Tropical cyclones in 1996
The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the 1996 (seven basins combined), as calculated by Colorado State University was 960 units.
The weak La Niña prevailed until the end of the year, which made the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans warmer than usual.
[1] Despite the fact that the 1995–96 La Niña was not a powerful occurrence, it recharged much of the ocean heat released from nearly two decades of El Niño events.
Bertha made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on the coast of North Carolina, causing a total of 12 deaths and $335 million (1996 USD) in damage.
Hurricane Cesar developed in the east Caribbean during late-July and crossed Nicaragua into the eastern Pacific as a strong tropical storm several days later, at which time it earned the name Douglas.
Finally, Hurricane Hortense formed in the eastern Atlantic during the month of September and crossed Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, causing 39 direct deaths and $158 million in damage.
Of note is the fact that three tropical cyclones approached close to, or made landfall on, Mexico during a ten-day span from June 23 to July 3.
It killed over 284 people and left $5 billion worth of damages as it affected the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and China as a super typhoon.
During most of the year, sea surface temperatures were moderately below normal near the equator, and were highest around 160° E from August to October, due to the prevailing La Niña.
[nb 1] The other two storms struck opposite sides of India, collectively resulting in 226 deaths after causing widespread flooding.
A low-pressure area moved across southern India, killing 388 people before taking an unusual track in the Arabian Sea.
The final storm of the season executed a rare loop in the Bay of Bengal before weakening and striking southern India in early December, killing seven.
The first storm, Intense Tropical Cyclone Agnielle, formed in the adjacent Australian basin on November 16 and later reached peak winds in the south-west Indian Ocean.
The next storm was Cyclone Edwige, which caused heavy crop damage on Mauritius before looping along the east coast of Madagascar.
In March, both Cyclone Flossy and Tropical Storm Guylianne passed near the Mascarene Islands, producing heavy rainfall and gusty winds.
In early April, Tropical Cyclone Hansella moved over the island of Rodrigues, dropping more rainfall in 24 hours than the average monthly total.
In addition to the named storms, several tropical depressions were tracked, one of which in December dropped heavy rainfall on Réunion.
Bellamine and Chantelle developed in the month of November, with the former crossing the basin from the Australian region as Tropical Cyclone Melanie before it was renamed.
Three months later, Cyclone Melanie formed near the Cocos (Keeling) Islands before crossing into the nearby South-West Indian Ocean basin, where it was renamed Bellamine.
According to the Zambia Meteorological Department, Cyclone Bonita moved off the coast of Angola and entered the South Atlantic Ocean on January 19, 1996.
On the morning of 12 September, a disturbance developed off of Valencia, Spain, dropping heavy rainfall on the coast even without coming ashore.
It made landfall upon the coast of southern Italy on the evening of 13 September with a minimum atmospheric pressure of 990 mbar (29 inHg), dissipating shortly after coming ashore, with a diameter of about 150 km (93 mi).
The third major Mediterranean tropical cyclone of that year formed north of Algeria, and strengthened while sweeping between the Balearic Islands and Sardinia, with an eye-like feature prominent on satellite.
Extreme damage was reported in the Aeolian Islands after the tropical cyclone passed north of Sicily, though the system dissipated while turning southward over Calabria.
Both October systems featured distinctive spiral bands, intense convection, high sustained winds, and abundant precipitation.
