Tropical Cyclone Erica (22P) off New Caledonia, South Pacific Ocean
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Credit
Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC
East of Australia in the Pacific Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Erica plowed into the French island of New Caledonia on March 13, 2003, leaving at least one person dead and many others injured. Erica peaked as a Category 5 cyclone on March 12, and as of March 14 had showed rapid weakening to a Category 1 storm. This image of Erica shows the storm’s eye northwest of New Caledonia on March 13.