Tropical Cyclone Weekly Summary #240 (March 3 - 10, 1996)

[Jack Beven]

This report is compiled from warnings issued by:
National Hurricane Center Central Pacific Hurricane Center
Naval Pacific Meteor./Ocean. Center Fiji Meteorological Service
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Japanese Meteorological Agency Bureau of Meteorology, Australia
Philippine Meteorological Service Royal Observatory of Hong Kong
Indian Meteorological Department Reunion Meteorological Service
Mauritius Meteorological Service
(others may be added as they become available)

Author's Note: Special thanks to Ray Zehr of CIRA and Geoff Garden of the
Bureau of Meteorology, Australia for providing information on Tropical
Cyclone Ethel.


WEEKLY TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY #240 MARCH 3 - 10, 1996

North Atlantic Basin: No tropical cyclones.

Eastern North Pacific Basin (E of 140 Deg. W): No tropical cyclones.

Central North Pacific Basin (180 Deg. W to 140 Deg. W): No tropical cyclones.

Western North Pacific Basin (W of 180 Deg.): No tropical cyclones.

North Indian Ocean Basin: No tropical cyclones.

South Indian Ocean Basin (W of 135 Deg. E):

Tropical Cyclone Flossy (TC-17S): At the start of the summary period,
Flossy was moving southeast through the open Indian Ocean with 45 kt winds.
Flossy weakened to a depression on 4 March, and it dissipated later that day
near 29S 66E.

Although Flossy affected Rodrigues Island, there are no reports of damage
or casualties at this time.

Tropical Cyclone Kirsty (TC-18S): Tropical Cyclone Kirsty formed near 16S
120E on 9 March. Initially quasi-stationary, the system moved south on 10
March as it reached hurricane strength. At the end of the summary period,
Kirsty was moving south with 80 kt winds.

Ship VNVG reported 38 kt winds at 0300 UTC 9 March and a 994.3 mb pressure
three hours later.

South Pacific Ocean Basin (E of 135 Deg. E):

Tropical Cyclone Ethel (TC-19P): Tropical Cyclone Ethel formed over the
Gulf of Carpentaria near 13S 140E on 8 March. Initially moving slowly east-
northeast, the cyclone continued this track until it moved over the Cape York
Peninsula of Australia with 40 kt winds on 10 March. Ethel moved into the
Coral Sea and turned southeast later on 10 March, and at the end of the
summary period it was continuing this track with 45 kt winds.

Weipa, Australia reported 36 kt winds at 1024 UTC 9 March and a 996.0 mb
pressure at 1100 UTC the same day. Higher winds and lower pressures may
have occurred at other times when observations were not available. There are
no reports of damage or casualties at this time.

Tropical Cyclone Zaka (TC-20P): Tropical Cyclone Zaka formed near 23S 171E
on 9 March. Initially moving east-southeast, the storm reached a peak inten-
sity of 45 kt later that day. Zaka turned southeast on 10 March, and at the
end of the summary period it was continuing this track with 45 kt winds.

Zaka affected parts of the New Caledonia island group as it developed.
Matthew Island reported 42 kt winds and a 993.4 mb pressure at 2100 UTC 9
March. There are no reports of damage or casualties at this time.


Disclaimer: While an effort has been made to insure that this information is
as accurate as possible, this is a preliminary and unofficial report drawn
from operational warnings. Thus, it may not always agree with the best track
information published after the storm is over. Please address any questions
or comments on the information this week to Jack Beven at Internet addresses:

jbe...@delphi.com or be...@nhc.noaa.gov

Past text copies of the Tropical Cyclone Weekly Summary can be obtained via
anonymous ftp from squall.met.fsu.edu in directory pub/jack. They are also
available by e-mail. Please send an e-mail message to Jack Beven if you are
interested.