Cyclone Percy
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
|---|---|
| Category 5 (Saffir–Simpson scale) | |
Cyclone Percy at peak intensity
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| Formed | 24 February 2005 |
| Dissipated | 5 March 2005 |
| Highest winds |
10-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph) 1-minute sustained: 260 km/h (160 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 900 hPa (mbar); 26.58 inHg |
| Fatalities | None |
| Areas affected | American Samoa, Tokelau, Cook Islands |
| Part of the 2004–05 South Pacific cyclone season | |
Cyclone Percy was the seventh named storm of the 2004–05 South Pacific cyclone season and the fourth and final severe tropical cyclone to form during the 2004–05 South Pacific cyclone season.
Percy was also the most damaging of the February cyclones as it battered the Cook Islands, which were still recovering from the impacts of Cyclones Meena, Nancy and Olaf. Percy then devastated the island of Tokelau, leaving many homeless and millions in dollars in property damages (although exact damage figures are unavailable). Because of warnings in anticipation of the storm, there were no deaths and there were only a few injuries.
On February 23, the Fiji Meteorological Service's Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 10F, had developed within the monsoon trough about 700 kilometres (435 mi) to the west of the Tuvaluan atoll: Funafuti.
10F was first identified as a tropical disturbance embedded in an active monsoon trough at 23/0000 UTC, approximately 380 miles to the west of Funafuti and moving eastwards about 05 to 10 knots. The system was then located just south of a 250-hPa ridge axis, in a diffluent region. Shear and diurnal variations were evidently influencing development. SST was around 31 °C. Later on the 24th, shear had decreased markedly. Outflow was favourable and developing in all quadrants. Overnight, the depression underwent explosive development with the deep convection increasing spatially and in organization whilst cooling. Spiral bands were also wrapping tightly around the llcc. By 24/1800 UTC, TD10F was named Tropical Cyclone Percy, while located roughly 100 miles to the east of Funafuti and moving east-southeast at 14 knots under a deep west-northwest steering flow.
A discernible area of low pressure formed east of Tonga on February 23. The area of low pressure moved eastward, where it strengthened into Tropical Depression 10F a day later. Since the depression was located in an area of low wind shear and warm water temperatures, it was able to quickly strengthen into Tropical Storm Percy. At this point in time, Percy was located 120 miles (190 km) east of Fongafale, Tuvalu, and was moving towards the east-southeast at 14 kt (16 mph, 26 km/h). On February 26, Percy reached Category 1 status, while located 400 miles (644 km) north of American Samoa. While Percy moved east-southeast, a shortwave trough developed southwest of the storm. The trough caused the cyclone to intensify even further to a Category 3 storm as it passed between Fakaofa and Swains Island. Percy then reached Category 4 status north of Pago Pago as it winds reached over 135 mph (115 knots, 213 km/h) and the barometric pressure at its center fell to 925 millibars. On February 27, Cyclone Percy encountered a high pressure ridge which slowed its forward speed. Because of this, the cyclone's structure became elliptical, which caused the cyclone to weaken back to Category 3 status. By February 28, Percy bypassed the Pukapuka and Nassau Islands as a Category 3 cyclone as it continued to move east-southeast.
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