1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season

Tropical cyclone season SPac 1972-1973 South Pacific cyclone season summary.jpg October 19, 1972 April 6, 1973 Bebe 945 85 10 8 8 2 24 20 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75 1972–73 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 1972–73 Australian region 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. Seasonal summary Systems Severe Tropical Cyclone Bebe Cyclone Bebe SPac October 19 October 28 945 85 110 Bebe 1972 track.png BebeOct2219720332UTCESSA9.png Tropical Cyclone Bebe was a pre-season storm that impacted the Gilbert, Ellice, and Fiji island groups.Bureau of Meteorology (1975) Tropical Cyclones in the Northern Australian Regions 1971-1972 Australian Government Publishing Service 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. It became the first cyclone to impact Fiji since 1952. On October 24, winds of 150 kn 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. Resture Jane Hurricane Bebe 1972 http://www.janeresture.com/hurribebe/hurricanebebe2.htm 5 October 2009 Tuvalu and the Hurricanes: ‘The Hurricane in Funafuti, Tuvalu’ by Pasefika Falani (Pacific Frank) 8 September 2017 11 April 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20170908231226/http://www.janeresture.com/hurribebe/hurricanebebe2.htm dead 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. 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. A total of 28 people died and thousands were left homeless. Damages totaled $20 million (1972 USD).Mariners Weather Log January 1973 17 1 October Hurricane Clobbers Fiji Elwyn E. Wilson 19–20 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Tropical Cyclone Collette SPac November 2 November 3 990 40 35 Collette 1972 track.png Collette 1972-11-02.png Collette existed from November 2 to November 3. Severe Tropical Cyclone Diana SPac December 8 December 18 965 70 85 Diana SPac 1972 track.png Diana 1972-12-12.png Diana existed from December 6 to December 18. Tropical Cyclone Felicity SPac January 14 January 18 990 40 40 Felicity 1973 track.png Felicity 1973-01-15.png Felicity existed from January 14 to January 18. Tropical Cyclone Elenore SPac January 31 February 7 980 55 55 Elenore 1973 track.png Elenore 1973-02-02.png Elenore existed from January 31 to February 7. Tropical Cyclone Glenda SPac January 31 February 1 990 40 35 Glenda SPac 1973 track.png Glenda 1973-01-30.png Glenda existed from January 31 to February 1. Tropical Cyclone Henrietta SPac February 28 March 2 990 40 45 Henrietta 1973 track.png Henrietta 1973-03-03.png Tropical Cyclone Juliette SPac April 2 April 6 980 55 35 Juliette 1973 track.png Juliette 1973-04-03.png Juliette existed from April 2 to April 6. Seasonal effects |- | Bebe || 1019 October 19 – 28 || bgcolor=#A3|3 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A3|85 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A3|945 hPa inHg 4 on || Tuvalu, Fiji || || || |- | Collette || 1102 November 2 – 3 || bgcolor=#A1|Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|40 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|990 hPa inHg 4 on || || || || |- | Diana || 1208 December 8 – 18 || bgcolor=#A3|3 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A3|70 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A3|965 hPa inHg 4 on || || || || |- | Felicity || 0114 January 14 – 18 || bgcolor=#A1|Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|40 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|990 hPa inHg 4 on || || || || |- | Elenore || 0131 January 31 – February 7 || bgcolor=#A2|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|55 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|980 hPa inHg 4 on || Fiji, Tonga || || || |- | Glenda || 0131 January 31 – February 1 || bgcolor=#A1|Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|40 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|990 hPa inHg 4 on || || || || |- | Henrietta || 0228 February 28 – March 2 || bgcolor=#A1|Category 1 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A1|40 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A1|990 hPa inHg 4 on || || || || |- | Juliette || 0402 April 2 – 6 || bgcolor=#A2|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|55 kn km/h mph 5 out on on || bgcolor=#A2|980 hPa inHg 4 on || Fiji, Tonga || || || |- 8 systems October 19 – April 6 155 km/h (100 mph) 945 hPa (27.91 inHg) See also Tropical cyclones 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 2 External links 1970 South Pacific cyclone yes 1972 y Category:South Pacific cyclone seasons Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines