Cyclone Funa
{{Infobox weather event
| image = Funa 2008-01-18 2205Z.jpg
| caption = Cyclone Funa at peak intensity
| formed={{start-date|January 15, 2008}}
| dissipated={{end-date|January 22, 2008}}
| extratropical=January 20, 2008
}}{{Infobox weather event/FMS
| winds = 95
| pressure = 930
}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 105
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| fatalities = None
| affected = Vanuatu, New Zealand
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season =2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season
}}
Severe Tropical Cyclone Funa was the second strongest tropical cyclone during the 2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season, causing heavy flood and wind damage to areas of Vanuatu. The third tropical cyclone and second severe tropical cyclone of the season to form to the west of 160°E, Funa formed from an area of disturbed weather within the monsoon trough northeast of Vanuatu on January 16, 2008. Steadily intensifying as it moved to the east and subsequently south, Funa reached peak intensity with 10-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph). However, the cyclone encountered unfavorable conditions as it progressed further south, before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on
January 21.
Cyclone Funa severely affected areas of Vanuatu, especially to the island chain's infrastructure. Regions of the coast were also inundated by sea flooding caused by strong storm surge associated with Funa. Offshore, the cruise ship Pacific Star sustained heavy damage from the cyclone's strong waves. The cyclone's remnants later caused strong winds in New Zealand, resulting in power outages and fires.
Meteorological history
{{storm path|Funa 2008 track.png}}
On January 14, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) reported that Tropical Disturbance 10F had developed within a monsoonal trough of low pressure about {{convert|700|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the northwest of Port Vila in Vanuatu.{{Cite report|date=January 14, 2008|title=Tropical Disturbance Summary January 14, 2008 21z|url=https://www.met.gov.fj/index.php?page=warn1#20036.txt|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240522005909/https://www.webcitation.org/5Ur1lInpF?url=http://www.met.gov.fj/slowlinks/aifs_prods/20036.txt|archive-date=May 22, 2024|access-date=February 29, 2024|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|url-status=dead}}
During January 15, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) reported that Tropical Disturbance 10F, had developed within a monsoon trough of low pressure, that extended from northern Australia, through northern Vanuatu and to the north of Fiji.{{cite report|date=April 17, 2008|access-date=December 28, 2020|title=Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Summary 2007-08|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|url=http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/Best%20Tracks/documents/TCSeasonalSummary07-08.doc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017003919/https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/Best%20Tracks/documents/TCSeasonalSummary07-08.doc|archive-date=October 17, 2020|url-status=dead}} At this stage, atmospheric convection flared around the system's broad and developing low level circulation centre, while the system was located within an area of moderate vertical wind shear.{{cite report|date=January 15, 2008|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory January 15, 2008 13z|archive-date=May 22, 2024|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240522005827/https://www.webcitation.org/5eb3ee3cl?url=http://sonicfighters.com/rattleman/other/tropics/063322-abpw10.pgtw..txt|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwweb.txt|url-status=dead|access-date=December 28, 2020}} Over the next day, vertical wind shear surrounding the system relaxed, while atmospheric convection wrapped into the disturbances rapidly consolidating low level circulation centre.{{cite report|date=January 16, 2008|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory January 16, 2008 02z|archive-date=May 22, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240522005949/https://www.webcitation.org/5UskBE1Q1?url=http://205.85.40.22/jtwc/warnings/sh9108web.txt|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwweb.txt|url-status=dead|access-date=December 28, 2020}} As a result, the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 12P, while the FMS reported that the system had intensified into a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and named it Funa.{{cite press release|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|url=http://www.met.gov.fj/aifs_prods/Media_release_TC_FUNA.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=December 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911050618/http://www.met.gov.fj/aifs_prods/Media_release_TC_FUNA.pdf|archive-date=September 11, 2008|title=Tropical Cyclone Funa forms near Vanuatu|date=January 1, 2016}}
The cyclone then started to move eastwards, and early on the 17th passed near the northern tip of Aurora Island, Vanuatu with wind speeds of {{convert|55|kn|km/h}}, making Funa a category two cyclone on the Australian scale. After leaving Vanuatu, Funa intensified slowly becoming a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on January 18 and then early the next day it reached its peak wind speeds of {{convert|95|kn|km/h}} which is the same as a Category 4 cyclone according to the Southern Pacific Cyclone Scale.{{cite web|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Fiji/2008011912.WTPS11|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|title=Tropical Disturbance Advisory 19-01-2008 12z|access-date=2008-08-21}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Fiji/2008011800.WTPS11|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|title=Tropical Disturbance Summary 18-01-2008 00z|access-date=2008-08-21}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The JTWC measured Funa's peak winds at {{convert|105|kn|km/h}}.{{cite web |title=JTWC TC12P warning 6 |publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center |url=http://205.85.40.22/jtwc/warnings/sh1208web.txt |access-date=2008-08-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240522010029/https://www.webcitation.org/5Uz3d7ATo?url=http://205.85.40.22/jtwc/warnings/sh1208web.txt |archive-date=May 22, 2024 }} The storm then moved into TCWC Wellington area of responsibility it started to weaken and then became extratropical the next day with the JTWC issuing their final advisory on January 20, with TCWC Wellington downgrading it to a low later that day.{{cite web|url=http://www.typhoon2000.ph/garyp_mgtcs/jan08sum.txt|publisher=Gary Padgett|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary (January)|access-date=2008-07-29}}{{cite web |title=JTWC TC12P warning 9 |publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center |url=http://205.85.40.22/jtwc/warnings/sh1208web.txt |access-date=2008-08-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240522010029/https://www.webcitation.org/5Uz3d7ATo?url=http://205.85.40.22/jtwc/warnings/sh1208web.txt |archive-date=May 22, 2024 }}
Preparations and impact
Severe damage occurred over the groups of islands in the Torba, Sanma, and Penama provinces of Vanuatu, particularly on dwellings (made of local material), trees, and crops. Over the Banks Islands, coastal villages were reported to have been inundated by sea flooding, including in Maewo. On Mota Lava and Rah Island, as well as Gaua, bungalows, resorts, and restaurants along the coast were either washed away or inundated by sea flooding, according to their provincial council reports. Most schools in the Torba and Penama provinces sustained major damages to classrooms and other semi-permanent structures, while other buildings had their roofs ripped off. There were no reports of any fatalities but minor casualties were confirmed.
On January 19, a cruise ship, the Pacific Star, encountered 7 metre (22.9 ft) waves produced by Funa. Numerous windows were broken on the ship as it was tossed around by the waves. Water poured into passengers rooms through broken windows, causing panic throughout the ship. Five people were injured, one of whom sustained a broken rib after falling out of bed when a wave hit the ship. The bar area of the ship was reportedly significantly damaged and dishes and glasses were shattered in the kitchen.{{cite news|author=Beck Vass|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=January 23, 2008|access-date=April 5, 2009|title=Chaos and screams as cyclone hits cruise ship|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10488247&ref=rss}}
The remnants of Funa produced high winds in the North Island of New Zealand which knocked down numerous trees, cutting power to 16,000 residents on the island. Downed power lines sparked several fires.{{cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Television New Zealand Limited|date=January 23, 2008|access-date=March 30, 2009|title=Powerco blames trees for power cuts|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/410965/1554565}} Waves up to 5 m (16.4 ft) impacted coastal regions of New Zealand, forcing boaters to remain in port.{{cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Television New Zealand Limited|date=January 20, 2008|access-date=March 30, 2009|title=Cyclone causes havoc in Northland|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1550858}} Upwards of 300 mm (11.8 in) of rain fell across parts of New Zealand and gale-force winds fanned brushfires.{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=December 20, 2008|access-date=March 30, 2009|title=The weather over the past four seasons|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10548987}}
The World Meteorological Organization's RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee later retired the name Funa from the South Pacific naming lists and replaced it with Fotu.{{SPAC TCOP}}{{cite conference|url=https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/RAVTCC-12FinalReport.pdf|conference=RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean Twelfth Session|title=Final Report|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225031127/https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/RAVTCC-12FinalReport.pdf|access-date=December 28, 2020|archive-date=February 25, 2009|publisher=World Meteorological Organization|date=2008}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{SPAC EL's}}
{{2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season buttons}}
{{Category 4 South Pacific severe tropical cyclones}}
{{Retired South Pacific cyclones}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Funa (2008)}}
Category:Tropical cyclones in New Zealand
Category:Tropical cyclones in Vanuatu
Category:Retired South Pacific cyclones