Cyclone Lola
With wind speeds exceeding 100 mph, Cyclone Lola wreaked havoc across the Vanuatu islands earlier this week. It has now shifted its focus towards New Zealand. Severe Cyclone Lola, boasting winds akin to those of a major hurricane, swept through the Pacific Ocean’s Vanuatu, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Presently, downgraded to a tropical rainstorm, Meteorologist hurricane experts anticipate residual effects from the storm to impact New Caledonia and New Zealand in the coming week.
Fortunately, Vanuatu, an archipelago located in the South Pacific approximately 1,090 miles (1,750 km) east of northern Australia, did not report any casualties as Lola passed through on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reports numerous homes were obliterated on Pentecost Island.
On Tuesday, prior to affecting the region, the Vanuatu Meteorology Department estimated Lola’s central winds to exceed 100 mph (165 km/hr), categorizing it as equivalent to a major Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS). By Thursday evening, local time, Lola had lost enough wind intensity to be reclassified as a tropical rainstorm, but it is expected to continue delivering rain and wind impacts to other South Pacific nations through next Tuesday.
In the aftermath of Lola, Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office issued an “all clear” on Thursday morning, local time. This declaration marks the commencement of the assessment and disaster relief process.
Some relief for Vanuatu, with Cyclone Lola now a tropical low.
But it has left some pretty horrific damage in its wake.
The worst I’ve seen is to this school on the Pentecost, about 190km north of Port Vila.
They have satellite internet, network still down in most places… pic.twitter.com/2TmbXCzYPD— Nick Sas (@Sasbites) October 25, 2023
Initial reports from the affected islands indicate substantial damage caused by the storm’s fierce winds. Communication breakdowns on the islands have made these reports sporadic, but local officials informed RNZ that homes, schools, and gardens suffered destruction, with the central provinces of Penama and Malampa bearing the brunt. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported as of yet.
Before making landfall as a “severe” cyclone, Lola had reached its peak intensity as a Category 5 on Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, boasting winds nearing 135 mph (about 215 km/h). This classification is the highest on Australia’s scale, which differs from the SSHWS.
Ahead of Lola’s arrival, “red alerts” were issued by local authorities, prompting people to seek refuge in evacuation centers, according to Australia’s ABC News.
Lola, now a tropical rainstorm, is expected to merge with another storm and continue its southeastward trajectory. Lola is anticipated to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to portions of New Caledonia and New Zealand in the week ahead.
The initial impact is forecasted for New Caledonia, with heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding through Friday, local time. Subsequently, northern New Zealand can expect heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and coastal effects starting later this weekend, extending through Tuesday of the following week, local time, as Lola converges with another storm positioned to the east of Australia.
Meteorologists at New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) informed The New Zealand Herald that they are likely to issue watches and warnings in anticipation of Lola’s arrival. These warnings come shortly after another storm affected the Canterbury and Wellington areas, resulting in thousands of lightning strikes and strong winds that toppled a truck.
Recent Climate – Cyclone Lola