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Cyclone Martin (1997)

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For the extratropical cyclone, see Cyclone Martin (1999).
Severe Tropical Cyclone Martin
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Cyclone Martin near peak intensity south of Manahiki on November 3
FormedOctober 27, 1997
DissipatedNovember 5, 1997
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 155 km/h (100 mph)
1-minute sustained: 185 km/h (115 mph)
Lowest pressure945 hPa (mbar); 27.91 inHg
Fatalities28
Damage$8 million (1997 USD)
Areas affectedCook Islands, French Polynesia
Part of the 1997–98 South Pacific cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Martin was the deadliest tropical cyclone of the 1997–98 South Pacific cyclone season. The system was first noted as a weak tropical disturbance on October 27, to the north of the Northern Cook Islands. Over the next few days atmospheric convection surrounding the system remained disorganized, as it moved towards the southwest and was affected by strong upper-level north-easterly winds and moderate to strong vertical wind shear. The system was subsequently named Martin during October 31, after it had rapidly developed further and shown a marked improvement organization.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

During October 27, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) started to monitor a weak tropical disturbance, that had developed to the north of the Northern Cook Islands.[1] At this stage, the systems weak low-level circulation was moving to the west-southwest, while atmospheric convection surrounding the disturbance was unorganized and being impacted by strong upper-level northeasterly winds.[1] Over the next three days, the system only slightly improved its organization, as moved south-southwest and was impacted by moderate to strong vertical wind shear.[2] During October 30, the United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (NPMOC) initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 04P, before it started to rapidly develop and show marked signs of improved organisation during the following day.[2][3] As a result of this rapid development, the FMS reported during October 31, that the system had become developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and named it Martin.[2][4] At this time, the system was located just to the north of the Northern Cook Island of Pukapuka, where winds were estimated at 110 km/h (70 mph) and a pressure of 997 hPa (29.44 inHg) was reported.[1]

After it had been named, Martin continued to intensify and started to move south-southeastwards, as it recurved in response to an intensifying mid-tropospheric westerly flow.[4][5][6] Over the next couple of days, the system moved south-eastwards towards a weakness in the upper-level subtropical ridge of high pressure and intensified into a category 3 severe tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds during November 1.[4][7] During the following day, Martin passed about 150 km (95 mi) to the south of Manihiki in the Northern Cook Islands, before it developed a 17 km (11 mi) eye and moved towards French Polynesia.[8][9] During November 3, as the system passed near or over the Society Islands of Bellingshausen, Mopelia and Scilly, the FMS reported that Martin had peaked as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 155 km/h (100 mph).[4][8] Later that day, the NPMOC reported that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph), which made it equivalent to a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.[4][9] Martin subsequently started to gradually weaken, as it started to interact with a frontal system and transition into an extratropical cyclone.[10][11] The system then passed over 250 km (155 mi) to the south of Tahiti during November 4, before it weakened below tropical cyclone intensity during November 5.[4][8] Martin was subsequently last noted during November 8, while it was located over 1,800 km (1,120 mi) to the southeast of Adamstown in the Pitcairn Islands.[4]

Effects

Martin was one of the worst tropical cyclones to affect the South Pacific during the 20th century, as it caused significant damage and at least 28 deaths as it impacted the Northern Cook Islands and French Polynesia.[8] As a result of the significant impacts, the name was later retired from the lists of tropical cyclone names for the region.[12] Martin and its precursor tropical depression impacted the atolls of Pukapuka, Manihiki and Rakahanga, within the Northern Cook Islands between October 31 - November 2.[13] The system then passed near or over French Polynesia's Society Islands during March 3.

Cook Islands

Pukapuka & Nassau

During October 31, Pukapuka became the first atoll to be impacted by Martin, where winds were estimated at 110 km/h (70 mph) and a pressure of 997 hPa (29.44 inHg) was reported.[1] On the island, damage was reported to the hospital, post office, doctors and the homes of various government representatives, while authorities lost contact with the island at the height of the storm.[14]

Manihiki

Martin devastated Manihiki in the Cook Islands. Almost every building on the island was destroyed by the storm surge, 10 people were killed, and 10 more persons reported missing and were later declared dead by the Cook Islands Coroner.[15][16] 360 people were evacuated to Rarotonga,[17] with most never returning.[18] When the centre was closest to the island, the automatic weather station reported a lowest pressure of 994hPa, sustained winds of 20 m/s, and a highest gust of 29 m/s.[8] However, this was the last meteorological report from the station before it was destroyed by storm surge.[15] Within the Cook Islands, Martin was the deadliest known tropical cyclone to affect the Cook Islands in over a century, after it caused 19 deaths within the Islands.[19][20]

Rakahanga

Several people were injured and up to 80% of the building on the atoll of Rakahanga were damaged

Aftermath

During November 2, after the Disaster Management Committee on Rarotonga received reports that the runway on Manihiki was intact, arrangements were made with Air Rarotonga for a plane to be sent to the atoll.[21] The plane subsequently arrived in Manihiki with food and medical equipment, as well as a relief team consisting of two doctors, a communications technician, the Minister of Disaster Management: Tepure Tapaitau, as well as various other officials.[21] The Cook Islands Government also formally requested assistance from the Government of New Zealand.[21]

During November 3, the New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister: Don McKinnon, received a request for Cook Islands Government.[22] As a result, a Hercules from the Royal New Zealand Air Force would fly tarpaulins, water containers, blankets and communications equipment to Rarotonga, where food and medical supplies were added before it was dispatched to Manihiki.[22]

French Polynesia

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Padgett, Gary (1997). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary October 1997". Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Tropical Cyclone Season Summary 1997–98 (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 1, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  3. ^ Tropical Cyclone 04P Warning 1 October 30, 1997 21z (Report). United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. October 30, 1997. Archived from the original on August 9, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "1997 Tropical Cyclone Martin (1997302S08199)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Tropical Cyclone 04P Warning 3 October 31, 1997 21z (Report). United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. October 31, 1997. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  6. ^ Tropical Cyclone 04P (Martin) Warning 4 November 1, 1997 21z (Report). United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. November 1, 1997. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  7. ^ Tropical Cyclone 04P (Martin) Warning 5 November 1, 1997 21z (Report). United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. November 1, 1997. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021. {{cite report}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; January 5, 2021 suggested (help)
  8. ^ a b c d e Chappel Lori-Carmen; Bate Peter W (June 2, 2000). "The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season 1997–98" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine. 49: 121–138. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 30, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Tropical Cyclone 04P (Martin) Warning 8 November 3, 1997 09z (Report). United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. November 3, 1997. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  10. ^ Tropical Cyclone 04P (Martin) Warning 9 November 3, 1997 21z (Report). United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. November 3, 1997. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  11. ^ Tropical Cyclone 04P (Martin) Warning 10 November 4, 1997 09z (Report). United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. November 4, 1997. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  12. ^ RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee (2024). Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-East Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean 2024 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  13. ^ Cook Islands Tropical Cyclone Martin Situation Report No.1 (Report). United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs. November 4, 1997. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  14. ^ "Communications lost as cyclone bears down on tiny atoll". Agence France Presse. November 1, 1997 – via Lexis Nexis.
  15. ^ a b Cook Islands Government (June 20, 2007). "Coroner confirms Cyclone Martin Victims". Archived from the original on August 1, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 22, 2010 suggested (help)
  16. ^ Carr, Tara (June 20, 2007). "Missing Northern Cooks Islanders declared dead". Pacific Islands Report. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  17. ^ "Cook Islands Tropical Cyclone Martin Situation Report No . 2". UN DHA. 18 November 1997. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Manihiki remembers Martin". Cook Islands News. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  19. ^ De Scally, Fes (2008). "Insights provided by a historical database of tropical cyclones and their impacts in the Cook Islands". Island Climate Update (88). National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research: 6.
  20. ^ De Scally, Fes (2008). "Historical Tropical Cyclone Activity and Impacts in the Cook Islands" (PDF). Pacific Science. 62 (4): 443–459. doi:10.2984/1534-6188(2008)62[443:HTCAAI]2.0.CO;2. hdl:10125/22721. ISSN 0030-8870.
  21. ^ a b c Office of the Prime Minister: Cook Islands Government (November 6, 1997). "Cyclone Martin Media Releases" (Press release). Pacific Islands Report. Archived from the original on October 16, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2021. {{cite press release}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; October 18, 2016 suggested (help)
  22. ^ a b McKinnon, Don (November 4, 1997). "NZ Aid for Cyclone Hit Cooks". New Zealand Government. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
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