Cyclone Gene

Edit links
This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Cyclone Gene
Tropical Cyclone Gene at its peak intensity
Meteorological history
FormedJanuary 26, 2008 (January 26, 2008)
ExtratropicalFebruary 6, 2008
DissipatedFebruary 9, 2008 (February 9, 2008)
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (FMS)
Highest winds155 km/h (100 mph)
Lowest pressure945 hPa (mbar); 27.91 inHg
Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds185 km/h (115 mph)
Overall effects
Fatalities5 direct, 3 indirect
Damage$35 million (2007 USD)
Areas affectedFiji, Vanuatu
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gene was the deadliest storm as well as the most damaging tropical cyclone of the 2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season east of 160ºE. RSMC Nadi monitored Gene as the 12th tropical disturbance, as well as the fourth tropical cyclone and the third severe tropical cyclone to form west of 160ºE during the 2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season. Gene was also recognised by RSMC Nadi as the fifth tropical cyclone and fourth severe tropical cyclone to form within the South Pacific Ocean during the 2007-08 season.

On January 25, a tropical disturbance formed within the

Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) in Wellington, New Zealand. Gene then crossed 25°S on February 3 and Nadi released their final advisory. Cyclone Gene continued as a Tropical Cyclone for three days before becoming an extratropical cyclone
. Early on February 6 TCWC Wellington released their final advisory on tropical cyclone Gene as they declared it as extratropical.

Cyclone Gene caused widespread damage to several of Fiji's main islands, including Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Yasawa, Mamanuca, and other outlying island groups, while killing a total of 8 people. The cyclone also caused severe damage to Vanautu's Futuna island after its outer bands lashed the island with gale force windspeeds and heavy rain for 12 hours.

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

During January 26, the

tropical storm.[2][5] Over the next 6–12 hours, the disturbance moved towards the southwest and hugged Vanua Levu's southeastern coast, under the influence of a mid level ridge of high pressure that was located to the southeast of the system.[1] 15P's development was hindered while it was located over land, however it did not weaken significantly because it was located in an area of favourable upper level conditions.[1][5]

While over land the system moved towards the south-southwest and moved into the

Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale.[2][6]

Tropical Cyclone Gene near Vanuatu on January 31

On January 31, while the storm was moving closer to Vanuatu, Gene attained peak winds of 150 km/h (95 mph10 min) & 185 km/h (115 mph 1-min) Thus, Cyclone Gene was a Category 3 cyclone on the Australian scale and the

Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale.[2][7][8]

During February 1, as Cyclone Gene was moving to the west, Gene recurved and started moving towards the south and missed Vanuatu.

baroclinic zone.[10] TCWC Wellington continued to monitor the extratropical remnants of Gene until February 9, after the sustained windspeeds had dropped to below 65 km/h (40 mph).[8]

Effects

Tropical Cyclone Gene on February 4

Fiji

On January 27, RSMC Nadi issued strong wind warnings for Fiji, as 12F was expected to affect Fiji but not develop into a tropical cyclone until it had moved out of the archipelago.

Mamanuca.[11]

When Cyclone Gene hit Fiji, it caused widespread minor damage on both of the main islands of Fiji including Vanua Levu and Viti Levu as well as a few of the other minor islands in Fiji which included Taveuni & the Yasawa group of islands.[12] Power cuts were reported in at least half of Fiji including Suva and Nadi however power was quickly restored to these areas.[13][14] Within Fiji over 340 people evacuated to 61 evacuation centres which were opened by the Fijian government.[14] There was also 61 houses completely flattened by cyclone Gene.[13][14][15]

The effects of Cyclone Gene were compounded by continuous heavy rainfall and subsequent floods in most parts of Viti Levu.

USD).[1][16]

Vanuatu

After exiting the Fijian archipelago of islands, Cyclone Gene moved towards the west across the South Pacific, towards Vanuatu, and was predicted to affect the archipelago between January 31 and February 2.[18] However, during January 31, the system started to re-curve towards the southeast and as a result did not make landfall on the island, but Gene's outer bands produced gale force winds and heavy rain on various southern Vanuatuan islands for about 12 hours.[18] However the system only caused no deaths and severe damage to Futuna island, while sparing other nearby islands.[19][20] On Futuna Island, Gene caused damages to buildings, Plants used for weaving and generating income, trails, native and non native homes, waterlines, food gardens, food producing plants, crops, and other critical structures and littered footpaths with fallen trees and debris.[18] As a result of damages to waterlines from falling debris, flooding and contaminated drinking water were reported in some villages with pipes openly leaking. After an aerial survey found that more than 70% of garden crops had been damaged by Gene, the Vanuatu Government declared Futuna island a disaster zone.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Summary 2007-2008 (Report). Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre Nadi - Tropical Cyclone Centre. 2008-12-08. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2012-01-18.
  2. ^ a b c d Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (2009). "Tropical Cyclone 15P (Gene) best track analysis". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2012-01-18.
  3. ISSN 1321-4233. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on June 5, 2015. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  4. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (2009-09-19). Annual Tropical Cyclone Report 2008 (PDF) (Report). United States Air Force, United States Navy. p. 75. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2012-01-18.
  5. ^ a b Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (2008-01-27). "JTWC Tropical Cyclone 15P Warning 2008-01-27 18z". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  6. ^ a b Climate Services Division (2008-03-07). Fiji Islands Climate Summary February 2008 Volume 29 Issue 02 (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  7. ^ a b "Tropical Disturbance Advisory 31-01-08 18z". Fiji Meteorological Service. Retrieved 2008-08-02.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ a b c d "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Tracks January 2008". Gary Padgett. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  9. ^ a b c "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary January 2008". Gary Padgett. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  10. ^ "Tropical Cyclone 15P warning 20". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original on 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  11. ^ a b Niumataiwalu, Ana (2008-02-04). "Prasad's thankless job". The Fiji Times Online. Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  12. ^ "Asia-Pacific Disaster Alerts Gene 02". APCEDI. Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  13. ^ a b c "Asia-Pacific Disaster Alerts Gene 07". APCEDI. Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  14. ^ a b c "Cyclone Gene claims four lives, flatten homes". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on September 20, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
  15. ^ a b "Fiji:$1.7 million for tropical cyclone Gene rehabilitation". Reliefweb. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
  16. ^ a b Climate Services Division (2008-03-07). Fiji Islands Climate Summary February 2008 Volume 29 Issue 02 (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  17. ^ "Typhoid strikes Fiji in aftermath of Cyclone Gene". Reliefweb. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  18. ^ a b c d Clegg, Steven G. (2008-02-11). Situation Report – Tropical Cyclone Gene Impact to Futuna Island, Vanuatu (PDF) (Report). The United Nations Children's Fund. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  19. ^ "1000 people in Vanuatu affected by Gene devastation". Radio New Zealand International. 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  20. ^ "Damage reports from cyclone Gene in Vanuatu are in". Radio New Zealand International. 2008-02-06. Retrieved 26 February 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cyclone Gene.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyclone_Gene&oldid=1218532227"