Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
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Category 3 (Saffir–Simpson scale) | |
Satellite image of Cyclone Bola near peak intensity
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Formed | February 23, 1988 |
Dissipated | March 4, 1988 |
Highest winds |
10-minute sustained: 165 km/h (105 mph) 1-minute sustained: 195 km/h (120 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 940 hPa (mbar); 27.76 inHg |
Fatalities | 3 direct |
Damage | $82 million (1988 USD) |
Areas affected | Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand |
Part of the 1987–88 South Pacific cyclone season |
Cyclone Bola was one of the costliest cyclones in the history of New Zealand, causing severe damage as an extratropical cyclone when it passed near the country in March 1988. It formed on February 24 to the north of Fiji, and tracking generally southwestward it reached hurricane-force winds near Vanuatu on February 28. The next day it generated peak wind velocities of 195 km/h (120 mph), though it quickly weakened as it accelerated southward. On March 4 Bola transitioned into an extratropical storm, passing to the north of the North Island of New Zealand on March 8. It weakened further and was absorbed by a stationary trough near the South Island on March 12.
The cyclone first affected Fiji, where it produced gale force winds and strong waves. In Vanuatu, Bola dropped heavy rainfall, which destroyed two bridges and caused severe damage to islands in the group. Bola caused severe damage to the North Island of New Zealand, where heavy rainfall peaked at 917 mm (36.1 in) in Gisborne Region. Damage totaled over $82 million (1988 USD). Three people were killed due to flooding, and hundreds were evacuated when a swollen river threatened Wairoa. In Whangaruru Harbor Northland a samaritan act accounted for another Bola fatality when an elderly male long time resident of Rapata road Oakura Bay attempted to tie down a neighbours empty water tank. He suffered a massive heart attack and died during the peak of the storm. The name Bola was later retired, meaning it will not be used again within the same basin.
The system that was to become Severe Tropical Cyclone Bola was first noted during February 24, as a depression that had developed within the South Pacific Convergence Zone about 850 km (530 mi) to the north-east of Nadi, Fiji. During that day the system moved south-westwards and passed about 260 km (160 mi) to the north of Nadi, Fiji, before it started to move north-westwards during February 25. The system was subsequently named Bola by the Fiji Meteorological Service during the next day, after it had become a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale. The system subsequently moved south-westwards which meant that the islands of Maewo and Pentecost were threatened. However, as Bola moved further southwards it entered a region of light and variable wind during February 27, which along with an area of high pressure in the Tasman Sea blocked Bola's movement southwards. By this time Bola had become a category 2 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, with wind speeds of between 95–110 km/h (60–70 mph) occurring near the centre. During February 28, the system became a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, as it performed a small clockwise loop, between the Shepherd Islands and Efate. After completing its first cyclonic loop during February 29, Bola started to move south-eastwards, before it performed a second cyclonic loop during the next day.