| First storm formed | January 7, 2000 |
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| Last storm dissipated | April 16, 2000 |
| Strongest storm | Kim – 955 hPa (mbar), 175 km/h (110 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| Tropical cyclones | 6 |
| Severe tropical cyclones | 4 |
| Total fatalities | At least 1 indirect |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| South Pacific cyclone seasons 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02 |
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| Related articles | |
The 1999-00 South Pacific tropical cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation and ran from November 1, 1999 to April 30, 2000 in the South Pacific.
It should also be noted that the regional tropical cyclone operational plan defines a "tropical cyclone year" separately from a "tropical cyclone season", with the "tropical cyclone year" for this season lasting from July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000.
All of the six named storms affected land in some way, but no major damage was reported from any of the storms.
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| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |||
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| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | January 7 – January 10 | ||
| Intensity | 150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min), 964 mbar (hPa) | ||
A disturbance was identified on 3 January at 0600 (UTC) near Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. The storm was difficult to locate the general centre for the next couple of days, but on 6 January, it became more organised, while displaying midget characteristics. On 7 January at 2100 (UTC), it was named Tropical Cyclone Iris, located 330 km (205 mi) northwest of Port Vila, moving southeast. In Vila, 110 km (70 mi) away from Iris's centre, recorded winds of only up to 20 knots (37 km/h), explaining the very small size of the cyclone. Iris intensified with 10-min winds increasing to 60 knots (110 km/h) on 8 January at 1200 (UTC). JTWC's estimated 1-min winds was 65 knots (120 km/h). There were some indications that Iris could be far more intense than what the warning centres estimated, mainly due to its small size. Iris accelerated eastward, leaving Vanuatu. On 9 January, Iris began its weakening trend, while moving closer to Fiji. Iris was downgraded to a depression on 10 January, just 48 hours after it had reached its peak intensity. The final warning placed the centre on the Dateline 150 nmi (280 km) southeast of Fiji.
Fresh to strong winds and very rough seas were experienced over the western and southern parts of Fiji. Overall damage was minimal. Cyclone Iris was most notable for its rapid strengthening in its early stages, followed by its rapid decay.[1]
| Tropical depression (Australian scale) | |||
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| Duration | January 17 – January 23 | ||
| Intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min), 998 mbar (hPa) | ||
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |||
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| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | January 24 – January 27 | ||
| Intensity | 120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min), 972 mbar (hPa) | ||
A disturbance was first identified over northern parts of Vanuatu on 19 January. It developed slowly, but deepened quickly on 22 January, and advisories were issued on the system on 23 January. It moved southward and was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Jo on 24 January at 0300 (UTC). Jo moved to the south-east and attained storm force winds 15 hours after being named. The cyclone reached its peak intensity on 26 January at 0000 (UTC) located 650 km (400 mi) south of Nadi, with 10-min average winds of 60 knots (110 km/h). JTWC's peak 1-min average winds were 65 knots (120 km/h). Jo moved further to the south-east, and moved close enough to affect Fiji. Gusts to 50 knots (93 km/h) were recorded on Viti Levu on Fiji, even though Jo was about 445 km (275 mi) away from the Fiji. Flash flooding was reported, but there was no major river flooding. Cyclone Jo was declared extratropical on 28 January at 0600 (UTC) when located more than 1,000 nmi (1,900 km) east of North Island in New Zealand.[1]
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |||
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| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | February 24 – February 29 | ||
| Intensity | 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min), 935 mbar (hPa) | ||
Cyclone Kim formed south east of French Polynesia on February 23, 2000. It initially developed little but late on 24 February, the depression developed rapidly, and the storm reached tropical storm strength at 1800 (UTC), named Tropical Cyclone Kim. It was located about 75 km (45 mi) west of Rikitea or about 125 km (75 mi) southeast of Mururoa. Cyclone Kim reached hurricane strength on 25 February, only 18 hours after being named, while moving to the south-west. The storm reached its peak intensity of 80 knots (150 km/h) on 26 February at 1200 (UTC), located more than 1295 km (805 mi) east of Tahiti. Minimum pressure at this time was 955 mbar. The estimated 1-min average winds from NPMOC was 100 knots (190 km/h). Kim gradually weakened over cooler waters, still moving to the south-west. Cyclone Kim became extratropical south of Tahiti on February 29 at 0600 (UTC).
Damage from Kim was minimal from Rikitea, since it was only a depression at the time. The island recorded 10-min average winds of 27 knots (50 km/h), with a peak gust of 52 knots (96 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mbar. As a hurricane, the island of Rapa Iti recorded a gust of 74 knots (137 km/h), when Kim was 150 km (90 mi) away from the island. A pressure of 995.8 mbar was recorded. Overall, damage in French Polynesia was minor.[2]
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |||
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| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | March 6 – March 8 | ||
| Intensity | 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min), 985 mbar (hPa) | ||
Tropical Depression 14F was first identified on 4 March at 0600 UTC, almost stationary, and located 110 km (70 mi) west-northwest of French Polynesia. The depression drifted south-westward in the next 24 hours. The first gale warning was issued at 0000 UTC on the 5th, located 555 km (345 mi) west-southwest of Tahiti. The depression moved through the southern Cook Islands and slowly developed, but suddenly developed explosively on 6 March at 0600 UTC while located near Rarotonga. It was named Leo at 1200 UTC on the 6th. It accelerated to the south-southwest and reached a peak intensity of 50 knots (93 km/h) on the 7th at 0000 UTC. After 1800 UTC, Leo recurved to the southeast and became extratropical six hours later. Although, Leo moved over the island of Mangaia, any damage was minor.[3]
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |||
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| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | March 8 – March 11 | ||
| Intensity | 140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min), 960 mbar (hPa) | ||
As Leo was developing, a new disturbance formed south of Apia in Western Samoa. The first gale warning was issued on 7 March as it moved closer to northern Tonga. Wind warnings were issued for some islands in Tonga including Vavau, Haapai and Tongatapu. The storm rapidly developed on 8 March at 0600 UTC, and was named Tropical Cyclone Mona six hours later, while located 75 km (45 mi) west of Haapai and moving slowly southward. A storm warning was put for the whole Tongatapu Group on the 8th. An eye developed on 9 March, and Mona was upgraded to hurricane intensity at 0600 UTC, located 55 km (35 mi) west of Tongatapu. Mona moved south-southeastward and accelerated. It reached an intensity of 75 knots (139 km/h) on 10 March, 370 km (230 mi) southeast of Tongatapu. NPMOC's 1-min winds were estimated at 80 knots (150 km/h). Minimum pressure of Mona was 965 mbar. It began to weaken rapidly, as it sped off southwards, and became extratropical on 11 March at 1200 UTC.
In the Vavau and Haapai groups, there was damage to crops, particularly to banana and coconut plantations. There was moderate damage to houses and school buildings in Tongatapu. The unofficial damage assessment, according to the Tongan National Disaster Management Office, totalled Tongan $6 million. A police patrol boat sank off Eua Island in the Tongatapu group.[3]
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |||
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| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | April 15 – April 16 | ||
| Intensity | 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min), 990 mbar (hPa) | ||
The sixth and last cyclone was first identified northeast of Fiji on 12 April. It moved to the south-west while continually strengthening. By the 15 April the potential for development to a cyclone was considered "high" by RSMC Nadi. At 1700 UTC, it was named Tropical Cyclone Neil, located 150 km (90 mi) southeast of Kadavu. It moved slowly southward, but on 16 April at 1200 UTC, it was downgraded to a tropical depression.
Damage from Neil was minimal. Kadavu and Ono-i-Lau in Fiji reported gales from Neil, while torrential rain was experienced over some parts of Fiji. There was one fatality due to drowning, but not directly associated with the cyclone.[4]
South Pacific tropical cyclones are usually assigned names by the RSMC in Nadi, or Fiji Meteorological Service.[5] As soon as a tropical depression becomes a tropical cyclone it is named by the warning centre having responsibility for it at that time. If a tropical depression becomes a tropical cyclone in the Wellington RSMC area of responsibility, MetService, in consultation with RSMC Nadi, will name the cyclone by using the next name from the list.[6]
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