Tropical Cyclone Weekly Summary #241 (March 10 - 17, 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, Geoff Garden of the
Bureau of Meteorology, Australia, and Mark Lander of the University of Guam
for providing information on Tropical Cyclones Ethel and Kirsty.


WEEKLY TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY #241 MARCH 10 - 17, 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 Kirsty (TC-18S): At the start of the summary period,
Kirsty was off the northwest coast of Australia moving south with 80 kt winds.
Kirsty moved south-southwest on 11 March, then it turned south and moved
into western Australia near Pardoo on 12 March. The cyclone reached a peak
intensity of 100-110 kt prior to landfall. Kirsty dissipated as a tropical
cyclone over land later that day. However, the remnant low continued south
across the rest of western Australia.

The eye of Kirsty passed over Pardoo, Australia, which reported a minimum
pressure of 938 mb (exact time unknown). No wind measurements were available,
and there are no reports of damage or casualties at this time.

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

Tropical Cyclone Ethel (TC-19P): At the start of the summary period,
Ethel was over the Coral Sea moving southeast with 45 kt winds. Ethel stalled
just off the northeast coast of Australia on 11 March as it reached a peak
intensity of 55 kt. It then moved west back into the Cape York Peninsula
and into the Gulf of Carpentaria on 12 March. Ethel accelerated southwest
and made landfall over northern Australia on 13 March with 55 kt winds. The
system weakened to a low pressure area over land the next day. The low was
traceable through 16 March as it moved southward over western Australia.

There are no observations from near the landfall points during this time.
Tennant Creek, Australia, located well inland, reported 30 kt sustained winds
with gusts to 45 as the weakening Ethel passed on 14 March (exact time
unknown). There are no reports of damage or casualties at this time.

Tropical Cyclone Zaka (TC-20P): At the start of the summary period, Zaka
was over the open South Pacific moving southeast with 45 kt winds. The
cyclone became extratropical near 28S 174E on 11 March.

Although Zaka affected parts of the New Caledonia island group, there are
no reports of damage or casualties at this time.

Tropical Cyclone Atu (TC-21P): Tropical Cyclone Atu formed near 20S 165E
on 10 March. Initially moving southeast, the cyclone continued that general
track through 12 March. Atu reached a peak intensity of 55 kt on 12 March.
Rapid weakening occurred on 13 March as Atu turned south. The cyclone
dissipated later that day near 26N 173E.

Atu also affected parts of the New Caledonia group. However, 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.