Overall Green alert Tropical Cyclone for OMA-19
in New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands

Event summary

Tropical Cyclone OMA-19 can have a low humanitarian impact based on the maximum sustained wind speed, exposed population and vulnerability.

GDACS ID TC 1000548
Name OMA-19
From - To 12 Feb - 23 Feb
Exposed countries New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
Exposed population No people in Category 1 or higher
Maximum wind speed 167 km/h Category 2
Maximum storm surge 0.3 m (19 Feb 15:00 UTC)
Vulnerability High (Solomon Is.)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
Wind Storm surge Rainfall GDACS score
GDACS JTWC 65 km/h 0.3 m n.a. 0.5
Single TC: maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge, rainfall)
HWRF 142 km/h 0.6 m n.a. 0.5
GFS 134 km/h 0.7 m n.a. 0.5
ECMWF 130 km/h 0.5 m n.a. 0.5
Maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge and rainfall) using different data sources.
Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
Australia - Tropical Cyclone OMA - update (ECHO 22 Feb 2019)Fri, 22 Feb 2019 11:07

  • Tropical Cyclone OMA is moving south over the Coral Sea, well offshore of the eastern coast of Australia. On 22 February at 0.00 UTC, its centre was located approximately 600 km east-northeast of Brisbane (Queensland) and it had maximum sustained winds of 74 km/h (Tropical Storm).
  • Over the next two days, it is forecast to continue moving south over the Coral Sea. It could then turn north, still moving over the sea.
Australia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu - Tropical Cyclone OMA - update (ECHO 21 Feb 2019)Thu, 21 Feb 2019 11:02

  • After passing the New Caledonia coast on 18-19 February, Tropical Cyclone OMA weakened over the Coral Sea. On 21 February at 0.00 UTC, its centre was approximately 870 km north-east of Brisbane (Australia) and it had maximum sustained winds of 93 km/h.
  • Over the next 48 hours, it is forecast to continue south-west towards southern Queensland, keeping its intensity.  
  • As of 21 February morning, several roads were flooded and 650 houses were still without electricity in New Caledonia.
New Caledonia, Australia - Tropical Cyclone OMA update (ECHO 20 Feb 2019)Wed, 20 Feb 2019 10:58

  • On 20 February at 0.00 UTC, Tropical Cyclone OMA's centre was located approximately 380 km west of Kone Town (northern Grand Terre Island, New Caledonia) and 1 050 km north-east of Brisbane City (south-eastern Queensland, Australia), with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h. 
  • Over the next 24 hours, it is forecast to continue south-west over the Coral Sea, far off New Caledonia and towards eastern Australia, slighty weakening, with maximum sustained winds of 110-120 km/h. 
  • As of 20 February a Red Warning is in effect for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over central-northern Grand Terre, an Orange Warning for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over southern Grand Terre and a Yellow Warning for strong winds over New Caledonia.
  • Following the passage of OMA in Vanuatu, more than 1 000 people are sheltering in evacuation centres across Torba and Sanma Provinces.
New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Australia - Tropical Cyclone OMA (ECHO 19 Feb 2019)Tue, 19 Feb 2019 11:00

  • On 19 February Tropical Cyclone OMA's centre was located approximately 140 km west of Belep Island (northern New Caledonia), with maximum sustained winds of 139 km/h. Heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge are affecting the northern islands of New Caledonia. One person was injured in Pouébo Town and 3 000 houses are without electricity on the Belep Islands and northern Grand Terre Island.
  • Over the next 24 hours, it is forecast to continue south-west towards eastern Australia, strengthening. Heavy rains, strong winds and storm surge could continue to affect northern New Caledonia.
  • A level two cyclone alert remains in effect for the northern Grande Terre Island and Belep Islands. The rest of New Caledonia remains under cyclone pre-alert.
Vanuatu, New Caledonia - Tropical Cyclone OMA update (ECHO 15 Feb 2019)Fri, 15 Feb 2019 11:00

  • Tropical Cyclone OMA is moving south-west over the north-eastern Coral Sea towards New Caledonia. On 15 February at 0.00 UTC, its centre was located approximately 190 km west of Espiritu Santo Island (Sanma Province, northern Vanuatu) and 400 km north-west of the capital Port Vila, with maximum sustained winds of 102 km/h (tropical storm).
  • Over the next 48 hours, it is forecast to continue south-west over the north-eastern Coral Sea, as a tropical storm. Heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surge are forecast over northern and central islands of Vanuatu, particularly in Torba, Sanma, Penama and Malampa Provinces as well as heavy rainfall and strong winds over the east coast of Caledonia.
  • As of 15 February, a Red Alert remains in force for a Torba, Sanma and Malampa Provinces and a Yellow Alert for Penama Province.
  • Several homes have been damaged in Torba and Sanma Provinces. The Torba, Sanma and Malampa Provincial Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC) has been activated.
Vanuatu, New Caledonia - Tropical Cyclone OMA update (ECHO 14 Feb 2019)Thu, 14 Feb 2019 10:59

  • Tropical Cyclone OMA continued south-east over the north-eastern Coral Sea toward northern Vanuatu, strenghtening. On 14 February at 0:00 UTC, its centre was located approximately 110 km west of Espiritu Santo Island (Sanma Province, northern Vanuatu) and 445 km north-west of the capital Port Vila (southern Vanuatu), with maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h (tropical storm).
  • It is forecast to continue south-south-east over the north-eastern Coral Sea and could turn south-south-west from 15 February, passing far off the coast of Malakula Islands and slighty weakening.
  • Over the next 24 hours, heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surge are expected over northern and central islands of Vanuatu, particularly in Torba, Sanma, Penama and Malampa Provinces.
  • As of 14 February, a Red Alert remains in effect for a Torba, Sanma, Penama and Malampa Provinces and a Yellow Alert for Shefa Province and the capital Port Vila.
Vanuatu, New Caledonia - Tropical cyclone OMA update (ECHO 13 Feb 2019)Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:03

  • Tropical Cyclone OMA continued east over the northern Coral Sea toward northern Vanuatu. On 13 February at 0:00 UTC, its centre was located approximately 60 km north-west of Espiritu Santo Island (Sanma Province, northern Vanuatu) and  435 km north-west of Port Vila (southern Vanuatu), with maximum sustained winds of 83 km/h (tropical storm).
  • Over the next 24 hours, it is forecast to strengthen slightly as it continue south-east, before making landfall over north-west Espiritu Santo Island in the afternoon of 13 February with maximum sustained winds of 93 km/h (tropical storm). It may pass over southern Espiritu Santo and Malakula Islands on 14-15 February with a similar projected wind speed. 
  • Heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surge are forecast over northern and central islands of Vanuatu.
  • As of 13 February, a Red Alert is in effect for Torba, Sanma, Penma and Malampa Provinces and a Yellow alert for Shefa Province and the capital Port Vila.
Vanuatu, New Caledonia - Tropical Cyclone FIFTEEN (ECHO 12 Feb 2019)Tue, 12 Feb 2019 11:00

  • A new Tropical Cyclone named FIFTEEN formed on 12 February over the northern Coral Sea, west of Vanuatu and south of Solomon Islands and started moving eastward offshore.
  • Over the next 24 hours, it is forecast to continue moving eastward over the sea, slightly strengthening, with maximum sustained winds up to 83 km/h (Tropical Storm). On the forecast track, FIFTEEN could pass close to the western coast of Espiritu Santo Island on 14 February in the morning (UTC) as a Tropical Storm.
  • Over the next 48 hours, heavy rainfalls, strong winds and storm surge are forecast over northern and central islands of Vanuatu.
  • As of 12 February, a Severe Weather Warning for heavy rainfalls and strong winds over northern and central islands has been issued by the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department.
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

Latest media headlines

Les restes d'Oma secouent la Calédonie 2/25/2019 9:45:00 AM.

Qualifié d’«ex-Oma», le phénomène climatique reste bien d’actualité . A certains endroits du pays, les conditions météo semblent même pires qu’au moment du cyclone. Des vents violents, une mer grosse, une forte houle et des pluies important
...(more)
Les restes d'Oma secouent la Calédonie 2/25/2019 9:42:00 AM.

Qualifié d’«ex-Oma», le phénomène climatique reste bien d’actualité . A certains endroits du pays, les conditions météo semblent même pires qu’au moment du cyclone. Des vents violents, une mer grosse, une forte houle et des pluies important
...(more)
Chroniques littorales, le journal Outremer de José-Manuel Lamarque du .. 2/25/2019 5:23:00 AM.

Après le passage du cyclone Oma, la solidarité s’organise en Nouvelle Calédonie… Cela s’est traduit hier matin, Place des Cocotiers à Nouméa, par un vide grenier destiné aux populations de la province Nord touchées par le cyclone, et cela s
...(more)
La province Nord vit sa rentrée en différé 2/25/2019 3:25:00 AM.

Ils ont été servis, ceux des écoliers du Nord qui espéraient un cyclone pour la rentrée, comme le font chaque année de nombreux petits Calédoniens. A cause d'Oma et de ses conséquences sur les différents réseaux, le retour en classe aura fi
...(more)

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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Analytical products

Daily Maps:

19/Feb/2019 06:10 UTC

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (38), (2), DesInventar (1), WMO (1), INFORM (2),