First system formed December 18, 1981 Name Gyan Tropical cyclones 6 | Last system dissipated May 18, 1982 Total depressions 6 Severe tropical cyclones 5 | |
 | ||
The 1981–82 South Pacific cyclone season was a near normal South Pacific tropical cyclone season, with 6 tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W during the season. After the season ended, the names Gyan and Isaac were removed and retired from the lists of names, after they caused significant impacts to South Pacific island nations.
Contents
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Gyan
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Hettie
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Abigail
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Isaac
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Bernie
- Tropical Cyclone Claudia
- References
During the season, tropical cyclones were monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers in Nadi, Fiji, Brisbane, Australia and Wellington, New Zealand. During the season TCWC Nadi issued warnings and assigned names to any tropical cyclones that developed between the Equator and 25°S while TCWC Wellington issued warnings for any that were located to the south of 25°S. The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (NPMOC), also monitored the basin and issued unofficial warnings for American interests. TCWC Nadi, Brisbane and Wellington measured sustained windspeeds over a 10-minute which are compared to the modern day Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. The JTWC and the NPMOC measured sustained windspeeds over a 1-minute period which are compared to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale (SSHS).
Severe Tropical Cyclone Gyan
Severe Tropical Cyclone Gyan existed from December 18 to December 29.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hettie
Severe Tropical Cyclone Hettie existed from January 24 to February 1.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Abigail
Severe Tropical Cyclone Abigail existed from February 1 to February 7.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Isaac
The tropical cyclone developed 160 km/100 mi northeast of western Samoa and travelled southwest at 12 knots, moving through the Ha'apai island group and only 50 km/30 mi northwest of Tongatapu. The pressure at Tongatapu fell to 976.4 mbar (28.83 inHg). Winds of 92 knots were measured at Nuku'alofa, and rainfall of 120 millimetres (4.7 in) was measured there. Isaac reached maximum intensity on March 2. The tropical cyclone was the worst storm in Tonga's history, devastating the island group. The island groups of Ha'apai and Vava'u were hit worst. Six were killed, while 45,000 became homeless and 95% of the livestock was killed. The island of Tatafa was bisected by a 16 metres (52 ft) wide channel caused by Isaac's storm surge.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Bernie
Severe Tropical Cyclone Bernie existed from April 1 to April 9.
Bernie caused extensive damage to natural vegetation and food gardens on the islands of Western Gudalcanal, Santa Isabel, New Georgia and the Russell Islands. Over 1000 people also had to evacuated from villages on the eastern coast of Gudalcanal.
Tropical Cyclone Claudia
Tropical Cyclone Claudia existed from May 13 to May 18.