Skip to content
HurriTracker

1987–88 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season

Nov 1, 1987 – Apr 30, 1988 · Season ended

The 1987–88 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 20 named storms, 11 at hurricane strength and 4 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 152, 70% of the average.

1986–87 season1988–89 seasonAll Southern Hemisphere seasons
Named storms
20
Avg 26.7 (1991–2020)
Hurricane strength
11
64 kt or stronger · avg 13.8
Major (Cat 3+)
4
Including 1 Category 5
Accumulated energy
70% of normal
ACE 152 vs 1991–2020 avg 217
Loading map…
Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC1C2C3C4C5

1987–88 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 20 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
  • Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 11 (average 13.8).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 4, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 7.5).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 151.7, 70% of the 217 average.
  • Named-storm days: 113.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Tropical Storm 1S, November 1, 1987.
  • First storm at hurricane strength: Anne, January 9, 1988.
  • First major storm: Anne, January 10, 1988.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Herbie, May 21, 1988.
  • All systems tracked: 21, including 1 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 1987–88 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
TD 1S – TS——
TD 2S – TS—Ibo, Mozambique
Ariny – TS997 mb—
TD 4P – TS——
Benandro – TS991 mb—
Agi – C1980 mbBourail, New Caledonia
Anne – C5925 mbBourail, New Caledonia
Calidera – C1966 mbSoanierana Ivongo, Madagascar
Doaza – C4954 mbAmpahana, Madagascar
Frederic – C1955 mb—
Ezenina – C2941 mb—
Charlie – TS972 mbAyr, Australia
Filao – C2954 mbAntsiranana, Madagascar
Bola – C3940 mb—
Cilla – C1970 mb—
Gasitao – C4927 mb—
Hely – TS976 mbMananara, Madagascar
Unnamed – TD——
Dovi – C1975 mb—
Iarisena – TS991 mb—
Herbie – TS982 mb—
  • TD 1S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in October 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 10 days.
  • TD 2S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). It made landfall near Ibo, Mozambique. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Ariny: Ariny formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • TD 4P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Benandro: Benandro formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1987 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
  • Agi: Agi formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1988 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It made landfall near Bourail, New Caledonia. The system was tracked for 12 days.
  • Anne: Anne formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1988 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 925 mb. It made landfall near Bourail, New Caledonia. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Calidera: Calidera formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1988 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 966 mb. It made landfall near Soanierana Ivongo, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Doaza: Doaza formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1988 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It made landfall near Ampahana, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 12 days.
  • Frederic: Frederic formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1988 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 5 days.
  • Ezenina: Ezenina formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1988 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 941 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
  • Charlie: Charlie formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 972 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Ayr, Australia and last near Ayr, Australia. The system was tracked for 12 days.
  • Filao: Filao formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1988 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Antsiranana, Madagascar and last near Quelimane, Mozambique. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • Bola: Bola formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1988 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 17 days.
  • Cilla: Cilla formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1988 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 10 days.
  • Gasitao: Gasitao formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1988 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 927 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
  • Hely: Hely formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Mananara, Madagascar and last near Mananara, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 18 days.
  • Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1988. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Dovi: Dovi formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 1988 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 975 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • Iarisena: Iarisena formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Herbie: Herbie formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 1988 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.

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

Strongest storm of 1987–88

Cyclone Anne was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 160 mph (260 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 925 mb, on January 11, 1988. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

11 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 25 matched it. It produced 13% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 1987–88

8 of the season’s 21 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

  • November 25, 1987: TD 2S near Ibo, Mozambique, 40 mph (tropical depression)
  • January 12, 1988: Anne near Bourail, New Caledonia, 80 mph (Category 1)
  • January 14, 1988: Agi near Bourail, New Caledonia, 45 mph (tropical storm)
  • January 15, 1988: Calidera near Soanierana Ivongo, Madagascar, 60 mph (tropical storm)
  • January 25, 1988: Doaza near Ampahana, Madagascar, 45 mph (tropical storm)
  • February 24, 1988: Filao near Antsiranana, Madagascar, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 29, 1988: Charlie near Ayr, Australia, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • February 29, 1988: Charlie near Ayr, Australia, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • March 2, 1988: Filao near Quelimane, Mozambique, 75 mph (Category 1)
  • March 27, 1988: Hely near Mananara, Madagascar, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • March 28, 1988: Hely near Mananara, Madagascar, 35 mph (tropical depression)

How 1987–88 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 46th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms, 36th for hurricane strength (tied with 3 other seasons) and 42nd for accumulated cyclone energy.

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

1987–88 storm names

The 1987–88 season used 17 names: Ariny, Benandro, Agi, Anne, Calidera, Doaza, Frederic, Ezenina, Charlie, Filao, Bola, Cilla, Gasitao, Hely, Dovi, Iarisena, Herbie.

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

1987–88 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 1987–88?

The 1987–88 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 20 named storms, 11 at hurricane strength and 4 major storms, from 21 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 Herbie.

What was the strongest storm of 1987–88?

Cyclone Anne. It peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kt) with a lowest pressure of 925 mb on January 11, 1988. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 11 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 13% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 1987–88 season end?

Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 1987 to April 30, 1988. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 1987 to June 1988 under the 1987–88 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Herbie, dissipated on May 21, 1988.