2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season
Encyclopedia
The 2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the least active tropical cyclone seasons on record, with only four tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific Ocean to the east of 160°E
. The season officially ran from November 1, 2007 until April 30, 2008, although the first cyclone, Tropical Depression 01F, developed on October 17. The most intense tropical cyclone of the season was Severe Tropical Cyclone Daman, which reached a minimum pressure of 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) as it affected Fiji. After the season had ended, the names Daman, Funa, and Gene were retired from the tropical cyclone naming lists.
During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center
(RSMC) in Nadi, Fiji
, and the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers (TCWC) in Wellington, New Zealand
. Throughout the season the United States Navy also monitored the basin and issued unofficial warnings, through its Joint Typhoon Warning Center
(JTWC). Tropical cyclones that were located between 160°E and 120°W as well as the Equator and 25°S were monitored by RSMC Nadi while any that moved to the south of 25°S between 160°E and 120°W were monitored by TCWC Wellington. During the season the JTWC issued warnings on any tropical cyclone that was located between 160°E and the American coast. RSMC Nadi and TCWC Wellington both used the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, and estimated windspeeds over a 10-minute period during the season, while the JTWC estimated sustained windspeeds over a 1-minute period.
During October 2007, both RSMC Nadi and New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), issued forecasts for a near to below average season, due to the presence of a weak La Niña
event. As a result of these conditions, neither agency predicted how many tropical cyclones would develop but noted that on average 6-8 cyclones could be expected to develop during a weak La Nina season. According to RSMC Nadi, Fiji was likely to be affected by one to two tropical cyclones, while two to three were likely to pass through Fiji's Exclusive Economic Zone
. According to NIWA there was an average risk of a tropical cyclone coming within 550 km (340 mi) of Tuvalu
, Fiji, Tonga
, Tokelau
, Wallis and Futuna
, and Northern New Zealand, while the risks for the Solomon Islands
, Vanuatu
, New Caledonia
, Samoa
and Niue
were variable and uncertain. All other islands faced a reduced risk off being affected by a tropical cyclone.
On October 17, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Depression 01F had developed about 670 km (420 mi) to the west of the Solomon Islands. Over the next few days, the depression moved slowly towards the east, before RSMC Nadi issued their final advisory on 01F early on October 19, as it had become sheared and had weakened into a tropical low. After 01F weakened into a tropical low pressure system and dissipated the basin remained quiet until November 20 when Tropical Disturbance 02F developed into a tropical depression. After developing into a tropical depression, 02F remained weak and unorganized before rapidly dissipating during November 22. RSMC Nadi also reported during November 22, that a weak tropical disturbance had developed on the edge of the basin about 280 km (174 mi) to the south of Honiara
, on the Solomon Island of Guadalcanal
.
. Later that day, as the disturbance moved towards the east in an area of low vertical windshear, it developed into a weak tropical depression. However according to RSMC Nadi the low level circulation center had become difficult to locate as the disturbance was situated under an upper level ridge of high pressure. During the next day, as the disturbance continued to move towards the east the upper level ridge of high pressure moved off the depression and started to shear the system. On October 19, RSMC Nadi issued their final advisory on the system as it had become sheared and weakened into a tropical low.
, about 900 km (560 mi) to the northeast of Suva
, on the Fijian island of Viti Levu
. During that day the disturbance moved towards the south and was designated as Tropical Depression 02F, despite convection surrounding the system remaining poorly organized. Over the next couple of days convection surrounding the depression remained unorganized as the system moved towards the south into an area of strong vertical windshear and cooler sea surface temperatures. RSMC Nadi then issued their final advisory on they system late on November 22, as it rapidly dissipated in an area of strong vertical windshear to the south of Fiji. 02F brought fresh to strong winds
to Fiji between November 22 - 23, the depression also dragged the convergence zone over Fiji, which led to an episode of significant widespread rain.
on the Vanuation island of Efate
. During that day convection surrounding the disturbance became more organized before RSMC Nadi reported during November 25 that the disturbance had developed into a tropical depression. Over the next couple of days the depression moved towards the east and weakened into a tropical disturbance, before on November 29 it was relocated to a position that was about 390 km (240 mi) to the southeast of Pago Pago.
(RSMC) in Nadi, Fiji, upgraded a tropical disturbance, located to the west of the Solomon Islands
, to Tropical Depression 04F. On December 5, as the depression moved towards the west into the Fijian archipelago
, both the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
(JTWC) and RSMC Nadi upgraded it to Cyclone Daman. On December 7 the cyclone reached its peak intensity with winds of 185 km/h, (115 mph 10-minute sustained) which made Daman a Category 4 cyclone on the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale. Later that day Daman also reached its peak intensity by 1-minute means with winds of 205 km/h (125 mph) which made it a Category 3 tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
. Early on December 8, Cyclone Daman brushed by the Fijian island of Cikobia, causing damage to housing, crops and vegetation. Daman then weakened the next day into a tropical depression and dissipated on December 10.
was upgraded to Tropical Depression 05F by RSMC Nadi based on a QuikScat
Pass. However, it did not develop any further as it affected the Southern Cook Islands
Group. RSMC Nadi issued their last Tropical Disturbance Summary on December 14.
was upgraded to Tropical Disturbance 06F. However the disturbance did not develop any further due to the system moving in to cooler waters. RSMC Nadi issued their last Tropical Disturbance Summary on December 28.
as Tropical Depression 08F. The depression moved eastwards over the next few days but did not intensify any further. RSMC Nadi then downgraded the depression to a tropical disturbance early on January 14 and then released their final tropical disturbance summary.
, near the islands of Vanuatuan islands. Early the next day RSMC Nadi upgraded it to a Tropical Depression and designated it as 10F. Early the next day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
on the developing depression.
Early on January 16, the depression had intensified enough to be classed as a Tropical Cyclone with RSMC Nadi naming the cyclone as Funa The JTWC then started to issue warnings on Funa designating it as tropical cyclone 12P later that day. It then started to move eastwards and passed very near the next day to the northern tip of Aurora Island, Vanuatu with wind speeds of 55 knots (107.8 km/h) which made Funa a category two cyclone on the Australian scale.
After leaving Vanuatu, Funa intensified slowly becoming a Category 3 severe Tropical cyclone on January 18 and then early the next day it reached its peak wind speeds of 95 knots (186.2 km/h) which the same as a category 4 cyclone according the Southern Pacific Cyclone Scale. The JTWC measured Funa's peak winds at 105 knots (205.8 km/h). The storm then moved into TCWC Wellington
area of responsibility it started to weaken and then became extra tropical the next day with the JTWC issuing their final advisory on January 20, with TCWC Wellington downgrading it to a low later that day.
located to the east of Pago Pago on January 19 and started to issue summaries on it. The next day it intensified into a tropical depression and was designated the number 11F by RSMC Nadi
. However the tropical depression did not strengthen any further as it moved southwards towards the edge of RSMC Nadi's area of responsibility with TCWC Wellington
. Late on January 23 RSMC Nadi issued its last warnings on 11F as the depression had moved into TCWC Wellingtons area of responsibility. However the next day the system became extra tropical as it was about southwest of Tonga'tapu.
issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
on the developing depression. On January 27 both RSMC Nadi and the JTWC upgraded the depression to a Tropical cyclone
, with RSMC Nadi naming the cyclone Gene.
Later that day Cyclone Gene made landfall on Viti Levu, in Fiji and caused 45 million (2008 US$) in damage. After it emerged back in to the Pacific Ocean Gene intensified slowly. becoming a category three severe tropical cyclone on January 30. Gene then reached its peak winds of 85 knots (100 mph, 150 km/h) the next day. On February 1, Gene began to weaken becoming a category two cyclone with wind speeds of 55 knots (107.8 km/h). It kept this intensity until it had crossed 25S and had moved in to TCWC Wellington's Area of responsibility, when Gene intensified back in to a severe tropical cyclone. Gene then slowly weakened with JTWC reporting that Gene had become an extra tropical cyclone on February 6. TCWC Wellington then released their final advisory on February 9.
(JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the depression. Later that day the JTWC initiated advisories on the depression designating it as Tropical Cyclone 24P. The Tropical Depression then reached its peak wind speeds of 30 knots (58.8 km/h) that day. On March 21, The Depression encountered an unfavourable environment of moderate to high vertical wind shear and weakened with the JTWC issuing its final advisory that day. Early on March 22 RSMC Nadi downgraded Tropical Depression 14F to Tropical Disturbance 14F and then the next day issued their last advisory on the tropical disturbance.
, consisting of an elongated circulation within a marginal upper-level environment. Despite anticipation that tropical cyclogenesis
was unlikely in the short term, deep convection rapidly developed over an increasingly better defined circulation, with an anticyclone
aloft aiding in intensification. Late on April 17, the Fiji Meteorological Service
classified the system as Tropical Depression 16F, and early the next day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
classified it as Tropical Cyclone 27P. Initially, it was forecast to intensify further; however, the storm quickly became disorganized as wind shear
increased. At 0000 UTC
on April 19, the JTWC issued its final warning on the system as it began dissipating. with RSMC Nadi issuing its final tropical disturbance summary on the depression later that day.
| 01F|| None || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands || None || None ||
|-
| 02F || None || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji || None || None ||
|-
| 03F || None || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#|
|-
| 04F || Daman || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || || Fiji, Tonga || ||
|-
| 05F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 06F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 07F || Elisa || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#|
|-
| 08F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 09F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 10F/12P || Funa || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#|
|-
| 11F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 12F/15P || Gene || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 13F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 14F/24P || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 15F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 16F/27P || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-class="unsortable"
! colspan=10| Season Aggregates
|-class="unsortable"
!colspan=2| 16 depressions || October 16 – April 19 || || 165 km/h (105 mph) || 935 hPa (27.61 inHg) || || || ||
|}
160th meridian east
The meridian 160° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
. The season officially ran from November 1, 2007 until April 30, 2008, although the first cyclone, Tropical Depression 01F, developed on October 17. The most intense tropical cyclone of the season was Severe Tropical Cyclone Daman, which reached a minimum pressure of 925 hPa (27.32 inHg) as it affected Fiji. After the season had ended, the names Daman, Funa, and Gene were retired from the tropical cyclone naming lists.
During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center
Regional Specialized Meteorological Center
A Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre is responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they have a part of, agreed by consensus at the World Meteorological Organization as part of the World Weather Watch.-Tropical...
(RSMC) in Nadi, Fiji
Fiji Meteorological Service
The Fiji Meteorological Service is a Department of the government of Fiji responsible for providing weather forecasts and is based in Nadi. Since 1995, FMS has been responsible for naming and tracking tropical cyclones in the Southwest Pacific region...
, and the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers (TCWC) in Wellington, New Zealand
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited was established as a State-Owned Enterprise in 1992. It employs about 215 staff and its headquarters are in Wellington, New Zealand...
. Throughout the season the United States Navy also monitored the basin and issued unofficial warnings, through its Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
(JTWC). Tropical cyclones that were located between 160°E and 120°W as well as the Equator and 25°S were monitored by RSMC Nadi while any that moved to the south of 25°S between 160°E and 120°W were monitored by TCWC Wellington. During the season the JTWC issued warnings on any tropical cyclone that was located between 160°E and the American coast. RSMC Nadi and TCWC Wellington both used the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, and estimated windspeeds over a 10-minute period during the season, while the JTWC estimated sustained windspeeds over a 1-minute period.
Seasonal forecasts
| Source/Record | Season/Date | TC Tropical cyclone A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor... | STC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average activity (1969-70 – 2005-06) | 8 | 4 | |
| Record high activity | 1997-98 | 16 | 7 |
| Record low activity | 1994-95 | 3 | 1 |
| Activity during the season | 4 | 3 |
During October 2007, both RSMC Nadi and New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), issued forecasts for a near to below average season, due to the presence of a weak La Niña
La Niña
La Niña is a coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that is the counterpart of El Niño as part of the broader El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate pattern. During a period of La Niña, the sea surface temperature across the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean will be lower than normal by 3–5 °C...
event. As a result of these conditions, neither agency predicted how many tropical cyclones would develop but noted that on average 6-8 cyclones could be expected to develop during a weak La Nina season. According to RSMC Nadi, Fiji was likely to be affected by one to two tropical cyclones, while two to three were likely to pass through Fiji's Exclusive Economic Zone
Exclusive Economic Zone
Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
. According to NIWA there was an average risk of a tropical cyclone coming within 550 km (340 mi) of Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
, Fiji, Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
, Tokelau
Tokelau
Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean that consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km2 and a population of approximately 1,400...
, Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands , is a Polynesian French island territory in the South Pacific between Tuvalu to the northwest, Rotuma of Fiji to the west, the main part of Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast,...
, and Northern New Zealand, while the risks for the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
and Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
were variable and uncertain. All other islands faced a reduced risk off being affected by a tropical cyclone.
Seasonal summary
On October 17, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Depression 01F had developed about 670 km (420 mi) to the west of the Solomon Islands. Over the next few days, the depression moved slowly towards the east, before RSMC Nadi issued their final advisory on 01F early on October 19, as it had become sheared and had weakened into a tropical low. After 01F weakened into a tropical low pressure system and dissipated the basin remained quiet until November 20 when Tropical Disturbance 02F developed into a tropical depression. After developing into a tropical depression, 02F remained weak and unorganized before rapidly dissipating during November 22. RSMC Nadi also reported during November 22, that a weak tropical disturbance had developed on the edge of the basin about 280 km (174 mi) to the south of Honiara
Honiara
Honiara, population 49,107 , 78,190 , is the capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered town...
, on the Solomon Island of Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
.
Tropical Depression 01F
On October 17, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 01F, had developed about 670 km (420 mi) to the southeast of the Solomon Island of GuadalcanalGuadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
. Later that day, as the disturbance moved towards the east in an area of low vertical windshear, it developed into a weak tropical depression. However according to RSMC Nadi the low level circulation center had become difficult to locate as the disturbance was situated under an upper level ridge of high pressure. During the next day, as the disturbance continued to move towards the east the upper level ridge of high pressure moved off the depression and started to shear the system. On October 19, RSMC Nadi issued their final advisory on the system as it had become sheared and weakened into a tropical low.
Tropical Depression 02F
Early on November 20, RSMC Nadi reported that a tropical disturbance had formed within the South Pacific Convergence ZoneSouth Pacific convergence zone
The South Pacific Convergence Zone , a reverse-oriented monsoon trough, is a band of low-level convergence, cloudiness and precipitation extending from the west Pacific warm pool south-eastwards towards French Polynesia...
, about 900 km (560 mi) to the northeast of Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, on the Fijian island of Viti Levu
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
. During that day the disturbance moved towards the south and was designated as Tropical Depression 02F, despite convection surrounding the system remaining poorly organized. Over the next couple of days convection surrounding the depression remained unorganized as the system moved towards the south into an area of strong vertical windshear and cooler sea surface temperatures. RSMC Nadi then issued their final advisory on they system late on November 22, as it rapidly dissipated in an area of strong vertical windshear to the south of Fiji. 02F brought fresh to strong winds
Beaufort scale
The Beaufort Scale is an empirical measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land. Its full name is the Beaufort Wind Force Scale.-History:...
to Fiji between November 22 - 23, the depression also dragged the convergence zone over Fiji, which led to an episode of significant widespread rain.
Tropical Depression 03F
During November 22, RSMC Nadi reported that a weak tropical disturbance had developed on the edge of the basin, about 240 km (150 mi) to the southeast of Honiara, on the Solomon Island of Guadalcanal. Over the next couple of days the disturbance moved towards the southeast into the South Pacific basin, before it was designated as Tropical Disturbance 03F on November 24 while located about 400 km (250 mi) to the northeast of Port VilaPort Vila
Port Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. Situated on the south coast of the island of Efate, in Shefa Province, the city population at last was 29,356, an increase of 55% on the previous census result . This suggests a 2007 population of about 40,000 or around 65% of the province's...
on the Vanuation island of Efate
Éfaté
Efate is an island in the Agean Ocean which is part of the Shefa Province in The Republic of Maliki. It is also known as Île Vate. It is the most populous island in Vanuatu. Efate's land area of makes it Vanuatu's third largest island. Most inhabitants of Efate live in Port Vila, the national...
. During that day convection surrounding the disturbance became more organized before RSMC Nadi reported during November 25 that the disturbance had developed into a tropical depression. Over the next couple of days the depression moved towards the east and weakened into a tropical disturbance, before on November 29 it was relocated to a position that was about 390 km (240 mi) to the southeast of Pago Pago.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Daman
Cyclone Daman was the strongest cyclone of the season. On December 3, the Regional Specialized Meteorological CentreRegional Specialized Meteorological Centre
A Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre is responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they have a part of, agreed by consensus at the World Meteorological Organization as part of the World Weather Watch.-Tropical...
(RSMC) in Nadi, Fiji, upgraded a tropical disturbance, located to the west of the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, to Tropical Depression 04F. On December 5, as the depression moved towards the west into the Fijian archipelago
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, both the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
(JTWC) and RSMC Nadi upgraded it to Cyclone Daman. On December 7 the cyclone reached its peak intensity with winds of 185 km/h, (115 mph 10-minute sustained) which made Daman a Category 4 cyclone on the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale. Later that day Daman also reached its peak intensity by 1-minute means with winds of 205 km/h (125 mph) which made it a Category 3 tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. Early on December 8, Cyclone Daman brushed by the Fijian island of Cikobia, causing damage to housing, crops and vegetation. Daman then weakened the next day into a tropical depression and dissipated on December 10.
Tropical Depression 05F
Early on December 11, an area of disturbed weather near American SamoaAmerican Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
was upgraded to Tropical Depression 05F by RSMC Nadi based on a QuikScat
QuikSCAT
The QuikSCAT is an earth-observing satellite that provided estimates of wind speed and direction over the oceans to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others. This "quick recovery" mission intended to replace the NASA Scatterometer , which failed in June 1997...
Pass. However, it did not develop any further as it affected the Southern Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
Group. RSMC Nadi issued their last Tropical Disturbance Summary on December 14.
Tropical Disturbance 06F
Early on December 26, an area of disturbed weather near the southern Cook IslandsCook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
was upgraded to Tropical Disturbance 06F. However the disturbance did not develop any further due to the system moving in to cooler waters. RSMC Nadi issued their last Tropical Disturbance Summary on December 28.
Tropical Cyclone Elisa
At 1800 UTC on January 7, RSMC Nadi reported that a poorly organized Tropical Depression 07F, had developed within a slow moving trough of low pressure about 600 km (370 mi), to the east of Suva, Fiji. The JTWC then started to monitor 07F during January 8 and reported that convection was displaced to the south of the systems well defined low level circulation center, however an upper level low was preventing convection directly forming over the center. Over the next couple of days, the depression slowly developed further as it moved towards the south in an area of hostile vertical windshear. RSMC Nadi and the JTWC then reported at 0000 UTC on January 10 that 07F had developed into a tropical cyclone with RSMC Nadi naming it Elisa while located about 55 km (35 mi) to the southwest of Nuku’alofa, Tonga. During that day as windshear relaxed, Elisa intensified further, before RSMC Nadi and the JTWC reported at 1800 UTC that the cyclone had reached its peak sustained windspeeds of 95 km/h (60 mph), equivalent to a category 2 tropical cyclone or a tropical storm. During January 11, Elisa recurved towards the southeast into an region of cooler waters and stronger windshear, as a result the cyclone weakened into a depression, with RSMC Nadi and the JTWC issuing their final advisories later that day. Elisa brought heavy rain to Tonga and Niue, and damaged several fruit bearing trees in Tongatapu and Eua. High seas and a high surf moved several small vessels and fishing boats ashore in Nuku’alofa.Tropical Depression 08F
On January 9, RSMC Nadi designated a low pressure area northeast of VanuatuVanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
as Tropical Depression 08F. The depression moved eastwards over the next few days but did not intensify any further. RSMC Nadi then downgraded the depression to a tropical disturbance early on January 14 and then released their final tropical disturbance summary.
Tropical Depression 09F
Late on January 12, a Tropical Disturbance in the southern-central Pacific located about 400 nautical miles (740.8 km) southwest of Pago Pago was designated as Tropical Depression 09F by RSMC Nadi. However it lay in a highly sheered environment and as it moved southwards it never became any more organized. The last Tropical disturbance summary was issued by RSMC Nadi on Tropical depression 09F late on January 13.Severe Tropical Cyclone Funa
On January 14, a tropical disturbance formed in the south-western pacific oceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, near the islands of Vanuatuan islands. Early the next day RSMC Nadi upgraded it to a Tropical Depression and designated it as 10F. Early the next day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert is a bulletin released by the U.S. Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii or the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Norfolk, Virginia, warning of the possibility of a tropical cyclone forming from a tropical disturbance that has been...
on the developing depression.
Early on January 16, the depression had intensified enough to be classed as a Tropical Cyclone with RSMC Nadi naming the cyclone as Funa The JTWC then started to issue warnings on Funa designating it as tropical cyclone 12P later that day. It then started to move eastwards and passed very near the next day to the northern tip of Aurora Island, Vanuatu with wind speeds of 55 knots (107.8 km/h) which made Funa a category two cyclone on the Australian scale.
After leaving Vanuatu, Funa intensified slowly becoming a Category 3 severe Tropical cyclone on January 18 and then early the next day it reached its peak wind speeds of 95 knots (186.2 km/h) which the same as a category 4 cyclone according the Southern Pacific Cyclone Scale. The JTWC measured Funa's peak winds at 105 knots (205.8 km/h). The storm then moved into TCWC Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
area of responsibility it started to weaken and then became extra tropical the next day with the JTWC issuing their final advisory on January 20, with TCWC Wellington downgrading it to a low later that day.
Tropical Depression 11F
RSMC Nadi identified a Tropical Disturbance in the southern Central Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
located to the east of Pago Pago on January 19 and started to issue summaries on it. The next day it intensified into a tropical depression and was designated the number 11F by RSMC Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
. However the tropical depression did not strengthen any further as it moved southwards towards the edge of RSMC Nadi's area of responsibility with TCWC Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
. Late on January 23 RSMC Nadi issued its last warnings on 11F as the depression had moved into TCWC Wellingtons area of responsibility. However the next day the system became extra tropical as it was about southwest of Tonga'tapu.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Gene
On January 25, RSMC Nadi reported that tropical disturbance 12F, had formed within the Fijian Archipelago. Late the next day they reported that the disturbance had intensified in to a tropical depression, whilst the Joint Typhoon Warning CenterJoint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert is a bulletin released by the U.S. Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii or the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Norfolk, Virginia, warning of the possibility of a tropical cyclone forming from a tropical disturbance that has been...
on the developing depression. On January 27 both RSMC Nadi and the JTWC upgraded the depression to a Tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
, with RSMC Nadi naming the cyclone Gene.
Later that day Cyclone Gene made landfall on Viti Levu, in Fiji and caused 45 million (2008 US$) in damage. After it emerged back in to the Pacific Ocean Gene intensified slowly. becoming a category three severe tropical cyclone on January 30. Gene then reached its peak winds of 85 knots (100 mph, 150 km/h) the next day. On February 1, Gene began to weaken becoming a category two cyclone with wind speeds of 55 knots (107.8 km/h). It kept this intensity until it had crossed 25S and had moved in to TCWC Wellington's Area of responsibility, when Gene intensified back in to a severe tropical cyclone. Gene then slowly weakened with JTWC reporting that Gene had become an extra tropical cyclone on February 6. TCWC Wellington then released their final advisory on February 9.
Tropical Depression 13F
An area of disturbed weather formed near the border of RSMC Nadi's Area of Responsibility (AOR) with TCWC Brisbane on February 17, and was designated as Tropical Depression 13F by RSMC Nadi. As the Tropical depression moved southwards in to TCWC Wellington's Area of Responsibility late the next day RSMC Nadi issued the Final Tropical Disturbance summary on the depression.Tropical Depression 14F
On March 19, an area of disturbed weather west of Vanuatu, was designated as Tropical Disturbance 14F by RSMC Nadi. Later that day 14F had intensified enough to be upgraded to a tropical depression by RSMC Nadi. The next day the Joint Typhoon Warning CenterJoint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
(JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the depression. Later that day the JTWC initiated advisories on the depression designating it as Tropical Cyclone 24P. The Tropical Depression then reached its peak wind speeds of 30 knots (58.8 km/h) that day. On March 21, The Depression encountered an unfavourable environment of moderate to high vertical wind shear and weakened with the JTWC issuing its final advisory that day. Early on March 22 RSMC Nadi downgraded Tropical Depression 14F to Tropical Disturbance 14F and then the next day issued their last advisory on the tropical disturbance.
Tropical Depression 15F
On April 4, RSMC Nadi identified a Tropical Disturbance which was located just within TCWC Brisbane’s Area of Responsibility and started to issue advisories on it. Later that day RSMC Nadi designated it as Tropical Disturbance 15F and then upgraded it to Tropical Depression 15F. The next day the depression moved into RSMC Nadi’s Area of Responsibility, the depression also reached its peak intensity of 25 knots (49 km/h) later that day. However the Depression remained weak with RSMC Nadi issuing the final Tropical Disturbance Summary on Tropical Depression 15F as it approached the southern edge of RSMC Nadi’s Area of Responsibility.Tropical Depression 16F
On April 16, a tropical disturbance developed about 1365 km (835 mi) northwest of New CaledoniaNew Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, consisting of an elongated circulation within a marginal upper-level environment. Despite anticipation that tropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis is the term that describes the development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere. The mechanisms through which tropical cyclogenesis occurs are distinctly different from those through which mid-latitude cyclogenesis occurs...
was unlikely in the short term, deep convection rapidly developed over an increasingly better defined circulation, with an anticyclone
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
aloft aiding in intensification. Late on April 17, the Fiji Meteorological Service
Fiji Meteorological Service
The Fiji Meteorological Service is a Department of the government of Fiji responsible for providing weather forecasts and is based in Nadi. Since 1995, FMS has been responsible for naming and tracking tropical cyclones in the Southwest Pacific region...
classified the system as Tropical Depression 16F, and early the next day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
classified it as Tropical Cyclone 27P. Initially, it was forecast to intensify further; however, the storm quickly became disorganized as wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
increased. At 0000 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
on April 19, the JTWC issued its final warning on the system as it began dissipating. with RSMC Nadi issuing its final tropical disturbance summary on the depression later that day.
Season effects
|-| 01F|| None || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands || None || None ||
|-
| 02F || None || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji || None || None ||
|-
| 03F || None || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#|
|-
| 04F || Daman || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || || Fiji, Tonga || ||
|-
| 05F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 06F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 07F || Elisa || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#|
|-
| 08F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 09F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 10F/12P || Funa || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#|
|-
| 11F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 12F/15P || Gene || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 13F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 14F/24P || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 15F || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-
| 16F/27P || None || || bgcolor=#| ||
|-class="unsortable"
! colspan=10| Season Aggregates
|-class="unsortable"
!colspan=2| 16 depressions || October 16 – April 19 || || 165 km/h (105 mph) || 935 hPa (27.61 inHg) || || || ||
|}
See also
- List of Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 20072007 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2007 Atlantic hurricane season was an active Atlantic hurricane season that produced 17 tropical cyclones, 15 tropical storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. It officially started on June 1 and ended on November 30, dates which conventionally delimit the...
, 20082008 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2008 Atlantic hurricane season was a very active hurricane season with sixteen named storms formed, including eight that became hurricanes and five that became major hurricanes. The season officially started on June 1 and ended on November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of... - Pacific hurricane seasons: 20072007 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2007 Pacific hurricane season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started on May 15, 2007 in the eastern Pacific, designated as the area east of 140°W, and on June 1, 2007 in the central Pacific, which is between the International Date Line and 140°W,...
, 20082008 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2008 Pacific hurricane season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started May 15, 2008 in the eastern Pacific, started on June 1, 2008 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2008.... - Pacific typhoon seasons: 20072007 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2007 Pacific typhoon season was a below average season which featured 24 named storms and 14 typhoons, compared to the average of 27 and 17 respectively. had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2007, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and...
, 20082008 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2008 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it runs year-round in 2008, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November... - North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2007, 20082008 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonThe 2008 North Indian cyclone season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The North Indian cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November...