2010–11 South Pacific cyclone season
| 2010–11 South Pacific cyclone season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | November 23, 2010 |
| Last system dissipated | Season Still Active |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | 01F |
| • Maximum winds | 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 999 hPa (mbar) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total disturbances | 1 |
| Total depressions | 1 |
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Total damage | $0,000 (2010 USD) |
| Related articles | |
The 2010–11 South Pacific cyclone season is the period of the year when tropical cyclones form within the South Pacific Ocean to the east of 160°E. The season will officially run from November 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011, however any tropical cyclones that form between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 will count towards the season total.
Within the South Pacific, tropical cyclones are monitored by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) in Nadi, Fiji, and the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) in Wellington, New Zealand. The United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issues unofficial warnings within the South Pacific, designating tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix. RSMC Nadi and TCWC Wellington both use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, and measure windspeeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC measures sustained winds over a period of one minute and uses the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.[1]
Seasonal forecasts
| Source | Date | TC | STC |
| Average (1969-70 – 2009-10) | 8.9 | 4.3[2] | |
| Record high activity | 17 | 7[2] | |
| Record low activity | 3 | 0[2] | |
| –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– | |||
| NIWA | October 2010 | 9-12 | 3 [3] |
| FMS | October 2010 | 7-9 | N/A[2] |
Fiji Meteorological Service
In October 2010, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), issued their seasonal outlook, for the 2010-11 South Pacific cyclone season. In which they predicted that the season would see activity close to its average, with seven to nine tropical cyclones forming during the season. The FMS also predicted that the main development region for tropical cyclones would shift from the Fiji-Samoa region, towards the Coral Sea region. As a result of this it was predicted that New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands would face a higher risk of being affected by a tropical cyclone than countries to the east of the International Dateline. The FMS also predicted that one or two tropical cyclones would affect Fiji during the season.[2]
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
In October 2010, TCWC Wellington and New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) issued a tropical cyclone outlook on behalf of collaborating organizations from the southern Pacific, which included the Bureau of Meteorology, NOAA, Fiji Meteorological Service, Météo-France and other Pacific Island Meteorological Services. The collaborating agencies, predicted that 9-12 tropical cyclones would form during the season, which meant that the Southern Pacific, would see activity either close to its average or above its average of nine tropical cyclones. At least three of the systems are forecasted to become a category 3 severe tropical cyclone, whilst one is expected to become a category 4 severe tropical cyclone.[3]
Each year, tropical cyclones have a significant impact on the southern Pacific, with places like Vanuatu and New Caledonia experiencing the greatest activity in the region. During the season there was an elevated risk of a tropical cyclone occurring within the Coral Sea and/or North Tasman region affecting either Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Vanuatu. There was also a near normal risk of a tropical cyclone affecting Fiji and Tonga, there was also a reduced or low risk of a tropical cyclone affecting the islands to the east of the International Date Line.[3]
Seasonal summary
Storms
Tropical Depression 01F
| Tropical depression (Australian scale) | |
  | |
| Duration | November 23 – November 29 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min); 999 hPa (mbar) |
On November 22, the (FMS) said that there was a medium chance of a tropical disturbance to develop in the South Pacific Ocean. On November 23, RSMC Nadi, and the FMS reported that Tropical Disturbance 01F, had developed within a trough of low pressure to the west of Fiji, as expected.[4] During the next day the disturbance developed into a tropical depression before passing over Vanuatu, during that day. Over the next couple of days, whilst moving southwards the depression gradually organized further and had a high chance of becoming a tropical cyclone, as it brushed the west coast of Fiji. However, before the depression could develop any further, RSMC Nadi reported that the depression had weakened into an area of low pressure. On November 29, the FMS issued its last advisory on Tropical Depression 01F, as its remnants had become extratropical. However, the extratropical remnants of Tropical Depression 01F were continued to be monitored by the RSMC Nadi, and the TCWC Wellington. On December 2, the extratropical remnants of Tropical Depression 01F began interacting with a much larger extratropical storm to the west. On December 4, the RSMC Nadi, and the TCWC Wellington both issued their last advisory on Tropical Depression 01F's extratropical remnants, as the system had dissipated completely.
Season effects
This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific to the east of longitude 160°E during the 2010–2011 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. The Damage figures are all 2010 USD.
| RSMC No |
Storm Name |
Dates active | Storm category at peak intensity |
Peak 10-min sustained winds |
Pressure hPa |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01F | N/A | November 24 – November 29 | Tropical Depression | 55 km/h (35 mph)* | 999 | Vanuatu, Fiji | None | None | |
| Seasonal aggregates | |||||||||
| 1 System | November 23 – Still active | 55 km/h (35 mph)* | 999 | None | None | ||||
Storm names
Within the Southern Pacific a tropical depression is judged to have reach 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 Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in Nadi, Fiji (RSMC Nadi). 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 RSMC Nadi by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington, New Zealand (TCWC Wellington). Should a tropical cyclone move out of the basin and into the Australian region it will retain its original name. The first name used this season will be Vania.[1]
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See also
- List of Southern Hemisphere cyclone seasons
- Atlantic hurricane seasons: 2010, 2011
- Pacific hurricane seasons: 2010, 2011
- Pacific typhoon seasons: 2010, 2011
- North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2010, 2011
References
- ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the Southwest Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean" (PDF). RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee. World Meteorological Organization. 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
- ^ a b c d e Staff Writer (2010-10-28). "Fiji Meteorological Service Tropical Cyclone Guidance for Season 2010/11 for the Fiji and the Southwest Pacific RSMC Region 160E to 120W Equator to 25 South" (PDF). Fiji Meteorological Service. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
- ^ a b "Tropical cyclone outlook: Average or above average numbers expected". NIWA. 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Staff Writer (2010-12-09). "Fiji Islands Climate Summary November 2010". Fiji Islands Climate Summary. 31 (11). Fiji Meteorological service. Retrieved 2010-12-09.