Cyclone Lusi

Severe Tropical Cyclone Lusi
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 1 (Saffir–Simpson scale)

Cyclone Lusi on March 12, 2014
Formed March 7, 2014
Dissipated March 16, 2014
(Extratropical after March 14, 2014)
Highest winds 10-minute sustained: 150 km/h (90 mph)
1-minute sustained: 140 km/h (85 mph)
Lowest pressure 960 hPa (mbar); 28.35 inHg
Fatalities 10 total
Damage $3 million (2014 USD)
(New Zealand only)
Areas affected Vanuatu, Fiji, New Zealand
Part of the 2013–14 South Pacific cyclone season

Cyclone Lusi was the second severe tropical cyclone of the 2013–14 season and affected Fiji, Vanuatu and New Zealand.

The system that was to become Cyclone Lusi was first noted as a tropical disturbance on March 7, while it was located to the east of Fiji. Over the next three days the system moved towards the north-northeast and gradually developed further, before it was named Lusi late on March 9, after it had developed into a tropical cyclone. The system dissipated on March 16.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Early on March 7, 2014, the Fiji Meteorological Service reported that Tropical Disturbance 18F had developed about 685 km (425 mi) to the west of Nadi.[1][2] The system was located within a marginally favorable environment for further development, which included low to moderate vertical wind shear and favorable sea surface temperatures.[1][2][3] Over the next two days the system moved towards the north-northwest and slowly consolidated, as atmospheric convection wrapped into the system's low level circulation center, before RSMC Nadi reported during March 9 that the system had developed into a tropical depression.[3][4] During that day the system further consolidated as it affected Vanuatu and moved towards the north-northeast, before the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center initiated warnings and designated the depression as Tropical Cyclone 18P later that day.[5] RSMC Nadi subsequently named the system Lusi at around 23:00 UTC (11:00 FST), after it had developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale.[6][7]

Preparations and impact

Vanuatu

Late on March 9, ahead of the depression being classified as a tropical cyclone and named Lusi, the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department issued tropical cyclone warnings for the Vanuatu provinces of Torba, Sanma, Penama and Malampa.[8][9]

Fiji

On March 11, a tropical cyclone alert was issued for parts of the Western Division, as Lusi approached the islands from the west.[10] During the next day gale warnings were issued for the Western Division before they were cancelled later that day, as the system turned towards the south sooner than had been expected.[11][12][13] As a result, Fiji was spared any direct effects from the cyclone, while the associated trough of low pressure affected the islands until March 13.[14]

New Zealand

During March 9, MetService started to warn that a tropical weather system might affect New Zealand by the end of that week.[15][16]

Cyclone Lusi hit New Zealand shores on the 13th of March. In preparation for the event the New Zealand government advised people to fix loosened things (such as trampolines), and the Civil Defense team was put on alert. Winds reaching up to 130 km/h were expected to occur in the cities of Auckland, Whangarei and Hamilton, and the east coast of the North Island was put on high alert. Lusi brought severe winds as it moved southeast towards Wellington and the northern South Island in the evening of March 15. On March 16, the severe gale winds slightly weakened, and Lusi pushed away from New Zealand on March 17.

Insured losses across the country amounted to NZ$4 million (US$3 million).[17]

Retirement

Due to the impacts caused by the storm, the name Lusi was retired and was later replaced by Louise.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (March 7, 2014). "Tropical Disturbance Summary March 7, 2014 09z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Joint Typhoon Warning Center (March 7, 2014). "Significant Tropical Weather Outlook for the Western and South Pacific Ocean March 7, 2014 06z". United States Navy, United States Airforce. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Joint Typhoon Warning Center (March 9, 2014). "Significant Tropical Weather Outlook for the Western and South Pacific Ocean March 9, 2014 03z". United States Navy, United States Airforce. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (March 9, 2014). "Tropical Disturbance Advisory March 9, 2014 06z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  5. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (March 9, 2014). "Tropical Cyclone 18P Warning 1 March 9, 2014 21z". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (March 10, 2014). "Tropical Disturbance Advisory March 10, 2014 00z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Tropical Cyclone (TC) Lusi" (PDF) (Media Release). Fiji Meteorological Service. March 10, 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 1 for Torba, Sanma, Penama and Malampa Provinces". Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department. March 10, 2014. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 2 for Torba, Sanma, Penama and Malampa Provinces". Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department. March 10, 2014. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  10. ↑ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (March 11, 2014). "Special Weather Bulletin Number 1 for Fiji on Tropical Cyclone Lusi, March 11, 2014 00z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  11. ↑ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (March 12, 2014). "Special Weather Bulletin Number 5 for Fiji on Tropical Cyclone Lusi, March 12, 2014 00z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  12. ↑ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (March 12, 2014). "Special Weather Bulletin Number 12 for Fiji on Tropical Cyclone Lusi, March 12, 2014 21z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Fiji escapes effects of Cyclone Lusi as system turns south". Radio New Zealand. March 13, 2014. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014.
  14. ↑ Climate Services Division (April 9, 2014). Fiji Climate Summary: January 2013 Volume 35: Issue 3 (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 26, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Keeping an eye on the tropics" (MetService News Release). Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited. March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  16. ↑ Oosterkamp, Ramon (March 17, 2014). "Cyclone Lusi retreating to open waters". Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Half Year 2014 Insured Storm Damage Bill Nears $77 Million". Insurance Council of New Zealand. July 9, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
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