Tropical Cyclone Harold Lashing Vanuatu and Could Pass Near Fiji Later This Week

Linda Lam

Published: April 5,2020

Tropical Cyclone Harold made landfall on the island of Espiritu Santo in the Republic of Vanuatu and will move slowly through the South Pacific archipelago country early this week with strong winds, heavy rain and storm surge before tracking near Fiji later this week.

Stormwx1@stormwx1

Cyclone #Harold making landfall on island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. Notice the lightning in the eyewall associated with very deep, cold convection.

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6:47 PM - Apr 5, 2020

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Harold formed between the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea last Wednesday. Flooding and downed trees were reported in the Solomon Islands, and at least 24 passengers were missing after a ferry encountered strong winds and violent seas from Harold early Friday.

(MORE: Passengers Tossed From Ferry as Cyclone Harold Battered Solomon Islands)

As of Sunday evening Eastern Daylight Time (Monday morning Vanuatu time), Harold was moving over northern parts of Vanuatu and had maximum sustained winds equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Current Storm Status

Northern parts of Vanuatu will take the worst of Harold's strong winds and heavy rain. A red alert has been issued for this area by the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) for Sanma, Torba, Penama and Malampa provinces, meaning that a cyclone is imminent and people need to stay in a safe shelter.

The main island of Vanuatu – Efate, where the capital, Port Vila, is located – will also be impacted. A yellow alert has been issued there.

Projected Path

Strong, damaging winds are expected, along with storm-surge flooding.

Rainfall totals of over 10 inches are likely in some areas, with widespread totals of over 6 inches. Landslides and flash flooding are expected due to this heavy rainfall.

Rainfall Forecast

Harold could track near or south of Fiji and Tonga later this week, but forecast details are still uncertain.

Vanuatu typically experiences two to three cyclones each season, and severe damage occurs about three to five times a decade, according to the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department. However, January and February is the time of year that has the greatest frequency of cyclones.

Cyclone Pam in 2015 was particularly memorable for the region when it made a direct hit on the Republic of Vanuatu, including Port Vila. Pam was the equivalent of a Category 5, with winds as high as 165 mph. Dozens were killed, and 90% of buildings in Port Vila were destroyed or damaged, according to The Atlantic.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.