1990–91 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
Nov 1, 1990 – Apr 30, 1991 · Season ended
The 1990–91 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 18 named storms, 9 at hurricane strength and 3 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 160, 74% of the average.
1990–91 season at a glance
- Named storms: 18 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 9 (average 13.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 3 (average 7.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 159.5, 74% of the 217 average.
- Named-storm days: 108.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Sina, November 25, 1990.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Sina, November 26, 1990.
- First major storm: Sina, November 26, 1990.
- Last storm to dissipate: Gritelle, June 16, 1991.
- All systems tracked: 23, including 5 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 1990–91 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1S | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 2S | – | TD | — | — |
| Sina | – | C4 | 960 mb | — |
| TD 4S | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Laurence | – | TS | 992 mb | — |
| Joy | – | C2 | 940 mb | Townsville, Australia |
| Alison | – | C1 | 1002 mb | — |
| Bella | – | C4 | 936 mb | — |
| Daphne | – | TS | 976 mb | Atherton, Australia |
| Chris | – | TS | 976 mb | — |
| Cynthia | – | TS | 970 mb | Morondava, Madagascar |
| Debra | – | C2 | 966 mb | — |
| Kelvin | – | TS | 980 mb | — |
| Elma | – | TS | 965 mb | — |
| TD 15P | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 16P | – | TD | — | — |
| Fatima | – | C2 | 954 mb | — |
| Errol | – | C3 | 950 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 998 mb | — |
| Marian | – | C2 | 930 mb | — |
| Fifi | – | TS | 975 mb | — |
| Lisa | – | C1 | 972 mb | — |
| Gritelle | – | TS | 984 mb | — |
- TD 1S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in September 1990 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 6 days.
- TD 2S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in October 1990 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 5 days.
- Sina: Sina formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 1990 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- TD 4S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 1990 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 8 days.
- Laurence: Laurence formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1990 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Joy: Joy formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 1990 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It made landfall near Townsville, Australia. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Alison: Alison formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1991 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Bella: Bella formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 1991 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 936 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 23 days.
- Daphne: Daphne formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1991 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It made landfall near Atherton, Australia. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Chris: Chris formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1991 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Cynthia: Cynthia formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1991 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It made landfall near Morondava, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Debra: Debra formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1991 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 966 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Kelvin: Kelvin formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1991 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Elma: Elma formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 1991 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 15P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1991 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 4 days.
- TD 16P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1991 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 7 days.
- Fatima: Fatima formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1991 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Errol: Errol formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1991 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 1991 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Marian: Marian formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 1991 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 930 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Fifi: Fifi formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 1991 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.
- Lisa: Lisa formed in the Southern Hemisphere in May 1991 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 972 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Gritelle: Gritelle formed in the Southern Hemisphere in June 1991 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1990–91
Cyclone Bella was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 150 mph (240 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 936 mb, on January 29, 1991. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
55 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 22 matched it. It produced 15% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1990–91
3 of the season’s 23 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 1990–91 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 47th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms, 46th for hurricane strength and 38th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 37 named storms, in 1997, and the highest ACE is 364, in 1997.
1990–91 storm names
The 1990–91 season used 17 names: Sina, Laurence, Joy, Alison, Bella, Daphne, Chris, Cynthia, Debra, Kelvin, Elma, Fatima, Errol, Marian, Fifi, Lisa, Gritelle.
6 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
1990–91 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1990–91?
The 1990–91 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 18 named storms, 9 at hurricane strength and 3 major storms, from 23 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 Sina and the last was Gritelle.
What was the strongest storm of 1990–91?
Cyclone Bella. It peaked at 150 mph (240 km/h, 130 kt) with a lowest pressure of 936 mb on January 29, 1991. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 55 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 15% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1990–91 season end?
Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 1990 to April 30, 1991. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 1990 to June 1991 under the 1990–91 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Gritelle, dissipated on June 16, 1991.