| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
|---|---|
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
 Cyclone Fergus | |
| Formed | December 23, 1996 |
| Dissipated | January 1, 1997 |
| (Extratropical after December 29, 1996) | |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 155 km/h (100 mph) 1-minute sustained: 165 km/h (105 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 955 hPa (mbar); 28.2 inHg |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Areas affected | Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand |
| Part of the 1996–97 Australian region and the South Pacific cyclone seasons | |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Fergus impacted the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and New Zealand, while it was active between December 23, 1996 and January 1, 1997. The precursor tropical disturbance was first noted by the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center as it developed within the monsoon trough during December 19. Over the next few days the system moved towards the south-west and became better organized, which prompted the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to start monitoring the system as Tropical Cyclone Fergus during December 23. The system subsequently started moving northwards and performed a small cyclonic loop and passed near the Solomon Island of Guadalcanal during December 25. After looping near the Solomon Islands, Fergus moved south-eastwards and passed in between the island nations of Vanuatu and New Caledonia, before passing near or over Vanuatuan island of Aneityum during December 28. During that day the system peaked as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone with 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 150 km/h (90 mph) and started to transition into an extratropical cyclone. The system subsequently made landfall on New Zealand's North Island during December 30, as a post tropical cyclone, before it was last noted during January 1, 1997.
The system caused two deaths and was responsible for extensive damage to property and crops, on the Solomon Islands of Rennell, Bellona and Guadalcanal. The system was also responsible for extensive damages in New Zealand as a post-tropical cyclone.