User:Jason Rees/Cyclone Ofa

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ofa was one of the worst tropical cyclones, to affect the Samoan Islands since the 1889 Apia cyclone. The tropical depression that was to become Ofa, was first noted developing within the South Pacific convergence zone, to the southeast of Funafuti on the South Pacific island of Tuvalu.

Meteorological history
Towards the end of January 1989, a surge in the Northern Hemisphere's trade winds and the Southern Hemispheres monsoon, led to the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) and the Australian monsoon trough becoming active after a prolonged period of dormancy. As a result two shallow tropical depressions were spawned; one over the Coral Sea that went on to become Cyclone Nancy, while the other was first noted within the SPCZ over Tuvalu on January 27. Over the next two days the system developed little and remained slow moving, near the Tuvaluan atoll of Funafuti. During January 30, the depression moved towards the north-east and started to organize, as pressures near the systems center rapidly falling. During the next day the system subsequently started to curve south-eastwards and away from Tuvalu, before the United States Naval Western Oceanography Center (NWOC) initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 13P during January 31. At 19:17 UTC on January 31, Fiji Meteorological Service's Nadi Tropical Cyclone Warning Center named the system Ofa, after it had developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. As it was named the system was located about 300 km to the east of Tuvalu and had started to curve more towards the south-southeast. During February 1, as Ofa started to affect Western Samoa, the NWOC reported that Ofa had become equivalent to a category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS).

TCWC Nadi subsequently reported during the next day that the system had become a category 3 severe tropical cyclone. Ofa passed about 110 km to the west of the Western Samoan Island of Savai'i between 10:00 and 18:00 UTC during February 3. Early the next day as the system started to accelerate towards the south-southeast towards the island nation of Niue, the NWOC estimated that Ofa had peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 215 km/h (130 mph), which made it equivalent to a category 4 hurricane on the SSHWS. Later that day TCWC Nadi also estimated that the system had peaked as a category 4 severe tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 185 km/h (115 mph). Early on February 5, Ofa started to show signs that it had started to weaken, as it passed about 55 km to the west of Niue. Over the next day the system slowly weakened as it moved southwards, before late on February 6, TCWC Nadi passed the primary warning responsibility for Ofa to the New Zealand Meteorological Service, after the system had moved below 25°S. The system subsequently weakened very quickly and started to transition into an extratropical cyclone, as it encountered strong upper level winds and cooler waters. During February 8, the NZMS declared that the system had become an extratropical cyclone, while the NWOC issued their final advisory on the system. The system subsequently performed a small clockwise loop, before Ofa's remnants were last noted during February 10.

Preparations, impact and aftermath
Cyclone Ofa affected seven different island nations and caused gales or stronger winds in six of those countries, which resulted in damage ranging from moderate to very severe. Storm tide from the cyclone which is the combined effect of storm surge and the high tide caused havoc in several countries and was a major cause of destruction. The system killed at least eight people while it was estimated that the overall damage would amount to over, with damage totals of at least and  in Samoa and American Samoa.

Tuvalu
During January 30, a tropical cyclone alert was issued for the islands of Tuvalu, as it was possible, that the system could produce gale force winds over the islands within 36 hours. A gale warning was subsequently issued for the islands of Funafuti, Nukulaelae and Niulakita and a strong wind warning for the rest of the archipelago. As the system developed over the islands during February 1, winds gradually increased, with strong to gale force winds experienced in the archipelago. The system subsequently had a major impact on the island nation, along with the Samoa depression that affected the islands a few days later. The majority of the islands reported damage to vegetation and crops, such as bananas, coconuts and breadfruits. Staff housing and a chapel on a government secondary school campus were up-roofed and collapsed, while a supermarket building collapsed as a result of heavy swells. On Vaitupu Island around 85% of residential homes, trees and food crops were destroyed, while residential homes were also destroyed on the islands of Niutao, Nui and Nukulaelae. On Funafuti sea waves flattened the Hurricane Bebe bank at the southern end of the airstrip, which caused sea flooding and prompted the evacuation of several families from their homes. In Nui and Niulakita there was a minor loss of the landscape because of sea flooding while there were no lives lost. After the systems had impacted Tuvalu, a Disaster Rehabilitation Sub-Committee was appointed to evaluate the damage caused and make recommendations to the National Disaster Committee and to the Cabinet on what should be done to help rehabilitate the affected areas. Emergency food aid and other humanitarian relief assistance was received from donors and the Red Cross. The total cost of reconstruction in the island nation was estimated, as exceeding.

Ofa devastated Vaitupu’s multi-million dollar harbour project.

Western Samoa
Cyclone Ofa affected Western Samoa between February 1-4, with heavy rain, huge waves, sea spray, storm surge and wind gusts exceeding 150 km/h. This created an impact on the island nation that had not been encountered in over 100 years, while the entire population was left in a state of shock and distress. Ahead of Ofa affecting Western Samoa, TCWC Nadi issued various gale and storm force wind warnings for Samoa, however due to communication and various other problems some of these warnings did not reach the Apia Observatory. Some of the warnings that did get through were distorted and contained strong wind warnings, rather than storm force wind warnings. As a result it was not known what was broadcast to the public who were warned to expect strong winds rather than storm force winds and thus TCWC Nadi was left with no doubt, that the correct precautionary measures may not have been taken.

During February 2, (February 1, Samoa Standard Time (SST) ) the meteorological stations at the Apia Observatory and the Faleolo Airport started to report gale force winds. During that day rain became heavy and widespread, before as the winds picked up most communications with the island nation were lost. At the height of the storm the only means of communication with Western Samoa, was through a Polynesian Airlines Boeing 727 aircraft that was standing at Faleolo Airport. The Apia meteorological office was hit by high sea waves at 21:45 UTC (10:45 SST) and had to be abandoned due to rising floods before being completely destroyed a few hours later.

The combined effect of very high winds, heavy rainfall and storm tide created an impact never encountered before in Western Samoa in more than 100 years, and left the whole population in a state of terrible shock and distress. Reports reaching Nadi indicate that all of some 330 villages in the islands-received at least some damage with the northern coasts of Upolu and Savaii being the worst hit. Roofs of houses were peeled away, walls knocked down, trees felled, and roads, bridges and power lines were badly damaged. Stonm tide caused even more damage, washing off about 80 percent of the northwestern coastlines of the two main islands, reshaping them and creating several islands of coral debris near the reef line. Meteorological records and equipment at the Apia Observatory were ruined when huge sea waves struck the beachfront facility.

Altogether seven lives were lost, most of them washed away by waves or killed by flying debris. According to a preliminary estimate of the damage, the cyclone cost the country about US$306 million (roughly US$130 million).

American Samoa
Despite passing about 100 mi to the west of Pago Pago, Cyclone Ofa affected American Samoa between February 3 - 5 with wind gusts of up to 100 mph, which caused widespread and extensive damage to the territory. Ahead of the cyclone affecting the island nation, TCWC Nadi issued a gale warning for American Samoa, while forecasting that very heavy rain, high seas and damaging sea swells would impact the area.

Strong winds and heavy surf caused extensive damage on American Samoa as Ofa moves southward well west of the island with the center passing about 100 miles to the west of Pago Pago at about 00 UTC on the 4th. Normally a storm this far away would not be expected to cause too severe damage. However, Ofa was a large and well developed storm close to its peak intensity as it moved southward to the west of Samoa. The mountainous terrain caused unusual local wind effects as the northerly winds gusted at 80 to 100 mph in spots downwind of the mountains. Very large swell, out ahead of the storm and directed towards the north facing beaches, caused locally heavy damage and severe beach erosion. Monetary losses in American Samoa were estimated at about $50 million, much of it from crops such as taro breadfruit banana, coconut and papaya.

On February 4, within the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, the Lieutenant Governor Galea'i Peni Poumele placed the whole of American Samoa under a state of emergency. Upon his return from an international conference the Governor Peter Tali Coleman subsequently wrote to the United States President George H. W. Bush on February 7, asking him to declare the islands a federal disaster area and asked for money to help the American territory rebuild and recover from the Cyclone. The President subsequently declared the islands a major disaster area on December 9, which enabled Samoans to claim federal aid.

Tokelau
During February 2, a gale warning was issued for the whole of Tokelau by TCWC Nadi, as Ofa started to affect the island with heavy rain, high seas and strong to gale force winds. Ofa caused extensive damage to the islands public buildings, after sea walls around the atolls of Nukunonu, Atafu and Fakaofo were washed away by high seas. Around 80% of the breadfruit and coconut trees were destroyed or damaged by the winds, while an inundation of water associated with Ofa was responsible for washing away or contaminating topsoil. The whole population of Swains Island was made homeless, after their homes suffered extensive damage. The island also suffered from a complete loss of agricultural crops including bananas, pawpaws, breadfruits and taro. No deaths or serious injuries were reported within the island nation. About a week after the system had affected Tokelau, the Royal New Zealand Air Force delivered urgently needed supplies via airdrop, before further assistance from New Zealand arrived by sea.

Niue
Early on February 4, the island nation of Niue was placed under a gale warning, as gale force winds or stronger were forecast to occur over the island nation during the next day. A hurricane warning was subsequently issued later that day, after the system had accelerated towards the south-southeast and started to affect Niue. As winds on the island picked up the Niue Telecommunications Center shut down its operations, while the satellite on the island was taken down. Radio New Zealand subsequently broadcast Special Weather Bulletins for Niue on air, after being requested to by the Fiji and New Zealand Meteorological Services. The island was affected by hurricane force winds for several hours during February 5, as Ofa's eye passed about 30 km to west of the island. At around 03:00 UTC Niue recorded what was its lowest ever recorded pressure of 962.4 hPa. Very high seas which reportedly were several meters high, swept over the islands northern and western coasts, with virtually all of the landings to the sea washed away or badly damaged. Considerable damage was recorded to the islands hospital, hotel, roads, houses, churches and other facilities for public use. Due to the damage to the power lines, electricity was out for about 24 hours. Most of the islands private water supply tanks were contaminated by salt water and declared unsuitable for drinking. There were lives lost or significant injuries reported, while the total loss on the island from the cyclone was estimated at around. Within the aftermath of the cyclone the Royal New Zealand Air Force flights brought in emergency medical supplies, generators, water and fuel pumps, and food to Niue while a New Zealand navy vessel, the Endeavour, delivered additional foodstuffs, as well as building and plumbing materials, two weeks after the storm.

Cyclone Ofa caused very severe damage to Niue despite the island nation, having some protection with its reef and hundred foot high cliffs. Despite protection from its reef and hundred-foot-high cliffs, enormous waves crashed boulders and tons of water onto the island, wrecking buildings and equipment. For Niue's fragile economy, already disturbed by the loss in 1988 of its international air service, this cyclone may prove to be one storm too many. Hardest hit was the capital, Alofi, where most government offices, public services, and expatriate housing are situated. Structures on the seaward side of the main road suffered the most. The government owned Niue Hotel, the principal such amenity on the island, was devastated, while the island's hospital was extensively damaged and initially had to be evacuated. Damage to infrastructure disrupted fishing activities in several villages, but the storm's effects on agriculture were more serious. Breadfruit, banana, papaya, and taro crops were devastated, leaving a relatively small quantity of local food on an island once entirely self-sufficient in this respect.

Despite protection from its reef and hundred-foot-high cliffs, enormous waves crashed boulders and tons of water onto the island, wrecking buildings and equipment. For Niue's fragile economy, already disturbed by the loss in 1988 of its international air service, this cyclone may prove to be one storm too many. Hardest hit was the capital, Alofi, where most government offices, public services, and expatriate housing are situated. Structures on the seaward side of the main road suffered the most. The government owned Niue Hotel, the principal such amenity on the island, was devastated, while the island's hospital was extensively damaged and initially had to be evacuated. Damage to infrastructure disrupted fishing activities in several villages, but the storm's effects on agriculture were more serious. Breadfruit, banana, papaya, and taro crops were devastated, leaving a relatively small quantity of local food on an island once entirely self-sufficient in this respect.

Tonga
During February 2, TCWC Nadi issued gale warnings for Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu islands, while issuing the rest of Tonga with tropical cyclone alerts and a strong wind warnings. During February 3, as the system moved towards Tonga, TCWC Nadi predicted that it would pass about 55 km to the east of Niuatoputapu, at about 1100 UTC February 4, (0000 UTC+13, February 5). As a result TCWC Nadi issued a hurricane warning for Niuatoputapu and gale warnings for the rest of the Tonga. Ofa subsequently moved more towards the southeast than expected and passed about 110 km to the east of Niuatoputapu. As a result the Haapai and Tongatapu island groups did not receive any gale force winds from the system, while Niuatoputapu only experienced storm force winds from the system. Severe damage to houses, church buildings, coconut plantations, food crops and other vegetation, was reported on the islands of Tafahi and Niuatoputapu. Over 70% of the housing in Niuatoputapu was completely destroyed, while the roofs of the remaining 30% were partially or completely damaged. On Niuafo'ou a moderate amount of damage was reported, but was generally confined to crops and vegetation. One death was attributed to Ofa on Niuafo'ou, while overall the system caused about in damage to Tonga.