Tropical Cyclones are one of the most extreme weather events to affect the South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, with an average of 8 systems impacting the country per decade. Within the islands, tropical cyclones cause high winds and rainfall as well as storm surges and swells with the resulting flooding causing agricultural losses, damage to buildings and roads along the coast.
The island nation of Tuvalu is situated in the Pacific Ocean, in between Fiji and Kiribati as well as the west-northwest of Tokelau, Samoa and Wallis and Futuna. It is composed of three reef islands and six true atolls spread out between the latitude of 5° to 10° south and longitude of 176° to 180°, west of the International Date Line.
Tropical Cyclones (Saikolone's) are the most extreme weather events to affect Tuvalu, with an average of 8 systems passing within its Exclusive Economic Zone each decade. [1] However, the number of tropical cyclones inside Tuvalu's exclusive economic zone, varies widely from year to year, with none in some seasons but up to three in others. [2] Severe Tropical Cyclones are rarely observed around the islands, with only 1 or 2 expected to impact the islands every 50 years. [3] [4] The island nation was previously thought to lie outside of the main belt of tropical cyclone activity in the South Pacific. [5] However, tropical cyclones occurred more frequently around the island nation between 1972 and 1992, when compared to the period between 1940 and 1970. [5] Some of this apparent increase was put down to better record-keeping and cyclical shifts in weather patterns over the Pacific Ocean, while global warming induced by human activities was cited as a possible cause. [5] It is projected that there will be a decrease in the frequency of tropical cyclones, in and around Tuvalu by the end of the 21st century. [2] However, it is also forecast that there will be an increase in the number of more intense tropical cyclones. [2]
Within the islands, tropical cyclones cause high winds and rainfall as well as storm surges and swells, with the resulting flooding causing agricultural losses, damage to buildings and roads along the coast.
Because of the low elevation, the islands that make up this nation are vulnerable to the effects of tropical cyclones and by the threat of current and future sea level rise. [6] The highest elevation is 4.6 metres (15 ft) above sea level on Niulakita, [7] which gives Tuvalu the second-lowest maximum elevation of any country (after the Maldives). However, the highest elevations are typically in narrow storm dunes on the ocean side of the islands which are prone to overtopping in tropical cyclones, as occurred with Cyclone Bebe, which was a very early-season storm that passed through the Tuvaluan atolls in October 1972 Cyclone Bebe submerged Funafuti, eliminating 90% of structures on the island. Sources of drinking water were contaminated as a result of the system's storm surge and fresh water flooding.
George Westbrook, a trader on Funafuti, recorded a cyclone that struck Funafuti in 1883. A cyclone caused severe damage to the islands in 1894.
Cyclone Bebe in 1972 caused severe damage to Funafuti. Funafuti’s Tepuka Vili Vili islet was devastated by Cyclone Meli in 1979, with all its vegetation and most of its sand swept away during the cyclone.
Season 1971 / 1972 \ WENDY
Season 1972 / 1973 \ BEBE
Season 1973 / 1974 \ PAM
Season 1975 / 1976 \ DAVID
Season 1976 / 1977 \ KIM \ LAURIE
Season 1977 / 1978 \ BOB \ CHARLES \ STEVE
Season 1978 / 1979 \ FAY \ GORDON
Season 1979 / 1980 \ OFA \ VAL
Season 1980 / 1981 \ ARTHUR \ CLIFF \ ESAU \ UNNAMED-SP198008
Season 1982 / 1983 \ KINA \ SARAH
Season 1983 / 1984 \ UNNAMED-2
Season 1984 / 1985 \ DRENA \ UNNAMED-1
Season 1986 / 1987 \ PATSY \ RAJA \ WINI
Season 1987 / 1988 \ ANNE \ BOLA
Along with a tropical depression that affected the islands a few days later, Severe Tropical Cyclone Ofa had a major impact on Tuvalu during January and February 1990, with most islands reporting damage to vegetation and crops. [18] [19] [20] On Vaitupu Island around 85 percent of residential homes, trees and food crops were destroyed, while residential homes were also destroyed on the islands of Niutao, Nui and Nukulaelae. [20] There was a minor loss of the landscape because of sea flooding on Nui and Niulakita. [18] In Funafuti sea waves flattened the Hurricane Bebe bank at the southern end of the airstrip, which caused sea flooding and prompted the evacuation of several families from their homes. [21] After the systems had impacted Tuvalu, a Disaster Rehabilitation Sub-Committee was appointed which evaluated the damage caused and made recommendations to the National Disaster Committee and to Cabinet of what should be done to help rehabilitate the affected areas. [20]
As Severe Tropical Cyclone Val was developing Tuvalu was influenced by an active convergence zone and north-westerly winds, associated with the system but no damage was reported. [23]
Nina/Kina
During the 1996–97 season Severe Tropical Cyclone's Gavin, Hina and Keli all affected the island nation, and were responsible for about 50 hectares (120 acres) of land disappearing into the sea. [24]
Season 1989 / 1990 \ OFA \ RAE
Season 1990 / 1991 \ SINA
Season 1991 / 1992 \ INNIS \ VAL
Season 1992 / 1993 \ JONI \ NINA
Season 1993 / 1994 \ TOMAS
Season 2002 / 2003 \ AMI \ ZOE
Season 2003 / 2004 \ HETA
Season 2004 / 2005 \ KERRY \ OLAF \ PERCY \ RAE \ SHEILA
Season 2005 / 2006 \ TAM \ VAIANU \ WATI
Season 2006 / 2007 \ ARTHUR \ CLIFF
Season 2007 / 2008 \ DAMAN \ GENE
Season 2008 / 2009 \ HETTIE \ LIN
Season 2009 / 2010 \ MICK
Season 2009 / 2010 \ OLI
Season 2015 / 2016 \ TUNI \ ULA \ WINSTON
Season 2016 / 2017 \ ELLA
{{
cite book}}
: |first1=
has generic name (
help)
{{
cite report}}
: Invalid |url-status=no
(
help)
{{
cite report}}
: Invalid |url-status=no
(
help); Missing |author1=
(
help); Unknown parameter |auhtor=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (
help)
Ofa TCR2
was invoked but never defined (see the
help page).{{
cite report}}
: Invalid |url-status=no
(
help)
Tropical Cyclones are one of the most extreme weather events to affect the South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, with an average of 8 systems impacting the country per decade. Within the islands, tropical cyclones cause high winds and rainfall as well as storm surges and swells with the resulting flooding causing agricultural losses, damage to buildings and roads along the coast.
The island nation of Tuvalu is situated in the Pacific Ocean, in between Fiji and Kiribati as well as the west-northwest of Tokelau, Samoa and Wallis and Futuna. It is composed of three reef islands and six true atolls spread out between the latitude of 5° to 10° south and longitude of 176° to 180°, west of the International Date Line.
Tropical Cyclones (Saikolone's) are the most extreme weather events to affect Tuvalu, with an average of 8 systems passing within its Exclusive Economic Zone each decade. [1] However, the number of tropical cyclones inside Tuvalu's exclusive economic zone, varies widely from year to year, with none in some seasons but up to three in others. [2] Severe Tropical Cyclones are rarely observed around the islands, with only 1 or 2 expected to impact the islands every 50 years. [3] [4] The island nation was previously thought to lie outside of the main belt of tropical cyclone activity in the South Pacific. [5] However, tropical cyclones occurred more frequently around the island nation between 1972 and 1992, when compared to the period between 1940 and 1970. [5] Some of this apparent increase was put down to better record-keeping and cyclical shifts in weather patterns over the Pacific Ocean, while global warming induced by human activities was cited as a possible cause. [5] It is projected that there will be a decrease in the frequency of tropical cyclones, in and around Tuvalu by the end of the 21st century. [2] However, it is also forecast that there will be an increase in the number of more intense tropical cyclones. [2]
Within the islands, tropical cyclones cause high winds and rainfall as well as storm surges and swells, with the resulting flooding causing agricultural losses, damage to buildings and roads along the coast.
Because of the low elevation, the islands that make up this nation are vulnerable to the effects of tropical cyclones and by the threat of current and future sea level rise. [6] The highest elevation is 4.6 metres (15 ft) above sea level on Niulakita, [7] which gives Tuvalu the second-lowest maximum elevation of any country (after the Maldives). However, the highest elevations are typically in narrow storm dunes on the ocean side of the islands which are prone to overtopping in tropical cyclones, as occurred with Cyclone Bebe, which was a very early-season storm that passed through the Tuvaluan atolls in October 1972 Cyclone Bebe submerged Funafuti, eliminating 90% of structures on the island. Sources of drinking water were contaminated as a result of the system's storm surge and fresh water flooding.
George Westbrook, a trader on Funafuti, recorded a cyclone that struck Funafuti in 1883. A cyclone caused severe damage to the islands in 1894.
Cyclone Bebe in 1972 caused severe damage to Funafuti. Funafuti’s Tepuka Vili Vili islet was devastated by Cyclone Meli in 1979, with all its vegetation and most of its sand swept away during the cyclone.
Season 1971 / 1972 \ WENDY
Season 1972 / 1973 \ BEBE
Season 1973 / 1974 \ PAM
Season 1975 / 1976 \ DAVID
Season 1976 / 1977 \ KIM \ LAURIE
Season 1977 / 1978 \ BOB \ CHARLES \ STEVE
Season 1978 / 1979 \ FAY \ GORDON
Season 1979 / 1980 \ OFA \ VAL
Season 1980 / 1981 \ ARTHUR \ CLIFF \ ESAU \ UNNAMED-SP198008
Season 1982 / 1983 \ KINA \ SARAH
Season 1983 / 1984 \ UNNAMED-2
Season 1984 / 1985 \ DRENA \ UNNAMED-1
Season 1986 / 1987 \ PATSY \ RAJA \ WINI
Season 1987 / 1988 \ ANNE \ BOLA
Along with a tropical depression that affected the islands a few days later, Severe Tropical Cyclone Ofa had a major impact on Tuvalu during January and February 1990, with most islands reporting damage to vegetation and crops. [18] [19] [20] On Vaitupu Island around 85 percent of residential homes, trees and food crops were destroyed, while residential homes were also destroyed on the islands of Niutao, Nui and Nukulaelae. [20] There was a minor loss of the landscape because of sea flooding on Nui and Niulakita. [18] In Funafuti sea waves flattened the Hurricane Bebe bank at the southern end of the airstrip, which caused sea flooding and prompted the evacuation of several families from their homes. [21] After the systems had impacted Tuvalu, a Disaster Rehabilitation Sub-Committee was appointed which evaluated the damage caused and made recommendations to the National Disaster Committee and to Cabinet of what should be done to help rehabilitate the affected areas. [20]
As Severe Tropical Cyclone Val was developing Tuvalu was influenced by an active convergence zone and north-westerly winds, associated with the system but no damage was reported. [23]
Nina/Kina
During the 1996–97 season Severe Tropical Cyclone's Gavin, Hina and Keli all affected the island nation, and were responsible for about 50 hectares (120 acres) of land disappearing into the sea. [24]
Season 1989 / 1990 \ OFA \ RAE
Season 1990 / 1991 \ SINA
Season 1991 / 1992 \ INNIS \ VAL
Season 1992 / 1993 \ JONI \ NINA
Season 1993 / 1994 \ TOMAS
Season 2002 / 2003 \ AMI \ ZOE
Season 2003 / 2004 \ HETA
Season 2004 / 2005 \ KERRY \ OLAF \ PERCY \ RAE \ SHEILA
Season 2005 / 2006 \ TAM \ VAIANU \ WATI
Season 2006 / 2007 \ ARTHUR \ CLIFF
Season 2007 / 2008 \ DAMAN \ GENE
Season 2008 / 2009 \ HETTIE \ LIN
Season 2009 / 2010 \ MICK
Season 2009 / 2010 \ OLI
Season 2015 / 2016 \ TUNI \ ULA \ WINSTON
Season 2016 / 2017 \ ELLA
{{
cite book}}
: |first1=
has generic name (
help)
{{
cite report}}
: Invalid |url-status=no
(
help)
{{
cite report}}
: Invalid |url-status=no
(
help); Missing |author1=
(
help); Unknown parameter |auhtor=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (
help)
Ofa TCR2
was invoked but never defined (see the
help page).{{
cite report}}
: Invalid |url-status=no
(
help)