1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season
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

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)
 
DurationDecember 27 – December 31
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min);
980 hPa (mbar)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gordon

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
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)
 
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)
 
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 Cyclone Kerry

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
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)
 
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)
 
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.[3] Cyclone Meli had previously passed through Tuvalu damaging Funafuti atoll.

Tropical Storm 23P

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 30 – April 3
Peak intensity65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min);
995 hPa (mbar)

This storm existed from March 30 to April 3.

Seasonal effects

Name Dates Peak intensity Areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
Category Wind speed Pressure
FayDecember 27 – 31Category 2 tropical cyclone100 km/h (65 mph)980 hPa (28.94 inHg)
GordonJanuary 3 – 9Category 3 severe tropical cyclone130 km/h (80 mph)965 hPa (28.50 inHg)
HenryJanuary 29 – February 5Category 2 tropical cyclone100 km/h (65 mph)980 hPa (28.94 inHg)
KerryFebruary 13 – 15Category 2 tropical cyclone100 km/h (65 mph)980 hPa (28.94 inHg)
LeslieFebruary 21 – 23Category 2 tropical cyclone100 km/h (65 mph)980 hPa (28.94 inHg)
MeliMarch 24 – 30Category 3 severe tropical cyclone155 km/h (100 mph)945 hPa (27.91 inHg)
Season aggregates
155 km/h (100 mph)945 hPa (27.91 inHg)

See also

  • Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1978, 1979
  • Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1978, 1979
  • Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1978, 1979
  • North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1978, 1979

References

  1. ↑ Bureau of Meteorology (1992). Climate of Queensland, Commonwealth of Australia ISBN 978-0-644-24331-5
  2. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). gns.cri.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. 1 2 "The British Association for Immediate Care: Cyclone". The British Association for Immediate Care. May 26, 2000. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
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