Severe Tropical Cyclone Dovi was a powerful tropical cyclone across the Southern Pacific in February 2022. The system became the third named tropical cyclone of the 2021–22 South Pacific cyclone season. The storm first formed in the Australian basin on February 4 before crossing over into the South Pacific. The storm caused one death in New Caledonia, and several mudslides occurred in New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Dovi also caused flight cancellations and damage out of New Zealand.
Meteorological history
On February 4, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported that a tropical disturbance, had developed within the Australian region about to the west of New Caledonia. The disturbance was starting to develop a low-level circulation, which was accompanied by fragmented atmospheric convection, along a frontal boundary that extended across the Cape York Peninsula and the Coral Sea. Over the next couple of days, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) started to monitor the poorly organized system as Tropical Low 18U and Tropical Disturbance 08F, as it moved eastwards within the frontal boundary towards Vanuatu and the South Pacific basin. During February 7, the system started to slowly consolidate, as it passed to the north of New Caledonia, before the FMS classified the system as a tropical depression. At this stage, the depression was moving eastwards and was predicted to continue to move eastwards towards Fiji, however, the depression slowed down as it approached the islands of southern Vanuatu during February 8.
Impacts
Cyclone Dovi resulted in $80 million (2022 USD) in losses throughout Vanuatu, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, and New Zealand.
Vanuatu, Norfolk Island, and New Caledonia
The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department (VMGD) issued storm warnings for Dovi on 9 February. Schools in Shefa and Tafea provinces were closed and principals were ordered to secure equipment for the storm. Government buildings were closed around lunchtime on 9 February, as residents packed grocery stores for supplies. As Cyclone Dovi moved through Vanuatu, heavy rainfall was observed which resulted in major flash flooding. The Vanuatu Police Force evacuated several families from the Teouma Valley to shelters, after their homes were flooded. The Teouma River overflowed during the cyclone due to days of torrential rainfall. Residents in Port Vila, Efate, and other islands were affected by flooding, although exact figures on those affected and evacuated were unknown. The Erromango River overflowed and flooded areas about from its banks. This flooding damage crops along the banks of the river and flooded part of the regional council building. A road project funded by the World Bank between Dillon's Bay and the Ipota Airport was affected by the cyclone. Lower atmospheric pressure increased sea levels in Tafea Province simultaneously with annual high tides. A mudslide occurred along the La Colle River, where bridges were destroyed near Port Vila International Airport. Flooding was observed in the city which entered some buildings. Over 400 people nationwide had to flee to shelters due to the cyclone. Following Dovi, authorities warned of potential outbreaks of foodborne and waterborne illnesses due to the storm, encouraging families to boil water and wash fruits and vegetables prior to consumption.
On Norfolk Island, the BOM issued a tropical cyclone warning on February 11 due to the threat of strong winds and heavy rainfall from Dovi. A peak wind gust of was observed on the island as Dovi passed to the west between 11 and 12 February.
