User:Jason Rees/Fergus

Severe Tropical Cyclone Fergus impacted the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and New Zealand, while it was active between December 23, 1996 and January 1, 1997. The precursor tropical disturbance was first noted by the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center as it developed within the monsoon trough during December 19. Over the next few days the system moved towards the south-west and became better organized, which prompted the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to start monitoring the system as Tropical Cyclone Fergus during December 23. The system subsequently started moving northwards and performed a small cyclonic loop and passed near the Solomon Island of Guadalcanal during December 25. After looping near the Solomon Islands, Fergus moved south-eastwards and passed in between the island nations of Vanuatu and New Caledonia, before passing near or over Vanuatuan island of Aneityum during December 28. During that day the system peaked as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone with 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 150 km/h (90 mph) and started to transition into an extratropical cyclone. The system subsequently made landfall on New Zealand's North Island during December 30, as a post tropical cyclone, before it was last noted during January 1, 1997.

The system caused two deaths and was responsible for extensive damage to property and crops, on the Solomon Islands of Rennell, Bellona and Guadalcanal. The system was also responsible for extensive damages in New Zealand as a post-tropical cyclone.

Meteorological history
On December 19, 1996 the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) started to monitor a tropical disturbance, that had developed within the monsoon trough to the northeast of the Solomon Islands. Over the next day the system moved south-westwards and became better organised, which prompted the JTWC to issue a tropical cyclone formation alert on the disturbance during December 20. However, this alert was cancelled during the next day as atmospheric convection associated with the systems low level circulation decreased. Over the next two days the system became better organised, which prompted the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) to start monitoring the system as a tropical low just to the south-west of Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands. The system was subsequently named Fergus by the BoM later that day, after it had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. After the tropical cyclone formation alert was reissued, the JTWC initiated advisories and designated the system as Tropical Cyclone 13P early on December 24.

During December 25, Fergus started to move northwards, in response to a weakness in the subtropical ridge of high pressure caused by an approaching frontal system. The system passed near the Solomon Island of Guadalcanal during that day, as it looped around the Solomon Sea in response to a weak steering environment. Over the next couple of days the system moved south-eastwards into the Coral Sea between the island nations of Vanuatu and New Caledonia, under the influence of an approaching upper level trough of low pressure. Early on December 28, the JTWC determined that the system's eye had passed over the Vanuatuan island of Aneityum, before they reported that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 165 km/h (105 mph), which was equivalent to a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. At around the same time the FMS reported that Fergus had peaked as a Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 85 kn and a pressure of 955 hPa. After peaking in intensity the system accelerated south-eastwards and started to transition into an extra-tropical cyclone, with New Zealand's MetService issuing warnings on the system as it moved south of 25°S during December 29. The JTWC subsequently issued their final warning on Fergus during December 30, as it made landfall on New Zealand's North Island as a post tropical cyclone. After passing over the North Island, the system moved south-eastwards and passed to the south of the Chatham Islands, before it was last noted by the MetService during January 1, 1997, over 2000 km to the southeast of the North Island.

Preparations and impact
Severe Tropical Cyclone Fergus was responsible for extensive damage and 2 deaths in both New Zealand and the Solomon Islands, while the system also impacted Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Cyclone Fergus caused two deaths and extensive damage to the property and crops, on the Solomon Islands of Rennell, Bellona and Guadalcanal. The system destroyed thousands of food gardens, while heavy rain from the system triggered a landslide on Gudalcanal which blocked the Ngalimbiu River. 1500 people were evacuated to Honiara, while a National Disaster Council team gradually removed the blockage. As a result of the damage Rennell, Bellona and parts of Guadalcanal were declared disaster areas. Severe Tropical Cyclone Drena subsequently affected the Solomon Islands between January 3–6, 1997, with residents of Rennell and Bellona, ordered to go to higher ground as the system was causing large sea swells. Aid of around $500 million was subsequently requested from foreign donors, while several agencies. The Australian and New Zealand Governments subsequently passed aid to the victims of Fergus through the Red Cross rather than the Solomon Islands National Disaster Council. As a result the National Disaster Council accused the Australian and New Zealand Governments as well as the Solomon Islands Red Cross, of under-miming its authority to deal with natural disasters. They also alleged that the Governments had contravened the provisions of the NDC act by giving to the Red Cross, rather than themselves and noted that any aid given to the Red Cross was unofficial.

After impacting the Solomon Islands, Fergus moved south-eastwards and caused some crop damage, as it brought heavy rain to Vanuatu. During December 26, a rainfall total of 65 mm was recorded at the Santo-Pekoa International Airport, while winds of 35 km/h were recorded on the island of Aneityum during December 28. As the system impacted Vanuatu residents of New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands, were placed on high alert and were urged to reinforce doors and windows and limit their movements.

As Fegus peaked in intensity it started to present a threat to New Zealand, with warnings issued for heavy rain and gale force winds in the northern districts by MetService. Authorities also warned that the system might be the worst cyclone, to affect the country since Cyclone Bola during March 1988. As a result of the threat campers and hikers who were holidaying, on the North Island's East Coast and Taranaki, were advised to pack up and leave the area. Subsequently some holiday makers sought shelter in civil defence centres, while some campers refused to leave their camp site and were advised to tie any loose articles down. The system subsequently affected the Coromandel Peninsula, Northland, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Waikato, between December 29-31 with heavy rain, gale force winds and high seas. The hardest hit area was the Coromandel Peninsula which was left isolated, for a while and a state of civil emergency was declared. Heavy rain associated with Fergus was responsible for most of the impacts, with a peak 24-hour rainfall total of 426 mm recorded during December 31, in the Pinnacles. This rainfall total was considered to be the highest recorded 24-hour rainfall total recorded anywhere in the Coromandel district. During December 31, an elderly man drowned in a creek that had been swollen by the heavy rain. Severe gale force winds were recorded in parts of Bay of Plenty and Gisborne, which brought down trees, phone and power lines and damaging properties. Major road damage occurred throughout New Zealand, particularly in Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula. It wasn't until 3 January that most roads closed by the storm had reopened. It was estimated that another 6 months work would be required to bring the roads back to how they were, at a total cost of about $2 million. while water supplies in Pauanui and Whitianga were also cut. Total damages in New Zealand were estimated to be $5 million.

Matches in the first and qualifying rounds of the New Zealand Classic tennis tournament were postponed because of poor light, heavy rain, and strong winds associated with Fergus.