Cyclone Tia

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Severe Tropical Cyclone Tia
Cyclone Tia while near its peak intensity
Meteorological history
FormedNovember 13, 1991 (1991-11-13)
DissipatedNovember 21, 1991 (1991-11-21)
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (FMS)
Highest winds140 km/h (85 mph)
Lowest pressure960 hPa (mbar); 28.35 inHg
Category 2-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds175 km/h (110 mph)
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone
Areas affectedKiribati, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Tia was the first of six tropical cyclones to affect Vanuatu during the 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season. The system was first noted within the South Pacific convergence zone as a small tropical depression on November 13, to the northeast of the Solomon Islands. Over the next few days the system gradually developed further within an area of light winds in the upper troposphere, before it was named Tia early on November 16. Later that day due to a developing northerly steering current, the system slowed and undertook a small anticlockwise loop before starting to move towards the southwest and rapidly intensify. After rapidly intensifying throughout November 16 and 17, Tia passed within 55 km (35 mi) of the Solomon Island: Anuta at around 1800 UTC on November 17, before passing near Tikopia Island six hours later. As Tia moved near Tikopia, the system reached its peak intensity as a category 3 severe tropical cyclone, with 10‑minute sustained windspeeds of 140 km/h (85 mph).

During November 18, due to cooler waters and increased wind shear, Tia started to weaken as it moved southwards under the influence of a strengthening upper-level northerly wind flow. Over the next 24 hours, the system continued to move southwards and passed within 150 km (95 mi) of Vanuatu's Banks Islands, while gradually weakening further. Tia subsequently degenerated into a tropical depression during November 20, before it was last noted the next day as it crossed a part of its former track, where it had been producing hurricane-force wind speeds a few days earlier. While it was active Tia directly affected the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, while it indirectly affected Kiribati. The Solomon Island of Tikopia was the worst affected island, after more than 1,000 people were left homeless on the island and 90% of all dwellings were destroyed. Damage was minimal in Vanuatu, and was mainly confined to crops and fruit trees on the Banks and Torres Islands. After this usage of the name Tia, the name was

retired
and withdrawn from use on the tropical cyclone naming lists.

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

A small tropical depression developed within the

rapidly intensify.[6]

After rapidly intensifying throughout November 16 and 17, Tia passed within 55 km (35 mi) of

Tikopia Island six hours later.[6] As Tia moved near Tikopia, the FMS reported that the system had reached its peak intensity as a category 3 severe tropical cyclone, with sustained wind speeds of 140 km/h (85 mph).[6][5] The JTWC followed suit six hours later and reported that the cyclone had peaked as a category 2 equivalent hurricane with sustained wind speeds of 165 km/h (105 mph).[4][5] By 1800 UTC on November 18, due to cooler waters and increased wind shear, Tia started to weaken as it moved southwards under the influence of a strengthening upper-level northerly wind flow.[2][6] Over the next 24 hours, the system continued to move southwards and passed within 150 km (95 mi) of Vanuatu's Banks Islands, while gradually weakening further before moving to the southeast under the influence of strong upper-level northwesterlies.[6] By 0000 UTC on November 20, Tia had weakened into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian Scale and became slow moving while located about 370 km (230 mi) to the east of Port Villa in Vanuatu.[5] During that day the system turned and moved towards the northwest before the FMS reported later that day at 1200 UTC, that Tia had weakened below tropical cyclone intensity.[6] However, the JTWC monitored the system as a tropical cyclone for another 24 hours, before issuing their final advisory on the system at 1200 UTC as the system had weakened below tropical cyclone intensity.[4][5] Tia was subsequently last noted by the FMS and JTWC later that day as it crossed a part of its former track, where it had been producing hurricane-force windspeeds a few days earlier.[6][5]

Preparations and impact

Apart from several smaller islands no major inhabited islands lied in the path of Tia, while no deaths were associated with the system.[1] After this usage of the name Tia, the name was retired and withdrawn from use on the tropical cyclone naming lists.[7]

Solomon Islands

During November 17, warnings were issued by the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service for parts of

Makira province for relief efforts on the two islands.[1][12]

Other islands

On November 16, the Kiribati islands suffered the side-effects of Cyclone Tia, with several houses in Tarawa and seaweed farms damaged.[13] Late on November 17, the FMS started to release special advisories for Vanuatu after it had become clear that the systems south-southwest movement, would bring the cyclone sufficiently close to the Banks and Torres Islands to cause either gale or storm force winds.[1] Over the next 24 hours, the FMS continued to issue these bulletins as the system moved southwards and brought gale-force winds to Maewo, Pentecost and the Banks Islands before they issued the final advisory early on November 19.[1][8] Tia was the first of six tropical cyclones to affect Vanuatu during the 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season, and caused minor damage that was mainly confined to houses, crops and fruit trees on the Banks and Torres Islands.[13][8] Within the Banks Islands a church was flattened, several roads were blocked and a man was slightly injured by flying debris.[6][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ward, Graham F.A. (February 12, 1992). Tropical Cyclone Report 92/3: Tropical Cyclone Tia, November 14 - 21, 1991 (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  2. ^
    ISSN 1321-4233. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  3. ^ Bannister Anthony J; Boothe, Mark A; Carr III, Lester E; Elsberry, Russell L (September 1998). Southern Hemisphere Application of the Systematic Approach to Tropical Cyclone Track Forecasting Part II. Climatology and Refinement of Meteorological Knowledge Base (PDF) (Report). United States Naval Postgraduate School. pp. 31–34. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 11, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c 1992 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report (PDF) (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 1993. pp. 240–247. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "1991 Tropical Cyclone Tia (1991317S07164)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gill, Jonathan P. "The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season 1991–1992" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine. 43: 181–192. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b c d Tropical cyclones in Vanuatu: 1847 to 1994 (PDF) (Report). Vanuatu Meteorological Service. May 19, 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 1, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  9. ^ Country Report: Pacific Islands-Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands (Report). The Economist Intelligence Unit. 1992. p. 43.
  10. ^ a b c "Cyclone ravages eastern Solomons". Agence France Presse. November 20, 1991.  – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
  11. ^ Country Report: Pacific Islands-Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands (Report). The Economist Intelligence Unit. 1992. p. 43.
  12. ^ Temotu Province Development Profile (Report). Solomon Islands Ministry of Provincial Government and Rural Development. 2001. p. 15.
  13. ^ a b Islands Business Pacific. Vol. 18. 1992. p. XIV.

External links

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