Tropical Depression 10F (2004)

Meteorological history

Tropical Depression 10F was first identified early on April 5 by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in Nadi, Fiji as a weak tropical disturbance. The disturbance at this time was located about 700 km (435 mi) to the north of Port Vila, Vanuatu and was embedded within a monsoon trough that extended from the Solomon Islands to the north of Fiji. Major convection around the system was displaced to the north and north east of the low level circulation center. The system was located within a favorable area to develop further with sea surface temperatures of over 30 °C and light vertical windshear.

During the next couple of days the disturbance gradually moved to the southeast gradually

TROPICAL DEPRESSION 10F [1001 HPA] WAS LOCATED NEAR 17.3S 175E at 070825 UTC. 10F IS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 KNOTS. POSITION POOR BASED ON ANIMATED GOES9 IR IMAGERY. QUIKSCAT AND CIMMS DATA ARE UNAVAILABLE. 10F REMAINS EMBEDED IN A MONSOONAL TROUGH EXTENDING FROM THE SOLOMONS TOWARDS THE FIJI GROUP. SST AROUND THE SYSTEM IS AROUND 28 DEGREES CELCIUS AND IS LOCATED ABOUT 600 MILES SOUTH OF AN UPPER OUTFLOW. MOST GLOBAL MODELS ARE DRIFTING 10F SOUTHEAST AND DONOT INDICATE ITS DEVELOPMENT INTO A TROPICAL CYCLONE WITHIN THE NEXT 24HOURS.

TD10F was small/midget system that developed to the northwest of Fiji on April 7 th and eventually made it into Fiji through the Yasawa group.

At midday the centre was located about 36 nautical miles northnortheast of Nadi, heading towards the Rakiraki coast. The depression made landfall around 1.30pm on the 8 th close to Rakiraki. Once over Viti Levu, the associated cold and deep convection was sustained by a strong influx of moist flow over the Bligh Waters and latent heat from the resultant strong precipitation activity. However, before exiting the Viti Levu landmass, strong friction induced by the rugged terrain together with strengthening shear basically tore the convection to two clusters. One was displaced to the southeast of Viti Levu generally towards the Capital, Suva. This cluster was soon refuelled by a strong, moist and humid onshore flow which eventually triggered an almost separate burst of very squally and torrential rain activity about the southeastern parts of Viti Levu. The main cluster was shuttled into Lomaiviti and later on over Southern Lau, significantly destabilised, during the latter part of the 8 th and morning of Good Friday, April 9 th 2004. By 6pm on the 8 th , the tropical depression was accelerating southeast about 20 knots and further into very strong northwesterly shear and cooler seas. This amazingly did little to dislodge the cold and deep convection off the system, though much reduced spatially and winds abating significantly. TD10F eventually moved into New Zealand’s area of responsibility around 6am on the 10 th . --

Preparations and impact

Thousands of tourists holidaying in Fiji were asked to remain indoors while the tropical depression affected Fiji with domestic flights in and out of Fiji canceled. People were also advised not to go out to sea and were advised to take precautions. Public servants were also told to go home after ensuring that emergency procedures were in place, while schools were closed so that students could get home safely.

Tropical Depression 15F brought strong winds heavy rain and flooding to Viti Levu and the Yasawa and Mamanuca group of islands. The depression caused a total of F$ (US$) in damage, while at least 11 people were confirmed dead. Damage and destruction caused by the depression was confined to a thin strip where the tropical depression had passed. Many roads and bridges in Ba and Rakiraki were flooded causing landslides and severe damage to infrastructure and public utilities was reported. Family homes were severely damaged or were destroyed by being blown or washed away. Crops were also severely damaged or destroyed. The business community also suffered severely as the kings road between Ra and Tailevu was closed to all traffic for several days as parts of the road were washed away. Communications were also severely affected at the height of the storm.

The National Disaster Management Committee of Fiji initially reported on April 11 that seven people had died from the tropical depression with nine people missing.

A woman was swept away while trying to cross the flooded Wainimala River in Naitasiri province, while another women was swept off a flooded bridge in Rakiraki.

By April 12, the Fijian red cross had distributed more than $80,000 F$ (US$) worth of food parcels, however the food parcels were only expected last for two weeks.

References

References

1. (2004-04-06). "Severe Weather Warnings issued on 2004-04-05". MT Archive.
2. (2004-04-08). "Tropical depression causes flooding in Fiji's west". Radio New Zealand International.
3. "Tropical Cyclone Country reports: Fiji 2006-08". [[World Meteorological Organization]].
4. (April 11, 2004). "Fiji confirms seven dead, nine missing after tropical depression".
5. (April 9, 2004). "Two people die in Fiji floods". [[Radio New Zealand International]].
6. "NZ Top NZ News Stories from NZCity".