1997–98 South Pacific cyclone season
| 1997–98 South Pacific cyclone season |
Season summary map
|
| Seasonal boundaries |
| First system formed |
October 8, 1997 |
| Last system dissipated |
May 3, 1998 |
| Strongest storm |
|
| Name |
Ron and Susan
|
| • Maximum winds |
230 km/h (145 mph)
(10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure |
900 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics |
| Total depressions |
20 |
| Tropical cyclones |
16 (record high)
|
| Severe tropical cyclones |
7 |
| Total fatalities |
50 total |
| Total damage |
> $7.6 million (1998 USD) |
| Related articles |
|
|
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00
|
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 8 – October 12 |
| Peak intensity |
100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min) 980 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 27 – November 5 |
| Peak intensity |
155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min) 945 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
November 18 – November 19 |
| Peak intensity |
110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min) 975 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
November 22 – November 28 |
| Peak intensity |
150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min) 950 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
December 6 – December 10 |
| Peak intensity |
110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min) 975 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 5 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
December 20 – January 9 |
| Peak intensity |
230 km/h (145 mph) (10-min) 900 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 5 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
January 1 – January 8 |
| Peak intensity |
230 km/h (145 mph) (10-min) 900 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
January 7 – January 11 |
| Peak intensity |
150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min) 955 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
January 25 – January 27 |
| Peak intensity |
75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min) 990 hPa (mbar) |
The 1997–98 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the most active and longest South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons 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 hPa (26.58 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.
During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) in Nadi, Fiji and the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers in Brisbane, Australia and Wellington, New Zealand. The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (NPMOC), also monitored the basin and issued unofficial warnings for American interests. During the season RSMC Nadi issued warnings and assigned names to any tropical cyclones that developed between the Equator and 25°S while TCWC Wellington issued warnings for any that were located to the south of 25°S. The JTWC issued warnings for American interests on any significant tropical cyclone that was located between 160°E and the 180° while the NPMOC issued warnings for tropical cyclones forming between 180° and the American coast. RSMC Nadi and TCWC Wellington estimated sustained windspeeds over a 10-minute and used the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale, while the JTWC and the NPMOC estimated sustained windspeeds over a 1-minute period which are compared to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale (SSHS).
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