1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season

1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season
Season summary map
First system formed October 19, 1972
Last system dissipated April 6, 1973
Strongest storm1 Bebe – 945 hPa (mbar), 160 km/h (100 mph) (11-minute sustained)
Total disturbances 8
Tropical cyclones 8
Severe tropical cyclones 2
Total fatalities Unknown
Total damage Unknown
1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75
Related articles

The 1972–1973 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.

Storms

Severe Tropical Cyclone Bebe

Main article: Cyclone Bebe
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration October 19 – October 29
Peak intensity 155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min)  945 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Bebe was a pre-season storm that impacted the Gilbert, Ellice, and Fiji island groups.[1] First spotted on October 20, the system intensified and grew in size through October 22. Its course began along a south-southwest trajectory before recurving near the 14th parallel south, which resulted in a south-southeast motion through the western portion of the Fiji island group.[1] It became the first cyclone to impact Fiji since 1952. On October 24, winds of 150 knots (280 km/h) or more were reported on Rotuma and Viti Levu. Cyclone Bebe passed through Funafuti on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22 October 1972. At about 4 p.m. on the 21st, sea water was bubbling through the coral on the airfield with the water reaching a height of about 4 –5 feet high. The Ellice Islands Colony's ship Moanaraoi was in the lagoon and survived, however 3 tuna boats were wrecked. Waves broke over the atoll. Five people died, two adults and a 3 month old child were swept away by waves, and two sailors from the tuna boats were drowned.[2] Cyclone Bebe knocked down 90% of the houses and trees. The storm surge created a wall of coral rubble along the ocean side of Funafuti and Funafala that was about ten to twelve miles long, and about ten to twenty feet thick at the bottom.[2] The cyclone submerged Funafuti and sources of drinking water were contaminated as a result of the system's storm surge and fresh water flooding. After passing by the archipelago, Bebe transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, with the remnants last noted on October 28.[1] A total of 28 people died and thousands were left homeless. Damages totaled $20 million (1972 USD).[3][4]

Tropical Cyclone Collette

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration November 2 – November 3
Peak intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

Collette existed from November 2 to November 3.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Diana

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration December 6 – December 18
Peak intensity 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min)  965 hPa (mbar)

Diana existed from December 6 to December 18.

Tropical Cyclone Elenore

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration January 31 – February 7
Peak intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Elenore existed from January 31 to February 7.

Tropical Cyclone Felicity

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration January 14 – January 18
Peak intensity 70 km/h (45 mph) (10-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

Felicity existed from January 14 to January 18.

Tropical Cyclone Glenda

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration January 31 – February 1
Peak intensity 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

Glenda existed from January 31 to February 1.

Tropical Cyclone Henrietta

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration February 28 – March 7
Peak intensity 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

Henrietta existed from February 28 to March 7.

Tropical Cyclone Juliette

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration April 2 – April 6
Peak intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Juliette existed from April 2 to April 6.

Seasonal effects

Name Dates active Peak classification Sustained
wind speeds
Pressure Land areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Bebe October 19 – 29 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 155 km/h (100 mph) 945 hPa (27.91 inHg) Gilbert, Ellice, and Fiji
Collette November 2 – 3 Category 1 tropical cyclone 65 km/h (40 mph)) 990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
Diana February 26 – March 6 Category 4 severe tropical cyclone 205 km/h (125 mph) 920 hPa (27.17 inHg)
Saba April 8 – 14 Category 2 Tropical Cyclone 110 km/h (70 mph) 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) French Polynesia, Pitcairn Island
Sarah April 8 – 14 Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone 185 km/h (115 mph) 955 hPa (28.20 inHg) French Polynesia
Tomasi April 8 – 14 Category 4 severe tropical cyclone 185 km/h (115 mph) 955 hPa (28.20 inHg) French Polynesia
Henrietta April 8 – 14 Category 1 tropical cyclone 75 km/h (45 mph) 990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
Juliette April 2 – 6 Category 1 tropical cyclone 100 km/h (65 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg)
Season Aggregates
8 systems October 19 – April 6 155 km/h (100 mph) 920 hPa (27.17 inHg)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bureau of Meteorology (1975) Tropical Cyclones in the Northern Australian Regions 1971-1972 Australian Government Publishing Service
  2. 1 2 Resture, Jane (5 October 2009). Hurricane Bebe 1972. Tuvalu and the Hurricanes: ‘The Hurricane in Funafuti, Tuvalu’ by Pasefika Falani (Pacific Frank).
  3. Elwyn E. Wilson (January 1973). "October Hurricane Clobbers Fiji". Mariners Weather Log (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) 17 (1): 19–20.
  4. MetService (May 22, 2009). "TCWC Wellington Best Track Data 1967–2006". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.

External links

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