2009–10 South Pacific cyclone season
Encyclopedia
The 2009–10 South Pacific cyclone season began on December 3, 2009 with the formation of Tropical Disturbance 01F. This was 32 days after the season had officially begun on November 1, 2009 and ended on April 30, 2010. 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; the "tropical cyclone year" began on July 1, 2009 and will end on June 30, 2010. Tropical cyclones between 160°E and 120°W and north of 25°S are monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service
. Those that move south of 25°S are monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Wellington, New Zealand
. The first tropical disturbance of the season formed on December 3, about 1015 km (700 mi) to the north of Suva, Fiji.
RSMC Nadi released their seasonal prediction on October 21, 2009, and reported that the El Niño conditions for this season indicated that tropical cyclone activity would be near normal with eight to eleven tropical cyclones predicted to form within the South Pacific compared to an average of nine cyclones. They also reported that a slightly higher risk existed of a tropical cyclone affecting a country to the west of the International Date Line including Fiji while a near average risk of a tropical cyclone affecting an island to the east of the dateline was predicted. In March 2010, RSMC Nadi predicited that there would now be at least 10 Tropical cyclones, within the whole of the Southern Pacific.
New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
(NIWA) also reported in their seasonal outlook that the conditions for this season indicated that tropical cyclone activity would be near normal with eight to eleven tropical cyclones predicted to form compared to an average of nine cyclones. They also reported that because of El Niño conditions that islands to the east of the International Date Line
would face an increased risk of a tropical cyclone while the amount expected to move within 550 km (350 mi) of New Zealand was expected to remain about normal. On February 15, 2010, NIWA issued a seasonal forecast update and maintained their forecast of 8–11 named storms. They also reported that the Solomon Islands now faced an increased risk of a tropical cyclone affecting them.
The 2009–10 South Pacific cyclone season was near its climatological average, with eight tropical depressions intensifying into tropical cyclones within the South Pacific to the east of 160E, while one other system intensified into a tropical cyclone after it had left the basin. Tropical Cyclone Mick was the first tropical disturbance to grace the waters of the South Pacific Ocean during the season. Tropical Cyclone Mick originally developed as a Tropical Disturbance on December 3, and gradually developed before it was christened as Tropical Cyclone Mick late on December 12. During the next couple of days the disturbance, the system accelerated towards the southeast while gradually intensifying further before peaking on December 14, with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 110 km/h, (65 mph) and 1-minute winds of 130 km/h, (80 mph). Later that day, Mick made landfall on Viti Levu to the northeast of Nadi and as a result of land interaction, Mick rapidly weakened and became an extratropical depression early the next day. On December 6, Tropical Disturbance 02F developed about 1000 km (620 mi) to the north of Suva, Fiji.
. During the next day Tropical Cyclone Mick accelerated towards the southeast while gradually intensifying further, before during December 14, as Mick approached the Fijian island of Viti Levu, the cyclone developed an eye. RSMC Nadi then declared that Mick had peaked with 10 minute windspeeds of 110 km/h, (65 mph) while the JTWC reported that it had peaked with 1 minute winds of 130 km/h, (80 mph). Later that day, Mick made landfall on Viti Levu to the northeast of Nadi. As a result of land interaction, Tropical Cyclone Mick rapidly weakened and became an extratropical depression early the next day. The extratropical remnants of Tropical Cyclone Mick were tracked by RSMC Nadi and TCWC Wellington for another 2 days before they dissipated early on December 18 Just inside TCWC Wellington's area of responsibility.
At least 6 fatalities have been attributed to Mick.
in French Polynesia
and assigned it the designation of 03F. The depression dissipated on January 10.
. On 20 January it crossed the 160°E meridian into the Australian Basin, where it developed into Tropical Cyclone Olga.
, Tuvalu
. It dissipated on January 28.
in early 2008.
At least one person was killed by large swells produced by the storm in French Polynesia.
. However
it dissipated on February 4.
. On the 7th, the JTWC designated it as Tropical Cyclone 14P, and on the 8th RSMC upgraded it to become Tropical Cyclone Pat. By the 10th it reached Severe Tropical Cyclone strength as it moved towards the southern Cook Islands
, and a hurricane warning was then issued for Aitutaki
and its neighbours. The eye of the cyclone was reported to have passed right over Aitutaki, with continuous winds estimated locally at 100 knots for 4 hours. There was extensive damage to housing and a hospital, and the Cook Island government declared a State of Disaster.
. Late on February 11, RSMC Nadi upgraded the storm to a category 1 cyclone and named it Rene. It continued to strengthen as it moved south of American Samoa
, and reached Category 4 on February 14. In American Samoa roads were damaged by landslides caused by the cyclone's heavy rain, and substantial damage was caused to crops. It had weakened to category 3 when it passed through the Vava'u
island group of Tonga
, and on February 15 the eye was reported to have passed over the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa
. The main island of Tongatapu
was left without power and water.
in the Cook Islands
. RSMC Nadi reported that the disturbance was moving west while the JTWC reported that the disturbance was moving east. Eventually, they both agreed on which direction it was moving and RSMC Nadi upgraded the disturbance to Tropical Depression 11F. It soon weakened, but remained identifiable until February 22 when it was again classified as a Tropical Depression. On February 26 it was at last upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Sarah and Tropical Storm by JTWC, being then about 90 miles (144.8 km) north of Palmerston Island
.
, Vanuatu
. The next day it was classified as a Tropical Depression. On March 12, 13F was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Ului. By early on the 13th, it was a category 2 cyclone. Later that day, Ului strengthened into a category 3, making it a severe tropical cyclone. The storm continued to strengthen throughout the day and that night it became a category 5. Ului became the first category 5 South Pacific cyclone since Severe Tropical Cyclone Percy
in February 2005. On March 14, Ului exited the Pacific Region and entered the Australian Region.
s ahead of the storm averaged 30 °C (86 °F), well-above the threshold for tropical cyclone development. Throughout the day on March 12, Tomas steadily intensified, and early the next day, the JTWC upgraded the storm to a Category 1 equivalent hurricane with winds of 120 km/h (75 mph).
Convective banding
substantially increased on March 13, allowing Tomas to become the fourth severe tropical cyclone of the season early the next morning. Around the same time, the JTWC assessed the storm to have attained winds of 155 km/h (100 mph), ranking it as a Category 2 cyclone. By the afternoon of March 14, Tomas had developed a banding-eye feature surrounded by deep convection. At this point, the FMS assessed the storm to have winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) and a pressure of 950 hPa (mbar). The JTWC also noted further intensification, upgrading Tomas to a Category 3 equivalent storm. Tomas has intensified on the night of March the 14th becoming a category 4(according to the Fiji
Meteorological Service) with winds up to 170 km/h and gusts up to 215 km/h blowing roofs off some houses and damaging buildings around the eastern side of Vanua Levu.
Throughout Fiji, Cyclone Tomas wrought widespread damage, killing two people and leaving $83.4 million in losses. One person was killed on Vanua Levu
after being swept out to sea by large swells while trying to rescue her two sisters, a niece and a nephew near Namilamila Bay.
in Vanuatu
. The depression dissipated completely
on April 5.
during the 2009–2010 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian Tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, landfalls, deaths, and damages. All data is taken from RSMC Nadi and or TCWC Wellington. The Damage figures are all 2010 USD
|-
| 01F/04P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji || 20,000,000 || 4 ||
|-
| 02F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 03F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 04F/09P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands || Unknown || 2 ||
|-
| 05F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 06F/10P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Samoan Islands || None || None ||
|-
| 07F/12P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Cook Islands, French Polynesia || 70,000,000 || 1 ||
|-
| 08F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || French Polynesia || None || None ||
|-
| 09F/14P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Cook Islands || 10,000,000 || 3 ||
|-
| 10F/15P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Samoan islands, Tonga || 18,000,000 || None ||
|-
| 11F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Unknown || Unknown || Unknown ||
|-
| 12F/17P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Cook Islands || Unknown || None ||
|-
| 13F/20P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Australia || Unknown || 1 ||
|-
| 14F/19P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji || 43,600,000 || 2 ||
|-
| 15F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-class="sortbottom"
!colspan=10; align=center|Season Aggregates
|-class="sortbottom"
! colspan=2| 15 disturbances !! December 3 – April 5 !!!! 215 km/h (130 mph) !! 925 !! !! >161,000,000 !! 13
|}
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
east of 160°E
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
. Additionally, the regional tropical cyclone operational plan defines a tropical cyclone year separately from a tropical cyclone season; the "tropical cyclone year" began on July 1, 2009 and will end on June 30, 2010. Tropical cyclones between 160°E and 120°W and north of 25°S are monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service
Fiji Meteorological Service
The Fiji Meteorological Service is a Department of the government of Fiji responsible for providing weather forecasts and is based in Nadi. Since 1995, FMS has been responsible for naming and tracking tropical cyclones in the Southwest Pacific region...
. Those that move south of 25°S are monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
. The first tropical disturbance of the season formed on December 3, about 1015 km (700 mi) to the north of Suva, Fiji.
Seasonal outlooks
| Source/Record | Season/Date | TC Tropical cyclone A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor... |
STC | Ref |
| Average | (1969-70 – 2008-09) | 9 | 4.5 | |
| Record high activity | 1997-98 | 17 | 7 | |
| Record low activity | 2003–04/2008–09 | 3 | 0 | |
| –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– | ||||
| NIWA | October 20, 2009 | 8-11 | 2-3 | |
| RSMC Nadi | October 21, 2009 | 8-11 | 2-3 | |
| NIWA | February 15, 2010 | 8-11 | 2-3 | |
| Activity during the season | 8 | 5 | ||
RSMC Nadi released their seasonal prediction on October 21, 2009, and reported that the El Niño conditions for this season indicated that tropical cyclone activity would be near normal with eight to eleven tropical cyclones predicted to form within the South Pacific compared to an average of nine cyclones. They also reported that a slightly higher risk existed of a tropical cyclone affecting a country to the west of the International Date Line including Fiji while a near average risk of a tropical cyclone affecting an island to the east of the dateline was predicted. In March 2010, RSMC Nadi predicited that there would now be at least 10 Tropical cyclones, within the whole of the Southern Pacific.
New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research or NIWA , is a Crown Research Institute of New Zealand. Established in 1992, NIWA conducts commercial and non-commercial research across a broad range of disciplines in the environmental sciences...
(NIWA) also reported in their seasonal outlook that the conditions for this season indicated that tropical cyclone activity would be near normal with eight to eleven tropical cyclones predicted to form compared to an average of nine cyclones. They also reported that because of El Niño conditions that islands to the east of the International Date Line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
would face an increased risk of a tropical cyclone while the amount expected to move within 550 km (350 mi) of New Zealand was expected to remain about normal. On February 15, 2010, NIWA issued a seasonal forecast update and maintained their forecast of 8–11 named storms. They also reported that the Solomon Islands now faced an increased risk of a tropical cyclone affecting them.
Seasonal summary
The 2009–10 South Pacific cyclone season was near its climatological average, with eight tropical depressions intensifying into tropical cyclones within the South Pacific to the east of 160E, while one other system intensified into a tropical cyclone after it had left the basin. Tropical Cyclone Mick was the first tropical disturbance to grace the waters of the South Pacific Ocean during the season. Tropical Cyclone Mick originally developed as a Tropical Disturbance on December 3, and gradually developed before it was christened as Tropical Cyclone Mick late on December 12. During the next couple of days the disturbance, the system accelerated towards the southeast while gradually intensifying further before peaking on December 14, with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 110 km/h, (65 mph) and 1-minute winds of 130 km/h, (80 mph). Later that day, Mick made landfall on Viti Levu to the northeast of Nadi and as a result of land interaction, Mick rapidly weakened and became an extratropical depression early the next day. On December 6, Tropical Disturbance 02F developed about 1000 km (620 mi) to the north of Suva, Fiji.
Tropical Cyclone Mick
Late on December 3, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 01F had developed out of a weak area of low pressure to the northeast of Fiji. Over the next few days the disturbance gradually developed before RSMC Nadi reported that it had intensified into a tropical depression late on December 11. During the next day the system intensified further with the JTWC starting to issue warnings declaring it as Tropical Cyclone 04P. Later that day RSMC Nadi reported that Mick had intensified into a category one tropical cyclone and named it as Mick, while it was located about 225 km, (140 mi) to the west of RotumaRotuma
Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a small but unique indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognizable minority within the population of Fiji, known as "Rotumans"...
. During the next day Tropical Cyclone Mick accelerated towards the southeast while gradually intensifying further, before during December 14, as Mick approached the Fijian island of Viti Levu, the cyclone developed an eye. RSMC Nadi then declared that Mick had peaked with 10 minute windspeeds of 110 km/h, (65 mph) while the JTWC reported that it had peaked with 1 minute winds of 130 km/h, (80 mph). Later that day, Mick made landfall on Viti Levu to the northeast of Nadi. As a result of land interaction, Tropical Cyclone Mick rapidly weakened and became an extratropical depression early the next day. The extratropical remnants of Tropical Cyclone Mick were tracked by RSMC Nadi and TCWC Wellington for another 2 days before they dissipated early on December 18 Just inside TCWC Wellington's area of responsibility.
At least 6 fatalities have been attributed to Mick.
Tropical Disturbance 02F
Late on December 6, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 02F had formed about 1000 km (620 mi), to the north of Suva, Fiji. Poorly organized convection had been present around the system for the previous 24 hours and was in an environment of moderate shear. The disturbance did not organize much and dissipated on December 12.Depression 03F
Early on January 7, RSMC Nadi reported that an extratropical depression had formed about 770 km (480 mi), to the southwest of PapeetePapeete
-Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront esplanade*Bougainville Park -Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront...
in French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
and assigned it the designation of 03F. The depression dissipated on January 10.
Tropical Depression 04F (Olga)
Tropical Disturbance 04F formed on 18 January and strengthened to a Tropical Depression as it moved south-west through the Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
. On 20 January it crossed the 160°E meridian into the Australian Basin, where it developed into Tropical Cyclone Olga.
Tropical Depression 05F
Tropical Depression 05F formed on January 23 near 11S 179E, about 200 miles (321.9 km) south of FunafutiFunafuti
Funafuti is an atoll that forms the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu. It has a population of 4,492 , making it the most populated atoll in the country. It is a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres wide, encircling a large lagoon 18 km long and 14 km wide, with a surface of...
, Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
. It dissipated on January 28.
Tropical Cyclone Nisha
RSMC Nadi announced the formation of Tropical Depression 06F on January 27 near 14S 172W. This was only about 320 miles (515 km) NE of the position then being given for 05F and these may have developed from the same area of disturbed weather. Later the same day JTWC designated it as a Tropical Cyclone, and the RSMC allocated the name Nisha and it had dissipated on January 31.Severe Tropical Cyclone Oli
Tropical Disturbance 07F formed on January 29 near 12S 177E. It was upgraded to a depression late on the 30th. On the 1st of February, the JTWC designated 07F as 12P, and the RSMC upgraded it to Tropical Cyclone Oli. On February 3 it strengthened to become the first Severe Tropical Cyclone since GeneCyclone Gene
Severe Tropical Cyclone Gene was the deadliest storm as well as the most damaging tropical cyclone of the 2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season east of 160ºE...
in early 2008.
At least one person was killed by large swells produced by the storm in French Polynesia.
Tropical Depression 08F
Tropical Depression 08F formed on February 2 near 15S 145W, just south of the King George IslandsKing George Islands
The King George Islands is a subgroup of the Tuamotus Archipelago group in French Polynesia.The King George Islands include four atolls and one island:* Ahe* Manihi* Takapoto* Takaroa* Tikei Island...
. However
it dissipated on February 4.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Pat
Tropical Depression 09F formed on February 6 near 8ºS 166ºW, about 375 miles (603.5 km) east of TokelauTokelau
Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean that consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km2 and a population of approximately 1,400...
. On the 7th, the JTWC designated it as Tropical Cyclone 14P, and on the 8th RSMC upgraded it to become Tropical Cyclone Pat. By the 10th it reached Severe Tropical Cyclone strength as it moved towards the southern Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
, and a hurricane warning was then issued for Aitutaki
Aitutaki
Aitutaki, also traditionally known as Araura, Ararau and Utataki, is one of the Cook Islands, north of Rarotonga. It has a population of approximately 2,000. Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands. The capital is Arutanga on the west side.-Geography:Aitutaki is an "almost...
and its neighbours. The eye of the cyclone was reported to have passed right over Aitutaki, with continuous winds estimated locally at 100 knots for 4 hours. There was extensive damage to housing and a hospital, and the Cook Island government declared a State of Disaster.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Rene
Tropical Depression 10F formed on February 9 near 13S 172W, in the vicinity of SamoaSamoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. Late on February 11, RSMC Nadi upgraded the storm to a category 1 cyclone and named it Rene. It continued to strengthen as it moved south of American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
, and reached Category 4 on February 14. In American Samoa roads were damaged by landslides caused by the cyclone's heavy rain, and substantial damage was caused to crops. It had weakened to category 3 when it passed through the Vava'u
Vava'u
Vavau is an island chain of one large island and 40 smaller ones in Tonga. According to tradition Maui fished both Tongatapu and Vavau but put a little more effort into the former. Vavau rises 204 meters above sea level...
island group of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
, and on February 15 the eye was reported to have passed over the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa
Nuku'alofa
Nukualofa is the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the southern most island group of Tonga.-Mythological origins:...
. The main island of Tongatapu
Tongatapu
Tongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its capital Nukualofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with approximately 71,260 residents , 70.5% of the national population...
was left without power and water.
Tropical Cyclone Sarah
On February 17, RSMC Nadi commenced reporting on an unnumbered tropical disturbance located near 8.6ºS 162.0ºW, about 120 miles (193.1 km) north-northwest of RakahangaRakahanga
Rakahanga, part of the Cook Islands in the central-southern Pacific Ocean, is one of the most unspoiled places on earth. The atoll is 1,248 kilometres from the Cook Islands capital, Rarotonga and lies 1,111 kilometres from the equator...
in the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
. RSMC Nadi reported that the disturbance was moving west while the JTWC reported that the disturbance was moving east. Eventually, they both agreed on which direction it was moving and RSMC Nadi upgraded the disturbance to Tropical Depression 11F. It soon weakened, but remained identifiable until February 22 when it was again classified as a Tropical Depression. On February 26 it was at last upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Sarah and Tropical Storm by JTWC, being then about 90 miles (144.8 km) north of Palmerston Island
Palmerston Island
Palmerston Island is a coral atoll in the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean about 500 km northwest of Rarotonga. It was discovered by James Cook on 16 June 1774.-Overview:...
.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ului
Tropical Disturbance 13F formed on March 9 at 12.0ºS 167.0ºE, about 80 miles (128.7 km) north of Hiw IslandHiw Island
Hiw is the northernmost island in Vanuatu.-Geography:Hiw is the largest island in the Torres Islands in Torba Province. It is situated east of the Torres Trench, south of Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands. It has an area of 51 km2...
, Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
. The next day it was classified as a Tropical Depression. On March 12, 13F was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Ului. By early on the 13th, it was a category 2 cyclone. Later that day, Ului strengthened into a category 3, making it a severe tropical cyclone. The storm continued to strengthen throughout the day and that night it became a category 5. Ului became the first category 5 South Pacific cyclone since Severe Tropical Cyclone Percy
Cyclone Percy
Cyclone Percy was the seventh named storm of the 2004-05 South Pacific cyclone season and the fourth and final cyclone to form during the February 2005 outbreak in the South Pacific Ocean....
in February 2005. On March 14, Ului exited the Pacific Region and entered the Australian Region.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Tomas
Shortly after the first advisory on Tropical Disturbance 13F was issued on March 9, the FMS began monitoring a new disturbance, designated 14F, further east. The following day, deep convection began to develop around the disturbance's low-level circulation, prompting the JTWC to begin monitoring it for possible cyclonic development. Later on March 10, the FMS upgraded the system to a tropical depression as it continued to become better organized. Located within an environment characterized by low wind shear, further intensification was anticipated as convection continued to develop over the expanding system. Around 1500 UTC on March 11, the JTWC issued their first advisory on the cyclone, classifying it as Tropical Storm 19P. Several hours later, the FMS upgraded the system to a Category 1 cyclone and gave it the name Tomas. Rapid intensification was expected to take place over the following 48 hours as sea surface temperatureSea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature is the water temperature close to the oceans surface. The exact meaning of surface varies according to the measurement method used, but it is between and below the sea surface. Air masses in the Earth's atmosphere are highly modified by sea surface temperatures within a...
s ahead of the storm averaged 30 °C (86 °F), well-above the threshold for tropical cyclone development. Throughout the day on March 12, Tomas steadily intensified, and early the next day, the JTWC upgraded the storm to a Category 1 equivalent hurricane with winds of 120 km/h (75 mph).
Convective banding
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
substantially increased on March 13, allowing Tomas to become the fourth severe tropical cyclone of the season early the next morning. Around the same time, the JTWC assessed the storm to have attained winds of 155 km/h (100 mph), ranking it as a Category 2 cyclone. By the afternoon of March 14, Tomas had developed a banding-eye feature surrounded by deep convection. At this point, the FMS assessed the storm to have winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) and a pressure of 950 hPa (mbar). The JTWC also noted further intensification, upgrading Tomas to a Category 3 equivalent storm. Tomas has intensified on the night of March the 14th becoming a category 4(according to the Fiji
Meteorological Service) with winds up to 170 km/h and gusts up to 215 km/h blowing roofs off some houses and damaging buildings around the eastern side of Vanua Levu.
Throughout Fiji, Cyclone Tomas wrought widespread damage, killing two people and leaving $83.4 million in losses. One person was killed on Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu , formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 km² and a population of some 130,000.- Geography :...
after being swept out to sea by large swells while trying to rescue her two sisters, a niece and a nephew near Namilamila Bay.
Tropical Depression 15F
Early on March 30, RSMC Nadi reported that a Depression had formed about 445 km, (275 mi) to the southeast of Port VilaPort Vila
Port Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. Situated on the south coast of the island of Efate, in Shefa Province, the city population at last was 29,356, an increase of 55% on the previous census result . This suggests a 2007 population of about 40,000 or around 65% of the province's...
in Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
. The depression dissipated completely
on April 5.
Season effects
This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific to the east of longitude 160°E160th meridian east
The meridian 160° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
during the 2009–2010 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian Tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, landfalls, deaths, and damages. All data is taken from RSMC Nadi and or TCWC Wellington. The Damage figures are all 2010 USD
|-
| 01F/04P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji || 20,000,000 || 4 ||
|-
| 02F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 03F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 04F/09P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Solomon Islands || Unknown || 2 ||
|-
| 05F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-
| 06F/10P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Samoan Islands || None || None ||
|-
| 07F/12P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Cook Islands, French Polynesia || 70,000,000 || 1 ||
|-
| 08F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || French Polynesia || None || None ||
|-
| 09F/14P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Cook Islands || 10,000,000 || 3 ||
|-
| 10F/15P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Samoan islands, Tonga || 18,000,000 || None ||
|-
| 11F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Unknown || Unknown || Unknown ||
|-
| 12F/17P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Cook Islands || Unknown || None ||
|-
| 13F/20P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Australia || Unknown || 1 ||
|-
| 14F/19P || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || Fiji || 43,600,000 || 2 ||
|-
| 15F || || || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || bgcolor=#| || None || None || None ||
|-class="sortbottom"
!colspan=10; align=center|Season Aggregates
|-class="sortbottom"
! colspan=2| 15 disturbances !! December 3 – April 5 !!!! 215 km/h (130 mph) !! 925 !! !! >161,000,000 !! 13
|}
See also
- List of Southern Hemisphere cyclone seasons
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 20092009 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2009 Atlantic hurricane season was a below-average year, unlike the 2009 Pacific hurricane season, which was above average, both due to a moderate El Niño. During this year, nine tropical storms formed, the fewest since the 1997 season.An average season has ten tropical storms, six hurricanes...
, 20102010 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was the third most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, tying with the 1887 Atlantic hurricane season, 1995 Atlantic hurricane season and the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. It had the most number of named storms since the 2005 season and also ties with the... - Pacific hurricane seasons: 20092009 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2009 Pacific hurricane season was an active event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation, due to a moderate El Niño, unlike the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, which was relatively quiet. The season officially started on May 15 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1 for the central...
, 20102010 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2010 Pacific hurricane season was the least active Pacific hurricane season, in terms of the number of named storms and hurricanes, on record, due to a moderate La Niña, unlike the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, which was one of the most active on record... - Pacific typhoon seasons: 20092009 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2009 Pacific typhoon season was the period that tropical cyclones formed in the Western Pacific Ocean. The season ran throughout the year during 2009, with most tropical cyclones forming between May and November. The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator...
, 20102010 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2010 Pacific typhoon season was the least active Pacific typhoon season, in terms of the number of named storms and typhoons, on record, due to a moderate La Niña event... - North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 20092009 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonThe 2009 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The North Indian Ocean cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November...
, 20102010 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonThe 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was a very active event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation with some 8 depressions and 6 named storms, nearly above the average of 4-6 storms in the region due to a moderate La Niña...