Cyclone Amos

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Severe Tropical Cyclone Amos
Cyclone Amos intensifying near Wallis and Futuna on April 22
Meteorological history
FormedApril 13, 2016 (2016-04-13)
DissipatedApril 25, 2016 (2016-04-25)
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (FMS)
Highest winds150 km/h (90 mph)
Lowest pressure965 hPa (mbar); 28.50 inHg
Category 2-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds165 km/h (105 mph)
Overall effects
Areas affectedSamoa, American Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Fiji
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 2015–16 South Pacific cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Amos was a strong

island nation of Tuvalu
.

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

Tropical Disturbance 17F was first noted by the

island nation of Tuvalu, under the influence of a subtropical ridge of high pressure.[3][8] The system subsequently passed in between the islands of Wallis and Futuna, as a tropical depression during April 19.[3]

Early on April 20, the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 20P, while the system was located about 585 km (365 mi) to the west of Avata, Samoa.

Wallis Island, the JTWC estimated that Amos had peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of 165 km/h (103 mph).[16][17] Over the next day, the system remained at its peak intensity as it accelerated south-eastwards towards the Samoan Islands, where it was expected to pass over either Upolu or Tutuila.[14][17] Amos subsequently continued its south-eastwards movement and was thought to have passed very close to or over the Samoan Islands during April 23.[17][18][19] The system subsequently significantly weakened over the next day, as the circulation broke down and became sheared.[20] The system subsequently degenerated into a tropical disturbance during April 25, before it was last noted near American Samoa's Manuʻa Islands.[21]

Preparations and impact

Wettest tropical cyclones and their remnants in Wallis and Futuna
Highest-known totals
Precipitation Storm Location Ref.
Rank mm in
1 674.9 26.57 Raja 1986 Maopoopo, Futuna Island [22]
2 556.7 21.92 Fran 1992 Hihifo, Wallis Island [22]
3 291.2 11.46
Val 1975
 Hihifo, Wallis Island [22]
4 220.6 8.69 Hina 1997 Maopoopo, Futuna Island [22]
5 186.0 7.32 Evan 2012 Futuna Island [22]
6 180.0 7.09
Val 1980
 Maopoopo, Futuna Island [22]
7 171.6 6.76 Keli 1997 Hihifo, Wallis Island [22]
8 160.8 6.33 Unnamed 1966 Malaetoli, Wallis Island [22]
9 160.0 6.30 Amos 2016 Hihifo, Wallis Island [23]
10 119.0 4.69 Waka 2001 Hihifo, Wallis Island [22]

Severe Tropical Cyclone Amos affected the island nations of Fiji, Samoa and American Samoa, while the French Territory of Wallis and Futuna was also impacted.

Fiji

The precursor tropical disturbance to Cyclone Amos impacted Fiji between April 15–19, while the island nation was still recovering from the effects of Severe Tropical Cyclones

Qawa and Rakiraki Rivers and Labasa.[25][26] The disturbance subsequently passed near or over several islands, in Fiji's Northern Division including Vanua Levu during April 16.[4] The system brought several periods of heavy rain and strong winds to most of the Fijian Islands, with severe flooding reported on Vanua Levu during April 17.[4]

Wallis and Futuna

As Amos approached Wallis and Futuna, the Meteo-France NC issued an Alert 1 for the islands, which was later upgraded to an Alert 2. Amos was forecasted to bring winds of 120 to 140 km/h (75 to 87 mph) with waves of four to six meters high.[27] Very heavy rains affected Wallis and Futuna as Amos made its closest approach to the islands. At the Hihifo Airport in Wallis, a rainfall measurement of 160 millimetres (6.3 in) was recorded.[23]

Samoa

Since Amos was forecast to hit Samoa as a Category 4 storm on April 24, emergency preparations went underway with water and generators being distributed. Amos was forecasted to bring sustained winds of 170 km/h (110 mph), with gusts as high as 220 km/h (140 mph) to

Savai'i where roads were damaged due to flooding.[citation needed] In addition, it is estimated that about 70 percent of the island nation lost electricity during the storm due to high winds.[29]

American Samoa

On April 23, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued forecasts that indicated that Amos would pass directly over American Samoa by April 24.[30] However, a recalculation in the storm position on April 24 altered the forecast track, sparing Pago Pago from a direct hit from Amos.[31] Amos brushed American Samoa to the north, dumping just over three inches of rain over Pago Pago. Amos was the strongest tropical cyclone to affect Samoa and American Samoa since Cyclone Evan in December 2012. Only three cyclones have tracked near American Samoa since 1959.[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (April 13, 2016). "Tropical Disturbance Summary April 13, 2016 21z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  2. ^ "Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans April 15, 2016". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. April 15, 2016. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Fiji Meteorological Service (April 20, 2016). "Tropical Depression 17F midday update". Facebook. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Climate Services Division (May 6, 2016). Fiji Climate Summary: April 2016 (PDF) (Report). Vol. 37. Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  5. ^ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (April 16, 2016). "Tropical Disturbance Summary April 16, 2016 09z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  6. ^ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (April 17, 2016). "Tropical Disturbance Summary April 17, 2016 09z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  7. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert April 18, 2016 04z". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. April 18, 2016. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  8. ^ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (April 19, 2016). "Tropical Disturbance Advisory April 19, 2016 12z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  9. ^ https://www.webcitation.org/6gvzM6Vbn?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPS31-PGTW_201604200300.htm [dead link]
  10. ^ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (April 20, 2016). "Tropical Disturbance Advisory April 20, 2016 12z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c https://www.webcitation.org/6gvzKTej9?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPS31-PGTW_201604210300.htm [dead link]
  12. ^ https://www.webcitation.org/6gvzJmKT8?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPS31-PGTW_201604210900.htm [dead link]
  13. ^ https://www.webcitation.org/6gxdjsyEm?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPS31-PGTW_201604211500.htm [dead link]
  14. ^ a b https://www.webcitation.org/6gxdhu8FV?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPS31-PGTW_201604221500.htm [dead link]
  15. ^ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (April 22, 2016). "Tropical Disturbance Advisory April 22, 2016 12z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  16. ^ http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tcdat/tc16/SHEM/20P.AMOS/trackfile.txt Archived 2017-01-08 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL plain text file]
  17. ^ a b c https://www.webcitation.org/6gz5qIHXc?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPS31-PGTW_201604230900.htm [dead link]
  18. ^ https://www.webcitation.org/6h1GjdWZl?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/FXZS60-NSTU_201604240215.htm [dead link]
  19. ^ https://www.webcitation.org/6h1Gobpqb?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/FXZS60-NSTU_201604241956.htm [dead link]
  20. ^ https://www.webcitation.org/6h0rOucq9?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPS31-PGTW_201604240300.htm [dead link]
  21. ^ RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (April 25, 2016). "Tropical Disturbance Summary April 25, 2016 12z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Wallis and Futuna Cyclone Passes De 1880 à nos jours" [Wallis and Futuna Cyclone Passes From 1880 to the present day] (in French). Meteo France New Caledonia. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Cyclone Amos: les Samoa ravagées" [Cyclone Amos: ravaged Samoa]. Meteo (in French). Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  24. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-04-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ^ a b http://www.met.gov.fj/aifs_prods/TD17F_2.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  26. ^ a b http://www.met.gov.fj/aifs_prods/TD17F_3.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  27. ^ "Cyclone: Wallis en alerte rouge à l'approche d'Amos". Out-remer. Meteo-France NC. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  28. ^ "Direct hit predicted as Tropical Cyclone Amos intensifies on approach to Samoa's capital". ABC News. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  29. ^ Feagaimaalii-Luamanu, Joyetter. "After Amos: no casualties, no infrastructure damage reported in Samoa". Samoa News. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  30. ^ Unisys Weather (April 23, 2016). "TROPICAL CYCLONE 20P (AMOS) WARNING NR 015". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  31. ^ Unisys Weather (April 24, 2016). "TROPICAL CYCLONE 20P (AMOS) WARNING NR 017". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  32. ^ Moore, Tom (April 24, 2016). "Tropical Cyclone Amos Brushes Samoa, American Samoa". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.

External links

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