View source for Cyclone Esau

{{Short description|Category 4 South Pacific and Australian region cyclone in 1992}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Severe Tropical Cyclone Esau
| image = Cyclone Esau 28 Feb 1992 2036z.png
| caption = Cyclone Esau near peak intensity on 28 February
| extratropical = {{end date|1992|3|05|df=y}}
| dissipated = {{end date|1992|03|9|df=y}}
| formed = {{start date|1992|2|24|df=y}}
}}{{Infobox weather event/FMS
| agency = FMS
| winds = 105
| gusts =
| pressure = 925
}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 130
| pressure = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1992
| damages-prefix =
| damages =
| fatalities = 1 confirmed
| affected = [[Solomon Islands]], [[Vanuatu]], [[New Caledonia]], [[New Zealand]]
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = 1991–92 [[1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season|South Pacific]] and [[1991–92 Australian region cyclone season|Australian region]] cyclone seasons
}}
'''Severe Tropical Cyclone Esau''' was the strongest tropical cyclone to affect [[New Caledonia]] on record. A shallow tropical depression developed within the [[monsoon trough]] during 24 February 1992, about {{convert|370|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the northeast of [[Port Vila]], [[Vanuatu]]. Over the next day, the system gradually developed further as it moved towards the south-west under the influence of a northerly steering flow, before it passed over [[Pentecost Island]] in northern Vanuatu during 25 February. After passing over Pentecost the system continued to move towards the southwest and passed near the island of [[Malampa]] before the depression turned northwards and executed a small clockwise loop as it passed over the island of [[Espiritu Santo]]. The system was subsequently named Esau during 26 February, after it had developed into a tropical cyclone. Over the next couple of days, the system moved south-westwards towards Australia and away from the islands of Vanuatu. Esau subsequently executed a second clockwise loop during 28 February, before it peaked as a [[List of Category 4 South Pacific tropical cyclones|Category 4 tropical cyclone]] on both the [[Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale]] and the [[Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale]]. After it had peaked the system moved south-eastwards and threatened Southern Vanuatu, before turning southwards and threatening the French overseas territory of New Caledonia. Esau made landfall on the French territory during 4 March, as a category 3 severe tropical cyclone before degenerating into an extratropical cyclone during 5 March. The systems remnants made landfall on New Zealand's North Island during 8 March, before they were last noted during the next day over the South Pacific Ocean.

Esau caused minimal damage and one death, as it affected the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and New Zealand. The system affected the northern Vanuatu Islands between 25–27 February and 2–3 March, with heavy rain and strong winds of up to {{convert|80|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} but caused no damage. Esau produced gale-force winds on the [[Solomon Islands]] of [[Rennell Island|Rennell]] and [[Bellona Island|Bellona]] and knocked down several banana, coconut and pawpaw trees. The system also destroyed several houses and severely flooded various taro gardens and food crops. Esau produced hurricane-force winds on New Caledonia, while extensive flooding was reported in the territory. Several roads were blocked as the system blew down trees and damaged buildings, while power and communications were also knocked out over the island. One person drowned as she tried to cross a river near Hienghene, while a young child went missing on the island of Lifou but was later found safe by local residents. The extra-tropical remnants of Esau made landfall on New Zealand's North Island during 8 March, where hail and a tornado were reported to have occurred. The name Esau was subsequently [[List of retired South Pacific tropical cyclone names|retired]] from the [[Lists of tropical cyclone names|list of tropical cyclone names]] for the [[Lists of tropical cyclone names#South Pacific basin|South Pacific basin]].

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==Meteorological history==
{{storm path|Esau 1992 track.png}}
Towards the end of February 1992, a [[monsoon trough]] of low pressure was located over the South Pacific Ocean, between northern Australia and the [[Samoan Islands]].<ref name="91-92 SS">{{cite journal|author=Gill, Jonathan P |title=The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season 1991–1992 |journal=Australian Meteorological Magazine |volume=43 |page=189 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=19 December 2015 |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jshess/docs/1994/gill.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321171916/http://www.bom.gov.au/amm/docs/1994/gill.pdf |archive-date=21 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> A shallow tropical depression subsequently developed within this monsoon trough during 24 February, about {{convert|370|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the northeast of [[Port Vila, Vanuatu]].<ref name="Esau FMS TCR">{{cite report |title=Tropical Cyclone Esau, February 24&nbsp;- March 7 |publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service |type=Tropical Cyclone Report |url={{GTECCA url|basin=SWP|year=1992_6}} |access-date=7 November 2018 |archive-date=22 April 2013 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6G4fa2Gw5?url=http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/virtcdlib/index.cgi/4274123/FID1/DATA/TROPIC/SWP_NAR/1992_6.NAR;1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Over the next day the system gradually developed further as it moved towards the south-west under the influence of a northerly steering flow, before it passed over [[Pentecost Island]] in northern [[Vanuatu]] during 25 February.<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/>{{Vanuatu Tropical Cyclones}} After passing over Pentecost the system continued to move towards the southwest and passed near the island of [[Malampa]], before the depression turned northwards and executed a small clockwise loop as it passed over the island of [[Espiritu Santo]].<ref name="91-92 SS"/> Early on 26 February, the United States [[Joint Typhoon Warning Center]] started to issue advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 21P, while it was located to the east of Espiritu Santo.<ref name="Easu">{{cite web|title=1992 Tropical Cyclone Easu (1992055S13169)|url={{IBTRACS url|id=1992055S13169}}|access-date=September 28, 2021|publisher=The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship}}</ref><ref name="JTWC Verification">{{cite report|type=1992 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report |title=6. Tropical Cyclone Warning Verification Statistics: Southern Hemisphere |access-date=18 February 2015 |publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center |url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1992atcr.pdf |year=1993 |url-status=live |page=244 |archive-date=15 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915165323/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1992atcr.pdf }}</ref> Later that day the [[Fiji Meteorological Service]] (FMS) reported that the system had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the [[Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale]] and named it Esau.<ref name="91-92 SS"/><ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/> Throughout that day as Esau intensified further, it moved south-westwards and away from the islands of Vanuatu.<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/> Esau subsequently accelerated westwards to the north of an intense subtropical ridge of high pressure and gradually intensified further as it moved into an area of decreasing vertical windshear.<ref name="91-92 SS"/>

During 28 February, the system became a category 3 severe tropical cyclone, while it was located about {{convert|550|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the west of Espiritu Santo.<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/> During that day the system intensified further before it started executing a second clockwise loop as the subtropical ridge weakened and placed the system in an area of weak steering.<ref name="91-92 SS"/> The FMS subsequently reported that the system had peaked as a category 4 severe tropical cyclone with 10-minute sustained wind speeds of {{convert|105|kn|km/h mph|round=5|order=out|abbr=on|sortable=on}}.<ref name="91-92 SS"/><ref name="Easu"/> The system subsequently moved into the Australian region and brought gale-force winds to the Solomon Islands during 29 February.<ref name="91-92 SS"/> The JTWC also reported that Esau had peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of {{convert|240|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}, which made it a category 4 hurricane on the [[Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale]].<ref name="Easu"/> Over the next few days the system moved south-eastwards and back into the South Pacific basin, under the influence of a northwest steering flow and threatened the southern islands of Vanuatu.<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/> The system subsequently came to within {{convert|450|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} of southern Vanuatu before turning southwards and threatening the French overseas territory of New Caledonia.<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/> The system made landfall near [[Ponerihouen]] in the French territory of New Caledonia on 4 March, as a category 3 severe tropical cyclone.<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/> As a result of passing over the mountainous island nation and increasing vertical wind shear, the system continued to weaken and transitioned into an extra tropical cyclone over the cooler waters of the [[Tasman Sea]].<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/><ref name="JTWC Verification"/> The extra tropical remnants of Cyclone Esau subsequently made landfall on New Zealand's [[North Island]] in the [[Taranaki]] and [[Hawkes Bay]] area during 8 March, before they were last noted during the next day over the South Pacific Ocean.<ref name="New Zealand">{{cite journal|title=An ex-tropical cyclone climatology for Auckland, New Zealand|journal=International Journal of Climatology|volume=34|issue=4|pages=1157–1168|author1=Lorrey, Andrew M|doi=10.1002/joc.3753|author2=Griffiths, Georgina|author3=Fauchereau, Nicolas|author4=Diamond, Howard J|author5=Chappella, Petra R|author6=Renwick, James|publisher=Royal Meteorological Society|bibcode = 2014IJCli..34.1157L |year=2014|s2cid=131397337 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

==Preparations and impact==
Severe Tropical Cyclone Esau caused minimal damage as it affected the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and New Zealand, before the name was [[List of retired South Pacific tropical cyclone names|retired]] from the [[Lists of tropical cyclone names]] for the region by the World Meteorological Organization.<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/>{{RA V Tropical cyclone operational plan}} Esau first affected the northern Vanuatu Islands between 25–27 February, with heavy rain and strong winds of up to {{convert|80|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/>{{Vanuatu Tropical Cyclones}}<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Canberra Times|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122401200|title=Earthweek: A diary of the planet: For the week ending February 28, 1992|date=1 March 1992|access-date=16 February 2015|page=20|publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The system subsequently affected the southern islands of Vanuatu between 2–3 March, when it was considered to be as powerful and potentially damaging as Cyclone Uma.<ref name="Vanuatu"/> However, there was no damage or any gale-force winds reported in Vanuatu, after the system had become the fourth tropical cyclone to affect the island nation during the [[1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season|1991–92 season]].<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/><ref name="Vanuatu"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Country Report: Pacific Islands—Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Western Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga|url={{Google books|id=XqO1AAAAIAAJ|plainurl=yes}}|page=52|publisher=The Unit|year=1992}}</ref> The system subsequently became the fourth tropical cyclone to affect the Solomon Islands, during the [[1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season|1991–92 season]] between 27 February&nbsp;– 4 March.<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/><ref name="Sol">{{cite web|url=http://www.met.gov.sb/tcnames.pdf |access-date=16 February 2015 |title=Tropical Cyclones/Depressions that passed through Solomon Islands Region |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030195156/http://www.met.gov.sb/tcnames.pdf |archive-date=30 October 2012 |publisher=Solomon Islands Meteorological Service |date=13 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At its closest point of approach to the island nation between 28–29 February, Esau produced gale-force winds on the islands of [[Bellona Island|Bellona]] and [[Rennell Island|Rennell]] and knocked down several banana, coconut and pawpaw trees.<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/><ref name="Hits Solomons">{{cite news|title=Cyclone Esau hits Solomons|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122401514|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=3 March 1992|access-date=16 February 2015|page=5|publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The system also destroyed several houses and severely flooded various taro gardens and food crops.<ref name="Esau FMS TCR"/><ref name="Hits Solomons"/><ref name="Hits Solomon">{{cite news|title=Cyclone Esau hits Solomon Islands|agency=Xinhua General News Service|date=3 March 1992}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref> It was subsequently estimated that relief workers, would need to provide aid for around 5000 people on the two islands.<ref name="Hits Solomons"/><ref name="Hits Solomon"/>

After affecting both Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, Esau became the strongest tropical cyclones to affect New Caledonia on record as it made landfall on the northern region of the island nation with hurricane-force winds between 4–5 March.<ref name="91-92 SS"/><ref name="MFNC">{{cite web|author=New Caledonia Meteorological Office|publisher=Météo-France|url=http://www.meteo.nc/nouvelle-caledonie/cyclone/climatologie-des-cyclones|title=Phénomènes ayant le plus durement touché la Nouvelle-Calédonie: De 1880 à nos jours: Esau|trans-title=Phenomena having the hardest hit New Caledonia: From 1880 to the present: Esau|access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref> Ahead of the system making landfall, the maximum alert was introduced for most of the island nation, before it was extended out to cover the whole territory.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1992/03/05/le-cyclone-esau-arrive-sur-la-nouvelle-caledonie_3873099_1819218.html|title=Le cyclone Esaü arrive sur la Nouvelle-Calédonie|newspaper=Le Monde|language=fr|date=5 March 1992|access-date=2 March 2015|agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref> Within the French territory wind gusts of {{convert|158|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} were recorded in Népoui and Cap N'Dua, while a wind gust of {{convert|144|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} was recorded in [[Poindimié]].<ref name="MFNC"/> Extensive flooding was reported in the territory while rainfall totals of {{convert|528|mm|in|abbr=on}}, {{convert|395|mm|in|abbr=on}} and {{convert|354|mm|in|abbr=on}} were recorded in Kopéto, Tiendanite and Tiwaka.<ref name="MFNC"/><ref name="Pacific">{{cite report|title=Cyclone Causes Two Deaths in New Caledonia|year=1992|volume=17|page=129|url={{Google books|gm4cAQAAIAAJ|page=111|plainurl=yes}}|publisher=Pacific Magazine Corporation|type=Pacific Magazine}}</ref> Several roads were blocked as the system blew down trees and damaged buildings, while power and communications were also knocked out over the island.<ref name="Pacific"/><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sunday Gazette|title=Earthweek: A diary of the planet: For the week ending March 6, 1992|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KVdGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A-gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6788%2C1864753|date=8 March 1992|access-date=18 February 2015|page=20}}</ref> One person drowned as she tried to cross a river near [[Hienghene]], while a young child went missing on the island of Lifou but was later found safe by local residents.<ref name="MFNC"/><ref name="Pacific"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1992/03/07/nouvelle-caledonie-un-enfant-retrouve-sain-et-sauf_3873757_1819218.html#5PDbDt8MKRRBUBIr.99|title=Nouvelle-Calédonie: un enfant retrouvé sain et sauf|newspaper=Le Monde|language=fr|date=7 March 1992|access-date=2 March 2015|agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref> Severe Tropical Cyclone Fran subsequently affected the northern part of the French territory between 10–11 March.<ref name="MFNC"/> On 8 March, the extratropical remnants of Esau made landfall on New Zealand's North Island in the [[Taranaki]] and [[Hawkes Bay]] area.<ref name="New Zealand"/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical Cyclones}}
*[[Cyclone Gavin]]
*[[Cyclone Yali]]
*[[Cyclone Drena]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{SPAC EL's}}
*[ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/PhD/Resources/Vanuatu/1992_3.jpg Track Map of Cyclone Esau near Vanuatu, from the Vanuatu Meteorological Service]
{{Retired South Pacific cyclones}}
{{Category 4 South Pacific severe tropical cyclones}}
{{Category 4 Australian region tropical cyclones}}
{{1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season buttons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Esau}}
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in Vanuatu]]
[[Category:1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in the Solomon Islands]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in New Caledonia]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Retired South Pacific cyclones]]
[[Category:Category 4 South Pacific cyclones]]