NASA Sees Tropical Cyclone Ella Form Near Fiji

The nineteenth tropical cyclone of the Southern Pacific Ocean season formed and is now threatening Fiji. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured an image of the storm shortly after it developed.


On May 9 at 0354 UTC (May 8 at 11:54 p.m. EDT) NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured this image of newly developed Tropical Cyclone Ella northeast of the island of Fiji in the South Pacific Ocean.
Credits: NASA/NOAA

Tropical Cyclone Ella was tropical storm strength at 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT) on May 9. It was located about 150 nautical miles west-southwest of Pago Pago, near 14.9 degrees south latitude and 173.6 degrees west longitude. Ella had maximum sustained winds near 45 knots (52 mph/83 kph), and is not expected to reach hurricane force.  Ella was moving to the west-northwest at a crawl of 2 knots (2.3 mph/3.7 kph).

On May 9 at 0354 UTC (May 8 at 11:54 p.m. EDT) NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible image of newly developed Tropical Cyclone Ella northeast of the island of Fiji. The imagery showed a consolidating system with flaring thunderstorm development around the center of circulation. 


On May 9 at 0354 UTC (May 8 at 11:54 p.m. EDT) NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured this visible image of Tropical Cyclones Donna (left) and Ella (right) in the South Pacific.
Credits: NASA/NOAA

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that the environment is conducive for development with warm sea surface temperatures and low vertical wind shear. However, because Tropical Cyclone Donna is located to the west its outflow is impeding Ella's own outflow. A tropical cyclone needs outflow of air from the top of the system to maintain strength or strengthen.

For updated forecasts and warnings from the Fiji Meteorological Service, visit: http://www.met.gov.fj/current_warnings.php/

In three days, Ella is expected to move into an environment with high vertical wind shear which is expected to weaken the system as it approaches a landfall in Fiji.

Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Bron: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/ella-south-pacific-ocean 

Tropical Cyclone Ella develops & heads towards Fiji

Tropical Cyclone Ella develops & heads towards Fiji

UPDATED Wednesday 10th May 2017 – TC Ella category 1 has continued to track North West during the past 24 hours. Lack of upper level outflow has and will continue to limit further intensification during the next 24 hours. TC Ella is forecast to continue tracking West before turning South over Fiji during Thursday. Despite the current forecast intensity from Fiji Met suggesting Ella reaching a category 2 system, global model data forecasts she will remain a category 1 system. Damaging wind gusts to 120km hour are likely to develop over Northern and Eastern divisions of Fiji during Thursday. Some moderate to locally heavy rain and thunderstorms with flash flooding will also develop across Fiji though totals are not expected to exceed 100mm. Above image via NOAA. Below image forecast track map issued on Wednesday 10th May 2017 via Fiji Met Service. Our next HSC update will be issued on Thursday. 


ISSUED Tuesday 9th May 2017 – Yet another tropical cyclone has developed this week in the South Pacific, this one tracking West towards Fiji. While record breaking severe TC Donna has been the main focus during the past week reaching a cat 5 bringing damage and destruction to Northern parts of Vanuatu and now impacting New Caledonia, another tropical disturbance has been brewing under the radar. 

It was discovered overnight on Monday by an ASCAT wind pass that deep convection was obscuring the Low Level Circulation Center which in fact had tight rotational tropical storm force winds to 40knots. The JTWC ( Joint Typhoon Warning Center ) issued tropical cyclone warning no. 1 for 19P after briefly issuing a cyclone formation alert for the tropical disturbance invest 91P on Tuesday May 9th 2017. The system is in the Fiji Met Service area of responsibility and they have quickly followed by issuing their first warning threat map and thus naming Ella. Below image: Track, intensity and threat map forecast via Fiji Met Service issued on Tuesday 9th May 2017. Dark orange = Warning of gales or stronger within 24 hours, Orange = Alert of gales or stronger within 24 – 48 hours. 

Despite her angry faced looks Ella is forecast to reach a peak intensity of category 2 through her life cyclone at this stage. The system is forecast by global models to quickly track West during the next 48 hours possibly reaching Fiji before turning South. Heavy rainfall to 150mm and damaging to destructive storm force winds to 150km hr may impact Northern divisions and islands of Fiji towards the end of this week. Locals and visitors in Fiji should keep a close eye on future forecasts and warnings in case the system develops further becoming more of a risk. Further updated will be issued by HSC during Wednesday. 
Bron: https://higginsstormchasing.com/tropical-cyclone-ella-develops-heads-towards-fiji/