Severe Tropical Cyclone Wasa–Arthur was the first major tropical cyclone to affect
French Polynesia
French Polynesia ( ; ; ) is an overseas collectivity of France and its sole #Governance, overseas country. It comprises 121 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over more than in the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean. The t ...
and
Tahiti
Tahiti (; Tahitian language, Tahitian , ; ) is the largest island of the Windward Islands (Society Islands), Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located in the central part of t ...
since the
1982–83 season. The system was first noted on 3 December 1991, as a shallow tropical depression that was embedded within the
monsoon trough
The monsoon trough is a convergence zone between the wind patterns of the southern and northern hemispheres. It is a portion of the Intertropical Convergence Zone in the Western Pacific,Bin WangThe Asian Monsoon.Retrieved 2008-05-03. and is dep ...
, to the north of the
Cook Island:
Rarotonga
Rarotonga is the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of , and is home to almost 75% of the country's population, with 10,898 of a total population of 15,040. The Parliament of the Cook Islands, Coo ...
. Over the next couple of days the system gradually developed further, before it was classified as a
tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure area, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on its locat ...
and
named Wasa on 5 December. The following day, as it performed a small clockwise loop, the system strengthened further and acquired hurricane-force winds. After completing the loop, Wasa moved southwards before it peaked in intensity during 8 December, with sustained wind speeds of 165 km/h (105 mph). Over the next few days the system started to weaken as it passed through the French Polynesian
Society Islands
The Society Islands ( , officially ; ) are an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean that includes the major islands of Tahiti, Mo'orea, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora and Huahine. Politically, they are part of French Polynesia, an overseas country ...
, and became the first major tropical cyclone to affect French Polynesia since 1983.
During 12 December, Wasa passed through the French Polynesian
Austral Islands
The Austral Islands ( officially ''Archipel des Australes;'' ) are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas country of France, overseas country of the France, French Republic in the Oceania, South Pacific. Geographicall ...
and passed directly over
Tubuai
Tupuai ( ) is the main island of the Austral Island group, located south of Tahiti. In addition to Tubuai, the group of islands include Rimatara, Rurutu, Raivavae, Rapa and the uninhabited Îles Maria. They are part of the Austral Islands ...
, before it degenerated into a tropical depression later that day. However, gale-force winds remained associated with the depression, before the system turned towards the east-northeast and entered into
warmer waters near the
Tuamotu Islands
The Tuamotu Archipelago or the Tuamotu Islands (, officially ) are a French Polynesian chain of just under 80 islands and atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean. They constitute the largest chain of atolls in the world, extending (from northwest to ...
. On 14 December, Wasa regenerated into a tropical depression and was renamed Arthur. During that day, the system gradually intensified before it reached its secondary peak intensity with sustained wind speeds of 95 km/h (60 mph). The following day, the system maintained its peak intensity, as it moved through the uninhabited Acteon group of islands, before it started gradually weaken the next day. Arthur degenerated into a shallow depression during 17 December, before it was last noted during the next day as it dissipated to the north of the
Pitcairn islands
The Pitcairn Islands ( ; Pitkern: '), officially Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, are a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean that form the sole British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the ...
.
Tourists on the island of Bora Bora were evacuated to a local church, after Wasa–Arthur had swept high seas into tourist bungalows. Overall the system caused an estimated US$60 million in damage within French Polynesia, with the majority of the damage done between 9 and 12 December. The system destroyed or damaged several homes, a variety of crops and damaged several public buildings, hotels, roads and power installations, with the worst affected islands being Bora Bora and Tubuai. On Rurutu island, Moerai harbour was destroyed by a cyclonic swell generated by the system, while the local school and police station were destroyed by high waves. Two people were killed after torrential rainfall from the system caused a mudslide on the island of Moorea, during a night of torrential rain the day after Wasa had made its closest approach to the island. The French Government incurred costs of about FF68 million including FF53 million for the efforts of the French Military. The French Polynesian Government subsequently borrowed FF55 million and built up a fund from local banks of about FF1.5 billion, to help with the reconstruction. The name Wasa was later retired, from the list of tropical cyclone names by the
World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology an ...
.
Meteorological history
On 3 December, the
Fiji Meteorological Service
The Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) is a Department of the government of Fiji responsible for providing weather forecasts and is based on the grounds of Nadi Airport in Nadi. The current director of Fiji Meteorological Service is Misaeli Funak ...
(FMS) started to monitor a tropical depression, that was embedded within a
monsoon trough
The monsoon trough is a convergence zone between the wind patterns of the southern and northern hemispheres. It is a portion of the Intertropical Convergence Zone in the Western Pacific,Bin WangThe Asian Monsoon.Retrieved 2008-05-03. and is dep ...
of low pressure over the
Northern Cook Islands
The Northern Cook Islands is one of the two chains of atolls which make up the Cook Islands. Lying in a horizontal band between 9° and 13°30' south of the Equator, the chain consists of the atolls of Manihiki, Nassau, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Raka ...
.
Over the next couple of days, the system gradually developed further as it moved south-westwards, before the United States
Naval Western Oceanography Center (NWOC) initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 07P during 5 December.
This was followed by the FMS who reported that the depression had developed into a
Category 1 tropical cyclone on the
Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale
Tropical cyclones are ranked on one of five tropical cyclone intensity scales, according to their maximum sustained winds and which tropical cyclone basins they are located in. Only a few classifications are used officially by the meteorologi ...
and named it Wasa, while it was located about to the southwest of the
Penhryn in the Northern Cook Islands.
Over the next day, Wasa quickly intensified and made a small cyclonic loop, before it was classified as a
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone during 7 December.
On 8 December, Wasa started to move south-eastwards towards the
Society Islands
The Society Islands ( , officially ; ) are an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean that includes the major islands of Tahiti, Mo'orea, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora and Huahine. Politically, they are part of French Polynesia, an overseas country ...
of
French Polynesia
French Polynesia ( ; ; ) is an overseas collectivity of France and its sole #Governance, overseas country. It comprises 121 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over more than in the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean. The t ...
, while the NWOC reported that Wasa had peaked in intensity with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of , which made it equivalent to a category 3 hurricane on the
Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.
This was followed by the FMS during the next day, who estimated that the system had peaked as a
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained winds of .
Wasa subsequently approached the Society Islands of
Manuae and
Motu One, before it passed within of
Maupihaa and of
Maupiti
Maupiti is an island in the western Leeward Islands in French Polynesia. It is the westernmost volcanic island in the archipelago, northwest of Tahiti and west of Bora Bora. It has a population of 1,286 people. The largest town is Vaiea.
Geog ...
during 10 December.
During the next day, the system started to weaken as it approached the
Austral Islands
The Austral Islands ( officially ''Archipel des Australes;'' ) are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas country of France, overseas country of the France, French Republic in the Oceania, South Pacific. Geographicall ...
and passed about to the southwest of
Tahiti
Tahiti (; Tahitian language, Tahitian , ; ) is the largest island of the Windward Islands (Society Islands), Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located in the central part of t ...
.
The system subsequently continued to move south-eastwards and passed about to the northeast of
Rurutu, before it directly passed over
Tubuai
Tupuai ( ) is the main island of the Austral Island group, located south of Tahiti. In addition to Tubuai, the group of islands include Rimatara, Rurutu, Raivavae, Rapa and the uninhabited Îles Maria. They are part of the Austral Islands ...
on 12 December.
After Wasa had passed over Tubuai, the FMS reported that Wasa had weakened below tropical cyclone strength and degenerated into a depression.
Over the next day, gale-force winds persisted within the depression's southeastern quadrant, as it moved towards the east-northeast and into warmer waters near the
Tuamotu Islands
The Tuamotu Archipelago or the Tuamotu Islands (, officially ) are a French Polynesian chain of just under 80 islands and atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean. They constitute the largest chain of atolls in the world, extending (from northwest to ...
.
By 13 December, the NWOC issued their final warning on the system, before the FMS reported during the next day that Wasa had regenerated into a tropical cyclone.
However, for convenience, operational purposes and to avoid any potential confusion among recipients of the warnings, the FMS decided to rename the system: Arthur.
During 14 December, Wasa-Arthur passed about to the north-northwest of the atoll:
Mururoa
Moruroa (Mururoa, Mururura), also historically known as Aopuni, is an atoll which forms part of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is located about southeast of Tahiti. Administratively Moruroa Atoll i ...
, while the FMS reported that winds associated with the system had increased to marginal storm force with winds of .
Over the next day, Wasa-Arthur maintained its intensity as it moved north-eastwards through the northern islands of the
Acteon Group
The Acteon Group (Groupe Actéon) is a rather isolated and uninhabited subgroup in the far southeast of the Tuamotu atoll group in French Polynesia. It is located about east-southeast of Tahiti at latitude: 21° 17' 60 S, longitude: 136° 29' ...
, before the NWOC classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 08P during 15 December.
Wasa-Arthur subsequently started to gradually weaken as it turned eastwards, before the FMS and the NWOC reported that it had degenerated into a depression on 17 December.
The system was last noted the next day, while it was located about to the southeast of
Papeete
Papeete (Tahitian language, Tahitian: ''Papeʻetē'', pronounced ; old name: ''Vaiʻetē''Personal communication with Michael Koch in ) is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the France, French Republic in the Pacific ...
in French Polynesia.
Preparations and impact

Severe Tropical Cyclone Wasa–Arthur was the first major tropical cyclone to impact French Polynesia since the
1982–83 season.
It impacted various parts of the island nation between 6 and 14 December, with the majority of the damage caused to the
Society
A society () is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. ...
and
Austral Islands
The Austral Islands ( officially ''Archipel des Australes;'' ) are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas country of France, overseas country of the France, French Republic in the Oceania, South Pacific. Geographicall ...
during its first stage as a tropical cyclone.
Overall Wasa-Arthur caused several minor injuries, two deaths and was considered to have caused extensive damage with damage totals estimated at .
Ahead of the system impacting the island nation, various watches and warnings were issued, including a red alert for Tahiti, which banned all road traffic and navigation around the islands.
[ ] The system brought strong winds, flooding, heavy rain, high seas, swells and a storm surge to the island nation.
French Polynesia
On 12 December, tourists on the island of Bora Bora were evacuated to a local church, after the system had swept high seas into tourist bungalows.
The system destroyed 367 homes, damaged 855 other homes, destroyed or damaged a variety of crops and damaged several public buildings, hotels, roads and power installations, with the worst affected islands were
Bora Bora
Bora Bora (French language, French: ''Bora-Bora''; Tahitian language, Tahitian: ''Pora Pora'') is an island group in the Leeward Islands (Society Islands), Leeward Islands in the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific. The Leeward Islands comprise the we ...
and
Tubuai
Tupuai ( ) is the main island of the Austral Island group, located south of Tahiti. In addition to Tubuai, the group of islands include Rimatara, Rurutu, Raivavae, Rapa and the uninhabited Îles Maria. They are part of the Austral Islands ...
.
On
Rurutu island, Moerai harbour was destroyed by a cyclonic swell generated by the system, while the local school and police station were destroyed by high waves.
[ ] A women and her child were killed while asleep, after torrential rainfall from Wasa caused a mudslide on the island of Moorea the day after the system had made its closest approach to the island.
Society Islands
Strong winds were recorded within the
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands () are a group of islands situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean. Starting with the Virgin Islands east of Puerto Rico, they extend southeast to Guadeloupe and its dependencies. In Engl ...
, which destroyed hundreds of houses, devastated crops and uprooted trees.
A swell of submerged the islands of Manuae, Motu One and
Mopelia.
On
Mopelia atoll, the 66 inhabitants of the island attached themselves to poles, in order to ensure that they were not swept away by Wasa's high waves.
Austral Islands
Wasa's eye went directly impacted the island of Tubuai during 12 December, where sustained winds of , wind gusts of around and a minimum pressure of were reported.
Waves of between were observed, while the sea had penetrated up to inland.
In Tubuai, the local school and police station were destroyed by high waves, which also damaged stretches of the coastal highway.
Aftermath
During the aftermath of the cyclone, a
French Military
The French Armed Forces (, ) are the military forces of France. They consist of four military branches – the Army, the Navy, the Air and Space Force, and the National Gendarmerie. The National Guard serves as the French Armed Forces' military ...
cargo plane and several helicopters carried out initial relief efforts to several of the islands affected by Wasa, before the
French Polynesian Government and private cargo ships continued the effort, by carrying emergency relief supplies and reconstruction materials.
The
French Government
The Government of France (, ), officially the Government of the French Republic (, ), exercises Executive (government), executive power in France. It is composed of the Prime Minister of France, prime minister, who is the head of government, ...
's
Minister for Overseas France:
Louis Le Pensec arrived in Tahiti on 15 December, to inspect the damage and explore ways of rebuilding the island nation, after similar tours were conducted by the
President of French Polynesia
The president of French Polynesia (; ) is the head of government of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The office was first created in 1984. Moetai Brotherson has held the office since 2023.
List of pre ...
,
Gaston Flosse
Gaston Flosse (born 24 June 1931) is a French Polynesian politician who has been President of French Polynesia on five separate occasions. He is currently a member of the Senate of France and has been a French junior minister under Jacques Chirac ...
and several of his cabinet ministers.
During the emergency period, the French Government incurred costs of about including for the efforts of the French Military.
The French Polynesian Government subsequently borrowed from the
Central Fund for Economic Cooperation and built up a fund from local banks of about , to help with the reconstruction of infrastructure and territorial buildings.
The name Wasa was later
retired
Retirement is the withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from one's active working life. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours or workload.
Many people choose to retire when they are elderly or incapable of doing their j ...
, from the
list of tropical cyclone names
Tropical cyclones and subtropical cyclones are named by various warning centers to simplify communication between forecasters and the general public regarding forecasts, watches and warnings. The names are intended to reduce confusion in the ...
by the
World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology an ...
.
See also
*
Other tropical cyclones named Arthur
*
Tropical cyclones in 1991
*
Cyclone Martin (1997) – a deadly tropical cyclone which also impacted French Polynesia
*
Cyclone Oli
Severe Tropical Cyclone Oli marked the first occurrence of a severe tropical cyclone within the South Pacific basin since Cyclone Gene in 2008. The cyclone formed out of a tropical disturbance on 29 January 2010 and was designated as Tropical Cy ...
(2010) – another strong tropical cyclone that affected French Polynesia
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wasa-Arthur
1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season
Category 4 South Pacific cyclones
Tropical cyclones in French Polynesia
Retired South Pacific cyclones
1991 in French Polynesia
December 1991 in Oceania