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1980–81 South Pacific cyclone season

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1980–81 South Pacific cyclone season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedNovember 27, 1980
Last system dissipatedMarch 21, 1981
Strongest storm
NameFreda
 • Maximum winds150 km/h (90 mph)
(10-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure955 hPa (mbar)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions12
Tropical cyclones11
Severe tropical cyclones4
Total fatalitiesUnknown
Total damageUnknown
Related articles
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83

The 1980–81 South Pacific cyclone season was an above-average season.

Seasonal summary

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This season marked the first time that the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued warnings and performed best track analysis on significant tropical cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere.[1]

Systems

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Tropical Cyclone Diola

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Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationNovember 27 – November 30
Peak intensity65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min);
990 hPa (mbar)

Diola existed from November 27 to November 30.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Arthur

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Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 11 – January 17
Peak intensity130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min);
965 hPa (mbar)

Arthur existed from January 11 to January 17.

Tropical Cyclone Betsy

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Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationJanuary 30 – February 4
Peak intensity65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min);
995 hPa (mbar)

Betsy existed from January 30 to February 4.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Cliff

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Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 9 – February 13 (Crossed 160°E)
Peak intensity120 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

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Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
 
DurationFebruary 16 – February 21
Peak intensity95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min);
985 hPa (mbar)

This cyclone existed from February 16 to February 21.

Tropical Cyclone Daman

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Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 20 – February 24
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min);
980 hPa (mbar)

Daman existed from February 20 to February 24.

Tropical Cyclone SP198008

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Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationFebruary 22 – March 7
Peak intensity75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min);
990 hPa (mbar)

This cyclone existed from February 22 to March 7.

Tropical Cyclone Esau

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Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 1 – March 5
Peak intensity100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min);
980 hPa (mbar)

Esau existed from March 1 to March 5.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Freda

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Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 2 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 4 (Crossed 160°E) – March 9
Peak intensity150 km/h (90 mph) (10-min);
955 hPa (mbar)

Freda existed from February 24 to March 9.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Tahmar

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Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 8 – March 13
Peak intensity120 km/h (75 mph) (10-min);
970 hPa (mbar)

Tahmar existed from March 8 to March 13.

Tropical Cyclone Fran

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Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationMarch 17 – March 24
Peak intensity95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min);
985 hPa (mbar)

Fran existed from March 17 to March 24.

Other systems

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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

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Name Dates Peak intensity Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Refs
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)

See also

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  • Atlantic hurricane seasons: 1980, 1981
  • Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons: 1980, 1981
  • Western Pacific typhoon seasons: 1980, 1981
  • North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1980, 1981

References

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  1. ^ Article title
  2. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Cliff". Melbourne, Victoria: Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "1980 Tropical Cyclone Arthur (1981011S12185)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "1980 Tropical Cyclone Cliff (1981039S09178)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  5. ^ "1981 Tropical Cyclone Freda (1981056S14141)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  6. ^ "1981 Tropical Cyclone Tahmar (1981068S19199)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
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