1985–86 South Pacific cyclone season
| 1985–86 South Pacific cyclone season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | February 5, 1986 |
| Last system dissipated | May 22, 1986 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Ima |
| • Maximum winds | 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 940 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 7 |
| Tropical cyclones | 7 |
| Severe tropical cyclones | 3 |
| Total fatalities | Unknown |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | February 5 – February 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min) 940 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | February 5 – February 10 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min) 980 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | February 8 – February 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min) 987 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | March 2 – March 10 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min) 990 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | March 7 – March 11 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min) 990 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | April 10 – April 15 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min) 970 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | May 15 – May 22 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min) 955 hPa (mbar) |
During November and December no significant tropical cyclones developed in or moved into the basin in the region,
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ima existed from February 5 to February 16.
Ima affected French Polynesia's Austral, Society and Tubuai Islands, from February 9-14 and caused extensive damage to Rimatara.
On February 5, TCWC Nadi (a.k.a. Fiji Meteorological Service) reported that a tropical depression had developed early on February 10. About 24 hours later, the system intensified into a Category 1 cyclone on the Australian intensity scale. Around that same time, the Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center followed suit by upgrading the system into a tropical storm. Gradually intensifying, Nadi estimated that June had peaked in intensity with winds of 65 mph (105 km/h) late on February 7. Meanwhile, the JTWC reported that Tropical Cyclone June had also peaked in intensity. By February 9, June had weakened into a tropical depression. June was no longer a tropical cyclone by the morning.
Tropical Cyclone Keli existed from February 8 to February 14.
According to the Vanautu Meteorological Service, there was no significant damage reported within Vanautu.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred existed from March 7 to March 11.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Martin from April 10 to April 15.
On May 15, TCWC Nadi started to monitor a tropical depression that had developed within the monsoon trough, in association with Typhoon Lola about 90 km (55 mi) to the north of the Solomon Island: Malaita. Over the next two days the system moved towards the southeast before it recurved, and started to move towards the southwest during May 17 as it started to show signs that it was developing further. After the system had acquired the characteristics of a tropical cyclone and become equivalent to a tropical storm, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center started to issue warnings on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 33P.
Later that day, TCWC Nadi named the depression Namu, after it had become equivalent to a modern-day category-two tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale with ten-minute sustained windspeeds of 155 km/h (100 mph).
Cyclone Namu was responsible for the deaths of 103 people and caused US$100 million in economic losses in the Solomon Islands. It was considered the worst tropical cyclone to impact the area in five years. The storm was estimated to have caused a maximum wave height of 1.5 m (4.9 ft). Much of the damage caused by Namu was due to phenomenal flooding, and was widespread across the island chain. At Honiara International Airport, 340 mm (13 in) of rain was measured over a three-day period. Increased river flow caused by the depositing of saturated material in rivers was the cause for much of the flood damage that occurred. Of all the islands, Malaita was the worst affected by the cyclone. On the island of Guadalcanal, a single mudslide was responsible for killing 38 villagers. Attaining a clean water supply was an issue on Guadalcanal, and 22% of homes on the island were either damaged or destroyed.
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