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

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.

Seasonal summary

Cyclone Bebe

Systems

Severe Tropical Cyclone Bebe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Name Dates Peak intensity Areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
Category Wind speed Pressure
BebeOctober 19 – 28Category 3 severe tropical cyclone155 km/h (100 mph)945 hPa (27.91 inHg)Tuvalu, Fiji
ColletteNovember 2 – 3Category 1 tropical cyclone75 km/h (45 mph)990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
DianaDecember 8 – 18Category 3 severe tropical cyclone130 km/h (80 mph)965 hPa (28.50 inHg)
FelicityJanuary 14 – 18Category 1 tropical cyclone75 km/h (45 mph)990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
ElenoreJanuary 31 – February 7Category 2 tropical cyclone100 km/h (65 mph)980 hPa (28.94 inHg)Fiji, Tonga
GlendaJanuary 31 – February 1Category 1 tropical cyclone75 km/h (45 mph)990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
HenriettaFebruary 28 – March 2Category 1 tropical cyclone75 km/h (45 mph)990 hPa (29.23 inHg)
JulietteApril 2 – 6Category 2 tropical cyclone100 km/h (65 mph)980 hPa (28.94 inHg)Fiji, Tonga
Season aggregates
8 systemsOctober 19 – April 6155 km/h (100 mph)945 hPa (27.91 inHg)

See also

  • 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

  1. 1 2 3 Bureau of Meteorology (1975) Tropical Cyclones in the Northern Australian Regions 1971-1972 Australian Government Publishing Service
  2. 1 2 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. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 17 (1): 19–20.
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