2002–03 South Pacific cyclone season
| 2002–03 South Pacific cyclone season |
Season summary map
|
| Seasonal boundaries |
| First system formed |
July 3, 2002 |
| Last system dissipated |
June 9, 2003 |
| Strongest storm |
|
| Name |
Zoe (Most intense tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere)
|
| • Maximum winds |
240 km/h (150 mph)
(10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure |
890 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics |
| Total disturbances |
18 |
| Total depressions |
15 |
| Tropical cyclones |
10 |
| Severe tropical cyclones |
7 |
| Total fatalities |
20 |
| Total damage |
$67.2 million (2003 USD) |
| Related articles |
|
|
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05
|
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
November 29 – December 6 |
| Peak intensity |
65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min) 995 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 5 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
December 23 – January 4 |
| Peak intensity |
240 km/h (150 mph) (10-min) 890 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
January 9 – January 15 |
| Peak intensity |
150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min) 950 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
January 25 – January 31 |
| Peak intensity |
205 km/h (125 mph) (10-min) 920 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
January 27 – January 29 |
| Peak intensity |
75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min) 995 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
February 5 – February 11 |
| Peak intensity |
205 km/h (125 mph) (10-min) 920 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
March 10 – March 14 |
| Peak intensity |
185 km/h (115 mph) (10-min) 930 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
March 12 (entered basin) – March 15 |
| Peak intensity |
215 km/h (130 mph) (10-min) 915 hPa (mbar) |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
April 13 – April 15 |
| Peak intensity |
95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min) 987 hPa (mbar) |
The 2002–03 South Pacific cyclone season was the most active and longest tropical cyclone season since 1997–98, with ten tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific basin between 160°E and 120°W. The season started earlier than normal, with two systems developing before the official start of the season on November 1, 2002, while the final system dissipated on June 9, 2003, after the season had officially ended on April 30. During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) in Nadi, Fiji and the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres in Brisbane, Australia and Wellington, New Zealand. The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), also monitored the basin and issued unofficial warnings for American interests. RSMC Nadi attaches a number and an F suffix to tropical disturbances that occur within the basin, while the JTWC designates significant tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix. RSMC Nadi, TCWC Wellington and TCWC Brisbane all use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale and estimate windspeeds over a ten-minute period, while the JTWC estimates sustained winds over a one-minute period, which are subsequently compared to the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale (SSHS).
The season began with Tropical Depression 17F on July 3, several months prior to the official start of the season. In late December, the strongest cyclone of the season, Cyclone Zoe severely affected many islands in the South Pacific, particularly the island of Tikopia. Zoe remains the strongest cyclone recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. Shortly after, in mid-January, Cyclone Ami struck Fiji as a Category 3 cyclone, where it caused US$51.2 million in damage.Cyclone Erica caused considerable damage to New Caledonia as a Category 4 cyclone, causing numerous power outages. The final storm of the season, Cyclone Gina, formed well outside the bounds of the conventional tropical cyclone season, existing entirely in the month of June and causing some damage to Tikopia. As a result of tropical cyclones in the 2002–03 season, US$67.2 million in damages was caused, along with 20 fatalities.
...
Wikipedia
