1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season

1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season
First storm formed November 15, 1991
Last storm dissipated May 2, 1992
Strongest storm Fran – 920 hPa (mbar), 205 km/h (125 mph) (10-minute sustained)
Total depressions 12
Tropical cyclones 11
Severe tropical cyclones 7
Total fatalities 21
Total damage Unknown
South Pacific cyclone seasons
1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94
Related articles

The 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season saw a significant increase in the amount of tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific to the east of 160°E. The season officially ran from November 1, 1991, to April 30, 1992, however tropical cyclones that developed outside these dates, counted towards the seasonal total. The first tropical cyclone of the season formed on November 13, 1991, while the last tropical cyclone dissipated on May 2, 1992. During the season at least 21 people were killed by tropical cyclones while, Tropical Cyclones Cliff and Innis were the only tropical cyclones not to cause any damage to any country in the Southern Pacific.

During the season, tropical cyclones were monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers (TCWC) in Nadi, Fiji, and in Wellington, New Zealand.[A 1] Whilst tropical cyclones that moved or formed to the west of 160°E were monitored as a part of the Australian region by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Both the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and the Naval Western Oceanography Center (NWOC) issued unofficial warnings within the southern Pacific. The JTWC issued warnings between 160°E and the International Date Line whilst the NWOC issued warnings for tropical cyclones forming between the International Date Line and the coasts of the Americas. Both the JTWC and the NWOC designated tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix with numbers assigned in order to tropical cyclones developing within the whole of the South Pacific. TCWC Nadi and TCWC Wellington both use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, and measure windspeeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC and the NWOC measured sustained winds over a period of one minute and use the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.

Contents

Seasonal summary


Storms

Severe Tropical Cyclone Tia

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration November 13 – November 21
Intensity 140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min),  960 mbar (hPa)

By November 13, Tropical Depression 13P had developed over the Solomon Islands, about 220 km (140 mi) to the east of Honiara. Over the next couple of days, the depression moved towards the west, in an area of weak vertical windshear, before re-curving towards the east. By 0000 UTC (1100 SBT), on November 15, the JTWC reported that the depression had developed into a tropical storm with 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 75 km/h (45 mph). However TCWC Nadi at this time were still treating the system as a weak tropical depression with 10 minute sustained windspeeds of 45 km/h (30 mph). During that day the system developed further, before at 0100 UTC (1200 SBT) on November 16, TCWC Nadi reported that the system had intensified into a category one tropical cyclone and named it Tia. By this time the JTWC, were reporting that Tia had 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 110 km/h (70 mph) before rpeorting 6 hours later that Tia had become equivalent to a category 1 tropical cyclone on the SSHS. Later that day Tia slowed down and undertook a small anticlockwise loop, before starting to move towards the southwest in response to a developing northern steering current. After Tia had started to move towards the west, TCWC Nadi reported that the system had quickly intensified, with mean windspeeds reaching hurricane force by 0000 UTC (1100 SBT), on November 17. During that day Tia moved towards the southwest, before TCWC Nadi reported at 1800 UTC (0400 SBT, November 18), that Tia had intensified into a Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone, as it passed close to the Solomon islands of Tikopia and Anuta. At 0000 UTC (1100 SBT), on November 8, TCWC Nadi then estimated that Tia had peaked with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 140 km/h (85 mph). The JTWC then reported six hours later that Tia had peaked with 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 175 km/h (110 mph), equivalent to a category 2 tropical cyclone on the SSHS.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Val

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration December 4 – December 17
Intensity 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min),  940 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Severe Tropical Cyclone Val

Severe Tropical Cyclone Wasa-Arthur

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration December 3 – December 18
Intensity 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min),  940 mbar (hPa)

On December 3, TCWC Nadi reported that a Depression had developed within a monsoon trough that was located over the Northern Cook Islands. over the next couple of days the depression gradually developed further before on December 5, TCWC Nadi reported that the Depression had developed into a tropical cyclone and named it Wasa.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Betsy

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration January 4 – January 15
Intensity 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min),  940 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression 13P

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration January 16 – January 18
Intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min),  997 mbar (hPa)

On January 16, the NWOC reported that Tropical Depression 13P, had formed about 1000 km (620 mi), to the northeast of Apia, Samoa. Over the next couple of days the depression moved towards the southeast. On January 18, the NWOC reported that the depression had intensified into a tropical storm and reached its peak intensity of 65 km/h (40 mph). The system then moved towards the south and moved through the Cook Islands before becoming extratropical.[1][2]

Tropical Cyclone Cliff

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration February 5 – February 9
Intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min),  980 mbar (hPa)

Late on February 4, TCWC Nadi reported that an area of low pressure had developed within a Convergence zone to the north of the Society islands.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Daman

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration February 13 – February 19
Intensity 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min),  965 mbar (hPa)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Esau

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration February 24 – March 7
Intensity 185 km/h (115 mph) (10-min),  925 mbar (hPa)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Fran

Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 5 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration March 4 – March 17
Intensity 205 km/h (125 mph) (10-min),  920 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Cyclone Gene

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration March 13 – March 19
Intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min),  985 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Cyclone Hettie

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration March 25 – March 29
Intensity 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min),  987 mbar (hPa)

On March 24, TCWC Nadi reported that a shallow low pressure system had developed to the north of the Society Islands.

Tropical Cyclone Innis

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration April 23 – May 2
Intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min),  985 mbar (hPa)

On April 23, TCWC Nadi reported that a depression had developed within the South Pacific convergence zone, between Tokelau and the Cook Islands.[3] Over the next few days, the depression gradually developed further as it moved towards the west, under the influence of an anticyclone that was located near New Zealand.[3] As the depression crossed the international dateline, the JTWC started to monitor the depression on April 27, designating it as 30P.[4] During the next day while approaching the eastern Solomon Islands, both TCWC Nadi and the JTWC reported that the depression intensified into Tropical Cyclone Innis, the former naming it.[3][4] On April 29, the JTWC assessed Innis as intensifying to 1-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), which is a category one tropical cyclone on the SSHS.[4] TCWC Nadi then reported early the next day that Innis reached its peak 10-minute sustained winds of 95 km/h (60 mph) about 180 km (110 mi) east of Gaua in Vanuatu.[3] As Innis peaked, it turned southeastward and passed within 90 km (55 mi) of Pentecost Island in Vanuatu before turning away. Shear increased over the system, and the storm began rapid weakening throughout April 30.[3] Early the next day, TCWC Nadi reported that Innis was no longer classifiable as a tropical cyclone.[3] Subsequently, the remnants accelerated towards the southwest before being captured by a trough of low pressure during May 2.[3] Innis produced gale force winds in both Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, however no deaths or damages were reported to have occurred.[3]

Season effects

This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific to the east of longitude 160°E during the 1990–91 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian Tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, landfalls, deaths, and damages. All data is taken from the warning centers from the region unless otherwise noted.

Storm
Name		 Dates active Storm category
at peak intensity		 Peak 10-min
sustained winds		 Pressure Areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
Tia November 12 – 21 Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone 140 km/h (85 mph) 960 hPa (28.35 inHg) Solomon Islands, Vanuatu Severe None [3]
Val December 3 – 17 Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone 165 km/h (105 mph) 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) Tuvalu, Samoan Islands, Cook Islands &10000000300000000000000$300 million 16 [3]
Wasa — Arthur December 4 – 18 Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone 165 km/h (105 mph) 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) French Polynesia [3]
Betsy January 4 – 15 Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone 165 km/h (105 mph) 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) Vanuatu 2
13P January 16 – 18 Tropical Storm 65 km/h (40 mph) 997 hPa (29.44 inHg) Cook Islands None None [1]
Cliff February 5 – 9 Category 2 Tropical Cyclone 100 km/h (60 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) French Polynesia None None [3]
Daman February 13 – 19 Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone 130 km/h (80 mph) 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) Tokelau, Vanuatu, New Zealand [3]
Esau February 24 – March 7 Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone 185 km/h (115 mph) 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand
Fran March 4 – 17 Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone 205 km/h (125 mph) 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia
New Zealand, Eastern Australia		 [5]
Gene March 13 – 19 Category 2 Tropical Cyclone 95 km/h (60 mph) 985 hPa (29.09 inHg) Cook Islands
Hettie March 23 – 29 Category 1 Tropical Cyclone 85 km/h (50 mph) 987 hPa (29.15 inHg) French Polynesia Minor None [3]
Unnamed April 7 – 8 Tropical Depression 55 km/h (35 mph) Unknown None None None [6]
Innis April 27 – May 6 Category 2 Tropical Cyclone 95 km/h (60 mph) 985 hPa (29.09 inHg) Solomon Islands, Vanuatu None None [3]
Season Aggregates
12 disturbances November 15 – May 6 205 km/h (125 mph) 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) &10000000300000000000000$300 million 18

See also

Notes

  1. ^ TCWC Nadi warned on systems in the South Pacific located from the Equator to 25°S and from 160°E to 120°W. TCWC Wellington warns on systems from 25°S to 40°S and from 160°E to 120°W

References

  1. ^ a b Jack Beven (1992-01-22). "Tropical Cyclone Weekly Summary #24". http://groups.google.com/group/sci.geo.meteorology/browse_thread/thread/4269cb4455030380/a7c285a2c77a5810?. Retrieved 2011-01-23. 
  2. ^ Staff Writer (2002-12-17). "JTWC Tropical Cyclone 13P Best track analysis". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1992/1992s-bsh/bsh131992.txt. Retrieved 2010-12-23. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Gill, Jonathan P. (1994-09-03). "The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season 1991–1992". Fiji Meteorological Service, Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited. Bureau of Meteorology. pp. 181–192. http://www.bom.gov.au/amm/docs/1994/gill.pdf. Retrieved 2010-11-04. 
  4. ^ a b c Staff Writer (2002-12-17). "JTWC Tropical Cyclone 30P (Innis) Best track analysis". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1992/1992s-bsh/bsh301992.txt. Retrieved 2010-12-23. 
  5. ^ Unattributed (2010). "Tropical Cyclone Fran". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 2010-11-04. http://www.webcitation.org/5tyhQGxOv. Retrieved 2010-11-04. 
  6. ^ Beven, Jack (1992-04-20). "Tropical Cyclone Weekly Summary #36". http://groups.google.com/group/sci.geo.meteorology/browse_thread/thread/aa337365547e1e9/ce459175c93bc3a9?. Retrieved 2011-01-23. 

External links

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