PANCHO
1996-97 season · AU199697_09U
History
Severe Tropical Cyclone Pancho–Helinda was a powerful and long-lived storm that developed during the 1996–97 Australian region cyclone season. The system originated from an area of monsoonal convection on 17 January 1997, north of the Cocos Islands, and was officially named Pancho by the Bureau of Meteorology on 20 January after tracking southward and then southwestward while gaining organisation.
Pancho underwent rapid intensification and reached its peak on 21–22 January 1997 as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone, with a minimum central pressure estimated between 915 and 925 hPa and sustained 10-minute winds of approximately 215 km/h. Shortly after peaking, the storm crossed west of the 90°E meridian into the Southwest Indian Ocean basin, where it was renamed Helinda by the Mauritius Meteorological Service.
Rather than dissipating, the weakening system followed a looping, convoluted path and by late January had curved back toward the northwest, re-entering the Australian region. It re-intensified to Category 4 intensity over warm open waters before finally weakening and dissipating in early February 1997. Throughout its entire lifecycle, the cyclone remained well away from any populated coastlines and made no landfall, causing no reported casualties or structural damage on land. The storm is notable for its complex track, its crossing of an international basin boundary, and for sustaining a coherent circulation through multiple phases of intensification.
Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia
View full track data (148 observations)
| Date/Time (UTC) | Category | Position | Pressure | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-01-18 07:00:00 | 1 | -9.6, 96.2 | 1006 hPa | 10 km/h |
| 1997-01-18 12:00:00 | 1 | -9.5, 96.1 | 1005 hPa | 10 km/h |
| 1997-01-18 18:00:00 | 1 | -9.5, 95.9 | 1005 hPa | 10 km/h |
| 1997-01-19 00:00:00 | 1 | -9.4, 95.8 | 1004 hPa | 10 km/h |
| 1997-01-19 06:00:00 | 1 | -9.3, 95.6 | 1004 hPa | 10 km/h |
| 1997-01-19 07:00:00 | 1 | -9.3, 95.6 | 1004 hPa | 10 km/h |
| 1997-01-19 12:00:00 | 1 | -9.5, 95.9 | 1002 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 1997-01-19 13:00:00 | 1 | -9.5, 95.9 | 1002 hPa | 13 km/h |
| 1997-01-19 18:00:00 | 1 | -9.6, 96.0 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-01-19 19:00:00 | 1 | -9.6, 96.0 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-01-20 00:00:00 | 1 | -9.8, 96.2 | 995 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 1997-01-20 01:00:00 | 1 | -9.8, 96.2 | 995 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 1997-01-20 06:00:00 | 1 | -10.0, 96.3 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-20 07:00:00 | 1 | -10.0, 96.3 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-20 10:00:00 | 1 | -10.2, 96.2 | 985 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1997-01-20 12:00:00 | 1 | -10.4, 96.3 | 981 hPa | 28 km/h |
| 1997-01-20 13:00:00 | 1 | -10.5, 96.3 | 980 hPa | 28 km/h |
| 1997-01-20 16:00:00 | 1 | -10.8, 96.2 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-20 18:00:00 | 1 | -11.0, 96.0 | 968 hPa | 33 km/h |
| 1997-01-20 19:00:00 | 1 | -11.1, 95.9 | 965 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1997-01-20 22:00:00 | 1 | -11.3, 95.7 | 955 hPa | 41 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 00:00:00 | 1 | -11.4, 95.5 | 945 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 01:00:00 | 1 | -11.5, 95.4 | 940 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 04:00:00 | 1 | -11.7, 95.1 | 925 hPa | 54 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 06:00:00 | 1 | -11.8, 94.9 | 918 hPa | 57 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 07:00:00 | 1 | -11.9, 94.8 | 915 hPa | 59 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 10:00:00 | 1 | -12.2, 94.5 | 915 hPa | 59 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 12:00:00 | 1 | -12.3, 94.2 | 915 hPa | 59 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 13:00:00 | 1 | -12.4, 94.1 | 915 hPa | 59 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 16:00:00 | 1 | -12.6, 93.6 | 915 hPa | 59 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 18:00:00 | 1 | -12.7, 93.3 | 915 hPa | 59 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 19:00:00 | 1 | -12.7, 93.1 | 915 hPa | 59 km/h |
| 1997-01-21 22:00:00 | 1 | -12.8, 92.6 | 915 hPa | 59 km/h |
| 1997-01-22 00:00:00 | 1 | -12.9, 92.3 | 918 hPa | 57 km/h |
| 1997-01-22 01:00:00 | 1 | -12.9, 92.1 | 920 hPa | 57 km/h |
| 1997-01-22 04:00:00 | 1 | -13.0, 91.7 | 925 hPa | 54 km/h |
| 1997-01-22 06:00:00 | 1 | -13.1, 91.4 | 928 hPa | 51 km/h |
| 1997-01-22 07:00:00 | 1 | -13.1, 91.3 | 930 hPa | 51 km/h |
| 1997-01-22 10:00:00 | 1 | -13.1, 91.0 | 935 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-01-22 13:00:00 | 1 | -13.2, 90.7 | 940 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-01-22 16:00:00 | 1 | -13.2, 90.5 | 945 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 1997-01-22 19:00:00 | 1 | -13.2, 90.3 | 945 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 1997-01-22 22:00:00 | 1 | -13.3, 90.1 | 945 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 1997-01-23 01:00:00 | 1 | -13.3, 89.9 | 940 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-01-23 04:00:00 | 1 | -13.4, 89.7 | 935 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-01-23 07:00:00 | 1 | -13.4, 89.7 | 935 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-01-23 10:00:00 | 1 | -13.5, 89.7 | 940 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-01-23 13:00:00 | 1 | -13.6, 89.8 | 945 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 1997-01-23 16:00:00 | 1 | -13.7, 89.9 | 950 hPa | 44 km/h |
| 1997-01-23 19:00:00 | 1 | -13.9, 90.0 | 955 hPa | 41 km/h |
| 1997-01-23 22:00:00 | 1 | -14.0, 90.1 | 960 hPa | 39 km/h |
| 1997-01-24 01:00:00 | 1 | -14.1, 90.2 | 970 hPa | 33 km/h |
| 1997-01-24 04:00:00 | 1 | -14.1, 90.2 | 980 hPa | 28 km/h |
| 1997-01-24 10:00:00 | 1 | -14.1, 90.2 | 985 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1997-01-24 16:00:00 | 1 | -14.2, 90.3 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-24 22:00:00 | 1 | -14.3, 90.4 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-25 04:00:00 | 1 | -14.4, 90.5 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-25 10:00:00 | 1 | -14.5, 90.6 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-25 12:00:00 | 1 | -14.5, 90.6 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-25 16:00:00 | 1 | -14.6, 90.6 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-25 18:00:00 | 1 | -14.6, 90.6 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-25 22:00:00 | 1 | -14.7, 90.7 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-26 00:00:00 | 1 | -14.7, 90.7 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-26 01:00:00 | 1 | -14.7, 90.7 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-26 04:00:00 | 1 | -14.6, 90.4 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-26 06:00:00 | 1 | -14.5, 90.5 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-26 07:00:00 | 1 | -14.4, 90.6 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-26 10:00:00 | 1 | -14.2, 90.6 | 995 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 1997-01-26 12:00:00 | 1 | -14.0, 90.6 | 996 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 1997-01-26 16:00:00 | 1 | -13.7, 90.6 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-01-26 18:00:00 | 1 | -13.6, 90.6 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-01-26 22:00:00 | 1 | -13.3, 90.6 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-01-27 00:00:00 | 1 | -13.2, 90.6 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-01-27 04:00:00 | 1 | -12.9, 90.6 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-01-27 06:00:00 | 1 | -12.7, 90.6 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-01-27 07:00:00 | 1 | -12.6, 90.6 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-01-27 10:00:00 | 1 | -12.0, 90.9 | 998 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-01-27 12:00:00 | 1 | -11.7, 91.0 | 997 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-01-27 16:00:00 | 1 | -11.2, 91.1 | 995 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 1997-01-27 18:00:00 | 1 | -10.9, 91.2 | 993 hPa | 18 km/h |
| 1997-01-27 22:00:00 | 1 | -10.4, 91.3 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-28 00:00:00 | 1 | -10.3, 91.4 | 988 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-01-28 04:00:00 | 1 | -10.0, 91.5 | 985 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 1997-01-28 06:00:00 | 1 | -10.0, 91.5 | 985 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 1997-01-28 10:00:00 | 1 | -10.0, 91.6 | 985 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 1997-01-28 12:00:00 | 1 | -10.0, 91.7 | 983 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1997-01-28 16:00:00 | 1 | -10.1, 91.9 | 980 hPa | 28 km/h |
| 1997-01-28 18:00:00 | 1 | -10.2, 92.1 | 980 hPa | 28 km/h |
| 1997-01-28 22:00:00 | 1 | -10.3, 92.4 | 980 hPa | 28 km/h |
| 1997-01-29 00:00:00 | 1 | -10.5, 92.6 | 976 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-29 01:00:00 | 1 | -10.6, 92.7 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-29 04:00:00 | 1 | -11.0, 92.9 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-29 06:00:00 | 1 | -11.3, 93.0 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-29 07:00:00 | 1 | -11.4, 93.1 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-29 10:00:00 | 1 | -11.8, 93.1 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-29 12:00:00 | 1 | -12.1, 93.0 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-29 16:00:00 | 1 | -12.6, 92.9 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-29 18:00:00 | 1 | -12.8, 92.8 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-29 22:00:00 | 1 | -13.3, 92.6 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-30 00:00:00 | 1 | -13.6, 92.5 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-30 01:00:00 | 1 | -13.7, 92.4 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-30 04:00:00 | 1 | -14.0, 92.1 | 975 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-30 06:00:00 | 1 | -14.1, 91.8 | 973 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-01-30 10:00:00 | 1 | -14.4, 91.2 | 970 hPa | 33 km/h |
| 1997-01-30 12:00:00 | 1 | -14.5, 90.9 | 970 hPa | 33 km/h |
| 1997-01-30 16:00:00 | 1 | -14.7, 90.4 | 970 hPa | 33 km/h |
| 1997-01-30 18:00:00 | 1 | -14.8, 90.1 | 968 hPa | 33 km/h |
| 1997-01-30 22:00:00 | 1 | -15.0, 89.6 | 965 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1997-01-31 00:00:00 | 1 | -15.1, 89.3 | 965 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1997-01-31 04:00:00 | 1 | -15.2, 88.8 | 965 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1997-01-31 06:00:00 | 1 | -15.2, 88.6 | 965 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1997-01-31 07:00:00 | 1 | -15.2, 88.5 | 965 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1997-01-31 10:00:00 | 1 | -15.2, 88.1 | 960 hPa | 39 km/h |
| 1997-01-31 12:00:00 | 1 | -15.2, 87.9 | 960 hPa | 39 km/h |
| 1997-01-31 16:00:00 | 1 | -15.1, 87.5 | 960 hPa | 39 km/h |
| 1997-01-31 18:00:00 | 1 | -15.1, 87.3 | 958 hPa | 39 km/h |
| 1997-01-31 22:00:00 | 1 | -15.1, 86.9 | 955 hPa | 41 km/h |
| 1997-02-01 00:00:00 | 1 | -15.0, 86.7 | 951 hPa | 44 km/h |
| 1997-02-01 01:00:00 | 1 | -15.0, 86.6 | 950 hPa | 44 km/h |
| 1997-02-01 04:00:00 | 1 | -15.0, 86.3 | 945 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 1997-02-01 06:00:00 | 1 | -15.0, 86.1 | 941 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-02-01 07:00:00 | 1 | -15.0, 86.0 | 940 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-02-01 10:00:00 | 1 | -15.1, 85.7 | 940 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-02-01 12:00:00 | 1 | -15.2, 85.6 | 940 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-02-01 16:00:00 | 1 | -15.4, 85.3 | 940 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-02-01 18:00:00 | 1 | -15.5, 85.2 | 938 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-02-01 22:00:00 | 1 | -15.6, 85.0 | 935 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-02-02 00:00:00 | 1 | -15.7, 84.9 | 938 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-02-02 01:00:00 | 1 | -15.8, 84.9 | 940 hPa | 49 km/h |
| 1997-02-02 04:00:00 | 1 | -16.0, 84.9 | 945 hPa | 46 km/h |
| 1997-02-02 06:00:00 | 1 | -16.2, 85.0 | 948 hPa | 44 km/h |
| 1997-02-02 07:00:00 | 1 | -16.3, 85.0 | 950 hPa | 44 km/h |
| 1997-02-02 10:00:00 | 1 | -16.6, 85.2 | 955 hPa | 41 km/h |
| 1997-02-02 12:00:00 | 1 | -16.7, 85.3 | 958 hPa | 39 km/h |
| 1997-02-02 16:00:00 | 1 | -17.0, 85.5 | 965 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1997-02-02 18:00:00 | 1 | -17.1, 85.6 | 965 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1997-02-02 22:00:00 | 1 | -17.3, 85.7 | 965 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1997-02-03 00:00:00 | 1 | -17.4, 85.8 | 966 hPa | 36 km/h |
| 1997-02-03 04:00:00 | 1 | -17.6, 85.9 | 970 hPa | 33 km/h |
| 1997-02-03 06:00:00 | 1 | -17.7, 86.0 | 971 hPa | 33 km/h |
| 1997-02-03 12:00:00 | 1 | -17.8, 86.2 | 976 hPa | 31 km/h |
| 1997-02-03 16:00:00 | 1 | -17.9, 86.4 | 980 hPa | 28 km/h |
| 1997-02-03 18:00:00 | 1 | -18.0, 86.5 | 981 hPa | 26 km/h |
| 1997-02-04 00:00:00 | 1 | -18.1, 86.8 | 986 hPa | 23 km/h |
| 1997-02-04 04:00:00 | 1 | -18.2, 87.0 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-02-04 06:00:00 | 1 | -18.3, 86.8 | 990 hPa | 21 km/h |
| 1997-02-04 12:00:00 | 1 | -18.6, 86.0 | 993 hPa | 15 km/h |
| 1997-02-05 04:00:00 | 1 | -19.4, 84.1 | 1000 hPa | 13 km/h |