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A rapidly organizing Tropical Cyclone #UESI near Vanuatu – going towards a Category 3 strength while passing just shy west of New Caledonia on Wednesday

The former Invest #91P has strengthened into a Tropical Cyclone – #Uesi is born. We have a Category 2 system, located north of New Caledonia and west of Vanuatu. The maximum sustained winds were 65 knots / 75 knots / 120 km/h with a central pressure of 979 mbar at 12 UTC today, Feb 10th. Tropical Cyclone #Uesi is strengthening. It will continue deepening in the coming 48 hours while the system passes very near northwest parts of New Caledonia island. Dangerous winds, storm surge, and flash floods will be possible through Wednesday and Thursday!


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NEW UPDATE: A Severe Tropical Cyclone #Uesi is passing near New Caledonia as a Category 3 strength, should approach southeast Australia on Friday

A Severe Tropical Cyclone #Uesi is passing near New Caledonia as a Category 3 strength, should approach southeast Australia on Friday



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Satellite imagery reveals an impressive explosive convective cluster near the virtual center, cloud tops are shooting below -85 °C! The structure reveals powerful upper-level ventilation.





Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADT) analysis estimates suggest Uesi is now a strong Category 1 system, while it was a Category 2 cyclone earlier today. There are 50-knot winds expanded across all quadrants 35 miles around the virtual center.


Uesi will be moving almost due south through the next few days, passing just shy west of New Caledonia on Wednesday. Ocean Heat Content map indicates the system is in favorable conditions for further strengthening and may reach Category 3 strength before it nears the island.





Peak wind gust swath along the cyclone’s track – dangerous winds might pass just shy west of New Calendonia. However, Uesi’s track could still change and pushes it into the western parts of the island.

See also the initial forecast discussion on Invest #91P:

Another potentially dangerous tropical system is likely to form east of Australia this week – Invest #91P is born NW of Vanuatu, could turn towards New Calendonia


Uesi is coming just a few days after a powerful Category 3 cyclone Damien made landfall in Western Australia on Saturday:

Severe Tropical Cyclone #Damien makes a devastating landfall over Dampier / Karratha in Western Australia