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Cyclone Innis (2009)
Encyclopedia
Cyclone Innis was a tropical cyclone
which formed as Tropical Disturbance 10F to the east of Fiji
on February 13, 2009. As it moved east, the disturbance was designated as a tropical depression late the next day by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre
in Nadi, Fiji. A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
was issued on February 15 by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
, as the depression moved towards Vanuatu
and continued to organise itself. Vanuatu then suffered a direct hit from the depression early the next day before it was upgraded to a cyclone and named Innis Innis early on February 17 as it moved across New Caledonia
. Innis then quickly reached its peak intensity with winds of 75 km/h (45 mph), before RSMC Nadi transferred primary warning responsibility of Cyclone Innis, to the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington
, who downgraded it to an extratropical low within their first advisory. Cyclone Innis was then absorbed by a trough of low pressure which brought heavy rain to New Zealand during February 20. There were no deaths reported by Cyclone Innis and little impact was reported from the storm in Vanuatu or New Caledonia.
. The Depression's low level circulation centre was exposed and was located to the south of an anti cyclonic circulation and under an upper trough of low pressure. Late on February 15 the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
as convective banding
was wrapping into the depression's well defined low level circulation centre. Early the next morning the depression passed over the southern islands of Vanuatu
.
Later on February 15 while outflow was good, and was being steered towards the southwest, RSMC Nadi reported that land interaction and higher vertical wind shear
was expected to weaken the depression and issued their last advisory on the depression. Early the next day the JTWC designated the Tropical Depression, as Tropical Cyclone 15P this came as the depression was making its second landfall on New Caledonia
. However, the land interaction did not weaken the depression and had moved into an area of low vertical windshear, and thus RSMC Nadi started to reissue warnings on the depression. Later that morning, RSMC Nadi upgraded the depression, to a category one cyclone, and named it as Cyclone Innis. Later that day both the JTWC and RSMC Nadi reported that Cyclone Innis had reached both its one minute and ten minute peak wind speeds of 75 km/h (45 mph). RSMC Nadi then released their last Advisory on Innis, as they transferred primary warning responsibility to the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington
, due to Innis moving to the south of 25S. Early the next day as TCWC Wellington issued their first advisory, TCWC Wellington downgraded Innis to an extratropical low. Later that day the extratropical low that was Cyclone Innis, was absorbed by a trough of low pressure while moving between Australia and New Zealand.
and Erromango
islands. Later that day as damaging gale force winds were no longer expected to affect Vanuatu, RSMC Nadi cancelled the special weather advisories for Vanuatu. Later that day, an orange tropical cyclone alert was issued for New Caledonia
as Tropical Depression 10F was about to make landfall on New Caledonia within 24 hours. After Tropical Depression 10F had made landfall it was reported that overall damage was light while 22.2 mm of rain was reported in Poindimié
, 70 mm in Tontouta, 10.4 mm in Noumea
. Shortly after Innis became extratropical, warnings were issued by both the TCWC's in Brisbane
, and Wellington for Lord Howe Island
and parts of New Zealand
. This was because Cyclone Innis was expected to affect the countries once it had merged with a trough of low pressure, which had affected New South Wales
in Australia
. There was no impact reported on Lord Howes Island while in New Zealand only heavy rain was reported from the trough of low pressure that was Cyclone Innis.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
which formed as Tropical Disturbance 10F to the east of Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
on February 13, 2009. As it moved east, the disturbance was designated as a tropical depression late the next day by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre
Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre
A Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre is responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they have a part of, agreed by consensus at the World Meteorological Organization as part of the World Weather Watch.-Tropical...
in Nadi, Fiji. A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert is a bulletin released by the U.S. Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii or the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Norfolk, Virginia, warning of the possibility of a tropical cyclone forming from a tropical disturbance that has been...
was issued on February 15 by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
, as the depression moved towards Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
and continued to organise itself. Vanuatu then suffered a direct hit from the depression early the next day before it was upgraded to a cyclone and named Innis Innis early on February 17 as it moved across New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
. Innis then quickly reached its peak intensity with winds of 75 km/h (45 mph), before RSMC Nadi transferred primary warning responsibility of Cyclone Innis, to the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, who downgraded it to an extratropical low within their first advisory. Cyclone Innis was then absorbed by a trough of low pressure which brought heavy rain to New Zealand during February 20. There were no deaths reported by Cyclone Innis and little impact was reported from the storm in Vanuatu or New Caledonia.
Meteorological history
Late on February 13, 2009, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 10F, had formed to the west of Nadi, Fiji. At this time the disturbance's low level circulation centre was difficult to locate and was not organised while convection had persisted for the previous 24 hours and was located within an area of moderate vertical wind shear. Late the next day as the disturbance had organised itself RSMC Nadi upgraded the disturbance to a Tropical Depression while it was moving east towards VanuatuVanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
. The Depression's low level circulation centre was exposed and was located to the south of an anti cyclonic circulation and under an upper trough of low pressure. Late on February 15 the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert is a bulletin released by the U.S. Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii or the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Norfolk, Virginia, warning of the possibility of a tropical cyclone forming from a tropical disturbance that has been...
as convective banding
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
was wrapping into the depression's well defined low level circulation centre. Early the next morning the depression passed over the southern islands of Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
.
Later on February 15 while outflow was good, and was being steered towards the southwest, RSMC Nadi reported that land interaction and higher vertical wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
was expected to weaken the depression and issued their last advisory on the depression. Early the next day the JTWC designated the Tropical Depression, as Tropical Cyclone 15P this came as the depression was making its second landfall on New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
. However, the land interaction did not weaken the depression and had moved into an area of low vertical windshear, and thus RSMC Nadi started to reissue warnings on the depression. Later that morning, RSMC Nadi upgraded the depression, to a category one cyclone, and named it as Cyclone Innis. Later that day both the JTWC and RSMC Nadi reported that Cyclone Innis had reached both its one minute and ten minute peak wind speeds of 75 km/h (45 mph). RSMC Nadi then released their last Advisory on Innis, as they transferred primary warning responsibility to the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, due to Innis moving to the south of 25S. Early the next day as TCWC Wellington issued their first advisory, TCWC Wellington downgraded Innis to an extratropical low. Later that day the extratropical low that was Cyclone Innis, was absorbed by a trough of low pressure while moving between Australia and New Zealand.
Preparations, and impact
On February 16, RSMC Nadi started to issue special weather advisories for Vanuatu on Tropical Depression 10F, as a strong wind warning had been declared for Vanuatu. RSMC Nadi also reported at this time that the winds could strengthen to damaging gale force while passing over Vanuatu. They also anticipated that rainfall would be rather heavy at times while the depression passed, between EfateÉfaté
Efate is an island in the Agean Ocean which is part of the Shefa Province in The Republic of Maliki. It is also known as Île Vate. It is the most populous island in Vanuatu. Efate's land area of makes it Vanuatu's third largest island. Most inhabitants of Efate live in Port Vila, the national...
and Erromango
Erromango
Erromango is the largest island in Tafea Province, the southernmost province of Vanuatu. Its highest point is Mount Santop, at 886 m. Its largest villages are Port Narvin and Dillons Bay . The former main village was Ipota...
islands. Later that day as damaging gale force winds were no longer expected to affect Vanuatu, RSMC Nadi cancelled the special weather advisories for Vanuatu. Later that day, an orange tropical cyclone alert was issued for New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
as Tropical Depression 10F was about to make landfall on New Caledonia within 24 hours. After Tropical Depression 10F had made landfall it was reported that overall damage was light while 22.2 mm of rain was reported in Poindimié
Poindimié
Poindimié is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
, 70 mm in Tontouta, 10.4 mm in Noumea
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
. Shortly after Innis became extratropical, warnings were issued by both the TCWC's in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, and Wellington for Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, directly east of mainland Port Macquarie, and about from Norfolk Island. The island is about 11 km long and between 2.8 km and 0.6 km wide with an area of...
and parts of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. This was because Cyclone Innis was expected to affect the countries once it had merged with a trough of low pressure, which had affected New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. There was no impact reported on Lord Howes Island while in New Zealand only heavy rain was reported from the trough of low pressure that was Cyclone Innis.
See also
- 2008–09 South Pacific cyclone season
- 2008-09 Australian region cyclone season2008-09 Australian region cyclone seasonThe 2008–09 Australian region cyclone season was an event in the cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started on 1 November 2008, and officially ended on 30 April 2009...
- Timeline of the 2008–09 South Pacific cyclone seasonTimeline of the 2008–09 South Pacific cyclone seasonThe 2008–09 South Pacific cyclone season was a below-average season with only six tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific between 160°E and 120°W...
- Timeline of the 2008–09 Australian region cyclone seasonTimeline of the 2008–09 Australian region cyclone seasonThis timeline documents all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation during the 2008–09 Australian region cyclone season. The 2008–09 Southern Hemisphere Tropical Cyclone year started on 1 July 2008 and ended on 1 July 2009. The...