Cyclone Ului (2010)
Encyclopedia
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ului was one of the fastest intensifying tropical cyclone
s on record, strengthening from a tropical storm to a Category 5 equivalent cyclone within a 30 hour span. Throughout Queensland, Australia, infrastructural damage from the storm amounted to A$20 million ($18 million USD) and agricultural losses reached A$60 million ($54 million USD)
(FMS) late on 9 March 2010 roughly 130 kilometres (80.8 mi) north of Hiw Island, Vanuatu. At that time, the system was classified as Tropical Disturbance 13F. Early the following day, the system became sufficiently organised for the FMS to upgrade the disturbance to a tropical depression. Several hours later, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
(JTWC) also began monitoring the system. By this time, deep convection
had developed around a low-level circulation
and banding features
had formed. A slow westward movement was expected as the depression was situated north of a subtropical
ridge
.
On 12 March, 13F was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Ului. By early on 13 March, it was a category 2 cyclone. Later that day, Ului strengthened into a category 3, making it a severe tropical cyclone. The storm continued to strengthen throughout the day and that night it became a category 5. Ului became the first category 5 South Pacific cyclone since Severe Tropical Cyclone Percy in February 2005 but weakened to category 4 about the time it crossed the 160°E meridian. Ului was predicted to restrengthen back into a category 5 as it moved away from an upper level low and Severe Tropical Cyclone Tomas, however Ului remained as a category 4 and had weakened to a category 3 system in the early hours of 18 March. It weakened further to category 2 for a while before regaining category 3 strength. Early on 21 March (local time) it crossed the outlying Whitsunday Islands
and made landfall near Airlie Beach, Queensland
.
's New Caledonia zone of responsibility, forecasters decided that there was no need to instate a pre-alert status as all forecasts showed that Ului wouldn't affect New Caledonia.
, Australia
began warning residents about the possibility of the storm making landfall in the region. Large swells produced by the system prompted lifeguards to close large areas of public beaches. People who wanted to go into the ocean were strongly urged to only do so in patrolled areas. Additionally, fishermen removed their shark nets from the region in anticipation of winds exceeding 65 km/h (40 mph). The removal of shark nets was a first in preparation for cyclones. Although the removal of the nets would prevent damage to them from the storm, it left swimmers at risk for shark attacks. A large surfing competition, the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, welcomed the large swells from the storm, estimated at 5 m (16.4 ft). Roughly 8,100 people signed up for the competition; however, managers stated that if the swells continued to increase, they may have to relocate the event elsewhere. These swells were anticipated to be the largest experienced along the Queensland coastline in the past decade and emergency management officials warned residents living along coastal areas that the waves would likely inundate low-lying regions.
On 18 March, new forecasts of the future track of Ului indicated that it would make landfall in Queensland. As a result, officials evacuated roughly 300 people from the islands of Heron and Lady Elliot
, situated about 1000 km (621.4 mi) off the Australian mainland. Residents along the Sunshine Coast
were advised to prepare their homes for a possible Category 4 cyclone and stock up on non-perishable foods. Later on 18 March, the Bureau of Meteorology expected that the cyclone would cross or near the Queensland coast, between Cardwell
and Mackay
, on 21 March as a category 3 cyclone. on 19 March, Ului was downgraded to a category 2 cyclone. Several ports along the Queensland coastline were shut down for several days as large waves impacted the region. Transportation of coal and other raw materials was halted in these areas as well. On 21 March the cyclone weakened as it moved inland and was downgraded below cyclone strength. 60,000 homes were without power in Cannonvale, Mackay, Proserpine, Sarina and surrounding areas. Most of the major damage occurred at Proserpine and the areas to the south and west such as Crystalbrook, Kelsey Creek, Silver Creek, Dittmer, Gunyarra, Andromache, Bloomsbury, Thoopara etc. Airlie Beach/Cannonvale/Cannonvalley sustainted relatively minor damage due to them being sheltered from most of the damaging winds by the conway ranges which the Conway National Park
is part of Airlie Beach/Cannonvale/Cannonvalley sustainted relatively minor damage due to them being sheltered from most of the damaging winds by the conway ranges which the Conway National Park
is part of. A National Rugby League
match in the region threatened by Ului was started roughly two hours early to avoid playing during the storm.
produced by the storm washed away several homes along coastal areas. Flooding was also reported on several islands; however, officials confirmed that no fatalities resulted from the storm. Maximum winds on the affected islands reached 120 km/h (75 mph). On Rennell Island, initial reports stated that at least ten homes had been severely damaged or destroyed in several villages. Light to moderate damage was sustained on Makira and Guadalcanal, with at least two homes sustaining damage. Unconfirmed reports of a large wave inundating several villages, washing away homes and overturning large boulders came from east Makira around 4:00 pm local time. Another village on the western side of Makira was reportedly inundated roughly five hours later. Later damage assessments made on Makira Island confirmed at least 13 homes were destroyed and several more were damaged. The most severe damage took place in Woau village where ten homes were destroyed.
and Collinsville, Queensland
.
Authorities say there are reports of roof damage and powerlines down communities throughout the region. 60,000 homes were reported to be without power between Mackay
, Proserpine
and Collinsville
. Some sites reported over 400mm of rain in 24 hours.
in 2005
for the fastest intensification of a system from tropical storm to Category 5. According to the JTWC, maximum sustained winds increased from 100 km/h (65 mph) to 260 km/h (160 mph). They also estimated that the storm's minimal central pressure had decreased from 982 mbar (hPa) to 918 mbar (hPa), a drop of 64 mbar (hPa), during this span.
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...
s on record, strengthening from a tropical storm to a Category 5 equivalent cyclone within a 30 hour span. Throughout Queensland, Australia, infrastructural damage from the storm amounted to A$20 million ($18 million USD) and agricultural losses reached A$60 million ($54 million USD)
Meteorological history
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ului was first identified by the Fiji Meteorological ServiceFiji Meteorological Service
The Fiji Meteorological Service is a Department of the government of Fiji responsible for providing weather forecasts and is based in Nadi. Since 1995, FMS has been responsible for naming and tracking tropical cyclones in the Southwest Pacific region...
(FMS) late on 9 March 2010 roughly 130 kilometres (80.8 mi) north of Hiw Island, Vanuatu. At that time, the system was classified as Tropical Disturbance 13F. Early the following day, the system became sufficiently organised for the FMS to upgrade the disturbance to a tropical depression. Several hours later, 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...
(JTWC) also began monitoring the system. By this time, deep convection
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
had developed around a low-level circulation
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
and banding features
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...
had formed. A slow westward movement was expected as the depression was situated north of a subtropical
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
.
On 12 March, 13F was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Ului. By early on 13 March, it was a category 2 cyclone. Later that day, Ului strengthened into a category 3, making it a severe tropical cyclone. The storm continued to strengthen throughout the day and that night it became a category 5. Ului became the first category 5 South Pacific cyclone since Severe Tropical Cyclone Percy in February 2005 but weakened to category 4 about the time it crossed the 160°E meridian. Ului was predicted to restrengthen back into a category 5 as it moved away from an upper level low and Severe Tropical Cyclone Tomas, however Ului remained as a category 4 and had weakened to a category 3 system in the early hours of 18 March. It weakened further to category 2 for a while before regaining category 3 strength. Early on 21 March (local time) it crossed the outlying Whitsunday Islands
Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of continental islands of various sizes off the central coast of Queensland, Australia, situated between just south of Bowen and to the north of Mackay, some north of Brisbane. The island group is centred on Whitsunday Island, while the group's commercial...
and made landfall near Airlie Beach, Queensland
Airlie Beach, Queensland
Airlie Beach is a town in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, the suburb of Airlie Beach itself had a population of 2,751. The greater Whitsunday region had a population of approximately 31,000...
.
Preparations
Solomon Islands
As the storm approached the Solomon Islands, officials advised that most vessels remain at port due to rough seas produced by Ului. Search and rescue personnel were also placed on standby. On 16 March, UNICEF announced that they would supply the Solomon Islands with relief funds following the passage of the cyclone. During the passage of the storm, airport officials cancelled many flights due to dangerous weather conditions. These cancellations took place over a two day span, leaving many passengers stranded during the storm.New Caledonia
Even though Ului passed through Météo-FranceMétéo-France
Météo-France is the French national meteorological service.The organisation was established by decree in June 1993 and is a department of the Ministry of Transportation. It is headquartered in Paris but many domestic operations have been decentralised to Toulouse...
's New Caledonia zone of responsibility, forecasters decided that there was no need to instate a pre-alert status as all forecasts showed that Ului wouldn't affect New Caledonia.
Australia
After Cyclone Ului passed through the Solomon Islands, officials in QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, 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...
began warning residents about the possibility of the storm making landfall in the region. Large swells produced by the system prompted lifeguards to close large areas of public beaches. People who wanted to go into the ocean were strongly urged to only do so in patrolled areas. Additionally, fishermen removed their shark nets from the region in anticipation of winds exceeding 65 km/h (40 mph). The removal of shark nets was a first in preparation for cyclones. Although the removal of the nets would prevent damage to them from the storm, it left swimmers at risk for shark attacks. A large surfing competition, the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, welcomed the large swells from the storm, estimated at 5 m (16.4 ft). Roughly 8,100 people signed up for the competition; however, managers stated that if the swells continued to increase, they may have to relocate the event elsewhere. These swells were anticipated to be the largest experienced along the Queensland coastline in the past decade and emergency management officials warned residents living along coastal areas that the waves would likely inundate low-lying regions.
On 18 March, new forecasts of the future track of Ului indicated that it would make landfall in Queensland. As a result, officials evacuated roughly 300 people from the islands of Heron and Lady Elliot
Lady Elliot Island
Lady Elliot Island is the southern-most coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The island lies north-east of Bundaberg and covers an area of approximately . The island is home to a small eco resort and an airstrip, which is serviced daily by flights from Bundaberg, Hervey Bay,...
, situated about 1000 km (621.4 mi) off the Australian mainland. Residents along the Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
were advised to prepare their homes for a possible Category 4 cyclone and stock up on non-perishable foods. Later on 18 March, the Bureau of Meteorology expected that the cyclone would cross or near the Queensland coast, between Cardwell
Cardwell, Queensland
Cardwell is a tropical coastal town in northeastern Queensland. It is located at the southern extremity of the Cassowary Coast. At the 2006 census, Cardwell had a population of 1,250. The Bruce Highway National Highway 1 and the North Coast railway line are the dominant transport routes;...
and Mackay
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
, on 21 March as a category 3 cyclone. on 19 March, Ului was downgraded to a category 2 cyclone. Several ports along the Queensland coastline were shut down for several days as large waves impacted the region. Transportation of coal and other raw materials was halted in these areas as well. On 21 March the cyclone weakened as it moved inland and was downgraded below cyclone strength. 60,000 homes were without power in Cannonvale, Mackay, Proserpine, Sarina and surrounding areas. Most of the major damage occurred at Proserpine and the areas to the south and west such as Crystalbrook, Kelsey Creek, Silver Creek, Dittmer, Gunyarra, Andromache, Bloomsbury, Thoopara etc. Airlie Beach/Cannonvale/Cannonvalley sustainted relatively minor damage due to them being sheltered from most of the damaging winds by the conway ranges which the Conway National Park
Conway National Park
Conway is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 911 km northwest of Brisbane. It is at high risk of being ruined by development in the towns of Airlie Beach Cannonvale and Cannon Valley.-References:...
is part of Airlie Beach/Cannonvale/Cannonvalley sustainted relatively minor damage due to them being sheltered from most of the damaging winds by the conway ranges which the Conway National Park
Conway National Park
Conway is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 911 km northwest of Brisbane. It is at high risk of being ruined by development in the towns of Airlie Beach Cannonvale and Cannon Valley.-References:...
is part of. A National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
match in the region threatened by Ului was started roughly two hours early to avoid playing during the storm.
Solomon Islands
As a Category 5 cyclone, Ului passed through the southern Solomon Islands, causing severe damage on the islands of Rennell, Guadalcanal as well as Bellona province. Large swellsSwell (ocean)
A swell, in the context of an ocean, sea or lake, is a series surface gravity waves that is not generated by the local wind. Swell waves often have a long wavelength but this varies with the size of the water body, e.g. rarely more than 150 m in the Mediterranean, and from event to event, with...
produced by the storm washed away several homes along coastal areas. Flooding was also reported on several islands; however, officials confirmed that no fatalities resulted from the storm. Maximum winds on the affected islands reached 120 km/h (75 mph). On Rennell Island, initial reports stated that at least ten homes had been severely damaged or destroyed in several villages. Light to moderate damage was sustained on Makira and Guadalcanal, with at least two homes sustaining damage. Unconfirmed reports of a large wave inundating several villages, washing away homes and overturning large boulders came from east Makira around 4:00 pm local time. Another village on the western side of Makira was reportedly inundated roughly five hours later. Later damage assessments made on Makira Island confirmed at least 13 homes were destroyed and several more were damaged. The most severe damage took place in Woau village where ten homes were destroyed.
Australia
On 19 March, a teenage surf lifesaver, Saxon Bird, was knocked off his surf ski amidst 2 m (6.6 ft) waves produced by Ului. After being struck by his ski, he was transported to a local hospital before dying from his injuries hours later. As a result of his death, the water events of the Australian Surf Life Saving championships at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast were cancelled. The system made landfall near Airlie Beach, north of Mackay, at about 1:30am AEST on Sunday Morning 21 March and headed in a SSW direction mainting catergory 3 status until it reached roughly half way between Proserpine, QueenslandProserpine, Queensland
-External links:* * * * *...
and Collinsville, Queensland
Collinsville, Queensland
Collinsville is a mining town in the coal-rich Bowen Basin region of central Queensland, Australia, 1245 km north of Brisbane and 87 km south-west of the coastal town of Bowen. The town is part of the Whitsunday Region...
.
Authorities say there are reports of roof damage and powerlines down communities throughout the region. 60,000 homes were reported to be without power between Mackay
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
, Proserpine
Proserpine, Queensland
-External links:* * * * *...
and Collinsville
Collinsville, Queensland
Collinsville is a mining town in the coal-rich Bowen Basin region of central Queensland, Australia, 1245 km north of Brisbane and 87 km south-west of the coastal town of Bowen. The town is part of the Whitsunday Region...
. Some sites reported over 400mm of rain in 24 hours.
Aftermath and records
Between 13 and 14 March, Cyclone Ului underwent an unusually explosive phase of rapid intensification. During a 24 hour span, the system intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 5 equivalent cyclone, tying Hurricane WilmaHurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wilma was the twenty-second storm , thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and fourth Category 5 hurricane of the record-breaking 2005 season...
in 2005
2005 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, repeatedly shattering numerous records. The impact of the season was widespread and ruinous with an estimated 3,913 deaths and record damage of about $159.2 billion...
for the fastest intensification of a system from tropical storm to Category 5. According to the JTWC, maximum sustained winds increased from 100 km/h (65 mph) to 260 km/h (160 mph). They also estimated that the storm's minimal central pressure had decreased from 982 mbar (hPa) to 918 mbar (hPa), a drop of 64 mbar (hPa), during this span.
See also
- List of the most intense tropical cyclones
- Lists of tropical cyclones
- 2009–10 South Pacific cyclone season2009–10 South Pacific cyclone seasonThe 2009–10 South Pacific cyclone season began on December 3, 2009 with the formation of Tropical Disturbance 01F. This was 32 days after the season had officially begun on November 1, 2009 and ended on April 30, 2010. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical...
- 2009–10 Australian region cyclone season2009–10 Australian region cyclone seasonThe 2009–10 Australian region cyclone season was a below average tropical cyclone season, with eight tropical cyclones forming compared to an average of 12. The season began on 1 November 2009 and ran through until it end on 30 April 2010. The Australian region is defined as being to south of the...