User:Kiewii/Meena

Severe Tropical Cyclone Meena (RSMC Nadi designation: 07F; JTWC designation: 15P) was one of four tropical cyclones to affect the Cook Islands during the 2004-05 South Pacific cyclone season.

Meterological history
On February 1, 2005, a poorly organized tropical disturbance formed to the west of the Northern Cook islands. Early the next day, RSMC Nadi reported that the overall organization of the disturbance had improved significantly with convection increasing and classified it as Tropical Depression 07F. However, the low-level circulation centre (LLCC) was exposed and displaced from the deep convection. Early on February 3, as the LLCC slipped under the deep convection, RSMC Nadi reported that the depression had intensified into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale with the name Meena being assigned to the cyclone whilst it was located less than 160 km (100 miles) to the east of Pago Pago in American Samoa.

Later that day, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) on the cyclone as Meena had improved convection over a well developed LLCC with the cyclone having a good outflow and lying in an area of low to moderate vertical windshear. Shortly after the TCFA was issued, JTWC issued their first warning on Meena and designated it 15P. Late that day, Meena was tracking eastward slowly while attaining storm-force winds even while it was interacting with a short-wave upper trough to its southwest. On February 4, RSMC Nadi reported that the organization of the storm had improved and a banding eye feature developed on visible satellite imagery.

On February 6, Meena had reached peak intensity with winds reaching 210 km/h (130 mph) and a central pressure of 915 mbar (hPa; 27.02 inHg). Then JTWC reported that the system had also reached peak intensity with 1-minute average winds of 230 km/h (145 mph). While at this intensity, Meena was located 160 km (100 miles) northwest of Rarotonga. The storm then began to rapidly weaken due to increasing vertical wind shear and cooling sea surface temperatures. Meena moved into TCWC Wellington's area of responsibility on February 7 and was declared extratropical the next day about 885 km (550 miles) south of Tahiti.

Aftermath
In the wake of all four cyclones, the Cook Islands requested international assistance. Funding to repair damages from the storms reached $7.87 million. The Red Cross provided relief items, such as blankets and lanterns worth $35,200; the Pacific Forum provided food, fuel, and logistical support worth $32,000; the Government of China donated $19,200 in post-disaster funds; $32,000 in funding was provided by the United Nations Development Programme; contributions from the Australian Agency for International Development and New Zealand Aid amounted to $862,570, consisting of fuel, shelter, relief items, and disaster funds; the Government of Australia provided $128,000 wort of fuel and equipment; lastly, the Government of France deployed military teams with recovery supplies and tents. The European Union also supplied £200,000 ($280,000) in relief funds.

Since Meena caused substantial damage throughout the Cook Islands, the name was retired from "Naming List A" for the South Pacific basin and was replaced with Mal. The three other cyclones that impacted the region, Nancy, Olaf and Percy, were also retired and replaced by Nat, Olof and Pita respectively.