Tag Archives: Honiara

Tropical Cyclone Jasper Intensifies to Equivalent of Hurricane/Typhoon

Tropical Cyclone Jasper intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the Coral Sea on Tuesday. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Jasper was located at latitude 11.0°S and longitude 157.3°E which put it about 205 miles (330 km) west-southwest of Honiara, Guadacanal. Jasper was moving toward the south-southwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the Coral Sea on Tuesday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Jasper’s circulation. An eye was visible on satellite images at the center of Tropical Cyclone Jasper. A thin ring of thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Jasper’s circulation. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass was causing the surface pressure to decrease.

Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 10 miles (15 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Jasper’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper will move through an environment very favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Jasper will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the western part of the axis of an upper level ridge over the South Pacific Ocean. The upper level winds are ridge weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Jasper will intensify during the next 36 hours. Jasper could intensify rapidly after the eye and eyewall are fully developed. Tropical Cyclone Jasper will very likely strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over the South Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Jasper toward the southwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, Jasper will move away from the Solomon Islands. Tropical Cyclone Jasper will continue to produce gusty winds and locally heavy rain in the Solomon Islands until it moves away. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Tropical Cyclone Jasper could approach the coast of Queensland, Australia in a few days.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper Forms Near the Solomon Islands

Tropical Cyclone Jasper formed over the Coral Sea near the Solomon Islands on Monday night. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Jasper was located at latitude 9.6°S and longitude 156.6°E which put it about 230 miles (370 km) west of Honiara, Guadacanal. Jasper was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.

A low pressure system over the Coral Sea near the Solomon Islands strengthened during Monday night and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Jasper. The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Jasper was organizing rapidly. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Jasper’s circulation. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass was causing the surface pressure to decrease.

Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) in the western side of Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) in the eastern side of Jasper’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Jasper will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the western part of the axis of an upper level ridge over the South Pacific Ocean. The upper level winds are ridge weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Jasper will intensify during the next 36 hours. Jasper will strengthen to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon. Tropical Cyclone Jasper could intensify rapidly once an inner core with an eye and an eyewall develop.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over the South Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Jasper toward the southwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, Jasper will move away from the Solomon Islands. Tropical Cyclone Jasper will continue to produce gusty winds and locally heavy rain in the Solomon Islands until it moves away. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Tropical Cyclone Jasper could approach the coast of Queensland, Australia in a few days.

Tropical Cyclone Forming over Solomon Islands

A tropical cyclone is forming over the Solomon Islands. The system is currently designated as Invest 92P by the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center. At 1:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Invest 92P was located at latitude 8.7°S and longitude 158.3°E which put it about 130 miles (210 km) west-northwest of Honiara, Guadacanal. Invest 92P was moving toward the southwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.

A low pressure system over the Solomon Islands was gradually becoming better organized on Monday morning. The U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center was designating the system as Invest 92P. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology classified the system as a tropical low. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of the low pressure system. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the low pressure system. The removal of mass was causing the surface pressure to decrease.

The low pressure system will move through an environment favorable for the development of a tropical cyclone during the next 36 hours. The low pressure system will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the western part of an upper level ridge over the South Pacific Ocean. The upper level ridge will produce northerly winds that will blow toward the top of the low pressure system. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. Invest 92P is very likely to develop into a tropical cyclone during the next 36 hours.

The low pressure system will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over the South Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Invest 92P toward the southwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, the low pressure system will move away from the Solomon Islands and over the Coral Sea. Invest 92P will continue to produce gusty winds and locally heavy rain in the Solomon Islands until it moves away. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Cyclone Harold Forms West of Guadalcanal

Tropical Cyclone Harold formed west of Guadalcanal on Thursday.  At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Harold was located at latitude 10.0°S and longitude 157.8°E which put it about 150 miles (240 km) west-southwest of Honiara, Solomon Islands.  Harold was moving toward the east-southeast at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

A distinct low level center of circulation developed in an area of thunderstorms over the southern Solomon Sea west of Guadalcanal on Thursday and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Harold.  The circulation around Harold was still organizing.  Bands of strong thunderstorms developed west of the center of circulation.  Other bands of showers and thunderstorms developed in the eastern periphery of Tropical Cyclone Harold.  Storms west of the center of circulation generated upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (150 km) from the center.

Tropical Cyclone Harold will move through an environment favorable for intensification.  Harold will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  It will move around the southwestern end of an upper level ridge over the South Pacific Ocean.  The ridge will produce northwesterly winds which will blow toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Cyclone Harold will intensify and it will strengthen into the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon.  Harold could intensify rapidly when the inner core becomes fully developed.

The upper level ridge will steer Tropical Cyclone Harold toward the southeast during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Harold could reach Rennell Island in 12 hours.  Tropical Cyclone Harold will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Guadalcanal, San Cristobal and Rennell Island.  Harold could reach Vanuatu within 72 hours.  Tropical Cyclone Harold is very likely to be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon when it reaches Vanuatu.