Cyclone Prema

Severe Tropical Cyclone Prema was the twenty-third storm of the season, Prema formed early on 26 March 1993 as a weak tropical depression.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Prema

Cyclone Prema west of Vanuatu at peak intensity on 29 March
Meteorological history
Formed	26 March 1993 (1993-03-26)
Dissipated	6 April 1993 (1993-04-06)
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (FMS)
Highest winds	165 km/h (105 mph)
Lowest pressure	940 hPa (mbar); 27.76 inHg
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	230 km/h (145 mph)
Lowest pressure	916 hPa (mbar); 27.05 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	3
Damage	$5 million (1993 USD)
Areas affected	Vanuatu, New Caledonia
IBTrACS
Part of the 1992–93 South Pacific cyclone season

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Map key

Saffir–Simpson scale

  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On 25 March, a tropical depression had developed within an otherwise inactive monsoon trough, about 200 km (125 mi) to the west of the Fijian dependency of Rotuma. A passing high-pressure area assisted the tropical depression's genesis under an upper-level ridge near Vanuatu.^[1] On 26 March, the system initially moved north-westwards, before it turned and moved south-westwards as it organised and developed further.^[2] The depression moved towards the northwest before it turned and started to move southwest as it gradually developed further. On 27 March, both the Nadi TCWC and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported that the depression had developed into a tropical cyclone and the Nadi TCWC named it Prema.^[3]

Effects

In Vanuatu, Cyclone Prema affected 20,000 people and casued an estimated US$60 million in damages.^[4] A gauge in Port Vila was damaged and inoperable for over 18 months.^[5]

Due to the impact of this system, the name Prema was subsequently retired, by the World Meteorological Organization's RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee.^[6]

See also

• Tropical cyclones in 1993