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Severe Tropical Cyclone Lola

Lola at its peak intensity off Vanuatu on 24 October
Meteorological history
Formed	19 October 2023
Dissipated	27 October 2023
Category 5 severe tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (FMS)
Highest winds	215 km/h (130 mph)
Highest gusts	295 km/h (185 mph)
Lowest pressure	930 hPa (mbar); 27.46 inHg
Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	230 km/h (145 mph)
Lowest pressure	937 hPa (mbar); 27.67 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	4
Injuries	4
Damage	$352 million (2023 USD)
Areas affected	Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand
Part of the 2023–24 South Pacific cyclone season

Severe Tropical Cyclone Lola is the strongest off-season tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere, surpassing the previous record held by Cyclone Xavier in 2006. The first tropical cyclone and severe tropical cyclone of the 2023–24 South Pacific cyclone season, Lola was first noted as an area of low pressure to the northeast of Honiara in the Solomon Islands. Over the next few days, the system gradually developed further, before it was classified as a tropical cyclone and named Lola by the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) on 22 October. Later that same day, Lola rapidly intensified into a Category 4 intensity was reached by 12:00 UTC that day, with Lola exhibiting maximum ten-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph). With convective rain bands wrapping into the circulation, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) assessed Lola as having one-minute sustained winds of 215 km/h (130 mph). At the same time, the FMS followed suit and upgraded the system to a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone. Over the next few days, the cyclone's weakening accelerated as it moved southwards before degenerated into a tropical depression on 26 October. Cyclone Lola was the third severe tropical cyclone to impact Vanuatu during 2023, after Cyclones Judy and Kevin had impacted the island nation earlier that year. The cyclone caused at four deaths and left at least four injured.

Meteorological history

On 19 October, the Fiji Meteorological Service reported that Tropical Disturbance 01F had developed out of an area of low pressure, about 1295 km (805 mi) to the northeast of Honiara in the Solomon Islands. At this time the system was located in an area favourable for further development, with warm sea-surface temperatures of 30–31 °C (86–88 °F) and low to moderate vertical windshear. Over the next couple of days, the system gradually developed further as it moved south-westwards towards the Santa Cruz Islands, before it was classified as a tropical depression by the FMS on 21 October. Several hours later, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA), after the system developed a partially exposed low-level circulation center. Over the next couple of days, the system gradually moved southwestward before the FMS classified it as a tropical depression. The convective structure improved considerably, and the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and classified it as Tropical Cyclone 01P at 21:00 UTC. The cyclone drifted southward until an upper-level ridge forced the storm to the south. The FMS subsequently named the system Lola at around 03:00 UTC on 22 October, after it had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale.

Lola intensified into a Category 2 tropical cyclone twelve hours later, as fragmented banding that was wrapping broadly into the slowly consolidating central dense overcast (CDO). The JTWC upgraded Lola to a Category 1-equivalent cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS), with maximum one-sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph). By early on 23 October, Lola had intensified into a Category 3 tropical cyclone, while the system's depiction showed that tightly wrapped convective banding was circulating around a ragged eye. Lola rapidly intensified into a Category 4 intensity was reached by 12:00 UTC that day, with Lola exhibiting maximum ten-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph).

At 0000 UTC on 24 October, the JTWC reported that Lola had peaked with 1-minute sustained winds estimated at 230 km/h (145 mph), which made it equivalent to a category 4 tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. At around the same time, the FMS estimated that Lola had peaked with 10-minute sustained winds of 215 km/h (130 mph), which made it a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone. As a result, Lola become the earliest Category 5 tropical cyclone on record in the southern hemisphere. Lola's eye quickly disappeared, signaling a phase of rapid weakening. Rapidly weakened due to vertical wind shear, Lola made landfall in Sowan, at around 03:00 UTC on 25 October. The FMS and the JTWC reported that Lola's winds weakened to 100 km/h (65 mph), for the weakening system tracked over the Malakula. During 26 October, Lola degenerated into a tropical depression, before it was last noted the next day and the JTWC issued their final advisory on the storm.

Lola's remnants passed near New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands during 27 October, before they were last noted later that day, as they moved out of the FMS area of responsibility and into New Zealand's area of responsibility monitored by MetService.

Impact

Vanuatu

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), a disaster relief and rescue plan agency, was activated in six provinces and prepared to conduct an immediate assessment following the cyclone. All government buildings, markets, and banks are closed until further notice in the capital city of Port Vila. On 23 October, the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (VNDMO) issued a yellow alert—indicating the threat of a tropical cyclone within 12 hours—for Penama and Sanma. The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department also issued a tropical cyclone warning for these areas.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai took a Royal Australian Air Force to inspect the early damage. Additionally, the New Zealand, Australian, and French defense forces will provide further aid and assess damages. In Ambrym, two women, one of whom was pregnant, were reportedly killed. Damage across the nation were estimated to be 43.28 billion vatu (US$352 million).

Due to a communications breakdown on the islands, those reports were limited, but local officials told that homes, schools, and crops had been devastated by the central provinces of Penama and Malampa. Pentecost, Malakula, and Ambrym have been most severely affected; It is estimated that 50% of all homes there have suffered damage. UNICEF reported that Vanuatu requested support from the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). The agency had emergency stockpiles in place across the country, including surveillance flight, shelter kits, tarpaulins. On 30 October, New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced that New Zealand would contribute NZ$450,000 in relief aid to Vanuatu; including NZ$350,000 to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency and NZ$100,000 to the Vanuatu government.

Solomon Islands and New Zealand

The Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) reported that Cyclone Lola had severe impacts on Tikopia. Lola caused four people, including a young child, to suffer injuries; 116 homes, and one church were destroyed. Additionally, the phone tower has been damaged. The remnants of Cyclone Lola merged with a low-pressure system in the Tasman Sea before impacting northern areas of New Zealand on 30 October. Severe weather caused flooding and power cuts across the upper North Island, while strong winds damaged power lines and led to cancelled flights. A cruise ship bound for Auckland had to shelter near Rangitoto after the weather closed the port.

Retirement

Due to extensive damages caused by the cyclone in Vanuatu and New Caledonia, Lola was retired by the World Meteorological Organisation on August 5, 2024. It was replaced with the name Lute

See also

• Weather of 2023
• Tropical cyclones in 2023
• Cyclone Xavier (2006) - another strong cyclone which formed in a similar region and timeframe
• Cyclone Donna (2017) - another strong cyclone which became the strongest off-season storm in the region at the time
• Cyclones Judy and Kevin (2023) - Pair of strong South Pacific cyclones that had affected Vanuatu earlier that year

References

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3. Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans October 20, 2023 00z (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 21 October 2023. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
4. Tropical Depression Advisory October 21, 2023 18z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 21 October 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
5. Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (Invest 90P) (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 21 October 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
6. Tropical Depression 01F Advisory Number A5 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 21 October 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
7. Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 01P (One) Warning No. 1 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 21 October 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
8. Tropical Depression 01F Advisory Number A6 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 22 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
9. Tropical Cyclone Naming Bulletin October 22, 2023 06z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 22 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
10. Tropical Cyclone Lola Storm Warning Number 06 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 22 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
11. Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 01P (Lola) Warning No. 4 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 22 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
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16. https://www.nrlmry.navy.mil//tcdat/tc2024/SH/SH012024/txt/trackfile.txt
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24. Tropical Disturbance Summary October 26, 2023 0105 UTC (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
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26. Tropical Disturbance Summary October 27, 2023 07z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 27 October 2023. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
27. Marine Weather Bulletin for Islands Area October 27, 2023 18z (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. 27 October 2023.
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29. "Category 2 cyclone Lola: Warnings in Vanuatu". RNZ. 23 October 2023. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
30. "Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai surveys Cyclone Lola damage from the air". RNZ. 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
31. ^ "Pacific.scoop.co.nz » 'It's Just How Life Is Here': Children In Vanuatu Devastated By Early Return Of Cyclone Season". Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
32. "TC Lola National Recovery Plan". Department of Strategic Policy, Planning & Aid Coordination. 20 May 2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
33. "Cyclone Lola leaves behind 'major' damage in Vanuatu in the South Pacific". Yahoo News. 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
34. "Vanuatu, New Caledonia (France) - Tropical Cyclone LOLA, update (DG ECHO, GDACS, IFRC, media, Copernicus EMSR) (ECHO Daily Flash of 27 October 2023) - Vanuatu | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 27 October 2023. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
35. "NZ Government announces $450,000 aid for Vanuatu after ex-Tropical Cyclone Lola". Radio New Zealand. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
36. "Cyclone Lola batters remote Tikopia in Solomon Islands - disaster office confirms". RNZ. 27 October 2023. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
37. "Rain, swells and wind as Cyclone Lola remnants merge with low". 1 News. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
38. "Power cuts as ex-cyclone Lola lashes upper North Island". RNZ. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
39. "Cruise ship bound for Auckland sheltering near Rangitoto as ex-Tropical Cyclone Lola closes port". Newshub. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
40. Noble, Chris (5 August 2024). "🌀Due to the severe impacts of tropical cyclones in the 2023-24 Season, Members at the 22nd session of the @WMO RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee agreed to retire 5 names: Lola, Mal, Jasper, Kirrily and Megan ✅An updated Operational Plan will be published before the 2024-25 Season". X (Formerly Twitter). Retrieved 14 October 2024.

External links

• World Meteorological Organization
• Australian Bureau of Meteorology
• Fiji Meteorological Service
• New Zealand MetService
• Joint Typhoon Warning Center

v t e Tropical cyclones of the 2023–24 South Pacific cyclone season
	5Lola 3Mal DIJasper DI04F TD05F 2Nat DI07F 1Osai DI09F TD10F DI11F
Category

• October 2023 events in Oceania
• 2023–24 South Pacific cyclone season
• Category 5 South Pacific cyclones
• Tropical cyclones in Vanuatu
• Tropical cyclones in the Solomon Islands
• Tropical cyclones in 2023
• Off-season South Pacific tropical cyclones
• Tropical cyclones in New Caledonia