Tropical Cyclone Harold

[Cyclone Tracy]

Harold's core is currently around 70 km south of Tongtapu. Pressure 928 hPa and 127 knots, category 5. Fua Amotu airport on Tongatapu is recording wind gusts up to 270 km/h at 6.30am NZT. The Island seems to be experiencing mesovortices from the eyewall based on those extreme gusts.

https://app.weathercloud.net/dNFTF#wind

[Cyclone Tracy]

The station at Fua Amotu airport just clocked 277.2 km/h

[Chris W]

I was just coming on to note that reintensification to cat 5. Sustained winds still north of 120kts and gusts 145kts. Can't believe how this system has gone, it just keeps going over and above expectations.

[harleyb]

Phenomenal. I just had a look at that site and if my calculation is correct, that latest wind gust reading comes in at 292 km/h!

image.png

[tornado]

i cant believe it has re intensified to a cat 5. it just doesnt wanna weaken.

[Awhituobs]

Those wind speeds are not believable for that weathercloud station
Equipment malfunction likey

[Cyclone Tracy]

American hurricane model HWRF on the 12Z projected 260 km/h at 950 to 850 hPa near southern Tongatapu around sunrise. So downward mixing would definitely have produced 250 km/h +. It was the closest model on the core at that time.

[Cyclone Tracy]

As Harold now leaves the Tongan region towards the cyclone graveyard, first photos show that main Island of Tongatapu has sustained significant damage. These photos indicate incredible storm surge as well as wind damage.

https://twitter.com/TongaPolice/status/ ... 8109443072

[Chris W]

They took more of a direct hit than Fiji, all the very best towards their recovery.

Harold is now into strong wind shear and is becoming extratropical. An impressive but also nasty late-season system.

[Cyclone Tracy]