Tropical Cyclone Lola hit Vanuatu on Tuesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Lola was located at latitude 16.0°S and longitude 167.5°E which put it about 25 miles (40 km) east of Norsup, Vanuatu. Lola was moving toward the west-southwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 956 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Lola was the equivalent of a major hurricane when it hit the central part of Vanuatu on Tuesday. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Lola’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Lola was 22.1. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 10.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 32.7. Tropical Cyclone Lola was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Dennis when Dennis hit Northwest Florida in 2005.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Lola will move across Malekula during the next few hours. The strong winds in the eastern side of Lola’s circulation will hit Malekula, Ambrym and Epi. Tropical Cyclone Lola is capable of causing regional major damage. Heavy rain will also fall on Malekula, Ambrym and Epi. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some location. Lola could cause a storm surge of up to ten feet (three meters) along the north coasts of Malekula, Ambrym and Epi, when the wind blows the water toward the land.

Tropical Cyclone Lola will move through an environment that will become unfavorable for a strong tropical cyclone during the next 24 hours. Lola will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. An upper level trough over the Coral Sea will approach Lola from the west. The upper level trough will produce westerly winds that will blow toward the top of Lola’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. Tropical Cyclone Lola is likely to weaken when the wind shear increases.