Tropical Cyclone Rita to enhance rainfall from Vanuatu to Fiji
By
Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist &
Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Nov 23, 2019 7:30 PM EST
Tropical Cyclone Rita continues to churn over the South Pacific Ocean and is expected to bring locally heavy rainfall to Vanuatu.
The storm, which became Tropical Depression 1 Sunday morning, local time, tracked southward toward Vanuatu as it strengthened this weekend.
Satellite image of Tropical Cyclone Rita east of Vanuatu on Tuesday night, local time. (RAMMB/Himawari-8)
Moving through an area of low wind shear and warm ocean water allowed the tropical depression to strengthen into Tropical Cyclone Rita later in the day on Sunday.
Further strengthening on Monday allowed Rita to briefly reach Category 3 strength based on the Australia and Fiji tropical cyclone scale. This is equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic basin.
Strong wind shear began to affect Rita on Tuesday causing the storm to weaken to Category 1 strength on the Australia and Fiji scale.
Rita is forecast to weaken further in the coming days; however, the storm will still bring the risk for downpours and rough seas to the region.
Rita is forecast to remain east of Vanuatu into Wednesday, keeping the cyclone's strongest winds over the open ocean.
However, some outer rain bands will blow across the islands of Vanuatu, bringing periods of downpours and gusty winds.
While Fiji will be spared from Rita's worst impacts, some enhanced showers are possible into the middle of the week.
In the longer range, a turn toward the west will bring the storm closer to, or over, the islands by Thursday or Friday.
Downpours will continue the risk for flash flooding and travel disruptions during this time.
Fortunately, Rita is expected to weaken dramatically and may even dissipate by this time, reducing the risk for damaging winds.
Regardless of the track and intensity, shipping interests should monitor this storm as seas will be rough across the region through the week.
While the storm is expected to weaken and possibly dissipate by late this week, tropical moisture will linger over the area. This moisture may enhance rainfall over Vanuatu and Fiji into this weekend.
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News / Hurricane
Tropical Cyclone Rita to enhance rainfall from Vanuatu to Fiji
By Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist & Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Nov 23, 2019 7:30 PM EST
Tropical Cyclone Rita continues to churn over the South Pacific Ocean and is expected to bring locally heavy rainfall to Vanuatu.
The storm, which became Tropical Depression 1 Sunday morning, local time, tracked southward toward Vanuatu as it strengthened this weekend.
Satellite image of Tropical Cyclone Rita east of Vanuatu on Tuesday night, local time. (RAMMB/Himawari-8)
Moving through an area of low wind shear and warm ocean water allowed the tropical depression to strengthen into Tropical Cyclone Rita later in the day on Sunday.
Further strengthening on Monday allowed Rita to briefly reach Category 3 strength based on the Australia and Fiji tropical cyclone scale. This is equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic basin.
Strong wind shear began to affect Rita on Tuesday causing the storm to weaken to Category 1 strength on the Australia and Fiji scale.
Rita is forecast to weaken further in the coming days; however, the storm will still bring the risk for downpours and rough seas to the region.
Rita is forecast to remain east of Vanuatu into Wednesday, keeping the cyclone's strongest winds over the open ocean.
However, some outer rain bands will blow across the islands of Vanuatu, bringing periods of downpours and gusty winds.
While Fiji will be spared from Rita's worst impacts, some enhanced showers are possible into the middle of the week.
In the longer range, a turn toward the west will bring the storm closer to, or over, the islands by Thursday or Friday.
Downpours will continue the risk for flash flooding and travel disruptions during this time.
Fortunately, Rita is expected to weaken dramatically and may even dissipate by this time, reducing the risk for damaging winds.
Related:
Regardless of the track and intensity, shipping interests should monitor this storm as seas will be rough across the region through the week.
While the storm is expected to weaken and possibly dissipate by late this week, tropical moisture will linger over the area. This moisture may enhance rainfall over Vanuatu and Fiji into this weekend.
Report a Typo