Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold threatens major damage to South Pacific islands
By
Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Apr 4, 2020 2:01 PM EST
Cyclone Harold, a Category 5 storm, blasted Vanuatu on April 6, with powerful winds and heavy rain.
A powerful cyclone lashed the Vanuatu Islands Monday after it barreled across the Coral Sea. Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold battered the small islands in the South Pacific, which are situated about 1,500 miles east of Australia's northeast coast, with fierce winds and heavy rains as it made landfall. Forecasters say Harold will continue an east-southeastward trek through the South Pacific in the days to come.
Last week, forecasters began monitoring a slowly developing area of low pressure in the Coral Sea, near Australia's Cape York Peninsula.
On Thursday, the low moved just west of the Solomon Islands and developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone. The storm was given the name Harold by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
Following a southerly path, Harold moved through an area of warm water and low wind shear, allowing the storm to gain strength through the end of the week and into the weekend.
The above satellite image shows Harold pushing across Vanuatu around 4 p.m., local time, on Monday, April 6 (Photo/RAMMB).
Late in the day on Saturday, Harold became a Category 4 tropical cyclone, equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic and East Pacific basins.
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The forward progression of Harold continued to slow down through Sunday as the storm remained in an environment conducive for tropical development.
By Sunday night, the Harold strengthened into a Category 5 tropical cyclone, equivalent to a moderate Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic.
"Harold is likely to hold it's peak intensity through Monday, though a little additional strengthening during the next 12-24 hours can not be ruled out," stated AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty on Monday morning.
There will be potential for major wind damage, especially near the eye of the storm where wind gusts can reach 225 km/h (140 mph).
Harold will begin to pick up forward speed as the storm turns to the east into Wednesday. As it does so, it will gradually start to lose some wind intensity.
Heavy rainfall, however, will remain a threat for the islands, and even to Fiji, into the middle of the week.
"Rainfall of 300 mm (12 inches) is likely to fall across northern and central Vanuatu, with potentially up to 600 mm (24 inches) in areas where persistent rain bands set up. This is true even away from the center of the storm," Douty added.
On Sunday night and Monday alone, the city of Aneityum reported 139 mm (5.5 inches) of rain.
Infrared imagery showing Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold tracking in-between the Islands of Vanuatu Monday afternoon, local time.
"In addition to wind and rain, storm surge and high seas will lead to coastal flooding and make any marine travel potentially deadly," said Douty. "The worst of the impacts are expected to remain to the north of the capitol city of Port Vila."
By Wednesday, Harold is forecast to pass just south of Fiji. While the storm is expected to have lost some wind intensity, it can still bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the island nation.
Residents in Tonga should monitor the storm into the end of next week as Harold could pass close enough to bring impacts to the island before tracking away from land.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Hurricane
Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold threatens major damage to South Pacific islands
By Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Apr 4, 2020 2:01 PM EST
Cyclone Harold, a Category 5 storm, blasted Vanuatu on April 6, with powerful winds and heavy rain.
A powerful cyclone lashed the Vanuatu Islands Monday after it barreled across the Coral Sea. Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold battered the small islands in the South Pacific, which are situated about 1,500 miles east of Australia's northeast coast, with fierce winds and heavy rains as it made landfall. Forecasters say Harold will continue an east-southeastward trek through the South Pacific in the days to come.
Last week, forecasters began monitoring a slowly developing area of low pressure in the Coral Sea, near Australia's Cape York Peninsula.
On Thursday, the low moved just west of the Solomon Islands and developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone. The storm was given the name Harold by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
Following a southerly path, Harold moved through an area of warm water and low wind shear, allowing the storm to gain strength through the end of the week and into the weekend.
The above satellite image shows Harold pushing across Vanuatu around 4 p.m., local time, on Monday, April 6 (Photo/RAMMB).
Late in the day on Saturday, Harold became a Category 4 tropical cyclone, equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic and East Pacific basins.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
The forward progression of Harold continued to slow down through Sunday as the storm remained in an environment conducive for tropical development.
By Sunday night, the Harold strengthened into a Category 5 tropical cyclone, equivalent to a moderate Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic.
"Harold is likely to hold it's peak intensity through Monday, though a little additional strengthening during the next 12-24 hours can not be ruled out," stated AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty on Monday morning.
There will be potential for major wind damage, especially near the eye of the storm where wind gusts can reach 225 km/h (140 mph).
Harold will begin to pick up forward speed as the storm turns to the east into Wednesday. As it does so, it will gradually start to lose some wind intensity.
Heavy rainfall, however, will remain a threat for the islands, and even to Fiji, into the middle of the week.
"Rainfall of 300 mm (12 inches) is likely to fall across northern and central Vanuatu, with potentially up to 600 mm (24 inches) in areas where persistent rain bands set up. This is true even away from the center of the storm," Douty added.
On Sunday night and Monday alone, the city of Aneityum reported 139 mm (5.5 inches) of rain.
Infrared imagery showing Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold tracking in-between the Islands of Vanuatu Monday afternoon, local time.
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"In addition to wind and rain, storm surge and high seas will lead to coastal flooding and make any marine travel potentially deadly," said Douty. "The worst of the impacts are expected to remain to the north of the capitol city of Port Vila."
By Wednesday, Harold is forecast to pass just south of Fiji. While the storm is expected to have lost some wind intensity, it can still bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the island nation.
Residents in Tonga should monitor the storm into the end of next week as Harold could pass close enough to bring impacts to the island before tracking away from land.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo