1980–81 South Pacific cyclone season
Tropical cyclone season
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The 1980–81 South Pacific cyclone season was an above-average season.
(10-minute sustained)
| 1980–81 South Pacific cyclone season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | November 27, 1980 |
| Last system dissipated | March 21, 1981 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Freda |
| • Maximum winds | 150 km/h (90 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 955 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 12 |
| Tropical cyclones | 11 |
| Severe tropical cyclones | 4 |
| Total fatalities | Unknown |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Related articles | |
Seasonal summary
This season marked the first time the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued warnings and performed best track analysis on significant tropical cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere.[1] It also marked the first time the naming list in the South Pacific basin have the name from South Pacific languages scattering with the Western name.
Systems
Tropical Cyclone Diola
Diola existed from November 27 to November 30.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Arthur
Arthur existed from January 11 to January 17.
Tropical Cyclone Betsy
Betsy existed from January 30 to February 4.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Cliff
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | February 9 – February 13 (Crossed 160°E) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min); 975 hPa (mbar) |
Cliff developed on February 9, near Vanua Lava, Vanuatu. The cyclone reached peak intensity on February 12, with an estimated central pressure of 975 hPa. It passed over New Caledonia at near peak intensity, with sustained winds 92 km/h (57 mph). After crossing into the Australian region, Cliff struck Queensland on February 14, making landfall near Bundaberg. The cyclone caused some crop and structural damages in South East Queensland, and beach erosion occurred on the Gold and Sunshine coasts. One man was drowned off the Gold Coast.[2]
Tropical Cyclone SP198006
This cyclone existed from February 16 to February 21.
Tropical Cyclone Daman
Daman existed from February 20 to February 24.
Tropical Cyclone SP198008
This cyclone existed from February 22 to March 7.
Tropical Cyclone Esau
Esau existed from March 1 to March 5.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Freda
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | March 4 (Crossed 160°E) – March 9 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min); 955 hPa (mbar) |
Freda existed from February 24 to March 9.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Tahmar
Tahmar existed from March 8 to March 13.
Tropical Cyclone Fran
Fran existed from March 17 to March 24.
Other systems
The JTWC initiated warnings on Tropical Cyclone 12P during January 26, which had moved into the basin from the Australian region during the previous day. The system subsequently passed in between Vanuatu and New Caledonia before it was last noted during January 27.
Season effects
| Name | Dates | Peak intensity | Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Ref(s). | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Wind speed | Pressure | ||||||
| Diola | November 27 – 30 | Category 1 tropical cyclone | 75 km/h (45 mph) | 990 hPa (29.23 inHg) | ||||
| Arthur | January 11 – 17 | Category 3 severe tropical cyclone | 130 km/h (80 mph) | 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) | [3] | |||
| Betsy | January 30 – February 4 | Category 1 tropical cyclone | 75 km/h (45 mph) | 990 hPa (29.23 inHg) | ||||
| Cliff | February 8 – 13 | Category 3 severe tropical cyclone | 120 km/h (75 mph) | 970 hPa (28.64 inHg) | [4] | |||
| Unnamed | February 16 – 21 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 95 km/h (60 mph) | 985 hPa (29.09 inHg) | ||||
| Daman | February 20 – 24 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 100 km/h (65 mph) | 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) | ||||
| Unnamed | February 22 – March 7 | Category 1 tropical cyclone | 75 km/h (45 mph) | 990 hPa (29.23 inHg) | ||||
| Esau | March 1 – 5 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 100 km/h (65 mph) | 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) | ||||
| Freda | March 4 – 9 | Category 3 severe tropical cyclone | 150 km/h (90 mph) | 955 hPa (28.20 inHg) | [5] | |||
| Tahmar | March 8 – 13 | Category 3 severe tropical cyclone | 120 km/h (75 mph) | 970 hPa (28.64 inHg) | French Polynesia | [6] | ||
| Fran | March 17 – 24 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 100 km/h (65 mph) | 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) | ||||
| Season aggregates | ||||||||
| 11 systems | November 27, 1980– March 24, 1981 | 150 km/h (90 mph) | 955 hPa (28.20 inHg) | |||||
