| Category 2 tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
|---|---|
| Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
 Cyclone Pam near its peak intensity | |
| Formed | December 5, 1997 |
| Dissipated | December 14, 1997 |
| (Extratropical after December 10, 1997) | |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 110 km/h (70 mph) 1-minute sustained: 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 986 hPa (mbar); 29.12 inHg |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Areas affected | Cook Islands |
| Part of the 1997–98 South Pacific cyclone season | |
Cyclone Pam threatened the southern Cook Islands in December 1997. A tropical depression developed December 6. The system developed slowly while it drifted to the south-southeast. Forming south of Typhoon Paka, Pam steadily intesifed and moved close to Suwarrow and later passed east of Palmerston Island and peaked in intensity on December 8, though the storm's minimum pressure was not recorded until much later. The cyclone passed by Rarotonga early on December 9. Pam slowly weakened and was no longer a tropical cyclone by December 10. Damage on the island was relatively minor though heavy rains and gale-force winds were recorded. Subsequently, 400 people were evacuated.