1996–97 Australian region cyclone season

none April 2023 Aus 1997 1996-1997 Australian region cyclone season summary.png 9 July 1996 16 May 1997 Pancho-Helinda 915 110 10 17 15 5 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season 1996–97 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season The 1996–97 Australian region cyclone season was an above average tropical cyclone season. It ran from 1 November 1996 to 30 April 1997. The regional tropical cyclone operational plan also defines a tropical cyclone year separately from a tropical cyclone season, and the "tropical cyclone year" ran from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997. Tropical cyclones in this area were monitored by four Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs): the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane; and TCWC Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. __TOC__ right Season summary Systems Tropical Cyclone Lindsay List of off-season Australian region tropical cyclones Aus Lindsay96.jpg Lindsay 1996 path.png 9 July 13 July 40 35 990 On 9 July, TCWC Perth reported that a tropical low had developed within the near-equatorial trough of low pressure, located about 500 km mi on to the northeast of the Cocos Islands.Australian Bureau of Meteorology 121–138 The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season 1996–97 http://www.bom.gov.au/amm/docs/1999/hanstrum.pdf 29 May 2011 Bate P W Hanstrum, B N 48 Australian Meteorological Magazine 21 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120321170804/http://www.bom.gov.au/amm/docs/1999/hanstrum.pdf dead During that day the system moved to the southwest around a weak mid-upper level anticyclone, before it came under the starting to move southwards during 10 July. At 1000 UTC that day, TCWC Perth reported that the low had developed into a category one tropical cyclone, and named it Lindsay as the system reached its peak 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 75 km/h mph 5 on. At 1500 UTC, the JTWC reported that Lindsay was becoming better organized and issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the system. Six hours later while Lindsay was at its 1-minute peak intensity of 65 km/h mph 5 on, the JTWC designated the system Tropical Cyclone 01S and started to issue warnings on it. After the JTWC had initiated warnings on the system, it began to rapidly weaken as it came under the influence of strong upper level north-westerlies. During the next day, both the JTWC and TCWC Perth issued their final advisories on Lindsay as it weakened below cyclone intensity and became extratropical. Lindsay's remnants were tracked as they moved towards the southeast until they were absorbed into a broad trough of low pressure on 13 July.Australian Bureau of Meteorology 3 June 2022 http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/1997.shtml 18 March 2012 Western Australia Tropical Cyclone Season Summary 1996-97 https://web.archive.org/web/20120318215052/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/1997.shtml dead Tropical Cyclone Melanie–Bellamine Aus Melanie96.jpg Melanie-Bellamine 1996 path.png 28 October 1 November (Exited basin) 40 60 990 Melanie formed from a low near Cocos Island on 30 October 1996. It deepened to a category 2 storm overnight on 1 November and it moved westwards, with a subsequent name change to Bellamine. It dissipated on 11 November.http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/1997.shtml Cyclones 1997 9 April 2023 Tropical Cyclone Nicholas Aus Nicholas96.jpg Nicholas 1996 path.png 12 December 15 December 45 45 985 A tropical depression formed on 12 December 1996 near Timor. The depression moved south before being classified as a cyclone on 14 December and was named Nicholas. The storm made landfall west of Derby, Australia as a tropical storm on the 15th and dissipated the next day. Tropical Cyclone Ophelia Aus Ophelia96.jpg Ophelia 1996 path.png 13 December 19 December 55 55 980 Ophelia formed between two tropical cyclones, Nicholas (near the north Kimberley coast) and Elvina near 80°E, to the east of Christmas Island on 13 December 1996. Its track was somewhat unusual in that it moved towards the southeast for most of its lifetime. The weak cyclone had no impact on Christmas Island or northwest Australia and dissipated on 19 December. Tropical Cyclone Fergus Cyclone Fergus Aus Fergus 1996-12-24 2331Z.png Fergus 1996 path.png 23 December (Entered basin) 25 December (Exited basin) 55 65 975 Fergus was a Category 2 storm that formed in the Pacific Ocean, lasting from 29 December to 31 December 1996 until becoming extratropical near New Zealand. The storm dropped heavy rainfall across an already saturated area, with totals of over 16.5 in mm near Thames. The rainfall led to widespread flooding and forced many to evacuate. Severe road damage occurred, with some roads remaining closed for over a week. Gusty winds from Fergus downed trees and power lines, and caused property damage.MetService 2009 6 August 2009 Cyclone Fergus https://web.archive.org/web/20050221161816/http://www.metservice.com/default/index.php?static=1996summer1 http://www.metservice.com/default/index.php?static=1996summer1 21 February 2005 Tropical Cyclone Phil Aus Phil96.jpg Phil 1996 path.png 26 December 3 January (exited basin) 60 85 975 A weak cyclone, Phil crossed the northern part of Australia between 26 December and 27 December 1996. The storm then moved westward where it encountered vertical wind shear and dissipated on 31 December. It reformed in the South-West Indian Ocean basin on 8 January 1997 and remained as a tropical disturbance until it finally dissipated on 16 January. Severe Tropical Cyclone Rachel Aus Rachel jan 7 1997 0634Z.jpg Rachel 1996 track.png 2 January 10 January 70 80 965 On 31 December, a tropical low formed from a monsoon trough inland, near Darwin. At that time, the convection was persistent on the mid-level circulation of the low as it moved slowly to the southwest. On 3 January, with favourable environmental conditions—including warm ocean waters and low wind shear, the low strengthened to Tropical Cyclone Rachel, while located to the south-southwest of Melville Island.live Severe Tropical Cyclone Rachel, 3 - 8 March 1997 http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/rachel.shtml Bureau of Meteorology 6 September 2015 24 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040235/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/justin.pdf Australian Bureau of Meteorology The cyclone then slowly accelerated to the southwest, before passing over Northern Kimberley, which weakened the storm. On 5 January, it moved offshore near Cape Leveque as it moved parallel to the coastline. It rapidly strengthened to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone as it accelerated to the south-southeast, before making a direct hit on Port Hedland on the afternoon of 7 January. It rapidly weakened inland and it was last noted on 10 January as it entered South Australia.The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season 1996–97 http://www.bom.gov.au/amm/docs/1999/hanstrum.pdf 27 May 2022 48 3 Reader, Grahame 121–138 Bate Peter W Hanstrum, Barry N Australian Meteorological Magazine https://web.archive.org/web/20110605100600/http://www.bom.gov.au/amm/docs/1999/hanstrum.pdf 5 June 2011 live Despite the cyclone passing directly over Port Hedland, the damages are mostly minor. The power was lost in parts of the town, and some trees are uprooted. There were also reports of flooding. The highest accumulated rainfall by Rachel was on Yarrie, with 196 mm in on in over 24 hours. Severe Tropical Cyclone Drena Aus Drena 1997-01-05 0600Z.png Drena 1997 path.png 4 January (Entered basin) 6 January (Exited basin) 90 120 935 Cyclone Drena Cyclone Drena crossed from the South Pacific on 4 January with winds of 140 miles per hour. The storm again crossed out 2 days later. Tropical Cyclone 18S Aus 18S 1997 path.png 8 January 12 January (Exited basin) 50 45 991 Severe Tropical Cyclone Pancho–Helinda Aus HELINDA 1997 jan 23 0844Z.png Pancho-Helinda 1997 path.png 18 January 22 January (Exited basin) 115 125 915 Pancho formed to the north of Cocos Islands during 20 January 1997. It moved south towards Cocos Islands, then moved southwest, intensifying rapidly to a Category 4 or Category 5 cyclone with an estimated central pressure of 925 hPa by the morning of 22 January. Pancho then was renamed Helinda by the Mauritian TCWC and weakened. By 29 January Pancho/Helinda was moving from the northwest towards Cocos Islands again, however again it changed direction to the southwest and reintensified to Category 4. It finally weakened to a tropical depression by 5 February. Tropical Cyclone Gillian Aus Gillian97.jpg Gillian 1997 track.png 10 February 12 February 45 45 995 Tropical Cyclone Gillian existed from 10 February to 12 February. Tropical Cyclone Harold Aus Harold 1997-02-17 0031Z.png Harold 1997 path.png 16 February 19 February (Exited basin) 60 55 975 Tropical Cyclone Harold existed from 16 February to 21 February. Tropical Cyclone Ita Aus Ita 1997 track.png Ita_1997-02-24_0430Z.png 23 February 24 February 45 35 994 Tropical Cyclone Ita developed rapidly off the north coast of Queensland on 23 February 1997. The system moved southernly then southwest. The development inhibited from the northerly upper flow between an upper low over Queensland and an anticyclone in the Coral Sea and the lowest central pressure is reached with 994 hPa on 24 February. On the same day it makes landfall on the coast southeast of Townsville where it dissipated quickly. Minimal wind damage, moderate flooding in rivers and creeks, and a tornado that occurred in Yukan were reported on 24 February.Tropical Cyclone Ita http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/ita.shtml 16 October 2022 Australian Bureau of Meteorology Tropical Cyclone Justin Cyclone Justin Aus Justin97.jpg Justin 1997 track.png 6 March 24 March 80 90 955 Justin had a long 31 2 week life in March 1997. Peaking as a Category 3 cyclone, and making landfall as a Category 2, it caused significant damage in the Cairns region which it approached on two occasions. It was the largest cyclone to hit Northern Queensland in 1997. Houses were undermined by huge waves, a marina and boats were severely damaged, roads and bridges suffered from flood and landslide damage and huge losses were inflicted on sugar cane, fruit and vegetable crops. The death toll in Queensland was seven including five on a yacht which sank. There were 26 who died in Papua New Guinea which was also severely affected. Total estimated costs in Australia were $190 million (1997 values).August 2024 Severe Tropical Cyclone Rhonda Aus Rhonda May 14 1997 0014Z.png Rhonda 1997 path.png 10 May 17 May 95 100 935 Cyclone Rhonda formed from an area of persistent convection near 10°S 80°E. It reached cyclone strength on 11 May 1997. Rhonda intensified into a Category 4 status. The cyclone continued moving south. The upper shear increased, resulting in rapid weakening before dissipating and being absorbed to a cut-off low pressure system near the Western Australia coast on 17 May. No damages were reported from the cyclone.http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/rhonda.pdf Severe Tropical Cyclone Rhonda bom.gov.au 9 April 2023 11–16 May 1997 Other systems On 15 October, TCWC Perth reported that a tropical low developed within a near equatorial trough of low pressure, to the southwest of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Over the next few days, the low moved into the South-West Indian Ocean basin while developing further, before being named Antoinette by RSMC La Réunion during 18 October. Storm names Tropical cyclones are assigned names by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology or Papua New Guinea. Tropical cyclones are named if they are non-frontal low pressure systems of synoptic scale developing over warm waters, or if Dvorak intensity analysis indicate the presence of gale force or stronger winds near the centre. Therefore, tropical systems with gales in one or more quadrants, but not near the centre, are not named.Tropical Cyclones: Frequently Asked Questions 15 August 2008 Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/cyclone/faq/index.shtml All names assigned in the Australian region are selected sequentially. Only the names used during this cyclone season are listed below. The complete list of names for each basin are found in the World Meteorological Organization's official lists.1999 Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean 15 August 2008 World Meteorological Organization http://www.wmo.ch/pages/prog/www/Peng/tcp/documents/doc/Op-pln99.docNovember 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Each Australian Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane) maintains a list of names arranged alphabetically and alternating male and female. Tropical cyclones that develop in the South-East Indian Ocean are assigned names by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Perth. This region includes the areas east of 90°E, south of the Equator, and west of 125°E. Tropical cyclones that develop south of the Equator between 125°E and 141°E are assigned names by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Darwin, Northern Territory. This area includes most of the cyclones that form in the Arafura Sea and Western Gulf of Carpentaria. Tropical cyclones in the Coral Sea and Eastern Gulf of Carpentaria between 141°E and 160°E and south of 10°S are assigned names by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Brisbane, Queensland. Perth Lindsay - Melanie - Nicholas - Ophelia - Pancho - Rhonda Darwin Phil - Rachel Brisbane Fergus - Gillian - Harold - Ita - Justin The Bureau of Meteorology retired the names Fergus, Justin, Rachel and Rhonda, replacing them with Fletcher, Jack, Raquel and Rosie respectively.Bureau of Meteorology 2005 TROPICAL CYCLONE NAMES Bureau of Meteorology 16 June 2006 http://www.bom.gov.au/catalogue/warnings/cyclone_names.shtml dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060615131914/http://www.bom.gov.au/catalogue/warnings/cyclone_names.shtml 15 June 2006 Rosie was used in 2008, Fletcher and Jack in 2014 and Raquel in 2015. Seasonal effects |- | Lindsay || 19960709 9 – 13 July || bgcolor=#A1|1 Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|40 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|990 hPa inHg 4 on on || None || 0 None || 0 None ||1996 Tropical Cyclone Lindsay (1996190S07096) International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 1996190S07096 25 May 2022 |- | Antoinette || 19961015 15 – 17 October || bgcolor=#TD|0 Tropical Low || bgcolor=#TD|25 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#TD|1000 hPa inHg 4 on off on || None || 0 None || 0 None ||1996 Tropical Cyclone Antoinette (1996289S05093) International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 1996289S05093 25 May 2022 |- | Melanie –Bellamine || 19961028 28 October – 1 November || bgcolor=#A1|1 Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|45 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|985 hPa inHg 4 on on || None || 0 None || 0 None ||Australian Bureau of Meteorology Severe Tropical Cyclone Melanie http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/melanie96.pdf 27 May 2022 |- | Nicholas || 19961212 12 – 15 December || bgcolor=#A1|1 Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|45 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|985 hPa inHg 4 on || Western Australia || 0 None || 0 None ||Australian Bureau of Meteorology Tropical Cyclone Nicholas http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/nicholas96.pdf 27 May 2022 |- | Ophelia || 19961222 13 – 19 December || bgcolor=#A2|2 Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|55 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|980 hPa inHg 5 on 4 on || None || 0 None || 0 None ||Australian Bureau of Meteorology Tropical Cyclone Ophelia http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/ophelia96.pdf 27 May 2022 12 June 2009 |- | Fergus || 19961222 22 – 25 December || bgcolor=#A2|2 Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|60 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|975 hPa inHg 4 on || Solomon Islands, VanuatuNew Caledonia, New Zealand || 1 Unknown || 1 Unknown ||1996354S05170 International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 1996 Tropical Cyclone Fergus (1996354S05170) 27 May 2022 |- | Phil || 19961222 22 December – 3 January || bgcolor=#A2|2 Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|60 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|975 hPa inHg 5 on 4 on || Northern Australia, Western Australia || 1 Unknown || 1 Unknown ||1996357S10136 International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 1996 Tropical Cyclone Phil (1996357S10136) 27 May 2022 |- | Rachel || 2–10 January || bgcolor=#A3|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A3|130 130 km/h mph 5 on || bgcolor=#A3|965 hPa inHg 4 on || Northern Territory, Western Australia || 1 Unknown || 1 Unknown || |- | Drena || 0104 4 – 6 January || bgcolor=#A4|Category 4 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A4|170 170 km/h mph 5 on || bgcolor=#A4|935 hPa inHg 4 on || Solomon Islands, VanuatuNew Caledonia, New Zealand || 1 Unknown || 1 Unknown || |- | 18S || 19970107 7 – 12 January || bgcolor=#A2|2 Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|50 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|992 hPa inHg 4 on || None || 0 None || 0 None ||Australian Bureau of Meteorology Unnamed Tropical Cyclone http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/unnamed_TC_97.shtml 27 May 2022 |- | Pancho || 0118 18 January – 4 February || bgcolor=#A5|6 Category 5 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A5|215 215 km/h mph 5 on || bgcolor=#A5|0915 915 hPa inHg 4 on || None || 1 None || 1 None |- | Gillian || 19970208 8 – 12 February || bgcolor=#A1|1 Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|45 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|995 hPa inHg 4 on on || Papua New Guinea, Queensland || 1 Unknown || 1 Unknown ||1997039S10155 27 May 2022 International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 1997 Tropical Cyclone Gillian (1997039S10155) |- | Harold || 19970216 16 – 19 February || bgcolor=#A2|2 Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|60 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|975 hPa inHg 5 on 4 on || New Caledonia || 1 Unknown || 1 Unknown ||1997319S09180 International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 1997 Tropical Cyclone Harold (1997045S11163) 27 May 2022 |- | Unnamed || 19970125 25 January – 10 February || bgcolor=#TD|0 Tropical Low || bgcolor=#TD|020 Not Specified || bgcolor=#TD|1010 Not Specified || Western Australia || 1 Unknown || 1 Unknown || |- | Unnamed || 20210309 19 – 24 February || bgcolor=#TD|0 Tropical Low || bgcolor=#TD|020 Not Specified || bgcolor=#TD|991 hPa inHg 4 on on || Western Australia || 1 Unknown || 1 Unknown || |- | Ita || 19970223 23 – 24 February || bgcolor=#A1|1 Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|45 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|994 hPa inHg 4 on on || Queensland || 1 Unknown || 1 Unknown || |- | Unnamed || 19970222 22 – 27 February || bgcolor=#TD|0 Tropical Low || bgcolor=#TD|20-30 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#TD|998 hPa inHg 4 on on || Northern Territory, Western Australia || 1 Unknown || 1 Unknown || |- | Justin || 19970303 6 – 24 March || bgcolor=#A3|4 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A3|150 150 km/h mph 5 on || bgcolor=#A3|955 955 hPa inHg 4 on || Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea Queensland || 190000000 $ || 1 34 ||live Severe Tropical Cyclone Justin, 6 - 24 March 1997 http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/justin.pdf Queensland Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre 20 February 2023 24 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040235/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/justin.pdf Australian Bureau of Meteorology |- | Rhonda || 19970510 10 – 16 May || bgcolor=#A4|4 Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone || bgcolor=#A4|185 185 km/h mph 5 on || bgcolor=#A4|0935 935 hPa inHg 4 on || Cocos Island, Western Australia || 1 Unknown || 1 None || |- 17 systems 9 July – 16 May 215 km/h mph 5 on 915 hPa inHg 4 on See also Tropical cyclones List of Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1996, 1997 Pacific hurricane seasons: 1996, 1997 Pacific typhoon seasons: 1996, 1997 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1996, 1997 References 2 External links World Meteorological Organization Australian Bureau of Meteorology (TCWC's Perth, Darwin & Brisbane). TCWC Jakarta Joint Typhoon Warning Center https://web.archive.org/web/20100301105349/http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC 2010-03-01 . 1996 y 1990 Australian region cyclone yes Category:Australian region cyclone seasons Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines