cyclone zazu fiji

[61] Drinking water was contaminated and communication was cut off for over 36 hours. [38] During January 29, the FMS reported that the depression had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale and named it Ana. Convective rainbands began to develop around the system as it tracked slowly eastwards, wrapping into the low-level circulation centre. [44], During January 27, the FMS reported that Tropical Disturbance 06F had developed near the Lau Island of Nayau, about 250 km (155 mi) to the east of Suva, Fiji. Tropical Cyclone Zazu (Cat. All meteorological data is taken from the warning centers while damage estimates are in 2021 USD. In early March, Cyclone Niran moved into basin as a Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone. “TC Zazu is now located about 500km to the South of Sāmoa and continues to move further South”. Read more. [9] By 00:00 UTC on December 12, both the JTWC and the FMS reported that the shear had displaced the system's deep convection to the northeast, leaving the center of circulation fully exposed. Stephen Lowe, the council chief executive of The Australian Banana Growers’ Council, estimated about 5,000 hectares of crops were affected, and 150 farms were damaged. Source: Zoom Earth. Cyclone Zazu is currently tracking at … [6] Over the next couple of days, the system gradually moved westwards before the FMS classified it as a tropical depression during December 11, while it was located about 280 km (175 mi) to the west of the Fijian Dependency of Rotuma. ... while to the north of Fiji. We have in depth tracking of these two storms – and any possible track towards NZ for Yasa. [50] Strong winds and heavy rainfall associated with the depression affected Tonga on January 29.[51]. Multiple storms gather in Pacific, Cyclone Yasa is in centre Photo: Fiji Met Service This system may weaken within the next 12-24hours. Even so, the storm is still expected to be extremely strong when it reaches the country on Thursday night local time (Thursday morning ET). [16] At the same time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert for the system. [29] Zazu brought heavy surf which severely damaged the wharf on Niue which was recently rebuilt while bringing rainy conditions to the island that same day. [15] At 00:00 UTC on December 12, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) upgraded the system to Tropical Depression 02F, and began issuing forecast track maps. Source: RSMC Nadi. However, if a tropical depression intensifies to the south of 25°S between 160°E and 120°W it will be named by MetService in conjunction with the FMS. [30] Zazu also brought wind gusts up to 120 km/h (75 mph) to the island nation of Tonga, but no significant damage was reported. The scale estimates potential property damage, and NOAA warns that even well built homes could face "severe damage" as a result of winds over 200 kph, while trees and power poles could be downed, bringing more destruction and disruption. Yasa continued its rapid intensification trend and further intensified to the equivalent of a high-end Category 4 tropical cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson scale (SSHWS), developing a well-defined and very clear eye, while continuing to become more symmetrical. [34], During January 26, the FMS reported that Tropical Disturbance 05F had developed within the South Pacific convergence zone about 220 km (135 mi) to the northeast of Port Vila in Vanuatu. [37] Over the next couple of days, the system moved eastwards and gradually developed further, as atmospheric convection started to wrap into the systems low level circulation center. Warnings. Yasa became the most intense tropical cyclone of 2020, surpassing Goni with a minimum barometric pressure of 899 mb (26.55 inHg) and a maximum wind speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). [15] The JTWC also noted a Fujiwhara interaction with 01F, which briefly hampered the development of the system. [12] The storm then weakened and degenerated into a low pressure system later on December 12. [44] During January 31, Ana emerged into the Kadavu Passage and passed near or over Kadavu, before the FMS reported that the system had peaked as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph). [36], During January 30, Ana continued to move south-southeastwards and passed through the northern Yasawa Islands into the Bligh Waters, where it became slow-moving and intensified into a category 2 tropical cyclone. [46][47][48] Over the next few days, Ana moved south-eastwards over the South Pacific Ocean as a subtropical low, before it was last noted during February 3. It was also the fourth most intense South Pacific tropical cyclone after Winston, Zoe, Pam. Severe Tropical Cyclone Ana and Tropical Cyclone Bina also affected Fiji withi days of each other, resulting in heavy rains and strong winds. The 2020–21 South Pacific cyclone season is a currently ongoing period of the year when most tropical cyclones form within the South Pacific Ocean to the east of 160°E. On December 8, a disturbance formed near Fiji, starting the 2020–21 South Pacific Ocean cyclone season, it gradually intensified into a depression and attained a tropical storm status according to JTWC. In production nurseries, shade houses and tree crops were damaged. Because of the Fujiwhara effect, the remnant was absorbed by Tropical Depression 02F shortly afterward, which would later become Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa. Updated 0329 GMT (1129 HKT) December 16, 2020. [65] The JTWC issued a TCFA on the disturbance at 15:00 UTC the next day, designating it as Invest 92P. However, Bina soon became very disorganized and was downgraded to a tropical depression on the morning of February 1. It reached at the maximum 10 minutes sustained wind speed of 55 km/h (35 mph) and minimum pressure of 1000 mb (29.53 inHg). If either of them develops into a tropical #cyclone, the next one will be named Marian", "Tropical low in Coral Sea off north Queensland may brew into a cyclone", "Tropical Cyclone Niran forms off north Qld", "Cyclone Niran off north Queensland coast UPGRADED to Category 2 System", "North Queensland coastal communities no longer under threat from Tropical Cyclone Niran", "Tropical Cyclone Niran threatens New Caledonia as Category 4 system", "Tropical Cyclone Niran rapidly intensifies to Cat 5 in South Pacific", "Banana prices expected to rise after $180m damage to Qld crops", Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-East Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean 2020, "Fiji reports 4 deaths due to tropical cyclone Yasa", "One dead, five missing as fresh cyclone batters Fiji", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2020–21_South_Pacific_cyclone_season&oldid=1011176238#Tropical_Cyclone_Zazu, Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale), Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale), Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale), Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale), Wallis and Futuna, Tonga, Samoan Islands, Niue, This page was last edited on 9 March 2021, at 13:07. [39][40] At this time, the system was located about 350 km (215 mi) to the northwest of Nadi in Fiji and had started to be steered south-southeastwards towards Fiji, by a ridge of high pressure to the northeast of the system. On December 8, a disturbance formed near Fiji, starting the 2020–21 South Pacific Ocean cyclone season, it gradually intensified into a depression and attained a tropical storm status according to JTWC. Yasa struck Fiji, resulting in heavy damage. [62][63] A 29-year old woman and another man drowned off the Gold Coast of Queensland amidst dangerous swells produced by the extratropical remnants of Lucas, their bodies having been recovered on February 9. [27] During December 16, the system moved into MetService's area of responsibility, before they reclassified it as an extratropical low later that day. RSMC Nadi, TCWC Wellington and TCWC Brisbane all use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale and estimate windspeeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC estimated sustained winds over a 1-minute period, which are subsequently compared to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS). It then became extratropical on December 20. Another disturbance formed near the existing 01F and rapidly intensified into a depression. More than 850,000 people are in its direct path, and are bracing for destructive winds and waves up to 14 metres high. In addition to winds over 200 kph (125 mph), the storm will also bring over 250 mm (10 inches) of rainfall, which can trigger flooding and landslides. [3] At least four of the tropical cyclones were expected to intensify further and become severe tropical cyclones, while it was noted that a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone could occur during the season. [49] At this stage, the system was poorly organised and located to the south of a ridge of high pressure, in an area of moderate to high vertical wind shear. But the presence of Zazu, which remained at category one and was heading out to open waters, has made modelling for Yasa more difficult, leading to uncertainty over what part of Fiji will be hardest hit. Yasa caused catastrophic damage and four deaths in Fiji. Cyclone Zoe – The second-most powerful cyclone in the basin, the most intense in December on record in the basin. There are two cyclones in the South Pacific now – we have a special extended video covering them both. The South Pacific island nation of Fiji on Wednesday was bracing for the onslaught of category 5 Cyclone Yasa, as Tonga and Niue prepared for the category 2 Cylone Zazu. Fiji is "smack bang in the firing line" of a major tropical cyclone that could be life-threatening for some on lower-lying islands. The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) will also monitor the basin and issue unofficial warnings for American interests. [10] However, environmental conditions were only marginally conducive for intensification, with strong vertical wind shear inhibiting further development. Tropical Cyclone Yasa has intensified into a top-of-the-scale category five super-storm in the Pacific and remains on track to hit Fiji this week, forecasters said on Wednesday. On December 13, 15:00 UTC, 02F intensified into a Category 1 tropical cyclone Yasa according to the Australian scale. [21], The storm continued to intensify and soon became a Category 3 on the Australian scale. The storm still poses some threat to Tonga and Niue today. During the season, tropical cyclones will be officially monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), New Zealand's MetService. It reached at the maximum 10 minutes sustained wind speed of 55 km/h (35 mph) and minimum pressure of 1000 mb (29.53 inHg). Within the Southern Pacific a tropical depression is judged to have reached tropical cyclone intensity should it reach winds of 65 km/h (40 mph), and it is evident that gales are occurring at least halfway around the center. [52] On the evening of January 31, the depression intensified further to Tropical Cyclone Bina. [60] An estimated 6,338 people lost power in the country during the cyclone's passing. Zazu is equivalent to a strong tropical storm with winds of 100 kph (62 mph). During 25 February, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) began to monitor a developing tropical low off the coast of northern Queensland. [72] Later that same day, the strengthening cyclone reached Category 2 status on the Australian scale. [68] However, the JTWC also issued their final warning on 09F as it accelerated south-southeastward and became extratropical.[69]. The season officially started on November 1, 2020 and will end on April 30, 2021, however a tropical cyclone could form at any time between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 and would count towards the season total. [64], On February 7, a weak tropical disturbance formed near the Lau Island of Cikobia, to the north of Nadi, Fiji. Another disturbance formed near the existing 01F and rapidly intensified into a depression. [22] The storm continued rapidly intensifying and strengthened to a Category 5 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, the highest rating possible, whilst completing its loop, with a central pressure of 929 mbar and wind speeds of 110 knots (125 mph). [2][4] The BoM issued two seasonal forecasts for the Southern Pacific Ocean, for their self-defined eastern and western regions of the South Pacific Ocean. Yasa has developed into a category two storm in the waters between Fiji and Vanuatu. [41][42][43] While located over Viti Levu, Ana moved south-southeastwards over the Central Division, where it passed in between Navua and Fiji's capital city: Suva. [20] Soon afterwards, the JTWC upgraded Yasa to a Category 1-equivalent cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson scale. [55], On the afternoon of February 1, Tropical Cyclone Lucas moved into the basin from the Australian region as a Category 2 tropical cyclone, to the northwest of Port Vila in Vanuatu. Fiji and Tonga issued severe weather warnings Tuesday as twin cyclones intensified near the Pacific island nations. [17][18] At 15:00 UTC December 12, the JTWC determined the system had strengthened into Tropical Cyclone 05P and was now producing winds up to gale force, while it absorbed the remnant of Tropical Depression 01F. The extreme intensity of the storm will lead to very rough seas and storm surge capable of flooding low-lying coastal communities. [7] Environmental conditions were very favourable for tropical cyclogenesis, with radial outflow in the upper troposphere, low vertical wind shear, and sea surface temperatures near 30 °C (86 °F). No additional landmasses are in its path and the storm is expected to dissipate over the next day or two. [33] The FMS ceased advisories on the system, late on January 28. The cyclone is set to hit Fiji on Thursday evening or Friday morning. [31], During January 22, the FMS reported that Tropical Disturbance 04F had developed about 700 km (435 mi) to the northwest of Noumea in New Caledonia. Dec 15, 2020, 2:16 pm SUVA, FIJI (AFP) - Fiji and Tonga issued severe weather warnings Tuesday (Dec 15) as twin cyclones intensified near the Pacific island … CNN's James Griffiths and Michael Guy contributed reporting from Hong Kong. [40] The United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center subsquently initiated advisories, on the newly named system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 15P. [44][45] During February 1, the system rapidly weakened into a subtropical low, as its low-level circulation center became exposed and moved south-eastwards into an area of high vertical wind shear. [73] Niran soon began to pull away from the coast of Australia while intensifying, reaching Category 3 status on the Australian scale, late on 3 March. Cyclone Yasa: Fiji prepares for category 5 storm as Tonga braces for Zazu. 3) continues to move slowly towards Fiji. The BoM also predicted that the Eastern Region between 165°E and 120°W, had a 45% chance of seeing activity above its average of 6 tropical cyclones. Map locating tropical cyclones Yasa and Zazu in the south-western Pacific as of December 16. 1) is expected to move 60km south of Neiafu, Vava’u or 70km northeast of Muitoa, Ha’apai at 3:00pm today, the Tonga Meteorological Services forecast this morning. [7] At 00:00 UTC on December 11, the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical storm on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Ahead of the cyclone season formally starting, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), New Zealand's MetService and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and various other Pacific Meteorological services, all contributed towards the Island Climate Update tropical cyclone outlook that was released during October 2020. [11][12] Due to the deteriorating structure of the system, the FMS ceased advisories on Tropical Depression 01F at this time. Cyclones Yasa and Zaza were both named by authorities on Monday, the first in the South Pacific for this summer’s cyclone season. In … In April, both Fiji and Vanuatu were struck by Tropical Cyclone Harold, which was equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane and brought massive destruction to Vanuatu in particular, where it was, According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, one of the strongest recorded storms to ever make landfall. At 18:00 UTC, Yasa's maximum 10-minute sustained winds increased to 250 km/h (155 mph), with a minimum atmospheric pressure of 899 hPa (26.55 inHg),[25] making the system one of the most intense tropical cyclones ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. [5] At this stage, the system had a broad low level circulation and was located within a marginal environment for further development, with warm sea surface temperatures as well as moderate levels of vertical wind shear. Early on January 27, the storm strengthened into a tropical depression. (CNN)A powerful storm is barreling down on Fiji, bringing hurricane-force winds to the Pacific island nation. At midday, Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said severe cyclone Yasa was about 500 kilometers northwest of Nadi, on the main island of Viti Levu. However, the disturbance was declared a low pressure system on February 24, with the FMS issuing their final warning.[80]. Strong cyclones have become increasingly common in the Pacific in recent years, something Bainimarama has put down to climate change. 03F intensified into Category 1 tropical cyclone Zazu, strengthening to Category 2. [26] Zazu continued to strengthen even as it began extratropical transition, reaching Category 2 status on the Australian scale on December 15, despite struggling with the effects of westerly wind shear. [66] It strengthened to a tropical depression as it tracked to the south. Share Wednesday, 16 December 2020 10:46 AM. On March 5, the FMS reported that Tropical Disturbance 11F had formed to the southeast of Port Vila, Vanuatu. [71] On 1 March, the tropical low was upgraded into a tropical cyclone by the BOM, and was provided the name Niran. [49] Later that day the system developed into a tropical depression and caused gale-force winds over the Lau Islands, before it was last noted by the FMS during the next day as it moved out of the tropics. Meanwhile, a second stronger Tropical Cyclone, TC Yasa (Cat. Yasa formed on December 11 and became a Category 5 cyclone, impacting Fiji. [53] It further weakened to an area of low pressure on the same day as it became even more disorganized. Tropical Depression, TD03F Intensifies Into Category 1 Tropical Cyclone Zazu. 01F became a remnant low and was absorbed by Tropical Depression 02F. Tropical Cyclone Zazu Category 2 was located South Southeast of Niue this morning and it continues to track southeast to its projected path with the speed of 33kph. [24] By 00:00 UTC on December 16, Yasa had intensified into a Category 5-equivalent tropical cyclone on the SSHWS, with 1-minute sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph). The season began with the formation of Tropical Depression 01F, over a month after the official start.

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