1985–86 Australian region cyclone season
The 1985–86 Australian region cyclone season was an above average tropical cyclone season. It officially started on 1 November 1985, and officially ended on 30 April 1986.
Seasonal summary
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from:12/12/1985 till:16/12/1985 color:TL text:"03P "
from:07/01/1986 till:12/01/1986 color:C1 text:"Ophelia "
from:11/01/1986 till:14/01/1986 color:C1 text:"08S "
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from:21/01/1986 till:24/01/1986 color:C1 text:"Vernon "
from:27/01/1986 till:05/02/1986 color:C3 text:"Winifred "
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from:21/02/1986 till:26/02/1986 color:C2 text:"Selwyn "
from:25/02/1986 till:01/03/1986 color:C2 text:"Tiffany "
from:02/03/1986 till:09/03/1986 color:C4 text:"Victor "
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from:02/03/1986 till:07/03/1986 color:C1 text:"Alfred "
from:04/04/1986 till:09/04/1986 color:C2 text:"Alison "
from:21/04/1986 till:27/04/1986 color:C3 text:"Manu "
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from:10/05/1986 till:15/05/1986 color:C4 text:"Billy "
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from:01/11/1985 till:30/11/1985 text:November
from:01/12/1985 till:31/12/1985 text:December
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Systems
Severe Tropical Cyclone Nicholas
Tropical Cyclone Nicholas originated from a broad area of low pressure associated with a monsoonal trough south of Sumatra on 25 November. It tracked south and gradually organized itself and became a tropical cyclone early on 29 November. It then began to move east and passed through major shipping routes near Christmas Island, though none of the ships record any extensive winds from the nearby cyclone. Nicholas, while remaining a small system, continued to intensify and by 3 December reached a peak intensity as a category four cyclone with winds of 10-min sustained and a pressure of 945 hPa. Afterwards the cyclone turned almost directly south and gradually weakened. On 7 December Nicholas's convection began to wane and the system had fully dissipated by that evening.Tropical Cyclone 03P
Tropical Cyclone 03S existed from 11 December to 14 December.Tropical Cyclone Ophelia
Tropical Cyclone Ophelia occurred from 7 January until 12 January 1986 near Cocos Island. Its estimated lowest pressure was 985 hPa.Tropical Cyclone 08S
Tropical Cyclone 08S existed from 11 January to 14 January.Tropical Cyclone Hector
Tropical Cyclone Hector occurred from 17 January until 24 January 1986. It crossed the coast near Wyndham, Western Australia and its estimated lowest pressure was 982 hPa. Hector caused significant flooding in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.Tropical Cyclone Pancho
Tropical Cyclone Pancho occurred from 18 January until 22 January 1986 and remained entirely within the Indian Ocean off Western Australia. Its estimated lowest pressure was 976 hPa.Tropical Cyclone Vernon
Vernon was a weak cyclone that occurred from 21 January until 24 January 1986 and formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It crossed Cape York and continued on into the Coral Sea. Its estimated lowest pressure was 990 hPa.Severe Tropical Cyclone Winifred
The precursor tropical low to Severe Tropical Cyclone Winifred was first observed on 27 January, about 450 km north of Cairns, Queensland. Initially drifting toward the east, the low pressure system showed signs of slow development. Early on 29 January, the system turned south as it gradually continued to gain in strength. Based on data from the GMS, the low had become sufficiently well-organized to be classified as a tropical cyclone by 30 January, retaining a minimum central pressure of 995 mbar. Accordingly, the system was assigned the name Winifred at 1400 UTC that same day, as it slowly proceeded southward.Steady intensification continued, and the cyclone reached winds of early on 1 February, the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. During all of Winifred's existence, a canopy of high-level cirrus clouds covered the eye and rainbands of the cyclone, preventing precise location of its centre through satellite observation. Initially, estimates showed the intensifying cyclone retracing to the southeast on the evening of 30 January, almost immediately turning to the southwest overnight on 31 January. Though the eye retained a relatively large diameter of approximately 51 km, Winifred continued to deepen as it approached the coast of north Queensland; however, a contraction of the eyewall became evident by 0300 UTC the next day. With time, the eye further decreased in size, with the smallest diameter assessed at 41 km just prior to landfall. In addition, this decrease suggested a reach of peak intensity, and correspondingly, minimum central pressure dropped to 957 mbar, would designate Winifred as the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Moving further inland, Winifred began to lose its discernible radar features and quickly decreased in intensity; however, the cyclone persisted as a weakening tropical depression for approximately five days. Operationally, Winifred was declared dissipated on 6 February.
Prior to the formation of a tropical depression, Tropical Cyclone Advices were initiated at 0600 UTC 29 January. At the time, the precursor low was located about 340 km northeast of Cooktown, Queensland. Consequently, a cyclone watch was declared for coastal areas between Thursday Island and Cooktown; in subsequent advices, the area under watch was extended further to the south. As the storm approached the coastline, the watch was upgraded to a warning from Cape Flattery to Townsville by 1900 UTC 30 January, though watches remained in effect to the north from Lockhart River and to the south from St Lawrence. Over the subsequent days, the area under threat extended further, and by late 31 January, a cyclone warning was in effect from Cooktown to Bowen, as well as a cyclone watch for areas between Cairns and Bowen extending southward to St Lawrence. As the storm turned more toward the south, however, a Flash Tropical Cyclone Advice was issued at 0100 UTC on 1 February, warning of locally destructive winds between Fitzroy Island and Innisfail, as far south as Cardwell. Initially, the forecast position of landfall was pinned near Babinda, where specialists warned of maximum gusts near of.
Winifred struck Innisfail, Queensland in February 1986 causing extensive damage. There were three deaths attributed to Winifred.