The 2005–06 South Pacific cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It began on November 1, 2005, and ended on April 30, 2006. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the southern Pacific Ocean east of 160°E. Additionally, the regional tropical cyclone operational plan defines a tropical cyclone year separately from a tropical cyclone season, and the "tropical cyclone year" runs from July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006.
Tropical cyclones between 160°E and 120°W and north of 25°S are monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service in Nadi. Those that move south of 25°S are monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Wellington, New Zealand.
Seasonal forecasts
During October 2005, both RSMC Nadi and New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research issued seasonal forecasts which contained information on what was expected to occur during the 2005–06 tropical cyclone season. Both agencies expected that the season would see a near average amount of tropical cyclone activity due there being no El Niño or La Niña. As a result of these conditions RSMC Nadi predicted that between 7–9 tropical cyclones would develop while NIWA did not predict how many tropical cyclone there would be during the season. RSMC Nadi also reported that Fiji had a higher chance of being hit by a tropical cyclone this season than during recent previous seasons. NIWA also predicted that there was an average risk of a tropical cyclone coming within , of: Fiji, Tonga, Niue, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, the Southern Cook Islands, Samoa, and New Zealand.
Seasonal summary
Systems
Tropical Depression 03F
Formed on December 8 and dissipated on December 18, 2005.
Tropical Cyclone Tam
Tam originated as Tropical Depression 04F near 15°S 179.5°E on January 6. The system then lingered around for a few days, appearing to significantly weaken, but strengthened later. As Tam moved southeastward on January 12, a gale warning was issued for Tonga and later for Niue as well as American Samoa. Tam accelerated towards south-southeast and became extratropical on January 14.
Tropical Depression 05F
Formed on January 10 and dissipated on January 13, 2006.
Tropical Cyclone Urmil
The second named storm of the season formed out of a weak tropical disturbance on January 13. Later that day, the RSMC in Nadi began issuing advisories on the system and classified it as Tropical Depression 06F while located about west of Pago Pago, American Samoa. With favorable environmental conditions in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Tam, the depression rapidly organized, strengthening into a Category 1 cyclone six hours after the first advisory was issued and was given the name Urmil. Several hours later, the JTWC also began issuing advisories on Urmil, designating it as Tropical Cyclone 07P. On January 14, Urmil underwent a brief period explosive deepening, attaining its peak intensity of 10-min). Not long after reaching its peak, increased wind shear, cooler waters, and faster forward motion caused the storm to weaken. By January 15, Urmil transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. Later that day, the remnants of the storm were absorbed into the mid-latitude westerlies.
Tropical Cyclone Urmil had little impact on land, with gale-force winds being felt only in Tonga. Heavy rains exaggerated flooding produced by Cyclone Tam earlier in January and caused minor crop damages.
Tropical Depression 07F
The seventh depression of the season developed on January 15 as Urmil was dissipating. A weak system, 07F formed out of a slow moving tropical disturbance about north of Fiji. The system peaked in intensity with winds of later that day. On January 16, the low dissipated about west-northwest of Fiji.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Jim
Cyclone Jim originated in the Australian region, and moved into Fiji's area of responsibility on January 30. Jim gradually turned south-southeastward and became extratropical on February 1. The extratropical remnants of Jim (08F) lingered around and then moved northwest.
Despite being well to the west of that country, Cyclone Jim was blamed for extensive flooding in Fiji, with the western coast of the island of Viti Levu – including the city of Lautoka – inundated by floodwaters on January 29. No fatalities were reported in any of the areas affected by the cyclone.