User:Jason Rees/Isaac

{{storm path|Isaac 1982 track.png}}

On February 27, 1982, the Fiji Meteorological Service started to monitor an area of low pressure, that had developed within the South Pacific Convergence Zone about {{convert|300|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the southwest of Tokelau.{{cite report|url=http://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/nzmsmp188-5.pdf|author=Thompson, C.S|issn=0110-6937|title=The Climate and Weather of Tonga|year=1986|pages=10–15}} During that day the system moved south-eastwards and developed into a tropical depression, as it passed about {{convert|100|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the south-west of Tokelau's Swains Island.{{cite journal|title=Tropical Cyclone 'Isaac', 28 February - 3 March 1982|url=http://www.metsoc.org.nz/system/files/journals/3/1/articles//1983_031_32-35_notes_reddy.pdf|author=Browne M L|journal=Weather and Climate|year=1983|volume=3|issue=1|pages=32–35}}{{cite web|url={{IBTRACS url|id=1982058S10185}}|publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|title=1982 Tropical Cyclone Isaac (1982058S10185)|access-date=5 September 2023}} The system continued to develop during the next day, as it moved south-westwards and passed near or over American Samoa's Manu'a Islands. Throughout this time the system had been gradually developing, before it was declared to be a tropical cyclone and named Issac by the FMS early on March 1.

During March 1, Isaac continued to intensify during that day, with an eye becoming visible on satellite imagery before the system was classified as a hurricane. Isaac subsequently continued to move south-westwards and started to impact Tonga during March 2, before it directly passed over the island group of Ha'apai at around 1800 UTC (0700 TOT, March 3). Six hours later, the system passed about {{convert|25|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the west of Tongatapu, as it peaked in intensity with 10-minute sustained winds of around 175 km/h (110 mph). This made Isaac equivalent to a modern day Category 4 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. On March 3, after the system had peaked in intensity it recurved south-eastwards and rapidly weakened, as vertical wind shear over the system increased. The system was subsequently last noted on March 5, while it was located about {{convert|2000|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the southeast of Tongatapu.

During September 2017, a study was published by the Royal Meteorological Society, in which the intensity of Isaac was reanalysed.{{Cite journal|doi=10.1002/joc.5254|issn=1097-0088|author1=Hoarau, Karl|author2=Chalonge, Ludovic|author3=Pirard, Florence|author4=Peyrusaubes, Daniel|title=Extreme tropical cyclone activities in the southern Pacific Ocean|journal=International Journal of Climatology}} The authors of the study estimated that at its peak Isacc had 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 240 km/h (150 mph), which would make it a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Isaac impacted Tonga between March 2-3 took less than 24 hours to affect Tonga moved through Tonga

Ahead of the system affecting Tonga, a tropical cyclone alert was issued for the island nation by the FMS during March 1, before hurricane warnings were issued for the Happai and Tongatapu island groups during the next day.{{cite report|author1=Carter, W Nick|title=A report on Cyclone Isaac|accessdate=December 3, 2016|date=April 1982|publisher=United Nations Office of the Disaster Relief Co-Ordinator|url=http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/JB_DM303_TON_1982_report_on_Isaac.pdf}}

• Cyclone Waka

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