Cyclone Prema Explained

Severe Tropical Cyclone Prema
Winds:100
Pressure:940
Winds:125
Year:1993
Fatalities:3
Damage:5000000
Areas:Vanuatu, New Caledonia
Season:1992–93 South Pacific cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Prema was among the worst tropical cyclones to hit Vanuatu since 1987's Cyclone Uma.[1] The twenty-third storm of the season, Prema formed early on 26 March 1993 as a weak tropical depression.[2]

Meteorological history

During 25 March, the Fiji Meteorological Service reported that a tropical depression, had developed within an otherwise inactive monsoon trough, about 200round=5NaNround=5 to the west of the Fijian dependency of Rotuma.[3] [4] During the next day the system initially moved north-westwards, before it turned and moved south-westwards as it organised and developed further.[3]

[5] During that day the depression moved towards the northwest, before it turned and started to move towards the southwest during 26 March as it gradually developed further. During 27 March, both TCWC Nadi and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported that the depression had developed into a tropical cyclone with Nadi naming it as Prema.[6]

Preparations and impact

Severe Tropical Cyclone Prema was the first named tropical cyclone to affect Vanuatu after six systems had affected the archipelago during the previous season. Prema affected the island nation between 29 –30 March, where it caused extensive damage parts of Shefa Province, including on Epi, Efate and the Shepherd Islands.

Due to the impact of this system, the name Prema was subsequently retired, by the World Meteorological Organization's RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Change Newsletter. National Tidal Facility. September 1997. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme. 9. 2009-09-13.
  2. Web site: Vanuatu — UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FRAMEWORK (2003–2007). Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator Suva Fiji. March 2002. United Nations. 2009-09-13.
  3. December 7, 2015 . 22 May 2024 . Tropical Cyclone Prema, March 24 – April 1, 1993 . Fiji Meteorological Service . live . May 20, 1996 . https://archive.today/20240522073805/https://www.webcitation.org/6FwtCsxn1?url=http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/virtcdlib/index.cgi/4274123/FID1/DATA/TROPIC/SWP_NAR/1993_12.NAR;1 .
  4. 1993 . March 1993 . Darwin Tropical Diagnostic Statement . Australian Bureau of Meteorology . 12 . 3 . Darwin Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre . 2 . live . 1321-4233 . December 7, 2015 . December 8, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208073105/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ntregion/statements/tropical/dtds-199303.pdf .
  5. Web site: Pacific Country Report Sea Level & Climate: Their Present State Vanuatu. 2002. 5 November 2012. National Tidal Facility Australia. 15. Flinders University.
  6. Web site: [{{IBTRACS url|id=1993083S12181}} 1993 Tropical Cyclone Prema (1993083S12181)]. International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. January 26, 2020.