THEODORE

History

Severe Tropical Cyclone Theodore developed from a tropical low that was situated over the northern Solomon Islands on 22 February 1994. The low organised steadily and was upgraded to cyclone intensity at 1800 UTC on 23 February, after which it deepened rapidly while tracking generally southward.

By 24 February the system's central pressure had fallen to 945 hPa, and around this time Theodore recurved onto an east-southeasterly heading. Intensification continued, and on 25 February the cyclone reached its peak with an estimated minimum central pressure of 910 hPa, making it one of the most intense systems recorded in the region that summer. Weakening then set in as Theodore accelerated to the southeast, with the central pressure rising to 935 hPa by 26 February. The cyclone subsequently passed through the gap between New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. As it continued eastward over open water it lost its tropical characteristics, transitioning to an extratropical system before dissipating on 2 March.

In its formative stages over the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, Theodore produced heavy rainfall and associated flooding. Rossel Island and Sudest Island in Papua New Guinea's Louisiade Archipelago bore the brunt of the damage, where houses, school buildings and food crops were destroyed. New Caledonia recorded gale-force winds as the cyclone passed nearby, though effects there were less severe.

Theodore was one of only two systems named by TCWC Brisbane during a slightly above-average 1993–94 Australian region season.

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology report Wikipedia