TC Harold's trails of destruction are finally coming to its end
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Update: 7:00 a.m. UTC 9th April
TC Harold is on its path to completely weaken and getting torn apart by a jet stream over the South Pacific open waters.
After his rampage track through the pacific nations Vanuatu and Fiji, Harold intensified to Category 5 hurricane and passed Tonga on Thursday 9th of April.The current movement in the last 6 hours is 23.8S 172.1W with approximate position 545 NM Southeast of Suva, Fiji and wind speed 102 kts (188km/h) to 127 kts (235km/h). Cyclone is moving away from any land areas.
Update: At 9:00 p.m. UTC 8th April, Harold was moving at 22.5S 174.3W located approximately 408 NM Southeast of Suva, Fiji.
Cyclone slammed Tonga with gusts 150km/h, which were recorded near the Nuku'alofa, the Tongan Capital. However the center of Harold happened to pass about 100 miles south of Tongatapu and Eua islands and saving them from the most severe conditions.
Harold should continue to weaken in the next days over the South Pacific waters.
Update: At 5:00 p.m. UTC on April 8th
STC Harold category 4 hurricane is aiming towards Tongatapu and 'Eua tonight. High swells up to 20 ft (6 m) and tides with height of 1.87mm. The most severe conditions are expected to occur overnight and in the morning.
The current position is near 21.1S 176.9W. Cyclone is predicted to move 90km south-west of Nuku'alofa and 100km west south-west of 'Ohunua 'Eua Thursday morning.
Update: At 8:00 Zulu (8:00 a.m. UTC) on April 8th
Harold (category 5 hurricane) slams into the largest island of Fiji, Viti Levu and the capital city Suva, which has suffered with heavy flooding and buildings being demolished or damaged.
Tropical cyclone is moving near 19.4S 178.7E with maximum sustained winds 120 kt (222.24 km/h) gusts 145 kt (268.54 km/h).
Cyclone is expected to be moving to Tonga in the upcoming 48 hours, therefore a warning has been issued for extreme high tides on Thursday and Friday.
Update: At 10:00 a.m. EDT (15:00 UTC) on April 7th
Harold was issued with category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds 110 kt (203 km/h).
The cyclone centre was located 17.4S 174.0E and moving east-southeast to Fiji.In the next 24hrs the maximum sustained winds should remain the same 110 kt (203 km/h) and gusts 135 kt (250 km/h).
The landfall of Harold is predicted on 8th April at 8:00 p.m. EDT (00:00 UTC) and move to the southeast near Tonga.*
Update: At 8:48 p.m. VUT Tuesday 7th April (9:48 a.m. UTC)
Tropical cyclone Harold [927hPa] is moving 17.1S 172.6E. This is about 430km east-northeast of Erromango and 465km east of Efate, which is part of Shefa Province in Vanuatu.
The current estimated maximum sustained winds are 110 kt (203 km/h) and gusts 135 kt (250 km/h).
Further predicted movement in the next 12 hrs is 18.5 South 175.9 East. Check out the latest Advisory at metoc.navy.mil*
Update to 6.4.2020 afternoon CET (evening in Vanuatu)
Tropical cyclone Harold arrived to Vanuatu with flooding surge, hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall. Morning local time, the cyclone Harold reached Espiritu Santo, the largest island of Vanuatu with population of 40 000 people. And later moved towards the Pentecost Island.
As the cyclone is expected to move through the islands of Vanuatu, the warning has been issued. Heavy swells and high sea wind could be anticipated for coastal and open waters of Vanuatu. People are strongly adviced to avoid affected areas and not to go out on sea.
On Wednesday 8th of April, the cyclone Harold is expected to pass near Viti Levu, the Fiji's most populated island or just its southern parts.
The heavily affected area is Sanma province, the reported damages have been destroyed or lost buildings.
Date: 5.4.2020 (evening CET)
A tropical cyclone in the South Pacific Ocean named Harold is expected to hit Vanuatu in the upcoming hours. As of Sunday evening CET, the cyclone is now moving near the northern parts of Republic of Vanuatu is likely to intensify as it approaches the islands.
Heavy rain, strong damaging winds with surge flooding are expected. The current maximum sustained winds are expected to be 190km/h and could raise to 220km/h once it gets closer.
Harold can also target near or south of Fiji later this week, but the details are still uncertain.
The cyclone has formed last Wednesday in the area of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Residents of Sanma, Penama and Malampa provinces should take proper actions to prepare themselves for heavy rainfall and hurricane-force winds.
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Harold is at Cat4 and would it be possible to reach Cat5 and what would be the reason to go higher to cat5?
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