Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event
27-02-2023
What happened, where and when?
On 27 February 2023, Tropical Depression 08F formed and developed into Tropical Cyclone (TC) Judy, as a Category 1 cyclone while heading towards Vanuatu. TC Judy further intensified into a Category 4 cyclone as it ran from north to south over the Vanuatu Archipelago, affecting Shefa Province which hosts the countries capital Port Vila. TC Judy maintained its strength as it continued its southerly progression, making landfall on Tanna Island at midnight of 1 March 2023.
While TC Judy was moving away from the Vanuatu group, another tropical low formed and entered the Vanuatu Area of Responsibility (AoR) as a TC Category 1 system named Kevin. TC Kevin strengthened to a Category 3 and then a Category 4 system, as it moved across the central and southern provinces of Vanuatu. TC Kevin made landfall on Tanna Island on 4 March 2023. Both TC Judy and Kevin produced destructive hurricane-force winds of 150kph, with peak gusts up to 220kph, affecting the central and southern islands. Damaging gale force winds of 63-87kph were experienced in the provinces of Penama, Malampa, Shefa and Tafea. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms affected central and southern parts of the Northern Islands, with seas becoming very rough throughout Vanuatu waters.
Air Vanuatu cancelled all domestic and international flights from 28 February 2023, and commercial flights resumed on 8 March 2023. Schools and other businesses, including banks, were closed until 2 March 2023. Vanuatu Red Cross Society (VRCS) activated its Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) from 26 Feb 2023, while TC Judy and TC Kevin moved towards and passed over the country, allowing staff members to run coordinated readiness actions, prepare for the impact of the cyclone, and be on standby for immediate response.