Tropical Cyclone Lola

Fiji's MetService is warning it could even become a category four by midnight.

People in the province of Torba, Penama and Sanma will be directly affected in the next 48 to 72 hours by hurricane force winds of up to 185km/h.

Heavy rainfalls with flash flooding are expected over low-lying areas and areas close to river banks, including coastal flooding, over the Vanuatu group on Monday and Tuesday.

Very rough seas with heavy swells are expected over all Vanuatu waters. Seagoing vessels are advised to take extra precautions.

In its update at 6:37 AM Vanuatu time, the Meteorology and GeoHazards Department issued a red alert for Torba province and a yellow alert for Penama and Sanma.

As of 5am local time, tropical cyclone Lola was about 310 kilometres northeast of Torres and 295 kilometres north-northeast of Sola.

Gale force winds of 90 kilometres an hour are set to continue to affect Torba Province on Monday.

Heavy rainfalls with flash flooding are expected over low lying areas and areas close to river banks, including coastal flooding over Vanuatu group on Monday and Tuesday.

Cyclone Lola has formed over the Santa Cruz Islands, north of Vanuatu.

The Nadi weather officer did report that cyclone Lola does not pose a direct threat to the Fiji Group, based on current analysis.

It further stated that Cyclone Lola is the first system to emerge during the 2023–2024 Tropical Cyclone (TC) Season.

It is only the seventh South Pacific cyclone to be named in October since 1970.

Cyclone season typically runs from November 1 to April 30.

Earlier this afternoon, the Fiji Meteorological Service named it Cyclone Lola.

It is only the seventh South Pacific cyclone to be named in October since 1970. Cyclone season typically runs from 1 November to 30 April.

Two Category Four cyclones hit Vanuatu in early March.

Cyclone Judy was followed within hours by Cyclone Kevin.

They battered the region with destructive winds of 160km/h, gusting to 220km/h, causing extensive damage to the central and southern islands.