1985–86 Australian region cyclone season
1985–86 Australian region cyclone season | |
---|---|
Seasonal boundaries | |
First system formed | 26 November 1985 |
Last system dissipated | 22 May 1986 |
Strongest storm | |
Name | Victor |
• Maximum winds | 185 km/h (115 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
• Lowest pressure | 930 hPa (mbar) |
Seasonal statistics | |
Tropical lows | 17 |
Tropical cyclones | 16 |
Severe tropical cyclones | 8 |
Total fatalities | 153 |
Total damage | $250 million (1986 USD) |
Related articles | |
The 1985–86 Australian region cyclone season was an above average tropical cyclone season. It officially started on 1 November 1985, and officially ended on 30 April 1986.
Seasonal summary
Systems
Severe Tropical Cyclone Nicholas
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | November 26 – December 7 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min); 945 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Nicholas originated from a broad area of low pressure associated with a monsoonal trough south of Sumatra on November 25. It tracked south and gradually organized itself and became a tropical cyclone early on November 29. It then began to move east and passed through major shipping routes near Christmas Island, though none of the ships record any extensive winds from the nearby cyclone. Nicholas, while remaining a small system, continued to intensify and by December 3 reached a peak intensity as a category four cyclone with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) 10-min sustained and a pressure of 945 hPa. Afterwards the cyclone turned almost directly south and gradually weakened. On December 7 the Nicholas's convection began to wane and the system had fully dissipated by that evening.[1]
Tropical Cyclone 03P
Tropical depression (SSHWS) | |
Duration | December 12 – December 16 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min); 1000 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone 03S existed from December 11 to December 14.
Tropical Cyclone Ophelia
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | January 7 – January 12 |
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Peak intensity | 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min); 986 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Ophelia occurred from 7 January until 12 January 1986 near Cocos Island. Its estimated lowest pressure was 985 hPa.[1]
Tropical Cyclone 08S
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | January 11 – January 14 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min); 997 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone 08S existed from January 11 to January 14.
Tropical Cyclone Hector
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | January 17 – January 24 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min); 982 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Hector occurred from 17 January until 24 January 1986. It crossed the coast near
Tropical Cyclone Pancho
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | January 18 – January 21 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min); 976 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Pancho occurred from 18 January until 22 January 1986 and remained entirely within the Indian Ocean off Western Australia. Its estimated lowest pressure was 976 hPa.[1]
Tropical Cyclone Vernon
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | January 21 – January 24 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min); 990 hPa (mbar) |
Vernon was a weak cyclone that occurred from 21 January until 24 January 1986 and formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It crossed Cape York and continued on into the Coral Sea. Its estimated lowest pressure was 990 hPa.[1]
Severe Tropical Cyclone Winifred
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | January 27 – February 5 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min); 957 hPa (mbar) |
The precursor
Steady intensification continued, and the cyclone reached winds of 118 km/h (73 mph) early on 1 February, the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane on the
Prior to the formation of a tropical depression, Tropical Cyclone Advices were initiated at 0600 UTC 29 January. At the time, the precursor low was located about 340 km (210 mi) northeast of
Winifred struck Innisfail, Queensland in February 1986 causing extensive damage. There were three deaths attributed to Winifred.[1]
Severe Tropical Cyclone Rhonda
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | February 17 – February 21 |
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Peak intensity | 120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min); 968 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Rhonda occurred from 17 February until 21 February 1986. It formed off the
Tropical Cyclone Selwyn
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | February 21 – February 26 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min); 980 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Selwyn occurred from 21 February until 26 February 1986 and remained away from land in the Indian Ocean. Its estimated lowest pressure was 980 hPa.[1]
Tropical Cyclone Tiffany
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | February 25 – March 1 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min); 984 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Tiffany occurred from 25 February until 1 March 1986 and remained away from land in the Indian Ocean. Its estimated lowest pressure was 984 hPa.[1]
Severe Tropical Cyclone Victor
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | March 2 – March 9 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 185 km/h (115 mph) (10-min); 930 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Victor occurred from 2 March until 9 March 1986 and was the most severe cyclone of the Australian region for the season. It remained off the
Tropical Cyclone Alfred
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | March 2 – March 7 (Exited basin) |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min); 995 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Alison–Krisostoma
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | April 4 – April 9 (Exited basin) |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min); 978 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Alison occurred from 4 April until 14 April 1986 within the Indian Ocean. It moved westward into the Mauritius area of responsibility and was renamed Krisostoma. Its estimated lowest pressure was 974 hPa.[1]
Severe Tropical Cyclone Manu
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | April 21 – April 27 |
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Peak intensity | 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min); 970 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Manu occurred from 21 April until 27 April 1986 off the Queensland coast. Its estimated lowest pressure was 970 hPa.[1]
Severe Tropical Cyclone Billy–Lila
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | May 4 – May 15 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min); 950 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Billy occurred from 4 May until 15 May 1986. It temporarily moved west into the
Severe Tropical Cyclone Namu
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | May 15 – May 22 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min); 960 hPa (mbar) |
Cyclone Namu was responsible for the deaths of 103 people and caused US$100 million in economic losses in the Solomon Islands.
As a result of the havoc caused by the cyclone, approximately 90,000 people, equal to a third of the country's population, were reported as homeless.[5] The government of the Solomon Islands declared a national state of emergency for the entirety of the island chain.[9] The United Kingdom, Papua New Guinea, the United States, and Japan also sent supplies and goods to the Solomon Islands.[5]
See also
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1985, 1986
- Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1985, 1986
- Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1985, 1986
- North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1985, 1986
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Australian Meteorological Magazine Vol 34 No 3 (September 1986) The Australian tropical cyclone season 1985–86
- ^ a b Zillman, J.W. (October 1986). "Report on Cyclone Winifred" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^ "Cyclone Winifred Track Details". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Berdach, James T.; Llegu, Michelle (December 2007). "Solomon Islands Country Environmental Analysis" (PDF). Asian Development Bank. p. 40. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d Trustrum, N.A.; Whitehouse, I.E.; Blaschke, P.M.; Stephens, P.R. "Flood and landslide hazard mapping, Solomon Islands" (PDF). International Association of Hydrological Sciences. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ^ a b c Roy, Peter (June 1986). "Geological Impacts of Cyclone Namu on the Coastal Plain of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands - June 1986" (PDF). Secretariat of the Pacific Community's Applied Geoscience and Technology Division. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ a b Radford, D.A. (1992). "Natural Disasters in the Solomon Islands" (PDF). The Australian International Development Assistance Bureau. Sydney, Australia. pp. 114–122. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ "Slide ravages Guadalcanal village". They Daily Courier. Port Moresby. United Press International. 22 May 1986. p. 3A. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ International Monetary Fund (5 September 1999). "IMF Emergency Assistance Related to Natural Disasters and Postconflict Situations". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 17 August 2012.[permanent dead link]
External links
- Queensland cyclone photographs, State Library of Queensland. Includes photographs of the aftermath of Cyclone Winifred