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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 17, 1979
Strongest storm
NameMeli
 • Maximum winds155 km/h (100 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure945 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions9
Tropical cyclones6 official, 2 unofficial
Severe tropical cyclones3
Total fatalitiesUnknown
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

Tropical cyclone scales#Comparisons across basins

Systems

Tropical Cyclone Fay

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

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 southeastward 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

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

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 3 – February 6
Peak intensity95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min);

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

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)

Tropical Cyclone Kerry has the distinction of being the longest lived cyclone in the Australian region. It formed on February 13, 1979, and caused severe damage in the Solomon Islands. It then tracked across the Coral Sea making landfall near Mackay, Queensland on March 1 and dissipated on March 6. Its lowest pressure was 955hPa.[9]

Tropical Cyclone Leslie

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

Leslie existed from February 21 to February 23.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Meli

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 struck eastern Fiji on March 25. The island of Nayau suffered a direct hit and passed close to the islands of Lakeba and Cicia. Fiji suffered tremendous crop losses as a result of the storm.[10][11]

On March 27, 1979, Cyclone Meli brushed Fiji at peak intensity, causing substantial damage to the island. At least 50 people were killed by the storm.[11] Cyclone Meli had previously passed through Tuvalu damaging Funafuti atoll.

Tropical Cyclone Nina

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.[12][13] There were no particular damage reports associated with the storm.[5]

Seasonal effects

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]
Henry January 29 – February 5 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km/h (65 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) Vanuatu Unknown Unknown [5]
Judith February 3 – 6 Category 2 tropical cyclone 95 km/h (60 mph) Not specified Vanuatu Unknown Unknown [5]
Kerry February 13 – 15 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 140 km/h (85 mph) 978 hPa (28.88 inHg)
Leslie February 21 – 23 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km/h (65 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg)
Meli March 24 – 30 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 155 km/h (100 mph) 945 hPa (27.91 inHg)
Nina March 31 – April 1 Category 1 tropical cyclone 75 km/h (45 mph) 994 hPa (29.35 inHg) Vanuatu None None [5]
Season aggregates
8 systems December 27 – April 1 155 km/h (100 mph) 945 hPa (27.91 inHg)

See also

  • 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

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ "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. ^ "1979 Tropical Cyclone (Storm) HENRY". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  7. ^ 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. ^ "1979 Tropical Cyclone UNNAMED". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  9. ^ Bureau of Meteorology (1992). Climate of Queensland, Commonwealth of Australia ISBN 978-0-644-24331-5
  10. ^ "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)
  11. ^ a b "The British Association for Immediate Care: Cyclone". The British Association for Immediate Care. May 26, 2000. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
  12. ^ 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.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  13. ^ "1979 Tropical Cyclone (Gale) UNNAMED". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Retrieved July 28, 2024.
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