2000–01 South Pacific cyclone season

2000–01 South Pacific cyclone season
Season summary map
First system formed December 11, 2000
Last system dissipated May 9, 2001
Strongest storm1 Paula – 930 hPa (mbar), 175 km/h (110 mph) (10-minute sustained)
Total disturbances 16
Total depressions 11
Tropical cyclones 4
Severe tropical cyclones 1
Total fatalities 7 total
Total damage $800,000 (2001 USD)
1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03
Related articles

The 2000–01 South Pacific cyclone season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It began on November 1, 2000 and ended on April 30, 2001. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the southern Pacific Ocean east of 160°E. Additionally, the regional tropical cyclone operational plan defines a tropical cyclone year separately from a tropical cyclone season, and the "tropical cyclone year" runs from July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001.[1]

Tropical cyclones between 160°E and 120°W and north of 25°S are monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service in Nadi. Those that move south of 25°S are monitored by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Wellington, New Zealand.[1]

Seasonal summary

Cyclone Paula

During the 2000–01 South Pacific cyclone season, only four tropical cyclones and one severe tropical cyclone formed. Compared to an average season, which generally features nine tropical cyclones and four to five severe tropical cyclones, the 2000–01 season was substantially below average. The season itself began unusually late, with the first system developing on February 20;[2] however, according to the JTWC, a brief tropical storm existed between February 16 and 18.

Storms

Tropical Depression 01F

Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Clockwise vortex
Duration December 11 – December 15
Peak intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (10-min)  993 hPa (mbar)

Two people were killed in Fiji as a result of severe flooding.

Tropical Depression 07F

Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration February 16 (entered basin) – February 18
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  993 hPa (mbar)

A brief tropical storm was monitored by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center just off the northern coast of New Caledonia

Tropical Cyclone Oma

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration February 20 – February 22
Peak intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)  984 hPa (mbar)

Cyclone Oma formed on February 20, dissipated on February 22.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Paula

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration February 26 – March 4
Peak intensity 175 km/h (110 mph) (10-min)  930 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Cyclone Paula

Formed on February 26, dissipated on March 4.

Three people were killed by the storm, two in Vanuatu and one in Fiji.[3][4] On Vanuatu, sustained winds reached 100 km/h (62 mph) and gusts were estimated at 200 km/h (120 mph). Initial reports indicated that a young boy had been swept away near Santo and was presumed dead.[5] However, the boy was found days later clinging to a rock. The two fatalities in the country resulted from fallen tree limbs on the islands of Epi and Ambae.[4] Following an aerial assessment of damage in Vanuatu, Malampa and Shefa provinces in were declared disaster areas. In these provinces, nearly 50% of all homes sustained damage and upwards of a quarter of all buildings were impacted. In Fiji, damage from Paula was much less than initially feared; however, several homes in the Western Division were destroyed by rough seas produced by the storm. Elsewhere, structural damage was minimal and a few landslides resulted in damage to crops. Throughout the country, preliminary estimates placed the damage at US$800,000.[6]

Following the storm, requests for assistance from the French government were made by Vanuatu. By March 5, a package of relief supplies, consisting of blankets, water purifiers and clothes was brought to the storm-battered nation.[7]

Tropical Cyclone Rita

Category 1 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Clockwise vortex
Duration February 27 – March 5
Peak intensity 85 km/h (50 mph) (10-min)  986 hPa (mbar)

On February 27, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance had developed within the South Pacific Convergence Zone to the southeast of the French Polynesian island Hao about 705 mi (1135 km) to the southeast of Papeete.

Tropical Depression 11F

This depression existed from March 1 to March 3.

Tropical Depression 12F

This depression existed from March 1 to March 3.

Tropical Cyclone Sose

Main article: Cyclone Sose
Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 1 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Duration April 5 – April 11
Peak intensity 110 km/h (70 mph) (10-min)  975 hPa (mbar)

Formed on April 5, dissipated on April 11.

Tropical Depression 14F

Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Clockwise vortex
Duration May 1 – May 3
Peak intensity 75 km/h (45 mph) (10-min)  1004 hPa (mbar)

Hybrid system

Other systems

The following weak tropical disturbances/depressions were also monitored by RSMC Nadi, however these systems were either short lived or did not develop significantly. On December 18, RSMC Nadi started to monitor Tropical Depression 03F, to the southeast of Tahiti in French Polynesia.

On May 7, Depression 15F developed about 475 km (295 mi) to the west of Pappette on the French Polynesian island of Tahiti.[8] Over the next couple of days the depression moved south-eastwards, before the final advisory was issued by RSMC Nadi on May 9.[8]

Season effects

This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific to the east of longitude 160°E during the 2001-2002 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 2002 USD.

Name Dates active Peak classification Sustained
wind speeds		 Pressure Land areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
01F December 11 – 15 Tropical Depression 998 hPa (29.47 inHg) Fiji
03F December 18 – 19 Tropical Depression 65 km/h (40 mph) 995 hPa (29.39 inHg)
07F February 16 – 18 Tropical depression 65 km/h (40 mph) 995 hPa (29.39 inHg)
Oma February 20 – 22 Category 2 tropical cyclone 95 km/h (60 mph) 984 hPa (29.06 inHg)
Paula February 26 – March 4 Category 4 severe tropical cyclone 175 km/h (110 mph) 930 hPa (27.46 inHg) Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga 1.39 million 2
Rita February 27 – March 5 Category 1 Tropical Cyclone 85 km/h (50 mph) 986 hPa (29.12 inHg)
11F March 1–3 Tropical disturbance
12F March 1–3 Tropical depression
13F March 10 Tropical depression
Sose April 5 – 11 Category 2 tropical cyclone 110 km/h (70 mph) 975 hPa (28.79 inHg) Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia 4 [9]
14F May 1 – 3 Tropical depression 75 km/h (45 mph) 1004 hPa (29.65 inHg)
15F May 7 – 9 Tropical depression 65 km/h (40 mph) 999 hPa (29.50 inHg)
Season Aggregates
15 systems December 11 – May 9 175 km/h (110 mph) 930 hPa (27.46 inHg) 6

See also

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.wmo.ch/web/www/TCP/OperationPlans/TCP24-English2004.pdf
  2. ↑ L.-C. Chappel and P.W. Bate (2003). "The South Pacific and southeast Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season 2000-01" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  3. ↑ "International Disaster Database: Disaster List". Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. 2016. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  4. 1 2 Karen Hales (2001). "Cyclone Paula Diary...". Vanuatu.com. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  5. ↑ United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (March 1, 2001). "Vanuatu and Fiji Islands — Tropical Cyclone Paula OCHA Situation Report No. 1". ReliefWeb. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  6. ↑ United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (March 6, 2001). "Vanuatu and Fiji Islands — Tropical Cyclone Paula OCHA Situation Report No. 2". ReliefWeb. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  7. ↑ "France delivers cyclone relief supplies". BBC. March 5, 2001.
  8. 1 2 Padgett, Gary. "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary: May 2001". Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  9. ↑ Chappel L,C; Bate, P.W. (2003-03-01). "The South Pacific and southeast Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season 2000–01" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine. Australian Bureau of Meteorology (52): 33–47. Retrieved 2012-04-23.

External links

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