| Category 3 cyclone (Australian scale) | |
|---|---|
| Tropical Cyclone (SSHS) | |
| Severe Tropical Cyclone Vania on January 13, 2011. | |
| Formed | January 5, 2011 |
| Dissipated | January 15, 2011 |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 120 km/h (75 mph) 1-minute sustained: 110 km/h (70 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 970 mbar (hPa; 28.64 inHg) |
| Fatalities | None reported |
| Areas affected | Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand |
| Part of the 2010–11 South Pacific cyclone season | |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Vania (RSMC Nadi designation 03F, JTWC designation 05P) was the third depression, first tropical cyclone and the first severe tropical cyclone of the 2010–11 South Pacific cyclone season.
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Late on January 5, RSMC Nadi upgraded an area of low pressure into a tropical disturbance giving it the identifier "03F".[1] The disturbance slowly gained strength and on January 9, RMSC Nadi reported that the disturbance had intensified into a tropical depression.[2] In Fiji, heavy rains associated with the initial disturbance brought significant flooding to many islands. Several roads were temporarily shut down due to rising waters, though no homes were affected.[3] On January 11, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center initiated warnings on the system and monitored it as Tropical Cyclone 05P.[4] On the Next day, RSMC Nadi upgraded the depression into a Category 1 tropical cyclone and named it "Vania".[5] Later that day, RSMC Nadi reported that Vania had intensified into a Category 2 tropical cyclone.[6] Early the next day, RSMC Nadi upgraded Vania into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone.[7] Later that day, RSMC Nadi reported that Vania started weakening and downgraded it into a Category 2 tropical cyclone.[8] Subsequently, it was downgraded to a category 1 tropical cyclone on January 14.[9] On January 15, JTWC issued their final warning on the system.[10] Soon, issuing their final advisory, RSMC Nadi downgraded Vania into a Tropical Depression.[11]
Although the center of Vania continued to move away from Fiji, the storm's outer bands brought continued rainfall to the country.[12] As the storm passed through Vanuatu, winds of 140 km/hr affected Tafea Province, and contact with this group of islands was lost. Many buildings were damaged and trees were felled.[13][14] Within 24 hours of the storm's arrival in New Caledonia, a large magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Loyalty Islands within the archipelago.[15] Media reported that extreme wind gusts up to 225 km/h (140 mph) were felt in the region.[16] The residents of New Zealand were informed about the low that would strike the country. They were informed about tropical moisture that could be pulled into the country by the low.[17]