Cyclone Betsy

Severe Tropical Cyclone Betsy was a strong and long-lived tropical cyclone which impacted 8 island nations.

For the Atlantic hurricane in 1965, see Hurricane Betsy. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Betsy.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Betsy
Cyclone Betsy near its peak intensity on 10 January
Meteorological history
Formed4 January 1992 (1992-01-04)
Extratropical15 January 1992 (1992-01-15)
Dissipated19 January 1992 (1992-01-19)
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (FMS)
Highest winds165 km/h (105 mph)
Lowest pressure940 hPa (mbar); 27.76 inHg
Category 2-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds175 km/h (110 mph)
Overall effects
Fatalities6 total
Areas affected
IBTrACS
Part of the 1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season

Meteorological history
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

In early January 1992, an equatorial westerly wind burst caused a surge of stronger than normal low level westerly winds, to develop on the northern side of the Southern Hemisphere monsoon trough to the east of New Guinea.[1][2] Enhanced convection associated with the wind burst gradually became more organized and by late on January 5, a tropical depression had developed within the monsoon trough to the west of Tuvalu.[1] Early on January 6, the JTWC initiated advisories on the depression and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 11P, as it moved westwards.[3][4] During that day the system gradually developed further with the cloud system becoming more symmetrical, while strong upper-level outflow and weak vertical wind shear favored further development.[1][4] Later that day, the FMS named the system Betsy at 19:15 UTC, after the system had developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale.[1][4]

After being named the system moved erratically towards the south-southeast, as it interacted with a mid troposphere trough of low pressure.[4][5] Throughout January 7, Betsy continued to intensify under the influence of a strong upper level anticyclone, located to its north and developed an eye feature.[4][5][6] The system also passed about 95 km (60 mi) to the east of the Solomon Island: Anuta, where winds of 85–100 km/h (55–60 mph) were recorded.[4][7] Betsy subsequently changed its course and started to move towards the south-southwest, as it interacted with the upper level easterlies and a ridge of high pressure built to the south-east of the system.[4][5] During February 8, the system became a category 3 severe tropical cyclone before it crossed central parts of Vanuatu early the next day, with the eye passing over, or very close to the islands of Ambrym and Malakula between 0000 and 0500 UTC.[4]

Preparations and impact

Betsy directly affected the Pacific island nations of Vanuatu, New Caledonia, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands, while it also indirectly affected the island nations of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tuvalu and Kiribati.

Tropical cyclone Betsy directly affected three countries, and indirectly affected two others. Some meteorological data reported from Vanuatu, the worst affected during the passage of Betsy.

Solomon Islands

Betsy impacted the Solomon Islands Temotu Province between January 6–8, which had been impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Tia seven weeks earlier.[4][8] During January 7, the system passed about 95 km (60 mi) to the east of Anuta, where wind speeds of 85–100 km/h (55–60 mph) were recorded by the automatic weather station on the island.[4][7] Later that day the system subsequently passed, about 160 km (100 mi) to the east of Tikopia during January 7.[4]

Vanuatu

Cyclone Betsy was the second of six tropical cyclones to affect Vanuatu during the 1991–92 season, seven weeks after Severe Tropical Cyclone Tia brought gale-force winds to northern Vanuatu. The system affected Vanuatu between January 7–9, with gale, storm and hurricane-force winds reported at various locations around the island nation including on Malakula Island.

On January 10, Vanuatu's Minister for Foreign Affairs, formally submitted a request to donor countries for foreign aid.[9] As a result of this request two aircraft a French Guardian and an Australian Orion, arrived in Vanuatu during the next day for surveillance operations. The planes completed their operations early on January 12 and returned to their countries, before a donor aid meeting involving the Australian, French, New Zealand and British high commissions was held later that day.

New Caledonia

Cyclone Betsy affected New Caledonia between January 9–10, and passed about 195 km (120 mi) to the north of the Belop islands. Gale-force winds associated with Betsy, were experienced as far south as Nouméa.

Other islands

Late on January 3, westerly winds of between 75–85 km/h (45–55 mph), were reported on the northern side of the monsoon trough in Nauru.[4] At around the same time parts of Kiribati, were affected by squally westerly winds.[4] Five people died in accidents related to the strong winds, including one when the roof of a mission building collapsed.[4] During January 7, heavy swell generated by the system caused flooding and minor damage on the Northern Tuvaluan islands.[4]

See also

References
  1. Gill, Jonathan P. "The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season 1991–1992" (PDF). Australian Meteorological Magazine. 43: 181–192. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  2. Stremler, David J; Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Western Oceanography Center (1993). Typhoon Axel (01W) (PDF) (1992 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report). United States Navy, United States Airforce. pp. 36–41. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  3. Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Western Oceanography Center (1993). 6. Tropical Cyclone Warning Verification Statistics: Southern Hemisphere (PDF) (1992 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report). United States Navy, United States Airforce. pp. 240–247. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  4. Tropical Cyclone Betsy, January 4 – 15, 1992 (Tropical Cyclone Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  5. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ntregion/statements/tropical/dtds-199201.pdf
  6. "1992 Tropical Cyclone Betsy (1992005S07172)". The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  7. "Tropical Cyclones/Depressions that passed through Solomon Islands Region" (PDF). Solomon Islands Meteorological Service. 13 September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  8. Ward, Graham F.A. (12 February 1992). Tropical Cyclone Tia, November 14 - 21, 1991 (PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report 92/3). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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