Cyclone Ian Explained

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian
Formed:January 2, 2014
Extratropical:January 14, 2014
Dissipated:January 15, 2014
Winds:110
Gusts:155
Pressure:930
Winds:130
Pressure:926
Year:2014
Fatalities:1 direct
Damage:48000000
Areas:Fiji, Tonga
Season:2013–14 South Pacific cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian was a powerful tropical cyclone that formed on January 2, 2014, and dissipated on January 15, 2014. Areas affected by the tropical cyclone include Fiji and Tonga. In Tonga, Ian caused destruction in the Ha'apai islands, as well as one fatality.

Meteorological history

During January 2, 2014 the Fiji Meteorological Service's Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in Nadi, Fiji (RSMC Nadi) reported that Tropical Disturbance 07F had developed to the southeast of Futuna Island.[1] Over the next day the system gradually developed further underneath an upper level ridge of high pressure, within an area of moderate vertical wind shear, as it slowly moved towards the southwest.[1] [2] RSMC Nadi subsequently classified the disturbance as a tropical depression early on January 4, as the systems low level circulation center consolidated.[3] [4] Over the next day the system continued to move towards the southwest, before the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center designated the system as Tropical Cyclone 07P late on January 5.[5] At around this time RSMC Nadi named the system Ian, after it had become a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale.[6]

Early on January 8, RSMC Nadi reported that Ian had become a category two tropical cyclone.[7] During that day the systems organization significantly improved with RSMC Nadi reporting at 1800 UTC that Ian had become a category three severe tropical cyclone.[8] Over the next day the system developed a cloud filled eye and intensified into a category 4 severe tropical cyclone. On January 12, as Ian started to weaken RSMC Nadi handed the primary warning responsibility, for issuing warnings over to the Wellington Tropical Cyclone Warning Center.

Preparations and impact

Late on January 10, a state of emergency was declared by Tongan Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano, after Ian intensified into a category five severe tropical cyclone[9] with 287 km/h winds. It struck the Ha'apai islands the next day between Tongatapu and Vava'u, according to the Director of Emergencies Leveni Aho. He also said that 23 islands that are a part of Ha'apai were unreachable by telephone and that patrol boats were traveling from island-to-island to get information. As a result of the cyclone, homes were flattened and at least one person was dead. Ha'apai governor Tu'i Ha'angana said that he was able to see from one side of the island to the other and "that's how devastated it is."[10] By 13 January, contact with the islands was restored.[11]

The electrical grid on Ha'apai sustained tremendous damage, with 90 percent of power lines being lost or severely damaged. Approximately 1,000 customers lost power during the storm. Estimates placed the cost to repair the system at NZ$4 million (US$3.5 million). By January 23, only 100 residences had power back and Tonga Power Limited (TPL) stated it could take a further two months to fully restore the system.[12] In addition to the severe disruption to power, 80–90 percent of the region's water supply was lost. Most residents in Ha'apai rely on rain water collection, and the collection tanks were largely destroyed by the storm. The nation's tourism industry also experienced moderate to severe losses, with damage to facilities amounting to T$1.6 million (US$861,000). Throughout the archipelago, 1,130 buildings were affected, half of which were completely destroyed. Of those structures not destroyed, 34 percent sustained major damage, including 13 schools. Approximately 2,300 people were left homeless by the storm.[13]

Total damage from the storm amounted to an estimated T$90.2 million (US$48 million).[14]

Aftermath

In the wake of Ian, the ANZ bank donated T$15,000 (US$8,000) to the Tonga Red Cross Society.[15] New Zealand provided NZ$2.27 million (US$1.87 million) in assistance to the TPL. In addition, six electricians, a front end loader, and a tractor were sent to assist in restoration and debris removal efforts.[16] Australia provided A$50,000 in emergency supplies including blankets, water containers, tarpaulins, kitchen sets and hygiene kits.[17] On January 22, the director of Tonga's National Emergency Office, Leveni Aho, announced that the scale of damage was beyond Tonga's ability to handle on its own and made a formal request for internal aid. Following this, China sent 400 tents to house displaced persons while France provided a cargo plane for supply transport.[18] In accordance with the FRANZ agreement, enacted in 1992, the Government of France established an air route from Nuku'alofa to Ha'apai and deployed an aircraft carrier from New Caledonia. The carrier, loaded with supplies from the French Red Cross, arrived in Tonga on January 17.[19] The Government of Turkey made a contribution of US$50,000 to assist Tonga with relief operations.[20] The Japanese Government provided 600 jerrycans and 30 water tanks (3,700 litre capacity), collectively worth ¥13 million (US$127,000).[21] Recovery from the cyclone was slow with over 80 families still living in tents over a year after the system had affected the islands.[22]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tropical Disturbance Summary January 2, 2014 21z . January 2, 2014 . https://archive.today/20240522023659/https://www.webcitation.org/6MLVsSsLN?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WWPS21-NFFN_201401022300.htm . Fiji Meteorological Service . January 9, 2014 . May 22, 2024 . RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre . dead .
  2. Web site: Tropical Disturbance Summary January 3, 2014 21z . January 3, 2014 . https://archive.today/20240522023659/https://www.webcitation.org/6MLVsSsLN?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WWPS21-NFFN_201401022300.htm . Fiji Meteorological Service . January 10, 2014 . May 22, 2024 . RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre . dead .
  3. Web site: Tropical Disturbance Summary January 4, 2014 06z . January 4, 2014 . https://archive.today/20240522023742/https://www.webcitation.org/6MNAz9ddg?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WWPS21-NFFN_201401040600.htm . Fiji Meteorological Service . January 10, 2014 . May 22, 2024 . RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre . dead .
  4. Web site: Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans January 4, 2014 12z . January 4, 2014 . January 10, 2014 . https://archive.today/20240522023621/https://www.webcitation.org/6DOMPhWoY?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/ABPW10-PGTW_201301021300.htm . May 22, 2024 . Joint Typhoon Warning Center . United States Navy, United States Air Force . dead .
  5. Web site: Tropical Cyclone 07P Tropical Cyclone Advisory January 5, 2014 21z . Joint Typhoon Warning Center . January 5, 2014 . January 10, 2014 . https://archive.today/20240522023859/https://www.webcitation.org/6MQ4v2kL3?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPS31-PGTW_201401052100.htm . May 22, 2024 . United States Navy, United States Air Force . dead .
  6. Web site: Tropical Disturbance Advisory January 5, 2014 21z . January 5, 2014 . Fiji Meteorological Service . January 10, 2014 . https://archive.today/20240522023820/https://www.webcitation.org/6MQ4rg9xV?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPS11-NFFN_201401052100.htm . May 22, 2024 . RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre . dead .
  7. Web site: Tropical Disturbance Advisory January 8, 2014 00z . January 8, 2014 . January 12, 2014 . https://archive.today/20240522023940/https://www.webcitation.org/6MT3WemIq?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPS11-NFFN_201401080000.htm . May 22, 2024 . RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre . Fiji Meteorological Service . dead .
  8. Web site: Tropical Disturbance Advisory January 8, 2014 18z . January 8, 2014 . January 12, 2014 . https://archive.today/20240522024020/https://www.webcitation.org/6MUekiLb3?url=http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/advisories/WTPS11-NFFN_201401081800.htm . May 22, 2024 . RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre . Fiji Meteorological Service . dead .
  9. Web site: State of Emergency declared for Vava'u and Ha‘apai . Matangi Tonga . 11 January 2014 . 3 September 2022.
  10. Web site: Cyclone rips through Tonga.
  11. Web site: Extensive cyclone damage across Tonga. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 January 2014.
  12. Web site: Dateline Pacific . Radio New Zealand International . January 23, 2014 . January 26, 2014 . US$3.5 million and two months to restore Ha'apai's power . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124940/http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2583247/us$3-point-5-million-and-two-months-to-restore-ha%27apai%27s-power . September 24, 2015 . dead .
  13. Web site: ONE News . Television New Zealand Limited . January 17, 2014 . January 26, 2014 . Tonga asks for more NZ help in Cyclone Ian aftermath . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202123928/http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/tonga-asks-more-nz-help-in-cyclone-ian-aftermath-5801996 . February 2, 2014 . dead .
  14. AON Benfield. 2014. December 23, 2014. January 2014 Global Catastrophe Recap.
  15. Web site: Matangi Tonga . Islands Business . January 20, 2014 . January 26, 2014 . Tonga's Tourism Ministry estimates $1.6m damage to Ha'apai tourism facilities . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201204037/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tonga/4319/tongas-tourism-ministry-estimates-16m-damage-to-ha/ . February 1, 2014 . dead .
  16. Web site: Australian Associated Press . MSN New Zealand . January 25, 2014 . January 26, 2014 . NZ linesmen to help restore Tongan power . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201204833/http://news.msn.co.nz/nationalnews/8789059/nz-linesmen-to-help-restore-tongan-power . February 1, 2014 . dead .
  17. Web site: Australian Government. January 14, 2014. Australia responds to Cyclone Ian in Tonga.
  18. Web site: Australian Broadcasting Corporation . January 22, 2014 . January 26, 2014 . Cyclone Ian: Tonga appeals for international help in relief efforts . https://web.archive.org/web/20140126175734/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-22/an-tonga-says-cyclone-ian-recovery-beyond-the-scope-of-local-re/5212362 . January 26, 2014 . dead .
  19. Web site: Government of France. ReliefWeb. January 23, 2014. January 26, 2014. Aide française au profit des populations sinistrées des Ha'apai après le passage du cyclone Ian (Tonga, 11-12 janvier 2014). fr.
  20. Web site: Relations between Turkey and Tonga . Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs . 4 January 2021.
  21. Web site: Government of Japan. ReliefWeb. January 24, 2014. January 26, 2014. Japan Handed Over Emergency Assistance for Cyclone Disaster.
  22. Web site: New houses for Tongan cyclone victims. 17 February 2015.

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