Cyclone Esau

Severe Tropical Cyclone Esau

Category 4 cyclone (Australian scale) Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Cyclone Esau at peak intensity on February 28
Formed	February 24, 1992
Dissipated	March 9, 1992
(extratropical after March 5, 1992)
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 185 km/h (115 mph) 1-minute sustained: 240 km/h (150 mph)
Lowest pressure	925 mbar (hPa); 27.32 inHg
Fatalities	2
Damage	Minimal
Areas affected	Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu
Part of the 1991–92 South Pacific and Australian region cyclone seasons

Cyclone Esau was the fourth tropical cyclone to affect Vanuatu during the 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season. A tropical depression formed northeast of Vanuatu on February 24. The system initially drifted southwest, approaching northern Vanuatu. Influenced by a northeasterly steering flow, the depression made a clockwise loop. Intensifying, it moved southwest and thus away from the islands. Cyclone Esau then accelerated on a westward track on the northern side of a ridge. With decreasing vertical shear, the cyclone intensified at a steady rate; by February 28 sustained winds had reached hurricane-force. After passing somewhat close to the Solomon Islands, the system deeping quickly, attaining peak intensity on February 28. Meanwhile, the system executed a second, larger, clockwise loop before gradually weakening. On March 4, it passed through New Caledonia while maintaining hurricane-equivalent winds. Continuing to weaken, the storm became an extratropical cyclone on March 7, with the remnants later passing near New Zealand.

After bringing minor damage to the Solomon and Vanuatu island groups, destroying 10 homes in the former, Esau made landfall on New Caledonia. In addition to becoming the strongest storm to hit the island in 20 years, it was also the third cyclone to affect the island during the 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season. Two people reportedly died, one child and one woman. Overall, damage from Esau was minimal. Following the season, the name Esau was retired.

Meteorological history

During February 24, the Fiji Meteorological Service's Nadi Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC Nadi) reported that a shallow depression had developed within an active monsoon trough, about 370 km (230 mi) to the northeast of Port Vila, Vanuatu.^[1][2] During that day the system moved south-westwards and drifted towards Vanuatu under the influence of a northeasterly steering flow.^[1] The depression subsequently made a small clockwise loop, over the Vanuatuan island of Espiritu Santo during February 25 as it gradually developed further.^[1] Early the next day, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 21P while the system was located just to the east of Espiritu Santo.^[3] TCWC Nadi subsequently named the system Esau later that day, after it had developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale.^[1][2] Throughout that day as Esau intensified further, it moved south-westwards and away from the islands of Vanuatu.^[1]

Over the next 42 hours, the system gradually intensified further and became a category 2 tropical cyclone, while accelerating westwards as the subtropical ridge of high pressure to the south of Esau weakened.^[4] TCWC Nadi subsequently reported early on February 28 that the system had become a category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, while the JTWC reported that Esau had become equivalent to a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.^[5][4]

Subsequently, Esau began to rapidly deepen.^[4] The system attained peak intensity of 115 mph (185 km/h) at 1800 UTC on February 28, a Category 4 tropical cyclone. At peak, Esau exhibited a symmetrical and unique cloud pattern along with a well-defined eye. Esau held on to its peak intensity for 18 hours.^[6] Furthermore, the NPMOC estimated that Esau peaked in intensity on February 29 with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), as a Category 4 equivalent hurricane on the SSHWS. Thereafter, the storm began to weaken.^[5] While bringing gale force winds to the Solomon Islands,^[7] the system executed a second, larger, clockwise loop,^[6] briefly entering TCWC Brisbane's area of responsibility.^[5]

Tropical Cyclone Esau started to move steadily toward the southeast on March 1; consequently, the storm re-emerged into TCWC Nadi's warning zone.^[4] Meanwhile, Serve Tropical Cyclone Esau began to weaken due to interaction with a trough^[6] as the JTWC downgraded the storm into a Category 3 equivalent hurricane.^[5] The weakening system moved away from the Solomon Islands and once again approached Southern Vanuatu. For example, on March 4, it was located within 450 km (280 mi) of southern Vanuatu, only to turn south en route to New Caledonia. By this time, the eye had become cloud-filled and the overall structure became disorganized. According to TCWC Nadi, Sustained winds had diminished to 90 mph (145 km/h) when it passed over the central portion of New Caledonia overnight, making landfall not far from Ponerihouen.^[6]

Due to a combination of land interaction and increasing wind shear, Easu continued to weaken. On March 5, winds were reduced to below Category 3 intensity.^[6] Meanwhile, the NPMOC announced that the storm had weakened, developing winds equivalent to a tropical storm.^[5] Continuing to weaken,^[4] the center of circulation became exposed from the deep convection and the cloud pattern became considerably less organized. The systems extra-tropical remnants subsequently moved into the cooler waters of the Tasman Sea, before it passed over New Zealand's North Island during March 8.^[4][1] The system was subsequently last noted during the next day by TCWC Wellington, after it had moved back into the South Pacific Ocean.^[4]

Preparations, impact, and aftermath

Esau directly impact three countries in the south Pacific, but spent most of its life in the open waters of the Coral Sea.^[7] At the end of the season, the name Esau was later retired from the list of tropical cyclone names.^[8]

Solomon Islands

While passing somewhat close to Solomon Islands, gale-force winds were recorded at Bellona and Rennell Islands,^[6][7] where widespread crop damage was reported. The storm was responsible for downing coconut, banana and papaw trees; severe flooding flooded a village. In the latter, eight homes were destroyed. In the former, an additional 2 were destroyed. However, no injuries were reported. During the aftermath of the storm, it was estimated that emergency workers would have to provided relief supplies for about 5,000 people on the two islands.^[9] In all, Esau was the third storm to affect the island group during the cyclone season.^[7]

Vanuatu

Prior to affecting Vanuatu, the system threatened to produce just as much damage Cyclone Uma in the 1986–87 South Pacific cyclone season caused.^[10] In the end, Cyclone Esau brought strong winds and heavy rain while becoming the third tropical cyclone to affect the island group during the season after Cyclones Tia, Daman, and Besty.^[7]

New Caledonia

On New Caledonia, hurricane-force winds were reported;^[6] the storm also became the third to affect the island during 1991-92. Less than a week later, however, another tropical cyclone would impact the region.^[11] In the eastern side of the island,^[7] buildings were damaged and roads were blocked.^[6] Two people were killed during the storm. One woman drowned when she tried to cross a river near Hienghene on the northeast side of the New Caledonia. Also, a child was reported missing and was later presumed deceased.^[12] Although impact was relatively minor, Esau became the strongest storm to strike the island chain in 20 years.^[13]

See also

• Cyclone Gavin
• Cyclone Yali
• Cyclone Drena

Notes

References

External links

• World Meteorological Organization
• Fiji Meteorological Service
• Meteorological Service of New Zealand
• Joint Typhoon Warning Center

v t e Tropical cyclones of the 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season 3 Tia 4 Val 4 Wasa-Arthur 4 Betsy 1 13P 2 Cliff 3 Daman 4 Esau 4 Fran 2 Gene 1 Hettie TD Unnamed 2 Innis Book · Category · Portal · WikiProject · Commons

v t e Retired South Pacific tropical cyclone names 1970s Rosie Wendy Vivienne Agatha Bebe Carlotta Lottie Alison Elsa Marion Bob Charles Diana Fay Gordon Meli Robert Tina Wally 1980s Eddie Tahmar Gyan Issac Joti Lisa Mark Oscar Veena Nigel Eric Harry Ima Namu Raja Sally Tusi Uma Anne Bola Lili 1990s Ofa Peni Sina Tia Val Wasa Betsy Esau Fran Joni Kina Prema Rewa Theodore William Beti Drena Gavin Hina Keli Martin Osea Ron Susan Tui Ursula Veli Cora Dani Frank 2000s Kim Paula Sose Trina Waka Zoe Ami Beni Cilla Heta Ivy Meena Nancy Olaf Percy Cliff Daman Funa Gene Mick 2010s Oli Pat Tomas Ului Vania Wilma Yasi Atu Book · Category · Portal · WikiProject · Commons