User:Jason Rees/Cyclone Atu

Early on February 13, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 11F had formed about 65 km to the southwest of Port Vila in Vanuatu.^[1] During the next day, the system gradually moved north and started intensifying.^[2] Late on February 16, the disturbance turned south-southeast and intensified into a Tropical depression.^[3] On the next morning, organization in the system improved, but the convection decreased unexpectedly.^[4] Early on January 18, deep convection started developing over the Low-level Circulation Center (LLCC) which is very favorable for Tropical cyclogenesis.^[5] Late on that day, the JTWC started monitoring the system as Tropical Cyclone 17P.^[6] Early on the next day, RSMC Nadi upgraded the depression into a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone and named it Atu.^[7] At midnight, that day, RSMC Nadi upgraded Atu into a Category 2 tropical cyclone,^[8] and six hours later it was upgraded again into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone,^[9] and then again into a Category 4 Severe Tropical cyclone.^[10] Though Atu strengthened rapidly, it weakened unexpectedly on the next day because of an eyewall replacement cycle.^[11] Early on February 23, Atu crossed 25°S and entered TCWC Wellington's area of responsibility as a Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone.^[12] Late on that day, the JTWC, reporting that the system was becoming extratropical, issued their final warning on Atu.^[13] At midnight, that day, TCWC Wellington reported that Atu was no longer a Severe Tropical Cyclone.^[14] Within six hours, TCWC Wellington downgraded Atu into a low, no longer considering it tropical.^[15]

Relief operations across Vanuatu related to Cyclone Vania were temporarily halted due to dangerous conditions produced by Atu. All seagoing vessels stopped operations and many flights were canceled during the duration of its passage.^[16] On Efate, 400 people sought refuge in public shelters.^[17]

Between February 20 and 22, Cyclone Atu brought heavy rains and damaging winds to portions of Tafea Province. Still recovering from Cyclone Vania the previous month, Atu damaged or destroyed the remaining crops left in the province.^[16] Agriculture damage on Tanna was reported to be devastating. Fruit on all banana and coconut trees were blown off.^[17] Communications with the islands of Aniwa and Futuna were lost during the cyclone.^[18] Contact was re-established three days after the storms passage.^[19] Minor damage took place on Efate, with some downed trees and debris strewn about.^[17]

The MV Nakato provided 240 tonnes of rice for residents in Tanna on February 25 while the MV Makila was used to bring rice to residents on Aniwa, Aneityum, Erromango, and Futuna.^[19] The Government of France later conducted areal surveys of the affected areas.^[20] A month after Atu's passage, residents in eastern Tanna reported that they had received no aid from the government despite shipments reaching less affected areas. The National Disaster Management Office later admitted that they did not have enough rice to distribute to all affected areas and received misinformation from survey teams.^[21]