Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) FINAL Update (17 Feb)

TC RENE Wreaked Havoc on Tongatapu Island as Forecast

Tongan capital of  Nuku’Alofa was left battered, though it could have been much worse had RENE not weakened before the assault. There were no reported injury or fatality as of posting.

Tropical Cyclone RENE. Sat image JTWC/SATOP. Date/Time: 16 feb 2010 at 17:30UTC – Click image to enlarge.

Background:

• Cyclone RENE still strong, but won’t last long!
• Cyclone RENE Continues to Pummel Tonga Islands
• RENE Headed Toward Tonga
• RENE Heading West
• RENE Hovering Near PAGO-PAGO

• Slow Forward Motion May Help RENE to Strengthen

Tropical Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Details

• Date/Time: 17 February 2010 –  00:30 UTC
• Position:  Near 26.5ºS, 177ºE
• Sustained Movement: 225  degrees
  
• Forward speed: ~ 25 km/hr (~ 14 kt)
• Tropical Cyclone RENE has been tracking  SOUTHWEST over the past 6 hours.
  

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds: ~ 65km/hr (~ 35 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 80 km/hr (~ 45 kt)
• RENE is expected to dissipate as a TC over open water in the next 12 hours.

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: ~ 5m (15 ft)
  
• Location: TC RENE was located about 1,200 km (~ 650 NM) NNE of Auckland, New Zealand
  
• Sources: CIMSS, JTWC and Others

Additional Satellite Imagery

NOAA East Pacific Floater 1 GOES Satellite Imagery – Cyclone FIFTEEN (TC 15P)

• Visible  Image – Java – Flash
• IR AVN  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Shortwave  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Dvorak*  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Unenhanced  Image – Java – Flash
• IR JSL  Image – Java – Flash
• IR RGB  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Funktop  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Rainbow  Image – Java – Flash
• Water Vapor  Image – Java – Flash

See also: UW- CIMSS Cyclone Portal

Related Links:

• TC RENE (TC 15P) Update 6 (16 Feb)
• Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 5 (15 Feb)
• Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 4 (14 Feb)
• Cyclone RENE Update 3 (13 Feb)

• Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 2 (13 Feb)
• Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 1 (12 Feb)
• Introducing Tropical Cyclone Fifteen (Cyclone RENE)
• FEWW Satellite Imagery Links Page

TC RENE (TC 15P) Update 6 (16 Feb)

Cyclone RENE still strong, but won’t last long!

Unfavorable environmental conditions, especially cooler sea surface temperatures and ocean heat content, will bring an end to RENE as a tropical cyclone over open water in the next 24 to 36 hours.

Tropical Cyclone RENE – GOES  IR Satellite image (JSL2 enhancement) – Source: NOAA. Click image to enlarge.

Background:

• Cyclone RENE Continues to Pummel Tonga Islands
• RENE Headed Toward Tonga
• RENE Heading West
• RENE Hovering Near PAGO-PAGO
• Slow Forward Motion May Help RENE to Strengthen

Tropical Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Details

• Date/Time: 16 February 2010 –  01:00 UTC
• Position:  Near 24ºS, 177ºW
• Sustained Movement: 225  degrees
  
• Forward speed: 24 km/hr (~ 13 kt)
• Tropical Cyclone RENE has been tracking  SOUTHWEST over the past 6 hours.
  

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds: ~ 120km (~ 60 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 150 km/hr (~ 110 kt)
• RENE is now a Cat. 1 Hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale.
• Unfavorable environmental conditions, especially cooler sea surface temperatures and ocean heat content will bring an end to RENE as a tropical cyclone over open water in the next 24 to 36 hours.

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: ~ 8m (24 ft)
  
• Location: TC RENE was located about 780 km (~ 420 NM) Southeast of  NADI, FIJI.
  
• Sources: CIMSS, JTWC and Others

Additional Satellite Imagery

NOAA East Pacific Floater 1 GOES Satellite Imagery – Cyclone FIFTEEN (TC 15P)

• Visible  Image – Java – Flash
• IR AVN  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Shortwave  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Dvorak*  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Unenhanced  Image – Java – Flash
• IR JSL  Image – Java – Flash
• IR RGB  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Funktop  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Rainbow  Image – Java – Flash
• Water Vapor  Image – Java – Flash

See also: UW- CIMSS Cyclone Portal

Related Links:

• Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 5 (15 Feb)
• Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 4 (14 Feb)
• Cyclone RENE Update 3 (13 Feb)

• Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 2 (13 Feb)
• Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 1 (12 Feb)
• Introducing Tropical Cyclone Fifteen (Cyclone RENE)
• FEWW Satellite Imagery Links Page

Cyclone RENE Update 3 (13 Feb)

RENE Heading West

Tropical Cyclone RENE has slowed down and consolidated; it’s intensifying and pummeling American Samoa as it heads west.

Background:

• RENE Hovering Near PAGO-PAGO
• Slow Forward Motion May Help RENE to Strengthen

Tropical Cyclone RENE – IR-WV Difference Satellite Image – Source: UW-CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Tropical Cyclone RENE – NOAA GOES JSL2 IR CH4 Satellite Image- Date as inset. Click image to enlarge. Click here for the most recent update.

Tropical Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Details

• Date/Time: 12 February 2010 –  13:00 UTC
• Position:  Near 14.3ºS, 169.8ºW
• Sustained Movement: 280 degrees
  
• Forward speed: 10 km/hr (~ 6 kt)
• Tropical Cyclone RENE has been tracking  WEST over the past 6 hours.
  

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds: ~ 157 km (~ 85 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 195 km/hr (~ 105 kt)

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: ~ 9m (26 ft)
  
• Location: TC RENE was located about 120 km (~ 70 NM) ENE of Pago-Pago
• Rene could intensify to a Cat 2B Hurricane [probability of 65 percent] possibly a Cat 3A Hurricane [probability of 45 percent] within the next 72 hours.
  
• Sources: CIMSS, JTWC and Others

Additional Satellite Imagery

NOAA East Pacific Floater 1 GOES Satellite Imagery – Cyclone FIFTEEN (TC 15P)

• Visible  Image – Java – Flash
• IR AVN  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Shortwave  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Dvorak*  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Unenhanced  Image – Java – Flash
• IR JSL  Image – Java – Flash
• IR RGB  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Funktop  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Rainbow  Image – Java – Flash
• Water Vapor  Image – Java – Flash

See also: UW- CIMSS Cyclone Portal

Recent Disasters in Samoa Islands Region

In September 2009, the Samoa tsunami killed more than 200 people in the Samoan islands and Tonga, destroying dozens of villages.

In January 2004, Cyclone Heta struck Samoa Islands and American Samoa, destroying or damaging more than 4,500 homes in American Samoa. Heta also  destroyed 90 percent of the crops in the region.

Related Links:

• Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 2 (13 Feb)
• Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 1 (12 Feb)
• Introducing Tropical Cyclone Fifteen (Cyclone RENE)
• FEWW Satellite Imagery Links Page

Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 2 (13 Feb)

RENE Hovering Near PAGO-PAGO

Cyclone RENE continues to intensify, seemingly intent on wreaking havoc in the S Pacific island groups

In fact, based on the available information, there’s little to prevent the cyclone [turning around] tracking west, and targeting Samoa Islands, despite the forecast paths.

Cyclone Rene. NOAA GOES AVNCOLOR Enhancement IR Satellite image. Click image to enlarge.  Click HERE or the Latest Image.  See Enhanced Image.

Political Map of American Samoa and Samoa Islands. Click image to enlarge.

Tropical Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Details

• Date/Time: 13 February 2010  at  03:00 UTC
• Position:  Near 13.5ºS, 169.5ºW

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds: ~ 130km (~ 70 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 160 km/hr (~ 85 kt)

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: ~ 8.5m (25 ft)
  
• Sources: CIMSS, JTWC and Others

Additional Satellite Imagery

NOAA East Pacific Floater 1 GOES Satellite Imagery – Cyclone FIFTEEN (TC 15P)

• Visible  Image – Java – Flash
• IR AVN  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Shortwave  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Dvorak*  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Unenhanced  Image – Java – Flash
• IR JSL  Image – Java – Flash
• IR RGB  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Funktop  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Rainbow  Image – Java – Flash
• Water Vapor  Image – Java – Flash
• UW-CIMM Cyclone Portal

See also:

• Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 1 (12 Feb)
• Introducing Tropical Cyclone Fifteen (Cyclone RENE)
• FEWW Satellite Imagery Links Page

Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Update 1 (12 Feb)

Slow Forward Motion May Help RENE to Strengthen

Tropical Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) – Water Vapor Satellite Image. Source: UW-CIMSS. Click Image to enlarge.

Tropical Cyclone RENE (TC 15P) Details

• Date/Time: 12 February 2010 –  01:30 UTC
• Position:  Near 13.0ºS, 166.0ºW
• Sustained Movement: 215  degrees
  
• Forward speed: 9 km/hr (~ 5 kt)
• Tropical Cyclone RENE has been tracking  SOUTH over the past 6 hours.
  

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds: ~ 110km (~ 60 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 140 km/hr (~ 75 kt)

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: ~ 6m (18 ft)
  
• Location: TC RENE was located about 500 km (~ 270 NM) ENE of Pago-Pago
• Rene could intensify to a Cat 2B Hurricane [probability of 65 percent] possibly a Cat 3A Hurricane [probability of 45 percent] within the next 72 hours, depending on its forward motion speed.
  
• Sources: CIMSS, JTWC and Others

South Pacific and North America are two places to avoid right now!

Additional Satellite Imagery

NOAA East Pacific Floater 1 GOES Satellite Imagery – Cyclone FIFTEEN (TC 15P)

• Visible  Image – Java – Flash
• IR AVN  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Shortwave  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Dvorak*  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Unenhanced  Image – Java – Flash
• IR JSL  Image – Java – Flash
• IR RGB  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Funktop  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Rainbow  Image – Java – Flash
• Water Vapor  Image – Java – Flash

See also:

• Introducing Tropical Cyclone Fifteen (Cyclone RENE)
• FEWW Satellite Imagery Links Page

Cyclone PAT Revving Up in S Pacific

Tropical Cyclone PAT (14P) Intensifies

Tropical Cyclone PAT (14P) – satellite image. Source: CIMSS – Date/time – Feb 9, 2010 at 06:00UTC. Click image to enter CIMSS portal.

TC PAT Details

• Time/Date: 9 February 2010 –  09:00 UTC
• Position:  Near 15.1ºS, 159.0ºW
• Sustained Movement: 145  degrees
• Forward speed: 13 km/hr (~ 7 kt)
• Tropical Cyclone PAT has been tracking  southeastward over the past 6 hours.
• PAT is a compact cyclone with a diameter of about 445 km (240 NM)
  

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds: 120 km (~ 65 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 150 km/hr (~ 80 kt)
• Cyclone PAT is currently a Category 1 Hurricane
  

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: ~ 5m (15 ft)
• Location: PAT was located about about 1,260 km (~ 680 NM) east of Pago-Pago
  
• Sources: JTWC and Others

Images of the Day: Tonga Islands Grow Larger

New Landmass Formed by Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Eruption

Submarine Eruption in the Tonga Islands

Image acquired March 26, 2009

Image acquired November 14, 2006

In mid-March 2009, a plume of ash and gas burst out of the ocean as an undersea volcano began to erupt in the South Pacific nation of Tonga. Small sections of the rim of the large undersea volcano had been above water, forming the islands of Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha’apai. The eruption occurred at two vents, one submerged and the other on Hunga Ha’apai. The eruption pumped out enough rock and ash that by March 25, when the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured the top image, the submerged vent was surrounded by new land.

The new land is the dark mass south of Hunga Ha’apai. It had not been present when ASTER acquired the lower image on November 14, 2006. In the March 25 image, clouds cover the space between the new land and Hunga Ha’apai, but news reports indicate that the new land connects Hunga Ha’apai with the underwater vent, essentially enlarging the small island. The vent itself is the nearly perfect circular hole near the southern edge of the new land.

The image reveals some of the other impacts of the eruption. The ocean around the erupting volcano is bright blue, likely colored with ash, rock, and other volcanic debris. The eruption also killed or damaged plants on Hunga Ha’apai. In these false-color images, plant-covered land is red. In 2006, Hunga Ha’apai had supported vegetation, but after the eruption, the island was black. Either the plants were buried in ash or dead in the wake of the eruption. According to a visiting reporter, the eruption destroyed plant and birdlife on the island, leaving blackened tree stumps and dead birds and fish.

NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data provided courtesy of NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team. Caption by Holli Riebeek.Instrument: Terra – ASTER

Related and Possibly Related Links:

• Weekly Volcano Watch: 26 March 2009
• Hunga Ha’apai Volcano Update
• Magnitude 7.9 Quake Strikes Tonga Region
• Weekly Volcano Watch: 19 March 2009
• Rumble III Volcano “blew its top!”
• Tonga’s Metis Shoal may be erupting
• Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Kermadec Islands