sign in sign up
<<
Home , Gambier Islands

22 January 2015: French - Tropical Cyclone NIKO

Country Capital SITUATION

RAINFALL • NIKO formed in the South Pacific mm/24h, 21 January Ocean, north of the Leeward 50 - 100 in , on 20 January, FRENCH POLYNESIA 100 - 150 and started moving south-east, intensifying. 150 - 200 Source: NASA TRMM • On 21 January, at 6.00 UTC, NIKO’s centre had passed between the WARNINGS Tuamotu and the Windward groups of Leeward Islands Area of Orange Warning islands and it was located approximately 165 km south-east of Heavy rain . Its maximum sustained wind speed was 93 km/h. Strong winds • Over the following 48 hours, the High seas Tropical Cyclone is forecast to Tuamotu Islands Tahiti continue on its south-eastern track, approaching the west Tuamotu islands Windward Islands later on 22 January. It will then Rainfall proceed with a turn towards the 69mm/24h south. Its intensity is expected to 20-21 January increase until approximately the afternoon/evening of 23 January and then it is forecast to start weakening.

NIKO • Heavy rainfall, strong winds and high

22 January 6.00 UTC seas are forecast to affect the islands

COOK ISLANDS 93km/h sust. winds along NIKO’s path and Meteo- Islands French Polynesia has issued an Orange Warning for the western Tuamotu Islands. Sources: GDACS, JTWC, France Meteo- Intense recent Tropical Cyclones in the area French Polynesia, WMO, Local Media (1, 2)

TROPICAL CYCLONE POSITION • Tropical Cyclones in the South Pacific Ocean occur normally between Observed position November and April.

Forecast position • The most intense Tropical Cyclone in the area in the past few years is OLI, Area of Track which formed north of the Cook Probability Islands in February 2010. OLI is one of the most devastating cyclones to have Rapa TROPICAL CYCLONE INTENSITY hit French Polynesia, having forced the 22 January 2015 6.00 UTC (maximum sustained winds) evacuation of thousands of people and destroying over 280 houses in Society 4 February 2010 93km/h < 63 km/h î and Austral islands. 12.00 UTC max. sust. winds 63 - 118 km/h 95km/h • Between 1980 and 2012, eight Tropical Cyclones have triggered a max. sust. winds > 118 km/h South national natural disaster declaration in French Polynesia, causing the death of WIND BUFFERS 33 people in total and created major 64 km/h housing, infrastructure and crop damage. 92 km/h Sources: SPC, EM-DAT