South Pacific storms (1970-present)

[HurricaneBill]

I found a site that provided, in text form, data on pretty much all the tropical cyclones that occured in the Southern Hemisphere from 1970-2002. The 2001-2002 season was operational data, while the rest was best track data.

What was interesting was that the best track data was a blend of data from the JTWC, BoM, and the other agencies in their respective AORs.

Probably the most significant thing about the data was that it provided info on SPAC and SWIO cyclones prior to 1983. Data on past cyclones in these two regions tend to be very scarce for storms prior to 1983.

Here's the link:
http://www.eas.gatech.edu/research/hurricane/tracks.sh.txt

(NOTE: The data might be tough to decipher because of the format it is in. It's kinda like trying to read recon data.)

I'll list the SPAC storms (not including storms from Australian name lists) in my next post.

[HurricaneBill]

1969/1970 (data begins with 1/1/1970)

Cyclone Dolly
Peak: 70KT

Cyclone Emma
Peak: 75KT

T.S. Gillian
Peak: 45KT

T.S. Helen
Peak: 35KT

T.S. Isa
Peak: 35KT

1970/1971

T.S. Priscilla
Peak: 35KT

T.S. Rosie (RETIRED)
Peak: 45KT

1971/1972

Cyclone Ursula
Peak: 110KT

T.S. Vivienne (RETIRED)
Peak: 35KT

Cyclone Wendy (RETIRED)
Peak: 110KT

Cyclone Yolande
Peak: 70KT

Cyclone Agatha (RETIRED)
Peak: 65KT

1972/1973

Cyclone Bebe (RETIRED)
Peak: 110KT

T.S. Collette
Peak: 35KT

Cyclone Diana
Peak: 85KT

T.S. Felicity
Peak: 40KT

T.S. Glenda
Peak: 35KT

T.S. Henrietta
Peak: 45KT

T.S. Juliette
Peak: 35KT

1973/1974

Cyclone Natalie-Lottie (SPAC name was Lottie and RETIRED)
Peak: 65KT

T.S. Monica
Peak: 35KT

T.S. Nessie
Peak: 35KT

Cyclone Pam
Peak: 80KT

T.S. Stella

T.S. Tina (RETIRED)
Peak: 40KT

1974/1975

Cyclone Val
Peak: 120KT

Cyclone Alison (RETIRED)
Peak: 120KT

Cyclone Betty
Peak: 70KT

1975/1976

T.D. Charlotte
Peak: 15KT

Cyclone David
Peak: 85KT

T.S. Elsa (RETIRED)
Peak: 55KT

Cyclone Frances
Peak: 80KT

T.D. George
Peak: 15KT

T.S. Hope
Peak: 40KT

T.S. Jan
Peak: 35KT

Cyclone Watorea (RETIRED)
Peak: 75KT

1976/1977

T.S. Kim
Peak: 35KT

T.S. Laurie
Peak: 35KT

Cyclone Marion (RETIRED)
Peak: 70KT

T.S. Norman
Peak: 40KT

T.S. Pat
Peak: 40KT

Cyclone Robert (RETIRED)
Peak: 80KT

1977/1978

Cyclone Steve
Peak: 65KT

T.S. Tessa
Peak: 40KT

T.S. Anne
Peak: 55KT

Cyclone Bob (RETIRED)
Peak: 80KT

Cyclone Charles (RETIRED)
Peak: 75KT

T.S. Diana (RETIRED)
Peak: 50KT

T.S. Ernie
Peak: 50KT

1978/1979

T.S. Fay (RETIRED)
Peak: 35KT

Cyclone Gordon (RETIRED)
Peak: 75KT

T.S. Henry
Peak: 50KT

Cyclone Kerry
Peak: 105KT

T.S. Leslie
Peak: 40KT

Cyclone Meli (RETIRED)
Peak: 115KT

[P.K.]

Interesting, old SW Indian data has the RSMC positions but JTWC intensities (I assume) as looking at a few from 1970 they don't match in that way. The RSMC best track back past the early 1980s only includes the category of system. Funnily enough I e-mailed RSMCs Nadi and New Delhi the other day asking if they would send me a copy of their BT but I've not got it yet so can't compare the Nadi systems.

Edit - Winds don't match for Australian systems either, for example Katrina in the 1997-1998 season had max winds of 46.5m/s (90kts) but appears to be down as 110kts. The minimum pressures do however appear to match.

[HurricaneBill]

Interesting, old SW Indian data has the RSMC positions but JTWC intensities (I assume) as looking at a few from 1970 they don't match in that way. The RSMC best track back past the early 1980s only includes the category of system. Funnily enough I e-mailed RSMCs Nadi and New Delhi the other day asking if they would send me a copy of their BT but I've not got it yet so can't compare the Nadi systems.

Edit - Winds don't match for Australian systems either, for example Katrina in the 1997-1998 season had max winds of 46.5m/s (90kts) but appears to be down as 110kts. The minimum pressures do however appear to match.

Yeah, some of the data seems odd. For example, Cyclone Amy in 1980 is listed as 140KT. I think JTWC had Amy peaking at 110KT.

As for Katrina, is the 90KT a 10-min sustained wind? As far as I know, all the intensities on this data set are 1-min sustained winds.

[HurricaneBill]

Interesting, old SW Indian data has the RSMC positions but JTWC intensities (I assume) as looking at a few from 1970 they don't match in that way. The RSMC best track back past the early 1980s only includes the category of system. Funnily enough I e-mailed RSMCs Nadi and New Delhi the other day asking if they would send me a copy of their BT but I've not got it yet so can't compare the Nadi systems.

I think you can find some of the best track stuff on Google.

[HurricaneBill]

1979/1980

T.S. Ofa
Peak: 45KT

Cyclone Peni
Peak: 65KT

T.S. Rae
Peak: 40KT

Cyclone Sina
Peak: 70KT

T.S. Tia
Peak: 60KT

T.S. Val
Peak: 60KT

T.S. Wally (RETIRED)
Peak: 50KT

1980/1981

T.S. Diola
Peak: 35KT

Cyclone Arthur
Peak: 75KT

T.S. Betsy
Peak: 35KT

Cyclone Cliff
Peak: 70KT

T.S. Daman
Peak: 40KT

T.S. Esau
Peak: 50KT

Cyclone Tahmar (RETIRED)
Peak: 70KT

T.S. Fran
Peak: 40KT

1981/1982

Cyclone Gyan (RETIRED)
Peak: 110KT

Cyclone Hettie
Peak: 70KT

Cyclone Isaac (RETIRED)
Peak: 100KT

1982/1983

Cyclone Joti (RETIRED)
Peak: 70KT

T.S. Kina
Peak: 45KT

T.S. Lisa (RETIRED)
Peak: 55KT

Cyclone Mark (RETIRED)
Peak: 85KT

T.S. Nano
Peak: 40KT

Cyclone Nisha/Orama
Peak: 105KT

Cyclone Oscar (RETIRED)
Peak: 105KT

T.S. Prema
Peak: 50KT

Cyclone Rewa
Peak: 95KT

Cyclone Sarah
Peak: 95KT

Cyclone Tomasi
Peak: 105KT

Cyclone Veena (RETIRED)
Peak: 105KT

Cyclone William
Peak: 80KT

1983/1984

T.S. Atu
Peak: 40KT

Cyclone Beti
Peak: 65KT

T.S. Cyril
Peak: 40KT

1984/1985

T.S. Drena
Peak: 50KT

Cyclone Eric (RETIRED)
Peak: 100KT

Cyclone Freda
Peak: 80KT

T.S. Gavin
Peak: 55KT

Cyclone Hina
Peak: 135KT

1985/1986

Cyclone Ima (RETIRED)
Peak: 75KT

Cyclone June
Peak: 70KT

T.S. Keli
Peak: 45KT

T.S. Lusi
Peak: 45KT

Cyclone Martin
Peak: 75KT

Cyclone Manu (RETIRED)
Peak: 75KT

Cyclone Namu (RETIRED)
Peak: 95KT

1986/1987

Cyclone Osea
Peak: 65KT

T.S. Patsy
Peak: 55KT

Cyclone Raja (RETIRED)
Peak: 90KT

Cyclone Sally (RETIRED)
Peak: 65KT

Cyclone Tusi
Peak: 100KT

Cyclone Uma (RETIRED)
Peak: 100KT

T.S. Veli
Peak: 45KT

Cyclone Wini
Peak: 65KT

Cyclone Yali
Peak: 65KT

T.S. Zuman
Peak: 55KT

1987/1988

Cyclone Agi (RETIRED)
Peak: 70KT

Cyclone Anne (RETIRED)
Peak: 140KT

Cyclone Bola (RETIRED)
Peak: 105KT

T.S. Cilla
Peak: 45KT

Cyclone Dovi
Peak: 70KT

1988/1989

T.S. Eseta
Peak: 60KT

T.S. Fili
Peak: 60KT

T.S. Gina
Peak: 45KT

Cyclone Harry (RETIRED)
Peak: 130KT

Cyclone Ivy
Peak: 100KT

Cyclone Hinano
Peak: 90KT

Cyclone Judy
Peak: 90KT

T.S. Kerry
Peak: 50KT

Cyclone Aivu (RETIRED)
Peak: 120KT

Cyclone Lili (RETIRED)
Peak: 110KT

T.S. Meena
Peak: 50KT

[Calasanjy]

Yeah, thanks for clearing this data up for me, HurricaneBill. I recall encountering this site on one of my many (mostly unsuccessful) searches for SH cyclone data but this data seemed disorganized and unclear.

Something about the naming system in the 1980s seems peculiar. None of the official namelists contained the names Diola, Nano, Orama, or Hinano. As far as I understood, only Nadi, Port Moresby, or Perth had jurisdiction over the SPAC, but clearly another agency was involved during the 80s. All of these storms either formed or entered the region around Tahiti and the other French Polynesian islands; I wonder if they had their own list they used for storms that appeared threatening to them.

[HurricaneBill]

Something about the naming system in the 1980s seems peculiar. None of the official namelists contained the names Diola, Nano, Orama, or Hinano. As far as I understood, only Nadi, Port Moresby, or Perth had jurisdiction over the SPAC, but clearly another agency was involved during the 80s. All of these storms either formed or entered the region around Tahiti and the other French Polynesian islands; I wonder if they had their own list they used for storms that appeared threatening to them.

Yes, Tahiti would give storms names. I think only if Nadi had not given them any. The reason Cyclone Nisha-Orama had two names was because Fiji was having political upheavals during the 1982/1983 season. Due to lack of communication, when a cyclone was near Tahiti, Tahiti named it Orama. However, Nadi had already assigned the name Nisha to the cyclone.

Since Hinano in 1989, I don't think Tahiti names storms anymore.

[P.K.]

Yeah, some of the data seems odd. For example, Cyclone Amy in 1980 is listed as 140KT. I think JTWC had Amy peaking at 110KT.

As for Katrina, is the 90KT a 10-min sustained wind? As far as I know, all the intensities on this data set are 1-min sustained winds.

Unless stated all wind speeds I post on here are ten minute averages. Even converting to a one minute average the Katrina wind doesn't correlate.

[JonathanBelles]

thank you very much!

[HurricaneBill]

1989/1990

Cyclone Nancy
Peak: 70KT

Cyclone Ofa (RETIRED)
Peak: 115KT

Cyclone Peni (RETIRED)
Peak: 70KT

T.S. Rae
Peak: 60KT

1990/1991

Cyclone Sina (RETIRED)
Peak: 125KT

1991/1992

Cyclone Tia (RETIRED)
Peak: 95KT

Cyclone Val (RETIRED)
Peak: 125KT

Cyclone Wasa (RETIRED)
Peak: 105KT

T.S. Arthur
Peak: 45KT

Cyclone Betsy (RETIRED)
Peak: 95KT

Cyclone Cliff
Peak: 70KT

Cyclone Daman
Peak: 85KT

Cyclone Esau (RETIRED)
Peak: 130KT

Cyclone Fran (RETIRED)
Peak: 140KT

T.S. Gene
Peak: 60KT

T.S. Hettie
Peak: 55KT

Cyclone Innis
Peak: 65KT

1992/1993

Cyclone Joni (RETIRED)
Peak: 110KT

Cyclone Kina (RETIRED)
Peak: 120KT

Cyclone Lin
Peak: 90KT

T.S. Mick
Peak: 45KT

Cyclone Nisha
Peak: 65KT

T.S. Oli
Peak: 50KT

Cyclone Prema (RETIRED)
Peak: 125KT

T.S. Adel (RETIRED) (Named by Port Moresby)
Peak: 45KT

1993/1994

Cyclone Rewa (RETIRED)
Peak: 125KT

Cyclone Sarah
Peak: 100KT

Cyclone Tomas
Peak: 105KT

T.S. Usha
Peak: 55KT

1994/1995

T.S. Vania
Peak: 60KT

Cyclone William (RETIRED)
Peak: 70KT

1995/1996

T.S. Yasi
Peak: 45KT

T.S. Zaka
Peak: 40KT

T.S. Atu
Peak: 55KT

Cyclone Beti (RETIRED)
Peak: 105KT

1996/1997

T.S. Cyril
Peak: 50KT

Cyclone Drena (RETIRED)
Peak: 120KT

Cyclone Evan
Peak: 70KT

Cyclone Freda
Peak: 65KT

Cyclone Gavin (RETIRED)
Peak: 120KT

Cyclone Hina (RETIRED)
Peak: 75KT

T.S. Ian
Peak: 55KT

Cyclone June
Peak: 65KT

Cyclone Keli (RETIRED)
Peak: 115KT

1997/1998

T.S. Lusi
Peak: 60KT

Cyclone Martin (RETIRED)
Peak: 100KT

Cyclone Nute
Peak: 70KT

Cyclone Osea (RETIRED)
Peak: 90KT

Cyclone Pam
Peak: 65KT

Cyclone Ron (RETIRED)
Peak: 145KT

Cyclone Susan (RETIRED)
Peak: 140KT

T.S. Tui (RETIRED)
Peak: 40KT

Cyclone Ursula (RETIRED)
Peak: 65KT

Cyclone Veli (RETIRED)
Peak: 75KT

T.S. Wes
Peak: 45KT

Cyclone Yali
Peak: 90KT

Cyclone Zuman
Peak: 100KT

T.S. Alan
Peak: 45KT

T.S. Bart
Peak: 35KT

1998/1999

Cyclone Cora (RETIRED)
Peak: 90KT

Cyclone Dani (RETIRED)
Peak: 120KT

T.S. Ella
Peak: 45KT

Cyclone Frank (RETIRED)
Peak: 95KT

T.S. Gita
Peak: 40KT

T.S. Hali
Peak: 50KT

[Ptarmigan]

Yeah, some of the data seems odd. For example, Cyclone Amy in 1980 is listed as 140KT. I think JTWC had Amy peaking at 110KT.

As for Katrina, is the 90KT a 10-min sustained wind? As far as I know, all the intensities on this data set are 1-min sustained winds.

Unless stated all wind speeds I post on here are ten minute averages. Even converting to a one minute average the Katrina wind doesn't correlate.

Is there a formula to convert from 10 minute to 1 minute sustained wind?

[HurricaneBill]

I think the formula is:

(10-minute) x 1.14 = (1-minute)

[HurricaneBill]

1999/2000

Cyclone Iris
Peak: 70KT

Cyclone Jo
Peak: 65KT

Cyclone Kim (RETIRED)
Peak: 100KT

T.S. Leo
Peak: 55KT

Cyclone Mona
Peak: 80KT

T.S. Neil
Peak: 40KT

2000/2001

T.S. Oma
Peak: 45KT

Cyclone Paula (RETIRED)
Peak: 105KT

T.S. Rita
Peak: 40KT

Cyclone Sose (RETIRED)
Peak: 70KT

2001/2002

T.S. Trina (RETIRED)
Peak: 35KT

Cyclone Waka (RETIRED)
Peak: 100KT

T.S. Upia (RETIRED)(Named by Port Moresby)
Peak: 35KT

2002/2003

T.S. Yolande
Peak: 35KT

Cyclone Zoe (RETIRED)
Peak: 155KT

Cyclone Ami (RETIRED)
Peak: 110KT

Cyclone Beni (RETIRED)
Peak: 125KT

T.S. Cilla (RETIRED)
Peak: 35KT

Cyclone Dovi
Peak: 130KT

Cyclone Eseta
Peak: 110KT

T.S. Fili
Peak: 45KT

Cyclone Gina
Peak: 90KT

2003/2004

Cyclone Heta (RETIRED)
Peak: 140KT

Cyclone Ivy (RETIRED)
Peak: 105KT

2004/2005

T.S. Judy

Cyclone Kerry
Peak: 90KT (Operational)

T.S. Lola

Cyclone Meena
Peak: 125KT (Operational)

Cyclone Nancy
Peak: 125KT (Operational)

Cyclone Olaf
Peak: 145KT (Operational)

Cyclone Percy
Peak: 140KT (Operational)

T.S. Rae
Peak: 35KT (Operational)

T.S. Sheila

2005/2006

T.S. Tam
Peak: 35KT (Operational)

T.S. Urmil
Peak: 45KT (Operational)

Cyclone Vaianu
Peak: 75KT (Operational)

Cyclone Wati
Peak: 80KT (Operational)

2006/2007 (so far)

Cyclone Xavier
Peak: 115KT (Operational)

Cyclone Yani
Peak: 65KT (Operational)

[P.K.]

The approximate conversion I found on the BoM's page is 0.871. So multiply by 0.871 to go from 1 min to 10 min, and divide by 0.871 to go from 10 min to 1 min. Not much difference to the 1.14 one though.