Cyclone Wasa–Arthur

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"Cyclone Wasa" redirects here. Not to be confused with
Cyclone Wasi
.

Severe Tropical Cyclone
Wasa–Arthur
NPMOC)
Highest winds195 km/h (120 mph)
Overall effects
Fatalities2 confirmed
Damage$60 million (1991 USD)
Areas affectedFrench Polynesia
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Wasa–Arthur was the first major tropical cyclone to affect French Polynesia and Tahiti since the 1982–83 season. The system was first noted on 3 December 1991, as a shallow tropical depression that was embedded within the monsoon trough, to the north of the Cook Island: Rarotonga. Over the next couple of days the system gradually developed further, before it was classified as a tropical cyclone and named Wasa on 5 December. The following day, as it performed a small clockwise loop, the system strengthened further and acquired hurricane-force winds. After completing the loop, Wasa moved southwards before it peaked in intensity during 8 December, with sustained wind speeds of 165 km/h (105 mph). Over the next few days the system started to weaken as it passed through the French Polynesian Society Islands, and became the first major tropical cyclone to affect French Polynesia since 1983.

During 12 December, Wasa passed through the French Polynesian

Pitcairn islands
.

Tourists on the island of Bora Bora were evacuated to a local church, after Wasa–Arthur had swept high seas into tourist bungalows. Overall the system caused an estimated US$60 million in damage within French Polynesia, with the majority of the damage done between 9 and 12 December. The system destroyed or damaged several homes, a variety of crops and damaged several public buildings, hotels, roads and power installations, with the worst affected islands being Bora Bora and Tubuai. On Rurutu island, Moerai harbour was destroyed by a cyclonic swell generated by the system, while the local school and police station were destroyed by high waves. Two people were killed after torrential rainfall from the system caused a mudslide on the island of Moorea, during a night of torrential rain the day after Wasa had made its closest approach to the island. The French Government incurred costs of about FF68 million including FF53 million for the efforts of the French Military. The French Polynesian Government subsequently borrowed FF55 million and built up a fund from local banks of about FF1.5 billion, to help with the reconstruction. The name Wasa was later retired, from the list of tropical cyclone names by the World Meteorological Organization.

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 3 December, the

Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.[3][4] This was followed by the FMS during the next day, who estimated that the system had peaked as a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained winds of 165 km/h (105 mph).[3][4]

Wasa subsequently approached the Society Islands of

Mururoa, while the FMS reported that winds associated with the system had increased to marginal storm force with winds of 95 km/h (60 mph).[6][7] Over the next day, Wasa-Arthur maintained its intensity as it moved north-eastwards through the northern islands of the Acteon Group, before the NWOC classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 08P during 15 December.[2][7] Wasa-Arthur subsequently started to gradually weaken as it turned eastwards, before the FMS and the NWOC reported that it had degenerated into a depression on 17 December.[6][2] The system was last noted the next day, while it was located about 890 km (555 mi) to the southeast of Papeete in French Polynesia.[7]

Preparations and impact

A visible image of Cyclone Wasa on 14 December as it re-intensified into Cyclone Arthur.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Wasa–Arthur was the first major tropical cyclone to impact French Polynesia since the

1982–83 season.[6] It impacted various parts of the island nation between 6 and 14 December, with the majority of the damage caused to the Society and Austral Islands during its first stage as a tropical cyclone.[1][8] Overall Wasa-Arthur caused several minor injuries, two deaths and was considered to have caused extensive damage with damage totals estimated at US$60 million.[5][8] Ahead of the system impacting the island nation, various watches and warnings were issued, including a red alert for Tahiti, which banned all road traffic and navigation around the islands.[9] The system brought strong winds, flooding, heavy rain, high seas, swells and a storm surge to the island nation.[5]

French Polynesia

On 12 December, tourists on the island of Bora Bora were evacuated to a local church, after the system had swept high seas into tourist bungalows.[10] The system destroyed 367 homes, damaged 855 other homes, destroyed or damaged a variety of crops and damaged several public buildings, hotels, roads and power installations, with the worst affected islands were Bora Bora and Tubuai.[1][8] On Rurutu island, Moerai harbour was destroyed by a cyclonic swell generated by the system, while the local school and police station were destroyed by high waves.[11][12] A women and her child were killed while asleep, after torrential rainfall from Wasa caused a mudslide on the island of Moorea the day after the system had made its closest approach to the island.[8][13][14]

Society Islands

Strong winds were recorded within the Leeward Islands, which destroyed hundreds of houses, devastated crops and uprooted trees.[5] A swell of 6–8 m (20–26 ft) submerged the islands of Manuae, Motu One and Mopelia.[5] On Mopelia atoll, the 66 inhabitants of the island attached themselves to poles, in order to ensure that they were not swept away by Wasa's high waves.[5]

Austral Islands

Wasa's eye went directly impacted the island of Tubuai during 12 December, where sustained winds of 100 km/h (60 mph), wind gusts of around 150 km/h (95 mph) and a minimum pressure of 976 hPa (28.82 inHg) were reported.[1][5] Waves of between 10–15 metres (33–49 ft) were observed, while the sea had penetrated up to 100 metres (330 ft) inland.[5]

In Tubuai, the local school and police station were destroyed by high waves, which also damaged stretches of the coastal highway.[15]

Aftermath

During the aftermath of the cyclone, a

list of tropical cyclone names by the World Meteorological Organization.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Gill, Jonathan P (3 September 1994). "The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season 1991–1992" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine. 43: 181–192. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d 1992 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report (PDF) (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 1993. pp. 240–247. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Saison 1991 - 1992 Des Perturbations Tropicales Dans Le Pacifique Sud-Est". MetMar (157). Direction De La Meteorologie Nationale. 1992. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "1991 Tropical Cyclone Wasa (1991339S10203)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-2-9522946-1-4
    .
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Ward, Graham F.A. (26 June 1992). Tropical Cyclone Report 92/6: Tropical Cyclone Arthur, December 14 - 17, 1991 (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "1991 Tropical Cyclone Arthur (1991348S23218)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Prince, Al (1992). "Havoc in French Polynesia". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 62, no. 1. p. 39.
  9. ^ "Alerte rouge à Tahiti". Agence France Presse. 11 December 1991.  – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
  10. ^ O'Callaghan, Mary-Louise (13 December 1991). "Cyclone Val devastates Western Samoa". The Age. p. 11. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  11. S2CID 140610552
    .
  12. ^ Perdriau, Philippe (14 December 1991). "Cyclone batters Tubuai Islands". Agence France Presse.  – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
  13. ^ Thomas, Albert J (September 1992). Meaden, GT (ed.). "World Weather Disasters: December 1991" (PDF). The Journal of Meteorology. 17 (171): 247. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  14. ^ O'Callaghan, Mary-Louise (14 December 1991). "Samoa devastated by cyclone". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 15. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  15. ^ Newmann, Steve (21 December 1991). "Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet". The Toronto Star.
  16. ^ Perdriau, Philippe (14 December 1991). "Cyclone batters Tubuai Islands". Agence France Presse.  – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
  17. ^ a b "Cyclone Wasa (Polynésie) – Réponse du ministère: Départements et territoires d'Outre-mer" (in French). French Senate. 17 September 1992. p. 2120. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  18. ^ "Deliberation number 92-136" (in French). French Polynesia Territorial Assembly. 20 August 1992. p. 280. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  19. ^ "Deliberation number 92-137" (in French). French Polynesia Territorial Assembly. 20 August 1992. p. 281. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  20. ^ 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 23 October 2023.

External links

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