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1986–87 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season

Nov 1, 1986 – Apr 30, 1987 · Season ended

The 1986–87 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 27 named storms, 11 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 148, 68% of the average.

1985–86 season1987–88 seasonAll Southern Hemisphere seasons
Named storms
27
Avg 26.7 (1991–2020)
Hurricane strength
11
64 kt or stronger · avg 13.8
Major (Cat 3+)
1
Avg 7.5 per season
Accumulated energy
68% of normal
ACE 148 vs 1991–2020 avg 217
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Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC1C2C3

1986–87 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 27 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
  • Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 11 (average 13.8).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 7.5).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 148.3, 68% of the 217 average.
  • Named-storm days: 153.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Tropical Storm 1S, July 31, 1986.
  • First storm at hurricane strength: Raja, December 27, 1986.
  • First major storm: Tusi, January 18, 1987.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression 28S, June 27, 1987.
  • All systems tracked: 30, including 3 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.

Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph). Regional agencies here use 10-minute winds (3-minute in India), so their official counts can differ.

Every storm of the 1986–87 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
TD 1S – TS——
Osea – TS980 mbLautoka, Fiji
Patsy – TS975 mb—
Raja – C2955 mb—
Sally – C1955 mb—
Unnamed – TD——
TD 6S – TS——
TD 7S – TS——
Tusi – C3955 mb—
Connie – TS950 mbPort Hedland, Australia
Alinina – C1976 mb—
Irma – TD978 mbYes
Damien – TS980 mb—
TD 13P – TS——
Uma – C1940 mb—
Jason – C1970 mbYes
Bemazava – TS997 mb—
Veli – TS990 mb—
Clotilda – TS970 mbSaint-Benoît, Reunion
Elsie – TS940 mbYes
Wini – C1965 mb—
TD 19P – TS985 mb—
Daodo – C1954 mb—
Yali – C1970 mb—
Kay – C1976 mbYes
Zuman – TS975 mb—
TD 26S – TS——
Elizabetha – C1976 mb—
Blanch – TS990 mb—
TD 28S – TD——
  • TD 1S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in July 1986 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Osea: Osea formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 1986 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It made landfall near Lautoka, Fiji. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Patsy: Patsy formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1986 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 975 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Raja: Raja formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1986 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
  • Sally: Sally formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1986 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1987. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • TD 6S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • TD 7S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Tusi: Tusi formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1987 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Connie: Connie formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It made landfall near Port Hedland, Australia. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • Alinina: Alinina formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1987 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • Irma: Irma formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1987 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Damien: Damien formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • TD 13P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Uma: Uma formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1987 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Jason: Jason formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1987 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Bemazava: Bemazava formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
  • Veli: Veli formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Clotilda: Clotilda formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It made landfall near Saint-Benoît, Reunion. The system was tracked for 13 days.
  • Elsie: Elsie formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Wini: Wini formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1987 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • TD 19P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Daodo: Daodo formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1987 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 16 days.
  • Yali: Yali formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1987 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Kay: Kay formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 1987 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Zuman: Zuman formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 975 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • TD 26S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Elizabetha: Elizabetha formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 1987 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Blanch: Blanch formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • TD 28S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in June 1987 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.

Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.

Strongest storm of 1986–87

Cyclone Tusi was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 115 mph (185 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 955 mb, on January 18, 1987. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

272 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 51 matched it. It produced 9% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 1986–87

7 of the season’s 30 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

  • November 25, 1986: Osea near Lautoka, Fiji, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • January 19, 1987: Connie near Port Hedland, Australia, 60 mph (tropical storm)
  • January 20, 1987: Irma, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 6, 1987: Jason, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 9, 1987: Jason, 65 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 11, 1987: Jason, 70 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 13, 1987: Jason, 100 mph (Category 2)
  • February 14, 1987: Clotilda near Saint-Benoît, Reunion, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 25, 1987: Elsie, 65 mph (tropical storm)
  • April 7, 1987: Kay, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • April 10, 1987: Kay, 50 mph (tropical storm)
  • April 10, 1987: Kay, 50 mph (tropical storm)
  • April 10, 1987: Kay, 50 mph (tropical storm)

How 1986–87 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 24th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 36th for hurricane strength (tied with 3 other seasons) and 43rd for accumulated cyclone energy.

The record since 1980 is 37 named storms, in 1997, and the highest ACE is 364, in 1997.

1986–87 storm names

The 1986–87 season used 22 names: Osea, Patsy, Raja, Sally, Tusi, Connie, Alinina, Irma, Damien, Uma, Jason, Bemazava, Veli, Clotilda, Elsie, Wini, Daodo, Yali, Kay, Zuman, Elizabetha, Blanch.

8 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.

1986–87 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 1986–87?

The 1986–87 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 27 named storms, 11 at hurricane strength and 1 major storm, from 30 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 26.7 named storms, 13.8 at 64 kt or more and 7.5 major per season. The first to form was Tropical Storm 1S and the last was Blanch.

What was the strongest storm of 1986–87?

Cyclone Tusi. It peaked at 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kt) with a lowest pressure of 955 mb on January 18, 1987. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 272 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 9% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 1986–87 season end?

Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 1986 to April 30, 1987. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 1986 to June 1987 under the 1986–87 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Tropical Depression 28S, dissipated on June 27, 1987.