Mosaic of Twin Tropical Troublesome Cyclones: Tomas and Ului

Tropical Cyclones Tomas and Ului are both causing problems for residents in the South Pacific Ocean today, March 16, and watches and warnings are in effect for the Fiji Islands and the Solomon Islands, respectively. NASA’s Aqua and Terra satellites passed over each storm and their images were combined to show the close proximity of the troublemaking twins.

Tropical Cyclone Ului is farthest west and is impacting the Solomon Islands. Regional warnings that are in effect for the Solomon Islands include a tropical cyclone warning for Rennell/Bellona. In addition, a tropical cyclone watch is up for Guadalcanal, Makira, Central, Western, Malaita, Isabel and Choiseul provinces including the Shortland Islands. The gale-force winds in Rennell and Bellona and southern Guadalcana provinces are expected to ease later in the day.

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) today, March 16, Ului had maximum sustained winds near 126 mph (110 knots) making it a strong Category Three cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It was located about 725 nautical miles northeast of Cairns, Australia, near 13.6 South and 157.8 East. It was moving southwest near 4 mph (3 knots).

Tropical Troublesome Cyclones: Tomas and Ului

On March 16 at 03:05 UTC, images from NASA’s Aqua and Terra satellites were combined to show the close proximity of Tropical Cyclones Tomas (19P) and Ului (20P) in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Tropical Cyclones Tomas and Ului are both causing problems for residents in the South Pacific Ocean today, March 16, and watches and warnings are in effect for the Fiji Islands and the Solomon Islands, respectively. NASA’s Aqua and Terra satellites passed over each storm and their images were combined to show the close proximity of the troublemaking twins.

Tropical Cyclone Ului is farthest west and is impacting the Solomon Islands. Regional warnings that are in effect for the Solomon Islands include a tropical cyclone warning for Rennell/Bellona. In addition, a tropical cyclone watch is up for Guadalcanal, Makira, Central, Western, Malaita, Isabel and Choiseul provinces including the Shortland Islands. The gale-force winds in Rennell and Bellona and southern Guadalcana provinces are expected to ease later in the day.

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) today, March 16, Ului had maximum sustained winds near 126 mph (110 knots) making it a strong Category Three cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It was located about 725 nautical miles northeast of Cairns, Australia, near 13.6 South and 157.8 East. It was moving southwest near 4 mph (3 knots).