During March 3, 2018 the Fiji Meteorological Service reported that Tropical Disturbance 09F had developed within a trough of low pressure about to the northeast of Nadi, Fiji. At this time the disturbance had a broad low-level circulation and was located within a very favourable environment for further development, with low vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures. Over the next couple of days, the disturbance gradually developed further as it gradually moved westwards towards Vanuatu, under the influence of a subtropical ridge of high pressure. It was subsequently classified as a tropical depression by the FMS during March 5, before the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center subsequently issued a tropical cyclone formation alert on the system later that day. During March 6, the JTWC initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 12P, after its broad low-level circulation center had slowly consolidated and the overall organisation of the cyclone had improved. The FMS subsequently reported that the system had developed into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and named it Hola, while it was located about to the east of Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. After it was named, Hola started developing a weak low level eye feature, before it was classified as a category 2 tropical cyclone as it passed in between the islands of Pentecost and Ambrym. The system subsequently passed over the island of Malekula and moved into the Coral Sea during March 7, where it rapidly consolidated and developed a pinhole eye. The FMS subsequently reported that Gita had become a Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone and predicted that Hola would peak as a Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone. However, during the following day Hola's eye weakened and became cloud filled, as it stalled to the west of Vanuatu. As a result, the FMS reported that the system had peaked as a Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone with 10-minute sustained winds of 165 km/h. During March 8, the JTWC also reported that Hola had peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of 185 km/h, which made it equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Preparations and impact
Hola raged over Vanuatu as a Category 4 very severe tropical cyclone at 07:00am NZT, and killed one person and seriously injured another two as heavy rains and punishing winds lashed the region. Winds of up to 165 km/h and gusts of up to 230 km/h were reported. Multiple houses had suffered extensive damage and countless trees and crops had been uprooted. School classrooms were blown off their foundations in Ambrym but no injuries or deaths were reported. The school's principal claimed that 20 to 30 per cent of houses within the region would have been completely destroyed after feeling the full-force of Hola. Heavy rainfall, damaging winds and bursting river banks rattled the region.
