1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season

The 1978–79 South Pacific cyclone season ran year-round from July 1 to June 30. Tropical cyclone activity in the Southern Hemisphere reaches its peak from mid-February to early March.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gordon
Gordon developed on January 3 and left the basin on January 9.

Tropical Cyclone Henry
Henry existed from January 29 to February 5.

Tropical Cyclone Kerry
Tropical Cyclone Kerry has the distinction of being the longest lived cyclone in the Australian region. It formed on February 13, 1979, and caused severe damage in the Solomon Islands. It then tracked across the Coral Sea making landfall near Mackay, Queensland on March 1 and dissipated on March 6. Its lowest pressure was 955hPa.

Tropical Cyclone Leslie
Leslie existed from February 21 to February 23.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Meli
Cyclone Meli struck eastern Fiji on March 25. The island of Nayau suffered a direct hit and passed close to the islands of Lakeba and Cicia. Fiji suffered tremendous crop losses as a result of the storm.

On March 27, 1979, Cyclone Meli brushed Fiji at peak intensity, causing substantial damage to the island. At least 50 people were killed by the storm. Cyclone Meli had previously passed through Tuvalu damaging Funafuti atoll.

Other systems
Two systems were only recognized as tropical cyclones by the JTWC.


 * Tropical Cyclone 11P: This storm moved in the circular path, entering the basin on February 3 and returning to the Australian region on February 6.
 * Tropical Cyclone 23P: This storm existed from March 30 to April 3.

Seasonal effects

 * Fay || December 27 – 31 || bgcolor=#|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|55 kn || bgcolor=#|980 hPa || || || ||
 * Gordon || January 3 – 9 || bgcolor=#|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|70 kn || bgcolor=#|965 hPa || || || ||
 * Henry || January 29 – February 5 || bgcolor=#|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|55 kn || bgcolor=#|980 hPa || || || ||
 * Kerry || February 13 – 15 || bgcolor=#|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|55 kn || bgcolor=#|980 hPa || || || ||
 * Leslie || February 21 – 23 || bgcolor=#|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|55 kn || bgcolor=#|980 hPa || || || ||
 * Meli || March 24 – 30 || bgcolor=#|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|85 kn || bgcolor=#|945 hPa || || || ||
 * Kerry || February 13 – 15 || bgcolor=#|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|55 kn || bgcolor=#|980 hPa || || || ||
 * Leslie || February 21 – 23 || bgcolor=#|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|55 kn || bgcolor=#|980 hPa || || || ||
 * Meli || March 24 – 30 || bgcolor=#|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|85 kn || bgcolor=#|945 hPa || || || ||
 * Leslie || February 21 – 23 || bgcolor=#|Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|55 kn || bgcolor=#|980 hPa || || || ||
 * Meli || March 24 – 30 || bgcolor=#|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|85 kn || bgcolor=#|945 hPa || || || ||
 * Meli || March 24 – 30 || bgcolor=#|Category 3 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#|85 kn || bgcolor=#|945 hPa || || || ||