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It has been suggested that this article be split into articles titled Cyclone Judy (2023) and Cyclone Kevin (2023). (discuss) (March 2023)

Severe Tropical Cyclone Judy and Severe Tropical Cyclone Kevin are a pair of intense tropical cyclones that made landfall on the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, within 48 hours of each other in March 2023.

Meteorological history

Judy

Severe Tropical Cyclone Judy

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Cyclone Judy near peak intensity while passing through Vanuatu on 1 March
Formed	23 February 2023
Dissipated	Currently active
(Extratropical after 4 March)
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 175 km/h (110 mph) 1-minute sustained: 195 km/h (120 mph)
Lowest pressure	945 hPa (mbar); 27.91 inHg
Part of the 2022–23 South Pacific cyclone season

On 23 February, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) reported that Tropical Disturbance 08F had developed about 130 km (80 mi) to the southeast of Halalo in Wallis and Futuna. At this stage, the disturbance was poorly organised as the systems low-level circulation was fully exposed, while atmospheric convection was building over the circulation's northern and eastern quadrants. Over the next couple of days, the system slowly moved westwards and gradually consolidated within a marginal environment for tropical cyclogenesis, with very warm sea surface temperatures of 29–30 °C (84–86 °F) being offset by moderate to high levels of vertical wind shear. During 26 February, as the disturbance continued to develop, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert on the system, while the FMS reported that 08F had developed into a tropical depression. At around 12:00 UTC (00:00 UTC) on 27 February, the JTWC classified the depression as Tropical Cyclone 15P and initiated advisories on it, after they had received a bullseye ASCAT-B image which showed that winds of up to 65 km/h (40 mph) were occurring in the systems eastern quadrant. At around the same time, the FMS reported that the system had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and named it Judy, while it was located about 650 km (405 mi) to the northeast of Port Vila in the island nation of Vanuatu. The cyclone convective banding with a central dense overcast (CDO) seen from satellite imagery. At 09:00 UTC on 28 February, Judy strengthened into a Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS).

Judy further developed due to high sea surface temperatures of 30 °C (86 °F), leading to the FMS to upgrade its status to Category 2 tropical cyclone the same day, before upgrading further to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on 28 February. Continuing to rapidly intensify, Judy intensified, becoming a Category 2-equivalent cyclone. At around 22:00 UTC, Judy made landfall on the island of Efate in Vanuatu, with sustained winds of 90–95 km/h (56–59 mph). On 1 March, the FMS subsequently reported that Judy had become a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone with 10-minute sustained winds of 165 km/h (105 mph). Judy had intensified with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 195 km/h (120 mph), which made it equivalent to a Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone. The FMS assessed that Judy’s winds bottomed out at 175 km/h (110 mph) due to low to moderate vertical wind shear and good upper-level outflow.

Kevin

Severe Tropical Cyclone Kevin

Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale)
Category 5 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Severe Tropical Cyclone Kevin at peak intensity on 4 March
Formed	27 February 2023
Dissipated	Currently active
Highest winds	10-minute sustained: 215 km/h (130 mph) 1-minute sustained: 260 km/h (160 mph)
Lowest pressure	925 hPa (mbar); 27.32 inHg
Part of the 2022–23 Australian region and South Pacific cyclone seasons

On 27 February, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology reported that Tropical Low 18U had developed within a monsoonal trough of low pressure about 180 km (110 mi) to the northeast of Cooktown in Queensland.

The JTWC began monitoring the tropical low, designating it as Invest 96P and setting the chance of tropical cyclone development as low. On 1 March, the JTWC issued a TCFA on the system due to the system having much improved structure. The tropical low entered the South Pacific basin the same day where it was designated as Tropical Depression 09F by the FMS.

Tropical Low 18U then entered the South Pacific basin on 1 March where it became designated as Tropical Depression 09F by the FMS. Around the same time, the JTWC classified it as a tropical storm, initiating advisories as Tropical Cyclone 16P. The system was assigned the name Kevin by the FMS as it was upgraded to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale. It later intensified to a Category 2 as it headed southeastward. On 3 March, it became a Category 3 on both the Australian and SSHWS scales. The following day, it further intensified to a Category 5 on both the Australian and SSHWS scales.

Effects

Solomon Islands

Intense winds battered the country's capital, Honiara. There, the vessel M/V Vatud Star was ran aground by the storm due to the rogue waves made by the high wind gusts. A small boat carrying passengers enroute from Honiara to Central Province sank due to rough waves, but all of them managed to swim to safety. At least twelve houses were destroyed by storm surges in West Honiara.

Vanuatu

High winds, gale-to hurricane-force winds, rough seas, and heavy rains lashed Vanuatu. Damage to buildings, power lines, and other infrastructure were reported across the country. Power and telecommunications were disrupted in Port Vila, in which the former went out for two days. The country's flag carrier Air Vanuatu suspended flights from Port Vila to Noumea.

New Caledonia

Fiji

Aftermath

See also

• Weather of 2023
• Tropical cyclones in 2023
• Other storms named Judy
• Other storms named Kevin
• Cyclones Eric and Nigel (1985) – two strong tropical cyclones that impacted Vanuatu and Fiji within a week of each other.
• Cyclones Uma and Veli (1987) – another pair of tropical cyclones which impacted Vanuatu within a week of each other.

References

1. ^ Tropical Disturbance Summary February 24, 2023 00z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 23 February 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
2. Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and Southern Pacific Oceans February 24, 2023 06z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023. {{cite report}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 24 February 2023 suggested (help)
3. Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and Southern Pacific Oceans February 25, 2023 03:30 UTC (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
4. ^ Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert February 26, 2023 03:30z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
5. Tropical Disturbance Advisory February 26, 2023 12z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
6. Prognostic Reasoning For Tropical Cyclone 15P (Fifteen) February 27, 2023 03:30z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 27 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
7. Tropical Cyclone Naming Bulletin February 27, 2023 00z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 23 February 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
8. Tropical Disturbance Advisory February 27, 2023 00z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 27 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
9. Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 15P (Judy) Warning No. 3 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023. {{cite report}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
10. Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 15P (Judy) Warning No. 6 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023. {{cite report}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
11. Tropical Disturbance Advisory Number A6 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 27 February 2023. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
12. Tropical Disturbance Advisory Number A8 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 28 February 2023. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
13. Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 15P (Judy) Warning No. 8 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023. {{cite report}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
14. Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 15P (Judy) Warning No. 9 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023. {{cite report}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
15. Tropical Disturbance Advisory Number A11 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
16. Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 15P (Judy) Warning No. 10 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023. {{cite report}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
17. Tropical Disturbance Advisory Number A14 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 28 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
18. Tropical Cyclone Outlook for Coral Sea February 27, 2023 04:30 UTC (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 27 February 2023. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023. {{cite report}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 4 March 2023 suggested (help)
19. Solomon Islands Special Advisory Number 1 February 27, 2023 02:55 UTC (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 27 February 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
20. Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans, 1830Z 27 February 2023 Reissued (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 27 February 2023. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
21. Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (Invest 96P) (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023. {{cite report}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
22. Tropical Disturbance Summary For area Equator to 25S, 160E to 120W issued at Mar 011502 UTC (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
23. Tropical Disturbance Summary For area Equator to 25S, 160E to 120W issued at Mar 011502 UTC (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
24. Tropical Cyclone 16P (Sixteen) Warning No. 1 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023. {{cite report}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
25. Rovoi, C. (3 March 2023). "Vanuatu declares state of emergency as Pacific reels from impacts of multiple storms and quake hits island nation". Stuff.
26. Nolan, J. (2 March 2023). "Wild Weather Smashes Honiara". Solomon Times.
27. Kadama, C. (2 March 2023). "Tidal waves destroy homes". Solomon Star.
28. Rovoi, C. (1 March 2023). "Vanuatu capital battered by hurricane force winds as Cyclone Judy intensifies and heads south". Stuff.
29. CARE (1 March 2023). "Vanuatu capital battered by hurricane force winds as Cyclone Judy intensifies and heads south". ReliefWeb.
30. "Strong earthquakes, cyclone rattle Vanuatu". GMA Network. Agency France-Presse. 3 March 2023.
31. Tromeur, F. (3 March 2023). "Le cyclone Judy s'éloigne, la dépression Kevin se renforce, Air Vanuatu annule des vols". La Première.

External links

• World Meteorological Organization
• Australian Bureau of Meteorology
• Fiji Meteorological Service
• New Zealand MetService
• Joint Typhoon Warning Center

v t e Tropical cyclones of the 2022–23 South Pacific cyclone season
	TD01F DI02F DI03F 1Hale 2Irene TD06F 3Gabrielle 4Judy 5Kevin DI10F DI11F DI12F
Category

v t e Tropical cyclones of the 2022–23 Australian region cyclone season
	101U TL02U TLTL TLTL 5Darian 1Ellie TLHale TLIrene TL06F TL10U TLDingani TL12U 4Freddy (history) 3Gabrielle TL15U TLTL TL16U TL17U TLKevin TL20U 5Herman TL22U 5Ilsa
Category

• Current events from March 2023
• 2023 in the Solomon Islands
• 2023 in Vanuatu
• 2023 in New Caledonia
• 2022–23 South Pacific cyclone season
• 2022–23 Australian region cyclone season
• Category 4 South Pacific cyclones
• Category 5 South Pacific cyclones
• Tropical cyclones in Vanuatu
• Tropical cyclones in the Solomon Islands
• Tropical cyclones in New Caledonia
• Tropical cyclones in Fiji
• Tropical cyclones in 2023
• February 2023 events in Oceania
• March 2023 events in Oceania
• Tropical cyclones in Queensland