 | This article contains several duplicated citations. The reason given is: DuplicateReferences detected: (October 2024)
|
 Cyclones Judy (left) and Kevin (right) near their peak intensities on 1 March and 4 March respectively | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| as for Cyclone Judy | |
| Formed | 23 February 2023 |
| Extratropical | 3 March 2023 |
| Dissipated | 6 March 2023 |
| Category 4 severe tropical cyclone | |
| 10-minute sustained (FMS) | |
| Highest winds | 185 km/h (115 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 940 hPa (mbar); 27.76 inHg |
| Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 195 km/h (120 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 947 hPa (mbar); 27.96 inHg |
| Meteorological history | |
| as for Cyclone Kevin | |
| Formed | 27 February 2023 |
| Extratropical | 5 March 2023 |
| Dissipated | 12 March 2023 |
| Category 5 severe tropical cyclone | |
| 10-minute sustained (FMS) | |
| Highest winds | 230 km/h (145 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 913 hPa (mbar); 26.96 inHg |
| Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 250 km/h (155 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 918 hPa (mbar); 27.11 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Damage | $433 million (2024 USD) |
| Areas affected | Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga |
| IBTrACS: Judy, Kevin | |
Part of the 2022–23 Australian region and South Pacific cyclone seasons | |
Severe Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin were 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. They were the fourth and fifth named storms of the 2022–23 South Pacific cyclone season respectively, as well as the second and third severe tropical cyclones of the season. By the end of February, Judy had affected the Solomon Islands, and shortly after, Kevin began to affect the country.
The origins of the tropical cyclones started with Judy forming as a tropical disturbance in the South Pacific basin southeast of Wallis and Futuna on 23 February. After continuous development from very warm sea surface temperatures, the system was classified as a tropical depression on the 26th by the Fiji Meteorological Service, shortly before the agency further upgraded its status to Category 1 the next day and assigned the name Judy to the storm. That same day, a tropical low in the Australian region formed northeast of Cooktown, Queensland. On 28 February, Judy made landfall in Efate in Vanuatu before rapidly intensifying to a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone on 1 March. The tropical low exited the region the same day, and entered the same basin as Judy, becoming marked as a tropical depression. The tropical depression strengthened and attained Category 1 strength and receive the name Kevin. Judy began to weaken from wind shear before transitioning to a subtropical cyclone, as Kevin began to also rapidly intensify from the warm waters and outflow. Kevin moved over Erromango and Tanna Island of Vanuatu on 3 March. Kevin became a Category 5 in both the FMS scale and the Saffir–Simpson scale on 4 March, before Kevin's structure began to rapidly degrade. Kevin underwent the same fate as Judy as it dissipated on 6 March. Kevin continued to degenerate, before its remnants were last marked on 12 March.
The nations were pounded by powerful winds and destructive seas. Vanuatu was heavily affected, being struck by both cyclones two days apart. The government asked Australia and New Zealand for aid shortly after Judy's passage. During 3 March, as Kevin was impacting the islands, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit just west of Espiritu Santo, and then a magnitude 5.5 earthquake aftershock hit the island shortly after. Nonetheless, no deaths or significant injuries have been reported in connection with either cyclone. Total damages from the two cyclones is estimated to reach $433 million USD.[1]
- ^ "Vanuatu Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin 2023: Post Disaster Needs Assessment". International Labor Organization. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2024.