Cyclone Ron

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ron

Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 5 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Cyclone Ron at peak intensity after recurving towards Tonga
Formed	January 1, 1998
Dissipated	January 9, 1998 Absorbed by Cyclone Susan
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph) 1-minute sustained: 270 km/h (165 mph)
Lowest pressure	900 hPa (mbar); 26.58 inHg
Fatalities	None
Damage	$566,000 (1998 USD)
Areas affected	Samoan Islands, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna
Part of the 1997–98 South Pacific cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ron was one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record in the South Pacific. The system was first noted as a tropical depression, to the northeast of Samoa on January 1, 1998. Over the next day the system gradually developed further and was named Ron as it developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale during the next day. The system subsequently continued to move south-westwards and became a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, as it passed near Swains Island during January 3.

intensification proceeded at a fairly rapid rate. Ron reached the peak intensity of 145 mph (225 km/h) on January 5, becoming one of the most intense cyclones in the Southern hemisphere in that decade, when Ron was at north-northwest of Apia, Samoa, three days after initial development. The cyclone maintained this strength for about 36 hours, while re-curving to the south-southeast. Then, Ron started weakening while passing between central Tonga and Niue on January 7. Finally, by January 9, Ron was absorbed by the much larger circulation of Severe Tropical Cyclone Susan.

During January 1, 1997 the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) reported that a tropical depression had developed about 835 km (520 mi) to the northeast of the Samoan Islands. The system subsequently moved south-westwards under the influence of an area of high pressure and gradually developed further as its organisation and outflow improved. During the next day the FMS reported that the system had developed into a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone, on the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale and named it Ron. At around the same time the Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center initiated advisories on the system, and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 10P with 1-minute wind speeds of 65 km/h (40 mph). During that day the system continued to move south-westwards and gradually organized further and became a Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone during January 3, as it passed about 20 km (10 mi) to the north of Swains Island.