Cyclone Meena

{{storm path|Meena 2005 track.png}}

During February 1, an area of low pressure was identified within a trough of low pressure, about {{convert|620|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the northwest of Pago Pago in American Samoa.{{cite report|title="The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season 2004 – 05|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=January 10, 2021|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jshess/docs/2007/butler.pdf}}{{cite web|publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url={{IBTRACS url|id=2005032S14195}}|title=2005 Tropical Cyclone Meena (2005032S14195)|access-date=January 10, 2021}} During that day, the system moved south-westwards and started to consolidate, before the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) classified the system as Tropical Depression 07F.{{cite report|date=February 2, 2005|title=Tropical Disturbance Summary February 2, 2005 00z|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|access-date=January 10, 2021|url=https://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2005/02/02/text/Severe/Severe.02}} At this stage, the depression was poorly organised with atmospheric convection displaced to the north of the systems low level circulation center, while it was located to the south of a ridge of high pressure in an area of moderate vertical wind shear.{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclone Summary 2004 – 2005 Season|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225212738/http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_04-051190690498.pdf|access-date=December 29, 2020 |url=http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/TC_Seasonal_Summary_2004-2005.pdf|archive-date=February 25, 2009|url-status=dead}} Over the next day, the system's organisation significantly improved with the development of a small central dense overcast, while its outflow was enhanced by a cross-equatorial wind flow.{{cite report|date=February 2, 2005|title=Tropical Disturbance Advisory February 2, 2005 21z|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|access-date=January 10, 2021|url=https://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2005/02/02/text/Severe/Severe.02}} During February 3, the systems low level circulation center gradually slipped underneath the central dense overcast, before the FMS reported that the system had become a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale and named it Meena. At this stage, the system was located about {{convert|160|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the east of Pago Pago, American Samoa.

Meena was the first of four severe tropical cyclones to impact the Cook Islands during the 2004–05 season.

Meena passed within {{convert|160|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} of American Samoa's Manu'a group of islands, where wind gusts of up to {{convert|90|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} were experienced.{{cite news |title=Schools shut as skirts American Samoa |agency=Agence France Presse |date=February 3, 2005}}{{cite news |title=Cyclone sweeps past American Samoa|agency=Agence France Presse|publisher=ABC Premium News |date=February 3, 2005}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/153087/cyclone-meena-east-of-american-samoa-expected-to-move-towards-cooks|title=Cyclone Meena east of American Samoa expected to move towards Cooks|date=February 4, 2005|website=RNZ }} Authorities in the territory closed public schools and advised residents to prepare for heavy showers and possible flooding due to the cyclone. Flights to Manu'a islands were cancelled while delays occurred on flights between Samoa and American Samoa. Meena subsequently generated swells of between {{convert|5-7|ft|m}} which produced surf heights of {{convert|10-14|ft|m}} along Tutuila and Manu'a.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5444668|title=Storm Events Database – Event Details | National Centers for Environmental Information|website=www.ncdc.noaa.gov}}

During February 2, the FMS issued strong wind warnings and a tropical cyclone alert for both the Northern and the Southern Cook Islands, as it was thought that the system could produce gale-force winds over the islands within 24 - 48 hours.{{cite report|date=February 2, 2005|title=Special Weather Bulletin Number One for the Northern Cook Islands on Tropical Depression 01F: February 2, 2005 21z|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|access-date=January 10, 2021|url=https://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2005/02/02/text/Severe/Severe.02}}{{cite report|date=February 2, 2005|title=Special Weather Bulletin Number One for the Southern Cook Islands on Tropical Depression 01F: February 2, 2005 21z|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|access-date=January 10, 2021|url=https://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2005/02/02/text/Severe/Severe.02}} As a result of the alert being issued, the emergency operations centre was opened, while people were urged to move off the beach to higher ground.{{cite news|access-date=January 10, 2021|date=February 3, 2005|title=Cyclone alert for the Cooks|newspaper=Cook Islands News|url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/Meena.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050219005446/http://www.cinews.co.ck:80/Meena.htm|archive-date=February 19, 2005|url-status=dead}} During the following day, gale warnings were issued for Suwarrow in the Northern Cooks and for Palmerston in the Southern Cooks.{{cite report|date=February 3, 2005|title=Special Weather Bulletin Number Six for the Northern Cook Islands on Tropical Cyclone Meena: February 3, 2005 21z|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|access-date=January 10, 2021|url=https://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2005/02/03/text/Severe/Severe.03}}{{cite report|date=February 4, 2005|title=Special Weather Bulletin Number Six for the Southern Cook Islands on Tropical Cyclone Meena: February 4, 2005 00z|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|url=https://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2005/02/04/text/Severe/Severe.04|access-date=January 10, 2021}}

{{portal|Tropical cyclones}}

• Cyclone Val – Impacted the Cook Islands during 1991
• Cyclone Martin – Impacted the Cook Islands during 1997

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071008052108/http://www.cinews.co.ck/Meena-pix.htm Damage pictures of Severe Tropical Cyclone Meena from the Cook Islands News]

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Category:Category 5 South Pacific cyclones

Category:Tropical cyclones in the Cook Islands

Category:Tropical cyclones in American Samoa

Category:2004–05 South Pacific cyclone season

Category:2005 in the Cook Islands

Category:2005 in American Samoa