1992–93 South Pacific cyclone season

The 1992–93 South Pacific cyclone season was an above-average tropical cyclone season with ten tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific to the east of 160°E. The season officially ran from November 1, 1992, to April 30, 1993, with the first disturbance of the season forming on December 3 and the last disturbance dissipating on April 6.

1992–93 South Pacific cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedDecember 3, 1992
Last system dissipatedApril 6, 1993
Strongest storm
NamePrema
 • Maximum winds185 km/h (115 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure940 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions12
Tropical cyclones10
Severe tropical cyclones6
Total fatalitiesNone reported
Total damage$18.5 million (1993 USD)
Related articles

During the season, tropical cyclones were monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers (TCWC) in Nadi, Fiji, and in Wellington, New Zealand.[A 1] Whilst tropical cyclones that moved to the west of 160°E were monitored as a part of the Australian region by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Both the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and the Naval Western Oceanography Center (NWOC) issued unofficial warnings within the southern Pacific. The JTWC issued warnings between 160°E and the International Date Line whilst the NWOC issued warnings for tropical cyclones forming between the International Date Line and the coasts of the Americas. Both the JTWC and the NWOC designated tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix with numbers assigned in order to tropical cyclones developing within the whole of the Southern Hemisphere. TCWC Nadi and TCWC Wellington both use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, and measure windspeeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC and the NWOC measured sustained winds over a period of one minute and use the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.

Seasonal summary
Cyclone PremaCyclone NinaCyclone KinaCyclone Joni

On July 1, 1992, the New Zealand Meteorological Service (TCWC Wellington) was broken up and became the Meteorological Service of New Zealand and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.[1]

Ahead of the 1992–93 season it was predicted that the season would feature a below average amount of tropical cyclones, after six tropical cyclones had affected Vanuatu during the previous season.[2] During that season as no systems had affected the archipelago, the VMS had started to hope that no tropical cyclones would impact the archipelago during the season.[2] However, during March 29 – 30, Cyclone Prema affected the Shepherd, E'pi and Efate where it caused widespread damage to buildings and crops.[3]

Systems

Severe Tropical Cyclone Joni
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationDecember 3 – December 14
Peak intensity165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min)  940 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Cyclone Joni

At the start of December a shallow tropical depression developed, along the South Pacific Convergence Zone, in the vicinity of Tuvalu.[4] Over the next few days the system gradually developed further as it affected Tuvalu, before it was declared to be a tropical cyclone and named Joni by the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) during December 7. Over the next couple of days the system intensified further as it was steered south-westwards and posed a threat towards the Fijian dependency of Rotuma and the French territory of Wallis and Futuna. The system subsequently peaked as a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale as it approached the Fijian Islands during December 10. Over the next couple of days the system moved through the Fijian Islands, before it became an extratropical cyclone during December 13. The system was last noted during the next day as it was absorbed by a mid-latitude trough of low pressure to the east of New Zealand.

Joni caused gale to storm force winds on the Tuvuluan island of Niulakita and minor damage to most of the Tuvuluan islands. Total damages to crops in the island nation were estimated at AU$6.9 thousand (US$5 thousand). There were no damages reported on the islands of Wallis and Futuna or Rotuma, while 1 person was killed, 10 people went missing and total damages were estimated at FJ$2 million (US$1.6 million) in Fiji. The main impacts of Joni in Fiji were confined to the Western Division, with the islands of Yasawa, Mamanuca, Viti Levu, Kadavu and Vatulele being the worst affected areas. Damages in both Tuvalu and Fiji were exacerbated a month later by Severe Tropical Cyclones Nina and Kina interacting with each other.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Kina
Main article: Cyclone Kina
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationDecember 23 – January 6
Peak intensity150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min)  955 hPa (mbar)

On December 23, TCWC Nadi started to monitor a tropical depression, that had developed within the monsoon trough about 340 km (210 mi) to the northeast of Honiara on the Solomon Island of Guadalcanal.[5] Over the next few days the depression gradually developed further as it moved slowly towards the south-southeast, before during December 26, the JTWC designated the system as Tropical Cyclone 07P and started to issue warnings on the system as it had become equivalent to a tropical storm.[6][7] During the next day, the system appeared to slightly relax before it resumed developing from about 1200 UTC with TCWC Nadi naming it Kina later that day, after the depression developed into a category one tropical cyclone.[5][8] Early on December 28, the JTWC reported that the system had become equivalent to a category 1 hurricane on the SSHWS.[6] During that day Kina continued to develop as it moved south-eastwards, before it turned towards the south and became slow moving later that day, before the JTWC reported during the next day that Kina had reached its peak intensity with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 220 km/h (140 mph) which made it a category 4 hurricane on the SSHWS.[6][7] Later that day TCWC Nadi reported that Kina had peaked as a category 3 severe tropical cyclone with 10 – minute sustained wind speeds of 150 km/h (90 mph).[5][8]

Tracked towards the capital, Suva, where it caused significant damage and reports of casualties.[9] The main bridge and secondary bridge to the international airport at Nadi collapsed and subsequently delayed the evacuation of tourists from the island, with emergency ferry services forced to ferry passengers from buses waiting on either side of the river bank.

Throughout Fiji, 23 people were killed and damage amounted to $100 million.[10]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Nina
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 1 – January 5
Peak intensity140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min)  960 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Cyclone Nina

During January 1, Nina crossed Rennell and Bellona in the Solomon Islands and moved into the South Pacific basin.[11] intensity with

Severe Tropical Cyclone Lin
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 30 – February 5
Peak intensity120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min)  970 hPa (mbar)

A tropical depression developed on January 30, about 365 km (225 mi) to the northeast of Apia, Samoa.[12][13]

Tropical Cyclone Mick
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 3 – February 9
Peak intensity85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min)  987 hPa (mbar)

A shallow tropical depression developed during February 3, within the South Pacific Convergence Zone about 170 km (105 mi) to the north-west of American Samoa.[8][14] Over the next few days the system gradually developed further, as it moved south-westwards and passed near the Tongan island of Keppel during February 5.[14] Later that day the NPMOC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 17P, while it was located about 520 km (325 mi) to the northeast of Nukuʻalofa.[7] The system subsequently passed through the islands of central Tonga and was named Mick by the FMS during February 6, after it had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone.[14]

After being named the system continued to intensify during that day, before both the NPMOC and the FMS reported that Mick had peaked with winds of 85 km/h (50 mph).[7][8] As Mick continued to move south-westwards further development was suppressed, by cooler waters and vertical wind shear as it accelerated through Fiji's Lau Islands.[14] The system subsequently weakened gradually, before it rapidly lost its tropical characteristics, as it moved into the subtropics during February 9.[14][15] Mick's extratropical remnants were subsequently last noted during February 11, as they passed about 250 km (155 mi) to the northwest of Gisborne on New Zealand's east coast.[8] As Mick was only a small and weak system, it only caused a minimal amount of damage on the islands in Tonga and Fiji that it passed near or over.[14]

Tropical Cyclone Nisha
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 9 – February 16
Peak intensity110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min)  975 hPa (mbar)

On February 9, the FMS started to monitor a depression that had developed, just to the southwest of Pukapuka in the Northern Cook Islands.[16]

Tropical Cyclone Oli
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 14 – February 20
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min)  990 hPa (mbar)

Oli existed from February 14 to February 20.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Polly
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 27 – March 9
Peak intensity155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min)  945 hPa (mbar)

Polly existed from February 27 to March 9.

Tropical Cyclone Roger
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 20 (Entered basin) – March 22
Peak intensity95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)  985 hPa (mbar)

Roger entered the basin on March 20 and dissipated on March 22.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Prema
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 24 – April 6
Peak intensity185 km/h (115 mph) (10-min)  940 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Cyclone Prema

Prema existed from March 24 to April 6.

Other systems

Tropical Cyclone 08P was first noted as a tropical depression by the FMS during January 1, while it was located about 500 km (310 mi) to the east of Alofi in Niue.[17] During that day the depression moved eastwards, before the NPMOC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 08P.[7][17] During that day 08P started to move towards the southeast through the Cook Islands, before it peaked with estimated 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 85 km/h (50 mph).[7] During January 3, 08P rapidly degenerated into an extratropical low, while it was located about 405 km to the southeast of Papeete in French Polynesia.[17] There were no reports of any impacts within the Cook Islands associated with 08P.[17] Tropical Cyclone 09P developed on January 11, while it was located about 610 km (380 mi) to the north of the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia.[7][18] Over the next couple of days the system moved westwards and gradually turned and started to move south-eastwards before it was last noted during January 14.[7][18]

Season effects

This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific to the east of longitude 160°E during the 1992–93 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian Tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, landfalls, deaths, and damages. All data is taken from the warning centers from the region unless otherwise noted.

Name Dates active Peak classification Sustained
wind speeds		 Pressure Areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
JoniDecember 3 – 13Category 4 severe tropical cyclone175 km/h (110 mph)940 hPa (27.76 inHg)Tuvalu, Fiji$1 million1[19]
KinaDecember 26 – January 5Category 3 severe tropical cyclone150 km/h (95 mph)955 hPa (28.20 inHg)Fiji, Tonga$110 million26[5]
NinaJanuary 1 – 5Category 3 severe tropical cyclone140 km/h (85 mph)960 hPa (28.35 inHg)Queensland, Solomon Islands
Rotuma, Wallis and Futuna, Tonga		[11]
08PJanuary 1 – 3Tropical depressionNot SpecifiedNot SpecifiedSouthern Cook IslandsNoneNone[17]
09PJanuary 11 – 13Tropical depressionNot SpecifiedNot SpecifiedFrench PolynesiaNoneNone[18]
Lin
MickFebruary 3 – 9Category 1 tropical cyclone85 km/h (50 mph)987 hPa (29.15 inHg)Tonga, Fiji, New ZealandMinimalNone[14]
NishaFebruary 9 – 16Category 2 tropical cyclone110 km/h (70 mph)975 hPa (28.79 inHg)Cook IslandsNoneNone[16]
Oli
PollyFebruary 27 – March 9Category 3 severe tropical cyclone155 km/h (100 mph)945 hPa (27.91 inHg)Solomon Islands, New Caledonia
New Zealand
RogerMarch 20 – 27Category 2 tropical cyclone95 km/h (60 mph)985 hPa (29.09 inHg)Solomon Islands, Australia
New Caledonia
PremaMarch 24 – April 6Category 4 severe tropical cyclone185 km/h (115 mph)940 hPa (27.76 inHg)Vanuatu, New Caledonia$60 million[20]
Season aggregates
12 systemsNovember 23 – April 6185 km/h (115 mph)940 hPa (27.76 inHg)
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See also

Notes
  1. TCWC Nadi warned on systems in the South Pacific located from the Equator to 25°S and from 160°E to 120°W. TCWC Wellington warns on systems from 25°S to 40°S and from 160°E to 120°W

References
  1. Steiner, J Thomas; Martin, John R; Gordon, D Neil; Grant, Malcolm A (September 1991). "Commercialization in the provision of meteorological services in New Zealand". Meteorological Applications. 4 (3): 247–257. Bibcode:1997MeApp...4..247S. doi:10.1017/S1350482797000480.
  2. Taiki, Henry; West, Steve (April 2, 1993). Tropical Cyclone Prema – A brief perspective from the meteorological office (PDF) (Report). Vanuatu Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  3. Kilman, Sato (April 19, 1993). Tropical cyclone Prema: damage assessment/disaster relief operations interim report (PDF) (Report). Port Vila, Vanuatu: National Disaster Management Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  4. Tropical Cyclone Joni, December 3–14, 1992 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. May 20, 1996. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  5. Prasad, Rajendra; Nadi Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (May 20, 1996). Tropical Cyclone Kina, December 23, 1992 – January 5, 1993 (Tropical Cyclone Report 92/1). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 2013-03-21. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
  6. Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. "Tropical Cyclone 07P (Kina) best track analysis". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on March 25, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  7. Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (1993). Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: 1993 (PDF) (Report). United States Navy, United States Air Force. pp. 165–170, 216–224. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 8, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  8. MetService (May 22, 2009). "TCWC Wellington Best Track Data 1967–2006". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.
  9. "Fiji - Cyclone Kina Jan 1993 UN DHA Situation Reports 1-6 - Fiji".
  10. http://www.apfm.info/pdf/case_studies/cs_fiji.pdf
  11. Tropical Cyclone Nina, December 21, 1992 – January 4, 1993 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. May 20, 1996. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  12. Beven, John L (February 1, 1993). "Weekly tropical cyclone summary #78 (January 24 - 31, 1993)". Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  13. Goodge, Grant W (ed.). "Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena: January 1993" (PDF). Storm Data. National Climatic Data Center. 35 (1): 69. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 12, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  14. Tropical Cyclone Mick, February 3–9, 1993 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. May 20, 1996. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  15. Beven, Jack (February 16, 1993). "Weekly tropical cyclone summary #80 (February 7 – 14, 1993)". Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  16. Tropical Cyclone Nisha, February 11–16, 1993 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. May 20, 1996. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  17. Beven, John L (January 7, 1993). "Weekly tropical cyclone summary #74 (December 27, 1992 – January 3, 1993)". Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  18. Beven, John L (January 19, 1993). "Weekly tropical cyclone summary #76 (January 10 - 17, 1993)". Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  19. "Cyclone toll in Solomons, Fiji, PNG, Tonga still rising". The Canberra Times. January 6, 1993. p. 3. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  20. Unattributed (1993). "Vanuatu Cyclone Perma Mar 1993 UNDHA Information Reports 1–5". Reliefweb. Archived from the original on 2010-02-27. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
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