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), 155 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 |
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The 1972–73 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.
Seasonal summary
Storms
Severe Tropical 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) |
|
|
| 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) |
|
|
| 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) |
|
|
| 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) |
|
|
| 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) |
|
|
| 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) |
|
|
| 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) |
|
|
| 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
See also
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1972, 1973
- Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1972, 1973
- Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1972, 1973
- North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1972, 1973
References
- 1 2 3 Bureau of Meteorology (1975) Tropical Cyclones in the Northern Australian Regions 1971-1972 Australian Government Publishing Service
- 1 2 Resture, Jane (5 October 2009). Hurricane Bebe 1972. Tuvalu and the Hurricanes: ‘The Hurricane in Funafuti, Tuvalu’ by Pasefika Falani (Pacific Frank).
- ↑ Elwyn E. Wilson (January 1973). "October Hurricane Clobbers Fiji". Mariners Weather Log. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 17 (1): 19–20.
- ↑ MetService (May 22, 2009). "TCWC Wellington Best Track Data 1967–2006". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
External links
