2021–22 South Pacific cyclone season
2021–22 South Pacific cyclone season | |
---|---|
![]() Season summary map | |
Seasonal boundaries | |
First system formed | December 13, 2021 |
Last system dissipated | Season ongoing |
Strongest storm | |
Name | Dovi |
• Maximum winds | 175 km/h (110 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
• Lowest pressure | 940 hPa (mbar) |
Seasonal statistics | |
Total disturbances | 10 |
Total depressions | 6 |
Tropical cyclones | 5 |
Severe tropical cyclones | 2 |
Total fatalities | 1 total |
Total damage | $56 million (2021 USD) |
Related articles | |
The 2021–22 South Pacific cyclone season is the period of the year when most tropical cyclones form within the South Pacific Ocean to the east of 160°E. The season officially started from November 1, 2021, and will end on April 30, 2022, however a tropical cyclone could form at any time between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, and would count towards the season total. During the season, tropical cyclones will be officially monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service, Australian Bureau of Meteorology and New Zealand's MetService. The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) will also monitor the basin and issue unofficial warnings for American interests. The FMS attaches a number and an F suffix to tropical disturbances that form in or move into the basin while the JTWC designates significant tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix. The BoM, FMS and MetService all use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale and estimate windspeeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC estimated sustained winds over a 1-minute period, which are subsequently compared to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS).
Seasonal forecasts
Source/Record | Tropical Cyclone |
Severe Tropical Cyclone |
Ref |
---|---|---|---|
Record high: | 1997–98: 16 | 1982–83: 10 | [1] |
Record low: | 1990–91: 2 | 2008–09: 0 | [1] |
Average (1969-70 - 2019–20): | 7 | 3 | [2] |
NIWA October | 9–12 | 3–4 | [3] |
Fiji Meteorological Service | 4–6 | 1–3 | [2] |
Region | Chance of above average |
Average number |
Actual activity |
Western South Pacific (142.5°E—165°E; includes Australian basin) |
59% | 4 | |
Eastern South Pacific (165°E—120°W) |
46% | 6 | |
Source:BOM's South Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season Outlook[4] |
Ahead of the cyclone season formally starting, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), New Zealand's MetService and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and various other Pacific Meteorological services, all contributed towards the Island Climate Update tropical cyclone outlook that was released during October 2021.[3] The outlook took into account the ENSO neutral conditions that had been observed across the Pacific and analog seasons, that had ENSO neutral and El Nino conditions occurring during the season.[3] The outlook called for a near-average number of tropical cyclones for the 2021–22 season, with nine to twelve named tropical cyclones, predicted to occur between 135°E and 120°W, compared to an average of just over 10.[3] At least four of the tropical cyclones were expected to intensify further and become severe tropical cyclones, while it was noted that a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone could occur during the season.[3]
In addition to contributing towards the Island Climate Update outlook, the FMS and the BoM issued their own seasonal forecasts for the South Pacific region.[2][4] The BoM issued two seasonal forecasts for the Southern Pacific Ocean, for their self-defined eastern and western regions of the South Pacific Ocean.[4] They predicted that the Western region between 142.5°E and 165°E, had a 59% chance of seeing activity above its average of 4 tropical cyclones. The BoM also predicted that the Eastern Region between 165°E and 120°W, had a 46% chance of seeing activity above its average of 6 tropical cyclones.[4] Within their outlook the FMS predicted that between four and six tropical cyclones would occur within the basin compared to an average of around 7.[2] At least one of these tropical cyclones was expected to intensify further and become a Category 3 or higher severe tropical cyclone.[2]
Seasonal summary
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/3zk3u1zc1k6bqs1se2z23ub01foau4a.png)
Systems
Tropical Cyclone Ruby
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | December 13 (Entered basin) – December 17 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min); 975 hPa (mbar) |
On December 13, Tropical Cyclone Ruby moved into the basin from the Australian region, as a Category 2 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale.[5][6] It dissipated four days later, on December 17.
Tropical Disturbance 02F
Tropical disturbance (Australian scale) | |
Duration | December 17 – December 20 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | Winds not specified; 1004 hPa (mbar) |
On December 17, the FMS reported that a tropical disturbance had developed in an area of low vertical wind shear, about 625 km (390 mi) to the northeast of Port Vila in Vanuatu. The FMS designated the tropical disturbance as 02F. Deep convection associated with the system persisted on a convergence line, away from the system's low-level circulation center.[7] By December 20 the FMS issuing their final warning.[8]
Severe Tropical Cyclone Cody
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | January 5 – January 13 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 130 km/h (80 mph) (10-min); 971 hPa (mbar) |
On January 5, the FMS reported that a tropical disturbance had developed.[9] It was designated as 03F.
03F caused heavy rain in Fiji as a tropical depression, leading to flooding and infrastructure damage. 4,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes.[10] On January 10, a man drowned in Fiji while attempting to cross a flooding river.[11] On the same day, the system was upgraded to a Category 1 tropical cyclone by the FMS, receiving the name Cody. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center also upgraded the system to a tropical storm. While the FMS recorded a peak intensity of 130 km/h (80 mph), the JTWC only recorded a peak intensity of 95 km/h (60 mph).
Tropical Depression 04F
Tropical depression (Australian scale) | |
Duration | January 15 – January 18 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | Winds not specified; 999 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Disturubance 04F formed on January 15, and its position was last noted on January 18 as a Tropical Depression.
Tropical Disturbance 05F
Tropical disturbance (Australian scale) | |
Duration | January 19 – January 22 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | Winds not specified; 999 hPa (mbar) |
Tropical Disturubance 05F formed on January 19 and dissipated on January 22.
Tropical Disturbance 06F
Tropical disturbance (Australian scale) | |
Duration | January 28 – January 30 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | Winds not specified; 1001 hPa (mbar) |
During January 28, the FMS started to monitor a tropical disturbance, which had developed about 185 km (115 mi) to the west of Port Villa in Vanuatu. It was designated as 06F. 06F was last noted on January 30.
Tropical Disturbance 07F
Tropical disturbance (Australian scale) | |
Duration | February 3 (Entered basin) – February 7 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | Winds not specified; 998 hPa (mbar) |
On February 3, Tropical Low 16U entered the basin and was reclassified as Tropical Disturbance 07F by the FMS. 07F was last noted on February 7, near New Caledonia.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Dovi
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Duration | February 6 (Entered basin) – February 12 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min); 940 hPa (mbar) |
During February 6, Tropical Low 18U moved into the basin from the Australian region and was classified as Tropical Disturbance 08F by the FMS.[12][13] On February 8, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) for the system, it was upgraded to a tropical depression by the FMS.[14][15] The next day, the JTWC issued its first warning on the system, classifying it as Tropical Cyclone 11P and the FMS reported that the depression had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale and named it Dovi.[16][17]
On February 10, Dovi continued to move south-southwest and made landfall on Isle of Pines in New Caledonia, where it became slow-moving and intensified into a category 2 system.[18][19] The FMS reported that the system intensified to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained winds of 65 kn (120 km/h; 75 mph)[20] while the JTWC reported that Dovi had become equivalent to a Category 1 system on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS) as a defined eye began to clear on infrared satellite imagery.[21][22][23][24]
At around 00:00 UTC on February 11, Dovi moved into MetService's area of responsibility and the FMS ceased advisories on the system.[25][26] Three hours later, MetService subsequently reported that cyclone reached to a category 4 system.[27][28] Despite MetService reporting a peak of 10-minute sustained winds of 95 kn (175 km/h; 110 mph), the JTWC only reported a peak of 1-minute sustained winds of 80 kn (150 km/h; 90 mph).[29] Dovi weakened into a Category 3 system as it began extratropical transition,[30] with the JTWC issuing their final advisory that day.[31] MetService reclassified it as an extratropical low the next day.[32] On February 12 UTC (Sunday 13 February NZDT), Dovi made landfall as an extratropical storm in the Waitomo District in New Zealand's North Island. Severe weather was felt across much of the island, with heavy rain causing flooding and slips.[33]
Dovi caused widespread flooding in both Vanuatu and New Caledonia, with the heavy winds also bringing down power and telephone lines in New Caledonia. Authorities in New Caledonia issued a rescue alert across the territory.[34] The town of Featherston was placed under a boil water notice after flooding contaminated the town's water supply.[35] Heavy wind brought down trees, damaging property and causing widespread power outages, while the Auckland Harbour Bridge was closed to traffic. The worst affected regions were Wellington, Taranaki, Waikato, and Auckland.[33] A preliminary figure of $44,430,000 NZD of damage was done by Dovi in New Zealand.[36] One person was seriously injured in Raglan after a tree fell onto the car they were driving.[37]
Tropical Cyclone Eva
Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | February 26 – March 5 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min); 995 hPa (mbar) |
On February 26, a tropical disturbance formed and was designated as 09F by the FMS; it intensified to a tropical depression on the next day. On March 3, The JTWC upgraded the system into a tropical cyclone and identified it as 18P. Remnants of the cyclone intensified the rainfall during the 2022 Eastern Australia floods in late February and early March.
Tropical Cyclone Fili
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale) | |
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | April 3 – April 9 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min); 977 hPa (mbar) |
During April 3, the FMS and the BoM started to monitor Tropical Disturbance 10F/31U, which had developed about 410 km (255 mi) to the northwest of Port Vila in Vanuatu.[38][39] The next day, in an unofficial bulletin, the JTWC classified the system as a "tropical cyclone", when it reached 35 knots on the Saffir-Simpson scale.[40]
Storm names
Within the Southern Pacific, a tropical depression is judged to have reached tropical cyclone intensity should it reach winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) and it is evident that gales are occurring at least halfway around the center. With tropical depressions intensifying into a tropical cyclone between the Equator and 25°S and between 160°E - 120°W named by the FMS. However should a tropical depression intensify to the south of 25°S between 160°E and 120°W it will be named in conjunction with the FMS by MetService. Should a tropical cyclone move out of the basin and into the Australian region it will retain its original name. The next 10 names on the naming list are listed here below.[41]
|
|
If a tropical cyclone enters the South Pacific basin from the Australian region basin (west of 160°E), it will retain the name assigned to it by the BoM. The following storms were named in this manner:
Season effects
This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific to the east of longitude 160°E during the 2021–22 season. It includes their intensity on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale, duration, name, landfalls, deaths, and damages. All data is taken from RSMC Nadi and/or TCWC Wellington, and all of the damage figures are in 2021 or 2022 USD.
Name | Dates | Peak intensity | Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Refs | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Category | Wind speed | Pressure | ||||||
Ruby | December 13 – 17 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 110 km/h (70 mph) | 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) | New Caledonia | Unknown | None | |
02F | December 17 – 20 | Tropical disturbance | Not specified | 1004 hPa (29.65 inHg) | None | None | None | |
Cody | January 5 – 13 | Category 3 severe tropical cyclone | 130 km/h (80 mph) | 971 hPa (28.67 inHg) | Fiji | >$25 million | 1 | [42] |
04F | January 15 – 18 | Tropical depression | Not specified | 999 hPa (29.50 inHg) | Cook Islands, Niue | None | None | |
05F | January 19 – 22 | Tropical disturbance | Not specified | 999 hPa (29.50 inHg) | None | None | None | |
06F | January 28 – 30 | Tropical disturbance | Not specified | 1001 hPa (29.56 inHg) | New Caledonia | None | None | |
07F | February 3 – 7 | Tropical disturbance | Not specified | 998 hPa (29.47 inHg) | None | None | None | |
Dovi | February 6 – 12 | Category 4 severe tropical cyclone | 175 km/h (110 mph) | 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) | Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, New Zealand | >$31 million | None | [43][44][45] |
Eva | February 26 – March 5 | Category 1 tropical cyclone | 65 km/h (40 mph) | 995 hPa (29.38 inHg) | Vanuatu, New Caledonia | None | None | |
Fili | April 3 – 9 | Category 2 tropical cyclone | 110 km/h (70 mph) | 977 hPa (28.85 inHg) | New Caledonia | None | None | |
Season aggregates | ||||||||
10 systems | December 13, 2021 – Season ongoing | 175 km/h (110 mph) | 940 hPa (27.76 inHg) | >$56 million | 1 |
See also
- Weather of 2021 and 2022
- List of Southern Hemisphere cyclone seasons
- Tropical cyclones in 2021 and 2022
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 2021, 2022
- Pacific hurricane seasons: 2021, 2022
- Pacific typhoon seasons: 2021, 2022
- North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2021, 2022
- 2021–22 South–West Indian Ocean cyclone season
- 2021–22 Australian region cyclone season
References
- ^ a b Climate Services Division (October 26, 2010). Tropical Cyclone Guidance for Season 2010/11 for the Fiji and the Southwest Pacific (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 27, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e 2021/22 RSMC Nadi Tropical Cyclone Outlook (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. October 15, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Southwest Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook - October 2020 (Report). National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. October 20, 2020. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "South Pacific Tropical Cyclone Outlook for 2020 to 2021". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. December 14, 2021. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Forecast Map Number 1 for Tropical Cyclone Ruby". met.gov.fj. Fiji Meteorological Service. December 13, 2021. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ^ "Hurricane Warning 009 for Tropical Cyclone Ruby". met.gov.fj. Fiji Meteorological Service. December 12, 2021. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary For area Equator to 25S, 160E to 120W ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI Dec 170155 UTC". met.gov.fj. Fiji Meteorological Service. December 17, 2021. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary For area Equator to 25S, 160E to 120W ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI Dec 202316 UTC". met.gov.fj. Fiji Meteorological Service. December 20, 2021. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary For area Equator to 25S, 160E to 120W ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI Jan 050954 UTC". met.gov.fj. Fiji Meteorological Service. January 5, 2022. Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
- ^ "Fiji begins massive clean up after Cyclone Cody". Stuff. January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^ Lice Monovo (January 9, 2022). "Fiji cyclone: Man drowns attempting to cross flooded river". newshub.co.nz. Fiji: RNZ Pacific. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Outlook for Coral Sea Issued at 2:30 pm EST on Monday 7 February 2022". 2022-02-08. Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
- ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary For area Equator to 25S, 160E to 120W ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI Feb 062250 UTC". met.gov.fj. Fiji Meteorological Service. February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
requires|archive-url=
(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary For area Equator to 25S, 160E to 120W ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI Feb 072320 UTC". RSMC (Fiji Meteorological Service). Archived from the original on February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (Invest 92P) (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
{{cite report}}
:|archive-url=
requires|archive-date=
(help) - ^ "Tropical Cyclone Dovi Category 1 Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 5 issued 0721 UTC 9 February 2022". RSMC (Fiji Meteorological Service). Archived from the original on February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone 11P (Eleven) Warning No. 1 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
{{cite report}}
:|archive-url=
requires|archive-date=
(help) - ^ "Tropical Cyclone Dovi Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 8 issued 0711 UTC 10 February". RSMC (Fiji Meteorological Service). February 10, 2022. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Gale and Storm Warning for Tropical Cyclone Dovi Issued from RSMC Nadi February 10 0720 UTC". RSMC (Fiji Meteorological Service). February 10, 2022. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ "Hurricane Warning for Severe Tropical Cyclone Dovi". RSMC (Fiji Meteorological Service). February 10, 2022. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone 11P (Eleven) Warning No. 7 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
{{cite report}}
:|archive-url=
requires|archive-date=
(help) - ^ Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 11P (Eleven) Warning No. 7 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
{{cite report}}
:|archive-url=
requires|archive-date=
(help) - ^ "Hurricane Warning 087 for Severe Tropical Cyclone Dovi". TCWC-Wellington. February 11, 2022. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- ^ "Hurricane Warning for Severe Tropical Cyclone Feb 110133 UTC". RSMC (Fiji Meteorological Service). Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Bulletin for Tropical Cyclone Dovi (Category 3)". TCWC-Wellington. February 11, 2022. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- ^ "Tropical Disturbance Advisory Number A11 on Severe Tropical Cyclone Dovi Issued from RSMC NADI". RSMC (Fiji Meteorological Service). Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ "Hurricane Warning 088 for Severe Tropical Cyclone Dovi". TCWC-Wellington. February 11, 2022. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Bulletin for Severe Tropical Cyclone Dovi (Category 4)". TCWC-Wellington. February 11, 2022. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- ^ "Index of /tcdat/tc2022". US Naval Research Laboratory. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "Hurricane Warning 089 for Severe Tropical Cyclone Dovi". TCWC-Wellington. February 11, 2022. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone 11P (Eleven) Warning No. 15 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
{{cite report}}
:|archive-url=
requires|archive-date=
(help) - ^ "Tropical Cyclone Bulletin for extratropical low Dovi". TCWC-Wellington. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "As it happened: New Zealand lashed with heavy rain and winds from Cyclone Dovi". Newshub. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ^ "Cyclone Dovi causes flooding and power outages in New Caledonia and Vanuatu". RNZ. February 11, 2022. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ^ "Featherston residents told to boil water until further notice". Stuff. February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "Cost of natural disasters - ICNZ". www.icnz.org.nz. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ Blommerde, Chloe (February 13, 2022). "Cyclone Dovi keeps emergency crews busy in Waikato with trees down, person injured and power cuts". Stuff. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ^ Tropical Disturbance Summary for April 3, 2022 06z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. April 3, 2022.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone Outlook for The Coral Sea April 3, 2022 (Report). Australian Bureau Of Meteorology. April 3, 2022. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
- ^ "Technical bulletin of the TC 23P". JTWC. April 4, 2022. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee (2023). Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-East Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean 2023 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ "Damage On Our Roads From Recent Floods Cost Over $100m". fijisun.com.fj/.
- ^ "Adverse event classified across North Island after ex-tropical Cyclone Dovi". www.nzherald.co.nz.
- ^ "Post-Cyclone Dovi tree cleanup could cost Waipā District Council up to $30,000". www.stuff.co.nz.
- ^ "February's cyclone Dovi insurance claims top NZ$44 million". /www.itij.com.
External links
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