to move towards the southeast in response to the strengthening steering flow, provided by an upper level trough of low pressure and a baroclinic system near New Caledonia. Over the next couple of days the system rapidly weakened under the influence of: strengthening vertical wind shear, dry air and cooler sea surface temperatures. During December 31, as the system continued its southeastwards movement, it passed about to the southwest of Nadi, Fiji as a Category 2 tropical cyclone. By this time the system was transitioning into an extra tropical cyclone, while deep convection surrounding the system had significantly diminished. As a result of further weakening, the JTWC issued their final warning on Zoe during January 1, 2003, while the FMS reported that Zoe had weakened into a tropical depression. The system was subsequently recurved and started to move towards the southwest during January 2, before it was declared extratropical as it interacted with an extratropical low which was located over the Tasman Sea. Zoe was subsequently last noted by the FMS during January 4, while it was located about to the southeast of Noumea, New Caledonia. Intensity At its peak intensity Zoe was estimated by the FMS to be a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 240 km/h (150 mph) and a minimum pressure of . Zoe was the most intense tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere until a 2017 reanalysis of Cyclone Winston estimated a minimum pressure of , surpassing Zoe. The United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 285 km/h (180 mph) and a minimum pressure of . Both of these intensity estimates were based on a subjective application of the Dvorak technique, as there were no direct observations of the system's intensity. Preparations and impact Severe Tropical Cyclone Zoe primarily affected the Solomon Islands of Anuta, Tikopia, Vanikoro, Utupua and the uninhabited island of Fatutaka between December 27–30, 2002. The system and associated trough of low pressure, subsequently impacted Fiji and the northern islands of Vanuatu. However, there were no deaths reported, as a result of Severe Tropical Cyclone Zoe. As a result of the impact of this system, the name Zoe was retired from the South Pacific tropical cyclone naming lists by the World Meteorological Organization. Early on December 26, both RSMC Nadi and TCWC Brisbane started to issue warnings