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1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season

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1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedDecember 27, 1978
Last system dissipatedApril 1, 1979
Strongest storm
NameMeli
 • Maximum winds155 km/h (100 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure945 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions8
Tropical cyclones6 official, 2 unofficial
Severe tropical cyclones3
Total fatalities56
Total damageUnknown
Related articles
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81

The 1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season ran year-round from July 1 to June 30. Tropical cyclone activity in the Southern Hemisphere reaches its peak from mid-February to early March.

Summary

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Tropical cyclone scales#Comparisons across basins

Systems

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Tropical Cyclone Fay

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Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationDecember 27 – December 31
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min);
980 hPa (mbar)

The precursor to Tropical Cyclone Fay can be traced back to an area of disturbed weather about 400 mi (640 km) to the west of Tuvalu early on December 25.[1] As it moved southeastward, it intensified into a tropical cyclone by the next day, before moving close to Rotuma by December 28 and reaching peak intensity the following day.[1][2] The cyclone then moved through Fiji, where sustained winds were pushing at 60 kn (110 km/h; 69 mph) with hurricane-force wind gusts. Once through the islands, Fay accelerated southwards, and was last noted on December 31 as it was becoming extratropical northeast of New Zealand.[3][2]

Weather stations at Undu Point and Savusavu recorded winds of 60 kn (110 km/h; 69 mph) as Fay passed through Fiji. Some of the Lau Islands suffered coastal damage from storm surge.[1]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gordon

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Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 3 – January 9 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min);
965 hPa (mbar)

Gordon was first tracked on January 3, when it was about 90 mi (140 km) to the north-northeast of the island of Tokelau. As it moved in a general southwestward direction, it strengthened into a tropical cyclone by the next day, before becoming a severe tropical cyclone by January 6. Then, it crossed to the north of Vanuatu with winds of 70 kn (130 km/h; 81 mph), before weakening into a tropical cyclone by January 7. It later approached New Caledonia while continuing to weaken on January 8, before it turned to the west, and subsequently exited the basin on January 9.[4] Severe damage was reported in Vanuatu.[5]

Tropical Cyclone Henry

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Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 29 – February 5
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min);
980 hPa (mbar)

Forming to the north of Vanuatu on January 29, Henry strengthened into a tropical cyclone on January 31, and took a southward track before becoming an extratropical cyclone and moving over New Zealand by February 4.[6] It had little affect to land areas in Vanuatu.[5]

Tropical Cyclone Judith

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Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 3 – February 6
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min);
988 hPa (mbar)

Originating in the Australian region, Judith became a tropical cyclone as it moved close to Vanuatu, before turning west and re-entering the region by February 6.[7][8] Like Henry, it also had little affect to land areas in Vanuatu.[5]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Kerry

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Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 13 – February 15 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min);
978 hPa (mbar)

Kerry's origins can be traced back to a low that became evident about 485 miles (781 km) to the southeast of Kiribati on February 7. By February 10, some cyclonic curvature could be detected in the surrounding convection, and by February 13, it had strengthened into a category 1 tropical cyclone. Moving generally west-southwest, it further strengthened into a category 2 tropical cyclone by 17:00 UTC on the same day, before fully becoming a severe tropical cyclone by February 14.[9][10] As it moved closer near the Solomon Islands, it lashed Ulawa and neighboring islands, turning southwest and missing Makira and Guadalcanal, before skirting near Bellona.[11] The cyclone then subsequently exited the basin and into the Australian region on February 15.[10]

Severe damage was reported over the Solomon Islands, with monetary damages of SI$200 thousand. Over 22,000 people were homeless after the cyclone. 4 people were reported dead.[11]

Tropical Cyclone Leslie

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Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 21 – February 23
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min);
980 hPa (mbar)

Forming to the south of Samoa on February 21, Leslie intensified into a category 2 tropical cyclone while rapidly moving southeastward. After crossing the 30th parallel south, Leslie became extratropical.[7][12] There were no reports of damage associated with the storm.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Meli

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Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 24 – March 31
Peak intensity155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min);
945 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Meli first developed as a tropical depression between Fiji and Futuna on March 23. It moved east then southeast while it strengthened into a tropical cyclone, before turning to the west by March 26 as it developed an eye.[1][13] It moved through Fiji throughout March 26 into 27, passing north of Lakeba and very close to Nayau, then passing very close to Suva at around 09:00 UTC on March 27.[1] Once Meli cleared Fiji, it recurved to the southeast and weakened, and by March 30, Meli had reportedly weakened to a gale-force cyclone and was turning extratropical.[14]

Meli had previously passed through Tuvalu, damaging Funafuti atoll.[citation needed] Meli then caused severe damage over the islands of Moala, Kadavu, Ono, and the central parts of the Lau Group.[1] The island of Nayau suffered a direct hit from Meli. As a result, Fiji suffered tremendous crop losses.[15] At least 11 ships were lost or damaged during the storm, with one of the ships being the Korean fishing vessel NAM HAE 202 with 20 crewmen onboard. A freighter also ran aground off the northwest coast of Vatulele after departing from Suva late on March 27 to ride out the storm.[14] 52 people were killed by the storm,[1] with 31 in Kadavu, and 14 in Nayau. A man and a young woman drowned after their yacht capsized under 90 kn (170 km/h; 100 mph) winds.[14]

Tropical Cyclone Nina

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Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 30 – April 1
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min);
994 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Nina formed near Vanuatu on March 31, and took a curving track to the southeast, dissipating near Tonga by March 3.[16][17] There were no particular damage reports associated with the storm.[5]

Seasonal effects

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Name Dates Peak intensity Areas affected Damage
(USD) 		Deaths Refs
Category Wind speed Pressure
Fay December 27 – 31 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km/h (65 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) Fiji Unknown Unknown [1]
Gordon January 3 – 9 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 130 km/h (80 mph) 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) Vanuatu, New Caledonia Unknown Unknown [5][4]
Henry January 29 – February 5 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km/h (65 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) Vanuatu, New Zealand Unknown Unknown [5][6]
Judith February 3 – 6 Category 1 tropical cyclone 75 km/h (45 mph) 988 hPa (29.18 inHg) Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia Unknown Unknown [5][8]
Kerry February 13 – 15 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 140 km/h (85 mph) 978 hPa (28.88 inHg) Solomon Islands 4 [11]
Leslie February 21 – 23 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km/h (65 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) Tonga None None [12]
Meli March 24 – 30 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 155 km/h (100 mph) 945 hPa (27.91 inHg) Tuvalu, Samoa, American Samoa, Fiji Unknown 52 [1][13][14]
Nina March 30 – April 1 Category 1 tropical cyclone 75 km/h (45 mph) 994 hPa (29.35 inHg) Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga None None [5][17]
Season aggregates
8 systems December 27, 1978 – April 1, 1979 155 km/h (100 mph) 945 hPa (27.91 inHg) 56

See also

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  • Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1978, 1979
  • Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1978, 1979
  • Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1978, 1979
  • North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1978, 1979

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Krishna, R (October 1981). "1978-79 Cyclone Season". Tropical Cyclones in Fiji, November 1969 to April 1980 (Report). Nadi, Fiji: Fiji Meteorological Service. pp. 10–13.
  2. ^ a b "1978 Tropical Cyclone (Storm) FAY". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  3. ^ DeAngelis, Dick (March 1979). "Hurricane Alley: Southern Hemisphere, November and December". Mariners Weather Log. Vol. 23, no. 2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://books.google.com/books?id=enMTAAAAYAAJ.
  4. ^ a b "1979 Tropical Cyclone GORDON". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Tropical Cyclones in Vanuatu - 1847 to 1994 (PDF) (Report). Port Vila, Vanuatu: Vanuatu Meteorological Service. May 19, 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "1979 Tropical Cyclone (Storm) HENRY". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  7. ^ a b DeAngelis, Dick (May 1979). "Hurricane Alley: Australia - South Pacific, January and February 1979". Mariners Weather Log. Vol. 23, no. 3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://books.google.com/books?id=enMTAAAAYAAJ.
  8. ^ a b "1979 Tropical Cyclone UNNAMED". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  9. ^ Severe Tropical Cyclone Kerry (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "1979 Severe Tropical Cyclone KERRY". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c Radford, Deirdre A; Blong, Russell J (1992). Natural Disasters in the Solomon Islands (PDF). Vol. 1 (2 ed.). The Australian International Development Assistance Bureau. pp. 96–101. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 2, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "1979 Tropical Cyclone (Storm) LESLIE". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "1979 Tropical Cyclone MELI". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d DeAngelis, Dick (July 1979). "Hurricane Alley: Southern Hemisphere, March and April 1979". Mariners Weather Log. Vol. 23, no. 4. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://books.google.com/books?id=enMTAAAAYAAJ.
  15. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). gns.cri.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ DeAngelis, Dick (May–June 1980). "Hurricane Alley: Global Tropical Cyclones, March and April 1979". Mariners Weather Log. Vol. 24, no. 3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://books.google.com/books?id=enMTAAAAYAAJ.
  17. ^ a b "1979 Tropical Cyclone (Gale) UNNAMED". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved July 28, 2024.
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