1979–80 South Pacific cyclone season
1979–80 South Pacific cyclone season
| |
| Season summary map |
| First system formed |
December 9, 1979 |
| Last system dissipated |
April 8, 1980 |
| Strongest storm1 |
– (10-minute sustained) |
| Total depressions |
11 official 2 unofficial |
| Tropical cyclones |
11 |
| Total fatalities |
Unknown |
| Total damage |
Unknown |
| 1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure |
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1982–83 |
| Related articles |
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The 1979–80 South Pacific cyclone season saw mostly weak systems.
Storms
Tropical Cyclone Ofa
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
|
|
| Duration |
9 December – 15 December |
| Peak intensity |
100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min) 980 hPa (mbar) |
Ofa was classified on December 9. For several days it slowly deepened and on December 12 attained peak intensity while moving eastward. Three days later Ofa was no more.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Peni
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
1 January – 6 January |
| Peak intensity |
120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min) 970 hPa (mbar) |
Peni existed from 1 January to 6 January.
Tropical Cyclone Paul
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
7 January (entered basin) – 7 January (exited basin) |
| Peak intensity |
110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min) 980 hPa (mbar) |
Paul entered the South Pacific on January 7.
Cyclone Rae
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical depression (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
February 2 – February 7 |
| Peak intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min) 998 hPa (mbar) |
Rae lasted five days from February 2 to 7. It remained weak.
Cyclone Ruth
| Tropical low (Australian scale) |
| Tropical depression (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
17 February (entered basin) – 17 February (exited basin) |
| Peak intensity |
55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min) |
Ruth was a weak Category 1 cyclone.
Cyclone Simon
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
28 February (entered basin) – 2 March |
| Peak intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min) |
Simon was of moderate intensity and crossed into the region while weakening. It later struck New Zealand.
Cyclone Sina
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
March 11 (entered basin) – March 16 |
| Peak intensity |
120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min) |
Sina became the second consecutive season in a row to strike the nation.
Cyclone Tia
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
– |
| Peak intensity |
85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min) |
Tia affected Fiji and Tonga.
Cyclone Val
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
– |
| Peak intensity |
75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min) |
Val stayed at sea.
Tropical Cyclone Wally
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
1 April – 8 April |
| Peak intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min) 995 hPa (mbar) |
Wally lasted in the southern Pacific from April 1 to April 7 and was a category one cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale with a peak pressure of 990 HpA/mbar. During its lifetime it made landfall on the second biggest island of Fiji – Viti Levu.
See also
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1979, 1980
- Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1979, 1980
- Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1979, 1980
- North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1979, 1980
References
External links
