Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | December 4, 1991 |
Extratropical | December 13, 1991 |
Dissipated | December 17, 1991 |
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone | |
10-minute sustained (FMS) | |
Highest winds | 165 km/h (105 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 940 hPa (mbar);27.76 inHg |
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NPMOC) | |
Highest winds | 230 km/h (145 mph) |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 17 confirmed |
Damage | $381 million (1991 USD) |
Areas affected | Tuvalu,Tokelau,Wallis and Futuna,Samoan Islands,Cook Islands,Tonga |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Val was considered to be the worst tropical cyclone to affect the Samoan Islands since the 1889 Apia cyclone. The system was first identified during the opening days of December 1991,as a small circulation,within the Intertropical Convergence Zone to the north of Tokelau. Over the next few days,the system moved westwards towards Rotuma and Tuvalu and gradually developed further,before it was named Val on December 5,after it had become a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. The system subsequently continued to intensify as it moved towards the Samoan Islands and peaked as a category 4 severe tropical cyclone,as it made landfall on the island of Savaii on December 6. After Val had passed over the island,weakening upper-level winds caused the system to slow down before it made a sharp clockwise loop which almost brought it over Savaii for a second time.
On December 9,Val completed its loop and started to move eastwards and gradually weakened before it passed over American Samoa early the next day. After passing over American Samoa,Val appeared to threaten the Southern Cook Islands and was expected to pass close to Palmerston Island. However,as the system continued to weaken,it started to move more towards the south-southeast than had been expected,which spared the Cook Islands. During December 13,Val became a strong extratropical depression,before the system was captured and sheared apart by strong environmental westerlies associated with the Antarctic Circumpolar Current as it approached 50°S during December 16.
The cyclone lasted for five days in American Samoa and was designated by the United States Government as a major disaster on December 13,1991. Western Samoa suffered more damage than American Samoa. [1] [2] The cyclone devastated the islands with 150-mile-per-hour (240 km/h) winds and 50-foot (15 m) waves. The overall damages caused by Cyclone Val in American Samoa have been variously assessed. One estimate put the damages at $50 million in American Samoa and $200 million in Western Samoa due to damage to electrical,water,and telephone connections and destruction of various government buildings,schools,and houses. [3]
During the opening days of December 1991,the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) started to monitor a small circulation,that had developed along the Intertropical Convergence Zone,just to the north of Tokelau as a result of a surge within the westerlies. [4] [5] Over the next few days,the system moved westwards towards Rotuma and Tuvalu,where it lay near the centre of an area of upper level outflow. [5] During December 4,the FMS classified the system as a tropical depression by the FMS,while it was located just to the southeast of Tuvalu and moving north-westwards. [6] The system was then named Val by the FMS during the next day,after it had become a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. [7] [8] During that day the United States Naval Western Oceanography Center (NWOC) designated the system as Tropical Cyclone 06P and started to issue advisories,while Val started to move towards the south-southeast,after the upper level north-westerly steering winds increased. [8] [9] During December 6,the NWOC reported that the system had become equivalent to a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale as Val continued to steadily intensify and moved south-eastwards,away from Tuvalu and towards the Samoan Islands. [4] [7] Early on December 7,the FMS reported that the system had become a category 3 severe tropical cyclone,as it started to be steered southwards by upper-level northerlies. [4] [7]
Later that day,the FMS reported that Val had reached its peak 10-minute sustained wind speeds of about 165 km/h (105 mph),which made it a category 4 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale. [4] [7] The system subsequently made landfall on the Samoan island of Savaii at around 1800 UTC,while the NWOC reported that the cyclone had peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of about 230 km/h (145 mph),which made it equivalent to a category 4 hurricane on the SSHWS. [8] [7] After Val had passed over the island,weakening upper-level winds caused the system to slow down before it made a sharp clockwise loop which almost brought it over Savaii for a second time. [8] [6] During December 9,Val completed its loop and started to move eastwards and gradually weaken,before it passed over the American Samoan island of Tutuila early the next day. [6] [10] After passing over American Samoa,Val appeared to threaten the Southern Cook Islands and was expected to pass close to Palmerston Island. [4] However,as the system continued to weaken,it started to move more towards the south-southeast then had been expected,which spared the Cook Islands. [4] During December 12,the FMS reported that Val had weakened into a category two tropical cyclone and passed the primary warning responsibility for the system to the New Zealand Meteorological Service (NZMS) after Val had moved out of its area of responsibility. [4] Shortly after moving into the NZMS's area of responsibility,Val transitioned into a strong extratropical depression. [6] [10] Storm force winds subsequently persisted around the centre of Val's extratropical remnants for the next 3 days,before the system was captured and sheared apart by strong environmental westerlies associated with the Antarctic Circumpolar Current as it approached 50°S. [6]
Area | Deaths | Damages (USD) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
American Samoa | 1 | $100 million | [11] |
Cook Islands | None | $543,500 | [12] |
Flying Cloud | 3 | N/A | [11] |
Samoa | 13 | $280 million | [13] [14] |
Tokelau | None | $750,000 | [15] |
Tonga | None | Minor | [4] |
Tuvalu | None | Minor | [4] |
Wallis and Futuna | None | Minor | [4] |
Total | 17 | $381 million |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Val caused over US$300 million in damage and caused 17 deaths,as it impacted the Cook Islands,American Samoa,Samoa,Tokelau,Tonga,Tuvalu as well as Wallis and Futuna. Some of these island nations were still recovering from the effects of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ofa,which had impacted Polynesia less than two years earlier. Val's main impacts were to the Samoan Islands,where it was responsible for 14 deaths and was considered to be the worst tropical cyclone to impact the islands since the 1889 Apia cyclone. [16] As a result of the impact of this storm,the name Val was retired from the tropical cyclone naming lists. [17]
Val impacted Samoa between December 6 - 10,where it caused 13 deaths and significant damage estimated at $280 million.
Val impacted Samoa between December 6–10 while it was still recovering from the effects of Ofa,which had destroyed the economy of the nation 22 months earlier during February 1990. During December 5–6,ahead of the cyclone directly impacting the island nation,north-easterly winds and high seas associated with the system,damaged the northern coastal areas of both Savai'i and Upolu. During December 6,a gale warning was issued for Samoa by the FMS during December 6,before it issued a hurricane warning for the island nation during the next day. [4] Ahead of the system making landfall on Savaii at around 18:00 UTC (07:00 WST) on December 7,the then Prime Minister of Samoa Tofilau Eti Alesana prayed for the country to be spared the brunt of Val's destructive winds in a radio address. [18] He asked Samoans to pray to God for deliverance of this prayer,but also urged acceptance of the storm as God's will. [18]
The cyclone destroyed over 65% of the residential homes on American Samoa and even more on the Samoan islands of Upolu and Savai'i. [1] Cyclone Val cut communications and power lines on the islands. It devastated fire stations,hospitals,government buildings,schools,and churches,particularly wooden buildings of the pre World War I colonial era. Cyclone Val destroyed over 80% of agricultural crops. [1] One of the first areas hit was the Western Samoan island of Savai'i,which was described as looking like an atomic bomb had hit. A local remarked that "there was no green,no buildings standing,no shelter;just total and complete devastation." [1] Cyclone Val was assessed to have had an impact 50% worse than Cyclone Ofa, [1] costing about $50 million in damage and putting a severe strain on agricultural production and the livelihoods of farmers on the islands. [3] In Fagatele Bay at Tutuila Island,where Cyclone Val made a direct pass,the coral reef was completely destroyed. A large strip of the coast was also eroded. In response to this disaster,the NOAA deputed an assessment team to survey the damage to the reefs. [19] In Tutuila,which accounts for 68% of American Samoa,the funicular railway,the longest single span cableway in the world,was permanently put out of service by Cyclone Val. [20] The cable had previously connected Pago Pago harbor with the TV tower erected on Mt. Alava (491m). The TV tower at Utulei,one of the three TV channels in Samoa,was completely ruined by Cyclone Val,resulting in it being cannibalized for parts to maintain the two remaining channels. [20] The Fagalele Boys School,one of the oldest European-style buildings on the island in Leone,was destroyed by Cyclone Val. [20] According to a report of Greenpeace mission,the airport of Western Samoa was also devastated.
Food production was halted;forests were damaged,and animals and birds were lost. The forest loss was as severe as 45% of Savai'i's timber logs. [21]
People were devoid of electricity for weeks and water supply for many days and depended on emergency aid. In Western Samoa (islands of Savai'i,Manono and Upolu),the percentage of damaged houses was as high as 80%. [22]
During December 6,the FMS issued a tropical cyclone alert for American Samoa,before it issued a gale warning for the American territory later that day. [4] Storm and hurricane warnings were subsequently issued during the next day,before the weather station at Pago Pago reported its first gale-force winds later that day at around 14:00 UTC (02:00 UTC+11). [4] The hurricane warning was subsequently downgraded to a gale warning during December 8,as Val moved south-eastwards towards Savaii and the threat of the cyclone passing close to the American territory decreased. [4] However,after Val had made landfall on Savaii,it moved erratically and performed a clockwise loop just to the southwest of Savaii,before it started to move eastwards towards American Samoa. [4] As a result,the FMS reissued a hurricane warning for American Samoa during December 9,before Val's eye passed near or over the island of Tutuila early the next day. [4] [11] As a result,hurricane-force winds of up to 130 km/h (80 mph) and wind-gusts of up to 185 km/h (115 mph) were experienced on the island at the Pago Pago weather station. [4]
Ahead of Val making landfall on the territory,the American Red Cross,the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Army Corps of Engineers were placed on standby to fly to Pago Pago as soon as the airport reopened. [23] High seas impacting the territory caused at least one coastal village to be evacuated. [23]
Severe damage was subsequently reported in the territory,with 100% of crops damaged and 90% of houses/homes destroyed. [4]
As Val's precursor tropical depression developed,strong winds associated with the intertropical convergence zone,caused some minor damage to the Tuvaluan atoll of Funafuti and various other atolls in the island nation. [4] [24] During December 4,a strong wind warning was issued for the island nation of Tokelau,after the system had developed into a tropical depression. [4] A tropical cyclone alert was subsequently issued during the next day,as it was thought that the cyclone could pose a threat to the island nation as it moved eastwards. [4] During December 6,the FMS issued a gale warning for the whole of Tokelau,before gale-force winds of up to 75 km/h (45 mph) were observed at Atafu,as Val passed about 370 km (230 mi) to the south-west of the island nation. [4] Squally conditions subsequently persisted over the islands for the next few days,with Fakaofo recording gale-force winds during December 10,in association with a convective rainband. [4] Within the island nation,residents took refuge in a school building,while strong winds and high seas caused damage to homes and several uncompleted seawall structures,that were being installed following Ofa's impacts on the islands. [15] [18] The United Nations Development Programme subsequently funded a project between 1992 and 1995,which provided a limited reconstruction of the areas damaged by the cyclone. [15] Total damages within the island nation were estimated at US$750,000. [15]
During December 6,as the system moved southeastwards towards Samoa,the threat of gale-force or stronger winds developing over northern Tonga and the island of Wallis,within the French Overseas Territory of Wallis and Futuna increased. [4] As a result,the FMS issued gale warnings for the islands of Niuafoʻou,Niuatoputapu and Wallis,while issuing a tropical cyclone alert for the rest of the Tongan islands. [4] However,the warnings were cancelled during the next day,as the threat of gale-force or stronger winds developing over Wallis or northern Tonga had decreased. [4] During December 8,after the system had made landfall on Savaii,Val started to move south-westwards and posed another threat to northern Tonga. [4] As a result,a gale warning was reissued for Niuatoputapu,while the rest of Tonga was placed under a strong wind warning. [4] A storm warning was subsequently issued for Niuatoputapu during December 9,after Val had produced gale-force winds over the island and moved closer to it. [4] Storm-force winds of around 95 km/h (60 mph) were subsequently experienced on the island,while winds of below gale-force were experienced on Niuafoʻou. [4] Wallis Island also did not experience any gale-force winds,however,some minor damage was reported on the island,after some minor flooding of coastal areas occurred. [4]
During December 10,the FMS issued a gale warning for Palmerston Island and a tropical cyclone alert for the rest of the Southern Cook Islands,as Val accelerated south-eastwards and appeared to threaten the islands. [4] However,the system subsequently moved more towards the south-southeast than had been expected and eventually passed around 370 km (230 mi) to the west of Palmerston Island. [4] As a result,the Southern Cook Islands were spared any major damage from the system. [4] However,gale- and storm-force winds were reported on the island during December 11,which were subsequently attributed to a convective rainband and rain squalls that appeared on satellite imagery at the time. [4] Gale-force winds were also reported over Pukapuka and nearby islands in the Northern Cook Islands during December 11. [4] Within the Cook Islands,damages to crops and infrastructure were reported,with total damages estimated at $1 million NZD (US$544 thousand). [12] The government of the Cook Islands also asked for money to repair a seawall. [12]
The President of United States declared the event as a "major disaster",for which federal assistance was provided. [25] The severity of Cyclone Val was aptly described by a local resident who stated:"But this Cyclone was stronger than me. For the first time I felt defeated I had never felt that before. I felt it was personal between me and Cyclone. I got depressed afterward." [26] Aid was provided to the affected zones based on a categorization as Category A,B,C,D,E and F. The categories are defined by the degree of damage suffered. Assistance covered individuals,households,and the State and local governments. The assistance encouraged private,nonprofit organizations (NGOs) to meet and discuss expense-related emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure. Assistance provided "Hazard Mitigation Grants" to secure life and property from hazards. [27] New Zealand and Australia provided considerable assistance to the affected population and helped with the reconstruction and recovery of infrastructure facilities. Samoans in the United States,Australia,and New Zealand helped finance the recovery by way of remittances to their relatives who suffered on the island. [21]
In 1991,American Samoa purchased a $45 million "all risk" insurance policy from the firm Affiliated FM Insurance. The firm would only pay up to $6.1 million for the damages,arguing that the insurance did not cover water damage,only that caused by the wind. [3] Attorney William Shernoff investigated and discovered that the insurance company had altered American Samoa's insurance policy to exclude damages caused by "wind-driven water",despite the fact that it still covered cyclones. [3] The case was taken to court,and in 1995,the jury awarded the American Samoa Government $28.9 million. Soon after,the amount was doubled to $57.8 million to include punitive damages. The total damages awarded by the judgment was $86.7 million,which the judge stated to be "the largest insurance bad faith verdict in the state of California in 1995". [3]
The revenues of American Samoa for the fiscal years 2002 and 2003,which had been showing a downward trend,registered a substantial increase attributed to the insurance settlement of claims made to cover the damages caused by Cyclone Val. This resulted in fiscal surpluses. The deficit of US$23.1 million at the start of 2001 changed to a surplus of US$43.2 million by end of 2003. [28]
As the system impacted the Samoan Islands,the New Zealand Government set up an emergency task force,to coordinate their response to the cyclone. [29] The task force planned to deploy a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion to conduct an aerial reconnaissance flight during December 8,however,this was postponed until December 10,due to the weather conditions over the Samoan Islands. [29] They also planned to send a frigate to Samoa with relief supplies on board during December 10,as it was thought that the airport might have to be closed for a little while. [29]
Severe Tropical Cyclone Heta was a Category 5 tropical cyclone that caused moderate damage to the islands of Tonga, Niue, and American Samoa during late December 2003 and early January 2004. Heta formed on December 25, 2003; it reached a maximum intensity of 260 km/h (160 mph) and an estimated pressure of 915 hPa before dissipating on January 11, 2004. It was the first named tropical cyclone to form during the 2003–04 South Pacific cyclone season.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Percy was an extremely powerful tropical cyclone, which was the third and last Category 5 cyclone to form in the 2004–05 South Pacific cyclone season. The seventh named storm and the fourth and final severe tropical cyclone to form during the 2004–05 South Pacific cyclone season. Percy originated as a tropical disturbance on February 23. Over next few days, the system organized while moving east southeastward, before intensifying into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian region scale on February 26. The system quickly intensified, reaching Category 4 status later that day. On the next day, Percy was steered southward by a blocking ridge of high pressure, while stretched out the structure of the storm into an elliptical shape, weakening it back to Category 3 status. Afterward, the storm rapidly reintensified, reaching its peak intensity as a Category 5 tropical cyclone on March 2. Afterward, Percy encountered increasing wind shear and weakened once again, turning southeastward on the next day. On March 5, Percy transitioned into an extratropical storm, before dissipating soon afterward.
The 1997–98 South Pacific cyclone season was the most active South Pacific tropical cyclone season on record, with 16 tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific basin between 160°E and 120°W. The season started earlier than normal with 3 systems developing before the official start of the season on November 1, 1997, while the final system of the season dissipated on May 3, 1998, after the season had officially ended on April 30. During the season 50 people died as a result of tropical cyclones, with the deadliest being Cyclone Martin with 27 known deaths. The strongest tropical cyclones during the season were Cyclone Ron and Cyclone Susan as both were estimated to have minimum pressures of 900 hectopascals (26.6 inHg), and were the most intense tropical cyclones on record in the South Pacific Ocean until Cyclone Zoe in 2002–03. After the season ended, 11 names had their names either removed or retired from the lists of names, after they caused significant impacts to South Pacific islands.
The 1992–93 South Pacific cyclone season was an above-average tropical cyclone season with ten tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific to the east of 160°E. The season officially ran from November 1, 1992, to April 30, 1993, with the first disturbance of the season forming on December 3 and the last disturbance dissipating on April 6.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Wasa–Arthur was the first major tropical cyclone to affect French Polynesia and Tahiti since the 1982–83 season. The system was first noted on 3 December 1991, as a shallow tropical depression that was embedded within the monsoon trough, to the north of the Cook Island: Rarotonga. Over the next couple of days the system gradually developed further, before it was classified as a tropical cyclone and named Wasa on 5 December. The following day, as it performed a small clockwise loop, the system strengthened further and acquired hurricane-force winds. After completing the loop, Wasa moved southwards before it peaked in intensity during 8 December, with sustained wind speeds of 165 km/h (105 mph). Over the next few days the system started to weaken as it passed through the French Polynesian Society Islands, and became the first major tropical cyclone to affect French Polynesia since 1983.
The 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season was an above average tropical cyclone season, with eleven tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific basin between 160°E and 120°W. The first tropical cyclone of the season was first noted 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.
The 1994–95 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the least active South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons on record, with only four tropical cyclones officially occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W. The season ran from November 1, 1994, until April 30, 1995, with the first disturbance of the season developing on November 12 and the last disturbance leaving the base on March 5. The most intense tropical cyclone during the season was Tropical Cyclone Violet, which briefly existed within the basin. After the season, the name William was retired from the tropical cyclone naming lists.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Susan was one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record within the South Pacific basin. It was first noted on December 20, 1997, as a weak tropical disturbance located to the north of American Samoa. Over the next 12 days, the disturbance remained weak while it gradually moved towards the southwest before it started to rapidly develop on January 2, 1998 while it was located near the Fijian dependency of Rotuma. The disturbance was declared a tropical cyclone later that day, but was not named Susan until the next day, after it had intensified into a category 2 tropical cyclone on the Australian Scale. Over the next few days, Susan moved towards the southwest and continued to intensify before it reached its peak intensity as a category five tropical cyclone during January 5 while it was located about 400 km (250 mi) to the northwest of Vanuatu's capital city Port Vila.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ofa was a powerful tropical cyclone that caused severe damage in Polynesia in February 1990. The system was first noted on January 27, 1990, near Tuvalu, as a shallow tropical depression that had developed within the South Pacific Convergence Zone. The cloud pattern slowly organized, and on January 31, while located east of Tuvalu, Ofa attained cyclone intensity. Moving slowly southeast, Ofa developed storm-force winds. It attained hurricane-force winds on February 2. Cyclone Ofa reached peak intensity on February 4. Shortly after, its peak Ofa began to weaken over a less favourable environment. Ofa was declared an extratropical cyclone on February 8, though the system was still tracked by meteorologists until February 10.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Evan was considered to be the worst tropical cyclone to affect the island nation of Samoa since Cyclone Val in 1991 and was the strongest storm to impact the main South Pacific islands until Winston in 2016. The system was first noted on December 9, 2012, as a weak tropical depression about 700 km (435 mi) to the northeast of Suva, Fiji. Over the next couple of days, the depression gradually developed further before it was named Evan on December 12, as it had fully developed into a tropical cyclone. During that day the system moved toward the Samoan Islands and gradually intensified, before the system slowed and severely affected the Samoan Islands during the next day with wind gusts of up to 210 km/h (130 mph).
The 2016–17 South Pacific cyclone season was the least active South Pacific cyclone season since the 2011–12 season, with only four tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific Ocean to the east of 160°E. Two of the four systems developed into severe tropical cyclones on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. The season officially ran from November 1, 2016 until April 30, 2017. However, May featured two post-season systems: Donna and Ella, of which the former was the strongest post-season South Pacific tropical cyclone ever recorded in that month. Overall, 22 tropical disturbances were monitored by a combination of the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and New Zealand's MetService.
The 2017–18 South Pacific cyclone season was a slightly below-average season that produced 6 tropical cyclones, 3 of which became severe tropical cyclones. The season officially began on November 1, 2017, and ended on April 30, 2018; however, a tropical cyclone could form at any time between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018, and would count towards the season total. During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service, MetService and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, while the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also monitored the basin and issued warnings for American interests. The FMS attaches a number and an F suffix to significant tropical disturbances that form in or move into the basin, while the JTWC designates significant tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix. The BoM, FMS and MetService all use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale and estimate wind speeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC estimates sustained winds over a 1-minute period, which are subsequently compared to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS).
The 2018–19 South Pacific cyclone season was a below-average season that produced 5 tropical cyclones, 2 of which became severe tropical cyclones. The season officially runs from November 1, 2018, to April 30, 2019; however, a tropical cyclone could have formed at any time between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, and would count towards the season total. During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and New Zealand's MetService. The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also monitored the basin and issued warnings for American interests. RSMC Nadi attaches a number and an F suffix to tropical disturbances that form in or move into the basin, while the JTWC designates significant tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix. The FMS, the BoM and MetService all use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale and estimate wind speeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC estimates sustained winds over a 1-minute period, which are subsequently compared to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS).
The 2019–20 South Pacific cyclone season was a slightly above-average season in which tropical cyclones formed within the South Pacific Ocean to the east of 160°E. The season officially ran from November 1, 2019, to April 30, 2020, however a tropical cyclone could form at any time between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, and would count towards the season total. The season began on November 22 with the formation of Tropical Cyclone Rita, which would later become a severe tropical cyclone. The season has been near-average in terms of activity, with 8 tropical cyclones and 4 severe tropical cyclones forming during the season. The season featured Cyclone Harold, the first Category 5 severe tropical cyclone in the basin since Cyclone Gita, and one of the strongest since Cyclone Winston. During the season, tropical cyclones are officially monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and New Zealand's MetService. The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also monitors the basin and issue unofficial warnings for American interests. The FMS attaches a number and an F suffix to tropical disturbances that form in or move into the basin while the JTWC designates significant tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix. The FMS, BoM and MetService all use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale and estimate wind speeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC estimated sustained winds over a 1-minute period, which are subsequently compared to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS).
Severe Tropical Cyclone Tusi was a tropical cyclone which affected the island nations of Tuvalu, Tokelau, Western Samoa, American Samoa, Niue and the Southern Cook Islands during January 1987. The precursor tropical depression to Cyclone Tusi developed on January 13, within a trough of low pressure near the island nation of Tuvalu. Over the next few days the system gradually developed further before it was named Tusi during January 16, after it had become equivalent to a modern-day category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. After being named the system gradually intensified as it moved southeastwards along the trough, between the islands of Fakaofo and Swains during January 17. Tusi's eye subsequently passed near or over American Samoa's Manu'a Islands early the next day, as the system peaked in intensity with 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 150 km/h (90 mph). The system subsequently posed a threat to the Southern Cook Islands, however this threat gradually diminished as Tusi moved southwards and approached 25S during January 20.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Raja was a tropical cyclone that holds the 24-hour rainfall record of 674.9 mm (26.57 in) for the French Overseas Territory of Wallis and Futuna. The system was first noted by the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) as a weak tropical disturbance northeast of Tokelau in mid-December 1986. The system developed further as it moved southwest over the next few days, and it was classified as Tropical Cyclone Raja on 23 December. The newly named system slowed and unexpectedly recurved southeast towards the French territory of Wallis and Futuna on 24 December. Over the next two days, Raja interacted with what would become Severe Cyclone Sally and executed a tight loop, passing within 55 km (35 mi) of Futuna. The system peaked as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on 28 December, with estimated 10-minute sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). The storm turned southwest the next day and threatened Fiji, where it passed within 20 km (10 mi) of Vanua Levu and near several smaller islands in the Lau group during the following day. Raja gradually weakened over the next few days as it moved south of Fiji; it was last noted on 5 January 1987 after it filled up over the north Tasman Sea.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula was a powerful and long-lived tropical cyclone during late December 2015 and mid-January 2016. It originated from a tropical disturbance on December 26, 2015, east of the Solomon Islands. Moving generally east, development was initially slow and the system finally reached cyclone strength—having gale-force winds—on December 30. The newly christened Tropical Cyclone Ula turned sharply south and rapidly intensified, attaining hurricane strength the following day. A shift to the southwest brought the system close to the northern islands of Tonga on January 2, 2016. It subsequently brushed several islands in the Lau Group of Fiji before weakening. Nearly degrading to a tropical depression, Ula turned to the northwest and regained strength. After turning back to the southwest, it achieved its peak intensity as a Category 4 on the Australian scale with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) on January 10. Thereafter, the storm bypassed Vanuatu to the southeast and New Caledonia to the east as it accelerated southward.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Meena was the first of four tropical cyclones to impact the Cook Islands during February 2005. The system was first identified within a trough of low pressure, about 620 km (385 mi) to the northwest of Pago Pago in American Samoa.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Tino was a tropical cyclone which itself and an associated convergence zone caused significant damage across ten island nations in the South Pacific Ocean during January 2020. First noted as a tropical disturbance during January 11, to the southwest of Honiara in the Solomon Islands, the system gradually developed over the next few days as it moved eastwards in between the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu prior to being named Tino as it approached Fiji during January 16. Continuing to track south-eastward, Tino continued strengthening as it passed near Fiji, bringing copious amounts of rainfall to the area. Whilst losing latitude, the system continued to strengthen and peaked as a category 3 tropical cyclone on January 17, with signs of an eye forming. Shortly after peak intensity, Tino was impacted by high wind shear and decreasing sea surface temperatures, triggering a weakening trend. Tino moved out of the tropics shortly thereafter and became an extratropical cyclone during January 19.
Tropical Cyclone Sarai was a moderately strong tropical cyclone that impacted several island nations and countries in late-December 2019. The third tropical cyclone and the second named storm of the 2019-20 South Pacific cyclone season, Sarai formed from an area of low pressure to the south of Tuvalu. Over the next days, the low pressure became organized and was designated by the Fiji Meteorological Service as Tropical Disturbance 03F on December 23. Under favorable conditions, the disturbance gradually organized, becoming a depression two days later, before strengthening to a tropical cyclone, earning the name Sarai. It moved to the south, before a high-pressure steered the system to the east, passing to the south of Fiji, near Suva before weakening. Sarai passed near the Tongan islands of Haʻapai and Tongatapu as a Category 1 cyclone, before rapidly degrading to a tropical depression due to the system entering unfavorable conditions. It was last noted on January 2 to the southeast of Cook Islands.