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Cyclone Ana

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ana was a Category 3 in the South Pacific that was named on 29 2021 and made on on 31 , causing widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and one fatality as the second to strike the island nation within six weeks, following Tropical Cyclone Yasa. The system originated from a tropical disturbance located approximately 200 km northeast of , , amid favorable conditions including low and warm sea surface temperatures. It rapidly intensified, reaching Category 1 status about 350 km northwest of , , before tracking eastward and then southeastward, passing through the northern and making near Rakiraki on northern as a Category 2 . Ana continued southeastward, making a second on eastern later that day as a Category 2 , before achieving its peak intensity shortly afterward with 10-minute sustained winds of 65 knots (120 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 970 , classifying it as a severe under Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) criteria. The weakened due to land interaction and cooler air masses, transitioning to a subtropical low by 1 February as it moved southeast into the open ocean. Ana's impacts were exacerbated by Fiji's recent recovery from Tropical Cyclone Yasa, leading to compounded vulnerabilities in affected communities. The storm triggered severe flooding across all four divisions of , with rivers such as the Rewa in and Waimanu near overflowing, alongside landslides and storm surges that inundated coastal areas. It resulted in one confirmed death from drowning, five people missing—including four fishermen at sea and a three-year-old child in —and the evacuation of 7,612 people to 204 centers. Infrastructure suffered extensively, with 138 roads and bridges closed due to debris and flooding, widespread power and water outages, and damage to homes, crops, and utilities in regions like Macuata, Cakaudrove, Seaqaqa, and . Humanitarian responses, led by the Fiji Red Cross Society and international partners, focused on shelter, health, water, sanitation, and hygiene (), and livelihood support, though challenged by ongoing restrictions.

Meteorological history

Formation

The precursor to Severe Tropical Cyclone Ana formed as Tropical Disturbance 05F on January 26, 2021, located approximately 220 km (140 mi) northeast of , , within the South Pacific convergence zone. This disturbance emerged from enhanced convective activity associated with a strong Madden-Julian Oscillation pulse that influenced the region from January 21 to February 21. Favorable environmental conditions supported the initial development, including sea surface temperatures exceeding 28°C, which provided ample energy for , and low vertical of around 5-10 knots, allowing the system to organize without significant disruption. On the same day, the disturbance progressed to tropical depression status as began to wrap around a developing low-level circulation center, with scattered thunderstorms consolidating near the estimated center. The depression tracked eastward under the steering influence of a mid-level subtropical ridge positioned to the south, moving at about 10 km/h (6 mph) and covering roughly 400 km over the next two days while remaining embedded in the . By January 29, improved organization led to the system being named Tropical Cyclone Ana by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (RSMC) in , , when 10-minute sustained winds reached 65 km/h (35 knots); at that time, the center was situated about 350 km (220 mi) northwest of at approximately 17.0°S, 176.5°E. The cyclone continued its general eastward path toward in the days following.

Intensification and landfall

Following its initial formation near , Ana underwent between January 29 and 30, 2021, as it tracked southeastward toward . By early January 30, the system strengthened to Category 2 status on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale, with maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 95 km/h while positioned approximately 340 km northwest of and approaching the . This phase of strengthening was supported by favorable environmental conditions, including warm sea surface temperatures exceeding 29°C, reduced , and a moist mid-level atmosphere, which facilitated better organization of the convective structure and eyewall development. The cyclone's track during this period curved gradually southeast, passing close to the northern around 12:00 UTC on January 30 at coordinates approximately 17.5°S, 177.0°E, before moving through the Mamanuca island group near 17.8°S, 177.2°E by 15:00 UTC the same day. Ana continued its southeastward motion, reaching the northern coast of and making landfall near Rakiraki at 18:00 UTC on January 30, with maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 100 km/h and a central pressure of 985 at the point of crossing. Upon crossing the rugged terrain of northern , began to weaken rapidly due to frictional effects and disruption of its inner core structure, with sustained winds dropping below 90 km/h within hours of . However, as the system emerged over the warmer waters south of near Navua around 00:00 UTC on January 31, it underwent a brief re-intensification, regaining Category 2 strength before further crossing toward .

Peak intensity and dissipation

After crossing , Severe Tropical Cyclone Ana re-intensified as it moved south of , reaching Category 3 status on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale on January 31, 2021. The Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS), as the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) for the South Pacific, estimated peak 10-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (65 kt) near , accompanied by a minimum central of 970 . In contrast, the (JTWC) assessed the system's peak intensity using 1-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (65 kt), equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale; this difference highlights the varying wind-averaging periods employed by agencies in different basins. Beginning on February 1, 2021, increasing associated with an upper-level trough disrupted the cyclone's , leading to rapid disorganization. Ana transitioned into an extratropical low later that day while tracking southeastward, with its center positioned approximately 400 km south-southeast of , . The extratropical remnants continued southeast over the open South Pacific Ocean before final dissipation on February 3, 2021, as they were absorbed into a larger weather system.

Preparations

In

The Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) began monitoring Tropical Disturbance 05F on January 26, 2021, and issued initial Heavy Rain Warnings and Alerts for low-lying areas and small streams, including a Flood Warning for the Qawa River and Alerts for . As the system intensified, FMS named it Ana on January 30 when it reached Category 1 status approximately 340 km northwest of , prompting a Warning for the entire country. A was issued for the eastern half of , the eastern half of , and nearby island groups, with advisories for potential strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding risks. In response, the government declared a state of and imposed a nightly curfew from to 31 to facilitate preparations and limit movement during peak threats. The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) activated up to 318 evacuation centres nationwide, with 204 centres initially sheltering 7,612 people from 546 households across all four divisions by January 31.

In Vanuatu

The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) commenced monitoring of Tropical Disturbance 05F on January 26, 2021, shortly after its formation approximately 220 km northeast of , and issued a low-level for the northern islands to ensure early awareness of potential weather changes. On January 27, the VMGD released advisory warnings for possible heavy rainfall and gusty winds affecting and nearby areas, as the system tracked eastward and posed no direct threat to the mainland. In coordination with regional meteorological centers such as the RSMC Nadi, the VMGD provided ongoing updates, but the offshore position of the disturbance precluded the need for widespread evacuations, school closures, or other major disruptions. Public advisories from the VMGD urged residents to remain vigilant for indirect impacts, including coastal swells and localized flooding risks, without escalating to formal cyclone warnings.

Impacts

In Fiji

Tropical Cyclone Ana brought heavy rainfall to from January 28 to 31, 2021, with accumulations exceeding 200 mm in areas such as Rakiraki and , triggering widespread river flooding and landslides across . For instance, Nadarivatu near Rakiraki recorded 352 mm in 24 hours ending January 31, while nearby stations like Dreketilailai saw 352 mm on January 30 alone. These downpours caused major rivers, including the Rewa at and Waimanu at Waila City, to overflow, leading to flash floods in the Western Division towns of Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki, , and , as well as severe inundation in on —the worst since 2003. Landslides occurred in multiple locations, including Soasoa in , Dilkusha in , Tailevu, and , exacerbating damage to roads and homes. During near Rakiraki on January 31, the produced wind gusts reaching up to 140 km/h, with the highest recorded at 134 km/h in Rakiraki itself. These destructive winds, averaging 100 km/h in storm-force areas, caused significant structural damage to homes, power lines, and , particularly in and coastal regions of and [Vanua Levu](/page/Vanua_Lev u). Fallen trees and branches blocked roads, while roofs were torn off buildings and weak structures were heavily impacted, compounding the flooding effects. The cyclone resulted in one confirmed fatality—a drowning in floodwaters near Rakiraki in Nadarivatu—and five people reported , attributed to swollen rivers, collapsed bridges, and rough seas. The missing included four fishermen at sea and a three-year-old boy in . In response to the threats, 10,259 residents were evacuated to 318 shelters nationwide, with widespread power outages due to downed lines and other disruptions. The cyclone caused significant economic losses, largely stemming from agricultural damage to crops and fisheries in the Yasawa and Mamanuca island groups, where flooding and winds destroyed fruit and vegetable production. The storm's impact on local produce led to immediate price spikes and supply shortages, highlighting vulnerabilities in Fiji's rural and coastal economies.

In surrounding regions

Cyclone Ana generated large swells that propagated outward from its core path south of , affecting coastal areas in with heavy damaging swells from January 31 to February 2. These swells prompted warnings for potential and beach erosion across all Tongan coastal waters, though no major disruptions or casualties were reported. Scattered heavy rainfall associated with the cyclone's outer bands impacted northern and the southern , with estimated totals of 100–250 mm leading to localized flooding in low-lying areas. No casualties or significant damage were reported in these regions from the rainfall. In the southern Lau Group of , minor wind impacts occurred as the cyclone tracked nearby after landfall, with gale-force winds up to 65 km/h and associated gusts causing damage to small vessels but resulting in no substantial losses. The cyclone made no direct landfalls outside , and while surrounding regions experienced indirect effects, maritime safety advisories were issued across the South Pacific due to rough seas and hazardous conditions for small craft.

Aftermath

Immediate response

Following the passage of Cyclone Ana on January 30–31, 2021, the Fijian government activated emergency protocols under the ongoing state of natural disaster originally declared for Tropical Cyclone Yasa in December 2020, which was later extended to encompass the impacts of Ana. On February 18, 2021, Prime Minister extended the declaration for an additional 20 days to facilitate relief and recovery efforts, unlocking access to emergency funds for immediate humanitarian needs. The National Disaster Management Office coordinated search-and-rescue operations, deploying teams from the National Fire Authority to locate missing persons and clear debris from roads, particularly in the heavily affected region, where flooding had isolated communities and hindered access. These efforts resulted in the recovery of one confirmed casualty and ongoing searches for five missing individuals, including a three-year-old boy. International partners swiftly pledged support to bolster Fiji's response. committed initial assistance of F$4.23 million (approximately AU$2.65 million), focusing on the distribution of , clean , and emergency supplies to displaced families in flood-hit areas. The Fiji Red Cross Society, with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, facilitated the delivery of these resources to over 10,000 evacuees sheltered in more than 300 centers across the country. Power restoration was prioritized to support shelter operations and basic services, with Energy Fiji Limited deploying crews to repair downed lines and infrastructure damaged by winds and flooding. Restoration efforts progressed steadily in early February 2021, enabling the to assist in managing evacuation centers that housed around 7,600 people at the peak of the crisis. To mitigate risks from flood-contaminated water sources, health teams conducted assessments in evacuation centers, prioritizing surveillance for such as and . Vaccination drives were initiated against preventable illnesses, with the Ministry of Health partnering with international organizations to distribute prophylactics and promote practices among evacuees.

Long-term effects

Following Cyclone Ana, reconstruction efforts in focused on restoring essential , particularly in heavily impacted areas like Rakiraki. Government and international support aided the repair of key roads and rebuilding of homes to restore access and mobility for affected communities. Agricultural recovery posed significant challenges, as the cyclone damaged crops including and root vegetables, leading to sustained food price increases throughout 2021 and straining security. As of 2025, reconstruction remains incomplete in some areas, such as Nabavatu Village in , where approximately 60 families continue to live in tents nearly four years after the cyclone, underscoring ongoing vulnerabilities. As part of the active 2020–21 South Pacific cyclone season—where was one of three systems to strike —the event contributed to a comprehensive review of national disaster preparedness policies, emphasizing improved early warning systems and . The name "" was not retired by the , as the damage fell below the thresholds for significant or economic disruption warranting removal, though the cyclone spurred enhanced regional collaborations on forecasting and data sharing among Pacific meteorological services.

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