Cyclone Oscar

{{storm path|Oscar 1983 path.png}}

On 23 February, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) started to monitor a shallow depression, that had developed about {{convert|485|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the north-northwest of Suva, Fiji.{{cite web|url={{IBTRACS url|id=1983054S15179}}|title=1983 Tropical Cyclone Oscar (1983054S15179)|publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|access-date=2 April 2019}}{{cite journal|jstor=44279597|author=Browne M L|journal=Weather and Climate|year=1983|volume=3|title=Tropical Cyclone 'Oscar'|author2=Krishna, Ram|issue=2|pages=59–65|publisher=The Meteorological Society of New Zealand|doi=10.2307/44279597 }} The system subsequently developed further as it moved westwards and was declared a tropical cyclone and named Oscar by the FMS during 24 February. Over the next few days Oscar subsequently intensified as it moved westwards and gradually developed further. During 27 February, Oscar intensified into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone as it started to move towards the south-east and Fiji. The system subsequently continued to intensify during that day with the eye appearing on satellite imagery, before it came into the range of the Nadi International Airport's radar at around 03:30 UTC (15:30 FST) on 28 February. The radar imagery showed that the system had an eye within a better defined and larger concentric eye and allowed the FMS to perform hourly fixes on the systems position.{{cite report|author=Deangellis, Richard M|title=Hurricane Alley: Tropical Cyclones — Summer 1983|page=174|year=1983|oclc=648466886|issn=0025-3367|journal=Mariners Weather Log|volume=27|issue=3|editor=Wilson, Elwyn E}} Later that day at 12:00 UTC (00:00 FST, 1 March), the FMS reported that the system had peaked with estimated 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 185 km/h (115 mph) which made it a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone. The United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) subsequently reported six hours later that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 185 km/h (115 mph), which made it equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.

Early on 1 March, as Oscar passed about {{convert|90|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the west-southwest of Nadi, it was decided to secure Nadi's radar dish and the satellite antennae as storm-force winds outside gusted to {{convert|140|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}. During that day the system started to weaken while sustained winds of between {{convert|115|-|125|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} were observed on Viti Levu, with a maximum wind gust of {{convert|185|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} recorded at Nadi Airport. After wind gusts dropped and the pressure rose at Nadi, the radar was able to be brought back into operation at around 12:00 UTC (00:00 FST, 2 March). The radar's poor image suggested that Oscar was now located to the south of Sigatoka, having accelerated from {{convert|7|to|15|km/h|mph|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} while the radar was shut down. Later that day the system wobbled towards the south-southeast, as it approached the island of Beqa, which spared the Fijian Capital of Suva from Oscar's worst effects. The system subsequently made landfall on the island of Kandavu at around 22:00 UTC (10:00 FST, 2 March), before it left the Fijian group of islands on 2 March. The system then rapidly weakened before it was last noted during 6 March, while it was located about {{convert|2400|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the south-east of Suva.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Oscar affected Fiji between 28 February and 2 March, and was responsible for nine deaths and {{ntsp|130000000||US$}} in damages.{{cite news|publisher=Courier-Mail|title=Fiji prepares for worst as cyclone heads for coast|author=Costello, D|date=30 December 1986}} As a result of the impact caused the name Oscar was retired, from the list of tropical cyclone names for the region. Ahead of a tropical cyclone alert for Fiji being issued on 27 February, local radio bulletins made Fijians aware that a tropical cyclone existed several days in advance. Gale, storm and hurricane warnings were subsequently issued for various parts of Fiji including Viti Levu, Kandavu and the Yasawa and Mamanutha island groups.{{cite news|agency=United Press International|title=[United Press International Report: March 1, 1983]|date=1 March 1983}} Ahead of the system impacting the island nation, the Nadi International Airport was closed, with both internal and external flights cancelled.{{cite news|newspaper=The Canberra Times|page=5|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116371406|title=Hundreds flee homes as cyclone Oscar strikes|date=2 March 1983}} Schools around the nation were also closed with some being used as evacuation centres for the hundreds of Fijians who evacuated. On 28 February, the system started to affect Fiji with strong winds and light rain, before the wind and rain gradually became stronger the following day, with storm and hurricane-force winds recorded over the island nation.

Damage was mostly in the form of severe flooding from storm tides and torrential rains.{{cite web|title=ASSESSMENT OF INUNDATION OF THE NADURULOULOU RESEARCH STATION|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/AC891E/AC891E09.htm|website=Fisheries and Aquaculture Department|publisher=Dredging Project|access-date=29 October 2015}} Hardest hit areas included the Mamanutha Group, western and southwestern Viti Levu, and Yanutha, Vatulele, Kandevu and Mbengga Islands. In some areas storm surges reached {{Convert|9 to 12|ft|m|spell=in}}. However, the highest measured storm surge value was 5.93 m (19.46 ft) at Rarawai Mill.{{cite book|last1=McGree|first1=Simon|last2=Yeo|first2=Stephen|last3=Devi|first3=Swastika|title=FLOODING IN THE FIJI ISLANDS BETWEEN 1840 AND 2009|date=October 2010|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|pages=34|url=https://www.riskfrontiers.com/pdf/Floods%20in%20Fiji%201840-2009%20-%20Risk%20Frontiers%20final.pdf|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316104935/http://www.riskfrontiers.com/RFfrontimages/Floods%20in%20Fiji%201840-2009%20-%20Risk%20Frontiers%20final.pdf|url-status=dead}} Flooding due to torrential rains was particularly severe in western and southwestern Viti Levu. At Nadi Market flood levels were about 12 ft above the asphalt pavement. In the Singatoka Valley, which supplies most of Fiji's vegetables, most crops were destroyed as flooding reached levels beyond living memory of most people.

On 1 March, after the system had moved through the archipelago, the Fijian government immediately declared a national disaster and asked for assistance from the international community.{{cite report|url=http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pbaab214.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112746/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pbaab214.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|title=Fiji - Cyclone|pages=59–65|publisher=United States Agency for International Development}} Efforts to clean up certain towns including Nadi, Lautoka, Sigatoka and Suva started almost immediately after Oscar had moved away, with the Sigatoka Town council initiating a spraying campaign to destroy mosquitoes and counter an outbreak of disease.

{{portal|Tropical cyclones}}

• Cyclone Evan
• Cyclone Winston – a stronger storm that greatly affected Fiji

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Category:1982–83 South Pacific cyclone season

Category:1983 in Fiji

Category:Category 5 South Pacific cyclones

Category:Tropical cyclones in Fiji

Category:Retired South Pacific cyclones

Oscar