2015–16 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
Nov 1, 2015 – Apr 30, 2016 · Season ended
The 2015–16 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 21 named storms, 10 at hurricane strength and 5 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 211, 98% of the average.
2015–16 season at a glance
- Named storms: 21 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 10 (average 13.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 5, including 2 at Category 5 strength (average 7.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 211.4, 98% of the 217 average.
- Named-storm days: 103.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1P, August 2, 2015.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Ula, December 31, 2015.
- First major storm: Ula, January 3, 2016.
- Last storm to dissipate: Fantala, April 26, 2016.
- All systems tracked: 21, every one of which reached 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 2015–16 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1P | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| TD 2P | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
| Annabelle | – | TS | 978 mb | — |
| Tuni | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| Bohale | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Ula | – | C4 | 933 mb | — |
| Victor | – | C2 | 956 mb | — |
| Corentin | – | C1 | 963 mb | — |
| Stan | – | C1 | 974 mb | Yes |
| Daya | – | TS | 983 mb | — |
| Tatiana | – | TS | 982 mb | — |
| Winston | – | C5 | 907 mb | Vatukoula, Fiji |
| Uriah | – | C4 | 926 mb | — |
| Yalo | – | TS | 982 mb | — |
| TD 16P | – | TS | 993 mb | Yes |
| Emeraude | – | C4 | 929 mb | — |
| TD 17S | – | TS | 989 mb | — |
| Zena | – | C2 | 956 mb | Luganville, Vanuatu |
| Fantala | – | C5 | 907 mb | — |
| Amos | – | C2 | 956 mb | — |
- TD 1P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in July 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 2P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in October 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Annabelle: Annabelle formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Tuni: Tuni formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Bohale: Bohale formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Ula: Ula formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 933 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 18 days.
- Victor: Victor formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2016 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 956 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Corentin: Corentin formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2016 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 963 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Stan: Stan formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2016 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Daya: Daya formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 983 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Tatiana: Tatiana formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Winston: Winston formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2016 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 907 mb. It made landfall near Vatukoula, Fiji. The system was tracked for 19 days.
- Uriah: Uriah formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2016 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 926 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Yalo: Yalo formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 16P: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Emeraude: Emeraude formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2016 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 929 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 17S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Zena: Zena formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2016 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 956 mb. It made landfall near Luganville, Vanuatu. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Fantala: Fantala formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2016 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 907 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Amos: Amos formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2016 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 956 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2015–16
Cyclone Winston was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 180 mph (285 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 907 mb, on February 20, 2016. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
No Southern Hemisphere storm since 1980 has peaked higher; 3 others matched it. It produced 23% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2015–16
4 of the season’s 21 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 2015–16 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 44th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 1 other season), 40th for hurricane strength (tied with 5 other seasons) and 24th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 37 named storms, in 1997, and the highest ACE is 364, in 1997.
2015–16 storm names
The 2015–16 season used 16 names: Annabelle, Tuni, Bohale, Ula, Victor, Corentin, Stan, Daya, Tatiana, Winston, Uriah, Yalo, Emeraude, Zena, Fantala, Amos.
5 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2015–16 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2015–16?
The 2015–16 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 21 named storms, 10 at hurricane strength and 5 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 1P and the last was Amos.
What was the strongest storm of 2015–16?
Cyclone Winston. It peaked at 180 mph (285 km/h, 155 kt) with a lowest pressure of 907 mb on February 20, 2016. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. No Southern Hemisphere storm since 1980 has peaked higher. It produced 23% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2015–16 season end?
Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 2015 to June 2016 under the 2015–16 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Fantala, dissipated on April 26, 2016.