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User:Jason Rees/Cyclone Atu

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Severe Tropical Cyclone Atu
Cyclone Atu on 21 February
Meteorological history
FormedFebruary 13, 2011 (2011-02-13)
Extratropical25 February 2011
DissipatedFebruary 27, 2011 (2011-02-27)
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (FMS)
Highest winds165 km/h (105 mph)
Lowest pressure940 hPa (mbar); 27.76 inHg
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds215 km/h (130 mph)
Lowest pressure937 hPa (mbar); 27.67 inHg
Overall effects
Areas affectedVanuatu
IBTrACS
Part of the 2010–11 South Pacific cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Atu was

Meteorological history

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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

Early on February 13, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 11F had formed about 65 km to the southwest of Port Vila in Vanuatu.[1] During the next day, the system gradually moved north and started intensifying.[2] Late on February 16, the disturbance turned south-southeast and intensified into a Tropical depression.[3] On the next morning, organization in the system improved, but the convection decreased unexpectedly.[4] Early on January 18, deep convection started developing over the Low-level Circulation Center (LLCC) which is very favorable for Tropical cyclogenesis.[5] Late on that day, the JTWC started monitoring the system as Tropical Cyclone 17P.[6] Early on the next day, RSMC Nadi upgraded the depression into a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone and named it Atu.[7] At midnight, that day, RSMC Nadi upgraded Atu into a Category 2 tropical cyclone,[8] and six hours later it was upgraded again into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone,[9] and then again into a Category 4 Severe Tropical cyclone.[10] Though Atu strengthened rapidly, it weakened unexpectedly on the next day because of an eyewall replacement cycle.[11] Early on February 23, Atu crossed 25°S and entered TCWC Wellington's area of responsibility as a Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone.[12] Late on that day, the JTWC, reporting that the system was becoming extratropical, issued their final warning on Atu.[13] At midnight, that day, TCWC Wellington reported that Atu was no longer a Severe Tropical Cyclone.[14] Within six hours, TCWC Wellington downgraded Atu into a low, no longer considering it tropical.[15]

Preparations

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Relief operations across Vanuatu related to Cyclone Vania were temporarily halted due to dangerous conditions produced by Atu. All seagoing vessels stopped operations and many flights were canceled during the duration of its passage.[16] On Efate, 400 people sought refuge in public shelters.[17]

Impact

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Between February 20 and 22, Cyclone Atu brought heavy rains and damaging winds to portions of Tafea Province. Still recovering from Cyclone Vania the previous month, Atu damaged or destroyed the remaining crops left in the province.[16] Agriculture damage on Tanna was reported to be devastating. Fruit on all banana and coconut trees were blown off.[17] Communications with the islands of Aniwa and Futuna were lost during the cyclone.[18] Contact was re-established three days after the storms passage.[19] Minor damage took place on Efate, with some downed trees and debris strewn about.[17]

Aftermath

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The MV Nakato provided 240 tonnes of rice for residents in Tanna on February 25 while the MV Makila was used to bring rice to residents on Aniwa, Aneityum, Erromango, and Futuna.[19] The Government of France later conducted areal surveys of the affected areas.[20] A month after Atu's passage, residents in eastern Tanna reported that they had received no aid from the government despite shipments reaching less affected areas. The National Disaster Management Office later admitted that they did not have enough rice to distribute to all affected areas and received misinformation from survey teams.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary(140600) for Tropical Disturbance 11F". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  2. ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary(152100) for Tropical Disturbance 11F". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  3. ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary(162100) for Tropical Depression 11F". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 6 June 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Tropical Disturbance Summary(170900) for Tropical Depression 11F". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advisory A1 for Tropical Depression 11F". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Warning 01 for Tropical Cyclone 17P". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advisory A5 for Tropical Cyclone Atu". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  8. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advisory A9 for Tropical Cyclone Atu". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  9. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advisory A10 for Severe Tropical Cyclone Atu". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  10. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Advisory A11 for Severe Tropical Cyclone Atu". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  11. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Warning 06 for Tropical Cyclone 17P". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  12. ^ "Hurricane Warning 437 for Severe Tropical Cyclone Atu". Tropical Cyclone Warning Center, Wellington. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  13. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Warning 11 for Tropical Cyclone 17P". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  14. ^ "Hurricane Warning 464 for Severe Tropical Cyclone Atu". Tropical Cyclone Warning Center, Wellington. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  15. ^ "Hurricane Warning 470 for Former Tropical Cyclone Atu". Tropical Cyclone Warning Center, Wellington. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  16. ^ a b Vanuatu: Tropical cyclone Vania DREF operation n° MDRVU001 Operations update n° 1 (PDF). International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Report). ReliefWeb. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  17. ^ a b c "Devastating damage to some crops in Vanuatu from Cyclone Atu". Radio New Zealand. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  18. ^ "Planes will fly to Vanuatu islands cut off by cyclone". Radio New Zealand. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Relief supplies sent to cyclone-stricken southern Vanuatu". Radio New Zealand. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  20. ^ "Aid arrives in Vanuatu's cyclone-stricken south". ReliefWeb. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  21. ^ "Some Vanuatu cyclone victims say they're still to receive food supplies". Radio New Zealand. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
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