User:Jason Rees/Sally

Meteorological History
During December 23 and 24, 1986, an area of mid-latitude forcing over the South Pacific Ocean, caused the subtropical ridge of high pressure to be displaced northwards and weaken. As a result of this, an area of atmospheric convection developed within the South Pacific Convergence Zone near the Northern Cook Islands. The area of convection was subsequently classified as a shallow tropical depression by the Fiji Meteorological Service, while it was located to the south-west of Pukapuka in the Northern Cook Islands early on December 26. During that day, the system moved south-eastwards and away from PukaPuka, while, the Fiji Meteorological Service thought that it was unlikely that the system to develop into a tropical cyclone within 24 hours at this time. This was because there had not been any significant pressure falls or any clear signs of the clouds organizing in the high-resolution GMS-3 satellite pictures. However, at around 18:00 UTC on December 27, the FMS issued their first gale warning on the depression, before they reported that it had developed into a tropical cyclone and named it Sally shortly afterwards. This was subsequently followed by the United States Naval Western Oceanography Center who intiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 05P.

As The FMS subsquently issued storm and hurricane warnings for the hig and came to within 600 km of Cyclone Raja subsequently started to interact with the depression and came to within 600 km of each other.

Effects
Severe Tropical Cyclone Sally was responsible for extensive damage, as it impacted both the Northern and Southern Cook Islands as well as the Austral Islands of French Polynesia.

Northern Cook Islands
The island of Suwarrow within the Northern Cook Islands was the first island to be impacted by Sally, with gale to storm-force winds reported on the island during December 27. However, the people living on Suwarrow were caught unprepared for the winds, as no alerts warnings were issued for the Northern Cook Islands by the FMS. This lack of alerts and warnings was partially attributed by the FMS, to the rapid intensification of Sally's precursor tropical depression, as well as the non-availability of wind reports from the island. Extensive damage to coconut trees and houses were reported on the island.

Cook Islands
Sally impacted the Cook Islands between

During January 8, the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands requested international assistance and asked that the international community provide the island nation, with as much cash aid as possible in order to purchase construction and equipment for the relief effort.

French Polynesia
To assist with the relief effort, a number of heavy machines were provided by the French Government through the French Polynesian Government who also provided 33 pre cut houses for those families whose homes were devastated by high winds and storm surge. Construction of these houses under supervision of the Ministry of Works was completed over a two-year period excepting for one house that was subjected to unresolved land disputes.