1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season

1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed October 19, 1972
Last system dissipated April 6, 1973
Strongest storm
Name Bebe
 • Maximum winds 155 km/h (100 mph)
(11-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure 945 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total disturbances 8
Tropical cyclones 8
Severe tropical cyclones 2
Total fatalities Unknown
Total damage Unknown
Related articles

The 1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season ran year-round from July 1 to June 30. Tropical cyclone activity in the Southern Hemisphere reaches its peak from mid-February to early March.

Seasonal summary

Cyclone Bebe

Systems

Severe Tropical Cyclone Bebe

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
Duration October 19 – October 29
Peak intensity 155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min)  945 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Bebe was a pre-season storm that impacted the Gilbert, Ellice, and Fiji island groups.[1] First spotted on October 20, the system intensified and grew in size through October 22. Its course began along a south-southwest trajectory before recurving near the 14th parallel south, which resulted in a south-southeast motion through the western portion of the Fiji island group.[1] It became the first cyclone to impact Fiji since 1952. On October 24, winds of 150 knots (280 km/h) or more were reported on Rotuma and Viti Levu. Cyclone Bebe passed through Funafuti on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22 October 1972. At about 4 p.m. on the 21st, sea water was bubbling through the coral on the airfield with the water reaching a height of about 4 –5 feet high. The Ellice Islands Colony's ship Moanaraoi was in the lagoon and survived, however 3 tuna boats were wrecked. Waves broke over the atoll. Five people died, two adults and a 3 month old child were swept away by waves, and two sailors from the tuna boats were drowned.[2] Cyclone Bebe knocked down 90% of the houses and trees. The storm surge created a wall of coral rubble along the ocean side of Funafuti and Funafala that was about ten to twelve miles long, and about ten to twenty feet thick at the bottom.[2] The cyclone submerged Funafuti and sources of drinking water were contaminated as a result of the system's storm surge and fresh water flooding. After passing by the archipelago, Bebe transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, with the remnants last noted on October 28.[1] A total of 28 people died and thousands were left homeless. Damages totaled $20 million (1972 USD).[3][4]

Tropical Cyclone Collette

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration November 2 – November 3
Peak intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

Collette existed from November 2 to November 3.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Diana

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
Duration December 6 – December 18
Peak intensity 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min)  965 hPa (mbar)

Diana existed from December 6 to December 18.

Tropical Cyclone Elenore

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration January 31 – February 7
Peak intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Elenore existed from January 31 to February 7.

Tropical Cyclone Felicity

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration January 14 – January 18
Peak intensity 70 km/h (45 mph) (10-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

Felicity existed from January 14 to January 18.

Tropical Cyclone Glenda

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration January 31 – February 1
Peak intensity 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

Glenda existed from January 31 to February 1.

Tropical Cyclone Henrietta

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration January 31 – February 4
Peak intensity 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Juliette

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration April 2 – April 6
Peak intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min)  980 hPa (mbar)

Juliette existed from April 2 to April 6.

Seasonal effects

Name Dates active Peak classification Sustained
wind speeds		 Pressure Areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
BebeOctober 19 – 29Category 3 severe tropical cyclone155 km/h (100 mph)945 hPa (27.91 inHg)Tuvalu, Fiji
ColletteNovember 2 – 3Category 1 tropical cyclone65 km/h (40 mph)990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
DianaFebruary 26 – March 6Category 4 severe tropical cyclone205 km/h (125 mph)920 hPa (27.17 inHg)
ElenoreJanuary 31 – February 7Category 2 tropical cyclone100 km/h (65 mph)980 hPa (28.94 inHg)Fiji, Tonga
FelicityApril 8 – 14Category 1 tropical cyclone75 km/h (45 mph)990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
GlendaJanuary 31 – February 1Category 1 tropical cyclone75 km/h (45 mph)990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
HenriettaFebruary 28 – March 7Category 1 tropical cyclone75 km/h (45 mph)990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
JulietteApril 2 – 6Category 2 tropical cyclone100 km/h (65 mph)980 hPa (28.94 inHg)Fiji, Tonga
Season aggregates
8 systemsOctober 19 – April 6155 km/h (100 mph)920 hPa (27.17 inHg)

See also

  • Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1972, 1973
  • Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1972, 1973
  • Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1972, 1973
  • North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1972, 1973

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bureau of Meteorology (1975) Tropical Cyclones in the Northern Australian Regions 1971-1972 Australian Government Publishing Service
  2. 1 2 Resture, Jane (5 October 2009). Hurricane Bebe 1972. Tuvalu and the Hurricanes: ‘The Hurricane in Funafuti, Tuvalu’ by Pasefika Falani (Pacific Frank).
  3. ↑ Elwyn E. Wilson (January 1973). "October Hurricane Clobbers Fiji". Mariners Weather Log. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 17 (1): 19–20.
  4. ↑ MetService (May 22, 2009). "TCWC Wellington Best Track Data 1967–2006". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
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