Drena || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand || || ||
|-
| P || Evan || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji, Tonga || || ||
|-
| 22P || Freda || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 26P || Harold || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Melanesia, Australia, New Zealand || 7 || 27,000,000 ||
|-
| 29P || None || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 31P || Gavin || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji, New Zealand || 7 || 27,000,000 ||
|-
| 33P || Hina || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji, Tonga || None || 14,500,000 ||
|-
| 33P || Ian || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga || Unknown || Unknown ||
|-
| 34P || June || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji || || ||
|-
| 37P || None || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vanuatu || None || None ||
|-
| 38P || Keli
|| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=| || Tuvalu, Fiji, Samoan islands || None || ||
|-class="unsortable"
! colspan=10| Season Aggregates
|-class="unsortable"
!colspan=2| 13 disturbances !! November 23 – June 17 !! !! 190 km/h (120 mph) !! 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) !! !! !! !!
|}
160th meridian east
The meridian 160° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
and 120°W
120th meridian west
The meridian 120° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
. 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 (27.3 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
Regional Specialized Meteorological Center
A Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre is responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they have a part of, agreed by consensus at the World Meteorological Organization as part of the World Weather Watch.-Tropical...
(RSMC) in Nadi, Fiji
Fiji Meteorological Service
The Fiji Meteorological Service is a Department of the government of Fiji responsible for providing weather forecasts and is based in Nadi. Since 1995, FMS has been responsible for naming and tracking tropical cyclones in the Southwest Pacific region...
and the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington, New Zealand
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited was established as a State-Owned Enterprise in 1992. It employs about 215 staff and its headquarters are 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
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
(JTWC) and Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (NPMOC). Tropical cyclones that were located between 160°E and 120°W
120th meridian west
The meridian 120° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
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°
180°
180 Degree is a 2004 album by MC Mong. This album is MC Mong's first solo album. This album features female vocalist Lyn.-Track listing:# Intro #Ah-oop #180° #그래도 남자니까 #My Memory in 1995...
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.
Season summary
| Source | Date | TC Tropical cyclone A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor... |
font style="font-size: 80%;">STC |
| Average (1970/71 – 2007/08) | 9 | 4.5 | |
| Record high activity | 16 | 7 | |
| Record low activity | 3 | 0 | |
| –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– | |||
| Actual activity | 12 | 5 | |
Tropical Cyclone Cyril
23 to 26 November 1996The storm produced heavy rains and high winds over New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
before dissipating.
Tropical Cyclone Fergus
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. Damages from the storm were at least $2 million.Severe Tropical Cyclone Drena
3 to 10 January 1997On January 8, the weakening Cyclone Drena brushed the island of New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
with sustained winds up to 150 km/h (90 mph 10-minute winds). Heavy rains accompanied the storm, peaking at 474 mm (18.7 in) in Dzumac. La Foa also recorded 202 mm (8 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.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Evan
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 Harold
The storm produced large swells along west-facing coasts of New Caledonia.Tropical Cyclone 29P
Early on February 22, the JTWC reported that a Tropical Disturbance had formed about 510 km (316.9 mi) to the northeast of TahitiTahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
. The disturbance gradually developed over the next few days until February 25 when it was classified as Tropical Storm 29P. 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. It stayed at its 1 minute peak strength until its extratropical transition started late on February 26. 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).
Severe Tropical Cyclone Gavin
- Gavin, 3 to 12 March 1997
Damages from the storm in Fiji amounted to $27 million. Seven people were killed and 18 others were listed as missing due to Cyclone Gavin.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hina
- Hina, 13 to 18 March 1997
Cyclone Hina caused widespread damage in Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
, leaving roughly $14.5 million in damages. About 320 families were left homeless after the storm.
Tropical Cyclone June
- June, 2 to 5 May 1997
Severe flooding produced by the storm in Fiji left roughly $500,000 in damages.
Tropical Cyclone 37P
Late on May 26, the JTWC reported that a tropical disturbance had developed about 630 km (391.5 mi), to the north of Port Villa in VanuatuVanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
. During the next day the disturbance gradually developed further before the JTWC issued a tropical cyclone formation alert. 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. 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). On May 30, the JTWC reported that the cyclone had dissipated over cooler water and encountered stronger vertical windshear.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Keli
Early on June 7, RSMC Nadi reported that a tropical depression had formed about 460 kilometres (285.8 mi) to the north of Tokelau. The depression gradually developed over the next few days whilst moving to the southwest with a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert issued on June 9. Before it got designated as Tropical Cyclone Keli by RSMC Nadi and Cyclone 38P by the NPMOC early the next day. 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. 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. 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. TCWC Wellington then monitored the depression until early on June 17 when they issued their final advisory on the system.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. 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). 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. 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 (9.6 cm) of rain was reported on American Samoa.
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 CentreRegional Specialized Meteorological Centre
A Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre is responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they have a part of, agreed by consensus at the World Meteorological Organization as part of the World Weather Watch.-Tropical...
in Nadi, or the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited was established as a State-Owned Enterprise in 1992. It employs about 215 staff and its headquarters are in Wellington, New Zealand...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. 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.
|
|
|
Retirement
After the season ended, the names Drena, Gavin, Hina and Keli were retired from the list of names for the South Pacific Ocean.They were replaced by the names Daphne, Garry, Haley and Koko respectively
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.|-
| P || Cyril || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands, New Caledonia ||
|-
| P || Fergus || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=| || Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand ||
|-
| P || Drena || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand || || ||
|-
| P || Evan || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji, Tonga || || ||
|-
| 22P || Freda || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 26P || Harold || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Melanesia, Australia, New Zealand || 7 || 27,000,000 ||
|-
| 29P || None || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 31P || Gavin || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji, New Zealand || 7 || 27,000,000 ||
|-
| 33P || Hina || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji, Tonga || None || 14,500,000 ||
|-
| 33P || Ian || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga || Unknown || Unknown ||
|-
| 34P || June || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji || || ||
|-
| 37P || None || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vanuatu || None || None ||
|-
| 38P || Keli
Cyclone Keli
Severe Tropical Cyclone Keli was the first recorded post-season tropical cyclone to form in June within the South Pacific Ocean. The system formed on June 7, 1997, about 460 kilometers to the north of Tokelau. The depression gradually developed over the next few days while moving southwestward...
|| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=| || Tuvalu, Fiji, Samoan islands || None || ||
|-class="unsortable"
! colspan=10| Season Aggregates
|-class="unsortable"
!colspan=2| 13 disturbances !! November 23 – June 17 !! !! 190 km/h (120 mph) !! 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) !! !! !! !!
|}
See also
- List of Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 19961996 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1996 Atlantic hurricane season was the first season since 1965 in which all tropical cyclones reached tropical storm status. It officially began on June 1, 1996, and lasted until November 30, 1996...
, 19971997 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1997 Atlantic hurricane season is the most recent Atlantic hurricane season to feature no tropical cyclones in August. The season officially began on June 1, 1997, and lasted until November 30, 1997... - Pacific hurricane seasons: 19961996 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 1996 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone formation and the third least active Pacific hurricane season in recorded history, behind 1977 and 2010. It officially began May 15, 1996 in the eastern north Pacific and on June 1, 1996 in the central north Pacific. It ended on...
, 19971997 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 1997 Pacific hurricane season was a very active hurricane season. With hundreds of deaths and billions of dollars in damage, this season was the costliest and one of the deadliest Pacific hurricane seasons. This was due to a strong El Niño... - Pacific typhoon seasons: 19961996 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 1996 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1996, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...
, 19971997 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 1997 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1997, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern... - North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 19961996 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonThe 1995 North Indian Ocean cyclone season had no bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.-Season summary:Eight tropical...
, 19971997 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonThe 1997 North Indian Ocean cyclone season had no bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.-Season summary:Five tropical...