Cyclone Alan

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This article is about the 1998 tropical cyclone. For the 1976 Australian storm of the same name, see Tropical Cyclone Alan.

Tropical Cyclone Alan
NPMOC)
Highest winds85 km/h (50 mph)
Overall effects
Fatalities10
Areas affectedFrench Polynesia
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1997–98 South Pacific cyclone season

Tropical Cyclone Alan was considered to be one of the worst

landslides on the Society Islands. The landslides resulted in the collapse of two bridges, and also overturned trees, in turn obstructing roads. Overall, ten people died as a result of the system, while thirty others were injured, with a majority of the casualties a result of landslides. On the islands of Raiatea, Taha'a and Huahine
, several churches, schools and clinics were damaged, while water and electricity supplies were cut off. On the islands, around 750 houses were destroyed, with 430 and 150 wrecked on Huahine and Ra'iātea, respectively.

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

On April 17, 1998, the

Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (NPMOC) started to issue warnings on Alan and accidentally assigned it the designation 32P as opposed to 36P, estimating peak 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 85 km/h (50 mph).[3][6]

On April 23, the system appeared to become sheared, with the low-level circulation center displaced about 20 km (10 mi) from the nearest atmospheric convection.

Ra'iātea.[2] As the system moved near Bora Bora, a maximum wind gust of 147 km/h (91 mph) and a pressure observation of 1002 hPa (29.6 inHg) were recorded,[4] indicating the minimal strength of Alan; however, the wind gust was stronger than that expected of similarly intense tropical cyclones.[4] It was later speculated that squalls within Alan's convective feeder band may have been responsible for the stronger wind gusts.[4] On April 25, strong wind shear pulled the system apart, with visible imagery revealing a fully exposed low-level circulation.[1] As a result, the FMS reported that the system weakened into a depression at 1800 UTC that day, while located about 185 km (115 mi) west-northwest of Tahiti.[1][2] The NPMOC subsequently reissued their final advisory early the next day as the system drifted south-southeastward while located west of Tahiti.[2][9]

Preparations and impact

Cyclone Alan produced high winds and torrential rain over French Polynesia between April 24 and 25, causing several landslides on the Society Islands,

Ra'iātea and Huahine, which had all been damaged by Cyclone Osea earlier in the season.[2][4] Overall, ten people died as a result of the system, while thirty others were injured, with the majority of the casualties occurring due to landslides.[4][13] On Bora Bora, wind gusts of up to 147 km/h (91 mph) were reported, while on Tahaa, wind gusts of up to 95 km/h (60 mph) were reported.[1][4] On the islands of Ra'iātea, Tahaa and Huahine, several churches, schools and clinics were damaged, while water and electricity supplies were cut off.[4][12] On the islands, around 750 houses were destroyed, with 430 and 150 wrecked on Huahine and Ra'iātea, respectively.[12]

On Huahine, the extent of the damage, along with a sharp dip on the

European Community Humanitarian Office responded to a government appeal, providing €105,000 for tents, medical aid, food and clothing.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Tropical Cyclone Season Summary 1997–98 (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Padgett, Gary (1998). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary April 1998". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Padgett, Gary. "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Tracks April 1998". Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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. Australian Bureau of Meteorology: 121–138. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 7, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "1998 Tropical Cyclone Alan (1998108S10203)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  6. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 32P (Alan) Warning 1 April 22, 1998 21z". United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. Archived from the original on December 25, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone 32P (Alan) Warning 3 April 23, 1998 21z". United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. Archived from the original on December 25, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c "Tropical Cyclone 32P (Alan) Warning 4 April 24, 1998 12z". United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 32P (Alan) Warning 7 April 26, 1998 03z". United States Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center. April 26, 1998. Archived from the original on December 25, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  10. ^ a b "At least eight killed by French Polynesia cyclone". Pacific Islands Report. Pacific Islands Development Program/Center for Pacific Islands Studies. April 27, 1998. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  11. ^ De Changy, Florence (April 28, 1998). "Un cyclone en Polynésie française provoque la mort de huit personnes". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c Padgett, Gary (1998). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary May 1998". Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  13. ^ "French Polynesia cyclone deaths rise to 10". Pacific Islands Report. Pacific Islands Development Program/Center for Pacific Islands Studies. May 1, 1998. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  14. ^ "Cyclone meurtrier sur la Polynésie". La Dépêche. April 27, 1998. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  15. ^ May, Jutta (September 17, 2008). "Event Information: Tropical Cyclone Bart". Pacific Disaster Net. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  16. ^ "Humanitarian aid news: Asia" (Press release: IP/98/1110). European Union. February 22, 1988. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.

External links

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