Tag Archives: Tropical Cyclone Ruby

Tropical Cyclone Ruby Brings Wind and Rain to New Caledonia

Tropical Cyclone Ruby brought wind and rain to New Caledonia on Monday night. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ruby was located at latitude 22.6°S and longitude 168.3°E which put it about 85 miles (135 km) east of Noumea, New Caledonia. Ruby was moving toward the east-southeast at 22 m.p.h. (35 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Ruby brought wind and rain to much of New Caledonia on Monday night. The center of Ruby made landfall on the northwest end of New Caledonia near Poum. Tropical Cyclone Ruby moved quickly toward the southeast and the center of circulation passed over most of the entire length of New Caledonia. The center exited the coast east of Noumea on Tuesday morning. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 60 miles in the northern half of Ruby’s circulation. So, Tropical Cyclone Ruby brought tropical storm force winds to much of New Caledonia. The winds in the southern half of Ruby’s circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force. Tropical Cyclone Ruby also dropped locally heavy rain over parts of New Caledonia. Clockwise rotation around Ruby would have caused the air to flow up the eastern slopes of mountains and the heaviest rain likely occurred in those areas. Locally heavy rain may have caused flash floods in some places.

An upper level trough east of Australia will steer Tropical Cyclone Ruby quickly toward the southeast during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Ruby will be northeast of New Zealand in 36 hours. The upper level trough will produce strong northwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Ruby’s circulation. Those winds will produce moderate vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Ruby will move over much cooler water when it moves toward the southeast. The combination of moderate vertical wind shear and cooler water will cause Tropical Cyclone Ruby to make a transition to an extratropical cyclone during the next 36 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Ruby Hits New Caledonia

Tropical Cyclone Ruby hit New Caledonia on Monday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ruby was located at latitude 20.5°S and longitude 164.5°E which put it about 20 miles (30 km) east of Koumac, New Caledonia and about 200 miles (320 km) northwest of Noumea. Ruby was moving toward the southeast at 18 m.p.h. (29 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 984 mb.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Ruby made landfall on the northwest end of New Caledonia near Poum on Monday. Ruby was the equivalent of a strong tropical storm when it made landfall. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Ruby’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles from the center of Tropical Cyclone Ruby in the other quadrants. A band of heavy rain wrapped around the southern and western sides of the center of circulation. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Ruby.

An upper level trough east of Australia will produce northwesterly winds that will steer Tropical Cyclone Ruby toward the southeast during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Ruby will move over almost the entire length of New Caledonia. Ruby could maintain much of its intensity as it moves over New Caledonia because most of the circulation will be over water. Tropical Cyclone Ruby will bring strong winds and heavy rain to much of New Caledonia. Locally heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods. Strong winds and locally heavy rain could cause widespread electrical outages. Winds blowing water toward the east coast of New Caledonia could cause storm surges.

Tropical Cyclone Ruby Rapidly Intensifies to Equivalent of a Hurricane/Typhoon

Tropical Cyclone Ruby rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Sunday afternoon. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ruby was located at latitude 16.8°S and longitude 159.3°E which put it about 415 miles (670 km) northwest of Poum, New Caledonia. Ruby was moving toward the southeast at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 980 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Ruby rapidly intensified on Sunday. A small eye formed at the center of Ruby. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Cyclone Ruby’s circulation. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the southeast of the tropical cyclone. Ruby was a small tropical cyclone. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Ruby’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 75 miles (120 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Ruby will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Ruby 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 ridge will produce northwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Ruby’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will be too small to prevent intensification. Tropical Cyclone Ruby will intensify and it could continue to intensify rapidly. Ruby could strengthen to the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

Tropical Cyclone Ruby will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the South Pacific Ocean during the next 36 hours. The high pressure system will steer Ruby toward the southeast. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Ruby could approach the northwestern part of New Caledonia in 24 hours. Ruby will be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon when it reaches New Caledonia. Tropical Cyclone Ruby will bring strong winds and heavy rain to much of New Caledonia. Locally heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods. Strong winds and locally heavy rain could cause widespread electrical outages. Winds blowing water toward the east coast of New Caledonia could cause storm surges.

Tropical Cyclone Ruby Intensifies over the Coral Sea

Tropical Cyclone Ruby intensified over the Coral Sea on Sunday morning. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ruby was located at latitude 16.2°S and longitude 158.6°E which put it about 475 miles (765 km) northwest of Poum, New Caledonia. Ruby was moving toward the south-southeast at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Ruby intensified more rapidly over the Coral Sea northwest of New Caledonia on Sunday morning. Microwave satellite images provided evidence that a small eye was forming at the center of Ruby’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Cyclone Ruby. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the southeast of the tropical cyclone. The circulation around Ruby was small. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Ruby will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Ruby 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 ridge will produce northwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Ruby’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will be too small to prevent intensification. Tropical Cyclone Ruby will intensify and it could strengthen to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon within 12 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Ruby will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the South Pacific Ocean during the next 36 hours. The high pressure system will steer Ruby toward the southeast. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Ruby could approach the northwestern part of New Caledonia in 36 hours. Ruby is very likely to be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon when it nears New Caledonia. Tropical Cyclone Ruby will bring strong winds and heavy rain to much of New Caledonia. Locally heavy rain is likely to cause widespread flash floods.