2017–18 South Pacific cyclone season

2017–18 South Pacific cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedDecember 16, 2017
Last system dissipatedApril 20, 2018
Strongest storm
NameGita
 • Maximum winds205 km/h (125 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure927 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total disturbances14, 1 unofficial
Total depressions10, 1 unofficial
Tropical cyclones6, 1 unofficial
Severe tropical cyclones3
Total fatalities11 total
Total damage$377 million (2017 USD)
Related articles
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20

The 2017–18 South Pacific cyclone season was a slightly below-average season that produced 6 tropical cyclones, 3 of which became severe tropical cyclones. The season officially began on November 1, 2017, and ended on April 30, 2018; however, a tropical cyclone could form at any time between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018, and would count towards the season total. During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service, MetService and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, while the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also monitored the basin and issued warnings for American interests. The FMS attaches a number and an F suffix to significant tropical disturbances that form in or move into the basin, while the JTWC designates significant tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix. The BoM, FMS and MetService all use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale and estimate wind speeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC estimates sustained winds over a 1-minute period, which are subsequently compared to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS).

Seasonal forecasts

[edit]
Source/Record Tropical
Cyclone
Severe
Tropical Cyclone
Ref
Record high: 1997–98: 16 1982–83: 10 [1]
Record low: 2011–12:  3 2008–09:  0 [1][2]
Average (1969–70 – 2016–17): 7.1  — [2]
NIWA October 8-10 3-4 [3]
Fiji Meteorological Service 4-6 1-3 [2]
Region Chance of
above average
Average
number
Actual
activity
Western South Pacific 48% 7 5
Eastern South Pacific 55% 4 0
Source:BOM's South Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season Outlook.[4]

Ahead of the cyclone season, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), New Zealand's MetService and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and various other Pacific Meteorological services, all contributed towards the Island Climate Update tropical cyclone outlook that was released during October 2016.[3] The outlook took into account the ENSO-neutral conditions that had been observed across the Pacific and analogue seasons that had ENSO-neutral and weak La Niña conditions occurring during the season.[3] The outlook called for a near average number of tropical cyclones for the 2017–18 season, with eight to ten named tropical cyclones, to occur between 135°E and 120°W compared to an average of about 10.[3] At least three of the tropical cyclones were expected to become Category 3 severe tropical cyclones, while two could become Category 4 severe tropical cyclones; they also noted that a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone was not likely to occur during the season.[3]

In addition to contributing towards the Island Climate Update outlook, the FMS and the BoM issued their own seasonal forecasts for the South Pacific region.[2][4] The BoM issued two seasonal forecasts for the Southern Pacific Ocean, for their self-defined eastern and western regions of the South Pacific Ocean.[4] They predicted that the Western region between 142.5°E and 165°E, had a 48% chance of seeing activity above its average of 7 tropical cyclones. The BoM also predicted that the Eastern Region between 165°E and 120°W, had a 55% chance of seeing activity above its average of 4 tropical cyclones.[4] Within their outlook the FMS predicted that between four and six tropical cyclones, would occur within the basin compared to an average of around 7.1 cyclones.[2] At least one of the tropical cyclones was expected to intensify into a Category 3 or higher severe tropical cyclone.[2] They also predicted that the main area for tropical cyclogenesis would be within the Coral Sea, to the west of the International Date Line.[2]

Both the Island Climate Update and the FMS tropical cyclone outlooks assessed the risk of a tropical cyclone affecting a certain island or territory.[2][3] The Island Climate Update Outlook predicted that New Caledonia, Tonga, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea had an above average chance of being impacted by a tropical cyclone or their remnants.[3] They also predicted that the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu had a near normal to normal risk of being impacted by one or more tropical cyclones.[3] The Southern Cook Islands, American Samoa, Samoa, Niue, Tokelau, Tuvalu, as well as Wallis and Futuna were thought to have a below average chance of being impacted. It was also considered unlikely that the Northern Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Kiribati and the Pitcairn Islands would be affected by a tropical cyclone.[3] The FMS's outlook predicted that Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji as well as Wallis and Futuna had a normal chance of being impacted by a tropical cyclone.[2] The outlook also predicted that the Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands and French Polynesia had a reduced chance of being affected by a tropical cyclone.[2] It was thought that there was a normal risk of Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji and Samoa being impacted by at least one severe tropical cyclone, while other areas such as the Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Samoa, Tonga, Niue and French Polynesia, had a reduced chance of being impacted by a severe tropical cyclone.[2]

Seasonal summary

[edit]
Cyclone HolaCyclone GitaTropical cyclone scales#Comparisons across basins

Systems

[edit]

Tropical Depression 04F

[edit]
Tropical depression (Australian scale)
 
DurationDecember 20 – December 26
Peak intensityWinds not specified;
998 hPa (mbar)

This depression formed east of Fiji on December 20th, and tried to strengthen while drifting south-east. However, it encountered harsh wind shear which prevented any further development and sheared off all the circulation to the south-east quadrant. It dissipated on December 26th.

Tropical Disturbance 05F

[edit]
Tropical disturbance (Australian scale)
 
DurationJanuary 26 – January 27
Peak intensityWinds not specified;
996 hPa (mbar)

Formed on January 26, dissipated the next day, 27th. It never strengthened due to the wind shear.

Tropical Cyclone Fehi

[edit]
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 28 (Entered basin) – January 30
Peak intensity85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min);
986 hPa (mbar)

Fehi entered the South Pacific basin from the Australian Region on 28th as a subtropical cyclone. It continued its south-southeast track while transitioning to an extratropical cyclone as it approached New Zealand.

As an extratropical cyclone, Fehi caused extensive damage in western New Zealand. Strong winds and heavy rain damaged hundreds of structures, with more than 100 later condemned. Waist-deep water flooded homes in Charleston and Westport. Pounding surf eroded beaches, exposing an old garbage dump at Cobden Beach which left thousands of garbage bags strewn about. Insurance loss were amounted at NZ$38.5 million (US$28.5 million).[5]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita

[edit]
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 3 – February 19
Peak intensity205 km/h (125 mph) (10-min);
927 hPa (mbar)

On 3 February, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) started to monitor Tropical Disturbance 07F, which had developed within a trough of low pressure, about 435 km (270 mi) to the southeast of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.[6][7] Over the next couple of days, the system moved erratically near northern Vanuatu and remained poorly organized, with convection located to the south of the low-level circulation center.[8] The system started to move south-eastwards on 5 February, towards the Fijian Islands and a favorable environment for further development.[9] The system subsequently passed near the island nation during 8 February, where it developed into a tropical depression and started to move north-eastwards towards the Samoan Islands.[10][11] On 9 February, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 09P, after an ASCAT image showed that it had winds of 65–75 km/h (40–45 mph) in its northern semicircle.[12] The FMS subsequently named the system Tropical Cyclone Gita, after the United States National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Pago Pago requested that the system be named early for warning and humanitarian reasons.[13]

After Gita was named, a prolonged period of rapid intensification ensued as it quickly intensified into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale, before it passed within 100 km (60 mi) of Samoa and American Samoa. After moving past the Samoan Islands, Gita turned southeast and then southwards.[14] On 10 February, Gita rapidly intensified to a category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale[15] while traversing anomalously warm sea surface temperatures of between 28–29 °C (82–84 °F).[16] On 11 February, Gita continued to intensify into a category 4 severe tropical cyclone.[17] At the same time, Gita turned westward under the influence of a subtropical ridge to the south.[14] At approximately 10:00 UTC (23:00 TOT) on 11 February, the cyclone passed about 30 km (20 mi) south of Tongatapu near its peak intensity, as a powerful Category 5 cyclone on the Australian Scale; the RSMC Nadi-based Australian scale and the JTWC-used Saffir–Simpson scale, with maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph). At the same time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center estimated peak 1-minute sustained winds at 230 km/h (145 mph).[18] This made Gita the strongest cyclone to strike Tonga in its recorded history.[19]

Tropical Depression 08F

[edit]
Tropical depression (Australian scale)
 
DurationFebruary 3 – February 11
Peak intensityWinds not specified;
994 hPa (mbar)

This storm formed on February 3, 2018 to the east of Fiji, Tropical Depression 08F followed an erratic track; however, it didn't strengthen enough to become a category 1 and it dissipated on February 11, 2018.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Hola

[edit]
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 3 – March 11
Peak intensity165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min);
952 hPa (mbar)

During March 3, 2018 the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) reported that Tropical Disturbance 09F had developed within a trough of low pressure about 230 km (145 mi) to the northeast of Nadi, Fiji.[20][21] At this time the disturbance had a broad low-level circulation and was located within a very favourable environment for further development, with low vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures.[22] Over the next couple of days, the disturbance gradually developed further as it gradually moved westwards towards Vanuatu, under the influence of a subtropical ridge of high pressure.[22][23] It was subsequently classified as a tropical depression by the FMS during March 5, before the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) subsequently issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the system later that day.[24][25]

During March 6, the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 12P, after its broad low-level circulation center had slowly consolidated and the overall organisation of the cyclone had improved.[26] The FMS subsequently reported that the system had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and named it Hola while it was located about 80 km (50 mi) to the east of Pentecost Island in Vanuatu.[27] After it was named, Hola started developing a weak low level eye feature, before it was classified as a category 2 tropical cyclone as it passed in between the islands of Pentecost and Ambrym.[28][29] The system subsequently passed over the island of Malekula and moved into the Coral Sea during March 7, where it rapidly consolidated and developed a 10 km (5 mi) pinhole eye.[30][31] The FMS subsequently reported that Hola had become a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone and predicted that Hola would peak as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone.[32]

After peaking as a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, wind shear rapidly weakened the system as it passed to the west of New Caledonia as a Category 1 tropical cyclone. It continued to the southwest before transitioning to an subtropical storm as it approached New Zealand. It weakened and it degenerated to a remnant low to the northwest of the country.

Tropical Depression 10F (Linda)

[edit]
Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 11 – March 13 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min);
998 hPa (mbar)

On March 11, the FMS reported that Tropical Disturbance 10F, had developed about 85 km (55 mi) to the southwest of Rennell and Bellona Province of the Solomon Islands.[33] The system was poorly organised with deep atmospheric convection, displaced to the east of the system's consolidating low-level circulation center. The disturbance was subsequently classified as Tropical Low 21U by the BoM during March 12, as it moved southwards within an area of low vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures.[34][35] The JTWC initiated advisories on the system later that day and classified the storm as Tropical Cyclone 13P, after the system had rapidly consolidated, with bands of atmospheric convection wrapping into the low-level circulation center.[citation needed]

Tropical Cyclone Iris

[edit]
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
 
DurationMarch 20 – March 24 (Exited basin)
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min);
993 hPa (mbar)

During March 20, the FMS reported that Tropical Disturbance 11F had developed within an area of low to moderate vertical wind shear, over the eastern Solomon Islands around 200 km (125 mi) to the east of Honiara.[36] At this time the system was poorly organised with deep atmospheric convection, located to the east of the low-level circulation centre.[36] Over the next few days, the system remained weak as it moved erratically around the Solomon Islands and was classified as a tropical depression during March 22.[37][38]

On March 24, Tropical Depression 11F strengthened into Tropical Cyclone Iris. Later on the same day, Iris exited the basin and entered the Australian region basin.[citation needed]

Tropical Cyclone Josie

[edit]
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 29 – April 2
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min);
993 hPa (mbar)

During March 29, the Fiji Meteorological Service reported that Tropical Disturbance 12F had developed about 350 km (215 mi) to the east of Port Vila in Vanuatu.[39] At this stage, the system was poorly organised with atmospheric convection surrounding the system displaced to the northeast of the disturbance's weak low-level circulation.[39] However, the disturbance was located to the south of a ridge of high pressure, and within a favourable environment for further development, with low to moderate levels of vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures of around 28–30 °C (82–86 °F).[39][40] By 23:20 UTC that day, the system had strengthened into Tropical Depression 12F.[41] Despite moderate shear, the system organized further into Tropical Cyclone Josie by March 31.[42]

Despite not making landfall, Cyclone Josie caused heavy rainfall and sustained gale-force winds in southern Fiji. Because of these effects, Josie caused upwards of $10 million in damages.[43][44] Severe flooding occurred in the city of Nadi.[45] Altogether, Josie left six people dead.[43] Five people were washed away by floodwaters, of which four are confirmed dead and one is still missing.[44]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Keni

[edit]
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationApril 5 – April 11
Peak intensity155 km/h (100 mph) (10-min);
960 hPa (mbar)

Tropical Cyclone Keni impacted Fiji and caused the cast and crew of the 37th season of the American reality competition series, Survivor, to be temporarily evacuated to the production's base camp. [46][47]3rd most strongest storm recorded.

Tropical Depression 14F

[edit]
Tropical depression (Australian scale)
 
DurationApril 17 – April 20
Peak intensityWinds not specified;
1000 hPa (mbar)

This is the 11th named storm.

Other systems

[edit]
Subtropical Cyclone "Lexi" near Chile on May 7

During December 16, Tropical Disturbance 02F developed within a trough of low pressure, about 25 km (15 mi) to the northeast of the island of Futuna.[48][49] During the following day, Tropical Disturbance 03F developed along the same trough of low pressure about 45 km (30 mi) to the southeast of the island of Wallis.[49][50] Over the next couple of days, the disturbances moved southeastwards into areas of high vertical wind shear, before they were last noted during December 18 and 19 as they dissipated to the southeast of Samoa.[51][52]

On January 28, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on a tropical disturbance, which was located near the French Polynesian island of Rapa Iti.[53] The system had a well defined low-level circulation, and was located within an area of warm sea surface temperatures and marginal vertical wind shear.[53] The system subsequently peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 65 km/h (40 mph), which made it equivalent to a tropical storm.[54] The alert was subsequently cancelled during the next day, after the system's low level circulation center became ragged, and atmospheric convection was displaced to the east of the circulation center.[55]

On May 4, 2018, a system identified as a subtropical cyclone formed east of 120°W, near 80°W, just a few hundred miles off the coast of Chile, with researchers unofficially naming the storm Lexi.[56] The cyclone formed in an area without a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center, so it was not officially classified.[57] On May 9, the satellite services division of the NOAA classified the system as a weak subtropical storm, despite occurring in cooler (below 20 °C) sea surface temperatures.[58]

Storm names

[edit]

Within the Southern Pacific a tropical depression is judged to have reached tropical cyclone intensity should it reach winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) and it is evident that gales are occurring at least halfway around the center. Tropical depressions that intensify into a tropical cyclone between the Equator and 25°S and between 160°E and 120°W are named by the FMS. However, should a tropical depression intensify to the south of 25°S between 160°E and 120°W it will be named by MetService in conjunction with the FMS. If a tropical cyclone moves out of the basin and into the Australian region, it will retain its original name. The names Fehi, Hola, Josie and Keni would be used for the first time this year (and only, in the case of Keni), after replacing the names Frank, Hali, Jo, and Kim after the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons respectively. The names that were used for the 2017-18 season are listed below:[59]

  • Keni
  • Liua (unused)
  • Mona (unused)
  • Neil (unused)
  • Oma (unused)

If a tropical cyclone enters the South Pacific basin from the Australian region basin (west of 160°E), it will retain the name assigned to it by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The following storms were named in this manner:

  • Linda

Also of note, the name Lexi was assigned to the above mentioned storm, however it is not part of any defined naming list and thus is unofficial.

Retirement

[edit]

After the season, the names Gita, Josie, and Keni were all retired, and replaced with Garth, Jo, and Kala respectively. [59]

Season effects

[edit]

This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific to the east of longitude 160°E during the 2017–18 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, landfalls, deaths, and damages. All data is taken from RSMC Nadi and/or TCWC Wellington, and all of the damage figures are in 2017 USD.

Name Dates Peak intensity Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
Category Wind speed Pressure
02F December 16 – 18 Tropical disturbance Not specified 1003 hPa (29.62 inHg) None None None
03F December 17 – 19 Tropical disturbance Not specified 1000 hPa (29.53 inHg) None None None
04F December 20 – 26 Tropical depression 55 km/h (35 mph) 998 hPa (29.47 inHg) Fiji None None
05F January 26 – 27 Tropical disturbance Not specified 996 hPa (29.41 inHg) New Caledonia None None
Fehi January 28 – 30 Category 1 tropical cyclone 85 km/h (55 mph) 986 hPa (29.12 inHg) New Caledonia, New Zealand $67 million None [43]
Gita February 3 – 19 Category 5 severe tropical cyclone 205 km/h (125 mph) 927 hPa (27.37 inHg) Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, Samoan Islands, Niue, Tonga, New Caledonia, New Zealand $250 million 2 [43]
08F February 3 – 11 Tropical depression Not specified 994 hPa (29.35 inHg) Fiji None None
Hola March 3 – 11 Category 4 severe tropical cyclone 165 km/h (105 mph) 952 hPa (28.11 inHg) Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand Unknown 3 [60][61]
Linda March 11 – 13 Tropical depression 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph) 995 hPa (29.38 inHg) None None None
Iris March 20 – 24 Category 1 tropical cyclone 75 km/h (45 mph) 993 hPa (29.32 inHg) Solomon Islands None None
Josie March 29 – April 2 Category 1 tropical cyclone 75 km/h (45 mph) 993 hPa (29.32 inHg) Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga $10 million 6 [43]
Keni April 5 – 11 Category 3 severe tropical cyclone 140 km/h (85 mph) 970 hPa (28.64 inHg) Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga $50 million None [43]
14F April 17 – 20 Tropical depression Not specified 1000 hPa (29.53 inHg) Rotuma Unknown Unknown
Season aggregates
13 systems December 16, 2017 – April 20, 2018 205 km/h (125 mph) 927 hPa (27.37 inHg) $377 million 11


See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Climate Services Division (October 26, 2010). Tropical Cyclone Guidance for Season 2010/11 for the Fiji and the Southwest Pacific (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "2017–18 Tropical Cyclone Season Outlook in the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre Nadi – Tropical Cyclone Centre (RSMC Nadi – TCC) Area of Responsibility (AOR)" (PDF). Fiji Meteorological Service. October 11, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook - October 2017". National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. October 10, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d National Climate Centre (October 9, 2017). "South Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook for 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  5. ^ "CYCLONE FEHI SET TO COST MORE THAN $39M". ICNZ. March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  6. ^ "Rain continues and heavy rain warning remains" (PDF) (Press release). Fiji Meteorological Service. 3 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  7. ^ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (3 February 2018). "Tropical Disturbance Summary February 3, 2018 09z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 26 December 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  8. ^ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (5 February 2018). "Tropical Disturbance Summary February 5, 2018 09z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 26 December 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  9. ^ "TD08F remains slow moving" (PDF) (Press release). Fiji Meteorological Service. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Heavy rain and strong winds to ease as TD07F moves away" (PDF) (Press release). Fiji Meteorological Service. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  11. ^ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (8 February 2018). "Tropical Disturbance Advisory Number A1". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  12. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (9 February 2018). "Tropical Cyclone Warning". Pearl Harbor HI: Government of the United States. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  13. ^ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (9 February 2018). "Tropical Disturbance Advisory February 9, 2018 06z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Overall Red alert Tropical Cyclone for GITA-18". GDACS. Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  15. ^ "HURRICANE WARNING 017". WebCite. RSMC Nadi. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  16. ^ Henson, Bob. "Eyewall of Fearsome Cyclone Gita Churns across Tonga". Weather Underground. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  17. ^ "HURRICANE WARNING 024". WebCite. RSMC Nadi. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  18. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Gita is a monster Category 4, Nuku'alofa badly battered". Samoa News. Radio New Zealand. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  19. ^ Tapaleao, Vaimoana; Dunlop, Ryan (13 February 2018). "Gita's fury: Tropical cyclone hits Tonga and there are now fears for parts of Fiji". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Heavy Rain and Flood Alerts in force" (PDF) (Press release). Fiji Meteorological Service. March 3, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  21. ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary March 3, 2018 09z". Fiji Meteorological Service. March 3, 2018. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans March 3, 2018 10z". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. March 3, 2018. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  23. ^ "TD09F moving further away from the group" (PDF) (Press release). Fiji Meteorological Service. March 6, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  24. ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary March 5, 2018 06z". Fiji Meteorological Service. March 5, 2018. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  25. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert March 5 2018 14z". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. March 5, 2018. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  26. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 12P (Hola) Warning March 6, 2018 15z". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. March 6, 2018. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  27. ^ "Tropical Disturbance Advisory March 6, 2018 12z". Fiji Meteorological Service. March 6, 2018. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  28. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 12P (Hola) Warning March 6, 2018 21z". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. March 6, 2018. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  29. ^ "Tropical Disturbance Advisory March 6, 2018 18z". Fiji Meteorological Service. March 6, 2018. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  30. ^ "Tropical Disturbance Advisory March 7, 2018 00z". Fiji Meteorological Service. March 7, 2018. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  31. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 12P (Hola) Warning March 7, 2018 15z". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. March 7, 2018. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  32. ^ "Strengthened Tropical Cyclone Hola batters Vanuatu, likely to hit New Zealand". Stuff. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  33. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2018-03-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  34. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2018-03-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2018-03-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. ^ a b Tropical Disturbance Summuary March 20, 2018 21z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. March 20, 2018. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  37. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Iris Impacts". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  38. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2018-03-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  39. ^ a b c Tropical Disturbance Summary March 29, 2018 21z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. March 29, 2018. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  40. ^ Significant Tropical Weather Advisory March 30, 2018 06z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. March 30, 2018. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  41. ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary For area Equator to 25S, 160E to 120W". Fiji Meteorological Service. March 29, 2018. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  42. ^ "Tropical Disturbance Advisory Number A3 Issued From RSMC Nadi". RSMC Nadi. Nadi, Fiji. March 31, 2018. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  43. ^ a b c d e f Weather, Climate & Catastrophe Insight: 2018 Annual Report (PDF) (Report). Aon Benfield. 22 January 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  44. ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Josie kills 4 in Fiji". Newshub. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  45. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Josie puts Fiji tourist town under water". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  46. ^ Ross, Dalton (25 October 2018). "'Survivor' host Jeff Probst reveals where cast went during cyclone". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  47. ^ Wigler, Josh (26 September 2018). "'Survivor David vs. Goliath': The Inside Story of That Shocking Season Premiere". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  48. ^ Tropical Disturbance Summuary December 16, 2017 23z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. December 16, 2017. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  49. ^ a b Climate Services Division (January 8, 2018). Fiji Islands Climate Summary December 2017 Volume 38 Issue 12 (PDF) (Report). Vol. 38. Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  50. ^ Tropical Disturbance Summuary December 17, 2017 23z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. December 17, 2017. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  51. ^ Tropical Disturbance Summuary December 18, 2017 23z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. December 18, 2017. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  52. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2018-10-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  53. ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert January 28, 2018 18z". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 28, 2018. Archived from the original on 2024-05-22. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  54. ^ "Archived copy". ftp.emc.ncep.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  55. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert Cancellation January 29, 2018 18z". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 29, 2018. Archived from the original on 2024-05-22. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  56. ^ Steve Young (5 July 2018). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Tracks - May 2018". Australia Severe Weather. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  57. ^ Levi Cowan [@TropicalTidbits] (May 7, 2018). "A subtropical cyclone just west of Chile would definitely be among the weirder things I've seen. Water is usually cold there. Colder than 20C in this case, but the thermodynamic profile does support convection" (Tweet). Retrieved February 22, 2021 – via Twitter.
  58. ^ John Leslie (May 9, 2018). "Rare Subtropical Storm off the Coast of Chile". NOAA. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  59. ^ a b RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee (2024). Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-East Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean 2024 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  60. ^ "Cyclone Hola Kills 1, Injures 2 In Vanuatu". Urdupoint. 9 March 2018.
  61. ^ "Two More Tc Hola Deaths Confirmed". 14 March 2018.
[edit]