Category 5 tropical cyclone "Harold" is approaching Vanuatu

Category 5 tropical cyclone "Harold" is approaching Vanuatu
Category 5 tropical cyclone "Harold" is approaching Vanuatu
Anonim

A strong Category 5 tropical cyclone, Harold, is approaching Vanuatu. The Red Alert applies to Sanma, Penama and Malampa Provinces, and the Yellow Alert applies to Torba and Shefa Provinces.

Devastating storm winds, destructive storm winds and hurricane winds with heavy rainfall and flash flooding over low-lying areas and near riverbanks, including coastal flooding, are expected in provinces under red warning (LT) tonight and continuing tomorrow.

Very violent to phenomenal waves are expected over the northern and central open and coastal waters today and tomorrow as the system continues to move closer to the islands of Vanuatu.

On April 3, the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA) recommended that all residents in the red alert zone stay indoors. COVID-19 preparedness activities have been suspended to facilitate preparations for Harold; restrictions on travel and social distancing associated with the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted.

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The cyclone's slow movement west of Vanuatu has already resulted in heavy rainfall and flash floods that have forced people to evacuate to higher areas in Espiritu Santo and damaged roads in Penama. On the island of Malakula, rivers overflowed their banks and flooded gardens.

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At 15:00 UTC on April 5, 2010 (02:00 LT, April 6), the strong tropical cyclone Harold (914 hPa) intensified into Category 5 and was located approximately 140 km (87miles) W from Luganville and 185 km (115 miles) WNW Vanuatu, in accordance with Tropical Cyclone No.20 Warning issued by the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department (VMGD) at 03:09 VUT on April 6 (16:00 UTC, April 5).

Over the past 3 hours, the cyclone has been slowly moving towards the islands at a speed of 7 km / h (4 mph).

Maximum sustained winds near the center are estimated at 215 km / h (133 mph).

Devastating storm winds of 90 km / h (55 mph), gusts up to 110 km / h (70 mph), affecting Sanma, Penama and Malampa provinces tonight and continuing tomorrow and extending to chief province in the next 6-12 hours (from 02:00 LT, April 6).

Destructive storm winds of 120 km / h (75 km / h) with gusts of up to 150 km / h (93 mph) within 74 km (45 mi) of its center will affect Sanma province for the next 6-12 hours. and then spread to the provinces of Malampa and Penama.

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Hurricane wind force of 215 km / h (133 mph), gusts up to 235 km / h (145 mph) within 37 km (23 mph) of its center are also expected to affect Sanma province and spread in the provinces of Malampa and Penama in the next 12-24 hours.

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