Formed March 7, 2014 Total fatalities 10 | Dissipated March 16, 2014 Highest wind speed 150 km/h | |
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Highest winds 10-minute sustained: 150 km/h (90 mph)
1-minute sustained: 140 km/h (85 mph) Lowest pressure 960 hPa (mbar); 28.35 inHg Damage $3 million (2014 USD)
(New Zealand only) Areas affected Vanuatu, Fiji, New Zealand Date 7 March 2014 – 16 March 2014 Affected areas Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand Similar Cyclone Paula, Cyclone Sose, Cyclone Susan, Cyclone Rewa, Cyclone Drena | ||
Severe tropical cyclone lusi 18p 2014
Cyclone Lusi was the second severe tropical cyclone of the 2013–14 season and affected Fiji, Vanuatu and New Zealand.
Contents
- Severe tropical cyclone lusi 18p 2014
- Weather updates march 11 2014 at 0900hours for tropical cyclone lusi
- Meteorological history
- Vanuatu
- Fiji
- New Zealand
- Retirement
- References
The system that was to become Cyclone Lusi was first noted as a tropical disturbance on March 7, while it was located to the east of Fiji. Over the next three days the system moved towards the north-northeast and gradually developed further, before it was named Lusi late on March 9, after it had developed into a tropical cyclone. The system dissipated on March 16.
Weather updates march 11 2014 at 0900hours for tropical cyclone lusi
Meteorological history
Early on March 7, 2014, the Fiji Meteorological Service reported that Tropical Disturbance 18F had developed about 685 km (425 mi) to the west of Nadi. The system was located within a marginally favorable environment for further development, which included low to moderate vertical wind shear and favorable sea surface temperatures. Over the next two days the system moved towards the north-northwest and slowly consolidated, as atmospheric convection wrapped into the system's low level circulation center, before RSMC Nadi reported during March 9 that the system had developed into a tropical depression. During that day the system further consolidated as it affected Vanuatu and moved towards the north-northeast, before the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center initiated warnings and designated the depression as Tropical Cyclone 18P later that day. RSMC Nadi subsequently named the system Lusi at around 23:00 UTC (11:00 FST), after it had developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale.
Vanuatu
Late on March 9, ahead of the depression being classified as a tropical cyclone and named Lusi, the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department issued tropical cyclone warnings for the Vanuatu provinces of Torba, Sanma, Penama and Malampa.
Fiji
On March 11, a tropical cyclone alert was issued for parts of the Western Division, as Lusi approached the islands from the west. During the next day gale warnings were issued for the Western Division before they were cancelled later that day, as the system turned towards the south sooner than had been expected. As a result, Fiji was spared any direct effects from the cyclone, while the associated trough of low pressure affected the islands until March 13.
New Zealand
During March 9, MetService started to warn that a tropical weather system might affect New Zealand by the end of that week.
Cyclone Lusi hit New Zealand shores on the 13th of March. In preparation for the event the New Zealand government advised people to fix loosened things (such as trampolines), and the Civil Defense team was put on alert. Winds reaching up to 130 km/h were expected to occur in the cities of Auckland, Whangarei and Hamilton, and the east coast of the North Island was put on high alert. Lusi brought severe winds as it moved southeast towards Wellington and the northern South Island in the evening of March 15. On March 16, the severe gale winds slightly weakened, and Lusi pushed away from New Zealand on March 17.
Insured losses across the country amounted to NZ$4 million (US$3 million).
Retirement
Due to the impacts caused by the storm, the name Lusi was retired and was later replaced by Louise.