Summary
The tropical low that was to become Harvey developed in the monsoon trough on 3 February to the northeast of Willis Island. The monsoon trough was lying across far northern parts of Australia to tropical cyclone Beti which had developed in Nadi's area of responsibility. Beti was centred near 18°S 164°E at 0000 UTC 3 February and was moving to the southeast. The low began to deepen and move southeast on 4 February as the low-level cloud-banding became more organised and cyclone status was reached about 0000 UTC 5 February.
During the next twenty-four hours Harvey moved southeast to south and deepened to a pressure of about 985 hPa. Harvey then took a more easterly track and continued to intensity until 0000 UTC 7 February when it reached its lowest estimated central pressure of 980 hPa. At this time Harvey was located 30 km to the west-northwest of Chesterfield Reef (AWS) which then had winds of 111 km/h (the strongest winds reported) and a pressure of 990.5 hPa. GMS-1 imagery indicated a clearly defined circulation centre though no eye was visible.
Harvey commenced to weaken as it moved in a general easterly direction until passing into the Nadi region just after 1800 UTC 7 February. The track then became southeast with Harvey losing cyclone status around 1800 UTC 8 February. The remnant low lost its identity on 10 February to the west of Noumea. No damage was reported.
Track and intensity
