User:Jason Rees/Ima
 Severe Tropical Cyclone Ima on February 8, 1986 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 5 February 1986 |
| Extratropical | 14 February 1986 |
| Dissipated | 16 February 1986 |
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone | |
| 10-minute sustained (FMS) | |
| Highest winds | 165 km/h (105 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 960 hPa (mbar); 28.35 inHg |
| Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/Washington) | |
| Highest winds | 185 km/h (115 mph) |
| Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NPMOC) | |
| Highest winds | 140 km/h (85 mph) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | None Reported |
| Areas affected | Cook Islands, French Polynesia |
Part of the 1985–86 South Pacific cyclone season | |
Meteorological history
[edit]On February 5, the Fiji Meteorological Service reported that a tropical depression had developed within the South Pacific Convergence Zone, in between Niue and the Samoan Islands just to the east of Keppel Island in Tonga.[1][2] During that day, the system developed gale-force winds in its northern quadrant, as it moved south-eastwards along a trough of low pressure towards the southern Cook Islands.[1] According to the FMS, the depression maintained its intensity until after 03:00 UTC on February 6 (17:00 UTC-10, February 5), when it started to rapidly transform into a tropical cyclone; however, they were not able to adequately monitor this transformation because of a lack of satellite imagery.[1] At around 10:30 UTC (20:30 UTC-10), the FMS realised that the system had developed into a tropical cyclone with 10-minute sustained winds of 110 km/h (70 mph) and named it Ima, while it was located about 295 km (185 mi) to the northeast of the island of Palmerston in the southern Cook Islands.[1][3] Ima continued to intensify as it moved south-eastwards before it was classified as a hurricane by the FMS at 12:00 UTC (02:00 UTC-10), while the Naval Western Oceanography Center designated it as Tropical Cyclone 15P as they initiated advisories on the system.[1][3][4] Later that day, Ima passed directly over Palmerston at around 15:00 UTC (05:00 UTC-10), where hurricane-force sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and wind gusts of 280 km/h (175 mph) were reported.[1][5]
After passing over Palmerston, Ima continued to intensify as it moved southeastwards and passed within 55 km (35 mi) to the north of Aitutaki at around 07:00 UTC on February 7, (17:00 UTC-10, February 6).[1][3] Over the next couple of days, the system continued to move south-eastwards through the southern Cook Islands and was tracked by the French frigate Balny developed a well defined eye
Effects
[edit]Samoan Islands
[edit]Cook Islands
[edit]French Polynesia
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Prasad, Rajendra (April 21, 1986). Tropical Cyclone Ima (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service.
- ^ Laurent, Victoire; Varney, Patrick (2014). Historique des Cyclones de Polynesie Francaise [History of Cyclones in French Polynesia] (in French). Meteo France. ISBN 978-2-9522946-1-4.
- ^ a b c "1986 Tropical Cyclone IMA (1986036S16187)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/atcr/1986atcr.pdf
- ^ Cauchard, Georges (February 1986). "Le Cyclone Ima". Météorologie Maritime (in French). No. 133. pp. 41–42. ISSN 2107-0830.