 Damage in Apia, Samoa after the cyclone hit. | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | before March 13, 1889 |
| Dissipated | after March 17, 1889 |
| Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | ≤ 147 total |
Part of the Pre-1900 South Pacific cyclone seasons | |
The 1889 Apia cyclone was a tropical cyclone in the South Pacific Ocean, which swept across Apia, Samoa on March 15, 1889, during the Samoan crisis. The effect on shipping in the harbour was devastating, largely because of what has been described as "an error of judgement that will forever remain a paradox in human psychology".[1]