List of retired South Pacific tropical cyclone names
Encyclopedia
Tropical cyclone
s are non-frontal
, low pressure systems that develop, within an environment of warm sea surface temperature
s and little vertical wind shear
aloft. Within the South Pacific, names are assigned from a pre-determined list, to such systems, once they reach or exceed ten–minute sustained wind speeds
of 65 km/h (40.4 mph), near the center, by either the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in Nadi, Fiji
or the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington, New Zealand
. Within the South Pacific tropical cyclones have been officially named
since the 1964–65 South Pacific cyclone season, though a few meteorological papers show that a few tropical cyclones were named before 1964–65. The names of significant tropical cyclones that cause a high amount of damage and/or cause a significant amount of deaths are retired from the lists of tropical cyclone names by the World Meteorological Organization
's RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee at their bi-annual meeting.
Within the South Pacific, there have been a total of 85 tropical cyclone names retired, with the 1990s, having the most amount of retired tropical cyclone names. The most intense tropical cyclone to have its name retired was Severe Tropical Cyclone Zoe which had an estimated peak pressure of 890 hPa. The deadliest tropical cyclone to have its name retired was Severe Tropical Cyclone Namu, which caused over 100 deaths, when it affected the Solomon Islands in May 1986. The most damaging system was Severe Tropical Cyclone Val which caused over US330,000,000 in damage to four different countries during December 1991.
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Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s are non-frontal
Weather front
A weather front is a boundary separating two masses of air of different densities, and is the principal cause of meteorological phenomena. In surface weather analyses, fronts are depicted using various colored lines and symbols, depending on the type of front...
, low pressure systems that develop, within an environment of warm sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature is the water temperature close to the oceans surface. The exact meaning of surface varies according to the measurement method used, but it is between and below the sea surface. Air masses in the Earth's atmosphere are highly modified by sea surface temperatures within a...
s and little vertical wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
aloft. Within the South Pacific, names are assigned from a pre-determined list, to such systems, once they reach or exceed ten–minute sustained wind speeds
Maximum sustained wind
The maximum sustained winds associated with a tropical cyclone are a common indicator of the intensity of the storm. Within a mature tropical cyclone, they are found within the eyewall at a distance defined as the radius of maximum wind, or RMW. Unlike gusts, the value of these winds are...
of 65 km/h (40.4 mph), near the center, by either the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center 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...
or the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center 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...
. Within the South Pacific tropical cyclones have been officially named
Tropical cyclone naming
Tropical cyclones have officially been named since 1945 and are named for a variety of reasons, which include to facilitate communications between forecasters and the public when forecasts, watches, and warnings are issued. Names also reduce confusion about what storm is being described, as more...
since the 1964–65 South Pacific cyclone season, though a few meteorological papers show that a few tropical cyclones were named before 1964–65. The names of significant tropical cyclones that cause a high amount of damage and/or cause a significant amount of deaths are retired from the lists of tropical cyclone names by the World Meteorological Organization
World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 189 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization , which was founded in 1873...
's RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee at their bi-annual meeting.
Within the South Pacific, there have been a total of 85 tropical cyclone names retired, with the 1990s, having the most amount of retired tropical cyclone names. The most intense tropical cyclone to have its name retired was Severe Tropical Cyclone Zoe which had an estimated peak pressure of 890 hPa. The deadliest tropical cyclone to have its name retired was Severe Tropical Cyclone Namu, which caused over 100 deaths, when it affected the Solomon Islands in May 1986. The most damaging system was Severe Tropical Cyclone Val which caused over US330,000,000 in damage to four different countries during December 1991.
Tropical Cyclone names retired in the 1970s
During the 1970s, nineteen tropical cyclone names were retired from the list of names, with the 1971–72 season having the most amount of retired tropical cyclone names. Severe Tropical Cyclone Carlotta, was the most intense tropical cyclone, during the decade with an estimated peak pressure of 940 hPa (27.8 inHg).| Name | Dates | Season | Aus Cat | 10-minute sustained peak wind speeds | Pressure | Areas affected | Deaths | Damage (US$ at the time) |
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Tropical Cyclone names retired in the 1980s
During the 1980s twenty-one tropical cyclone names were retired from the naming lists, with both the 1986–87 and 1982–83 season having the most amount of retired tropical cyclone names. The most intense tropical cyclone during the decade was Severe Tropical Cyclone Oscar which had an estimated peak pressure of 920 hPa (27.2 inHg).| Name | Dates | Season | Aus Cat | 10-minute sustained peak wind speeds | Pressure | Areas affected | Deaths | Damages |
|---|
Tropical Cyclone names retired in the 1990s
During the 1990s twenty-six tropical cyclones names were retired from the naming lists, with the 1997–98 season having the most amount of retired tropical cyclone names. The most intense tropical cyclones during the decade were Severe Tropical Cyclones Ron and Susan which had an estimated peak pressure of 900 hPa (26.6 inHg). Severe Tropical Cyclone Val was the most damaging system, which caused about $ (1992 USD) in damage to four different countries during December 1991. The deadliest tropical cyclone was Severe Tropical Cyclone Martin which caused 28 deaths when it affected the Cook Islands in October and November 1997. Despite being retired the name Joni, was later reused during the 2008–09 season2008-09 South Pacific cyclone season
The 2008–09 South Pacific cyclone season began on December 1, 2008 with the formation of Tropical Disturbance 01F. This was 30 days after the season had officially begun on November 1, 2008. The season officially ended on April 30, 2009. Tropical cyclones that were between 160°E and 120°W and north...
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| Name | Dates | Season | Aus Cat | 10-minute sustained peak wind speeds | Pressure | Areas affected | Deaths | Damages (USD) | 1990–91 1990–91 South Pacific cyclone season The 1990–91 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the least active cyclone seasons, with only three tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific to the east of 160°E. The season officially ran from November 1, 1990, to April 30, 1991 with the first disturbance of the season forming on... | 3 | Fiji, Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands | None | 18,500,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tia | 1991–92 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season 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... |
3 | Solomon Islands, Vanuatu | 0 | Severe | ||||
| Val Cyclone Val Severe Tropical Cyclone Val, also known as Cyclone Val, was a cyclone that struck Western Samoa and American Samoa on December 4, 1991. Lasting until December 13, the cyclone moved in a west-to-east trajectory. The cyclone lasted for five days in American Samoa and was designated by the United... |
1991–92 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season 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... |
4 | Tuvalu, American Samoa Western Samoa, Cook Islands |
16 | 330,000,000 | ||||
| Wasa | 1991–92 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season 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... |
4 | French Polynesia | 2 | |||||
| Betsy | 1991–92 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season 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... |
4 | Vanuatu | 2 | 2,000,000 | ||||
| Esau | 1991–92 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season 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... |
4 | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 925 hPa (27.3 inHg) | Vanuatu | ||||
| Fran | 1991–92 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season 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... |
5 | 205 km/h (127.4 mph) | 920 hPa (27.2 inHg) | Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu New Caledonia, New Zealand Eastern Australia, Fiji |
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| Joni | 1992–93 | 4 | 165 km/h (102.5 mph) | Tuvalu, Fiji | 1,600,000 | ||||
| Kina | 1992–93 | 3 | 150 km/h (93.2 mph) | 955 hPa (28.2 inHg) | Fiji, Tonga | 26 | 110,000,000 | ||
| Prema | 1992–93 | 4 | Vanuatu, New Caledonia | 60,000,000 | |||||
| Rewa Cyclone Rewa Severe Tropical Cyclone Rewa was the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record within the southern Pacific Ocean, surviving for 28 days. It was an erratic tropical cyclone that killed 22 people and affected six countries. The disturbance that became Cyclone Rewa was first identified on 26 December... |
1993–94 | 5 | Solomon Islands, New Caledonia Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu Eastern Australia, New Zealand |
22 | |||||
| William | 1994–95 | 2 | Cook Islands, French Polynesia | None | 2,500,000 | ||||
| Beti | 1995–96 1995–96 South Pacific cyclone season The 1995–96 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the least active tropical cyclone seasons on record, with only four tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific Ocean to the east of 160°E. The season officially ran from November 1, 1995 until April 30, 1996. The first storm developed on... |
4 | Eastern Australia, Vanuatu New Caledonia, New Zealand |
2 | 5,600,000 | ||||
| Drena | 1996–97 1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season The 1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the most active tropical cyclone seasons on record, with 12 tropical cyclones officially occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W... |
4 | New Caledonia | ||||||
| Gavin | 1996–97 1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season The 1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the most active tropical cyclone seasons on record, with 12 tropical cyclones officially occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W... |
4 | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 925 hPa (27.3 inHg) | Tuvalu, Fiji | 18,300,000 | |||
| Hina | 1996–97 1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season The 1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the most active tropical cyclone seasons on record, with 12 tropical cyclones officially occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W... |
3 | 110 km/h (68.4 mph) | Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Tonga | 75,200,000 | ||||
| Keli Cyclone Keli Severe Tropical Cyclone Keli was the first recorded post-season tropical cyclone to form in June within the South Pacific Ocean. The system formed on June 7, 1997, about 460 kilometers to the north of Tokelau. The depression gradually developed over the next few days while moving southwestward... |
1996–97 1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season The 1996–97 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the most active tropical cyclone seasons on record, with 12 tropical cyclones officially occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W... |
3 | Tuvulu, Wallis and Futuna, Tonga | 0 | 10,000 | ||||
| Martin | 1997–98 | 3 | Cook Islands, French Polynesia | 28 | |||||
| Osea | 1997–98 | 3 | Cook Islands, French Polynesia | None | |||||
| Ron | 1997–98 | 5 | Tokelau, Tonga, Niue | None | 566,499 | ||||
| Susan | 1997–98 | 5 | Vanuatu, Fiji | 1 | |||||
| Tui | 1997–98 | 1 | Samoan Islands | 1 | 1,000,000 | ||||
| Ursula | 1997–98 | 2 | 110 km/h (68.4 mph) | French Polynesia | None | Minor | |||
| Veli | 1997–98 | 2 | 100 km/h (62.1 mph) | 980 hPa (28.9 inHg) | French Polynesia | None | Minor | ||
| Alan | 1997–98 | 2 | 980 hPa (28.9 inHg) | French Polynesia | 8 | ||||
| Cora | 1998–99 1998–99 South Pacific cyclone season The 1998–99 South Pacific cyclone season was a near average tropical cyclone seasons, with 8 tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W. Despite the season starting on November 1, the first tropical system of the season did not form until December 1,... |
3 | 140 km/h (87 mph) | 960 hPa (28.3 inHg) | Tonga | 0 | 12,000,000 | ||
| Dani | 1998–99 1998–99 South Pacific cyclone season The 1998–99 South Pacific cyclone season was a near average tropical cyclone seasons, with 8 tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W. Despite the season starting on November 1, the first tropical system of the season did not form until December 1,... |
4 | Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji | 14 | 2,000,000 | ||||
| Frank | 1998–99 1998–99 South Pacific cyclone season The 1998–99 South Pacific cyclone season was a near average tropical cyclone seasons, with 8 tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W. Despite the season starting on November 1, the first tropical system of the season did not form until December 1,... |
3 | New Caledonia | ||||||
Tropical Cyclone names retired in the 2000s
During the 2000s, 20 names of significant tropical cyclones were retired from the tropical cyclone list of names. Four names were retired after both the 2002–03 and 2004–05 seasons while the 2009-10 season had five names retired. No names were retired from the naming lists, after the 2005-06 and 2008-09 seasons. During the decade, Severe Tropical Cyclone Zoe of 2002-03 became the most intense tropical cyclone to have its name retired having reached an estimated peak pressure of 890 hPa (26.28 inHg). The deadliest tropical cyclone to have its name retired during the decade was Severe Tropical Cyclone Ami which caused 17 deaths when it affected Fiji in January 2003, while the most damaging system was Severe Tropical Cyclone Heta which caused over US$ in damage to 7 different nations over the new year of 2003–04.| Name | Dates | Season | Aus Cat | 10-minute sustained peak wind speeds | Pressure | Areas affected | Deaths | Damages(US$ at the time) | Waka Cyclone Waka Severe Tropical Cyclone Waka was one of the most destructive tropical cyclones ever to impact the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga. Waka originated within the near-equatorial trough in mid-December 2001, although the system remained disorganized for more than a week... | 4 | Wallis and Futuna, Tonga | 1 | 51,300,000 |
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| Zoe Cyclone Zoe Severe Tropical Cyclone Zoe was the most intense tropical cyclone recorded in the Southern Hemisphere.-Meteorological history:... |
5 | Solomon Islands, Vanuatu | Severe | ||||||
| Ami | 3 | Tuvalu, Fiji, Tonga | 17 | 65,000,000 | |||||
| Beni | 5 | Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia | 1 | 1,000,000 | |||||
| Cilla | 1 | Tonga | |||||||
| Heta | 5 | Samoan islands, Niue, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna | 3 | 225,000,000 | |||||
| Ivy Cyclone Ivy Severe Tropical Cyclone Ivy was a tropical cyclone that affected about 25% of the population of Vanuatu in February 2004. It was first classified as a tropical disturbance on February 21 between Vanuatu and Fiji... |
4 | Vanuatu | 2 | 4,347,074 | |||||
| Meena | 5 | Cook Islands | None | Severe | |||||
| Nancy Cyclone Nancy Cyclone Nancy was the second in a series of four severe tropical cyclones to impact the Cook Islands during February 2005. Forming out of an area of low pressure on February 10, Nancy quickly organized into a small, but intense, cyclone... |
4 | Cook Islands | None | Severe | |||||
| Olaf Cyclone Olaf Cyclone Olaf was the sixth cyclone to form in the Southwest Pacific Ocean during the 2004-05 South Pacific cyclone season. Olaf was also one of three simultaneous cyclones to form during the 2004-05 season, forming 21 hours after Cyclone Nancy formed to the east. A powerful Category 5 cyclone,... |
5 | Samoan islands, Cook Islands | 9 | 10,210,000 | |||||
| Percy Cyclone Percy Cyclone Percy was the seventh named storm of the 2004-05 South Pacific cyclone season and the fourth and final cyclone to form during the February 2005 outbreak in the South Pacific Ocean.... |
5 | Tokelau, Samoan islands, Cook islands | 52,000 | ||||||
| Cliff Cyclone Cliff Cyclone Cliff was the 14th Tropical Disturbance, 12th tropical depression and the sixth tropical cyclone, as well as the last tropical disturbance, of the 2006–07 South Pacific cyclone season that formed west of 160E. Cliff was also the eighth tropical cyclone within the Southern Pacific Ocean as... |
2 | Fiji, Tonga | 1 | 4,000,000 | |||||
| Daman Cyclone Daman Severe Tropical Cyclone Daman was the strongest cyclone of the 2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season. Cyclone Daman was the fourth tropical depression and the first severe tropical cyclone to form west of longitude 160°E during the 2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season... |
4 | Fiji, Tonga | None | 330,000 | |||||
| Funa Cyclone Funa Severe Tropical Cyclone Funa was the tenth Tropical Disturbance, ninth Tropical Depression, third Tropical Cyclone as well as the second Severe Tropical Cyclone of the 2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season to form to the west of longitude 160°E... |
4 | Vanuatu | None | Severe | |||||
| Gene Cyclone Gene Severe Tropical Cyclone Gene was the deadliest storm as well as the most damaging tropical cyclone of the 2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season east of 160ºE... |
3 | Fiji | 6 | 35,000,000 | |||||
| Mick Cyclone Mick The name Mick has been used for two tropical cyclone in the South Pacific after replacing Mark after 1982-83:*1993-94's Tropical Cyclone Mick – Weak tropical cyclone that passed south of Fiji.... |
2 | Fiji | 2 | 22,000,000 | |||||
Tropical Cyclone names retired in the 2010s
At the start of the 2010s, four names were retired: Oli, Pat, Tomas and Ului. Collectively, the storms killed at least 6 people and caused at least $200 million worth of damage.| Name | Dates | Season | Aus Cat | 10-minute sustained peak wind speeds | Pressure | Areas affected | Deaths | Damages (US$ at the time) | Oli Cyclone Oli The name Oli has been used for two tropical cyclones in the South Pacific:*1993-94's Tropical Cyclone Oli – Made landfall in Fiji as a tropical storm.... | 4 | 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) | Samoan Islands, Cook Islands, French Polynesia | 1 | 70,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pat | 3 | 155 km/h (96.3 mph) | 955 hPa (28.2 inHg) | Cook Islands | 2 | Severe | |||
| Tomas | 4 | Wallis and Futuna, Fiji | 3 | 45,000,000 | |||||
| Ului | 5 | 215 km/h (133.6 mph) | Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Australia | 1 | 72,000,000 | ||||
See also
- List of retired tropical cyclone names
- List of retired Atlantic hurricane names
- List of retired Pacific hurricane names
- List of retired Pacific typhoon names
- List of retired Australian cyclone names