A time series data showing annual number of cyclones passing within 400km on Honiara. In the 41-year period between 1969 and 2010, 41 tropical cyclones passed within 400 km of Honiara, an average of one cyclone per season (Figure 3). Thenumber of cyclones varies widely from year to year, with none in some seasons but up to five in others. Over the period 1969–2010, cyclones occurred more frequently in El Niño years.
Data extracted from the PCCSP report, 2011
As part of a recovery and support package commissioned by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), a team from the Geoscience, Energy and Maritime Division of the Pacific Community (SPC) undertook a topographic survey of the coastal town of Lenakel on the island of Tanna in December 2016. In the aftermath of tropical Cyclone Pam in 2015, there was a risk of coastal inundation in the town. This survey utilised unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology to acquire topography datasets
Tropical Cyclone (TC) Pam made landfall in Vanuatu on 13 March 2015, causing severe damage to parts of the country. A post-disaster needs assessment (Esler 2015) completed less than a month after the cyclone highlighted the need for multi-hazard mapping of urban areas and for an action plan to identify safe areas for future growth. The report also emphasised the importance of having a sound scientific basis for predicting hazards and a reliable forecasting system.
Cyclone damage - Oceania
Anon. Tropical Cyclone Pam lessons learned workshop report June 2015. Suva. Fiji: Pacific Community (SPC) 172 p.
Damlamian, H.[et al]. Tropical Cyclone Pam: a report on the coastal inundation assessment undertaken in Vanuatu using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Suva, Fiji: Pacific Community. 98 p.
Anon. 2017. Vanuatu 2016 Post Pam Mini Census report: volume 1. Noumea, New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community. 218 p.
Anon. 2017. Types of disasters. Suva, Fiji: Pacific Community. 2 p.
Anon. 2017. Na veimataqali leqa tubukoso. Suva, Fiji: Pacific Community. 2 p.
Anon. 2017. Ol difren kaen disasta. Suva, Fiji: Pacific Community. 3 p.
This tropical cyclone season 2018 – 2019 highlighted that tropical Cyclone activity for Samoan region is expected to be above normal (elevated) risk with 2-3 cyclones that can pass within 400km radius of the country, with at least 1 tropical cyclone to reach Category 3 or greater.
*Excel Data extraction from the report*