Cyclone Erica

Severe Tropical Cyclone Erica
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 4 (Saffir–Simpson scale)

Cyclone Erica near its peak intensity on March 13, northwest of New Caledonia
Formed 1 March 2003
Dissipated 15 March 2003
Highest winds 10-minute sustained: 215 km/h (135 mph)
1-minute sustained: 240 km/h (150 mph)
Lowest pressure 915 hPa (mbar); 27.02 inHg
Fatalities 2 total
Damage $15 million (2003 USD)
Areas affected Queensland, Southeast Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia
Part of the 2002–03 Australian region and South Pacific cyclone seasons

Severe Tropical Cyclone Erica (RSMC Nadi designation: 10F, JTWC designation: 23P) of March 2003 was a powerful cyclone that severely affected New Caledonia and was considered the worst to affect the country since Cyclone Beti. The system was the eighth cyclone and the fifth severe tropical cyclone of the 2002-03 South Pacific cyclone season. Cyclone Erica developed from a monsoonal trough on 4 March just off of Queensland. Originally, the storm moved slowly towards the east and then north early in its existence. However, increasing wind shear caused the storm to be degenerated into a tropical low. After conditions once again became more favorable for development, the remnants regenerated into a tropical cyclone on 10 March. Steadily intensifying, Erica reached peak intensity on 13 March as a Category 5 equivalent on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.

On the same day Erica paralleled the coast of New Caledonia before making landfall on the southern end of the island at L'Île-des-Pins. However, at the same time the cyclone also entered an area with strong wind shear and thus began to weaken. After passing the island, an extratropical transition begun, weakening the cyclone as it moved towards the southeast. On 15 March, Erica completed its transition into an extratropical cyclone and later fully dissipated the next day.

Cyclone Erica severely impacted the island nation of New Caledonia, causing intense winds and heavy rain. An estimated 892 families were affected by the cyclone on the island, and two people were killed. As many as 60% of people on the west coast lost power. On 17 March only 17 of the 66 secondary schools on the island were functioning. After the storm it was feared that the existing dengue fever epidemic on the island would spread. Erica caused $15 million (2003 USD) in damages, primarily on New Caledonia. Following the deaths and damage, the name "Erica" was later retired.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

The origins of Cyclone Erica can be traced back to a tropical low which developed within a monsoonal trough near the Tiwi Islands on 13 February. Two days later, the low moved inland near the Western Australia–Northern Territory border. After passing south of Alice Springs, the low turned east and entered the Coral Sea on 3 March 2003. Strong wind shear separated the convection from the system at the time. However, shear quickly weakened the next day. With the lower shear, the low was able to intensify[1] and at 0630 UTC on 4 March, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert. Despite the center of the storm being elongated, conditions for further development were present.[2] At 0600 UTC the Bureau of Meteorology in Australia upgraded the low to a Category 1 cyclone and gave it the name Erica.[1]

As Erica moved towards the south and subsequently to the north, the cyclone strengthened, becoming equivalent to a tropical storm according to the JTWC by 1500 UTC on 5 March.[2] Erica later attained maximum sustained winds of 105 km/h (65 mph 1-minute sustained). However the system began to move against the direction of the wind shear environment, and it lost much of its organization. On 7 March at 2230 UTC, Erica lost cyclone status and degenerated into a tropical low. The remnant circulation moved slowly to the northeast, and the wind shear conditions abated. As a result, Erica began to gain some signs of organization. At this time the remnants moved towards the southeast as a result of an upper–level trough developing over Australia.[3]

Satellite image of two simultaneous tropical cyclones, both with similar appearances.
Cyclones Erica (left) and Eseta (right) on March 11.

The area of low pressure gained sufficient shower activity and organization to be renamed as a tropical cyclone at 1800 UTC on 10 March while located southwest of the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara. Erica gradually intensified, attaining the equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale (SSHS) Originally moving to the southeast at a slow pace, Erica began to accelerate due to the influence of weak mid–level ridge to its east. Continuing to intensify, the cyclone reached its peak intensity on 13 March with a minimum barometric pressure of 915 mbar (27.0 inHg), and peak winds of 260 km/h (150 mph 1-minute sustained). The eye of the cyclone began to shrink in diameter and become symmetrical. Later on 13 March, Erica began to parallel the western coast of New Caledonia while maintaining a strong intensity, before crossing the extreme southern end of the island at the Caledonian island commune of L'Île-des-Pins.[3]

After passing the island, Erica accelerated and began to rapidly weaken in the presence of strong wind shear. As a result, the cyclone began a phase of extratropical transition as it quickly paced to the southeast. On 15 March, Erica completed this transition. The remnant low continued to the east–southeast, before the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited office at Wellington, New Zealand (TCWC Wellington) issued their last advisory on Erica at 1800 UTC on 16 March.[3]

Preparations, impact, and aftermath

A satellite image of a developing tropical cyclone. Rainbands can be seen swirling into the cyclone
Erica on 4 March 2003

Australia

As a tropical low, Erica brought strong winds to northern Queensland. Several large trees were uprooted, one of which fell on a car in Cape Tribulation and another on a house in Port Douglas. Numerous trees were defoliated and some boats were reported to have been pulling their moorings due to the wind. Power lines were also damaged by the low.[4]

New Caledonia

On 12 March, officials in New Caledonia issued a pre-alert as Erica was forecast to impact the territory. Evacuation centers were set up in churches and community halls.[5] All schools throughout the island were closed and airports were shut down.[6]

Despite the rapid weakening before landfall, Erica produced intense winds, gusting to a record 202 km/h (125 mph) in Nouméa. Ten-minute sustained winds were recorded up to 144 km/h (89 mph) around the center of the storm.

An estimated 892 families were affected by Erica, and Erica was also reported to have caused two deaths and injured 80 people.[7] In addition 1,000 people were estimated to be homeless.[8] Several communication lines were severed, and tribes and farms were devastated.[9] 20% of electricity customers in Nouméa were without power, and 60% of customers on the main island's west coast were also without power.[10] In Yaté, police assessed that half of the population was without shelter, and in Pohé, it was estimated that 90% of the crops were destroyed by Erica.[11][12] On 17 March 2003, only 17 of the 66 secondary schools in New Caledonia were functioning, with others still closed primarily due to safety concerns. The University of New Caledonia was also badly damaged. However, all primary schools were functioning.[11]

South Province, New Caledonia formed an emergency committee following the storm, led by Jacques Lafleur. The committee assisted in filing damage claims caused by the cyclone.[13] After the storm, 60 French specialists were sent to New Caledonia to help in rebuilding areas hit hard by Erica. Ministry of Overseas France head Brigitte Giradin arrived in Nouméa on 17 March to investigate the damage.[14] Following the visit, Brigitte Giradin announced that US$17 million would be sent to rebuild 1,000 homes on the island nation, including an additional US$500,000 in disaster relief to the island country.[12][15] A transport aircraft stationed in Tahiti brought 1.5 short tons (1,400 kg) of emergency supplies.[11]

Following Erica's heavy rains, it was feared that the already existing dengue fever epidemic would become more widespread. Prior to Erica, there were already 437 cases of dengue fever in 2003 alone. The risk for leptospirosis was also increased by Erica.[16] High winds and strong rains resulted in damages of at least US$15 million, particularly to schools. Two fatalities total were reported as a result of Erica.[1] The name Erica was retired after the season.[17]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (29 August 2007). Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Summary 2002-2003 season (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 Joint Typhoon Warning Center (17 March 2003). "Joint Typhoon Warning Center Advisories on Tropical Cyclone Erica". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 Padget, Gary. "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary March 2003". Australian Severe Weather Index. Archived from the original on 24 January 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  4. ↑ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre. Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Summary 2002–03 (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  5. ↑ Staff Writer (12 March 2003). "New Caledonia sounds alert as Cyclone Erica heads towards the territory". Radio New Zealand International. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  6. ↑ Staff Writer (13 March 2003). "Cyclone Erica hits northern New Caledonia, Eseta strikes Tonga". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  7. ↑ "Repairs underway in New Caledonia after devastation of Cyclone Erica". Radio New Zealand International. Radio New Zealand International. 16 March 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  8. ↑ UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (17 March 2003). "Tropical cyclone OCHA Situation Report No. 1". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "Le cyclone Erica a ravagé la Nouelle Calédonie" (in French). La CGT Societé. 11 August 2004. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  10. ↑ Agence France-Presse (15 March 2003). "New Caledonia assesses the damage after two killed in cyclone". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  11. 1 2 3 East–West Center (18 March 2003). "Thousands homeless after New Caledonia cyclone". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  12. 1 2 East-West Center (20 March 2003). "France OKs $25 million for New Caledonia housing". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "New Caledonia still assessing the impact of Cyclone Erica". Radio New Zealand International. 17 March 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  14. ↑ "France sends 60 specialists to New Caledonia after cyclone Erica". Wellington, New Zealand: Radio New Zealand International. 17 March 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "French minister tours cyclone-ravaged New Caledonia". Radio New Zealand International. 18 March 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  16. ↑ East-West Center (24 March 2003). "Cyclone raises dengue threat in New Caledonia". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean" (PDF). Geneva, Switzerland: World Meteorological Organization. 2008. p. 28. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
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