MANU

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Manu was a late-season system that developed in the northern Coral Sea in April 1986. A tropical low consolidated within a lingering monsoon trough near the Louisiade Archipelago on 21 April and, tracking west-southwest across warm waters, strengthened sufficiently to be named Manu on 22 April by the Papua New Guinea National Weather Service in conjunction with the Brisbane tropical cyclone warning centre.

With only weak steering currents to guide it, Manu adopted an erratic path, tracing a slow loop off the south-eastern coast of Papua New Guinea between 23 and 25 April while intensifying quickly. It reached its peak late on 24 April as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, with a central pressure estimated at about 960 hPa (some analyses place the minimum closer to 970 hPa) and maximum ten-minute sustained winds of roughly 130–140 km/h, with gusts above 180 km/h. At this stage satellite imagery showed a well-defined eye positioned just offshore from Port Moresby and the Central Province coastline.

On 25 April an approaching upper-level trough spread strong south-westerly shear over the northern Coral Sea. Manu recurved to the east-south-east and its deep convection stripped away rapidly, leaving the low-level circulation exposed. It fell below cyclone strength on 26 April and dissipated over open water on 27 April without ever crossing a coastline.

Despite remaining offshore, Manu's proximity brought gale- to storm-force winds and heavy rainfall to southern Papua New Guinea. Flooding damaged villages, food gardens and coastal roads through Central Province, and agricultural losses were extensive enough to require local relief efforts. In Port Moresby, strong winds brought down trees, interrupted power supplies and caused minor roof and structural damage. Marine and high-seas warnings across the northern Coral Sea forced regional shipping and coastal traders into shelter. No direct fatalities were attributed to the system, which was among the final cyclones of an above-average 1985–86 Australian region season.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia