Tropical Cyclone Sose was a moderate storm system that chiefly impacted the island nation of Vanuatu in early April 2001.

After receiving the name Sose on April 5, the cyclone was driven southeastward, passing just west of Espiritu Santo and neighboring islands.

Ultimately, stronger wind shear and an increasingly hostile upper-air pattern took their toll on the cyclone as it progressed due south; Sose lost tropical characteristics to the northeast of Norfolk Island by April 12.

Occurring just two months after Cyclone Paula affected Vanuatu, Sose compounded the damage already done by the previous storm, especially to crops and farmlands.

The storm's large fetch generated enormous swells as far away as Australia's Eastern Seaboard, where surfers took advantage of the abnormally intense conditions and two swimmers drowned.

The storm later produced torrential rainfall and strong winds over the North Island of New Zealand, sparking damaging freshwater floods and downing trees and power lines.

[1] The system initially drifted generally toward the west under an improving upper-level wind shear pattern that began to catalyze favorable outflow.

[4] The storm proceeded slowly westward and gradually continued to organize, its intensification hindered by residual wind shear and its proximity to the mountainous terrain of Espiritu Santo.

Over the course of April 6, an approaching mid-level trough of low pressure created a weakness in the ridge, allowing Sose to accelerate southeastward.

[2] According to the FMS, Sose reached its peak strength at 1800 UTC, with maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 110 km/h (68 mph) and a central barometric pressure of 975 hPa (28.8 inHg).

[3] The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission imaged the storm shortly thereafter, and revealed a distinct eye about 44 km (27 mi) across, bounded on the southern semicircle by strong convection activity.

[2] As it progressed on its southeastward track, the cyclone began to show signs of weakening, at least partially due to increasing wind shear from an approaching upper trough.

[1] At the same time, a mid-level ridge to the east forced the storm to turn due south; the conflicting wind patterns undermined the cyclone's circulation, causing its center at the surface to separate from the deep convection.

[12] With Easter weekend, more motorists were already expected to be traveling longer distances, and officials grew concerned of dangerous effects on traffic from the cyclone.

[11] In several locations, Sose compounded or worsened the destruction wrought by Cyclone Paula in late February and early March.

[1] Overall, the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office estimated at least 50% each of food crops and buildings in the hardest-hit provinces were left in a state of damage.

[18] The National Disaster Committee met on April 9 to discuss potential emergency aid for residents of the areas hardest hit by cyclones Sose and Paula.

Political unrest on a national level limited the government's attention to initial recovery; it did not immediate declare a state of emergency or file any requests for international aid.

[7] Rising waters from the Kerikeri River threatened to affect the Mission House, the nation's oldest surviving building, where staff were on standby to relocate furnishings if necessary.

[7] The tight pressure gradient between Cyclone Sose and the ridge to its south generated extremely rough seas along the eastern coast of Australia, especially Queensland.

[21] A large wave breaking on the cliffs of Maré Island in New Caledonia swept away a spectator, who was presumed dead after the rough conditions delayed searching efforts.