NICHOLAS

1996-97 season · AU199697_03U

Category 3

History

Tropical Cyclone Nicholas was a short-lived system that affected the Kimberley coast of Western Australia in December 1996. It began as a tropical depression that formed on 12 December 1996 in waters near Timor, to the north of the Australian mainland. The depression tracked generally southward over the following days, moving towards the north Kimberley coast, and was sufficiently organised by 14 December to be classified as a tropical cyclone and given the name Nicholas.

Nicholas remained a relatively weak system throughout its brief existence. It continued on its southerly course and crossed the Western Australian coast to the west of Derby on 15 December, still at tropical storm strength. Once inland the cyclone decayed rapidly, and it dissipated the following day, 16 December.

Nicholas was one of three tropical systems active in the region at the same time, with Cyclone Ophelia developing to its west on 13 December and Cyclone Elvina further out near 80°E.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia

View full track data (42 observations)
Date/Time (UTC)CategoryPositionPressureWind
1996-12-12 07:00:00 1 -11.0, 124.5 1002 hPa 13 km/h
1996-12-12 12:00:00 1 -11.4, 124.3 1000 hPa 13 km/h
1996-12-12 13:00:00 1 -11.5, 124.2 1000 hPa 13 km/h
1996-12-12 18:00:00 1 -11.9, 124.0 1000 hPa 13 km/h
1996-12-12 19:00:00 1 -12.0, 123.9 1000 hPa 13 km/h
1996-12-12 22:00:00 1 -12.3, 123.9 1000 hPa 13 km/h
1996-12-13 00:00:00 1 -12.6, 123.8 998 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-13 01:00:00 1 -12.7, 123.8 998 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-13 04:00:00 1 -13.0, 123.8 998 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-13 06:00:00 1 -13.2, 123.7 996 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-13 07:00:00 1 -13.3, 123.7 996 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-13 10:00:00 1 -13.6, 123.6 996 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-13 12:00:00 1 -13.8, 123.6 996 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-13 13:00:00 1 -13.9, 123.6 996 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-13 16:00:00 1 -14.2, 123.5 994 hPa 18 km/h
1996-12-13 18:00:00 1 -14.3, 123.5 992 hPa 21 km/h
1996-12-13 19:00:00 1 -14.4, 123.5 992 hPa 21 km/h
1996-12-13 22:00:00 1 -14.7, 123.5 990 hPa 21 km/h
1996-12-14 00:00:00 1 -14.8, 123.5 988 hPa 23 km/h
1996-12-14 01:00:00 1 -14.9, 123.5 988 hPa 23 km/h
1996-12-14 04:00:00 1 -15.2, 123.5 985 hPa 23 km/h
1996-12-14 06:00:00 1 -15.4, 123.5 985 hPa 23 km/h
1996-12-14 07:00:00 1 -15.5, 123.5 985 hPa 23 km/h
1996-12-14 10:00:00 1 -15.9, 123.5 985 hPa 23 km/h
1996-12-14 12:00:00 1 -16.1, 123.4 987 hPa 23 km/h
1996-12-14 13:00:00 1 -16.2, 123.3 988 hPa 23 km/h
1996-12-14 16:00:00 1 -16.6, 123.2 990 hPa 21 km/h
1996-12-14 18:00:00 1 -16.8, 123.3 993 hPa 18 km/h
1996-12-14 19:00:00 1 -16.9, 123.3 995 hPa 18 km/h
1996-12-14 22:00:00 1 -17.2, 123.4 995 hPa 18 km/h
1996-12-15 00:00:00 1 -17.3, 123.5 995 hPa 18 km/h
1996-12-15 01:00:00 3 -17.4, 123.6 995 hPa 18 km/h
1996-12-15 06:00:00 2 -17.7, 123.6 995 hPa 18 km/h
1996-12-15 07:00:00 2 -17.7, 123.6 995 hPa 18 km/h
1996-12-15 12:00:00 2 -18.1, 123.7 997 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-15 13:00:00 2 -18.1, 123.7 998 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-15 18:00:00 2 -18.5, 123.7 998 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-15 19:00:00 2 -18.6, 123.7 998 hPa 15 km/h
1996-12-16 00:00:00 2 -19.0, 123.8 999 hPa 13 km/h
1996-12-16 01:00:00 2 -19.1, 123.8 1000 hPa 13 km/h
1996-12-16 06:00:00 2 -19.6, 123.9 1000 hPa 13 km/h
1996-12-16 07:00:00 2 -19.7, 123.9 1000 hPa 13 km/h