1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season

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.

1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedOctober 19, 1972
Last system dissipatedApril 6, 1973
Strongest storm
NameBebe
 • Maximum winds155 km/h (100 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure945 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total disturbances8
Tropical cyclones8
Severe tropical cyclones2
Total fatalities24
Total damage$20 million ( USD)
Related articles
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75

Seasonal summary

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Cyclone BebeTropical cyclone scales#Comparisons across basins

Systems

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Severe Tropical Cyclone Bebe

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Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
DurationOctober 19 – October 28
Peak intensity155 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]

Tropical Cyclone Collette

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Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
DurationNovember 2 – November 3
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min);
990 hPa (mbar)

Collette existed from November 2 to November 3.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Diana

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Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
DurationDecember 8 – December 18
Peak intensity130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min);
965 hPa (mbar)

Diana existed from December 6 to December 18.

Tropical Cyclone Felicity

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Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
DurationJanuary 14 – January 18
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min);
990 hPa (mbar)

Felicity existed from January 14 to January 18.

Tropical Cyclone Elenore

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Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
DurationJanuary 31 – February 7
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min);
980 hPa (mbar)

Elenore existed from January 31 to February 7.

Tropical Cyclone Glenda

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Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
DurationJanuary 31 – February 1
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min);
990 hPa (mbar)

Glenda existed from January 31 to February 1.

Tropical Cyclone Henrietta

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Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
DurationFebruary 28 – March 2
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min);
990 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Juliette

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Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
DurationApril 2 – April 6
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min);
980 hPa (mbar)

Juliette existed from April 2 to April 6.

Seasonal effects

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Name Dates Peak intensity Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Category Wind speed Pressure
Bebe October 19 – 28 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 155 km/h (100 mph) 945 hPa (27.91 inHg) Tuvalu, Fiji
Collette November 2 – 3 Category 1 tropical cyclone 75 km/h (45 mph) 990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
Diana December 8 – 18 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 130 km/h (80 mph) 965 hPa (28.50 inHg)
Felicity January 14 – 18 Category 1 tropical cyclone 75 km/h (45 mph) 990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
Elenore January 31 – February 7 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km/h (65 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) Fiji, Tonga
Glenda January 31 – February 1 Category 1 tropical cyclone 75 km/h (45 mph) 990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
Henrietta February 28 – March 2 Category 1 tropical cyclone 75 km/h (45 mph) 990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
Juliette April 2 – 6 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km/h (65 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) Fiji, Tonga
Season aggregates
8 systems October 19 – April 6 155 km/h (100 mph) 945 hPa (27.91 inHg)

See also

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  • 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

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  1. ^ a b c Bureau of Meteorology (1975) Tropical Cyclones in the Northern Australian Regions 1971-1972 Australian Government Publishing Service
  2. ^ a b 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. 17 (1). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 19–20.
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