1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season
Encyclopedia
The 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season saw a significant increase in the amount of tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific to the east of 160°E
. The season officially ran from November 1, 1991, to April 30, 1992, however tropical cyclones that developed outside these dates, counted towards the seasonal total. The first tropical cyclone of the season formed on November 13, 1991, while the last tropical cyclone dissipated on May 2, 1992. During the season at least 21 people were killed by tropical cyclones while, Tropical Cyclones Cliff and Innis were the only tropical cyclones not to cause any damage to any country in the Southern Pacific.
During the season, tropical cyclones were monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers (TCWC) in Nadi, Fiji
, and in Wellington, New Zealand
.TCWC Nadi warned on systems in the South Pacific located from the Equator
to 25°S
and from 160°E
to 120°W
. TCWC Wellington warns on systems from 25°S
to 40°S
and from 160°E to 120°W Whilst tropical cyclones that moved or formed to the west of 160°E were monitored as a part of the Australian region by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Both the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center
(JTWC) and the Naval Western Oceanography Center (NWOC) issued unofficial warnings within the southern Pacific. The JTWC issued warnings between 160°E
and the International Date Line
whilst the NWOC issued warnings for tropical cyclones forming between the International Date Line and the coasts of the Americas. Both the JTWC and the NWOC designated tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix with numbers assigned in order to tropical cyclones developing within the whole of the South Pacific. TCWC Nadi and TCWC Wellington both use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, and measure windspeeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC and the NWOC measured sustained winds over a period of one minute and use the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.
. Over the next couple of days, the depression moved towards the west, in an area of weak vertical windshear, before re-curving towards the east. By 0000 UTC (1100 SBT), on November 15, the JTWC reported that the depression had developed into a tropical storm with 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 75 km/h (46.6 mph). However TCWC Nadi at this time were still treating the system as a weak tropical depression with 10 minute sustained windspeeds of 45 km/h (28 mph). During that day the system developed further, before at 0100 UTC (1200 SBT) on November 16, TCWC Nadi reported that the system had intensified into a category one tropical cyclone and named it Tia. By this time the JTWC, were reporting that Tia had 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 110 km/h (68.4 mph) before rpeorting 6 hours later that Tia had become equivalent to a category 1 tropical cyclone on the SSHS. Later that day Tia slowed down and undertook a small anticlockwise loop, before starting to move towards the southwest in response to a developing northern steering current. After Tia had started to move towards the west, TCWC Nadi reported that the system had quickly intensified, with mean windspeeds reaching hurricane force by 0000 UTC (1100 SBT), on November 17. During that day Tia moved towards the southwest, before TCWC Nadi reported at 1800 UTC (0400 SBT, November 18), that Tia had intensified into a Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone, as it passed close to the Solomon islands of Tikopia and Anuta. At 0000 UTC (1100 SBT), on November 8, TCWC Nadi then estimated that Tia had peaked with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 140 km/h (85 mph). The JTWC then reported six hours later that Tia had peaked with 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 175 km/h (110 mph), equivalent to a category 2 tropical cyclone on the SSHS.
. Over the next couple of days the depression moved towards the southeast. On January 18, the NWOC reported that the depression had intensified into a tropical storm and reached its peak intensity of 65 km/h (40 mph). The system then moved towards the south and moved through the Cook Islands before becoming extratropical.
to the north of the Society islands
.
, between Tokelau
and the Cook Islands
. Over the next few days, the depression gradually developed as it moved towards the west, under the influence of an anticyclone
that was located near New Zealand. As the depression crossed the international dateline, the JTWC started to monitor the depression on April 27, designating it as 30P. During the next day while approaching the eastern Solomon Islands
, both TCWC Nadi and the JTWC reported that the depression intensified into Tropical Cyclone Innis, the former naming it. On April 29, the JTWC assessed Innis as intensifying to 1-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), which is a category one tropical cyclone on the SSHS. TCWC Nadi then reported early the next day that Innis reached its peak 10-minute sustained winds of 95 km/h (60 mph) about 180 km (110 mi) east of Gaua
in Vanuatu. As Innis peaked, it turned southeastward and passed within 90 km (55 mi) of Pentecost Island
in Vanuatu before turning away. Shear increased over the system, and the storm began rapid weakening throughout April 30. Early the next day, TCWC Nadi reported that Innis was no longer classifiable as a tropical cyclone. Subsequently, the remnants accelerated towards the southwest before being captured by a trough of low pressure
during May 2. Innis produced gale force winds in both Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, however no deaths or damages were reported to have occurred.
during the 1990–91 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian Tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, landfalls, deaths, and damages. All data is taken from the warning centers from the region unless otherwise noted.
|-
| 03P || Tia || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands, Vanuatu || Severe || None ||
|-
| 06P || Val || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Tuvalu, Samoan Islands, Cook Islands || 300,000,000 || 16 ||
|-
| 07P
08P || Wasa
Arthur || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || French Polynesia || || ||
|-
| 11P || Betsy || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vanuatu || || 2 ||
|-
| 13P || Unnamed || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Cook Islands || None || None ||
|-
| 14P || Cliff || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || French Polynesia || None || None ||
|-
| 17P || Daman || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Tokelau, Vanuatu, New Zealand || || ||
|-
| 21P || Esau || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand || || ||
|-
| 25P || Fran || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia
New Zealand, Eastern Australia || || ||
|-
| 26P || Gene || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Cook Islands || || ||
|-
| 27P || Hettie || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || French Polynesia || Minor || None ||
|-
| || Unnamed || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 30P || Innis || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands, Vanuatu || None || None ||
|-class="sortbottom"
!colspan=10|Season Aggregates
|-class="sortbottom"
!colspan=2|12 disturbances !! November 15 – May 6 !! !! 205 km/h (125 mph) !! 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) !! !! 300,000,000 !! 18 !!
|}
160th meridian east
The meridian 160° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
. The season officially ran from November 1, 1991, to April 30, 1992, however tropical cyclones that developed outside these dates, counted towards the seasonal total. The first tropical cyclone of the season formed on November 13, 1991, while the last tropical cyclone dissipated on May 2, 1992. During the season at least 21 people were killed by tropical cyclones while, Tropical Cyclones Cliff and Innis were the only tropical cyclones not to cause any damage to any country in the Southern Pacific.
During the season, tropical cyclones were monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers (TCWC) in Nadi, Fiji
Fiji Meteorological Service
The Fiji Meteorological Service is a Department of the government of Fiji responsible for providing weather forecasts and is based in Nadi. Since 1995, FMS has been responsible for naming and tracking tropical cyclones in the Southwest Pacific region...
, and in Wellington, New Zealand
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited was established as a State-Owned Enterprise in 1992. It employs about 215 staff and its headquarters are in Wellington, New Zealand...
.TCWC Nadi warned on systems in the South Pacific located from the Equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
to 25°S
25th parallel south
The 25th parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 25 degrees south of the Earth's equatorial plane, just south of the Tropic of Capricorn...
and from 160°E
160th meridian east
The meridian 160° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
to 120°W
120th meridian west
The meridian 120° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
. TCWC Wellington warns on systems from 25°S
25th parallel south
The 25th parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 25 degrees south of the Earth's equatorial plane, just south of the Tropic of Capricorn...
to 40°S
40th parallel south
The 40th parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 40 degrees south of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, Australasia, the Pacific Ocean and South America....
and from 160°E to 120°W Whilst tropical cyclones that moved or formed to the west of 160°E were monitored as a part of the Australian region by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Both the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
(JTWC) and the Naval Western Oceanography Center (NWOC) issued unofficial warnings within the southern Pacific. The JTWC issued warnings between 160°E
160th meridian east
The meridian 160° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
and the International Date Line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
whilst the NWOC issued warnings for tropical cyclones forming between the International Date Line and the coasts of the Americas. Both the JTWC and the NWOC designated tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix with numbers assigned in order to tropical cyclones developing within the whole of the South Pacific. TCWC Nadi and TCWC Wellington both use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, and measure windspeeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC and the NWOC measured sustained winds over a period of one minute and use the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Tia
By November 13, Tropical Depression 13P had developed over the Solomon Islands, about 220 km (136.7 mi) to the east of HoniaraHoniara
Honiara, population 49,107 , 78,190 , is the capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered town...
. Over the next couple of days, the depression moved towards the west, in an area of weak vertical windshear, before re-curving towards the east. By 0000 UTC (1100 SBT), on November 15, the JTWC reported that the depression had developed into a tropical storm with 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 75 km/h (46.6 mph). However TCWC Nadi at this time were still treating the system as a weak tropical depression with 10 minute sustained windspeeds of 45 km/h (28 mph). During that day the system developed further, before at 0100 UTC (1200 SBT) on November 16, TCWC Nadi reported that the system had intensified into a category one tropical cyclone and named it Tia. By this time the JTWC, were reporting that Tia had 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 110 km/h (68.4 mph) before rpeorting 6 hours later that Tia had become equivalent to a category 1 tropical cyclone on the SSHS. Later that day Tia slowed down and undertook a small anticlockwise loop, before starting to move towards the southwest in response to a developing northern steering current. After Tia had started to move towards the west, TCWC Nadi reported that the system had quickly intensified, with mean windspeeds reaching hurricane force by 0000 UTC (1100 SBT), on November 17. During that day Tia moved towards the southwest, before TCWC Nadi reported at 1800 UTC (0400 SBT, November 18), that Tia had intensified into a Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone, as it passed close to the Solomon islands of Tikopia and Anuta. At 0000 UTC (1100 SBT), on November 8, TCWC Nadi then estimated that Tia had peaked with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 140 km/h (85 mph). The JTWC then reported six hours later that Tia had peaked with 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 175 km/h (110 mph), equivalent to a category 2 tropical cyclone on the SSHS.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Wasa-Arthur
On December 3, TCWC Nadi reported that a Depression had developed within a monsoon trough that was located over the Northern Cook Islands. over the next couple of days the depression gradually developed further before on December 5, TCWC Nadi reported that the Depression had developed into a tropical cyclone and named it Wasa.Tropical Depression 13P
On January 16, the NWOC reported that Tropical Depression 13P, had formed about 1000 km (620 mi), to the northeast of Apia, SamoaApia, Samoa
-Administration:Apia is part of the Tuamasaga political district and of election district Vaimauga West and Faleata East. There is no city administration for Apia. Apia consists of some 45 individual, independent villages...
. Over the next couple of days the depression moved towards the southeast. On January 18, the NWOC reported that the depression had intensified into a tropical storm and reached its peak intensity of 65 km/h (40 mph). The system then moved towards the south and moved through the Cook Islands before becoming extratropical.
Tropical Cyclone Cliff
Late on February 4, TCWC Nadi reported that an area of low pressure had developed within a Convergence zoneSouth Pacific convergence zone
The South Pacific Convergence Zone , a reverse-oriented monsoon trough, is a band of low-level convergence, cloudiness and precipitation extending from the west Pacific warm pool south-eastwards towards French Polynesia...
to the north of the Society islands
Society Islands
The Society Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. They are politically part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands;...
.
Tropical Cyclone Hettie
On March 24, TCWC Nadi reported that a shallow low pressure system had developed to the north of the Society Islands.Tropical Cyclone Innis
On April 23, TCWC Nadi reported that a depression had developed within the South Pacific convergence zoneSouth Pacific convergence zone
The South Pacific Convergence Zone , a reverse-oriented monsoon trough, is a band of low-level convergence, cloudiness and precipitation extending from the west Pacific warm pool south-eastwards towards French Polynesia...
, between Tokelau
Tokelau
Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean that consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km2 and a population of approximately 1,400...
and the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
. Over the next few days, the depression gradually developed as it moved towards the west, under the influence of an anticyclone
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
that was located near New Zealand. As the depression crossed the international dateline, the JTWC started to monitor the depression on April 27, designating it as 30P. During the next day while approaching the eastern Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, both TCWC Nadi and the JTWC reported that the depression intensified into Tropical Cyclone Innis, the former naming it. On April 29, the JTWC assessed Innis as intensifying to 1-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), which is a category one tropical cyclone on the SSHS. TCWC Nadi then reported early the next day that Innis reached its peak 10-minute sustained winds of 95 km/h (60 mph) about 180 km (110 mi) east of Gaua
Gaua
Gaua is the largest of the Banks Islands in Torba Province of northern Vanuatu. It covers 342 km².- Physical geography :...
in Vanuatu. As Innis peaked, it turned southeastward and passed within 90 km (55 mi) of Pentecost Island
Pentecost Island
Pentecost Island is one of the 83 islands that make up the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu. It lies due north of capital Port Vila. Pentecost Island is known as Pentecôte in French and Pentikos in Bislama. The island was known in its native languages by names such as Vanu Aroaroa, although these...
in Vanuatu before turning away. Shear increased over the system, and the storm began rapid weakening throughout April 30. Early the next day, TCWC Nadi reported that Innis was no longer classifiable as a tropical cyclone. Subsequently, the remnants accelerated towards the southwest before being captured by a trough of low pressure
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
during May 2. Innis produced gale force winds in both Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, however no deaths or damages were reported to have occurred.
Season effects
This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific to the east of longitude 160°E160th meridian east
The meridian 160° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
during the 1990–91 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian Tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, landfalls, deaths, and damages. All data is taken from the warning centers from the region unless otherwise noted.
|-
| 03P || Tia || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands, Vanuatu || Severe || None ||
|-
| 06P || Val || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Tuvalu, Samoan Islands, Cook Islands || 300,000,000 || 16 ||
|-
| 07P
08P || Wasa
Arthur || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || French Polynesia || || ||
|-
| 11P || Betsy || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vanuatu || || 2 ||
|-
| 13P || Unnamed || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Cook Islands || None || None ||
|-
| 14P || Cliff || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || French Polynesia || None || None ||
|-
| 17P || Daman || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Tokelau, Vanuatu, New Zealand || || ||
|-
| 21P || Esau || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand || || ||
|-
| 25P || Fran || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia
New Zealand, Eastern Australia || || ||
|-
| 26P || Gene || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Cook Islands || || ||
|-
| 27P || Hettie || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || French Polynesia || Minor || None ||
|-
| || Unnamed || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 30P || Innis || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands, Vanuatu || None || None ||
|-class="sortbottom"
!colspan=10|Season Aggregates
|-class="sortbottom"
!colspan=2|12 disturbances !! November 15 – May 6 !! !! 205 km/h (125 mph) !! 920 hPa (27.17 inHg) !! !! 300,000,000 !! 18 !!
|}
See also
- List of Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons
- List of South Pacific cyclone seasons
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 19911991 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1991 Atlantic hurricane season was the first season in over 24 years in which no hurricanes developed from tropical waves, which are the source for most North Atlantic tropical cyclones. The hurricane season officially began on June 1, and ended on November 30. It was the least...
, 19921992 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1992 Atlantic hurricane season had one of the latest dates on record for the first named storm. The season officially began on June 1, 1992, and lasted until November 30, 1992. It was the least active hurricane season in nine years due to a strong El Niño... - Pacific hurricane seasons: 19911991 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 1991 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone meteorology. The worst storm this year was Tropical Depression Five-E, which killed one person in Mexico. Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Ignacio injured forty people in Mexico, and Hurricane Fefa caused flooding in Hawaii...
, 19921992 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 1992 Pacific hurricane season was the most active Pacific hurricane season on record. The most notable storm was Hurricane Iniki, which caused billions of dollars of damage to the Hawaiian Islands. Hurricanes Lester, Virgil, Winifred, and Orlene also made landfall and killed several people, but... - Pacific typhoon seasons: 19911991 Pacific typhoon seasonTropical Storm Enrique formed in the eastern Pacific basin, where it reached it's peak intensity as a category 1 Hurricane, becoming Hurricane Enrique. Enrique lasted for 6 days before becoming a remnant low, shortly after entering in the central Pacific....
, 19921992 Pacific typhoon seasonOne person was killed and eight others were reported missing when the storm moved through the Philippines. Extensive damage took place in China with losses amounting to $235 million.-Typhoon Gary :At least 48 people were killed by Typhoon Gary... - North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 19911991 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonThe 1991 North Indian Ocean Cyclone season was the period in which tropical cyclones formed to the north of the equator in the Indian ocean. During the season tropical cyclones were monitored by the India Meteorological Department and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The IMD assigned all...
, 1992