Tropical Cyclone Weekly Summary #239 (February 25 - March 3, 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)


WEEKLY TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY #239 FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 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.):

Tropical Storm (TD-01W): Tropical Depression 01W formed near 8N 130E on
28 February. Moving west to west-northwest, the system reached a peak inten-
sity of 35 kt the next day. The storm moved into the southern Philippine
Islands on 1 March. It weakened to a depression on 2 March, and it dissipated
later that day near 9N 116E.

This system was designated a tropical storm by the Japanese Meteorological
Agency. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center designated the system a tropical
depression with a peak intensity of 30 kt. There are no reports of damage or
casualties at this time.

North Indian Ocean Basin: No tropical cyclones.

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

Tropical Cyclone Edwige (TC-16S): At the start of the summary period,
the regenerated Edwige was moving west toward Madagascar with 35 kt winds.
Edwige continued west on 26 February while rapidly strengthening to a peak
intensity of 90 kt. The cyclone reached the Madagascar coast on 27 February,
then turned south-southeast back into the water later that day. Edwige
meandered erratically near the southeast Madagascar coast on 28 February as
it weakened to a tropical storm. It then moved west into the island on 29
February and dissipated.

Edwige's slow motion near the Madagascar coast resulted in heavy rains
over the southern part of the island, which probably caused flooding. How-
ever, no observations are available from near the landfall area. There are
also no reports of damage or casualties at this time.

Tropical Cyclone Flossy (TC-17S): Tropical Cyclone 17S formed near 13S 71E
on 27 February. Initially moving southwest, the cyclone continued this motion
through 28 February. Flossy moved west-southwest on 29 February as it reached
both hurricane strength and a peak intensity of 100 kt. The storm moved
southwest on 1 March, then it turned south while weakening the next day.
Flossy turned southeast and weakened to a tropical storm on 3 March, and at
the end of the summary period it was continuing this track with 45 kt winds.

Flossy passed near Rodrigues Island, which reported 41 kt winds and a
1000.4 mb pressure at 1200 UTC 29 February. There are no reports of damage or
casualties at this time.

South Pacific Ocean Basin (E of 135 Deg. E): No tropical cyclones.


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.