What the record says
Pam was a cyclone in the South Pacific and Australian region basin that lasted about 9 days, from 30 January 1974 to 8 February 1974. Its peak was Category 3 (97 kt) on 4 February 1974, with a 1-minute sustained wind of 97 kt (112 mph, 180 km/h). Its lowest recorded pressure was 945 hPa.
- Category 3peak intensity
- 97 ktpeak wind (112 mph)
- 945 hPalowest pressure
- 9 dayslifetime
Source of the peak wind: RSMC Wellington (MetService New Zealand), converted from a 10-minute wind to a 1-minute equivalent. The regional forecast centre (RSMC Wellington (MetService New Zealand)) gave a peak of 85 kt on its own averaging convention (10-minute winds), so the two figures differ.
It has its own page because it reached category 3 or stronger.
This page gives the official record's figures. It does not describe the human cost of the storm, which is far larger than any wind speed or pressure here.
Where it came ashore
The record shows no landfall: the storm stayed at sea.
Countries it came within 50 km of
Strongest effect first.
How to read this track
The line joins the storm's six-hourly positions with straight lines, coloured by its intensity at each point, so it shows how the storm strengthened and weakened. The real path curved between the positions. A dashed grey stretch means the storm had become post-tropical. Records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are estimates.
Source: NOAA NCEI IBTrACS, public domain. See data sources and caveats.
Other notable storms near New Caledonia
- Niran (2021)26 February 2021 to 7 March 2021, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 931 hPa
- Erica (2003)1 March 2003 to 17 March 2003, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 915 hPa
- Esau (1992)24 February 1992 to 9 March 1992, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 925 hPa
- Harry (1989)6 February 1989 to 23 February 1989, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 925 hPa
- Beni (2003)20 January 2003 to 5 February 2003, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 920 hPa
The 1974 South Pacific and Australian region season · All notable storms