Cyclone Prema
{{Short description|1993 cyclone in the South Pacific}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{infobox weather event
| name = Severe Tropical Cyclone Prema
| image = Prema 29 March 1993.jpg
| caption = Satellite image of Cyclone Prema
| formed = {{start date|1993|03|26|df=yes}}
| dissipated = {{end date|1993|04|06|df=yes}}
}}{{infobox weather event/FMS
| winds = 100
| pressure = 940
}}{{infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 125
| pressure =
}}{{infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1993
| fatalities = 3
| damage = 5000000
| areas = Vanuatu, New Caledonia
| refs =
}}{{infobox weather event/Footer
| season = 1992–93 South Pacific cyclone season
}}
Severe Tropical Cyclone Prema was among the worst tropical cyclones to hit Vanuatu since 1987's Cyclone Uma.{{cite web|url=http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:2KKKPE2nLa0J:www.sprep.org/att/publication/Retro/newsletters/SP%2520Sea%2520Level%2520and%2520Climate%2520Change%25202-4.pdf+cyclone+prema&cd=20&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a|title=The South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Change Newsletter|author=National Tidal Facility|date=September 1997|publisher=South Pacific Regional Environment Programme|pages=9|access-date=2009-09-13}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The twenty-third storm of the season, Prema formed early on 26 March 1993 as a weak tropical depression.{{cite web|url=http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache%3AYVlSTq2yrSIJ%3Awww.gefweb.org%2FuploadedFiles%2FFocal_Areas%2FClimate_Change__(PDF_DOC)%2FLDCF1%2FVanuatu_10-28-08_Increasing_Resilience_CC_Natural_Hazards.pdf+cyclone+prema&hl=en&gl=us|title=Vanuatu — UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FRAMEWORK (2003–2007)|author=Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator Suva Fiji|date=March 2002|publisher=United Nations|access-date=2009-09-13}}{{Dead link|date=August 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Meteorological history
{{Storm path|Prema 1993 track.png}}
During 25 March, the Fiji Meteorological Service reported that a tropical depression, had developed within an otherwise inactive monsoon trough, about {{convert|200|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the west of the Fijian dependency of Rotuma.{{cite report |access-date=December 7, 2015 |archive-date=22 May 2024 |title=Tropical Cyclone Prema, March 24 – April 1, 1993 |publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service |url-status=live |url=http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/virtual_disk_library/index.cgi/4274123/FID218/DATA/TROPIC/SWP_NAR/1993_12.NAR |date=May 20, 1996 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240522073805/https://www.webcitation.org/6FwtCsxn1?url=http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/virtcdlib/index.cgi/4274123/FID1/DATA/TROPIC/SWP_NAR/1993_12.NAR;1 }}{{cite journal|year=1993 |title=March 1993 |journal=Darwin Tropical Diagnostic Statement |publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology |volume=12 |issue=3 |author=Darwin Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre |pages=2 |url-status=live |issn=1321-4233 |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ntregion/statements/tropical/dtds-199303.pdf |access-date=December 7, 2015 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208073105/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ntregion/statements/tropical/dtds-199303.pdf }} During the next day the system initially moved north-westwards, before it turned and moved south-westwards as it organised and developed further.
{{cite web|title=Pacific Country Report Sea Level & Climate: Their Present State Vanuatu|year=2002|url=http://www.psmsl.org/train_and_info/training/nat_reg_reports/pacific_islands/PacificCountryReport_vn.pdf|access-date=5 November 2012|author=National Tidal Facility Australia|page=15|publisher=Flinders University}} During that day the depression moved towards the northwest, before it turned and started to move towards the southwest during 26 March as it gradually developed further. During 27 March, both TCWC Nadi and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported that the depression had developed into a tropical cyclone with Nadi naming it as Prema.{{cite web|url={{IBTRACS url|id=1993083S12181}}|publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|title=1993 Tropical Cyclone Prema (1993083S12181)|access-date=January 26, 2020}}
{{clr}}
Preparations and impact
Severe Tropical Cyclone Prema was the first named tropical cyclone to affect Vanuatu after six systems had affected the archipelago during the previous season. Prema affected the island nation between 29 –30 March, where it caused extensive damage parts of Shefa Province, including on Epi, Efate and the Shepherd Islands.
Due to the impact of this system, the name Prema was subsequently retired, by the World Meteorological Organization's RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee.{{RA V Tropical cyclone operational plan}}
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{SPAC EL's}}
{{1992–93 South Pacific cyclone season buttons}}
{{Retired South Pacific cyclones}}
{{Category 4 South Pacific severe tropical cyclones}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prema}}
Category:Category 4 South Pacific cyclones
Category:Tropical cyclones in Vanuatu