TC ATU Moving to a Cold Graveyard

ATU to Live One More Day as a Cyclone

TC ATU Details at 12:32UTC on February 23, 2011

• Position: Near 29.8ºS, 177.6ºE
• Location: 900km NNE of Auckland, New Zealand
• Forward Speed: ~ 40kmph
• Movement: 135 degrees
• Max sustained winds: ~ 120kmph
• Max wind gusts: ~ 130kmph
• Max significant wave height: ~ 10m
• Estimated by FIRE-EARTH

“[TC ATU] is currently undergoing extra-tropical transition (ET) and is expected to complete ET by [February 24 at 06:00UTC] as it continues to accelerate along the southwestern periphery of a subtropical steering ridge into the mid-latitude westerlies.” JTWC said.

Click image to enlarge.

Related Links:

• TC ATU

TC ATU

ATU Strengthens to a Cat 2 Cyclone

TROPICAL CYCLONE ATU (TC 17P), was located about 830km west of NADI, FIJI, at 12:00UTC (position: near 17.2ºS 170.1ºE), moving ESE at about 7kmph.  ATU has sustained winds of about 170kmph, with wind gusts of up to 200kmph.

ATU could further intensify to a Cat. 3C Cyclone (see FIRE-EARTH New Hurricane Scale) in the next 48 hours.

[FIRE-EARTH estimates are based on data from JTWC and other sources.]

Cyclone ATU – IR Satellite Image (NHC Enhancement) Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Cyclone ATU – IR Satellite Image (BD Enhancement). Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Cyclone ATU Projected Path – IR/VIS  Satellite Image. Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Related Links:

• FEWW New Hurricane Scale