Tropical Cyclone Vania (RSMC Nadi designation 03F, JTWC designation 05P) was the third depression and first

tropical cyclone A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...

of the

2010–11 South Pacific cyclone season The 2010–11 South Pacific cyclone season was an average tropical cyclone season, with seven tropical cyclones and five severe tropical cyclones developing during the season. The season ran from November 1, 2010 until April 30, 2011, though if ...

Meteorological history

During January 5, 2011, the

Fiji Meteorological Service The Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) is a Department of the government of Fiji responsible for providing weather forecasts and is based on the grounds of Nadi Airport in Nadi. The current director of Fiji Meteorological Service is Misaeli Funaki. ...

Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre A Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) is responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they have a part of, agreed by consensus at the World Meteorological Organization as p ...

Nadi, Fiji Nadi (pronounced ) is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. A 2012 estimate showed that the population had ...

reported that Tropical Disturbance 03F, had developed about to the northeast of Nadi. Over the next few days the disturbance gradually developed further before RSMC Nadi classified it as a tropical depression early on January 9. On January 11, the

Joint Typhoon Warning Center The Joint typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force command in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The JTWC is responsible for the issuing of tropical cyclone warnings in the North-West Pacific Ocean, South P ...

initiated warnings on the system and monitored it as Tropical Cyclone 05P. On the Next day, RSMC Nadi upgraded the depression into a Category 1 tropical cyclone and named it "Vania". Later that day, RSMC Nadi reported that Vania had intensified into a Category 2 tropical cyclone. Early the next day, RSMC Nadi upgraded Vania into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone. Later that day, RSMC Nadi reported that Vania started weakening and downgraded it into a Category 2 tropical cyclone. Subsequently, it was downgraded to a category 1 tropical cyclone on January 14. On January 15, JTWC issued their final warning on the system. Soon, issuing their final advisory, RSMC Nadi downgraded Vania into a Tropical Depression.

Preparations and impact

While it was active Cyclone Vania affected Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island and New Zealand. Due to the impact of this storm, the name Vania was retired from the lists of tropical cyclone names and was replaced with Vanessa.

Fiji

In Fiji, heavy rains associated with the initial disturbance brought significant flooding to many islands. Several roads were temporarily shut down due to rising waters, though no homes were affected. Although the center of Vania continued to move away from Fiji, the storm's outer bands brought continued rainfall to the country.

Vanuatu

As the storm passed through

Vanuatu Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (french: link=no, République de Vanuatu; bi, Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of no ...

, winds of 140 km/hr affected

Tafea Province Tafea is the southernmost of the six provinces of Vanuatu. The name is an acronym for the five main islands that make up the province: Tanna, Aneityum, Futuna, Erromango and Aniwa. History Unlike the other provinces of Vanuatu, the territoria ...

, and contact with this group of islands was lost. Many buildings were damaged and trees were felled. The National Disaster Management Office of Vanuatu enacted a 156.6 million

vatu The vatu ( abbreviation: VT;The Reserve Bank of Vanuatu.Current Banknotes and Coins in Circulation" Accessed 2 March 2013. ISO code: VUV) is the currency of Vanuatu. The vatu has no subdivisions. Etymology The term ''vatu'', used in all thr ...

(US$1.6 million) relief plan for

, with the vast majority of funds going to food items.

New Caledonia

Within 24 hours of the storm's arrival in New Caledonia, a large magnitude 7.0

earthquake An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from ...

struck the Loyalty Islands within the archipelago. Media reported that extreme wind gusts up to were felt in the region. Damage totaled to $11 million (2011 USD).

Norfolk Island and New Zealand

The residents of New Zealand were informed about the low that would strike the country. They were informed about tropical moisture that could be pulled into the country by the low.

References

External links

World Meteorological OrganizationFiji Meteorological Service (RSMC Nadi)Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vania (2011) 2010–11 South Pacific cyclone season Tropical cyclones in Fiji Tropical cyclones in Vanuatu Tropical cyclones in New Caledonia 2011 in Vanuatu 2011 in Fiji 2011 in New Caledonia Retired South Pacific cyclones Category 2 South Pacific cyclones Vania