1982–83 South Pacific cyclone season
The 1982–83 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the most active and longest South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons on record, with 16 tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific basin between 160°E and 120°W. During the season tropical cyclones were monitored by the meteorological services of Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia and New Zealand. The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Typhoon Warning Center and Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center, also monitored the basin and issued unofficial warnings for American interests. The first tropical cyclone of the season developed a day before the season officially began on October 30, while the last tropical cyclone of the season dissipated on May 16. Most of the activity during the season occurred within the central and eastern parts of the basin with French Polynesia affected by several systems.
Seasonal summary
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from:06/11/1982 till:13/11/1982 color:C1 text:"Kina "
from:10/12/1982 till:18/12/1982 color:C2 text:"Lisa "
from:18/01/1983 till:01/02/1983 color:C3 text:"Mark "
from:21/01/1983 till:29/01/1983 color:C3 text:"Nano "
from:20/02/1983 till:28/02/1983 color:C4 text:"Nisha-Orama "
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from:22/03/1983 till:04/04/1983 color:C3 text:"Sarah "
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from:07/04/1983 till:14/04/1983 color:C4 text:"Veena "
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The 1982–83 season was one of the most active and longest South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons on record, with 14 tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific basin between 160°E and 120°W. The season was characterised by a very strong El Niño event, which resulted in eleven tropical cyclones occurring to the east of the International Dateline. Five of these tropical cyclones went on to affect the island nation of French Polynesia, which it was thought had not been affected by a tropical cyclone since another very strong El Nino episode in 1905-06.
During the season, ten of the fourteen tropical cyclones observed to the east of 160 E were severe tropical cyclones, with 5 of them occurring in the French Polynesia region which represented one more than was experienced in the same area over the previous 13 seasons.
After the season had officially ended during April 30, meteorologists at the University of Hawaii identified that two tropical depressions developed on May 11 and May 16. The tropical depression that developed during May 11 was thought to be the easternmost forming South Pacific tropical cyclone ever observed in the satellite era, as it developed near 110°W. In April 2015, a cyclone was suspected to have become subtropical near 102.9°W, and was unofficially named "Katie" by researchers. However, since the system is not in the official database, its record is henceforth unofficial.
Systems
Tropical Cyclone Joti
The system that was to become Tropical Cyclone Joti was first noted by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center during October 30, while it was located about to the north-east of Port Villa in Vanuatu. Over the next day, the disturbance gradually developed further, as its outflow increased and atmospheric convection surrounding the system organised. The disturbance was subsequently named Joti at 00:00 UTC on November 1, by the FMS as it had developed into a tropical cyclone. As a result, this made Joti one of the earliest tropical cyclones ever recorded within the basin. After it was named, Joti continued to develop as it completed a cyclonic loop, before it started to move south-westwards towards Vanuatu during November 2.During November 3, the FMS reported that Joti had peaked with 10-minute sustained winds of 110 km/h, which made it a Category 2 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale. The JTWC subsequently reported that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h, which made it equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the SSHWS. During that day the system started to move towards the west-south-west and made landfall on the northern Espiritu Santo. After the system had moved into the Coral Sea, it gradually weakened and turned towards the south-southwest, before it degenerated into a depression during November 7. Within northern Vanautu, Joti damaged houses, gardens and fruit trees.
Tropical Cyclone Kina
The system that was to become Tropical Cyclone Kina was first noted on November 6, while it was located just to the east of Tuvalu. Over the next few days the system moved south-westwards and gradually developed further, before the JTWC reported that the system had developed into a tropical cyclone, with peak 1-minute sustained winds of 75 km/h during November 10. During that day the FMS also reported that the system had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian Scale and named it Kina. The FMS subsequently estimated during the next day that the system had reached its peak intensity, with 10-minute sustained winds of 75 km/h during November 11. Later that day the system's upper level circulation became sheared off from its lower and moved southwards away from it. The degenerating system subsequently passed to the west of Fiji during November 13, before it was last noted during November 16, as it passed over the island of Efate in Vanuatu but no damage was reported. The system caused strong winds and rough seas on Viti Levu and in the Yasawas and Mamanutha group of islands. Tourists on the Blue Lagoon Cruise in the Yasawas were forced to take shelter from Kina, while 18 people on another boat were temporarily listed as missing as they took shelter.Tropical Cyclone Lisa
During December 10, a shallow tropical depression formed to the west of the Northern Cook Island: Penrhyn and started to move south-eastwards towards French Polynesia. Over the next couple of days, the system gradually developed further before the FMS reported that the system had developed into a tropical cyclone and named it Lisa during December 12.During that day, gale-force winds were observed on Bora Bora before the system caused gas it passed to
Severe Tropical Cyclone Mark
Mark existed from January 20 to February 1.Severe Tropical Cyclone Nano
Nano existed from January 21 to January 29.Severe Tropical Cyclone Nisha-Orama
During February 13, a depression developed just to the north of the Marquesas Islands and started moving south-westwards. Over the next four days the system maintained its intensity, before it made a sharp eastwards turn and started to develop further. The system subsequently moved in a counter clockwise loop, which allowed it to develop further and it was declared to be a tropical cyclone and named Nisha by the FMS during February 22. However, by the time Fiji had named it Nisha, the Tahiti Meteorological Service had named it Orama, which was retained in order to save any confusion to the local public. Over the next day, the system started to move south-westwards, while it rapidly intensified, with the FMS estimating 10-minute sustained wind-speeds of 185 km/h during February 24. During that day the system sharply turned south-eastwards and started to gradually weaken, before it was last noted during February 28, as it moved out of the FMS's area of responsibility, while equivalent to a modern-day category 1 tropical cyclone. The Tuamotu Archipelago was the worst hit area with around 30 of its Atolls, either seriously damaged or destroyed with a damage total of around US$1.7 million reported in two villages on Rangiroa.Severe Tropical Cyclone Oscar
Oscar existed from February 23 to March 6.Tropical Cyclone Prema
During February 25, a depression developed within a trough of low pressure, to the south-west of Manihiki in the Northern Cook Islands. The system was named Prema by the FMS during the next day, after it had developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone and peaked, with 10-minute sustained winds of 85 km/h. After it had been named: Prema moved south-eastwards and started to gradually weaken, before it degenerated into a depression during February 27. The remnants of Prema were subsequently monitored over the next few days, as they moved towards and through French Polynesia, before they were last noted during March 6. Prema brought strong to gale-force winds and high seas to the Northern Cook Islands of Penrhyn, Manihiki, Rakahanga and Pukapula. On the atoll of Manihiki, the high seas reached the settlement, with minor damage to coconut trees reported as a result. Gale-force winds caused some serious damage to a wharf, on the atoll of Penhryn. Heavy rain and gale-force winds off, caused minor damage to French Polynesia's Leeward and Society Islands.Severe Tropical Cyclone Rewa
During March 7, a tropical depression developed about to the northeast of the Society Islands. During that day, the system started to rapidly develop further as it moved and was named Rewa, as it had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone.Rewa exacerbated the destruction caused by Severe Tropical Cyclone Nisha/Orama earlier in the season and destroyed more than 200 houses.
Tropical Cyclone Saba
Saba existed from March 20 to March 25.Severe Tropical Cyclone Sarah
During March 23, a shallow tropical depression developed within a trough of low pressure, about to the northwest of Rotuma. The system subsequently gradually deepened as it moved south-eastwards and passed to the west of the island, before it was named Sarah by the FMS during March 24, after it had developed into a tropical cyclone. The JTWC subsequently initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 18P.Severe Tropical Cyclone Tomasi
During March 27, the FMS started to monitor a depression that had developed, within a trough of low pressure about to the northeast of Penrhyn in the Northern Cook Islands. Over the next couple of days, the system moved south-westwards and passed about to the southeast of Penhryn, as it gradually developed into a tropical cyclone. The depression was subsequently named Tomasi by the FMS during March 29, after it had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale. After the system was named, Tomasi went through a period of rapid intensification, with an eye appearing on visible satellite imagery during that day. It was also classified as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, before a tropical cyclone alert was issued by the FMS for Niue at around 23:08 UTC.During the next day, Tomasi continued to intensify and move south-westwards, while the alert for Niue was upgraded to a gale warning. Early on March 31, the NPMOC reported that the cyclone had peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of, which made it equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane on the SSHWS. Tomasi subsequently turned and started to move southwards, as it passed about to the east of Niue.Severe Tropical Cyclone VeenaVeena existed from April 8 to April 14.