Tropical Storm Clotilda was a destructive tropical cyclone that inundated Réunion in February 1987. A tropical disturbance first formed between Madagascar and Réunion on February9 and slowly intensified thereafter. While meandering, the storm fluctuated in intensity before it reached its peak intensity on February13, with winds of 110km/h (70mph). After passing near Réunion, it began to weaken. On February16, however, Clotilda began to regain strength, and reached its secondary peak on February 17. Two days later, Clotilda became an extratropical cyclone. By February22, Clotilda was no long being tracked by meteorologists. While active, it brought torrential rains to the island of Réunion during a span of 72 hours. A total of 1,855mm (73.0in) of rain was recorded in La Plaine-des-Palmistes; rainfall totals occasionally exceeded the totals measured during Cyclone Hyacinthe, the last major storm to affect Réunion. However, the peak total measured in Hyacinthe was lower than the total measured during Clotilda. Furthermore, about 250homes were damaged and roughly 120homes were destroyed. Eighty-nine trees were also brought down during the storm. Throughout the island, damage totaled $2 million (1987USD) and 10 people were killed. In addition to the destruction on Réunion, 5% of crops on Mauritius were impacted by the storm. During the aftermath of the cyclone, 1,000people on Réunion were evacuated to shelters.
Quick Facts Severe tropical storm (SWIO scale), Formed ...
The tropical disturbance that would later become Clotilda was first warned on by Météo-France's (MFR) meteorological office at Réunion at 0600UTC on February9. At this time, it was located about 500km (310mi) from Réunion. Initially moving south, the storm maintained its intensity for 24 hours before it was upgraded into a moderate tropical storm,[nb 1] with winds of 65km/h (40mph). However, the strengthening trend was short lived, and several hours later, MFR downgraded Clotilda into a tropical depression as it began to meander.[2] At 0600UTC on February11, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued its first warning on the system.[3] That day, Clotilda began to re-intensify and MFR upgraded Clotilda into a moderate tropical storm for the second time. At 1200UTC that day, the JTWC reported that Clotilda developed gale-force winds. Data from both agencies suggest that the storm held on to its intensity for about a day before gradually intensifying while turning east, passing within 80km (50mi) Réunion. At 1800UTC on February12, the JTWC reported that Clotilda had reached its peak intensity of 85km/h (55mph) while MFR upgraded Clotilda into a severe tropical storm. The following day, MFR noted that Severe Tropical Storm Clotilda had reached its peak 10-minute sustained wind speed of 110km/h (70mph) while undergoing a small clockwise loop, passing about 155km (95mi) east of Mauritius.[2]
After peaking in intensity, Severe Tropical Storm Clotilda began to weaken; by February13, the JTWC had reassessed the intensity of the system to 70km/h (45mph). Moreover, MFR reduced to intensity of Clotilda to 155km/h (95mph) the next day. Now moving west and away from the island of Reunion, the storm continued to deteriorate, and early on February 15, the JTWC downgraded the system into a tropical depression while centered 560km (350mi) west-southwest of Mauritius. Very early on February 16, the JTWC dropped advisories on the system even though MFR was still reporting winds of 65km/h (40mph). Thereafter, Clotilda turned west and began to reintensify. Late on February17, the cyclone reached its secondary peak of 95km/h (60mph) while located 1,210km (750mi) south-southeast of Réunion. Accelerating, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on February 19 while turning south and later southeast. At 0000UTC on February22, MFR at last stopped monitoring the system.[2]
Impact and aftermath
Clotilda affected Mauritius on February 13 and 14, with winds of up to 145km/h (90mph), heavy rain and high seas. This resulted in several homes being flooded and about 5% of the island's sugar crop being damaged.[4][5][6]
Due to the storm's slow motion, Cyclone Clotilda brought torrential rains to the island of Réunion during a span of three days. 1,855mm (75in) of rain was recorded in La Plaine-des-Palmistes, compared to the 1,716mm (67.6in) of rain measured at that same location during Cyclone Hyacinthe, the last major storm to affect the region.[7] However, this total was significantly less than the peak total of 6,083mm (239.5in) recorded at Commerson during Hyacinthe.[8] Throughout the island, rainfall totals usually exceeded the totals measured during Hyacinthe.[7] Major flooding was reported,[9][10] damaging many roads,[11] and 89trees fell during the storm.[12] A total 250dwellings were damaged and nearly 120 others were completely destroyed,[7] with several completely destroyed.[12] This left around 4,000people homeless.[11] The north side of the island[13] as well as the capital city of Saint Denis took the brunt of the cyclone; wind gusts of 170km/h (105mph) were measured there.[11] In all, damage from the storm totaled $2 million (1987USD). A total of 40,000people were affected by the storm.[14] Clotilda killed 10people on the island.[15]
Following the storm on Réunion, "tens of millions of francs" were needed to repair damaged roads.[7] Furthermore, 1,000people moved to emergency shelters.[16] On February 18, 250,000Euros were granted to nation to cope with the aftermath of Clotilda.[17] According to one account, it took five days for most food items to be restored to the island.[18]
Wind estimates from Météo-France and most other basins throughout the world are sustained over 10minutes, while estimates from the United States-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center are sustained over 1minute. 10minute winds are about 1.14 times the amount of 1minute winds.[1]
Knapp, K. R.; M. C. Kruk; D. H. Levinson; H. J. Diamond; C. J. Neumann (2010). 1987 Clotilda (1987040S19051). The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data (Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Western Oceanography Center (1993). Annex A: Warning Verification Statistics: C: Southern Hemisphere(PDF) (1987 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report). United States Navy, United States Airforce. p.204. Archived(PDF) from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
Search Details Disaster List (Report). Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. Archived from the original on September 23, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2013.