Cyclone Wasa

Severe Tropical Cyclone Wasa–Arthur

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 3 (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Severe Tropical Cyclone Wasa while it was near its peak intensity
Formed	December 3, 1991
Dissipated	December 18, 1991
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 165 km/h (105 mph) 1-minute sustained: 195 km/h (120 mph)
Lowest pressure	940 hPa (mbar); 27.76 inHg
Fatalities	2
Damage	$60 million (1992 USD)
Areas affected	French Polynesia
Part of the 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season

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 December 3, 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 during December 5. The system gradually strengthened further and acquired hurricane-force winds on December 6, as it performed a small clockwise loop. After completing the loop, Wasa moved southwards before it peaked in intensity during December 8, 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.

During December 12, Wasa passed through the French Polynesian Austral Islands and passed directly over Tubuai, before it degenerated into a tropical depression later that day. However, gale force winds remained associated with the depression, before the system turned towards the east-northeast and entered into warmer waters near the Tuamotu Islands. During December 14, Wasa regenerated into a tropical depression and was renamed Arthur for various reasons. During that day the system gradually intensified before it reached its secondary peak intensity with sustained wind speeds of 95 km/h (60 mph). During December 15, the system maintained its peak intensity, as it moved through the uninhabited Acteon Group of islands, before during the next day it started to gradually weaken. Arthur degenerated into a shallow depression during December 17, before it was last noted during the next day as it dissipated to the north of the Pitcairn islands.