Cyclone Judy: A Recap

Cyclone Judy was a Category 4 tropical cyclone in the Australian scale, and a Category 3-equivalent storm in the Saffir-Simpson scale by Force Thirteen analysis, that affected Vanuatu in March 1.

The system formed from a tropical disturbance near Samoa on February 22, moving west-southwest before intensifying into a tropical storm by F13 analysis on the 27th. While turning more southeastwards as it intensified, it moved over the nation, and soon over the island of Efate, where the capital Port Vila was placed. At the time of its landfall, Force Thirteen had Judy as a Category 2-equivalent cyclone in the SSHWS, with 1-minute winds of 155 km/h (100 mph).

Judy’s stay over the island was short, and as it emerged over the Pacific once again, it took off, developing an eye on satellite imagery. F13 then estimated Judy to have reached Category 3-equivalent status at 2pm local time, as it was moving over the island of Erromango. It reached its peak intensity three hours later, with winds of 195 km/h (120 mph). After its landfall, it was all downhill for the cyclone. Wind shear effectively stripped away its structure, and it transitioned into an extra-tropical cyclone today.

According to the Solomon Star, a dozen houses were destroyed by tidal waves generated by the storm in the Solomon Islands. Heavy rain and gale to hurricane-force winds pummeled Vanuatu as Judy moved through. After Judy swept through the nation, another disaster struck the region.

Earthquake strikes near Espiritu Santo

A day after Judy left Vanuatu, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck to the west of the island of Espiritu Santo, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It then generated an aftershock of a magnitude 5.4 after the initial quake.

No casualties were reported after the earthquake, but communication from all of Vanuatu’s islands remained affected, along with electricity. People couldn’t go out and assess the damage of the quake due to strong winds, according to the secretary-general of the Vanuatu Red Cross Society Dickinson Tevi.

Under Judy’s shadow: Cyclone Kevin

Cyclone Kevin initially formed as a tropical low to the east of Queensland in Australia on February 27, before moving into the South Pacific basin on March 1, right when Judy made its landfall over Efate and Erromango. It then intensified into a tropical storm in the morning of the next day locally.

Intensification was gradual, and by the time Kevin approached Vanuatu, it was nearly a high-end storm, before making landfall over Erromango with 1-minute sustained winds of 110 km/h (70 mph) by F13 analysis. Port Vila was fortunately not within the eyewall of the cyclone, but it was within the storm nonetheless.

After its landfall, Kevin explosively intensified, with the Joint Typhoon Warning Center describing it as a “meteoric development”.

Over an 12-hour period starting from its emergence from land, Kevin immediately cleared out its eye, which made its intensity soar to major cyclone status by the morning of March 4. It ultimately peaked as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, and a Category 4-equivalent cyclone in the SSHWS by F13 analysis, with 1-minute sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph), just shy of Category 5 status.

Now, Kevin is rapidly weakening, with its eye no longer visible on satellite imagery. It is not expected to affect any land as it continues southeastward.

A state of emergency was declared in Vanuatu as Kevin moved through the nation. Officials are working to assess the damages caused by both cyclones, according to Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau. The government of Australia has pledged to help Vanuatu, as they’ll be sending a 12-person assessment team and emergency supplies like shelters and water equipment. The Royal Australian Air Force will also help with aerial damage assessments.

The post Vanuatu starts recovery after cyclones Judy, Kevin roll through the South Pacific appeared first on Force Thirteen.

This January has been a fairly active month compared to climatology in cyclone activity, with cyclone development spreading across all three Southern Hemisphere basins: Southwest Indian Ocean, Australian Region, and the South Pacific.

Southwest Indian Ocean

The Southwest Indian Ocean saw the formation of one cyclone, Cyclone Eloise.

Eloise formed on January 14 well to the east of Madagascar, eventually impacting the island as a mid-strength tropical storm.

After clearing the island, Eloise quickly strengthened on its approach to Mozambique, peaking as a Category 2 equivalent storm as it made landfall in Beira with 1-minute winds near 105 mph and 10 minute winds near 90 mph.

Eloise weakened as it moved inland over Africa, dissipating on January 25.

Eloise caused severe damage in Mozambique, with at least 21 deaths reported.

Weather stations in Beira recorded 25cm (10 inches) of rain within 24 hours.

Several rivers burst their banks, causing roads to become submerged in floodwaters.

Additionally, Eloise caused damage and flooding to South Africa, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe, as it weakened across southern Africa.

Australian Region

In the Australian Region, activity was unusually high with the JTWC designating six cyclones: Imogen, Joshua, Kimi, Lucas, 08U, and 12U.

The first four were also classified by the Bureau of Meteorology, the last two being tropical lows by their estimates.

The most notable storms this month in the Australian Basin were Kimi, Lucas and 12U.

With a lifespan ranging from the 16th to the 19th of January, Kimi took a short but unpredictable track in the middle of the month, peaking with both 1 and 10-minute winds of 65 mph.

Despite its proximity to land, no impacts have been reported.

Lucas was the strongest storm to form in the Australian basin this month, peaking at 75 mph in 1-minute winds and 70 mph in 10-minute winds over the South Pacific.

The cyclone formed on January 25, and crossed over into the South Pacific basin on February 1.

Shortly thereafter, Lucas made landfall over New Caledonia as a weakened storm, dissipating on February 3.

Damages are currently unknown, and no deaths have been reported as a result of Lucas.

12U was a very unusual storm that took a winding track along the northern coastline of West Australia, forming over land on January 30 and staying over it for 5 days while maintaining its strength as a tropical depression.

It finally attained tropical storm strength as it approached the coastline and peaked as a 40 mph storm, however it began extratropical transition shortly thereafter and dissipated on February 5.

South Pacific

For the South Pacific Basin, activity was limited to two systems, Ana and Bina.

Ana formed on January 26 northeast of Port Vila, Vanuatu, and began to gradually strengthen.

After several days, Ana made landfall over Viti Levu, Fiji as a Category 1 storm on the SSHWS and a Category 3 on the Australian scale, peaking with 75 mph winds in both scales.

After clearing Fiji, Ana weakened significantly, dissipating on February 3.

Damages from Ana are unknown, with one person confirmed dead and five others still missing as of February 7.

Bina also took a similar track to Ana from January 29-31, with its remnants making landfall just after its dissipation.

Bina peaked with 10-minute winds of 40 mph and 1 minute winds of 50 mph. No significant impacts to land were reported as a result of Bina.

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The post January 2021 Worldwide Cyclone Summary appeared first on Force Thirteen.