During the season, tropical cyclones were monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers in Nadi, Fiji, Brisbane, Australia and Wellington, New Zealand. During the season TCWC Nadi issued warnings and assigned names to any tropical cyclones that developed between the Equator and 25°S while TCWC Wellington issued warnings for any that were located to the south of 25°S. The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (NPMOC), also monitored the basin and issued unofficial warnings for American interests. TCWC Nadi, Brisbane and Wellington measured sustained windspeeds over a 10-minute which are compared to the modern day Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. The JTWC and the NPMOC measured sustained windspeeds over a 1-minute period which are compared to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale (SSHS).
Systems
Severe Tropical Cyclone Gyan
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
The tropical cyclone developed 160 km/100 mi northeast of western Samoa and travelled southwest at 12 knots, moving through the Ha'apai island group and only 50 km/30 mi northwest of Tongatapu. The pressure at Tongatapu fell to 976.4 mbar (28.83 inHg). Winds of 92 knots were measured at Nuku'alofa,[1] and rainfall of 120 millimetres (4.7 in) was measured there. Isaac reached maximum intensity on March 2. The tropical cyclone was the worst storm in Tonga's history, devastating the island group.[2] The island groups of Ha'apai and Vava'u were hit worst. Six were killed,[1] while 45,000 became homeless and 95% of the livestock was killed.[3] The island of Tatafa was bisected by a 16 metres (52 ft) wide channel caused by Isaac's storm surge.[4]
Severe Tropical Cyclone Bernie
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Severe Tropical Cyclone Bernie existed from April 1 to April 9.
Bernie caused extensive damage to natural vegetation and food gardens on the islands of Western Gudalcanal, Santa Isabel, New Georgia and the Russell Islands.[5][6] Over 1000 people also had to evacuated from villages on the eastern coast of Gudalcanal.[5][6]
Tropical Cyclone Claudia existed from May 13 to May 18.
Other systems
Between February 4 - 5, a developing tropical cyclone existed to the west of the Samoan Islands and caused flooding, as well as widespread wind damage within American Samoa. Significant damage was also reported in Western Samoa.[7]
^ abBritton, Neil R (1987). "Disaster in the South Pacific: Impact of tropical cyclone "Nomu" on the Solomon Islands, May 1986". Disasters. 11 (2): 120–133. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7717.1987.tb00627.x. (subscription required)
