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Cyclone Fergus

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Severe Tropical Cyclone Fergus
Severe Tropical Cyclone Fergus
Meteorological history
FormedDecember 23, 1996
ExtratropicalDecember 29, 1996
DissipatedJanuary 1, 1997
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained(FMS)
Highest winds150 km/h (90 mph)
Lowest pressure955hPa(mbar); 28.20inHg
Category 2-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained(SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds165 km/h (105 mph)
Overall effects
Damage$2 million (1997USD)
Areas affectedSolomon Islands,Vanuatu,New CaledoniaandNew Zealand
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the1996–97South PacificandAustralian regioncyclone seasons

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ferguswas atropical cyclone,later becoming anextratropical cyclone,that affected islands in the south-westPacific Ocean.It lasted from December 23, 1996, to January 1, 1997, and reached speeds of up to 165 kilometers per hour, or 90 miles per hour. In addition to its winds, the storm caused heavy rains and severe flooding, causing significant damage to property in some areas.

Meteorological history

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Storm type
triangleExtratropical cyclone,remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The precursor tropical disturbance to Severe Tropical Cyclone Fergus was first noted by the United StatesJoint Typhoon Warning Center(JTWC) on December 19, 1996, while it was located about 750 km (465 mi) to the southeast ofBairikiinKiribati.[1]Over the next day the system moved south-westwards and became better organised, which prompted the JTWC to issue atropical cyclone formation alerton the system during December 20.[2]However, this alert was cancelled during the next day asatmospheric convection,associated with the systems low level circulation center significantly decreased.[3]The system subsequently passed over the southernSolomon Islandsduring the next day, before convection associated with the systems low level circulation center became better organised.[1][4]As a result of this the system was classified as a tropical low by theAustralian Bureau of Meteorology(BoM) during December 23, while the JTWC issued another tropical cyclone formation alert on the low.[4][5]During that day, the depression gradually deepened further before the BoM reported, that it had developed into a tropical cyclone and named it Fergus later that day.[5]The JTWC subsequently initiated advisories on Fergus, early the next day and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 13P, while it was located nearRennell Island.[6]

After being named, Fergus performed a cyclonic loop in an area of weak steering flow, before it started to move south-eastwards, under the influence of an approaching upper level trough of low pressure.[5][7]As a result, it crossed 160°E and moved into the South Pacific basin during December 26, shortly before becoming a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on theAustralian tropical cyclone intensity scale.[1]The system subsequently continued to move south-eastwards towards a weakness in a subtropical ridge of high pressure, before it passed in between Vanuatu and New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands between December 27–28.[1][8]At around this time theFiji Meteorological Serviceestimated that the system had peaked as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained winds of 150 km/h (90 mph).[1]The JTWC also estimated during December 27, that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 165 km/h (105 mph).[1]

Preparations, impact and aftermath

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Fergus and its precursor tropical disturbance brought strong winds and heavy rain to the Solomon Islands, which caused serious flooding on the islands ofGuadalcanal,Rennell and Bellona.[9]As a result, significant property damage and hundreds of food gardens were destroyed throughout the island nation.[9][10][11]Two deaths were also reported, while several regions were declared disaster areas by the Government of the Solomon Islands.[12]The National Disaster Council also launched an appeal for cash and rice, to help ease the food crisis in affected areas.[11]As a result, Taiwan donated$355,000 and 140 kg (310 lb) of vegetable seeds for disaster relief, while Australia and New Zealand donated to the relief effort via the Solomon Islands Red Cross.[10][11]

After impacting the Solomon Islands, Fergus moved south-eastwards where it moved in between and parallel to Vanuatu and New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands.[9]As a result, New Caledonia's eastern Loyalty Islands were placed on high alert with people urged to reinforce doors and windows and limit their movements, while the rest of the French territory was placed on a precautionary alert.[13]OnMatthew Island,a significant drop in air pressure was recorded, as Fergus moved past, but no wind speeds were recorded at the weather station as the station's anemometer had been broken.[14]Cyclonic winds and torrential rains were subsequently recorded within Vanuatu, with food gardens inAneityumdamaged as a result.[9][15]

Ahead of the system impacting New Zealand, MetService issued warnings for gale-force winds and heavy rain in various districts of theNorth Island.[16]They also warned that Fergus would bring with it around about thirty hours of rain and six to eight hours of damaging winds.[17]As a result, all campers and hikers who were holidaying on the North Island's East Coast were told to pack up and leave the area.[17]Ahead of Fergus impacting New Zealand, the ground was becoming saturated as a shallow trough of low pressure and moist northeast flow, had caused rain to set in fromNorthlandto theBay of Plenty.[16]Fergus caused extensive damage in New Zealand after making landfall.[18]

Play in the qualifying and first rounds of the1997 ASB Classictennis tournament to be significantly disrupted, due to torrential rain, poor light and strong wind caused by Fergus.

References

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  1. ^abcdef"1996 Tropical Cyclone Fergus (1996354S05170)".International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.RetrievedMay 24,2024.
  2. ^"Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert December 20, 1996 13z".United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. December 20, 1996.Archivedfrom the original on January 5, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 8,2017.
  3. ^"Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert Cancellation December 21, 1996 14z".United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. December 20, 1996.Archivedfrom the original on January 5, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 8,2017.
  4. ^ab"Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert December 23, 1996 15z".United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. December 23, 1996.Archivedfrom the original on January 5, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 8,2017.
  5. ^abcHanstrum, B N; Bate P W."The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season 1996–97"(PDF).Australian Meteorological Magazine.48.Australian Bureau of Meteorology: 121–138. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 21, 2012.RetrievedMay 29,2011.
  6. ^"JTWC Tropical Cyclone Warning 1 December 24, 1996 03z".United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. December 24, 1996.Archivedfrom the original on January 5, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 8,2017.
  7. ^"JTWC Tropical Cyclone Warning 3 December 25, 1996 03z".United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. December 25, 1996.Archivedfrom the original on January 5, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 8,2017.
  8. ^"Darwin Tropical Diagnostic Statement: December 1996"(PDF).Vol. 15, no. 12. Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 1996. pp. 2–3.ISSN1321-4233.Archived(PDF)from the original on March 4, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 8,2017.
  9. ^abcd"YACHTING Dreaded Drena".Pacific Islands Monthly.Vol. 67. 1 March 1997. p. 54-55.Retrieved24 October2021– via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ab"BBC Summary of World Broadcasts: Taiwan donates seeds to victims of Cyclone Fergus". BBC. January 20, 1997.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  11. ^abc"BBC Summary of World Broadcasts: Taiwan donates disaster relief". BBC. January 9, 1997.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  12. ^"Solomon Islanders ordered to higher ground in face of cyclone". Agence France Presse. January 5, 1997.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  13. ^"New Caledonia islands on cyclone alert". Agence France Presse. December 28, 1996.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  14. ^Daniels, Chris (January 10, 1997). "Cyclone sends campers packing".The Dominion.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  15. ^Terry, James P. (2007). "Chapter 5 – Meteorological conditions".Tropical cyclones: climatology and impacts in the South Pacific.Springer. pp. 75–77.ISBN978-0-387-71542-1.RetrievedAugust 3,2014.
  16. ^ab"Cyclone Fergus".MetService. Archived fromthe originalon November 11, 2004.RetrievedJanuary 8,2016.
  17. ^ab"North Island prepares for cyclone". The Associated Press. December 29, 1996.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  18. ^[email protected] @MartinJohnston6, Martin Johnston Senior journalist, NZ Herald (2018-04-11)."Ten of the worst storms to hit New Zealand".NZ Herald.ISSN1170-0777.Retrieved2019-01-02.{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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