1987–88 South Pacific cyclone season

1987–88 South Pacific cyclone season
Season summary map
First system formed December 19, 1987
Last system dissipated April 16, 1988
Strongest storm Anne – 925 hPa (mbar), 185 km/h (115 mph) (10-minute sustained)
Total depressions 6
Tropical cyclones 5
Severe tropical cyclones 3
Total fatalities 5
Total damage > $82 million (1987 USD)
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90
Related articles

The 1987–88 South Pacific cyclone season was a quiet tropical cyclone season with five tropical cyclones and 2 severe tropical cyclones, observed within the South Pacific basin to the east of 160°E.

Seasonal summary

During the middle of December 1987, the South Pacific Convergence Zone started to intensify as upper level westerly winds appeared near the equator, with two depressions forming near Tuvalu towards the end of December.[1] Despite the low-level conditions being ideal for the development of a tropical cyclone at this stage, the surrounding upper-level conditions were unfavourable and the depressions dissipated while still in the low-latitudes.[1]

Storms

Tropical Cyclone 04P

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration December 18 – December 22
Peak intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min)  994 mbar (hPa)

On December 18, the NWOC started to monitor a tropical disturbance, that had developed to the northwest of Tuvalu.[2] Over the next few days, the system gradually developed further before the wind speeds associated with the system peaked during December 20.[2] The NWOC then declared the system, Tropical Cyclone 04P during December 22, before it was last noted during December 24, while located to the northeast of Suva, Fiji.[3][2] Within Tuvalu, some near gale force winds were experienced, while some record waves of 5 metres (16 ft) were recorded close to Funafuti.[4]

Tropical Cyclone Agi

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration January 3 – January 15
Peak intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min)  994 mbar (hPa)

On January 3, TCWC Nadi started to monitor a tropical depression that had developed, about 740 km (460 mi) to the southeast of Honiara on the Solomon Island of Guadalcanal.[5] Over the next few days the system moved towards the south-west before the system moved into the Australian region during January 6, as the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 06P.[5][6] The system was subsequently named Agi by TCWC Port Moresby during January 11, before it moved rapidly towards the southeast during January 13, and started to interact with Cyclone Anne.[7] The system subsequently started to move eastwards and moved back into the South Pacific basin early on January 14, as a category 1 tropical cyclone with estimated 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h (40 mph).[7] However the JTWC estimated that Agi had just weakened into a tropical storm with 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 110 km/h (70 mph) as it re-entered the basin.[8] During that day the system continued weakening before TCWC Nadi and the JTWC declared that it had weakened below tropical cyclone intensity later that day as it merged with Cyclone Anne.[7][8]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Anne

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 5 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration January 5 – January 14
Peak intensity 185 km/h (115 mph) (10-min)  925 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Cyclone Anne

On January 5, 1988, TCWC Nadi started to monitor a tropical depression within the monsoon trough about 540 km (335 mi) to the northeast of Funafuti, Tuvalu.[1][9][5] Over the next two days the system gradually developed further as it was steered towards the south — southwest, before it became equivalent to a tropical storm during January 7 while passing through the Tuvaluan Islands.[1][10] As a result the JTWC designated the system as Tropical Cyclone 07P and started to issue advisories on it, before TCWC Nadi reported early on January 8, that the system had become equivalent to a modern day category 2 tropical cyclone on the Australian Scale and named it Anne[1][5][6] As Anne continued to move south-westwards the cyclone's forward speed increased before it started to rapidly intensify during January 9, with the JTWC reporting during that day that the system had become equivalent to a category 1 hurricane on the SSHS.[1][10] Later that day, TCWC Nadi reported that the system had become equivalent to a category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian Scale, before early the next day, Anne passed through the Santa Cruz Islands and about 55 km (35 mi) to the northwest of Anuta.[1][5]

Later on January 10, after it had become equivalent to a category 4 tropical cyclone on the SSHS, Anne directly passed over Vanautu's Torres Islands and came within 65 km (40 mi) of Ureparapara in the Banks Islands.[1] Fortunately for the rest of Vanuatu though, Anne remained moving towards the south-westwards and only affected Northern Vanautu.[1] Early on January 11, TCWC Nadi reported that Anne had peaked, with estimated 10-minute peak sustained winds near its center of 185 km/h (115 mph), which made it equivalent to a category 4 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale.[1][5] At around the same time the JTWC reported that Anne had peaked with 1-minute peak sustained winds near its center of 260 km/h (160 mph), which made it equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane on the SSHS.[10][6] Over the next day, as the cyclone turned towards the south, Cyclone Anne rapidly weakened as it encountered upper-level vertical windshear and approached New Caledonia.[1] Late on January 12, TCWC Nadi reported that Anne had weakened into a modern day category 2 tropical cyclone, before it made landfall on New Caledonia about 110 km (70 mi) to the north — northwest of Nouméa.[1] After the cyclone had emerged into the Coral Sea, Anne continued to weaken, before it was last noted during January 14 by TCWC Nadi and the JTWC as it weakened into a depression and merged with Cyclone Agi.[1][5][6]

The system was responsible for severe and/or extensive damage within the Solomon Islands Temotu Province, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, while it caused minor damage to houses and cash crops when it moved through the central islands of Tuvalu. Within Temotu there was no official quantitative damage assessment and prompt relief measures were not carried out due to the lack of boats or aircraft and the remoteness of the islands.[11] Despite this Anuta, Utupua, the Duff Islands and the Reef Islands all reported extensive damage to property and crops.[11] Within Vanautu torrential rain, flooding and storm surge caused damage to houses, crops, and property with severe damage recorded on the islands of Ureparapara and the Torres Islands, while extensive damage was recorded on the islands of Vanua Lava and Gaua. Extensive damage was also reported on New Caledonia after it was exposed to a prolonged period of storm force winds, with the eastern and southern coasts particularly affected. The system produced the highest daily rainfall totals since 1951 in several areas on January 12. Two people were killed after they attempted to cross a flooded river during January 13, while about 80 others were injured by the cyclone.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Bola

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration February 23 – March 4
Peak intensity 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min)  940 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Cyclone Bola

On February 24, TCWC Nadi started to monitor a tropical depression, that had developed within the South Pacific Convergence Zone to the north-northeast of Suva, Fiji.[12][13] During that day the system moved towards the southwest, before the JTWC initiated warnings on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 13P.[14] Over the next 2 days the system gradually developed tropical cyclone characteristics as it moved south-westwards and passed to the northwest of Fiji.[12][15] Early on February 26, TCWC Nadi named the system Bola after it had become a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale.[16] The system initially moved south-westwards which seemed to indicate to the Vanuatu Meteorological Service, that the islands of Maewo and Pentecost were in some danger.[16] However as Bola moved further southwards it entered a region of light and variable winds, which along with an area of high pressure in the Tasman Sea blocked Bola's movement southwards.[16] As a result the systems future movement became hard to predict early on February 27 as it became slow moving.[16]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Cilla

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration February 26 – March 3
Peak intensity 120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min)  970 mbar (hPa)

On February 26, TCWC Nadi started to monitor a tropical depression, that had developed within a trough of low pressure about 245 mi (395 km) to the northeast of Avarua on the Cook Island of Rarotonga.[5][17] Over the next couple of days the depression moved southwestwards, before the NPMOC assigned the system the designation 15P and started to issue advisories on it during February 28.[5][3] TCWC Nadi then reported during the next day that 15P had developed into a category one tropical cyclone and named it as Cilla.[5]

Tropical Cyclone Dovi

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration April 8 – April 16
Peak intensity 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min)  975 mbar (hPa)

On April 8, a tropical disturbance developed to the northeast of Vanuatu and started to move towards the southeast.[18] During the next day the system gradually developed gale force wind speeds close to its center, before it was named Dovi by TCWC Nadi later that day, after it had become equivalent into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale.[18][19] At around the same time, the JTWC initiated advisories and started to monitor it as Tropical Cyclone 19P. During the next day the system performed a small anti-clockwise cyclonic loop and started to intensify further while attaining a better cloud organization.[19]

Seasonal effects

Name Dates active Peak classification Sustained
windspeeds		 Pressure Land areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
04P December 19 – 22 Tropical Storm 65 km/h (40 mph) 997 hPa (29.44 inHg) Tuvalu
Agi January 4 – 14 Category 1 tropical cyclone 65 km/h (40 mph) 995 hPa (29.39 inHg) Vanuatu, New Caledonia None None [5]
Anne January 5 – 14 Category 4 severe tropical cyclone 185 km/h (115 mph) 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) Tuvalu, Solomon Islands
Vanuatu, New Caledonia 		Severe 2 [5][20]
Bola February 23 – March 4 Category 4 severe tropical cyclone 165 km/h (105 mph) 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand 82 million 3 [5][21]
Cilla February 26 – March 3 Category 3 tropical cyclone 120 km/h (75 mph) 970 hPa (28.65 inHg) None None None [5]
Dovi April 8 – 16 Category 2 tropical cyclone 110 km/h (70 mph) 975 hPa (28.80 inHg) Vanuatu None None [5][20]
Season Aggregates
6 systems December 19 – April 16 185 km/h (115 mph) 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) >82 million 5

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 Kishore, Satya; Fiji Meteorological Service (1988). DeAngellis, Richard M, ed. Tropical Cyclone Anne (Mariners Weather Log: Volume 32: Issue 3: Summer 1988). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 33-34. ISSN 0025-3367. OCLC 648466886. hdl:2027/uiug.30112104094005. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Western Oceanography Center. "Tropical Cyclone 04P Best Track Analysis". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. 1988 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report (PDF) (Report). United States Navy, United States Air Force. pp. 161–166. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  4. ↑ Barstow, Stephen F; Haug, Ola (November 1994). Wave Climate Of Tuvalu (PDF) (SOPAC Technical Report 203). South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission. p. 13. Archived from the original on April 12, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 RSMC Nadi – Tropical Cyclone Centre, TCWC Brisbane, TCWC Wellington (May 22, 2009). "TCWC Wellington Best Track Data 1967–2006". Fiji Meteorological Service, Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited, Australian Bureau of Meteorology. United States: International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. Chapter IV — Summary of South Pacific and South Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclones (PDF) (1988 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report). United States Navy, United States Air Force. pp. 160–167. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Foley, G R. "The Australian Tropical Cyclone Season 1987-88" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine (Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal) (Australian Bureau of Meteorology) (36): 205–212. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. "Tropical Cyclone 06P (Agi) best track analysis". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  9. ↑ Darwin Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (1988). "January 1988" (PDF). Darwin Tropical Diagnostic Statement (Australian Bureau of Meteorology) 7 (1): 2. ISSN 1321-4233. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. "Tropical Cyclone 07P (Anne) best track analysis". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Radford, Deirdre A; Blong, Russell J (1992). Natural Disasters in the Solomon Islands. Volumes 1 and 2 (2 ed.). The Australian International Development Assistance Bureau. pp. 125–126. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 18, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Prasad, Rajendra; Fiji Meteorological Service (1988). DeAngellis, Richard M, ed. Hurricane Alley: Tropical Cyclone Bola (Mariners Weather Log: Summer 1988) 32 (3). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. pp. 34–36. ISSN 0025-3367. OCLC 648466886. hdl:2027/uiug.30112104094005.
  13. ↑ Sinclair, Mark R (March 20, 1993). "A Diagnostic Study of the Extratropical Precipitation Resulting from Tropical Cyclone Bola" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review (American Meteorological Society) 121 (10): 2690. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1993)121<2690:ADSOTE>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  14. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Western Oceanography Center (1989). 4. Summary of South Pacific and South Indian Tropical Cyclones (PDF) (Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: 1988). United States Navy, United States Airforce. pp. 161 – 167. Archived from the original on April 9, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  15. ↑ Barstow, Stephen F; Haug, Ola (1994). "Wave Climate of Fiji". South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Longworth, W. Mike (1988). Final report on Tropical cyclone Bola: 26 February - 4 March, 1988 (PDF) (Climatological Publication No. 23). Vanuatu Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on April 3, 2014.
  17. ↑ Singh, Sudha; Kishore, Satya; Fiji Meteorological Service (1988). DeAngellis, Richard M, ed. Tropical Cyclone Cilla (Mariners Weather Log: Autumn 1988) 32 (4). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Darwin Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (1988). "April 1988" (PDF). Darwin Tropical Diagnostic Statement (Australian Bureau of Meteorology) 7 (4): 2–3. ISSN 1321-4233. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Kishore, Satya; Fiji Meteorological Service (1988). DeAngellis, Richard M, ed. Hurricane Alley: Tropical Cyclone Dovi (Mariners Weather Log: Fall 1988) 32 (3). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. pp. 36–37. ISSN 0025-3367. OCLC 648466886. hdl:2027/uiug.30112104094005.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Vanuatu Meteorological Service. Tropical cyclones in Vanuatu: 1847 to 1994 (PDF) (Report). Pacific Disaster Net. Archived from the original on 2010-11-18. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
  21. ↑ O'Loughlin, Colin L. (1991). "Priority Setting for Government Investment in Forestry Conservation Schemes — An Example from New Zealand" (PDF). USDA Forest Service. Retrieved June 11, 2008.

External links