1994–95 South Pacific cyclone season

1994–95 South Pacific cyclone season
First storm formed November 12, 1994
Last storm dissipated March 17, 1995
Strongest storm Violet – 965 hPa (mbar), 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-minute sustained)
Total depressions 5
Tropical cyclones 3 Official 1 Unofficial
Severe tropical cyclones 1
Total fatalities None reported
Total damage $2.5 million (1995 USD)
South Pacific cyclone seasons
1992–93, 1993–94, 1994-95, 1995–96, 1996–97
Related articles

The 1994–95 South Pacific cyclone season was one of the least active tropical cyclone seasons on record, with only three tropical cyclones officially occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W. The season ran from November 1, 1994 until April 30, 1995 with the first disturbance of the season developing on November 12 and the last disturbance dissipating on March 17. The most intense tropical cyclone during the season was Severe Tropical Cyclone Violet, which was only in the basin for 18 hours. After the season both the names Violet and William were retired, from the tropical cyclone naming lists.

During the season, tropical cyclones were officially monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers (TCWC) in Nadi, Fiji, Wellington, New Zealand and Brisbane, Australia.[1] Throughout the season the United States Navy also monitored the basin and issued unofficial warnings, through its Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (NPMOC).[2] Tropical cyclones that were located between the Equator and 25S were monitored by TCWC Nadi while any that were located to the south of 25S were monitored by TCWC Wellington.[1] During the season the JTWC issued warnings on any tropical cyclone that was located between 160°E and 180° while the NPMOC issued warnings for tropical cyclones forming between 180° and the American coast.[2] TCWC Nadi, Wellington and Brisbane all used the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, and measured windspeeds over a 10-minute period, while the JTWC and the NPMOC measured sustained windspeeds over a 1-minute period.[1]

Contents

Seasonal summary


The season was one of the most inactive tropical cyclone seasons on record, with only three tropical cyclones officially occurring within the South Pacific Ocean basin between 160°E and 120°W.[3][4] The first tropical cyclone of the season developed as a tropical depression on November 12, before it was named as Vania on November 14.[5] The cyclone went on to end a long dry spell in Vanuatu, before it dissipated to the northeast of New Caledonia.[5] The basin remained quiet until December 13, when Tropical Depression 04P developed to the east of the Solomon Islands, before going on to affect Fiji and Tonga.[6] During the final days of 1994, Tropical Cyclone William developed to the northeast of American Samoa.[5] Throughout its lifetime, William moved southeast and affected parts of French Polynesia and the Cook Islands before becoming extratropical on January 3.[3] After William left the basin on January 5, the basin remained quiet until March 6, when Severe Tropical Cyclone Violet became the strongest tropical cyclone of the season as it moved into the basin, before re-curving back into TCWC Brisbane's area of responsibility.[3] Tropical Depression 18P then developed on March 16, near Fiji, before dissipating during the next day to the southeast of Fiji.[7] After the season had ended the names William and Violet were retired from the tropical cyclone naming lists, while in June 1995, the World Meteorological Organization made TCWC Nadi an Regional Specialized Meteorological Center.[8]

Storms

Tropical Cyclone Vania

Category 2 tropical cyclone (FMS)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration November 12 – November 18
Intensity 100 km/h (65 mph) (10-min),  980 mbar (hPa)

On November 12, TCWC Nadi reported that a tropical depression had developed out of a persistent area of convection, about 795 kilometres (495 mi) to the northeast of Port Vila, Vanuatu.[5][9] As the system moved towards the southwest, the depression gradually developed further before during the next day, the JTWC designated the depression as Tropical Cyclone 01P, with 1-minute sustained windspeeds equivalent to a tropical storm.[2][9][10] Early on November 14, TCWC Nadi reported that 01P had become a category one tropical cyclone, and named it as Vania.[5][9] Throughout that day, Vania continued to intensify while moving towards the southwest, before it made landfall during the next day on the Vanuatuan island of Efate, Vanuatu.[5] Shortly before Vania made landfall, TCWC Nadi reported that Vania had become a category two tropical cyclone, before reporting that the system had peak 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 100 km/h (65 mph), while the JTWC reported peak 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 110 km/h (70 mph).[9][10]

As Vania moved out of the Vanuatuan archipelago, the system moved towards the south before re-curving and moving towards the northwest.[9] Throughout November 16, the cyclone became sheared and started to weaken quickly, before the JTWC issued their final advisory the next day as Vania weakened into a tropical depression late the next day.[2][9] Early on November 18, TCWC Nadi issued their final advisory as Vania dissipated to the north of New Caledonia.[5][9] Only minor damage to crops and bush houses was reported to have occurred in the archipelago while no deaths were reported.[5][11] As a result of Vania affecting parts of Vanuatu during November 15, voting in provincial elections had to be extended by 24 hours.[12][13]

Tropical Depression 04P

Tropical depression (FMS)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration December 13 – December 17
Intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min),  997 mbar (hPa)

On December 13, the US Navy started to monitor an area of disturbed weather that was located about 720 km (480 mi), to the east of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.[2][6] During that day, TCWC Nadi started to monitor the system as a tropical depression as the system moved southeast towards Fiji.[2][14] Over the next couple of days, the depression continued to move southeast towards Fiji and gradually developed further.[6] On December 15, the NPMOC initiated advisories on the depression and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 04P, while it was located about 110 km (70 mi) to the northeast of Labasa, Fiji.[2][6] Later that day, the NPMOC reported that the system had become a tropical storm and reached its peak 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h (40 mph), as it affected several Fijian islands including Vanua Levu and Thikombia.[2][6] During December 16, the cyclone continued to move towards the southeast and started to affect Tonga before the NPMOC issued their final warning on the system as it had weakened into a tropical depression.[2][6] During the next day, the depression moved into TCWC Wellingtons area of responsibility and was subsequently declared extratropical.[14]

Tropical Cyclone William

Category 2 tropical cyclone (FMS)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration December 30 – January 3
Intensity 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min),  975 mbar (hPa)

On December 30, TCWC Nadi reported that a tropical depression had developed about 860 km (535 mi), to the northeast of Pago Pago in American Samoa.[3] During the next day, as the depression moved to the southeast it gradually developed further, before the NPMOC designated the depression as Tropical Cyclone 05P.[2][3][15] TCWC Nadi then reported early on January 1, that the depression had developed into a category one tropical cyclone.[9] However they did not name it as William, until later that day.[5] Throughout January 1, the system continued to intensify, as it moved towards the southeast.[9] TCWC Nadi then reported early the next day, that William had become a category two tropical cyclone as it passed near to the Southern Cook Islands while the NPMOC reported that William, had reached its peak 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 120 km/h (75 mph).[9][15] During that day, William accelerated towards the southeast, before TCWC Nadi reported that William had reached its peak 10-minute windspeeds of 110 km/h (70 mph) while affecting parts of French Polynesia.[5][9]

During January 3, William continued to move rapidly into the Southeastern Pacific Ocean and started to transition into an extratropical cyclone as it approached TCWC Wellingtons area of responsibility.[3][5] As William moved into TCWC Wellingtons area of responsibility, the NPMOC issued their final advisory on William as it became an extratropical cyclone.[2][3][5] Williams remnants were then tracked by TCWC Wellington until January 5 as they continued to move towards the east and out of the South Pacific basin.[3] Within the Cook Islands, William destroyed a causeway to a tourist resort on Aitutaki, and caused damage to houses, crops and coconut trees with the total cost estimated at US$ 2.5 million.[5][16] William injured two people and destroyed over 150 houses in French Polynesia, where local leaders accused Météo-France off underestimating Williams intensity.[17]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Violet

Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (FMS)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHS)
Duration March 6 – March 6
Intensity 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min),  965 mbar (hPa)

At 0000 UTC, (1200 FST), on March 6, TCWC Brisbane and the JTWC reported that Severe Tropical Cyclone Violet, had moved into the basin from the Australian region about 700 km (430 mi) to the southwest of Noumea, New Caledonia.[3][18] However by 1200 UTC, Violet had recurved and moved back into the Australian region.[3] While the system was located in the basin, both the JTWC and TCWC Brisbane reported that Violet had peak windspeeds of 130 km/h (80 mph).[3][18] TCWC Brisbane also reported that Violet had a minimum pressure of 965 hPa (28.49 inHg), which made it the strongest tropical cyclone of the season in the South Pacific basin despite being in the basin for less than 18 hours.[3]

Tropical Depression 18P

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration March 16 – March 17
Intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (1-min),  1000 mbar (hPa)

On March 15, the US Navy started to monitor an area of disturbed weather, that had developed about 245 km (150 mi) to the northeast of Nadi, Fiji.[7] During that day the depression moved towards the southeast and gradually developed further while moving around the south coast of Viti Levu.[7] During the next day, the NPMOC initiated advisories on the area of disturbed weather and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 18P, with 1-minute sustained windspeeds of 55 km/h (35 mph).[2][7] During the following day as the depression did not intensify any further as it continued to move towards the southeast.[7] The NPMOC then issued their final advisory on the system later that day, as the depression dissipated about 960 km (600 mi) to the southeast of Nuku'alofa, Tonga.[2][7]

Season effects

This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific basin during the 1994–95 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian Tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, areas affected, deaths, and damages. For most storms the data is taken from TCWC Nadi and Wellingtons archives, however data for 04P and 18P have been taken from the JTWC archives as opposed to TCWC Nadi and Wellington's, and thus the winds are over 1-minute as opposed to 10-minutes.

Storm
Name		 Dates active Storm category
at peak intensity		 Peak 10-min
sustained winds		 Pressure Areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
Vania November 12–18 Category 2 tropical cyclone 100 km/h (65 mph) 980 hPa (28.94 inHg) Vanuatu Minimal None [5][11]
04P December 15 – 21 Tropical Depression 65 km/h (40 mph) 997 hPa (29.44 inHg) Fiji, Tonga Unknown Unknown [2]
William December 30 – January 3 Category 2 Tropical Cyclone 110 km/h (70 mph) 975 hPa (28.80 inHg) Cook Islands, French Polynesia &10000000002500000000000$2.5 million None [5][16]
Violet March 6 Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone 130 km/h (80 mph) 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) None None None [5]
18P March 16 – 17 Tropical Depression 55 km/h (35 mph) 1000 hPa (29.53 inHg) None None None [2]
Season Aggregates
5 depressions November 23 – March 17 130 km/h (80 mph) 965 hPa (28.50 inHg) &10000000002500000000000$2.5 million

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Unattributed (1999). "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean". World Meteorological Organization. http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/doc/Op-pln99.doc. Retrieved 2008-08-15. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Unattributed (1997). "1995 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report". Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center. United States Navy. pp. 211–216. http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1995atcr/pdf/1995_complete.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Unattributed (2009-05-22). "TCWC Wellington Best Track Data 1967–2006". Fiji Meteorological Service, Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited, Bureau of Meteorology. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. ftp://eclipse.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/ibtracs/original-bt-data-files/wellington/TC_BT_1967_2006.xls. Retrieved 2011-05-18. 
  4. ^ Waqaicelua, Alipate (2002). "Tropical Cyclone seasonal summary 2000-01". Fiji Meteorological Service. pp. 1. http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_00-011188357007.pdf. Retrieved 2011-06-10. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Shepherd, I.J.; Bates, P.W. (1997-06-02). "The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season 1994-95". Australian Meteorological Magazine (Bureau of Meteorology) (46): 143–151. http://www.bom.gov.au/amm/docs/1997/shepherd.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-14. 
  6. ^ a b c d e f Unattributed (2002-12-17). "Tropical Cyclone 04P best track analysis". Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center. United States Navy. http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1995/1995s-bsh/bsh041995.txt. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  7. ^ a b c d e f Unattributed (2002-12-17). "Tropical Cyclone 18P best track analysis". Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center. United States Navy. http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1995/1995s-bsh/bsh181995.txt. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  8. ^ Unattributed (2011-05-23). "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-East Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean" (PDF). RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee. World Meteorological Organization. http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/TCP-24_RAVOpPlan_2010.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Unattributed (2009-05-22). "RSMC Nadi Best track data for 1994/1995 Season". Fiji Meteorological Service. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. ftp://eclipse.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/ibtracs/original-bt-data-files/nadi/RSMC%20Nadi%209495%20BT%20Data.txt.txt. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  10. ^ a b Unattributed (2002-12-17). "Tropical Cyclone 01P (Vania) best track anaylsis". Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center. United States Navy. http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1995/1995s-bsh/bsh011995.txt. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  11. ^ a b Barr, Joe (2008-09-17). "Event Information: Tropical Cyclone Vania". Pacific Disaster.Net. Archived from the original on 2011-06-02. http://www.webcitation.org/5z8ZPsN2f. Retrieved 2011-06-02. 
  12. ^ Grant (1996). Pacific islands monthly. 65 (1995 ed.). Pacific Publications. pp. 26. http://books.google.com/?id=DBB1AAAAMAAJ&q=Cyclone+Vania&dq=Cyclone+Vania. 
  13. ^ Unattributed (1996-07-23). "Public report complaint: Alleged misappropriation of funds by the president of Shefa and maladministration of Shefa provincial council". Republic of Vanuatu office of the ombudsman. http://www.paclii.org/vu/ombudsmanreports/Vanuatu/96-02.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  14. ^ a b Beven, Jack (1994-12-24). "Weekly tropical cyclone summary #176 December 11 - 18 1994". Google Groups. http://groups.google.com/group/sci.geo.meteorology/browse_thread/thread/e289d691d9c5a1a2/9b049c1b997e4b25?. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  15. ^ a b Unattributed (2002-12-17). "Tropical Cyclone 05P (William) best track analysis". Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center. United States Navy. http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1995/1995s-bsh/bsh051995.txt. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  16. ^ a b Barr, Joe (2008-09-17). "Event Information: Tropical Cyclone William". Pacific Disaster.Net. Archived from the original on 2011-06-02. http://www.webcitation.org/5z8aB5Mpz. Retrieved 2011-06-02. 
  17. ^ Newmann, Steve (1995-01-10). "Earthweek: Diary of the planet for the week ending January 6, 1995". The Gainesville Sun. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_EJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kuoDAAAAIBAJ&dq=cyclone%20william&pg=2947%2C2103222. Retrieved 2011-06-21. 
  18. ^ a b Unattributed (2002-12-17). "Tropical Cyclone 14P (Violet) best track analysis". Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center. United States Navy. http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1995/1995s-bsh/bsh141995.txt. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 

External links

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