southern pacific Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston

[Nouska]

Radar gif from Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School.

He has an extensive archive of other cyclones here.     http://andrew.rsmas.miami.edu/bmcnoldy/tropics/radar/

 

 

 

 

 

[Somerset Squall]

Winston has weakened to 140kts, still cat 5, as it has battered Fiji. The westward motion is expected to continue, followed by a southward track as a trough digs in and a ridge settles to the east. At this time, shear and cooler waters will weaken Winston considerably. In about 5 days time, Winston is forecast to turn westwards again as a new ridge to the south steers the system.

 

This track has got to be one of the oddest ones I have seen recently:

 

[sunnijim]

On Friday, February 19, 2016 at 9:04 PM, Kiwi said:

Looking very nasty.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=342288

Looks to be heading bang over a tiny island called Nananu-i-ra (just off the north coast of Viti Levu). I spent 2 incredible months there many many years ago and didn't want to leave such a spectacularly beautiful island and lovely people. I dread to think about the devastation this could wreak.

(not my photo ....my photos of nananu-i-ra are pre digital)

I spent four weeks on Fiji in Jan/Feb 2004.Most of the time spent island hopping on the Yusawa group.The beauty of the place and people will live with me forever.

Do you have information on how this tiny group of Islands have been affected?

[Somerset Squall]

Death toll up to 29, damage extensive.

this HTML class. Value is http://www.bbc.co.uk

[Kiwi]

On 2/21/2016 at 11:26 AM, sunnijim said:

I spent four weeks on Fiji in Jan/Feb 2004.Most of the time spent island hopping on the Yusawa group.The beauty of the place and people will live with me forever.

Do you have information on how this tiny group of Islands have been affected?

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/297265/homes,-crops-hit-in-fiji's-yasawa-islands

 

[Somerset Squall]

2 week old Winston is gradually weakening as it moves south. Convection is becoming increasingly shallow and waters are cooling along track and dry air is wrapping around the cyclone. Winds are down to 45kts. A bend in track towards the west is expected, south of 25°S. Cool sea temps and increasing shear will cause Winston to become sub-tropical according to JTWC.

 

[Kiwi]

Death toll in Fiji from Winston now stands at 42....and expected to rise as some remote islands have still not been contacted.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/297310/fiji-death-toll-from-winston-rises-to-42

[Somerset Squall]

Winston degenerated into a remnant low on the 24th Feb. However, a week later, and the remnants are still roaming about, and have reached east coast of Australia! Convection has recently redeveloped near the previously exposed LLCC, but regeneration into a tropical cyclone is not expected. This system just doesn't want to fully dissipate (it formed on February 10th).

Edited March 2, 2016 by Somerset Squall

[Somerset Squall]

Winston's long and twisty track (including it's current remnant low stage)