Tropical Cyclone Keni Drops Heavy Rain Over Fiji With A Direct Hit To Kadavu

As expected, tropical cyclone KENI followed a track similar to tropical cyclone JOSIE and passed to the southwest of Fiji's main island of Viti Levu on April 10, 2018 (UTC). No casualties were reported with KENI even though it was a more powerful tropical cyclone than JOSIE. KENI was still intensifying when it passed directly over the island of Kadavu located just south of Viti Levu. Flash flooding was reported on Viti Levu and Kadavu. Maximum sustained winds of greater than 70 kts (81 mph) were responsible for widespread damage caused by the direct hit to Kadavu. KENI's peak winds of 85 kts (98 mph) occurred after the tropical cyclone passed to the southeast of Kadavu.

Tropical Cyclone Keni Drops Heavy Rain Over Fiji With A Direct Hit To Kadavu

Tropical cyclone KENI's approximate track is shown on this IMERG based rainfall analysis. Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) data are generated by NASA's Precipitation Processing System every half hour within about 6 hours from when data are acquired. GPM core observatory's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) data are used to calibrate IMERG data. This IMERG accumulated rainfall analysis shows precipitation that fell during the period from April 4-11, 2018. During this period tropical cyclone KENI formed east of Vanuatu, intensified to hurricane force west of Fiji and passed to the southwest of Fiji. IMERG data indicated than tropical cyclone KENI's rainfall was less wide spread than heavy rainfall that occurred with tropical cyclone JOSIE. IMERG data indicated that rainfall totals with KENI were greater than 200 mm (7.9 inches) over the southwestern and northern sides of Viti Levu. Tropical cyclone JOSIE dumped more than that over the entire island. IMERG data indicated that the heaviest rainfall with KENI was located over the waters southwest of Viti Levu where more than 430 mm (16.9 inches) of rainfall was analyzed.

Images and caption by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC)