| 1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | December 27, 1978 |
| Last system dissipated | April 1, 1979 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Meli |
| • Maximum winds | 155 km/h (100 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 945hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 8 |
| Tropical cyclones | 6 official, 2 unofficial |
| Severe tropical cyclones | 3 |
| Total fatalities | 56 |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Related articles | |
| South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons 1976–77,1977–78,1978–79,1979–80,1980–81 | |
The1978–79 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.
| 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) |
The precursor to Tropical Cyclone Fay can be traced back to an area of disturbed weather about 400 mi (640 km) to the west ofTuvalu early on December 25.[1] As it moved southeastward, it intensified into a tropical cyclone by the next day, before moving close toRotuma by December 28 and reaching peak intensity the following day.[1][2] The cyclone then moved through Fiji, where sustained winds were pushing at 60 kn (110 km/h; 69 mph) with hurricane-force wind gusts. Once through the islands, Fay accelerated southwards, and was last noted on December 31 as it was becoming extratropical northeast ofNew Zealand.[3][2]
Weather stations at Undu Point andSavusavu recorded winds of 60 kn (110 km/h; 69 mph) as Fay passed through Fiji. Some of theLau Islands suffered coastal damage from storm surge.[1]
| 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 was first tracked on January 3, when it was about 90 mi (140 km) to the north-northeast of the island ofTokelau. As it moved in a general southwestward direction, it strengthened into a tropical cyclone by the next day, before becoming a severe tropical cyclone by January 6. Then, it crossed to the north ofVanuatu with winds of 70 kn (130 km/h; 81 mph), before weakening into a tropical cyclone by January 7. It later approached New Caledonia while continuing to weaken on January 8, before it turned to the west, and subsequently exited the basin on January 9.[4] Severe damage was reported in Vanuatu.[5]
| 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) |
Forming to the north of Vanuatu on January 29, Henry strengthened into a tropical cyclone on January 31, and took a southward track before becoming an extratropical cyclone and moving over New Zealand by February 4.[6] It had little affect to land areas in Vanuatu.[5]
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | February 3 – February 6 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 km/h (45 mph)(10-min); 988 hPa (mbar) |
Originating in the Australian region, Judith became a tropical cyclone as it moved close to Vanuatu, before turning west and re-entering the region by February 6.[7][8] Like Henry, it also had little affect to land areas in Vanuatu.[5]
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | February 13 – February 15(Exited basin) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 140 km/h (85 mph)(10-min); 978 hPa (mbar) |
Kerry's origins can be traced back to a low that became evident about 485 miles (781 km) to the southeast ofKiribati on February 7. By February 10, some cyclonic curvature could be detected in the surrounding convection, and by February 13, it had strengthened into a category 1 tropical cyclone. Moving generally west-southwest, it further strengthened into a category 2 tropical cyclone by 17:00 UTC on the same day, before fully becoming a severe tropical cyclone by February 14.[9][10] As it moved closer near theSolomon Islands, it lashedUlawa and neighboring islands, turning southwest and missingMakira andGuadalcanal, before skirting nearBellona.[11] The cyclone then subsequently exited the basin and into the Australian region on February 15.[10]
Severe damage was reported over the Solomon Islands, with monetary damages of SI$200 thousand. Over 22,000 people were homeless after the cyclone. 4 people were reported dead.[11]
| 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) |
Forming to the south ofSamoa on February 21, Leslie intensified into a category 2 tropical cyclone while rapidly moving southeastward. After crossing the30th parallel south, Leslie became extratropical.[7][12] There were no reports of damage associated with the storm.
| 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 first developed as a tropical depression between Fiji andFutuna on March 23. It moved east then southeast while it strengthened into a tropical cyclone, before turning to the west by March 26 as it developed an eye.[1][13] It moved through Fiji throughout March 26 into 27, passing north ofLakeba and very close toNayau, then passing very close toSuva at around 09:00 UTC on March 27.[1] Once Meli cleared Fiji, it recurved to the southeast and weakened, and by March 30, Meli had reportedly weakened to a gale-force cyclone and was turning extratropical.[14]
Meli had previously passed throughTuvalu, damagingFunafuti atoll.[citation needed] Meli then caused severe damage over the islands of Moala, Kadavu, Ono, and the central parts of the Lau Group.[1] The island of Nayau suffered a direct hit from Meli. As a result, Fiji suffered tremendous crop losses.[15] At least 11 ships were lost or damaged during the storm, with one of the ships being the Korean fishing vessel NAM HAE 202 with 20 crewmen onboard. A freighter also ran aground off the northwest coast ofVatulele after departing from Suva late on March 27 to ride out the storm.[14] 52 people were killed by the storm,[1] with 31 in Kadavu, and 14 in Nayau. A man and a young woman drowned after their yacht capsized under 90 kn (170 km/h; 100 mph) winds.[14]
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | March 30 – April 1 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 km/h (45 mph)(10-min); 994 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Cyclone Nina formed near Vanuatu on March 31, and took a curving track to the southeast, dissipating nearTonga by March 3.[16][17] There were no particular damage reports associated with the storm.[5]
| Name | Dates | Peak intensity | Areas affected | Damage (USD) | Deaths | Refs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Wind speed | Pressure | ||||||
| Fay | December 27 – 31 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 100 km/h (65 mph) | 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) | Fiji | Unknown | Unknown | [1] |
| Gordon | January 3 – 9 | Category 3 severe tropical cyclone | 130 km/h (80 mph) | 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) | Vanuatu,New Caledonia | Unknown | Unknown | [5][4] |
| Henry | January 29 – February 5 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 100 km/h (65 mph) | 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) | Vanuatu,New Zealand | Unknown | Unknown | [5][6] |
| Judith | February 3 – 6 | Category 1 tropical cyclone | 75 km/h (45 mph) | 988 hPa (29.18 inHg) | Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia | Unknown | Unknown | [5][8] |
| Kerry | February 13 – 15 | Category 3 severe tropical cyclone | 140 km/h (85 mph) | 978 hPa (28.88 inHg) | Solomon Islands | 4 | [11] | |
| Leslie | February 21 – 23 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 100 km/h (65 mph) | 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) | Tonga | None | None | [12] |
| Meli | March 24 – 30 | Category 3 severe tropical cyclone | 155 km/h (100 mph) | 945 hPa (27.91 inHg) | Tuvalu,Samoa,American Samoa, Fiji | Unknown | 52 | [1][13][14] |
| Nina | March 30 – April 1 | Category 1 tropical cyclone | 75 km/h (45 mph) | 994 hPa (29.35 inHg) | Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga | None | None | [5][17] |
| Season aggregates | ||||||||
| 8 systems | December 27, 1978 – April 1, 1979 | 155 km/h (100 mph) | 945 hPa (27.91 inHg) | 56 | ||||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)