Cyclone Susan
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | December 20, 1997 |
Extratropical | January 8, 1998 |
Dissipated | January 10, 1998 |
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone | |
10-minute sustained (FMS) | |
Highest winds | 230 km/h (145 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 900 hPa (mbar); 26.58 inHg |
Category 5-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 260 km/h (160 mph) |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 1 |
Damage | $10,000 (1998 USD) |
Areas affected | Vanuatu, Fiji, New Zealand |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1997–98 South Pacific cyclone season |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Susan was one of
At this stage as the cyclone was moving towards the southwest it posed a severe threat to Vanuatu however, during that day Susan recurved towards the southeast and subsequently spared Vanuatu a direct hit. After sparing Vanuatu a direct hit, Susan started to accelerate towards the southeast and while starting to weaken significantly passed close enough to Fiji during January 7 and 8 to cause gale-force winds in Fiji's southern and western islands. While continuing to move towards the southeast, Susan started to interact with Severe Tropical Cyclone Ron during January 8 before it absorbed Ron by 0600 UTC the next day and starting to transition into an extratropical cyclone.
The extratropical remnants of the combined systems were then monitored for another day until they were last noted on January 10, bringing an unseasonable cold snap to
Meteorological history
During December 20, 1997, the
After it had been named, Susan continued to move towards the west-southwest and started to pose a severe threat to northern Vanuatu, as it continued to rapidly intensify.[2][5] It was classified as a category 3 severe tropical cyclone during January 4, as an eye appeared on satellite imagery, atmospheric convection increased and clouds tops significantly cooled.[2][6][7] The ridge of high pressure also started to weaken as it interacted with a trough of low pressure, which meant that the cyclone started to turn towards the south-southwest.[8]
During January 5, the FMS reported that along with
Over the next couple of days, Susan maintained its peak intensity and accelerated south-eastwards, as it came under the influence of a north-westerly steering flow, which was associated with a trough of low pressure.
Effects
Cyclone Susan caused one death and at least US$100,000 worth of damage, when it affected the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji during January 1998.
Vanuatu
After Susan had been named on January 3, the FMS started to issue special weather bulletins for Vanuatu, which indicated that gale-force winds might impact the northern islands within the next 24-48 hours.
Despite being spared a direct hit, heavy rain and gale-force winds caused minor damage to several
Fiji
Late on January 6, the FMS issued a
See also
- Cyclone Ron
- List of the most intense tropical cyclones
- Other tropical cyclones of the same name
References
- ^ a b Padgett, Gary (March 18, 2008). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary January 1998". Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "1997 Tropical Cyclone SUSAN (1997355S05189)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ISBN 0-521-82953-4.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone 11P (Susan) Warning 1 January 3, 1998 0000z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 3, 1998. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (January 20, 1998). Preliminary Report on Tropical Cyclone Susan — January 3 - 9, 1998 (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone 11P (Susan) Warning 4, January 4, 1998 12z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 4, 1998. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone 11P (Susan) Warning 5, January 5, 1998 00z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 5, 1998. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ ISSN 1321-4233. Archived from the original(PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "1998 Tropical Cyclone RON (1998001S09195)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (August 29, 2007). RSMC Nadi Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Summary 1997-98 (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone 11P (Susan) Warning 6, January 5, 1998 12z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 5, 1998. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone 11P (Susan) Warning 9, January 7, 1998 03z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 7, 1998. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ a b Tropical Cyclone 11P (Susan) Warning 10, January 7, 1998 15z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 7, 1998. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f 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 June 5, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
- ^ Tropical Cyclone 11P (Susan) Warning 13, January 9, 1998 06z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 9, 1998. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ "Blame Cyclone Susan for cold snap". The Southland Times. New Zealand. January 10, 1998. p. 1. – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
- ^ RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee (2023). Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-East Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean 2023 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclones/Depressions that passed through Solomon Islands Region" (PDF). Solomon Islands Meteorological Service. September 13, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 30, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ "Strength of Cyclone Katrina felt in Honiara" (PDF). Solomon Star. January 9, 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ a b "Cyclone Susan triggers red alert in Vanautu". Agence France Presse. January 5, 1998. – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
- ^ "Woman killed by coconut after cyclone hits central Pacific". The Associated Press. January 6, 1998. – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
- ^ "Cyclone Susan leaves Vanautu, Katrina approaches". Agence French Press. January 6, 1998. – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
- ^ Newman, Steve (January 9, 1998). "Earthweek: a diary of the planet for the week ending January 9, 1998". The Sunday Gazette. pp. F5. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
- ^ a b Keith-Reid, Robert (January 7, 1998). "Cyclone Susan blows towards Fiji". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
- ^ a b Pacific Islands Report (January 8, 1998). "Cyclone Susan hits Lautoka, Fiji". Pacific Islands Development Program/Center for Pacific Islands Studies. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
External links
- World Meteorological Organization
- Australian Bureau of Meteorology
- Fiji Meteorological Service
- New Zealand MetService
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center
- A visualization of Cyclone Susan Archived June 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine - created by NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission