User:Iune/SPac95

The 1995-96 South Pacific cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It began on November 1, 1995 and ended on April 30, 1996. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the southern Pacific Ocean east of 160°E. Additionally, the regional tropical cyclone operational plan defines a tropical cyclone year separately from a tropical cyclone season, and the "tropical cyclone year" runs from July 1, to June 30.

Tropical cyclones between 160°E and 120°W and north of 25°S are monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service in Nadi. Those that move south of 25°S are monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Wellington, New Zealand.

Tropical Cyclone Yasi
Tropical Cyclone Yasi began as a weak tropical low that formed over Fiji on January 12. The tropical low persisted for a few days before it began to interact with the South Pacific convergence zone (SPCZ). The weak low began to move to the southeast and had a center of circulation that was difficult to locate. Early on January 15, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began to monitor the tropical low. Early on January 16, the tropical low began to quickly develop as it was aided by strong upper–level influence. Later that morning, marginal gales were recorded as the storm passed over the island of Tongatapu. At 1200 UTC that same day, the JTWC upgraded the depression to a tropical storm and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 08P. Finally, at 1200 UTC on January 17, the tropical low was upgraded to a Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian Scale) and given the name Yasi while well to the east of Tonga. At the time, the storm had reached its peak intensity of 50 mph (80 km/h) (10-min winds) However, in post–season analysis, it was found that the depression had reached Category 1 tropical cyclone strength at twelve hours earlier at 0000 UTC January 17. At the same time, the JTWC assessed Tropical Cyclone 08P to have reached its peak intensity of 50 mph (80 km/h) (1-min winds). Shortly after reaching peak intensity, Yasi began to accelerate to the southeast and by that night (UTC time) had a exposed center of circulation. Early on January 19, as the storm was moving out of RSMC Nadi's Area of Responsibility, it became extratropical.

Tropical Cyclone Zaka
Tropical Cyclone Zaka was first noticed early on March 9 as a weak tropical low that was embedded in the SPCZ. That afternoon, an upper trough moved into the New Zealand area and extended a jetstream to the island of New Caledonia. Due to that, a major area of clouds developed east of New Caledonia making it hard to locate the center of circulation on satellite images. At 1200 UTC that day, the tropical low strengthened into a tropical depression. That evening, Matthew Island began to report gale–force winds. Due to the reports, the tropical depression was upgraded to a Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) and named Zaka at 2100 UTC on March 9. However, in post-season analysis, it was found that the low had strengthened into a tropical cyclone three hours earlier. Early the next morning, Zaka reached its peak intensity of 45 mph (70 km/h) (10-min winds) at the same time that the JTWC designated the storm as Tropical Cyclone 20P. Soon afterward it weakened into a tropical low due to wind shear from the upper–level trough that helped in its formation. The tropical depression dissipated late on March 11 (UTC time).

Tropical Cyclone Atu

 * Atu, 10 to 13 March 1996, Pacific Ocean

Severe Tropical Cyclone Beti
27 French francs, 5.33 USD (1996)
 * Beti, 21 to 29 March 1996, Pacific Ocean

Season effects
This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific to the east of longitude 160°E during the 1995–96 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian Tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, landfalls, deaths, and damages. All data is taken from RSMC Nadi, TCWC Wellington, BoM, or the JTWC. The Damage figures are in 1996 USD.


 * Yasi || January 12 - 19 || bgcolor=#|Category 1 Tropical Cyclone || bgcolor=#|85 km/h (50 mph) || bgcolor=#|987 hPa (29.15 inHg) || Fiji, Tonga || Minor || None ||
 * QEII || February 12 - 14 || bgcolor=#|Tropical Depression || bgcolor=#|Not Specified || bgcolor=#|Not Specified || None || None || None ||
 * STD || February 22–24 || bgcolor=#|Shallow Tropical Depression || bgcolor=#|Not Specified || bgcolor=#|Not Specified || Fiji || Minor || None ||
 * Zaka || March 9 - 11 || bgcolor=#|Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|65 km/h (45 mph) || bgcolor=#|993 hPa (29.33 inHg) || New Caledonia || Minor || None ||
 * Atu || March 10 - 18 || bgcolor=#|Category 1 Tropical Cyclone || bgcolor=#|85 km/h (50 mph) || bgcolor=#|987 hPa (29.15 inHg) || New Caledonia || Minor || None ||
 * Beti || March 21 - 29 || bgcolor=#|Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone || bgcolor=#|165 km/h (105 mph) || bgcolor=#|935 hPa (27.61 inHg) || Australia, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand || || 2 ||
 * Zaka || March 9 - 11 || bgcolor=#|Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|65 km/h (45 mph) || bgcolor=#|993 hPa (29.33 inHg) || New Caledonia || Minor || None ||
 * Atu || March 10 - 18 || bgcolor=#|Category 1 Tropical Cyclone || bgcolor=#|85 km/h (50 mph) || bgcolor=#|987 hPa (29.15 inHg) || New Caledonia || Minor || None ||
 * Beti || March 21 - 29 || bgcolor=#|Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone || bgcolor=#|165 km/h (105 mph) || bgcolor=#|935 hPa (27.61 inHg) || Australia, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand || || 2 ||
 * Atu || March 10 - 18 || bgcolor=#|Category 1 Tropical Cyclone || bgcolor=#|85 km/h (50 mph) || bgcolor=#|987 hPa (29.15 inHg) || New Caledonia || Minor || None ||
 * Beti || March 21 - 29 || bgcolor=#|Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone || bgcolor=#|165 km/h (105 mph) || bgcolor=#|935 hPa (27.61 inHg) || Australia, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand || || 2 ||
 * Beti || March 21 - 29 || bgcolor=#|Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone || bgcolor=#|165 km/h (105 mph) || bgcolor=#|935 hPa (27.61 inHg) || Australia, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand || || 2 ||

Retirement
After the season, the World Meteorological Organization retired one name, Beti. It was replaced by the name Bune.