|
Cyclone Drena was a powerful tropical cyclone that caused significant damage throughout New Zealand. A tropical depression formed on January 2. After crossing Vanuatu and emerging into the Coral Sea, the storm began to intensify, and by January 6, had attained peak intensity. After attaining peak intensity, Drena began to weaken. Cyclone Drena later brushed New Caledonia, bringing some damage. After transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on January 9, Drena brought impact to New Zealand. Damage totaled to $6.7 million and 3 people were killed. Roughly 140 people were evacuated after 44 homes were flooded. After the season, Drena was retired. ==Meteorological history== The precursor system to Severe Tropical Cyclone Drena was first noted during January 1, 1997, as an area of low pressure located within the monsoon trough to the north of Fiji. During that day the system moved south-westwards as and underwent a cyclogenesis phase, as atmospheric convection surrounding the system rapidly intensified. Drena originated from a low that was first monitored in the monsoon trough. Moving west-southwest and into the Coral Sea, inflow aided development of the low. On January 1, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) recorded that a tropical depression had formed. About 24 hours later, RSMC Nadi announced that a tropical depression had formed near Vanuatu. Meanwhile, the JTWC reported that the depression had intensified into a tropical storm.〔 After intensifying into a Category 1 cyclone on the Australian intensity scale (according to Nadi), and was thus named, Drena re-curved southeast as it interacted with a trough.〔 On January 6, Nadi reported that Drena had strengthened into a Category 2 cyclone.〔 Around that time, the JTWC reported that Drena had intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.〔 The next day, according to RSMC Nadi the storm intensified further into a Category 3 cyclone.〔 Simultaneously, the JTWC remarked that Drena had become a Category 2 hurricane. The following day, the JTWC estimated that Drena had strengthened further, into a Category 3 hurricane.〔 According to Nadi, Drena reached a peak intensity of and a pressure of early on January 6.〔 However, data released by the JTWC indicates that Drena peaked with winds of a day earlier. Moving south-east, the cyclone weakened due to increased wind shear ahead of the trough.〔 By 1800 UTC January 6, RSMC Nadi announced that Drena had weakened into a Category 3 cyclone.〔 Around this time, the JTWC noted that Drena had weakened into a Category 3 hurricane.〔 The following day, the JTWC and Nadi both reduced the intensity of the system to Category 2 status on their respective scales.〔〔 On January 8, the weakening Cyclone Drena brushed the island of New Caledonia with sustained winds up to 150 km/h (90 mph 10-minute winds).〔 Continuing to weakening, the JTWC claimed that Drena had weakened into a Category 1 system on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.〔 Subsequently, Nadi remarked that Drena has weakened into a Category 1 cyclone.〔 While Drena accelerated to the southeast, it weakened further and became an extratropical cyclone near New Zealand on January 9〔 The system was last noted by MetService and the JTWC during December 13, while it was located over to the south-east of Wellington, New Zealand.〔〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cyclone Drena」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|