1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season

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1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season
1978-1979 South Pacific cyclone season summary.jpg
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedDecember 27, 1978
Last system dissipatedApril 17, 1979
Strongest storm
NameMeli
 • Maximum winds155 km/h (100 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure945 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions9
Tropical cyclones6 official, 2 unofficial
Severe tropical cyclones2
Total fatalitiesUnknown
Total damageUnknown
Related articles
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1982–83

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)
Fay Dec 29 1978 1800Z.png Fay 1978 track.png
DurationDecember 27 – December 31
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Unknown reason for name retirement.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gordon[]

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Gordon Jan 6 1979 1548Z.png Gordon SPac 1979 track.png
DurationJanuary 3 – January 9 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity130 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)
Cyclone Henry on February 1st just southwest of Fiji.png Henry 1979 track.png
DurationJanuary 29 – February 5
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Henry existed from January 29 to February 5.

Tropical Storm 11P[]

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Cyclone 11P on February 4th.png 11P 1979 track.png
DurationFebruary 3 (Entered basin) – February 6 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity75 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)
Temporary cyclone south.svg Rosa 1979 track.png
DurationFebruary 12 – February 12 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity20 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)
Cyclone Kerry nearing the Solomon Islands on February 14th.png Kerry 1979 track.png
DurationFebruary 13 – February 15 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity100 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)
Cyclone Leslie on February 22nd.png Leslie 1979 track.png
DurationFebruary 21 – February 23
Peak intensity100 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)
Meli 28 mar 1979 0358Z TN.jpg Meli 1979 track.png
DurationMarch 24 – March 31
Peak intensity155 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)
Cyclone 23P east of New Caledonia on April 1st.png 23P 1979 track.png
DurationMarch 30 – April 3
Peak intensity65 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.

External links[]

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