1977–78 South Pacific cyclone season

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
	<img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Tessa_1977_track.png/150px-Tessa_1977_track.png" decoding="async" width="150" height="93" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="2700" data-file-height="1669">
Duration	December 5 – December 11
Peak intensity	75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min);; 990 hPa (mbar)

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
	<img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Steve_1977_track.png/150px-Steve_1977_track.png" decoding="async" width="150" height="121" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="2700" data-file-height="2178">
Duration	November 24 – December 4
Peak intensity	110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min);; 965 hPa (mbar)

1977–78 South Pacific cyclone season
1977–78 South Pacific cyclone season
	Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	November 24, 1977
Last system dissipated	April 22, 1978
Strongest storm
Name	Bob and Charles
• Maximum winds	155 km/h (100 mph); (10-minute sustained)
• Lowest pressure	945 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions	8
Tropical cyclones	8
Severe tropical cyclones	3
Total fatalities	Unknown
Total damage	Unknown
Related articles
	1977–78 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season; 1977–78 Australian region cyclone season;
	South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons; 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80

The 1977–78 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was a near-average season, with eight tropical cyclones forming.

Seasonal summary

Systems

Tropical Cyclone Steve

Tropical Cyclone Tessa

Tessa precursor tropical depression was first noted on December 5, while it was located in the southern Line Islands of Kiribati.^[1]^[2] Over the next couple of days, the system moved southeastwards and gradually intensified, before it was named Tessa by the FMS during December 7.^[1]

During December 9, the system moved in between Puka Puka and Reao as it continued to weaken and move south-eastwards towards the Gambier Islands.^[1] The system was last noted during December 11, while it was located about 590 km (365 mi) to the northeast of Adams Town in the Pitcarn Islands.^[2] As the system moved through the Tuamotu Islands of French Polynesia, Tessa caused significant precipitation over the islands, with the Puka Puka weather station recording a 24-hour rainfall total of 154.2 mm (6.07 in) during December 8.^[1]

Tropical Cyclone Anne

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)

Duration	December 23 – December 31
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min); 980 hPa (mbar)

For several days during the week building up to Christmas 1977, a tropical disturbance persisted about 925 km (575 mi) to the northeast of Fiji and to the northwest of Samoa.^[3] A distinct cyclonic circulation subsequently started to develop during December 23, while it was located about 740 km (460 mi) to the northeast of Vanua Levu. Over the next day the system moved south-westwards and passed within 75 km (45 mi) of Futuna, before it was named Anne by the FMS during December 24, as satellite pictures showed that a tropical cyclone was developing. During December 25, the winds were indirectly estimated to be off gale-force, as it passed south-westwards through the Fijian Islands.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Bob

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)

Duration	December 31 – January 12
Peak intensity	155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min); 945 hPa (mbar)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Charles

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)

Duration	February 13 – March 1
Peak intensity	155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min); 945 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Diana

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)

Duration	February 15 – February 22
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min); 980 hPa (mbar)

During February 15, a tropical depression developed within the South Pacific Convergence Zone, to the west of French Polynesia's Society Islands.^[1]^[4] Over the next couple of days, the system moved eastwards towards Mopelia while gradually developing further, before it was named Diana by the FMS during February 16.^[1]

Tropical Cyclone Ernie

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)

Duration	February 17 – February 23
Peak intensity	100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min); 980 hPa (mbar)

During February 17, the FMS started to monitor a tropical depression that had developed, about 560 km (350 mi) to the northwest of Udu Point in Fiji.^[3] During that day, the system deepened as it moved south-eastwards towards Fiji before the FMS named it Ernie.^[3]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Hal

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)

Duration	April 13 (entered basin) – April 22
Peak intensity	130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min); 965 hPa (mbar)

Season effects

Name	Dates	Peak intensity			Areas affected	Damage (USD)	Deaths	Refs
Name	Dates	Category	Wind speed	Pressure	Areas affected	Damage (USD)	Deaths	Refs
Steve	November 24 – December 4	Category 2 tropical cyclone	110 km/h (70 mph)	965 hPa (28.50 inHg)
Tessa	December 5 – 11	Category 1 tropical cyclone	75 km/h (45 mph)	990 hPa (29.23 inHg)				^[1]^[2]
Anne	December 23 – 31	Category 1 tropical cyclone	100 km/h (65 mph)	980 hPa (28.94 inHg)
Bob	December 31 – January 12	Category 3 severe tropical cyclone	155 km/h (100 mph)	945 hPa (27.91 inHg)
Charles	February 13 – March 1	Category 3 severe tropical cyclone	155 km/h (100 mph)	945 hPa (27.91 inHg)
Diana	February 15 – 22	Category 2 tropical cyclone	100 km/h (65 mph)	980 hPa (28.94 inHg)
Ernie	February 17 – 23	Category 2 tropical cyclone	100 km/h (65 mph)	980 hPa (28.94 inHg)
Hal	April 13 – 22	Category 3 severe tropical cyclone	130 km/h (80 mph)	965 hPa (28.50 inHg)
Season aggregates
8 systems	November 24 – April 22		155 km/h (100 mph)	945 hPa (27.91 inHg)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Laurent, Victoire; Varney, Patrick (2014). Historique des Cyclones de Polynesie Francaise [History of Cyclones in French Polynesia] (in French). Meteo France. pp. 113–114. ISBN 978-2-9522946-1-4.
^ ^a ^b ^c "1977 Tropical Cyclone TESSA (1977339S11204)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Krishna, Ram (January 4, 1981). Publication No. 2: Tropical Cyclones in Fiji: November 1969 – April 1980 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. pp. 3–5.
^ "1978 Tropical Cyclone Diana (1978047S13197)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved September 25, 2021.

External links

[FP_TC's-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Laurent, Victoire; Varney, Patrick (2014). Historique des Cyclones de Polynesie Francaise [History of Cyclones in French Polynesia] (in French). Meteo France. pp. 113–114. ISBN 978-2-9522946-1-4.

[Tessa-2] "1977 Tropical Cyclone TESSA (1977339S11204)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved September 25, 2021.

[Fiji_1969-1980_Pub-3] Krishna, Ram (January 4, 1981). Publication No. 2: Tropical Cyclones in Fiji: November 1969 – April 1980 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. pp. 3–5.

[Diana-4] "1978 Tropical Cyclone Diana (1978047S13197)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved September 25, 2021.

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