Hurricane OLI Update 1 – February 4

Hurricane OLI Continues to Power Up!

OLI is still organizing and expected to further intensify

Background:  Cyclone OLI May Target Tourist Spots

TC OLI Details

• Time/Date: 4 February 2010 –  00:01 UTC
• Position:  Near 16.6ºS, 153.9ºW
• Sustained Movement: 95  degrees
• Forward speed: 22 km/hr (~ 12 kt)
• Tropical Cyclone OLI has been tracking EAST over the past 6 hours.
  

Current wind distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds: 130 km/hr (~ 70 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 160 km/hr (~ 85 kt)
• Maximum significant wave height: 6.7 m (20 ft)
• OLI was located about 370 km (200nm) WNW of Bora Bora [Feb 03, 15:00UTC]
• Sources: JTWC and Others

Tropical Cyclone OLI is currently a Cat 1 hurricane on the FEWW New Hurricane Scale and expected to further intensify.

FIRE-EARTH MODERATORS BELIEVE HURRICANE OLI COULD CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE SOCIETY ISLANDS, ESPECIALLY TAHITI, IF THE CYCLONE CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY, AS IT’S EXPECTED TO DO, AND REMAINS APPROXIMATELY ON ITS CURRENT PATH (ACTUAL PATH NOT THE PREDICTED ONE).

Hurricane OLI. IR WV Difference. Source: UW-CIMSS.  Click images to enter CIMSS interactive maps.

Hurricane OLI. Visible IR. Source: CIMSS

• 2-Day Movie:   JAVA
• Animation IR-NHC 2km Res: GIF format

Hurricane OLI’s Projected Path. Source: UW-CIMSS.

TC OLI. Morphed Integrated Microwave Imagery at CIMSS, with Infrared (MIMIC-IR) Version 1.

Tropical Cyclone OLI. Infrared  – South East Pacific – GOES-West. Source: UW-CIMSS.

Map of Tahiti and Bora x 2 . Credit: karta Societeisl FP, Holger Behr.

Related Links:

• Cyclone OLI May Target Tourist Spots