Cyclone Ian
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
|---|---|
| Category 4 (Saffir–Simpson scale) | |
Cyclone Ian on January 11
|
|
| Formed | January 2, 2014 |
| Dissipated | January 15, 2014 |
| (Extratropical after January 14) | |
| Highest winds |
10-minute sustained: 205 km/h (125 mph) 1-minute sustained: 240 km/h (150 mph) Gusts: 285 km/h (180 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 930 hPa (mbar); 27.46 inHg |
| Fatalities | 1 direct |
| Damage | $48 million (2014 USD) |
| Areas affected | Fiji, Tonga |
| Part of the 2013–14 South Pacific cyclone season | |
Cyclone Ian was a tropical cyclone, that formed on January 2, 2014. Areas affected by the tropical cyclone include Fiji and Tonga. In Tonga, it caused destruction in the Ha'apai islands and one fatality.
During January 2, 2014 the Fiji Meteorological Service's Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in Nadi, Fiji (RSMC Nadi) reported that Tropical Disturbance 07F had developed to the southeast of Futuna Island. Over the next day the system gradually developed further underneath an upper level ridge of high pressure, within an area of moderate vertical wind shear, as it slowly moved towards the southwest. RSMC Nadi subsequently classified the disturbance as a tropical depression early on January 4, as the systems low level circulation center consolidated. Over the next day the system continued to move towards the southwest, before the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center designated the system as Tropical Cyclone 07P late on January 5. At around this time RSMC Nadi named the system Ian, after it had become a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale.
Early on January 8, RSMC Nadi reported that Ian had become a category two tropical cyclone. During that day the systems organization significantly improved with RSMC Nadi reporting at 1800 UTC that Ian had become a category three severe tropical cyclone. Over the next day the system developed a cloud filled eye and intensified into a category 4 severe tropical cyclone. On January 12, as Ian started to weaken RSMC Nadi handed the primary warning responsibility, for issuing warnings over to the Wellington Tropical Cyclone Warning Center.
Late on January 10, a state of emergency was declared by Tongan Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano, after Ian intensified into a category five severe tropical cyclone with 287 km/h winds. It struck the Ha'apai islands between Tongatapu and Vava'u, according to the Director of Emergencies Leveni Aho. He also said that 23 islands that are a part of Ha'apai were unreachable by telephone and that patrol boats were traveling from island-to-island to get information. As a result of the cyclone, homes were flattened and at least one person was dead. Ha'apai governor Tu'i Ha'angana said that he was able to see from one side of the island to the other and "that's how devastated it is." By 13 January, contact with the islands was restored.
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