cyclone season cyclone season active longest tropical cyclone season tropical cyclones occurring basin season started earlier normal systems developing official start season november final system dissipated june season officially ended april season tropical cyclones officially monitored fiji brisbane australia wellington new_zealand joint typhoon warning center monitored basin issued unofficial warnings american interests number tropical disturbances occur basin significant tropical cyclones number wellington brisbane use estimate minute period estimates sustained winds minute period subsequently compared saffir simpson hurricane scale season began tropical depression july months prior official start season late december strongest cyclone season severely affected islands particularly island remains strongest cyclone recorded shortly mid january cyclone struck fiji category cyclone caused million damage cyclone caused considerable damage category cyclone causing numerous power outages final storm season formed outside bounds conventional tropical cyclone season existing entirely month june causing damage result tropical cyclones season million damages caused fatalities seasonal forecasts november new_zealand predicted eastwards shift activity season tropical cyclones normal expected east date line established weak moderate conditions result island nations predicted experience higher average number tropical cyclones fiji french new_zealand predicted experience average number tropical cyclones southern new_guinea predicted experience reduced number tropical cyclones january issued updated outlook listing french areas predicted experience average number tropical cyclones contrast predicted experience average cyclone activity solomon islands predicted experience reduced number tropical cyclones countries expected face risk november outlook seasonal summary seasons average cyclone activity season slightly average featuring cyclones seven severe tropical cyclones cyclones originated australian region later moved impacted season moderately warm generated shift cyclone activity away australia open waters southern atlantic result southern index november june negative averaging sea surface temperatures pacific average tropical regions times julian increased convective activity cyclone development basin waves responsible cyclone activity season strongest cyclone season cyclone connection identified wave april easterly trade wind took place signifying end pattern persisted year course season cyclones active total days severe tropical cyclones active total days average total tropical disturbances formed cyclones disturbance season tropical depression depression formed start cyclone season july october respectively cyclone season forming november impact land masses december disturbances formed tropical depression season strongest cyclone strongest cyclone recorded affecting areas half thirteen disturbances formed developed tropical cyclones intensified severe tropical cyclones january featured disturbances cyclones severe tropical cyclones extensively fiji month february active compared january disturbances formed category cyclone australian cyclone scale march slightly active february month featured tropical depressions severe tropical cyclones originally formed west easterly wind arose april cyclone activity suppressed month totalling tropical disturbances cyclone june cyclone formed result strong wave later severe tropical cyclone end season dissipation june marked end cyclone season storms tropical cyclone developed november broad area thunderstorms embedded trough originating westerly wind burst associated conditions area disturbed weather later generate typhoon december time tropical depression moving southeast strong wind shear displaced cyclone strongest winds convection northeast circulation center convective activity fluctuated strong temperature variation moving area wind shear system able organize develop good outflow currents reflected slight drop minimum barometric pressure mbar inhg result utc december depression attained cyclone status given east named began accelerate area strong wind shear convection increasingly displaced center circulation utc december convection northwest circulation center cyclone downgraded depression status time completed transition extratropical cyclone interacting zone southwest extratropical remnants continued track southeast dissipating entirely december southeast french result remaining sea caused minimal damage severe tropical cyclone severe tropical cyclone intense tropical cyclone recorded history severely affecting areas developed january east initially developing slowly tropical depression predecessor moved west southwest influence high pressure area storm entered area favorable cyclone conditions reaching cyclone strength december rapid intensification ensued day strengthened severe tropical cyclone december attained wind speeds equivalent category status australian saffir simpson hurricane scales upper level trough low pressure forced southwest moving vicinity day intensified record low barometric pressure mbar inhg winds mph conditions deteriorate cyclone consequently weaken january storm degenerated extratropical cyclone remnants dissipated days later cyclone severely impacted islands solomon island chain particularly islands agricultural activities disrupted fruit trees crops especially gardens island hills destroyed high winds heavy rain addition communications islands disrupted impact greater agricultural productivity island said wiped fruit trees estimated begin producing fruit years impact left dry cyclone preventing immediate replacement lost crops severe tropical cyclone severe tropical cyclone worst cyclones affect fiji cyclone developed low pressure area east january storm moved slowly southwest early existence influenced upper level trough slowed began moving south southeast cyclone attained severe tropical cyclone intensity january landfall subsequently making landfall reached peak intensity equivalent category cyclone australian cyclone scale january accelerating southeast cyclone began cross cool sea surface temperatures encountered wind shear transitioned extratropical cyclone day cyclone severely impacted parts fiji mainly flooding numerous landslides power outages caused heavy rains damage particularly severe entire city inundated sugar cane production decreased crops suffered heavily damage severe ships grounded caused million million damages deaths primarily fiji following deaths damage later retired severe tropical cyclone severe tropical cyclone intense tropical cyclone affected areas southern pacific_ocean particularly developed tropical disturbance january south moved slowly west january disturbance gained strength organization named quickly clockwise loop maintaining intensity later headed south fluctuating intensity entered conditions began strengthen time heading southeast traveling reached peak intensity category tropical cyclone january highest rating australian cyclone scale winds mph maintained intensity short time increase wind shear favorable conditions induced weakening nearing strengthening ridge forced southwest away cyclone closest approach island january marginal category cyclone continuing weaken strong wind shear downgraded tropical depression day crossing exited basin entered australian region existence parts queensland affected storm cyclone caused flooding food shortage estimated people evacuated result rough seas storm surge strong gusts primary effects hit power outages mainly suffered beach erosion tropical cyclone cyclone affected islands cyclone developed monsoon trough january northwest fiji initially moved east conditions unfavourable cyclones wind shear reached peak intensity january attaining maximum winds mph sustained minutes slightly weakening able intensify match intensity january strong vertical wind shear conditions returned transitioned extratropical cyclone dropped heavy rainfall islands path depression storm dropped rain fiji effected cyclone weeks earlier damage limited vegetation fruit trees damage infrastructure relatively minor rain fell damage reported season retired severe tropical cyclone cyclone developed february area circulation near northern saw favourable conditions existence mid level ridge east cyclone progressed southward track eventually steered southwest continued intensify steadily fluctuating temperature variations category equivalent saffir simpson hurricane scale february anticyclone positioned west system moved closer providing improved environment developing eye later day attained maximum wind speeds mph sustained minutes cyclone steered south encountering high wind shear cooler sea surface temperatures result quickly weakened convection displaced outflow western southern remained favorable outflow deteriorating february minimum barometric pressure mbar inhg moved south southeast mph weakening extratropical cyclone february remnants continued drifting southwest wellington stopped issuing information february despite close proximity islands path caused minimal damage oceanic swells storm surge felt coastal areas strong winds reported southern damage banana plantations reported caused fatalities severe tropical cyclone developed march area disturbed weather originated vicinity time cyclone favourable conditions area warm sea surface temperatures low wind shear development enhanced pulse traversing area time convection began wrap center circulation low pressure area named began issuing warnings utc march minimum pressure mbar inhg time cyclone western periphery mid level ridge moved south direction initially mph intensified quickly day developed ragged eye began curve mid level ridge forward speed increased mph favorable conditions continued march underwent rapid intensification barometric pressure falling mbar inhg minimum mbar inhg wind speeds increased mph sustained minutes cyclone maintained intensity hours entering area strong vertical wind shear continued accelerate forward speed shower activity elongated eye dissipated day forward speed mph result cyclone lost tropical characteristics march issued warning utc march extratropical absorbed day offshore islands pacific rains wind caused damage western regions fiji reported heavy rain flooding cyclone passed south weakening cyclone passed island destroying fruit trees crops deaths reported severe tropical cyclone severe tropical cyclone powerful cyclone considered worst affect cyclone developed trough march queensland australian cyclone region entered cyclone region march steadily intensified favourable environment reaching peak intensity march category equivalent saffir simpson hurricane scale day paralleled coast making landfall southern end island des time cyclone entered area strong wind shear began weaken passing island extratropical transition began weakening cyclone moved southeast march completed transition extratropical cyclone fully dissipated day cyclone severely impacted island nation causing intense winds heavy rain estimated families affected cyclone island people killed people west coast lost power march seventeen secondary schools island functioning storm feared existing fever epidemic island spread caused million damages primarily tropical cyclone cyclone formed april area convection northeast fiji marginal disturbance began organise cyclonic rotation noted tropical upper trough southwest helped enhance upper level divergence system began issuing warnings utc april despite forecasts merge extratropical cyclone overnight convective organisation improved dvorak satellite estimates gave rating implying winds mph issued warning utc april named storm utc day east southeast time travelling southeast mph day nearby upper level trough helped accelerate southeast southward quickly lost tropical characteristics intense wind shear extratropical cyclone day merging cold utc march damage reported result distance land masses severe tropical cyclone westward moving tropical disturbance persisted northeast persistent convection extending june classified system tropical depression ridge south moved west southwest quickly intensifying tropical storm june east southeast utc june upgraded equivalent minimal hurricane eye evident satellite images interaction nearby remnants caused convection decrease june reported attained peak intensity low end category tropical cyclone australian intensity scale winds mph recorded winds mph compact cyclone defined eye encountered stronger wind shear cooler waters turning southeast east southeast response rapidly approaching trough quickly deteriorated convection displaced centre june centre uncertain stalled west northwest winds diminished gale force day struck island sustained catastrophic damage months previously storm brought high winds torrential rains triggered landslides dozens homes damaged areas newly planted devastated impacts reportedly set recovery efforts nearly months total newly built houses newly built severely damaged homes sustained minor damage newly planted winter crop lost sea spray bags rice given relief supplies lost following storm additional relief supplies food rushed residents ensure safety consisted local foods worth ship carrying people stranded storm engine failed june signal captain rough seas produced storm hampered rescue efforts safely rescued later day people discovered missing systems opening days tropical cyclone year westerly wind burst occurred lead formation system noted tropical depression july located northwest couple days system moved westwards noted july october tropical disturbance developed northwest moved southeast developed poorly organised tropical depression remained disorganized accelerated southeast noted utc october december reported tropical disturbance developed trough low pressure northeast american island depression drifted south classified tropical depression day development depression prevented dry air wrapping system vertical displacing convection depression longer monitored december briefly referred weak tropical depression december january poorly organised developed convergence zone northeast island days system remained weak poorly organized classified tropical depression february depression moved westwards dissipating february tropical disturbance developed february north system poorly defined convection surrounding system confined southern eastern flanks low level circulation days disturbance remained weak noted february march tropical depression developed upper trough low pressure northeast fiji convection surrounding depression displaced north low level circulation center depression remained weak couple days noted march fairly disorganized tropical disturbance developed april convergence zone northeast initially located area weak vertical expected area stronger vertical following hours gradually extratropical day disturbance moved southwards assigned designation dropped april convection surrounding system displaced april tropical disturbance developed monsoon trough southeast system moved south convection surrounding poorly organised displaced north depression low level circulation centre depression noted day tropical depression developed seasonal effects
2002–03 South Pacific cyclone season