1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season

1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season

Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed December 27, 1978
Last system dissipated April 17, 1979
Strongest storm
Name Meli
 • Maximum winds 155 km/h (100 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure 945 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions 9
Tropical cyclones 6 official, 2 unofficial
Severe tropical cyclones 2
Total fatalities Unknown
Total damage Unknown
Related articles

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.

Systems

Tropical Cyclone Fay

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration December 27 – December 31
Peak intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Unknown why but name was retired.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gordon

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
Duration January 3 – January 9 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min)  965 hPa (mbar)

Gordon developed on January 3 and left the basin on January 9.

Tropical Cyclone Henry

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration January 29 – February 5
Peak intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Henry existed from January 29 to February 5.

Tropical Storm 11P

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration February 3 (Entered basin) – February 6 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity 75 km/h (45 mph) (1-min)  991 hPa (mbar)

This storm moved in the circular path, entering the basin on February 3 and returning to the Australian region on February 6.

Tropical Depression Rosa

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
 
Duration February 12 – February 12 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity 20 km/h (10 mph) (1-min)  1008 hPa (mbar)

Rosa developed on February 12, shortly before exiting the basin.

Tropical Cyclone Kerry

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
Duration February 13 – February 15 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  980 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.[1]

Tropical Cyclone Leslie

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration February 21 – February 23
Peak intensity 100 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)
 
Duration March 24 – March 31
Peak intensity 155 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.[2][3]

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.[4] Cyclone Meli had previously passed through Tuvalu damaging Funafuti atoll.

Tropical Storm 23P

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration March 30 – April 3
Peak intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min)  995 hPa (mbar)

This storm existed from March 30 to April 3.

References

  1. ↑ Bureau of Meteorology (1992). Climate of Queensland, Commonwealth of Australia ISBN 978-0-644-24331-5
  2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100605010519/http://gns.cri.nz/services/hazardsplanning/downloads/SR2006-038trad_mitigation_pacific.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.basedn.freeserve.co.uk/cyclone.htm Archived August 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Staff Writer (May 26, 2000). "The British Association for Immediate Care: Cyclone". The British Association for Immediate Care. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
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