User:FourNoddlers/Cyclone Veli

During January 30, a tropical depression developed about 650 km (405 mi) to the northeast of Apia in American Samoa.^[1] Over the next couple of days, the system moved eastwards while gradually developing further, with the NPMOC issuing a tropical cyclone formation alert on the system early on February 1.^[1][2] Later that day the FMS named the system Veli as it had intensified into a Category 1 tropical cyclone, while it came under the influence of a mid level trough of low pressure and started to move towards the southeast.^[2] Later that day the NPMOC started to issue warnings on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 18P, after it had continued to organize and convection surrounding the system had increased.^[2] During that day Veli continued to move towards the southeast while gradually intensifying, before early the next day the NPMOC reported that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 140 km/h (85 mph).^[1] Veli peaked as a Category 2 tropical cyclone early on February 2, with 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 100 km/h (65 mph).^[1] Over the next day, the cyclone moved through the Tuamotu group of islands, as it began to experience significant vertical windshear and weakened into a depression.^[3] The system was subsequently monitored until it was last noted during February 4, about 1,500 km (930 mi) to the northwest of Adamstown on the Pitcairn Islands.^[1]

In association with Cyclone Ursula, Veli brought significant waves to French Polynesia's Tuamotu province and caused minor damages on the islands of Mataiva, Rangiroa, Makatea. Roads and bridges in Mataiva were washed away, and 39 homes were damaged.^[4] In Makatea, five houses were damaged while operations at Rangiroa's airstrip were disrupted after coral and sand washed up onshore.^[4]