TD Pete-Queta

Tropical Depression Pete formed from a non-tropical low March 3, 2139. The non-tropical low, first detected east of PopularFreedom at 10 am HERT (6 am HPT), moved north at near 4 knots for the first few hours of its life, threatening the major cities of Locke Harbour and Danjlgrad. Twelve hours later, it had gained some tropical characteristics and was designated a Subtropical Depression. However, two hours later, at 11 pm HCRT (8 pm HPT), it made a sudden and unexpected turn to the left, making landfall 185 km south of Workers Point, PopularFreedom, and killing 14. It dissipated inland near Lenita before heading north out into the Great Ice Sea.

Eight hours later, what was to become Cyclone Queta emerged into Nolan Sound north of Loyalty Bay. It reached Tropical Storm strength four hours after emerging into the unusally but extremely warm waters of Nolan Sound, which were reported to be 8°C above average for the time of the year. New forms of warnings, Minimal Cyclone Warnings, replacing the old Cyclone Warnings, were initiated for the first tme ever. It strengthened very rapidly, reaching Categry 2 strength in six hours and now packing winds of 85 knots. For the first time ever, desert cities of Bede and Al-Johari were put under tropical cyclone Warnings and Watches.

It reached maximum intensity - 100 kt winds and a minimum central pressure of 960 hectopascals (Category 3) - and sped up to an incredible 35 knots, making landfall on Lox Land Island and killing three. However after leaving the island it encountered heavy vertical shear and dissipated before it could make another landfall on PopularFreedom.

See also: all past advisories on this storm issued by the Liverpool England Met Service CPC