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.
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]
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.
^Bureau of Meteorology (1992). Climate of Queensland, Commonwealth of Australia ISBN978-0-644-24331-5
^(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)
^ ab. The British Association for Immediate Care. May 26, 2000. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
External links
World Meteorological Organization
Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Fiji Meteorological Service
New Zealand MetService
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
April 28, 2023
1978, south, pacific, cyclone, season, year, round, from, july, june, tropical, cyclone, activity, southern, hemisphere, reaches, peak, from, february, early, march, season, summary, mapseasonal, boundariesfirst, system, formeddecember, 1978last, system, dissi. 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 1978 79 South Pacific cyclone seasonSeason summary mapSeasonal boundariesFirst system formedDecember 27 1978Last system dissipatedApril 17 1979Strongest stormNameMeli Maximum winds155 km h 100 mph 10 minute sustained Lowest pressure945 hPa mbar Seasonal statisticsTotal depressions9Tropical cyclones6 official 2 unofficialSevere tropical cyclones2Total fatalitiesUnknownTotal damageUnknownRelated articles1978 79 South West Indian Ocean cyclone season 1978 79 Australian region cyclone seasonSouth Pacific tropical cyclone seasons1976 77 1977 78 1978 79 1979 80 1982 83 Contents 1 Systems 1 1 Tropical Cyclone Fay 1 2 Severe Tropical Cyclone Gordon 1 3 Tropical Cyclone Henry 1 4 Tropical Storm 11P 1 5 Tropical Cyclone Kerry 1 6 Tropical Cyclone Leslie 1 7 Severe Tropical Cyclone Meli 1 8 Tropical Storm 23P 2 Seasonal effects 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksSystems EditTropical Cyclone Fay Edit Category 2 tropical cyclone Australian scale Tropical storm SSHWS DurationDecember 27 December 31Peak intensity100 km h 65 mph 10 min 980 hPa mbar Severe Tropical Cyclone Gordon Edit 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 Edit Category 2 tropical cyclone Australian scale Tropical storm SSHWS DurationJanuary 29 February 5Peak intensity100 km h 65 mph 10 min 980 hPa mbar Henry existed from January 29 to February 5 Tropical Storm 11P Edit 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 Edit 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 Edit Category 2 tropical cyclone Australian scale Tropical storm SSHWS DurationFebruary 21 February 23Peak intensity100 km h 65 mph 10 min 980 hPa mbar Leslie existed from February 21 to February 23 Severe Tropical Cyclone Meli Edit Category 3 severe tropical cyclone Australian scale Category 4 tropical cyclone SSHWS DurationMarch 24 March 31Peak 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 Edit Tropical storm SSHWS DurationMarch 30 April 3Peak intensity65 km h 40 mph 1 min 995 hPa mbar This storm existed from March 30 to April 3 Seasonal effects EditName Dates Peak intensity Areas affected Damage USD Deaths RefsCategory Wind speed PressureFay December 27 31 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km h 65 mph 980 hPa 28 94 inHg Gordon January 3 9 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 130 km h 80 mph 965 hPa 28 50 inHg Henry January 29 February 5 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km h 65 mph 980 hPa 28 94 inHg Kerry February 13 15 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km h 65 mph 980 hPa 28 94 inHg Leslie February 21 23 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km h 65 mph 980 hPa 28 94 inHg Meli March 24 30 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 155 km h 100 mph 945 hPa 27 91 inHg Season aggregates155 km h 100 mph 945 hPa 27 91 inHg See also EditAtlantic hurricane seasons 1978 1979 Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons 1978 1979 Western Pacific typhoon seasons 1978 1979 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons 1978 1979References Edit Bureau of Meteorology 1992 Climate of Queensland Commonwealth of Australia ISBN 978 0 644 24331 5 Archived copy PDF gns cri nz Archived from the original PDF on 5 June 2010 Retrieved 12 January 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link a b 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 External links EditWorld Meteorological Organization Australian Bureau of Meteorology Fiji Meteorological Service New Zealand MetService Joint Typhoon Warning Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1978 79 South Pacific cyclone season amp oldid 1147572193 Severe Tropical Cyclone Meli, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
