Severe Tropical Cyclone Ana was one of three tropical cyclones to impact the island nation of Fiji towards the end of January 2021. The fifth tropical disturbance, third tropical cyclone and second severe tropical cyclone of the 2020–21 South Pacific cyclone season, Ana was first noted as Tropical Disturbance 05F during January 26, while it was located about 220 km (135 mi) to the northeast of Port Vila in Vanuatu. Over the next few days, the system moved eastwards and gradually developed further, before it was declared to be a tropical cyclone and named Ana during January 29. Over the next day, the system moved south-eastwards towards Fiji before it made landfall on the island of Viti Levu. After emerging into the Pacific Ocean, the system intensified into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, before it rapidly degenerated into a subtropical low during February 1.
AON Benfield estimates Ana caused millions of dollars in damage across Fiji.[1] Due to its onslaught, the name Ana was retired from the naming list and was replaced by Aru.[2]
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
During January 26, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) reported that Tropical Disturbance 05F had developed within the South Pacific convergence zone about 220 km (135 mi) to the northeast of Port Vila in Vanuatu.[3][4] During that day, the system moved eastwards and developed into a tropical depression, within an area of low to moderate vertical wind shear.[5] Over the next couple of days, the system moved eastwards and gradually developed further, as atmospheric convection started to wrap into the systems low level circulation center.[6] During January 29, the FMS reported that the depression had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale and named it Ana.[7][8] At this time, the system was located about 350 km (215 mi) to the northwest of Nadi in Fiji and had started to be steered south-southeastwards towards Fiji, by a ridge of high pressure to the northeast of the system.[8] The United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center subsequently initiated advisories, on the newly named system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 15P.[4]
During January 30, Ana continued to move south-southeastwards and passed through the northern Yasawa Islands into the Bligh Waters, where it became slow-moving and intensified into a category 2 tropical cyclone.[9] The system subsequently continued to develop with an eye feature appearing on both radar and microwave imagery, before it made landfall on Viti Levu near Rakiraki at around 18:00 UTC (06:00 FST, January 31).[9][10][11] While located over Viti Levu, Ana moved south-southeastwards over the Central Division, where it passed in between Navua and Fiji's capital city: Suva.[9] The JTWC subsequently reported that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), which made it equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.[12] During January 31, Ana emerged into the Kadavu Passage and passed near or over Kadavu, before the FMS reported that the system had peaked as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph).[12][13] During February 1, the system rapidly weakened into a subtropical low, as its low-level circulation center became exposed and moved south-eastwards into an area of high vertical wind shear.[14][15][16] Over the next few days, Ana moved south-eastwards over the South Pacific Ocean as a subtropical low, before it was last noted during February 3.[12]
Preparations and impact
During January 27, the FMS issued a gale alert as well as a heavy rain warning for Vanua Levu, Taveuni, the Yasawa Group and Lau Islands, while strong wind warnings and a flash flood alert were already in force.[17] Later that day after Tropical Depression 06F had developed over Lau Province, these alerts and warnings were expanded to include a tropical cyclone alert for the whole of Fiji and a gale wind warning for Vanua Levu, Taveuni and the Lau Islands.[18]
In Fiji, the put a Tropical Cyclone Alert in effect for Vanua Levu, Yasawa, and Mamanuca, as well as smaller nearby islands. A Strong Wind Warning was ordered for northern Viti Levu, while a Gale Warning was put in place for Vanua Levu, Taveuni, and Lau. Meanwhile, Heavy Rain Warnings and Alerts were issued for portions of the country. With the threat of heavy rainfall, a Flood Warning was issued for low-lying areas and small streams along the Qawa River, with Flash Flood Alerts for Vanua Levu and for Viti Levu from the towns of Ba to Rakiraki.[19] All schools in Fiji were closed as a precaution on January 29, with teachers asked to help prepare classrooms as evacuation centers if needed.[20] A nightly curfew was ordered between January 29–31.[21] More than 2,000 residents evacuated to shelters across Fiji.[22]
Heavy precipitation associated with the depression hit Fiji as early as January 28, causing flooding in Rakiraki.[23] On January 29, the Nadi River overflowed its banks due to heavy rainfall, flooding parts of Nadi.[24] Footage from Ba showed severe flooding in parts of the town.[25] Extensive damage following landfall was reported in the majority of Viti Levu, especially the capital Suva which was directly hit,[26] with 5 people (including a three-year-old boy) reportedly missing.[27] Rivers across Fiji quickly became overflown while landslides destroyed what remained of some homes.[27] Power outages became widespread across the nation and a 49-year-old man was confirmed dead from drowning in floodwaters.[28] An additional 7,600 people were evacuated to evacuation centers during the storm in similar regions to which were devastated by Category 5 Cyclone Yasa a month prior.[29] Schools were reopened on February 8 except for the northern division which was scheduled to open a week later.[30] In the aftermath, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130 Hercules delivered emergency supplies to the district of Nadi. One million kits were delivered to assist affected families, including hygiene kits, mother and infant kits, water containers, water pumps, purification tablets and tarpaulins.[31]
^"Global Catastrophe Recap 2021" (PDF). AON Benfield. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 27, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
^RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee (2023). Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-East Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean 2023 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^Tropical Disturbance Summary January 26, 2021 09z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 26, 2021. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
^ abTropical Cyclone 15P Warning January 30, 2021 03z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 30, 2021. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
^Tropical Disturbance Summary January 26, 2021 21z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 26, 2021. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
^Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert January 28, 2021 15z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 28, 2021. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^Tropical Cyclone Naming Bulletin January 29, 2021 18z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 29, 2021. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
^ abTropical Disturbance Advisory January 29, 2021 21z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 29, 2021. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
^ abc"Media Release 8: TC Ana Moves Out Of Viti Levu Heading Towards Kadavu" (PDF) (Press release). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 31, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
^Tropical Cyclone 15P Warning January 30, 2021 09z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
^Tropical Cyclone 15P Warning January 30, 2021 21z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
^ abc"JTWC Tropical Cyclone 15P (Ana) Running Best Track Analysis". United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. February 2021.
^Tropical Disturbance Advisory January 31, 2021 12z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 31, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
^Tropical Disturbance Advisory February 1, 2021 03z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. February 1, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
^"Media Release 10: Tropical Cyclone Ana has been downgraded to a Tropical Low" (PDF) (Press release). Fiji Meteorological Service. February 2, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
^Tropical Cyclone 15P Warning February 1, 2021 21z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. January 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
^Special Weather Bulletin Number One for Fiji on Tropical Depression 05F January 27, 2021 04z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 26, 2021.
^Special Weather Bulletin Number Four for Fiji on Tropical Depression 05F January 27, 2021 23z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 26, 2021.
^Vijay Nayaran (January 28, 2021). "A Tropical Cyclone Alert is now in force for parts of Fiji". FijiVillage. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^Huaxia (January 28, 2021). "Fijians warned of tropical depression developing into cyclone in coming days". Xinhua. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^Talebula Kate (January 29, 2021). "New curfew hours announced by NDMO". The Fiji Times. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^"TC Ana is region's first cyclone for 2021". Loop PNG. January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^Storyful (January 28, 2021). "Tropical Depression Brings Flooding to Fiji". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^"Nadi River bursts its bank". FijiVillage. January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
^Jope Matavesi (January 29, 2021). "Tropical Cyclone Warning Issued as Heavy Flooding Hits Fiji". Yahoo! News, Storyful. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^"Powerful Winds Hit Suva as Tropical Cyclone Ana Makes Landfall in Fiji | The Australian". Retrieved January 31, 2021.
^ ab"Tropical cyclone Ana causes extensive damages to Fiji". Business Insider. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
^"One dead, five missing in Fiji after Cyclone Ana | News | POST Online Media". www.poandpo.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
^"The fury of Storm Ana over the South Pacific". L'Unione Sarda.it. January 31, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
^"Schools in the Northern Division to open from Monday". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
^"New Zealand provides support to Fiji for Cyclone Ana - Fiji". ReliefWeb. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cyclone Ana.
Tropical cyclone
Subtropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
