View source for Cyclone Erica

{{Short description|Category 5 South Pacific and Australian region cyclone in 2003}}
{{distinguish|Cyclone Eric}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name=Severe Tropical Cyclone Erica
| image=Cyclone Erica 13 mar 2003 0255Z.jpg
| caption=Cyclone Erica near its peak intensity on March 13, northwest of New Caledonia
}}{{Infobox weather event/History
| formed=1 March 2003
| extratropical=15 March
| dissipated=17 March 2003
}}{{Infobox weather event/FMS
| winds=115
| pressure=915
}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds=130
| basin=spac
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year=2003
| damage=15000000
| fatalities=2 total
| areas=[[Queensland]], Southeast [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Solomon Islands]], [[New Caledonia]]
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season=[[2002–03 Australian region cyclone season|2002–03 Australian region]] and [[2002–03 South Pacific cyclone season|South Pacific cyclone seasons]]
}}
'''Severe Tropical Cyclone Erica''' of March 2003 was a powerful cyclone that severely affected [[New Caledonia]] and was considered the worst to affect it since [[Cyclone Beti (1995)|Cyclone Beti]]. The system was the eighth cyclone and the fifth severe tropical cyclone of the [[2002–03 South Pacific cyclone season]]. Cyclone Erica developed from a [[monsoon]]al [[trough (meteorology)|trough]] on 4 March just off [[Queensland]]. Originally, the storm moved slowly towards the east and then north early in its existence. However, increasing [[wind shear]] caused the storm to be degenerated into a [[tropical low]]. After conditions once again became more favorable for development, the remnants regenerated into a tropical cyclone on 10 March. Steadily intensifying, Erica reached peak intensity on 13 March as a Category 5 equivalent on the [[Tropical cyclone scales#Australia and Fiji|Australian intensity scale]].

On the same day Erica paralleled the coast of New Caledonia before making landfall on the southern end of the island at [[L'Île-des-Pins]]. However, at the same time the cyclone also entered an area with strong wind shear and thus began to weaken. After passing the island, an [[extratropical transition]] begun, weakening the cyclone as it moved towards the southeast. On 15 March, Erica completed its transition into an [[extratropical cyclone]] and later fully dissipated two days later.

Cyclone Erica severely impacted the island nation of New Caledonia, causing intense winds and heavy rain. An estimated 892 families were affected by the cyclone on the island, and two people were killed. As many as 60% of people on the west coast [[power outage|lost power]]. On 17 March only 17 of the 66 [[secondary school]]s on the island were functioning. After the storm it was feared that the existing [[dengue fever]] [[epidemic]] on the island would spread. Erica caused $15 million (2003&nbsp;USD) in damages, primarily on New Caledonia. Following the deaths and damage, the name "Erica" was later retired.

== Meteorological history == 
{{storm path|Erica 2003 track.png}}
The precursor to Cyclone Erica was an [[area of low pressure]] that formed within a [[monsoon trough]] north of the [[Tiwi Islands]] on 13&nbsp;February 2003.<ref name="TCS">{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclone Summary 2002-2003 Season |url=http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_02-031190690457.pdf |website=Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre Nadi |publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service |access-date=17 June 2020 |location=Nadi, Fiji |date=2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212001625/http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_02-031190690457.pdf|archive-date=12 December 2007}}</ref> This low moved into the [[Joseph Bonaparte Gulf]] and then ashore [[Mainland Australia]] near the border between [[Western Australia]] and [[Northern Territory]] on 15&nbsp;February.<ref name="TCS" /><ref name="GP">{{cite web |last1=Padgett |first1=Gary |title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary March 2003 |url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2003/summ0303.htm |publisher=AustraliaSevereWeather.com |access-date=17 June 2020 |date=27 December 2006}}</ref> It remained over the continent for the latter half of February, taking a track south of [[Alice Springs, Northern Territory]], and then towards [[Queensland]]. Now taking an eastward trajectory,<ref name="GP" /> the centre of the low emerged into the [[Coral Sea]] near the [[Whitsunday Islands]] on 3&nbsp;March.<ref name="TCS" /> Data from the [[QuikSCAT]] satellite showed a center of circulation well-removed from the nearest area of strong winds and rain. However, the abating of [[wind shear]] resulted in an increase in the system's organisation with [[atmospheric convection|convective activity]] and the system's circulation becoming better developed.<ref name="GP" /><ref name="JTWCAdvisories">{{cite web |title=Tropical Cyclone ERICA |url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2003/erica.htm|via=AustraliaSevereWeather.com |publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center |access-date=17 June 2020 |location=Pearl Harbor, Hawaii}}</ref> At 06:00&nbsp;[[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] on 4&nbsp;March, the system was designated as Tropical Cyclone ''Erica'' by the [[Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre]] in [[Brisbane, Australia]] (TCWC-Brisbane); it was TCWC-Brisbane's first named system of the [[2002–03 Australian region cyclone season]].<ref name="TCS" /><ref name="BOM">{{cite web |title=Tropical Cyclone Erica |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/erica.shtml |website=Bureau of Meteorology |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=17 June 2020}}</ref> At the time, Erica was located 790&nbsp;km (490&nbsp;mi) east-southeast of [[Townsville, Queensland]].<ref name="GP" />

[[File:Erica and Eseta 11 mar 2003 2330Z.jpg|thumb|Cyclones Erica and Eseta over the southern Pacific on 11&nbsp;March|alt=Satellite image of two tropical cyclones]]
Remaining under the conditions of lessened wind shear, Erica continued to strengthen after being named and attained 10-minute [[maximum sustained wind]]s of {{convert|100|km/h|mph}} at 18:00&nbsp;UTC on 4&nbsp;March.<ref name="BOM" /> While Erica had initially drifted slowly eastward due to a lack of [[tropical cyclone#Environmental steering|steering influences]],<ref name="JTWCAdvisories" /> a developing [[high-pressure area|ridge of high pressure]] to the south and west caused the cyclone to curve towards the north. Along this trajectory, Erica once again encountered unfavorable wind shear and consequently weakened with its winds falling below [[gale]]-force by 7&nbsp;March; at this phase the system was classified as a tropical depression.<ref name="TCS" /><ref name="GP" /><ref name="BOM" /> An intensifying monsoonal flow around the remnant circulation caused the storm to move towards the east, just south of the [[Solomon Islands]]. On 10&nbsp;March, it entered an environment more conducive to tropical cyclone development, characterized by low wind shear and coincident with a favourable phase of the [[Madden–Julian oscillation]].<ref name="BOM" /> The organisation of the system's cloud pattern improved in response.<ref name="TCS" /> At 18:00&nbsp;UTC on 10&nbsp;March, the system was redesignated as a tropical cyclone while located 370&nbsp;km (230&nbsp;mi) south-southwest of [[Honiara, Solomon Islands]].<ref name="TCS" />

A [[trough (meteorology)|trough]] in the upper-[[troposphere]] caused the reformed Erica to accelerate towards the southeast. Erica's winds reached hurricane strength at 18:00&nbsp;UTC on 11&nbsp;March, classifying the cyclone as a Category&nbsp;3 on the [[Tropical cyclone scales#Australia and Fiji|Australian and Fijian cyclone scale]].<ref name="BOM" /> A day later, the cyclone exited the area of responsibility of TCWC-Brisbane and into the area of responsibility of the [[Fiji Meteorological Service]] (FMS) in [[Nadi, Fiji]].<ref name="IBTrACS" /> A ragged [[eye (cyclone)|eye]] began to emerge on satellite imagery with convection quickly developing around Erica's center.<ref name="AdvB1">{{cite report|title=Tropical Disturbance Advisory Number B1 |url=https://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2003/03/12/text/Severe.12|via=Iowa Environmental Mesonet |publisher=Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre Nadi, Fiji |access-date=17 June 2020 |location=Nadi, Fiji |date=12 March 2020}}</ref> With low wind shear and favourable winds aloft,<ref name="JTWCAdvisories" /> Erica intensified further and reached a peak intensity with sustained winds of {{convert|215|km/h|mph}} at 06:00&nbsp;UTC on 13&nbsp;March while located approximately 500&nbsp;km (300&nbsp;mi) west-northwest of [[Nouméa, New Caledonia]].<ref name="BOM" /> According to the JTWC, Erica's peak 1-minute sustained winds reached {{convert|240|km/h|mph}}, though [[Dvorak technique|satellite intensity estimates]] suggested windspeeds as high as {{convert|260|km/h|mph}}.<ref name="IBTrACS" /><ref name="JTWCAdvisories" /> The FMS estimated that Erica's central [[air pressure]] reached a minimum of 915&nbsp;[[pascal (unit)|hPa]] ([[bar (unit)|mbar]]; 27.02&nbsp;[[inches of mercury|inHg]]).<ref name="IBTrACS">{{cite web |title=2003 Tropical Cyclone ERICA (2003061S21148) |url=http://www.atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_v04r00/index.php?name=v04r00-2003061S21148 |website=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship |publisher=University of North Carolina–Asheville |access-date=17 June 2020 |location=Asheville, North Carolina}}</ref> The diameter of Erica's [[eye (cyclone)|eye]] shrank and decreased and the eye became symmetrical.<ref name="TCS" /> Throughout the day, the cyclone paralleled the southwest coast of the principal island of [[New Caledonia]] before tracking across the southern end of the island and the [[Isle of Pines (New Caledonia)|Isle of Pines]];<ref name="BOM" /><ref name="GP" /> it made [[landfall]] roughly 220&nbsp;km (140&nbsp;mph) northwest of Nouméa shortly after 18:00&nbsp;UTC on 13&nbsp;March.<ref name="TCS" /> Prolonged interaction with New Caledonia caused the cyclone's winds to lessen.<ref name="JTWCAdvisories" /> After clearing New Caledonia, a [[subtropical ridge]] to the northeast caused Erica to move into an area of increasing wind shear and accelerate into the mid-latitudes, leading to the storm weakening further and undergoing [[extratropical cyclone#Extratropical transition|extratropical transition]];<ref name="BOM" /><ref name="GP" /><ref name="JTWCAdvisories" /> this transition was completed by 12:00&nbsp;UTC on 15&nbsp;March.<ref name="TCS" /> The extratropical remnants of Erica passed east of New Zealand on 16–17&nbsp;March.<ref name="BOM" />

{{clear}}

==Preparations, impact, and aftermath==
[[File:TC Erica 04 mar 2003 0305Z.jpg|thumb|left|Erica on 4 March 2003|alt=A satellite image of a developing tropical cyclone. Rainbands can be seen swirling into the cyclone]]

=== Australia ===
As a tropical low, Erica brought strong winds to northern [[Queensland]]. Several large trees were uprooted, one of which fell on a car in [[Cape Tribulation]] and another on a house in [[Port Douglas, Queensland|Port Douglas]]. Numerous trees were defoliated and some boats were reported to have been pulling their moorings due to the wind. Power lines were also damaged by the low.<ref name="SS">{{cite report|archive-date=1 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001150746/http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_02-031190690457.pdf |url=http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_02-031190690457.pdf |author=RSMC Nadi&nbsp;— Tropical Cyclone Centre |access-date=27 June 2010 |title=Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Summary 2002–03 |publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== New Caledonia ===
On 12 March, officials in [[New Caledonia]] issued a pre-alert as Erica was forecast to impact the territory. Evacuation centers were set up in churches and community halls.<ref name="RNZ1">{{cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Radio New Zealand International|date=12 March 2003|access-date=6 January 2009|title=New Caledonia sounds alert as Cyclone Erica heads towards the territory|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=3971}}</ref> All schools throughout the island were closed and airports were shut down.<ref name="RNZ2">{{cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=13 March 2003|access-date=17 March 2009|title=Cyclone Erica hits northern New Caledonia, Eseta strikes Tonga|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=3983}}</ref>

Despite the rapid weakening before landfall, Erica produced intense winds, gusting to a record {{convert|202|km/h|mph}} in [[Nouméa]]. [[Maximum sustained wind|Ten-minute sustained winds]] were recorded up to {{convert|144|km/h|mph}} around the center of the storm.

An estimated 892 families were affected by Erica, and Erica was also reported to have caused two deaths and injured 80 people.<ref name=repairsunderway>{{cite news|title=Repairs underway in New Caledonia after devastation of Cyclone Erica|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=4009|access-date=25 August 2012|newspaper=Radio New Zealand International|date=16 March 2003}}</ref> In addition 1,000 people were estimated to be [[homeless]].<ref name=OCHAno1>{{cite news|title=Tropical cyclone OCHA Situation Report No. 1|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/new-caledonia-france/new-caledonia-tropical-cyclone-ocha-situation-report-no-1|access-date=13 October 2012|date=17 March 2003|author=UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs|agency=ReliefWeb}}</ref> Several communication lines were severed, and tribes and farms were devastated.<ref name=cgt>{{cite web|title=Le cyclone Erica a ravagé la Nouelle Calédonie|url=http://www.cgt.fr/Le-cyclone-Erica-a-ravage-la.html|publisher=La CGT Societé|access-date=25 August 2012|language=fr|date=11 August 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025015837/http://cgt.fr/Le-cyclone-Erica-a-ravage-la.html|archive-date=25 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> 20% of electricity customers in Nouméa were without power, and 60% of customers on the main island's west coast were also without power.<ref name=ncassess2>{{cite web|title=New Caledonia assesses the damage after two killed in cyclone|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/new-caledonia-france/new-caledonia-assesses-damage-after-two-killed-cyclone|publisher=ReliefWeb|access-date=25 August 2012|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=15 March 2003}}</ref> In [[Yaté]], police assessed that half of the population was without shelter, and in Pohé, it was estimated that 90% of the crops were destroyed by Erica.<ref name=thousandshomeless>{{cite web|title=Thousands homeless after New Caledonia cyclone|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/new-caledonia-france/thousands-homeless-after-new-caledonia-cyclone|publisher=ReliefWeb|access-date=25 August 2012|author=East–West Center|author-link=East–West Center|date=18 March 2003}}</ref><ref name=25milfrance>{{cite web|title=France OKs $25 million for New Caledonia housing|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/new-caledonia-france/france-oks-25-million-new-caledonia-housing|publisher=ReliefWeb|access-date=25 August 2012|author=East-West Center|date=20 March 2003}}</ref> On 17 March 2003, only 17 of the 66 [[secondary school]]s in New Caledonia were functioning, with others still closed primarily due to safety concerns. The [[University of New Caledonia]] was also badly damaged. However, all [[primary school]]s were functioning.<ref name=thousandshomeless />

[[South Province, New Caledonia]] formed an emergency committee following the storm, led by Jacques Lafleur. The committee assisted in filing damage claims caused by the cyclone.<ref name=ncassesses>{{cite news|title=New Caledonia still assessing the impact of Cyclone Erica|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=4023|access-date=25 August 2012|publisher=Radio New Zealand International|date=17 March 2003}}</ref> After the storm, 60 French specialists were sent to New Caledonia to help in rebuilding areas hit hard by Erica. [[Ministry of Overseas France]] head Brigitte Giradin arrived in Nouméa on 17&nbsp;March to investigate the damage.<ref name=francespecialists>{{cite news|title=France sends 60 specialists to New Caledonia after cyclone Erica|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=4027|access-date=25 August 2012|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand International]]|date=17 March 2003|location=[[Wellington, New Zealand]]}}</ref> Following the visit, Brigitte Giradin announced that US$17 million would be sent to rebuild 1,000 homes on the island nation, including an additional US$500,000 in disaster relief to the island country.<ref name=25milfrance /><ref name=frenchministers>{{cite news|title=French minister tours cyclone-ravaged New Caledonia|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=4047|access-date=25 August 2012|publisher=Radio New Zealand International|date=18 March 2003}}</ref> A transport aircraft stationed in [[Tahiti]] brought {{convert|1.5|ST|kg|abbr=on}} of emergency supplies.<ref name=thousandshomeless />

Following Erica's heavy rains, it was feared that the already existing [[dengue fever]] [[epidemic]] would become more widespread. Prior to Erica, there were already 437 cases of dengue fever in 2003 alone. The risk for [[leptospirosis]] was also increased by Erica.<ref name=denguethreat>{{cite web|title=Cyclone raises dengue threat in New Caledonia|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/new-caledonia-france/cyclone-raises-dengue-threat-new-caledonia|publisher=ReliefWeb|access-date=25 August 2012|author=East-West Center|date=24 March 2003}}</ref> High winds and strong rains resulted in damages of at least US$15 million, particularly to schools. Two fatalities total were reported as a result of Erica.<ref name=TCS /> The name ''Erica'' was retired after the season.{{RA V Tropical cyclone operational plan}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
*[[Cyclone Beni]]
*[[Cyclone Ivy]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cyclone Erica}}
{{SPAC EL's}}

{{2002–03 South Pacific cyclone season buttons}}
{{2002–03 Australian region cyclone season buttons}}
{{Retired Australian cyclones}}
{{Category 3 Australian region tropical cyclones}}
{{Category 5 South Pacific severe tropical cyclones}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Erica (2003)}}
[[Category:Retired Australian region cyclones]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in New Caledonia]]
[[Category:Category 5 South Pacific cyclones]]
[[Category:2002–03 Australian region cyclone season]]
[[Category:2002–03 South Pacific cyclone season]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in 2003]]