 Sarai near peak strength, to the south of Fiji on December 29 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | December 23, 2019 |
| Extratropical | December 31, 2019 |
| Dissipated | January 2, 2020 |
| Category 2 tropical cyclone | |
| 10-minute sustained (FMS) | |
| Highest winds | 110 km/h (70 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 972 hPa (mbar); 28.70 inHg |
| Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 140 km/h (85 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 971 hPa (mbar); 28.67 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 2 total |
| Damage | $2.3 million (2019 USD) |
| Areas affected | Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands |
Part of the 2019–20 South Pacific cyclone season | |
Tropical Cyclone Sarai was a moderately strong tropical cyclone that impacted several island nations and countries in late-December 2019. The third tropical cyclone and the second named storm of the 2019-20 South Pacific cyclone season, Sarai formed from an area of low pressure to the south of Tuvalu. Over the next days, the low pressure became organized and was designated by the Fiji Meteorological Service as Tropical Disturbance 03F on December 23. Under favorable conditions, the disturbance gradually organized, becoming a depression two days later, before strengthening to a tropical cyclone, earning the name Sarai. It moved to the south, before a high-pressure steered the system to the east, passing to the south of Fiji, near Suva before weakening. Sarai passed near the Tongan islands of Haʻapai and Tongatapu as a Category 1 cyclone, before rapidly degrading to a tropical depression due to the system entering unfavorable conditions. It was last noted on January 2 to the southeast of Cook Islands.
Ahead of Sarai, gale warnings, tropical cyclone alerts and heavy rain warnings were imposed for Fiji. These warnings were also raised on Tonga, Niue, and the southern Cook Islands. National and international flights were also canceled and many people are evacuated to different emergency shelters. Impacts were felt, starting on December 22 on the northern division of Fiji. The impacts of the cyclone were wide, from the country to Tonga and the Cook Islands. In total, Sarai claimed two lives, all in Fiji alone, and leftover FJ$5 million (US$2.3 million) worth of damages on that country.[1][2] The damages in other countries affected by the cyclone, if any, were minor.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Sarai claims two lives as more than 2,000 evacuate in Fiji". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. December 28, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- ^ Krishna, Kathrin (January 8, 2020). "FRA confirms $5 million damage from TC Sarai". Fijian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved January 11, 2020.