Severe Tropical Cyclone Pam 2014–15 South Pacific cyclone season

during march 6, rsmc nadi reported tropical disturbance 11f had developed 1,140 km (710 mi) northwest of nadi, fiji. disturbance continued on southwestward track until 2 days later, when rsmc had upgraded tropical depression. jtwc issued tropical cyclone formation alert (tcfa). cyclone pam developed out of system on march 9, when rsmc nadi started tracking category 1 tropical cyclone. located in area of favourable conditions, pam gradually intensified powerful category 5 severe tropical cyclone march 12. pam s ten-minute maximum sustained winds peaked @ 250 km/h (155 mph), along minimum pressure of 896 hpa, making pam intense tropical cyclone of basin since zoe in 2002. several hours later, cyclone began curve towards south-southeast, allowing pam pass east of efate, becoming single worst natural disaster in history of vanuatu. cyclone crippled vanuatu s infrastructure: estimated 90 percent of nation s buildings impacted storm s effects, telecommunications paralyzed, , water shortages took place.

the fms estimated pam having record-breaking 250 km/h (155 mph) ten-minute sustained winds. storm s winds gradually slowed afterwards pam tracked west of tafea. however, fms indicated cyclone s pressure dropped further minimum of 896 mbar (hpa; 26.46 inhg) on march 14. pam left fms area of responsibility progressed along path, storm s eye faded away , pam s low level circulation became displaced associated thunderstorms, signalling rapid weakening phase. later on march 15, both agencies discontinued issuing advisories pam entered phase of extratropical transition while affecting northeastern new zealand.