Fiji is an island nation located within Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about 2000 kilometres (1245 mi) to the northeast of New Zealand and is neighboured by Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga, the Samoan Islands, Wallis and Futuna and Tuvalu. The archipelago consists of 330 islands and 550 islets which include Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and the Lau Islands. Tropical cyclones have been known about and feared for centuries, with knowledge of such systems passed on through traditional myths and legends. Europeans were the first
Collectively the xxx systems have caused at least $ US in damages and at least xxx deaths. The strongest and most damaging of these systems was Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, which passed over the islands as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone where it caused 44 deaths and $1.4 billion in damages.
Tropical cyclones are the most serious natural hazard that Fiji experiences in terms of total damages and economic loss, with the island nation directly impacted by an average of 10 – 12 tropical cyclones during a decade or at least 1 – 2 tropical cyclones each season. Since 1643, at least 300 possible tropical cyclones have affected the Fijian Islands in the south Pacific Ocean. They generally impact the country during the cyclone season between November and the following April, however, systems have impacted the island nation outside of these times. However, there have been at least 14 seasons where no direct impacts to Fiji have been recorded, while five named systems impacted the island nation during the 1992–93 season.
The effects of tropical cyclones on the island nation are most significant at the coast, however, as Fiji is a small country, the whole island nation can be severely impacted by widespread flooding, landslides and storm–force winds. The frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones impacting Fiji is one of the major barriers, to the island nations economic growth and development. The average annual losses to assets from tropical cyclones amount to about FJ$152 million or about 1.6% of the island nations gross domestic product. The worst tropical cyclone on record to impact Fiji was Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston which caused 44 deaths and an estimated 2 billion FJ$ (0.9 billion US$) in damage. The deadliest tropical cyclone was the February 1931 hurricane and flood which caused 225 deaths.
Background
editThe Republic of Fiji is a former British colony located within the South Pacific Ocean, about 2000 kilometres (1245 mi) to the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. The island nation consists of over 330 islands, as well as, over 500 islets and extends from Rotuma in the far north to Ono–i–Lau in the south as well as from Viwa in the west across the 180th meridian to Vatoa in the east. Its closest neighbours are Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga, to the east, the Samoas and France's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast, and Tuvalu to the north. Fiji's tropical cyclone season starts on November 1 and runs through until April 30 of the following year, however, tropical cyclones have impacted the islands outside of this period.[1] On average one to three tropical cyclones directly impact the archipelago every year, however, during some seasons such as the 1997–98 and seasons, no tropical cyclones directly impact the archipelago.[1]
When a tropical cyclone is forecast to impact Fiji, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) issues special weather bulletins, which contain either a tropical cyclone alert or gale, storm and hurricane warnings for various islands.
Tropical cyclones are the most serious natural hazard that Fiji experiences in terms of total damage and economic loss, with the island nation directly impacted by an average of 10 – 12 tropical cyclones during a decade or at least 1 – 2 tropical cyclones each season.[2][3] They generally impact the country during the cyclone season between November and the following April, however, systems have impacted the island nation outside of these times.[3] However, there have been at least 14 seasons where no direct impacts to Fiji have been recorded, while five named systems impacted the island nation during the 1992–93 season.[3] The effects of tropical cyclones on Fiji are most significant at the coast, however, as Fiji is a small country, the whole island nation can be severely impacted by widespread flooding, landslides and storm–force winds.[3] The frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones impacting Fiji is one of the major barriers, to the island nations economic growth and development.[3] The average annual losses to assets from tropical cyclones amount to about FJ$152 million or about 1.6% of the island nations gross domestic product.[3] The worst tropical cyclone on record to impact Fiji was Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston which caused 44 deaths and an estimated 2 billion FJ$ (0.9 billion US$) in damage.[3] The deadliest tropical cyclone was the February 1931 hurricane and flood which caused 225 deaths.[4]
During December 2020, the Fijian Prime Minster Frank Bainimarama declared a climate emergency, after 12 tropical cyclones had directly impacted Fiji since Severe Tropical Cyclone Evan in 2012.[5]
Weather Service
editAfter declaring it's independence from the British Empire in 1970, the government accepted responsibility for operating its own MetService on behalf of the South Pacific Air Transport Council from July 1975.
A=
edit- During the 2020s, a total of 21 systems have impacted Fiji, of which four made landfall on the island nation.
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa made landfall as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone.
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa was the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall.
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa was the costliest tropical cyclone to make landfall.
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold made landfall as a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone.
- A total of 6 systems impacted Fiji during the 2020–21 South Pacific cyclone season.
- A total of 7 systems impacted Fiji during the 2022–23 South Pacific cyclone season.
Systems
edit1830
edit- March 21 – 22, 1831 – Two ships were wrecked as a tropical cyclone impacted eastern Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.[6][7]
- February & March 1839 – Two tropical cyclones in quick succession caused serious damage to Fiji's Windward Islands.[6]
1840
edit- February 22 – 25, 1840 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and the Cook Islands.[6][8][9]
- February 22–27, 1840 – A tropical cyclone impacted the Fijian island of Viti Levu, where heavy rain caused flooding which inundated several homes within the Rewa Province.[9]
- March 1840 – A tropical cyclone impacted the Fijian province of Macuata, where crops were reportedly damaged.[6][7]
- January 22 – 24, 1842 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji's Lau Islands where severe damage was recorded.[6][7]
- March 13, 1844 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji.[6]
- January 13 – 16, 1848 – A tropical cyclone caused a severe flood as it impacted Fiji's Vanua Levu.[9][10]
- April 5 – 8, 1848 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Tonga.[10]
1850
edit- March 17, 1854 – A tropical cyclone impacted Western Fiji.[6][7]
- March 1856 – A tropical cyclone impacted northern Fiji and caused severe damage.[7]
1860's
edit- March 29, 1864 – A tropical cyclone impacted the Lau Islands, where a ship was lost.[7]
- January 7 – 8, 1866 – A tropical cyclone passed in between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, where it caused widespread damage on both islands.[7][6][9]
- March 10 – 12, 1866 – A tropical cyclone passed in between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, where food gardens and coffee plantations were covered in silt.[8]
- March 1869 – A tropical cyclone impacted the Fijian island of Viti Levu, where it caused several deaths and widespread devastation.[6]
- March 1869 – A tropical cyclone impacted Navua where it left the land nearly smooth, with 12 in (0.30 m) of deposit in some places.[8]
1870s
edit- March 20 – 21, 1871 – Several people died in the Ba River, as a tropical cyclone impacted the whole of Fiji.[8]
- March 30, 1871 – A tropical cyclone impacted the whole archipelago, where it caused strong winds and heavy rain.[7]
- January 3 – 7, 1873 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7][11]
- December 30, 1873 – A tropical cyclone impacted Western Vanua Levu, where it caused a moderate amount of damage and a serious loss to shipping.[7]
- February 15, 1874 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 4 – 7, 1875 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 12 – 20, 1875 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- March 12 – 13, 1875 – A tropical cyclone impacted Fiji and Tonga.[11]
- January 10, 1876 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[11]
- March 16, 1876 – A tropical cyclone impacted the northeastern coast of Viti Levu and passed to the south of Levuka.[11]
- March 31, 1877 – A tropical cyclone impacted the island nation.[11]
- December 11 – 12, 1879 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[11]
1880's
edit- January 21 – 26, 1880 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 2, 1881 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 21, 1881 – A tropical cyclone impacted Vanua Levu and Levuka.[11]
- December 31, 1881 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 12, 1883 - A tropical cyclone caused some damage to plantations and houses in eastern Fiji and on Taveuni.[6]
- February 24, 1883 – A tropical cyclone caused two fatalities and a moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- March 12 – 20, 1883 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- December 27, 1883 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 9, 1884 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7]
- March 3 – 4, 1886 – A tropical cyclone wrecked 50 vessels, caused 64 deaths and severe damage to the island nation.[6]
1890's
edit- January 6 – 7, 1895 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[11]
- December 31, 1899 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
1900's
edit- January 21, 1904 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 21 – 22, 1904 – A tropical cyclone caused flooding to be reported in the Ba and Rewa Rivers.[8]
- January 20, 1905 – A tropical cyclone moved across Fiji.[11]
- March 23, 1908 – A tropical cyclone impacted the island nation where it caused two fatalities.[8]
- March 25, 1909 – A tropical cyclone impacted the whole of Fiji.[11]
1910's
edit- March 24 – 25, 1910 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation as it passed through the Lau Islands, Vanua Levu and Viti Levu.[7][8]
- January 28 – 29, 1912 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- March 18, 1913 – A tropical cyclone impacted Lower Rewa, Suva and Navau.[12]
- April 16, 1913 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the Lau Islands.[7]
- March 28, 1919 – A tropical cyclone impacted central Fiji, Taveuni and the Lau group of islands.[11]
1920's
edit- February 10 – 16, 1923 – One or two tropical cyclones had a minor impact on the island nation, as they moved south-eastwards from New Caledonia.[6][13]
- March 15, 1923 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to Munia in the Lau Islands as it impacted islands in the eastern division.[6]
- November 27, 1923 – Gale force winds were reported in Suva and the schooner "Wave" was blown ashore, as a tropical cyclone had a minor impact on Fiji.[13]
- December 13, 1923 – A tropical cyclone had a minor impact on the island nation.[13]
- May 6, 1926 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation, while the trading cutter "Minnie Ada" was wrecked.[13]
- January 18 – 22, 1929 – A tropical cyclone caused a moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[13]
- February 18 – 19, 1929 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7]
- November 28, 1929 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- December 10 – 13, 1929 – A tropical cyclone caused 12 deaths and severe damage to the island nation.[13]
1930's
edit- January 11 – 12, 1930 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- November 30, 1930 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 16 – March 3, 1931 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- April 7 – 8, 1931 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 19, 1936 – A tropical cyclone caused severe damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 14 – 15, 1936 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 24 – 27, 1938 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7]
- December 21 – 22, 1938 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 17 – 19, 1939 – A tropical cyclone caused moderate damage to the island nation.[7]
- April 3 – 6, 1939 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7]
- December 28, 1939 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation, as it passed over western parts of Viti Levu.[7][14]
1940's
edit- February 20, 1941 – A tropical cyclone moved west–southwest over eastern Viti Levu and caused severe damage as it passed near or over the capital city Suva.[14] The system was subsequently classified as one of Fiji's worst tropical cyclones on record.[14]
- April 27, 1941 – A tropical cyclone caused a moderate amount of damage to the island nation as it passed to the east of Vanua Levu and through the Lau Islands.[14]
- December 26, 1941 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation as it moved through the Bligh Waters and the Lau Islands.[14]
- January 1, l943 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation.[7]
- March 17, 1943 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation as it moved south-westwards through the Lau Islands.[14]
- January 8 – 10, 1944 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to the island nation, as it moved erratically to the west and south of Viti Levu.[14]
- March 18 – 19, 1944 – A tropical cyclone caused gales to be reported but only minimal damage to be reported across the island nation.[7][14]
- February 3 – 8, 1948 – A tropical cyclone caused a moderate to severe amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- December 7nbsp;– 8, 1948 – A tropical cyclone caused a moderate to severe amount of damage to the island nation.[14]
1950's
edit- February 2, 1950 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage and gale force winds, as it moved south–westwards through the northern Lau Islands during February 2, 1950.[15]
- February 25 – 27, 1950 – A tropical cyclone caused a moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- March 30, 1950 – A tropical cyclone caused a moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 24, 1952 – A tropical cyclone caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 28, 1952 – A tropical cyclone caused a severe amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 15, 1954 – A tropical cyclone caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 27 – 28, 1955 – A tropical cyclone caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 30 – 31, 1956 – A tropical cyclone caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 16, 1956 – A tropical cyclone caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 25, 1956 - A tropical cyclone a minor to moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- March 6, 1956 - A tropical cyclone caused a minor to moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 26, 1957 – A tropical cyclone caused a moderate to severe amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- April 9, 1958 – A tropical cyclone caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- December 2 – 3, 1958 – Tropical Cyclone Aurelia caused a severe amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- December 30, 1959 – A tropical cyclone caused a moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
1960's
edit- November 22 – 23, 1964 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to coconut trees and houses in the Lau Islands.[16]
- December 6 – 7, 1964 – A tropical cyclone caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- December 21, 1964 – A tropical cyclone caused a moderate to severe amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 6 – 9, 1965 – A tropical cyclone caused a severe amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 26 – 27, 1966 – A tropical cyclone caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[16]
- December 4 – 5, 1966 – A tropical cyclone caused minor damage to banana trees and bures, as it moved southeastwards over Viti Levu and the Southern Lau Islands.[16]
- April 9 – 10, 1967 – A tropical cyclone caused a severe amount of damage to the island nation.[7][16]
- February 25 – 26, 1969 – A tropical cyclone caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[16]
1970's
edit- January 11, 1970 – A tropical depression caused gale force winds and minor damage in various parts of Fiji, including on the islands of Taveuni and Vanua Levu.[7][17]
- October 29 – 30, 1970 – Tropical Depression Nora caused minor damage and gale–force winds to be reported in parts of the island nation.[7][17]
- December 17 – 18, 1970 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Priscilla caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- March 8, 1971 – Tropical Cyclone Thelma impacted Western and Southwestern Fiji and caused flooding in Ba.[9]
- October 23 - 29, 1972 - Severe Tropical Cyclone Bebe caused a severe amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 2, 1973 - Tropical Cyclone Henrietta caused a moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- April 3 - 4, 1973 - Tropical Cyclone Juliette caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- December 9 - 10, 1973 - Severe Tropical Cyclone Natalie-Lottie caused a moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- April 24, 1975 - Tropical Cyclone Tina caused a minor amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 31 - February 2, 1975 - Tropical Cyclone Val caused a severe amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- April 5 - 6, 1975 - Tropical Cyclone Betty caused a moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- December 25 - 26, 1977 - Tropical Cyclone Anne caused a moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- January 4 - 5, 1978 - Tropical Cyclone Bob caused a moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- February 18 19, 1978 - Tropical Cyclone Ernie caused gale to storm force winds and minor damage to parts of the northern division.[7][17]
- December 29 - 30, 1978 - Tropical Cyclone Fay caused a moderate amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
- March 26 - 28, 1979 - Severe Tropical Cyclone Meli caused a severe amount of damage to the island nation.[7]
1980's
edit1990s
edit2000s
edit2010s
edit2016
edit- February 9 – 21, 2016 – Between February 9 – 21, Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston dominated the weather across the island nation, as it became the strongest and costliest tropical cyclone to impact Fiji.[18][19] Initially, rainbands and a trough of low pressure associated with the system produced occasional rainfall over the island nation, before the system moved north-westwards through the Lau Islands and out of Fiji's exclusive economic zone as a category 2 tropical cyclone between February 15 – 16.[18][19] During February 20, Winston reentered Fiji's exclusive economic zone as a category 5 severe tropical cyclone and passed near the island of Vanuabalavu, where Fiji's highest ever recorded sustained winds of 232 km/h (144 mph) and wind gusts of 306 km/h (190 mph) were recorded.[18][19] Winston subsequently passed over southern Taveuni before it turned south-westwards and made landfall on the northeastern coast of Viti Levu at its peak intensity as a category 5 severe tropical cyclone at approximately 19:00 FST (07:00 UTC).[18][19] After making landfall, the system moved westwards before it emerged into the Pacific Ocean to the north of Ba and left Fiji's exclusive economic zone during February 21.[18][19] Overall Winston was estimated to have caused 44 deaths and around F$2 billion (US$0.9 billion) in damage and economic losses, which equated to a 20% loss to Fiji's gross domestic product.[20]
- April 1 – 7, 2016 – Troughs of low pressure associated with Tropical Depression 14F and Severe Tropical Cyclone Zena's precursor tropical depression dominated Fiji's weather with strong winds, heavy rain and flooding reported across the majority of the island nation.[21]
- April 15 – 19, 2016 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Amos's precursor tropical depression moved over the archipelago, with heavy rain and strong winds recorded over most of the island nation.[21]
- December 12 – 20, 2016 – Tropical Depression 04F and its associated trough of low pressure, caused heavy rain, severe flooding, landslides and strong to near gale force winds to reported across the island nation.[22]
2017
edit- February 5 – 23, 2017 – Tropical Depression's 09F, 10F, 11F, 12F and 14F all impacted the island nation, where heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and a moist northwesterly wind flow were reported.[23]
- May 1 – 10, 2017 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Donna indirectly impacted the island nation with rain and strong winds; however, no flooding or infrastructure damage was reported.[24]
- May 11 – 15, 2017 – Tropical Cyclone Ella indirectly impacted the northern division with strong winds and heavy rain.[25]
- December 14 – 17, 2017 – Tropical Disturbance 02F and Tropical Disturbance 03F produced heavy rain and thunderstorms over the island nation as they passed to the north of the island nation.[26]
- December 22 – 24, 2017 – Tropical Depression 04F and its associated trough of low pressure produced rain and directed a west to southwest wind flow over the archipelago.[26]
2018
edit- February 3 – 11, 2018 – Tropical Depression 08F and its associated trough of low pressure impacted the Lau and Lomaiviti Islands, where it produced strong winds and heavy rainfall.[27]
- February 4 – 16, 2018 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita's precursor tropical depression passed just to the north of the island nation on February 4, where it produced strong winds, heavy rain and flooding in the northern division.[27] The system subsequently passed just to the south of Ono-i-Lau as a Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone on February 13, where hurricane-force winds, heavy rain and a storm surge were experienced.[27]
- March 30 – April 3, 2018 – Rainbands associated with Tropical Cyclone Josie produced strong winds, rough seas, heavy rainfall and severe flooding over the archipelago, which caused extensive damages and seven deaths across the island nation.[28][29]
- April 10 – 11, 2018 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Keni moved south-eastwards to the southwest of Viti Levu and made landfall on the island of Kadavu as a category 3 severe tropical cyclone, where it produced heavy rain, hurricane-force winds, heavy swells and a large storm surge.[28] As a result, extensive damage to the agricultural sector and infrastructure was reported while at least 1 death was also reported.[28]
- April 19 – 20, 2018 – A trough of low pressure associated with Tropical Depression 14F produced rain over northern parts of the archipeligo.[28]
- December 28, 2018 – January 1, 2019 – A trough of low pressure associated with Tropical Depression 03F produced heavy rain to be reported across the Northern Division.[30]
2019
edit- January 1 – 7, 2019 – A trough of low pressure associated with Tropical Cyclone Mona produced strong winds, widespread rainfall, flooding and a limited amount of damage to be reported across the island nation.[31]
- February 14 – 20, 2019 – Tropical Disturbance 10F passed through the southern Lau Islands on February 14, before it directed a moist northerly wind flow over the island nation as it moved southwards.[32]
- February 27 – 28, 2019 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Pola impacted the Eastern Division as a Category 3 – 4 severe tropical cyclone, where gale-force winds of up to 119 km/h (74 mph) and heavy rainfall were recorded.[32]
- May 18 – 23, 2019 – Tropical Depression 12F passed near Rotuma and the Eastern Divison, however, it did not produce any significant rain or strong winds over the island nation.[33]
- November 18 – 20, 2019 – A trough of low pressure associated with Severe Tropical Cyclone Rita caused showers to be reported across the archipelago.[34]
- December 26 – 30, 2019 – Tropical Cyclone Sarai impacted the archipelago as a Category 2 tropical cyclone, where gale to storm force winds and heavy rain, caused flooding, two deaths and a minimal amount of damage.[35]
2020s
edit2020
edit- January 15 – 18, 2020 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Tino passed to the east of Vanua Levu and through the Lau Islands, where it caused gale to storm force winds, significant rainfall, heavy swells and flooding to be reported.[36] Overall it was estimated that the cyclone caused over FJ$6.15 million in damage to the Northern Division, while two people went missing after they were swept away while crossing a flooded creek.[36]
- April 5 – 8, 2020 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold made landfall on Kadavu as a Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone, where it produced a storm surge, hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall, severe flooding, landslides, mini tornados and heavy swells.[37]
- December 11, 2020 - Tropical Depression 01F caused gale and heavy rain warnings to be issued for Rotuma.[38]
- December 16 – 20, 2020 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa made landfall on Vanua Levu as a Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone, where it produced a storm surge, hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall, severe flooding, landslides and heavy swells.[39] As a result, major damage was reported across the archipelago, with infrastructure, electrical powerlines, roads and trees all destroyed or damaged with a damage estimate of FJD500 million reported.[39]
2021
edit- January 30 – February 2, 2021 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Ana made landfall on Viti Levu and Kadavu as a category 2 tropical cyclone, where gale to storm force winds, heavy rain, landslides, coastal inundation and severe flooding were reported.[40] As a result, some damage was reported to houses, utilities, trees, crops and vegetation while 1 person drowned in flood waters and five others were left missing.[40]
- January 27 – 28, 2021 – Tropical Disturbance 06F impacted the Lau Islands.[41]
- January 31 – February 1, 2021 – Tropical Cyclone Bina extended the heavy rain and gale–force winds that Ana had produced over the island nation.[42]
- February 7 – 13, 2021 – A trough of low pressure and an active convergence zone associated with Tropical Cyclone 09F caused widespread rainfall and isolated thunderstorms over the island nation.[43]
2022
edit- January 8 – 15, 2022 – Gale force winds and heavy rainfall associated with Severe Tropical Cyclone Cody and a convergence zone caused severe flooding of low-lying areas and rivers to be reported.[44][45] As a result, severe damage was reported across the archipelago, while one person lost their life when they tried to cross flooded waters.[45]
- May 20 – 26, 2022 – Troughs of low pressure associated with Tropical Cyclone Gina caused showers and thunderstorms to impact the island nation.[46]
- December 10 – 12, 2022 – A trough of low pressure associated with Tropical Depression 01F caused occasional rainfall and isolated thunderstorms over the island nation, while significant flash flooding was recorded on Viti Levu in low-lying areas between Sigatoka and Rakiraki.[45][47]
2023
edit- January 6 – 7, 2023 – Troughs of low pressure and rainbands associated with Tropical Disturbance 03F caused occasional showers to be reported over parts of Viti Levu.[48]
- January 7 – 9, 2023 – A trough of low pressure and rainbands associated with Tropical Depression Hale caused occasional showers and thunderstorms to be reported over parts of the island nation.[48]
- January 18 – 24, 2023 – A trough of low pressure, rainbands and northwesterly winds associated with Tropical Cyclone Irene caused heavy rain to be reported over the island nation.[48]
- February 11 – 18, 2023 – A convergence zone, strong northwesterly winds and rainbands associated with Severe Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle caused flash flooding over the Western Divison.[49]
- February 26 – 28, 2023 – A trough of low pressure and rainbands associated with Severe Tropical Cyclone Judy, impacted Rotuma as well as the Western and Northern Divisions.[49]
- March 4 – 7, 2023 – Rainbands associated with Severe Tropical Cyclone Kevin caused fresh to strong northerly winds, heavy rain and flash flooding to be reported in the Western Divison.[50]
- November 14 – 15, 2023 – Severe Tropical Cyclone Mal caused heavy rain, gale-force winds, heavy swells and wind-driven waves, as it passed about 800 km (495 mi) to the west of Nadi as a Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone.[51] As a result, moderate to significant damage to properties, infrastructures, livestock and agriculture was reported in Yasawa-i-rara, Viti Levu, Kadavu and the Mamanuca group of islands.[51]
2024
edit- January 23 – 25, 2024 – Tropical Disturbance 04F caused moist northerly winds, heavy rainfall and some flash flooding to be reported across the island nation.[52]
- February 10 – 25, 2024 – A series of troughs of low pressure associated with Tropical Depression 06U/05F caused heavy rain and flash flooding to be reported in the Western Central and Northern divisions at various times.[53]
- March 9 – 17, 2024 – A trough of low pressure associated with Tropical Disturbance 11F impacted the island nation, where it caused strong north to north-westerly winds, heavy rain and flash flooding to be reported.[54]
Deadly systems
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b 2020/21 RSMC Nadi Tropical Cyclone Outlook (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. October 15, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ The Climate of Fiji (PDF) (Information Sheet: 35). Fiji Meteorological Service. April 28, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Republic of Fiji: Third National Communication Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (PDF) (Report). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. April 27, 2020. p. 62.
- ^ Yeo, Stephen W; Blong, Russell J (2010). "Fiji's worst natural disaster: the 1931 hurricane and flood". Disasters. 34 (3): 657–683. Bibcode:2010Disas..34..657Y. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7717.2010.01163.x. PMID 20298265.
- ^ Bainimarama, Frank [@FijiPM] (December 17, 2020). "On this same day in 2012, Fiji was enduring Cyclone Evan. Since then, we've been battered by 12 more cyclones — two of which (Winston and Yasa) are now jockeying for our hemisphere's strongest–ever storm in history. This is not normal. This is a climate emergency" (Tweet). Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m d’Aubert, AnaMaria; Nunn, Patrick D (20 March 2012). "Database 1: Tropical Cyclones (1558 – 1970)". Furious Winds and Parched Islands: Tropical Cyclones (1558–1970) and Droughts (1722–1987) in the Pacific. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781469170091.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv Campbell, John R (1984). Dealing with disaster: hurricane response in Fiji (PDF). p. 55. ISBN 0866380582. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 1, 2024.
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