Tropical cyclone won't hit NZ, Vanuatu prepares for landfall
Cyclone Lola is expected to touch down in Vanuatu on Wednesday. This will be the third time the island nation has been hit by a cyclone this year. The first tropical cyclone of the new cyclone season has arrived in the southwest Pacific, with the Nadi tropicalcyclone centre predicting it will not be near New Zealand. The cyclone, named Lola, is currently a category 2 and is expected to increase in strength to category 3 by Monday evening. On Monday, Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department warned of heavy rain and flash flooding, including coastal flooding, and rough seas with heavy to phenomenal swells expected over all Vanatu waters. If the cyclone touches down in Vanatu, it will be the third to hit New Zealand this year.
ที่ตีพิมพ์ : 2 ปีที่แล้ว โดย Michael Daly ใน Weather
The first tropical cyclone of the new cyclone season has arrived in the southwest Pacific – before the official start of the season in November.
Tropical cyclone Lola, named by the Nadi tropical cyclone centre, is not expected to come anywhere near New Zealand, MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said on Monday morning.
Currently the cyclone is a category 2 and is tracking north of Vanuatu and east of the Santa Cruz islands. It is expected to increase in strength to category 3 by Monday evening.
On Monday morning, Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department warned heavy rain was expected over the island nation. Flash flooding, including coastal flooding, was expected in low-lying areas and close to river banks.
“Very rough seas with heavy to phenomenal swells are expected over all Vanuatu waters,” the department said.
The Nadi cyclone centre predicted Lola would travel southwest in the next day or two, with the centre of the cyclone crossing the northern Vanuatu island of Espiritu Santo early Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, MetService expects strong winds and heavy rain in some areas of the country on Tuesday into early Wednesday.
Heavy rain is forecast for Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Range overnight Tuesday, for Buller and northwest Tasman from noon Tuesday, and for southern Westland for much of Tuesday and into the night.
There’s also a chance winds could approach severe gale strength from late afternoon Tuesday into the night in southern Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough Sounds.
If the cyclone touches down in Vanuatu, it will be the third to hit the nation this year. In late February and early March the country was hit by two category 4 cyclones – Judy and Kevin – with days of each other.