Tag Archives: 16P

Stronger Tropical Cyclone Cook Nears New Caledonia

Tropical Cyclone Cook strengthened on Sunday as it neared New Caledonia.  At 8:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Cook was located at latitude 20.3°S and longitude 165.8°E which put it about 150 miles (240 km) north-northwest of Noumea, New Caledonia.  Cook was moving toward the south-southwest at 11 m.p.h. (18 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 969 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Cook intensified on Sunday as the organization of the core improved.  A circular eye developed inside a ring of strong thunderstorms.  The fastest winds were occurring in the ring of storms around the eye.  A number of other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Cyclone Cook.  Thunderstorms close to the center of circulation were generating upper level divergence which was pumping out mass to the southeast of the tropical cyclone.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 180 miles (290 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Cook moved through an environment favorable for tropical cyclones on Sunday.  It moved over water where the Sea Surface Temperature was near 29°C.  An upper level ridge east of Cook produced northerly winds which were blowing toward the tropical cyclone, but the wind shear was not great enough to inhibit intensification.  Tropical Cyclone Cook should maintain its intensity until it makes landfall in New Caledonia.  Cook will begin to weaken after the center begins to interact with land.

A subtropical ridge east of Cook is steering the tropical cyclone toward the south-southwest.  A southerly motion is expected to bring the center of Tropical Cyclone Cook to New Caledonia on Monday.  The center of Tropical Cyclone Cook is likely to make landfall between Houailou and Thio on the central coast of New Caledonia.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Cook is 16.5.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 16.8 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 33.3.  The indices indicates that Tropical Cyclone Cook is capable of causing serious regional wind damage.  Tropical Cyclone Cook will also produce heavy rain and a chance for flash floods.

Strengthening Tropical Cyclone Cook Brings Wind and Rain to Vanuatu

Strengthening Tropical Cyclone Cook brought wind and rain to Vanuatu on Saturday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Cook was located at latitude 17.8°S and longitude 167.4°E which put it about 65 miles (105 km) west of Port Vila, Vanuatu.  Cook was moving toward the south at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 985 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Cook strengthened quickly on Saturday as it moved through central portions of Vanuatu.  A primary rainband wrapped around the center of circulation and a clear area appeared intermittently on satellite imagery.  The strongest winds were occurring in a ring of thunderstorms around the forming eye.  The thunderstorms near the center were generating upper level divergence which was pumping out mass toward the southeast of Tropical Cyclone Cook.  Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms were forming in the eastern half of the circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 150 miles (240 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Cook will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next 24 to 36 hours.  Cook will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is near 30°C.  An upper level ridge to the east of Cook is generating northerly winds which are blowing toward the tropical cyclone, but the vertical wind shear is minimal.  Warm SSTs and little vertical wind shear will allow Tropical Cyclone Cook to intensify.  A period of rapid intensification could occur after the eye and eyewall are completely formed.  Tropical Cyclone Cook should become the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Sunday.

Tropical Cyclone Cook is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge.  The ridge is steering Cook a little to the west of due south.  A general south-southwesterly motion is expected to continue for another 24 to 36 hours.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Cook will move away from Vanuatu and toward New Caledonia.  Tropical Cyclone Cook could approach New Caledonia in about 36 hours.

The core of Tropical Cyclone Cook will continue to bring wind and rain to the area around Port Vila, Vanuatu on Sunday.  Storms in the outer rainbands will bring wind and rain to the southern parts of Vanuatu.  Tropical Cyclone Cook will be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon when it nears New Caledonia.  Cook will be capable of causing wind damage and heavy rain could cause flash flooding.

Tropical Cyclone 16P Forms Over Gulf of Carpentaria

After a quiet period of several weeks in the tropics Tropical Cyclone 16P formed over the Gulf of Carpentaria on Tuesday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone 16P was located at latitude 16.4°S and longitude 140.3°E which put it about 75 miles (120 km) east-northeast of Mornington Island and about 115 miles (185 km) southwest of Kowanyama, Australia.  Tropical Cyclone 16P was moving toward the east-southeast at 12 m.p.h. (18 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 996 mb.

An upper level ridge persisted over the Gulf of Carpentaria during the past few days.  The upper level ridge generated upper level divergence which enhanced rising motion and supported the development of thunderstorms.  Eventually, the upper level divergence pumped out enough mass to allow the surface pressure to decrease and the thunderstorms began to consolidate around a low level center.  The system developed enough organization on Tuesday to be classified as a tropical cyclone.

The organization of Tropical Cyclone 16P improved on Tuesday.  Spiral bands of thunderstorms wrapped around a low level center.  Strong thunderstorms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence, especially to the east of the tropical cyclone.

The environment is favorable for intensification as long as the center of circulation remains over water.  The Sea Surface Temperatures are near 31°C in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria.  An upper level ridge to the east of the tropical cyclone is generating some vertical wind shear, but the ridge is also enhancing upper level divergence.  The primary inhibiting factor is the proximity of the center of circulation to land.  Tropical Cyclone 16P could intensify further during the next 12 hours before it makes landfall.

The upper level ridge is steering Tropical Cyclone 16P toward the southeast coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria.  On its anticipated track Tropical cyclone 16P is expected to make landfall in Queensland near the mouth of the Gilbert River in about 12 hours.  The potential track after landfall is much more uncertain.  Some guidance suggests that the tropical cyclone could move across the Cape York peninsula toward the Coral Sea.  Other guidance suggests that the tropical cyclone could turn back toward the northwest and move back out into the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Although Tropical Cyclone 16P is likely to cause minor wind damage, it could produce locally heavy rainfall and flooding when it moves over northeastern Queensland.